For those who are especially observant, yes! I like the letter A.

Don't own the people, don't own the song, don't own the school. Don't own the library. I only own the idea and the christmas tree.

I used the song "All Along" by Remedy Drive. This song is a christian song, I'm sorry if that offends anyone, I chose for the lyrics, plus it's an awesome song.

{ ALL ALONG , ,

"Mom?" I felt seven again.

"Cam..." Her voice came out shakily, as if she was trying to steady herself through her tears. And she was.

"I... I miss him." Who, Cam? You miss who? Rain splattered against the window pane. The world cried along with us. Except I wasn't crying. Not yet.

"I know, kiddo." she gave a small gesture.

I came closer and sat down in her lap, leaning in, I smelled her familiar scent. I rested me head on her shoulder. I reached across her, a photo frame lay face down on her desk. I sat it upright. My father's face stared back at me. His easy smile. So much like someone else's. The Blackthorne boys would be back for Christmas. Or near to. I hated to admit it, but when I say in the window seat today I couldn't help but wonder, was I missing Dad, or Zach?

It was hard to remember Dad at times. But Zach was there, he came through when I needed him. I swallowed, my throat felt very dry.


It's not everything it seems - the world and its dreams


Slipping like water through my hands tonight


All the things I thought would fill me up inside


Left me empty here - and now I know why


I shut the door quietly behind me. "Hey, Cammie."

Big tears ran down my already stained cheeks, "What are you doing here, Blackthorne boy?"

He didn't move to hug me, not like he usually would have. Did he sense something was different? "I thought I should be here."

"I'm glad you're here."

"Are you really?"

"Of course. Night, Zach." I started down the Hall of History, my feet scraping the polished wood floors.

"Gallagher Girl?"

I turned around. Zach was right there.

And he wrapped his arms around me. "It'll be okay."

I felt safe and secure. So warm and comforted. But everything was not okay. "Zach..." I said, muffling my voice in his shirt.

"Yes, Cam?"

"I miss my dad. But..."

"It's hard to remember sometimes. Is that bad? I love him, I miss him. But, you're the one who's always here." I barely managed to whisper.

"It's not bad, Cam..." He sighed. "I'll never be you're dad. I'm just Zach. Always will be."

The tears didn't flow anymore.


All along I was looking for something else


You're something else


All along I was looking for something more 


You're so much more
I finally found what I could never see before 


You've always been the one that I was looking for

"Zach, the blanket is all wet." I whispered.

The normal Zach, the aloof Zach would have cast me a glance that sent my face into fits of red. The Zach who knew just how I was feeling this Christmas didn't say anything. He took the blanket from me, he turned it over and laid it back over me.

"And I'm supposed to be a spy." I said weakly.

"What's that suppose to mean? I'm one too."

"Just that I should use my head." My knuckles turned white as I clutched the blanket. Ever since I was a little girl, every Christmas there would be one present, it was always labeled 'To: Cam-bear, Love Dad.' Every year it was my favorite gift. This year, my throat swelled as I looked a the tiny velvet box. I already knew what was inside. I could picture it in my mind. A delicate chain, on the end, a diamond globe. I could look into it and I could see the most recent photo of Dad, Mom, and me. It had been so many years ago... This year was different. This year I was twenty-one. An official adult (Yeah, so it's eighteen, whatever). I wasn't Cam-bear anymore...

"Cam."

I looked up.

"There's one more."

There wasn't, I was a sure. Spy or not, it was apparent that everything from the grand tree in Gallagher's library was gone. The stockings pressed and rolled up, just to make sure. If there was anything I was, I was through. "No there isn't."

"Are you sure?" He unwrapped his arms from around me and stood up. Taking one of the extra folding chairs we had brought in for earlier. He set it up at the foot of the tree, and then climbed onto it. Behind him, the burning fire crackled and hissed. He lifted the angel that had been made to look like a toddler me, made when I was three. Something fell into his hand and he stepped down. His steps seemed measured and especially heavy. "Cameron Ann Morgan." He said softly. "Merry Christmas."

He fell onto one knee and opened his palm. Something small glittered in the light of the flames...


All of my castles in the sand - washed away again


And I'm left back where I began tonight


The only thing that can ever fill me up


Has been right in front of me all the time


So, did you like it? Did you like the ending and the slight or not OOCness of Zach? I just want him to be nice for once... My head is pulsing from how many times I've read the word smirked today. In the Gallagher world I find that to be the most overused word. Just saying.

If you didn't get what was going on... You're weird, get a life. Just kidding, basically it starts out is that it's her dad's birthday again and she misses her dad but feels like she's betraying him because she also loves some other guy. Then it skips down to where Zach has come, still her dad's birthday, and he assures he that he will never take the place of her dad. Then it's Christmas, she gets a beautiful necklace in the name of her dad. And then Zach... Proposes. Was the "Merry Christmas" thing during that weird?

I love you all very much, and I've been running around all day, and now it's midnight... So, au revoir!

Winter