All Darcy could do was stand there, her shoes frosting over in the snow. Curiosity in her mind even as she drew another letter from the bag. "Father Christmas... please give my mother a break, she cooks every night and deserves a good meal from someone else." She muttered.

"What do you say to that, hm? 'Tis a bit of a reality check for you?" The other girl let her read, wrapping her arms around her in warmth. "Come on Darcy, let's return these."

"Nobody has to know... I'll go through them in whatever time I have left..." She flung the sack of Christmas letters over her shoulder. "You should rest, Belle. You deserve better than- me."

"I'm not leaving until you're home..." Annabelle shook her head, meeting Darcy's order with a kiss to her icy cheek. "Will you dine with us tomorrow, Darcy? Your family is welcome, at the invitation of my father."

"I'll think on it... I- Possibly." She nodded slowly, the gears continuing to turn in her mind about how-

Everything fell to shambles, every calculation melting away into pieces with the long, encapsulating hug around her. "Stop... just let yourself say yes. Let yourself be free..."

And after everything Darcy had read, she couldn't find any ulterior motive in Annabelle's simple kindness. Inviting her just to have her there. "Okay... yes, we'll be there..." She whispered. "That's a promise..."

"Before we freeze our damn legs off-" Darcy felt herself practically dragged a good half meter before her legs started walking again. "My mother will have realized I'm gone by now! God, Darcy! Why do you keep me out so late, love?" She snickered.

"I have work to do... work for others..." Darcy felt the need to rush more than ever, a new drive in her beside money. "I... It's two on Christmas morning! Dear God-" She felt just slightly less weighed, physically tired, but her mind awake. Fluid and lively, not steady and calculating.

"I see there's no changing your mind." Annabelle turned into her friend's street. "Well, this is your stop! I'll be seeing you for supper around 5!" She smiled.

"Five... yes... we'll be there!" Darcy didn't just crack a smile, that was a full, warm grin on her face. "I'll be seeing you later as well!"

The door gave way to her newly rejuvenated push, as she let her mother wrap her arms around tightly, sniffing like she'd been crying. "Mum... I'm sorry. I'm sorry about everything."

"You have no need to apologize to me, my love... no need." Her mother pushed Darcy's hair from her face. "Oh as soon as you stepped through that door... And with a smile on your face... I went from scared to- well-" She sniffed more.

"I have work to do, mum." Darcy broke away from the embrace, letting her mother see the load she was carrying. "We have the money to give these children what they want... Not that I'm dropping my prices forever." She joked.

"Oh, Darcy... that's beautiful." Her mother returned the smile. "Go do whatever it is your plan was- pfft, I cannot even speak."

"Oh! And on that note-" Darcy smirked. "We're invited to Annabelle's household for supper at five. You deserve to attend."