I woke up later to someone shaking me awake. It was Chandler, Clogs, and Mrs. Kettle.

"Hey Belle, how are you feeling?" asked Chandler.

I sat up and looked down. "Not good."

"Well, it's Christmas. We wanted to wish you a happy one," said Mrs. Kettle.

"This all my fault. I'm so sorry Belle," said Chandler.

"No, it's my fault. I was the one who went. I could have said no," I said and wrapped the blanket around my shoulders tighter.

"Here," said Mrs. Kettle and she gave me a cup of hot chocolate. I held it in my cold hands and gave her a small smile.

"I also have something for you," said Chandler. He took out my mother's ribbon. He crawled behind me and combed his fingers through my hair. Then he braided my hair into a side braid and tied the ribbon at the end of the braid.

"Thank you," I said. "And when did you learn how to braid?"

"I have a little sister," said Chandler.

"How come I never knew this?" I asked.

"You never asked," he said and shrugged.

He was right. I never asked him or Clogs about their family. I haven't asked Mrs. Kettle either.

"Who else do you have in your family?" I asked Chandler.

Chandler had one little sister and his mom. His dad lived in California where he married and had two kids…boys. But Chandler has never met them. Clogs lived with both of his parents but was an only child.

Mrs. Kettle is a widow with a son who lives in France with his grandmother. Her son's name is Cliff. Mrs. Kettle moved to the States for a job. She worked for Chris's family for three years before he was born. When she went home to visit a few years ago, she was with child and gave birth to him in France. Then her husband died in a plane crash. She wanted to move her son here but she felt that he would be better off with his grandmother.

"How old is he?" I asked her.

"He will be seven this year," she said and smiled.

"And you haven't seen him since…"

"Since he was one," said Mrs. Kettle.

I nodded and looked down.

"I have a present for you," said Mrs. Kettle. She took out a gift from under her apron.

It was wrapped in newspaper and had a bow made out of newspaper on it. I smiled and took it. "Thank you." I ripped the newspaper and smiled. It was a book.

"Mary Oliver," I said. "Have you ever read any of her poems? They are beautiful." The book was full of Mary Oliver's poems.

I opened it to a random page and read one of my favorites called Wild Geese. "Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting, over and over announcing your place in the family of things." I finished with that last line and smiled.

Suddenly the door opened and we all looked up. Chris walked down the steps and walked towards us.

He looked at me and he looked sad. "Belle…I-I'm so sorry."

I stared at him.

"You just wanted Christmas. I get it," he said. "I liked the story you write for me. Thank you."

I stood and walked over to him. I took his hands and he looked into my eyes. "You're welcome," I said and smiled.

He smiled back at me and he led me upstairs. Mrs. Kettle, Clogs, and Chandler followed.

We made it upstairs and we walked towards the kitchen. Suddenly the ground started to shake and quiver.

I gasped and fell into Chris. He caught me and helped me to stand upright. "What's happening?"

Suddenly parts of the ceiling started to fall to the ground.

"Earthquake!" yelled Clogs.

"No worse…avalanche!" yelled Chandler and he pointed out the window.

I gasped as snow came hurdling towards us.

A block of ice crashed through the window and nearly hit Mrs. Kettle.

"To the basement!" yelled Chris.

We all ran back towards the basement but the door was blocked by a pillar. Chris tried to lift it but it was too heavy…even for him.

Suddenly the floor started to give way. I gasped and tried to reach for Chris's hand but now I was too far away.

We were separated by a large crack in the floor. Clogs and I were on one side and Mrs. Kettle, Chandler, and Chris were on the other.

"What do we do?" yelled Clogs.

I looked down and the basement was below us. The electricity went out and it was pitch black in the house. The avalanche was coming closer.

"Belle!" yelled Chris.

"Chris!" I yelled back. I felt Clogs grab my hand. I held onto his hand tightly. Then I saw a glow. It was Chandler's flame necklace. It could glow in the dark.

I tried to remember what to do. The only thing I could think of was to get underground. But that wasn't an option. The house was big and tall enough to not be completely buried.

"Chris! Get to high ground!" I yelled.

"What about you?" he yelled back.

"We'll meet you there!" I yelled. "Come on Clogs." I pulled him with me towards the front door.

"Are you crazy? We can't go outside!" he yelled.

"We have to climb!" I yelled.

"Climb what?" he yelled.

"The side of the house. There are stones missing from the side of it. We can use those to climb!" I yelled above the roar and the falling ceiling.

I opened the door and Clogs and I rushed out. Clogs immediately started to climb. I followed close behind him. We had to reach far for some but we made it to the roof.

I saw Chris and Chandler and Mrs. Kettle across the roof. We rushed over and while we were the avalanche hit the house. Clogs and I were knocked over due to the shake.

I gasped and looked up at the snow started to spill onto the roof.

"Clogs!" I yelled but he couldn't hear me over the roar of the snow.

I heard Chris calling my name but I couldn't see him. I squinted and tried to ignore the searing pain of the snow hitting my face.

I looked over and saw a tree headed straight towards me. I gasped and it hit me. I fell back and almost fell off of the roof. I grabbed the edge of the roof and held on as tight as I could.

The snow fell over me. I was shielded by the roof. Then as quickly as it came, it stopped and the snow settled.

I looked down and noticed that the snow was about ten feet under me. It blocked the entrance to the mansion and most of the windows.

I felt my fingers slipping and I resituated them. I hoped and prayed that the others were all right.

"Belle!" I heard Chris yell.

"Belle!" the others yelled.

I sighed with relief. They were all ok. "Over here!" I yelled.

I saw Chris look over the ledge and he quickly took my hands and helped me up. He set me down on the snow and we all panted and tried to catch our breath.

"Are you all okay?" I asked them.

They all nodded.

"You saved us Belle," said Mrs. Kettle. We would be stuck in that house with no food or water for weeks. We can head into town and-"

"No," interrupted Chris.

"Chris, we have to go somewhere. We can't stay here. This place is ruined. The best we can do is leave it," said Mrs. Kettle.

"I can't go into town," said Chris.

"We will die out here. Think about…" Mrs. Kettle trailed off and Chris looked at me.

"Okay…I have somewhere we can stay," said Chris.

"How do we get down?" asked Chandler.

"The snow isn't that far from the roof. If we jump, it will be safe," I said.

We all looked over the edge of the roof.

Something caught my eye. I looked up and the dawn broke in front of us. The sunlight turned the sky pink and orange and the rays shone above the clouds.

"Beautiful," I sighed.

"Yes," said Chris and I looked over at him. He was looking at me.

I smiled and turned back to the sky.

"Merry Christmas everyone," I said.

"Merry Christmas," they responded.

"I'll jump first," said Chris.

I nodded.

Chris jumped down and landed lightly on the snow. Not one injury on him.

"It's safe," he said.

Chandler and Clogs jumped down and I helped Mrs. Kettle lower herself then drop down. Chris helped her up.

I jumped down and Chris helped me up.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"My old house," said Chris.

We climbed down the snow drift and we made it to the forest.

We walked for a while before I started to shiver and my teeth chattered. I was freezing. While everyone had coats, I didn't even have a sweater. I only had long sleeves.

I collapsed in the snow and tried to take deep breaths.

Chris crouched down next to me and took my hand.

"She's freezing," said Mrs. Kettle.

"I-I'm fine. I-I j-just need to r-rest for a l-little," I shivered.

"The sooner we get moving to sooner we can get you warm. Let me carry you," Chris said.

I nodded and put my arm around his shoulder. He lifted me up and we continued on our way.

Chris's body warmed me up a little and I was grateful for it.

I focused on getting warm and soon we were on the trail.

"Chris, can I talk to you for a minute," said Chandler.

Chris nodded. He set me down gently. He and Chandler walked towards the trail. They talked in hushed whispers. I couldn't hear them. But Chandler looked at me and then Chris did. Chris nodded then Chandler walked over to Clogs and Mrs. Kettle.

"They are all going to go ahead and get a couple of snowmobiles. They are also going to get us some coats," said Chris.

I nodded and shivered. Chris sat next to me and offered his lap.

I crawled onto it and he wrapped his arms around me. I got warmer and I shivered less.

"So, Christmas is your favorite holiday?" he asked.

"Yeah, I have always loved the music, and the decorations, and the atmosphere, of the holidays," I said and smiled.

He chuckled.

"Why don't you like the holidays?" I asked.

"I never really had a Christmas. My Christmases involved my drunk dad being too drunk to function," he said.

"I'm sorry," I said.

"Me too," he responded.

I decided to change the subject. "Where did you used to live?" I asked.

"In a smaller house than the one in the mountains. We sort of live in the mountains. It's a nice place. It never sold though, so we could just go ahead in," he said.

I nodded.

"I have a question for you," said Chris.

I looked up at him.

"Are you…afraid…of me?" he asked nervously.

I smiled, "Why would I be afraid of you? I mean yeah sure I was in the beginning but not now. Do you think I would be in your lap if I was afraid?"

Chris nodded. "Be honest with me…do you think I'm…ugly?"

I reached up and caressed his burnt side of his face with my thumb. Then I smiled, "Not at all. True beauty comes from the inside. You should consider yourself lucky. Most people who were in terrible accidents look much worse than you do."

Suddenly Chris tensed.

"What is it?" I asked.

Chris got up and picked me up. He walked away from the trail and set me down in the bushes.

"What's wrong Chris?" I asked.

"Stay here and wait until I get back," Chris said.

"Why? What's going on?" I asked.

"Just wait here please," he said then he walked back where we came.

I peeked out from behind the bushes. I owed it to him not to move. So I didn't.