I shut the door behind me quickly and threw off the cloak, letting it rest against the old couch "Papa!" I exclaimed as I made my way upstairs "I'm back from my walk! You'll never guess who I saw!" I smiled as I knocked on the door to his bedroom.

I heard a noise come from the other side before my father opened the door, sweat on his brow "Who did you see?"

I smiled and peered over his shoulder "what were you shoving under the bed there papa?" I laughed as he moved his shoulder upwards to block my view. "Is it a birthday present?!" I smiled slightly "Or Christmas!"

My father shook his head "Don't you worry about it, now tell me, who did you see?"

I smiled and laughed slightly "Raoul! You remember him don't you?"

My father nodded and shut the door behind him, wrapping an arm tightly around my shoulders as he led me back downstairs "of course I do. Your mother called him the golden boy because of the color of his hair." He chuckled and looked at me "You walked all the way to the college? That's dangerous, espically for a girl your age."

I wriggled away from his grasp and looked at him, my hands on my hips "I'm twenty-two, I'm no girl papa." I smiled and leaned on the doorway waiting for him to come down the stairs "Raoul invited me over for supper tomorrow evening. He's picking me up right here." I watched my father smile and I grabbed one of his hands "I can't go though."

He looked at me, thouroughly confused "Why can you not go?"

I sighed and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear "because you won't be there. I'll be getting a full feast and you'll be here with leek soup again. It's not fair."

My papa scoffed at me and made his way to the fire, motioning for me to sit down on the couch "Christine, that's absurd. You go, enjoy your supper. You haven't seen Raoul in five months; it will be nice for you to get out once in a while instead of being cooped up in here with your old man."

My father had made it a priority the next day that he was out of the house by the time that Raoul had come to collect me, no matter how many times I had told him I'd deny Raoul the joys of supper. For a few hours I had changed into two of my finest evening gowns; settling on one that was a gorgeous crème and black. At least, it was decent unlike most of the stuff I had. I pulled my hair up in a fashionable style and put a little blush on my cheeks. I had just finished lacing up my boots when I heard the knock at the door, the knock telling me Raoul had come to retrieve me.

I inhaled as deeply as my corset would allow and got up off the couch in the parlor. I dusted off my torso before I opened the door, a smile plastered to my face "Raoul! How lovely to see you!" I gave him a quick hug "please, do come inside while I put on my cloak." I swallowed as he stepped inside; I was a thousand percent sure that his top hat cost more than the whole apartment.

"It's charming in here, Christine." He took off his hat and held it gingerly in his hands "cozy." He muttered as his eyes danced with the pattern on the wall paper before making their way over to the smoldering logs in the fireplace "You've lived here for five months?"

I nodded slightly and buttoned the gold button around my neck "Yes, I have." I said defensively "No thanks to my grandmother" I practically spat as I pulled on my gloves "I'm sorry. Extremely unlady like." I smiled and looked at him "It could be worse."

He laughed looking around once again "I don't see how, but what ever you say."

I smiled slightly and looked down at the ground, embarrassed "Well, I am ready. Shall we?" I gestured to the door, following Raoul out. I paused for a moment to lock the door, resting the key in the empty flower pot that sat casually off to the side "My father doesn't have a key. We must do it this way in order for both of us to get in."

Raoul offered his arm and I gladly took it, a small comfort from my childhood "Aren't you afraid of thieves?"

I threw my head back and laughed "Oh Raoul, you cannot worry about thieves when you're so worried about feeding yourself." I looked at the sidewalk, I had obviously stunned Raoul into silence.

Raoul broke the silence a few minutes later "Grandmother!" I looked up at him as he smiled, the same boyish smile that I had fancied not too long ago "You remember Christine, don't you?"

The old lady smiled and grabbed my free hand "Of course I do." She patted the top of my hand and leaned into Raoul "She's the one who lost her money, right?"

I watched Raoul's face turn red, and I suppressed a laugh "Grandmother… not right now." He mumbled back before he straightened up "She'll be joining us for supper tonight as my guest." He smiled and looked at me "We have a lot of catching up to do."

"I bet you do, Raoul." She stated in her perfect British accent, it was the thing I loved most about the old woman. "Come inside, your parents won't be joining us tonight. They're off to some… fancy dinner party further up town; Couldn't join an old lady and her grandson for supper. Come, come" Raoul let go of my arm to open the door, and it made me feel lonely.

We were greeted by a tiny little boy who couldn't have been more than the age of ten, who graciously took our coats and Raoul's Top hat before we were escorted into the main dining hall. It was like any upscale restaurant I had remembered and it resembled my favorite one that was up town.

"Everyone's dressed so beautifully.." I mumbled as we walked past a table with a lady who's dress had beadwork that must have taken the seamstress years to prepare. "…I look so frumpy." I stated, mostly to myself.

"You look ravishing, come, sit." Raoul muttered in my ear as he pulled out the chair for me and pushed it in as I had sat down.

I looked over at his grandmother who was decorated in the finest jewelry "I love your necklace; it has to be my favorite piece you're wearing tonight." I smiled as Raoul sat down across the table from me.

His grandmother smiled "Still so proper after all these months living in the poor house." She tucked her necklace into her bosom; like I was going to steal it right off her neck "But I should thank you." She blinked slowly and nodded her head "I brought it all the way over from England. It's very special to me and my family."

I smiled slightly trying to hide the pain the old lady had caused with her simple action "I'm sure it is."

"Tell me how you've been, Christine. I've been most worried about you since you and your father left your grandmother's house." Raoul took a sip of water, his eyebrows perched highly on his forehead, obviously amused at the changing subject.

I shrugged "We've been okay my father and I." I nodded and looked down at the plate; that was all I could tell him. Not that we will be struggling for food in the upcoming weeks, that we'll be living on the streets or in the building illegally if neither my father nor I find a job "Just okay." I smiled and took a sip of my water to hide my quivering chin "What about you?" I croaked, clearing my throat with a heat rising to my face.

"oh, just fine thanks. The university is going well; I meant to ask you about why you were there last night."

I smiled and shrugged "Just taking an after supper walk. My father doesn't really get out much these days since it's so cold and his leg just acts up so he doesn't get to accompany me much in the winter." I took another sip of my water "So I mainly do it by myself."

"Raoul…" I watched as the blond boy looked over to his grandmother and I smiled warmly at the pair; perhaps Raoul was right for me after all the things my mother had said when she was in her right mind—perhaps we were perfect for each other "Don't forget to tell your mother about tonight. She should be upset that she missed lovely conversation."

Raoul nodded and looked at me "So Christine, what are your plans for Christmas?"

Christmas

"papa!" I smiled as I yelled up the stairs "papa! Wake up! It's Christmas! I have a surprise!" I giggled slightly as I heard shuffling going on upstairs. My father hated it when I had woke up early and hated it even more when I yelled up the stairs instead of taking the time to walk up the stairs.

"What is it Christine?" He mumbled

I smiled and held up the cast iron skillet with both my hands "I made your favorite breakfast!" I smiled and placed the pancakes down on the rickity table with a dull thud. "I also got you a present, I saved all year for it." I smiled and rushed to the stairs where my present was hiding. I lifted the creaky stair and pulled out a parcel "It's not much; but it's something to thank you… for everything that you've done this year." I smiled slightly and extended my arms.

"Christine…" my father took the package and looked up at me "you didn't have to; you could have saved your money for something else."

I looked at him "I know I could have, but I didn't want to." I smiled and made my way over to my chair and sat in it "Go ahead and open it!" I laughed "if you don't soon then the pancakes are going to get cold!" I smiled.

"Pancakes. Right." He pulled at the brown paper package and cut the string with the knife that was on the table causing me to sit in anticipation. He opened the top of the package and pulled away the paper that as on the inside and then looked to me, a smile decorating his aged face.

"STRINGS!" I threw my arms up laughing "Strings for your violin, I know how much you miss playing Papa." I smiled as he pulled me into a hug "I really miss hearing you play too. It was getting too quiet in the house."

He pulled away from the hug and smiled slightly "I wish I could give you something Christine."

I smiled and put my hand on his shoulder "All I want is for you to enjoy your pancakes, put your strings on your violin and I want to sing Christmas carols while you play. That's all I want." I smiled and then scooped some pancakes onto his plate.

We ate our breakfast in joyous laughter and remembrance; it was our first Christmas without my mother. We told our favorite Christmas stories; while I was telling mine my father worked diligently on putting the strings on his violin, causing me to forget about my story just to watch. I had always found it fascinating.

After my father got the violin stringed and tuned properly it was around lunch; hazelnut soup from the night before danced in our tummies warmly. It caused my father to get very sleepy and I persuaded him to nap; it was Christmas! People did what they wanted to do on Christmas, napping included. I watched my father go upstairs and I went to go clean the kitchen up from breakfast and lunch.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I turned around and looked at the door; who could have come unannounced? I wasn't dressed properly; my corset wasn't on and my hair was down in a curly tangled mess. I furrowed my brow and grabbed the cast iron skillet before walking to –and opening- the door.

"Christine!"

I shook my head "Raoul… What a pleasant… surprise." I smiled and hid the skillet behind me "What brings you over here unannounced?"

He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at me "well, I know this isn't traditional But I'm a man of old fashioned values and I'd like to ask you if it was okay that I…" he laughed slightly; he was nervous, he always rubbed his neck and laughed when he was nervous. "I could court you?"

Authors Note: I KNOW I'm not getting the lingo down quite yet; give me a few chapters but I honestly don't think it's any different than today. As long as I don't use the word swag (I NEVER use the word swag by the way) or any of today's slang then I think I'm good. I also believe that they used the word "flapjack" for pancakes back in the 1800s but flapjack is just too much to write; and I had pancakes on the brain. I'm also pretty sure "lunch" was "dinner" and "Dinner" is "Supper" because that's how my mamaw and papaw speak BUT old habits die hard and well… that's a habit that's not going to die anytime soon. Anyway, I hope that you all are enjoying this so far!

also, i'd like to wish you all Merry Christmas or Happy/Merry whatever you celebrate! This chapter is up early because i won't be near a computer tomorrow! I hope you all have a very happy christmas. Please be safe if you're living near a snow storm!