"AJ I am SO disappointed in you!" Mike scolded angrily. "I can't believe you'd say that to her! You are so VERY grounded! And come here!" he ordered. AJ shuffled over to him and stood beside the bed. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean it." "Sorry doesn't cut it this time young lady," Mike said picking her up and putting her over his knee. "Daddy!" AJ yelled, completely shocked. "Amy Julia Logan, I never ever thought I'd do this, ever. But you have been misbehaving this whole trip and now you pull this? Well your attitude problem ends NOW!" Mike stated firmly and then swatted her twenty times very hard.
Just after Mike released AJ and hugged her close, still scolding, but also reassuring her that she was still loved even if she had behaved horribly, Severus knocked on the door. "Come in," Chris said, looking at the door as he entered. "I'm sorry to have to ask you to go, but Tirza is very upset," Severus said softly. "After what AJ said I can understand why," Mike replied quietly. "I am very sorry and I hope there will be no hard feelings and I believe AJ has something to say."
"No hard feelings, I assure you," Severus answered. "She will forgive her in a little while." "I'm sorry," AJ whispered. "Tell her I'm sorry, please?" "I will and I hate to have you leave but I think it for the best for now," Severus said. "Hopefully you will be able to visit over summer." Chris nodded. "Tell her we are all very sorry. And thank you for having us," she said.
"I will and I'm glad you could come even for a short visit," Severus replied. "Hopefully next time will go much better." Chris finishes packing as Mike calls for a taxi. When it arrives, they leave for the airport.
Tirza sat curled up on her bed, sobbing, holding Molly close. "Can I come in?" Severus asked quietly as he knocked. She opened the door then ran back to her bed. "They've left," Severus said quietly. Tirza threw herself in his arms, sobbing too hard to talk. "She had no right to say those hurtful things to you," Severus whispered rubbing her back. "I know she is your best friend but she really shouldn't have done that."
Tirza nodded. "But it's true," she choked out. "Tirza she only said those things because she wasn't going to get her way," Severus offered. "You shouldn't let them get to you." she cried herself to sleep in his arms, still holding molly. Severus picked her up carefully and laid her in her bed. He tucked the covers around her then kissed her head.
Tirza was a very quiet and sad little girl for the next few days, despite Severus' best efforts to cheer her up. He watched her favorite shows and movies with her, took her out for a nice lunch, made ice cream sundaes, and had several tickle fests. Nothing seemed to lift her spirits though.
A morning that week, Tirza came downstairs, minus her usual bounce and minus sliding down the banister. "Good morning," Severus called out as she entered the kitchen. "Are you hungry?" she shook her head no and sat down at the table. "What's wrong?" Severus asked, placing a plate of pancakes on the table. "Not hungry, duh," she says softly.
"That's not what I meant and you know it," Severus said quietly. "Now what's wrong?" she scowled and said nothing. "Tirza there was no call for that," Severus said. "You had best start getting happy or this will be a very horrible vacation for both of us." "You can't make me be happy," she said softly. "Christmas is ruined."
"I'm still here so Christmas shouldn't be ruined unless you think I'm bad," Severus commented, putting the eggs, toast, and juice on the table then sitting down. She sighed. "I guess so. Is grandpa coming?" she snuck her hand out and grabbed a piece of toast and pulled the crust off then started nibbling. "He and a surprise guest will be here tomorrow," Severus admitted.
Tirza perked up "whom? Who?" "Grandpa asked me not to tell you because he wants it to be a surprise," Severus replied. She sighs and takes a pancake. "Ok…. I guess I can wait, but it will be hard!" Severus chuckles. "You are rather impatient," he kisses her head as he stands up to get himself some more OJ.
Finally it was the day for Grandpa and his surprise guest to show up, and Tirza could hardly stand herself. "When's grandpa coming?" Tirza asked, bouncing into the kitchen. Severus shook his head. "You and your bouncing, what am I going to do with you?" "Love me," Tirza replied giving him a kiss. "What's for breakfast?" Severus kisses her back, hugging her tight. "What would you like?" he asked as he poured himself some coffee. "Some hot chocolate, toast, pancakes, sausage," Tirza replied. "And maybe a cup of what your having," she said with a wink. "Not a chance," he says, ticking her side. "But nice try." He starts to prepare her breakfast.
"Is grandpa coming soon?" Tirza asked again after finishing breakfast. "Tirza, he will be here when he's here," Severus said firmly, growing slightly annoyed at her asking every few minutes. She groaned and pouted. "Well he's taking forever!" "Well, learn some patience," Severus said, chuckling.
Even if she was getting annoying, she was always adorable and rather good for a laugh. He was very pleased to see her spirits lifted, he had been so worried about how sad she had been after AJ had left. "Can I go play in my playroom until he gets here?" Tirza asked. "Sure, have fun," he says, smiling. "Bye Dad," Tirza called out as she rushed up the stairs.
"We're here!" Albus called out as they stepped through the fireplace. Severus smiled. "Thank you both for coming, she'll be thrilled. She's in the playroom. Want to come with to get her?" "Sure," they both agreed and followed him up.
Severus led them upstairs and knocked on the playroom door, incase she was changing. "Tirza! Grandpa's here!" "Don't come in!" She squeaked in surprise. "I'm working on something and I'll be downstairs in ten minutes okay?" Severus shook his head. "Alright!" he led them back downstairs.
"Okay but I have a surprise with me!" Albus called through the door. "I promise ten minutes!" Tirza called out again. "She's always up to something," Severus chuckled. "She must be working on something special," Albus commented once they sat down in the living room. Severus nodded. "As long as it doesn't explode, I'll be happy!"
They all had a good laugh at that and when Tirza appeared ten minutes later they had just finished some coffee. She slid carefully down the banister and entered the living room. She saw Remus and jumped on him, squealing with excitement. "Are you surprised?" Remus asked.
She kissed his face several times, bouncing on his lap, hugging him tight. "I'll take that as a yes!" Remus said with a laugh. "What were you working on anyway?" "You didn't tell me you were coming!" she exclaimed, avoiding the question, not wanting to spoil her surprise. "We wanted it to be a surprise," Albus admitted. "He was missing you and begged to tag along." "Albus has a way of twisting anyone's arm," Remus said with a wink.
Tirza giggled. "Oh tribbles, my cake!" she raced back upstairs. "Cake?" Dumbledore asked. "I'm going to go find out!" Severus said racing after her. Tirza had on an apron and oven mitts and was carefully pulling a vanilla cake out of the oven, beaming, not noticing Severus was coming. "What are you doing?" Severus asked.
Tirza whirled around, and then giggled. "It's called baking dear," she said, levitating the cake and getting a hot pad for underneath. "What have I told you about baking without supervision?" Severus stated, thinking bake to the Easy Bake Oven incident, which could have set his whole chambers on fire if he had not reacted quickly enough. "Dad, it's not an easy bake oven," she promised.
"Still it's cooking," Severus countered. "And you and cooking usually don't mix." "Aunt Molly sent me a cookbook. A witch's cookbook," she stated, mixing frosting. "Why didn't you at least ask permission before doing this?" Severus asked, frowning slightly. "I wanted it to be a surprise," she said, sounding a tad frustrated. She felt like he was babying her. She was 11 years old! And there were directions and everything! "Am I in trouble?"
"I guess not seeing as you haven't blown anything up but I would like to watch you bake sometime from beginning to end just to ease my mind," Severus replied. "It's either that or I take the oven away until your older," Severus commented. "Dad, you're the one that put it in," she pointed out. "And I won't blow anything up. Just cuz I suck at potions." "I put it in," Severus stated, "so that I could watch you bake; not you bake on your own."
"Sorry for having a surprise," she mumbled, frosting the cake. "I don't mind the surprise but I really would have it preferred to be something safer," Severus stated. "If you at least had said I wanted to learn to cook then all I would have said was let me watch once, then you could do whatever you want." its not like I haven't cooked before," she said. "I have guests to serve." she headed for the door with the cake and her special plates.
"Tirza this conversation is not finished!" Severus called after her in frustration. She went downstairs and started cutting the cake for Albus and Remus. "Want a big piece?" she asked. "Sure!" Albus said and Remus nodded. She beamed. "It's vanilla cake, but the frosting is chocolate for you grandpa!" she dished them up big pieces and got one for herself. "Where's mine?" Severus asked sitting down on the couch.
"You sure you want any?" Tirza asked softly. "Of course," Severus replied. Tirza dished him up a big piece, and then ran to grab milk, which she poured over her slice. "Interesting," Remus said. "I never thought I'd see anyone do that." she giggled, "It's good! Want to try it grandpa?" Albus nods and nibbles a bit. "Quite good!" he pours milk over his own.
Tirza beamed, proud of herself, even if Severus wasn't. "So we got any fun plans?" she asked Remus. "Well today I thought we'd just spend it catching up but tomorrow we can head out and do whatever you want," Remus offered. She cuddled on his lap. "I missed you!" she blew Albus a kiss. "Wasn't your friend AJ and her family supposed to spend Christmas with us?" Albus asked.
Tirza's face clouded over and she didn't say anything. "AJ had a spat with Tirza and said some very hurtful things. Her family went home,'" Severus said. "I'm sorry," Albus said quietly and Remus nodded. Tirza shrugged. "Doesn't matter," she whispered. "Are you sure?" Remus asked. "I know you two are really close." "It doesn't matter, cuz it was true," she says, snuggling against him. "What's true?" Albus asked.
"That her mother was alive and loved her, and my mother is dead and didn't," she sniffled and quickly wiped her eyes. "That may be true in part but I know your mom did love you" Severus said quietly. Tirza sighed and grabbed another large chunk of cake. "Maybe." Remus felt sorry for her, and held her tight. "Tirza she must have loved you very much," Albus said. "That's crap," she said through a full mouth. "Dad loves me more."
"She did love you," Severus corrected her. "And I love you very much but your mom loved you too." She shrugged, eating her cake, feeling guilty for hiding things that weren't ready to come out yet. "Tirza you know we are hear when you need to talk," Albus offered. "Tell me about your trip," she asked Remus. "Boring," Remus admitted. "I miss school," she giggled. "Your crazy man!"
"Have you finished all of the shopping?" Albus asked as they put away the dishes. "Actually I haven't," Severus admitted. "I have quite a few of Tirza's gifts left and I completely forgot to get something for Remus." "Why don't we go now then?" Albus offered. "Remus can stay here with Tirza." "I don't mind," Remus admitted. "I've got my shopping done, you two go have fun." Severus nodded. "Let me get my coat and we'll go."
Tirza slides down the banister with several gifts levitating beside her. "What are these?" Albus asked. "Gifts, but not until Christmas," she teases, tucking them under the tree. After Severus and Albus left, Remus helped Tirza make some lunch. "You really are becoming good at this," he commented. She looked thoughtful as they ate together. "Do you think I'm too old to cuddle?" she asked very seriously. "Not at all," Remus said honestly. "You can cuddle with me for as long as you want." She beamed "let's watch TV and cuddle, k?"
"Sounds good to me," Remus said and they headed for the living room. "What shall we watch?" She turns on the TV. "hmmmm. You ever watched TV before?" she asks, crawling onto his lap. "Some but usually it's just the news and some sports," Remus admitted. "Um," she thinks and turns on I Dream of Jeannie. "There, something simple." She wraps a blanket around herself. Remus smiles "I think I might have seen this one once" he admits. "Course you did, with me silly!" she giggles.
The next two days passed quickly, with fancy meals out and Tirza getting tons of attention from three of her favorite people. What was even better was that Severus and Remus were getting along well together, which made everything easier. Severus had adjusted to the fact that Tirza and Remus had a special relationship, but it wasn't one that would ever outshine theirs, as dad and daughter.
It was 5AM Christmas morning and Tirza had been to excited to sleep. She finally ducked out of her room and went passed Severus' and opened the door to where Remus was staying and jumped on the bed. "Huh?" Remus snorted still half asleep. "What's the emergency?" she bounced on him. "Merry Christmas!" "Tirza it's still like early," Remus laughed. "We got to be the only two awake at this time." "We'll wake everyone up, come on!" she says, tugging on him
"Let's wait another hour," Remus suggested. "Cause if we wake everyone up now they might be grumpy." "Aww!" she pouted. "I'm so excited to sleep!" "Then why don't you lay under the covers with me for another hour and then I promise we'll wake everyone up?" Remus suggested. She nods and snuggles under, then kicks off her fuzzy slippers.
Remus pulls her close and kisses her cheek. "I love you." "Love you too," she says, snuggling against him. "But I love my presents too, tell me what they are!" "No way," Remus stated. "You'll just have to wait an hour." "I'll love you forever?" she offered, trying to bribe him. "You'll just have to wait another hour," Remus said with a wink.
"Awwww!" she giggled and started to tickle him. "Please?" "I'm not gonna give in because then you wouldn't be surprised," Remus said quietly. She sighs and cuddles against him. "I'm losing my touch," she murmurs. "Don't be so sad," Remus said. "You only gotta wait awhile longer then you can open them for real."
She smiles. "Are you gonna sleep?" "I might close my eyes," Remus commented. "Why?" "Cuz I'm not tired, but I'll let you sleep if you want too!" Tirza tells him. "I probably won't sleep but will rest my eyes," Remus said. "I'll try but I'm wide awake now." He closed his eyes. She shrugged.
An hour later Remus and Tirza head for Albus' room first. "You want the honors?" Tirza nods and jumps on the bed "wake up!" "Good morning sunshine," Albus said fully awake. She jumps into his arms, kissing him. "This is a nice way to wake up," Albus commented. "Good!" she says. "Can I have my presents now?" "Aren't we forgetting someone?" Albus asked winking.
"But we can't jump on him," she points out. "We should still wake him," Albus tells her. "He would hate to miss this." Tirza creeps into Snape's room and crawls gently on the bed. "Daddy," she whispers, kissing his head. "I was wondering when you'd come get me," Severus says tickling her. "I've been hearing you for an hour!" she squealed, wriggling. "I thought you were sleeping! I was so bored, everybody was sleeping!"
"Well that's cause you're such an early bird," Severus commented. "Shall we go open presents?" she nods, tugging on him. "Hurry!" Severus sighs throwing on a robe and rushing after her. "Where's the fire?" she slid down the banister. She smiles and hugs him. "Come on!" she bounces. "Who wants to go first?" Severus asked as they sat down in front of the tree. "I'll go," Tirza said happily grabbing one of her larger packages from Remus.