Debbie shuffled through the mail as she walked into the house. Dropping her school bag onto the living room floor, she was surprised an envelope was addressed to her. The scenic picture of the front of the card was a house all lit up with holiday decorations and snow covering the entire area with snowflakes gently falling. Inside read:

"Debbie, happy holidays! Hope to find you and your love ones in perfect health. Inviting you, your dad and grandfather to join us in spending the christmas season. We'd love for you to meet Catherine, she's a handful, going through her terrible two's.

Hope you can join us and we'll be waiting for your call. Miss our quality time together, the shopping and just keeping each other's company. How's "Little Women"? Done reading it yet? Hope to hear from you soon.

Our number's 555-1313."

"Dad!" Debbie immediately ran up to her father as soon as he walked into the house.

"What is it, Debbie?" He asked, his forehead crinkled, wondering what his daughter was so exited about.

"It's...it's a christmas card from Miss Parker. At least, I think it is. An invitation for christmas. It's not signed but, look."

Handing it over to Broots, he inspects the card carefully.

"Dad? I think the grandfather she's talking about is Sydney. Seems like she's talking in codes. See there?" She points to the writings on the card. "Little Women. She gave her mother's gift to me. I'll call her right now!"

"Wait, Debbie. Don't. Our phones might be tapped. We'll need to show this to Sydney first and then call at a pay phone or something."

Their phone rang several times before someone picked it up. Hearing his familiar voice in the background, he knew it was Jarod.

"Sweetie, give daddy the telephone, okay? Go see what mommy's doing. Sorry about that, uh, hello?"

The only sound was silence. The psychiatrist was alarmed to hear his voice.

"Hello?" Jarod repeated.

Finally he spoke. "This is Sydney."

"Sydney." He didn't realized how much he missed him until he could feel a tear run down his cheek. Parker had stopped tending to Cathy and stood along side her husband.

"Jarod?" Sydney was not quite sure what else to say. It's been a long time since he's heard from him.

"Yes, it's me, Sydney. Glad you caught on to the invitation. We thought it was best to send it to Debbie."

Parker excitedly grabbed the telephone from Jarod. "Sydney!"

"Hello, Parker. How are you?" The gentleman asked as Broots and Debbie hovered over him.

"Oh, Sydney. I'm so sorry about the way we left. You did know we were together, didn't you?"

"Didn't need to take a genius to know that. Three years. It's been a long time, Parker."

"I know. We couldn't..."

"I understand. And now you have a child together. She must be a handful."

"She looks like her daddy, although Jarod says her personality's me all over."

"Ah, I see." Sydney smiled to himself. "Put Jarod back on."

"A lot has changed in the years we've been away."

"She sounds happy, Jarod."

"She is."

"You sound happy, also."

"I am, Sydney. I have a family of my own now. I've never stopped thinking about you. You were my only family at The Centre, the one I trusted. We'd love for all of you to spend the holidays with us. Get to know Cathy and us all over again."

"We'd love to, but, we still need to be careful. Mr. Parker hasn't given up on trying to locate you. If he finds out about your child..."

"I know. We know. But, it's time for Cathy to meet you. You're the only grandfather she'll ever know."

"Thank you, Jarod." Sydney's voice began to crack and handed the telephone to Broots.

"Hey, this is Broots."

"Hello, Broots. Good to hear from you."

"What? What? Jarod, Debbie's tugging at me. She really wants to speak to Miss Parker."

"Honey, it's Debbie'."

"Debbie, sweetie. How are you? You must be all grown up by now."

"Thirteen. I'm thirteen. Sydney and daddy says we'll be joining you for christmas. I really miss you. I can't wait to meet Catherine. Why did you leave? I needed you."

"I'm sorry, sweetie. It's complicated. Hey, but, we'll be seeing each other soon. Right?"

Walking into their bedroom, Parker sees them fast asleep, with her daughter laying atop her daddy, his arms wrapped around her tiny body. Carefully, prying his hands away, she picks Cathy, cradling her into her arms and walks out of the bedroom and gently lays her down onto her own bed. Quietly crawling into bed, she snuggles her husband tenderly.

Feeling his warms hands all over her, she whispers. "Thought you were fast asleep."

"Not anymore. I have better things to do."

Jarod tore his shirt open and Parker slid it off his shoulders, taking her top off over her head. He pulled her close feeling the softness of her skin as he ran his hands up and down her bare back. He watched her slip one leg at a time out of her underwear and brought her down on the bed as they kissed each other with opened mouths, practically shoving their tongues down each other's throat. Parker wrapped her hands tightly around his shoulders. There were loud heavy breathing, but nothing could stop them now. He lifted himself off of her as she now laid on top of him.

"You drive me crazy," she yelled out, filling his ears with fantasies.

Jarod suddenly curses.

"What?"

"Listen," he tells her.

"I don't hear anything."

"Wait a bit."

"Daddy!"

"There," he tells Parker as he pushes her aside. "There. The joys of parenthood. Coming, baby."

TBC - Chapter 7 - The Reunion