Carly was beside herself with happiness for being able to sit with the fawn for the rest of the evening. And she was quite dedicated to the task.

Meghan minced the carrots, making sure not to clip the sensitive skin on her thumb as she rushed through the process so that she could get it into the boiling pot. Ryder leaned against the counter, skillfully avoiding close proximity to Gordon who helped her with the vegetables and meat. Meghan did hope her son would come to forgive his father.

"Vixen should eat something," Carly said from her position by the fireplace.

"What do you even feed a baby deer?" Ryder inquired.

"Well, I know deer like sweet things," Meghan said, recalling the little nature lessons her father had taught her at a young age. "But that's about it."

"Goat milk will work right now," Gordon said. "We need to heat it up, though, and add seven drops of lactate to it."

"Goat milk tastes weird," Carly said, wrinkling her nose as she watched the fawn. He was snuggled beneath a blanket. Meghan had wrapped his leg up earlier. It wasn't anything severe so the vet wasn't needed.

"Only to you, ladybug," Gordon told her, opening the fridge. He rummaged about for a few moments before producing something. "Here we go! Goat milk."

"The lactate is in the medicine cabinet," Meghan told him, stirring the soup in the pot. The steam rose up, the smell making her stomach growl slightly. "And I still have one of Carly's old bottles at the back of the spice drawer, if you want to use that."

They were still trying to figure out what to do with the fawn. Carly did not want to give it up, and Meghan was allowing for Vixen to stay until they figured out what his collar meant. SC made no sense, and what place was called "center, NP"?

"Dinner smells good!" Carly said, smiling.

"Thanks," Meghan said, smiling in relief. Cooking and baking flustered her, so she rarely did it. However, she recently tried to pick back up on it, and she was happy it was paying off. She came to the conclusion that buying and going out for their meals wouldn't work if she wanted her children to grow up being able to feed themselves - and not with just money.

Gordon retrieved the forgotten baby bottle from the spice drawer as he began whipping up a drink for the fawn. Carly rubbed Vixen's ear, resulting in the fawn twitching away. Its cute face turned to Ryder who made a slight movement by the counter. The fawn must not trust them yet.

"Dinner is about done," Meghan announced, flinging a rogue strand of her blond hair away from her eye where it dangerously lingered. "Ryder, would you set the table, please?"

Ryder moved toward the cabinet in response and pulled some plates out. Meghan still couldn't believe that he was only fourteen but gaining height on her rapidly. He was already the same height as her. He got the tallness from Gordon who wavered at 6'2. Meghan's side of the family had always been short, and Carly was following down those steps at her tiny height.

"It's snowing again," Carly said, peeking through the window curtains.

"That just means we get to work on that gingerbread house tomorrow," Gordon told her, screwing the lid onto the bottle and holding it out to his daughter. "Want to feed him?"

"Ooh, yes!" she exclaimed, taking the bottle and sitting beside Vixen.

Meghan smiled as the fawn found the nipple before giving the soup one last stir and turning the heat off. She slid the pot onto a cooler portion of the stove as Ryder finished setting out the plates and forks. "Dinner is complete!"

"When are we going to see Santa at the mall?" Carly asked, ignoring her announcement and earning a groan from her brother.

"Before Christmas, that's for sure," Meghan promised. She was actually a bit excited about going to see Santa herself. Not that she would ever admit it, but maybe that would help rekindle the old desire and burning love she had for the merry season.

Carly seemed content with the answer. Meghan lifted the pot of soup and steadily maneuvered it over onto the mat on the table to keep it from burning the wooden surface. Carly helped the fawn get the last bits of milk before standing up and moving into the kitchen to drop the bottle into the sink. After that, the family of four sat themselves at the table, and Gordon began serving the food.

"So, Carly," Meghan said, turning to her daughter. Might as well say it now. "After your father settles down in a home, we think it would be good for you to live with the both of us. You know, take turns going to our houses."

Carly paused in lifting her cup to her lips. She turned her head to her brother who ignored her and bowed his head toward the table. She seemed hesitant as she asked, "What about Ryder?"

"He will go too," Gordon said, dumping a ladle full of soup into her bowl. "Two weeks with your mom, and then two weeks with me. Just like that."

Carly brushed a curl away from her face where the tips clung to her eyelashes. For a moment, Meghan thought she was upset like Ryder, but then she looked up at them with a small smile. "Yeah. That will be nice."

Meghan smiled, relieved that her daughter was taking it better than her older brother. After all, she did love Gordon just as much. Meghan took a cautious spoonful of the soup, taking care to blow it first. The soup had an orange tinge to its mostly brown substance. As her taste buds reacted, she let the warmth sink in. It had a taint of spiciness in its rich, savory flavor. Meghan had always been quite fond of spicy food.

"Mmm, it's good, Meghan," Gordon said, giving her a thankful smile. She returned it, hoping that he hadn't expected it to be gross. That would be offensive.

"So, you're sharing us?" Carly said. Apparently, her mind was still lingering on the subject.

"Yes," Gordon told her. "It isn't as bad as it sounds. It just means you'll get both of our undivided attention without the other adult, ah...interfering."

Meghan shot him a quick glare before taking another spoonful of the flavorful soup. What exactly is that suppose to mean? "Yes, and you will still be able to spend holidays together and not just with one of us."

Carly brightened up at the statement, but Ryder just placed his spoon onto the table and grabbed at his ruffled black hair in agitation. Meghan leaned forward a bit. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he mumbled. "May I be excused?"

Meghan looked at his bowl. He had barely even taken a few bites. Gordon noticed this too but allowed Meghan to handle the situation as he observed.

"You have barely eaten anything," Meghan told him. "Aren't you hungry?"

"No," Ryder moaned, shaking his head. "May I please be excused?"

Meghan pursed her lips and inwardly sighed. Ryder continued gripping his head. "Fine. You may be excused."

He quickly gathered himself up and raises his head, jumping out of the seat to race down the hall and into his room. Once the door shut, Carly gave a slight sniff, her head bowed. "Why is Ryder never happy anymore?"

Meghan took her daughter's hand and squeezed it. A lump seemed to lodge in her throat as she said, "Being a teenager isn't fun, is all."

Carly shook her head and locked eyes with Gordon. "He doesn't love you."

Gordon cleared his throat and placed his spoon down, tapping the table with a finger. "Yes, I know. He's angry with me and just needs some more time."

Carly looked over at the fawn sleeping by the fire. "Are we keeping Vixen?"

Meghan opened her mouth to reply, but a knock at the door cut her off. The three of them looked up in surprise. They hardly ever got visitors. Not even the mailman knocked at the door. Is it some carolers?

"I'll get it," Gordon offered, standing up.

Meghan rose too, more quickly than him. "No. My house, my door. I'll answer it."

Gordon shook his head at her, a slight look of annoyance seeming to appear on his face before it quickly disappeared. He followed Meghan to the door and she opened it, trying to guess who it could be inside of her head.

No one.

Her eyes swept over the snow-covered neighborhood. Not a single thing stirred.

"Look." Gordon stooped down to pick an envelope up.

Meghan quickly snatched it away and proceeded to open it right there in the cold, open doorway. Carly came to investigate the tearing sound as Meghan ripped the white envelope open to retrieve what was inside. They all leaned closer. She pulled a slip of paper out.

ɢɨʋɛ ɨt tօ ʍɛ, օʀ sʊʀʀɛռɖɛʀ ʏօʊʀsɛʟʋɛs tօ aɢօռʏ

The words cause an immediate shiver to coil down Meghan's spine. The peculiar but beautiful handwriting went unnoticed as she tried to solve what it meant.

"Someone is going to hurt us?"

Too late, Meghan realized she shouldn't have had it down where her daughter could read it. Carly's face paled slightly as she gripped onto Gordon's arm. He wrapped an arm around her, his face hardening once he read the words. "What is "it?" Do you have something someone else wants?"

"N-No," Meghan told him shakily. "We haven't even interacted with many people as of recently."

"Pranksters then," Gordan stated irritatedly.

"What is agony?" Carly whimpered, shivering against her father.

Meghan frowned, her heart beating fast. "Nothing. Nothing you need to concern yourself with right now."

Despite the reassurance to her daughter, her words did nothing to comfort herself. Who would leave a note like this? Those meddlesome teenagers that like to prance down the streets during the day?

"Wait...Ryder," Gordon said, locking eyes with her. "Ryder could have done this."

"How? He's in his room," Meghan snapped. He would accuse their son?

"He could have gone out the window," Gordon said slowly.

"Even if it was him, he wouldn't tell," Meghan huffed. It was not Ryder. Her son was known for stunts like that, but that was far out of hand for him. He wouldn't dare try and scare them like that. But then...who would?

"Come on," Meghan muttered, ushering them out of the doorway and back inside. "I'll make some hot cocoa."

As she moved into the house and out of the white Christmas outside, she noticed movement and turned to look. A cloaked person skulked past a house, turning briefly to look back before disappearing around a corner. It looked suspiciously like the figure from the previous night.

The air seemed to get increasingly colder as an insecure feeling latched onto Meghan. She quickly shut the door.

❄⛄❄❄⛄❄

Apparently that wasn't the end of it all, for the next morning, breakfast was too quiet for Meghan's liking. She watched Carly and Ryder eat silently, their gazes distant. Gordon was studying his son intently, seemingly put out, and most likely debating if his son would really leave that stomach-churning note last night or not. Meghan inhaled deeply and took a bite of her french toast.

"So, what do you think we should do today?" Meghan asked, trying to ease the silence into chatter.

"The gingerbread house," Carly immediately suggested, more eagerly than usual.

Meghan looked at Gordon who nodded in approval. "Gingerbread house it is."

"I took the liberty of making it last night," Gordon told them, smiling. "I knew it would come up today."

So that was why Meghan heard him up and about past midnight. Although she disliked to admit it, Gordon was a better chef than her. She may make good soup, but he made scrumptious delights that could make the stomach beg for more any day.

"So, we can decorate it?" Carly asked, fidgeting excitedly.

"After breakfast," Meghan chided. She didn't want her skipping a meal out of eagerness to start on the project. "Will you be helping, Ryder?"

"He should help," Gordon spoke up, causing Ryder to scowl. "This is a family activity."

"I thought we aren't a family anymore?" the teenager inquired mockingly, directing the statement at the divorce.

Meghan sighed and set her bread down. "We are. Every family has some things to work through and we're just not an exception. Doesn't mean we're not a family."

Carly nudged her brother. She looked a little anxious, as if she didn't enjoy the tension that brought. "Come on, Ryder. It will be fun!"

Ryder looked at her, the scowl fading slightly. He had always had a soft spot for his little sister. Meghan watched him visibly slump over in defeat. Being a resilient, rebelling teenager was hard. "Fine. But only because Carly has been looking forward to this."

Meghan and Gordon nodded approvingly. Each year, the gingerbread house was always the best part of Carly's Christmas. At first, Meghan had thought it was because it was a delicious food they were making. When she had inquired of Carly, though, the answer was quite different. Her daughter loved the gingerbread house because she enjoyed the family working together to make a masterpiece in her eyes. She said that she didn't care about eating it.

It was the teamwork that she looked forward to most.

"Is Vixen going to stay with us?" Carly asked, looking over at the fawn snuggled beside to the fireplace.

"For now, he will have to. I need to figure out who the owner is. They're probably missing him," Gordon answered for Meghan. He scratched the top of his short, brown hair.

Gene-wise, the family was still quite different from one another. Each one of them had a different hair color from everyone else. Meghan had been asked if she had adopted her children before. At first, it was found offensive through her eyes, but she soon realized it was asked because of the differences in their appearances.

Meghan adjusted her glasses, making sure to not let the ends cling to her blond hair. Her eyesight just didn't work without them, and contacts only irritated her eyes.

"I'm done!" Carly announced through a mouthful of bread.

Meghan stifled a laugh. "Yes, I see that. Please try not to talk with your mouth full?"

Her daughter swallowed and smiled eagerly. "So, are we going to work on the gingerbread house?"

"Clear the table and we'll see," Gordon teased.

Of course, he still pitched in anyway to make it happen faster. When things were cleaned, he pulled the gingerbread house and toppings out of the cupboard. Meghan helped him set everything out before they began.

Carly delicately spread the white frosting over the roof of the large gingerbread house. Meghan passed the bowl of shredded coconut to Ryder who grudgingly grabbed some and, after Carly finished with the frosting, sprinkled it onto the roof to represent snow. Meghan helped too, coating the white roof with more coconut than intended.

"Gumdrops aren't even that good," Gordon said, lifting one up and popping it into his mouth.

"Dad!" Carly laughed. "Those are not for you!"

"Pfft, what? I thought this gingerbread house was all for me! So the gumdrops count," he deadpanned.

"No!" Carly giggled, nudging his arm. "You can't have it all!"

"But you made it for me." Gordon pretended to pout, sticking his bottom lip out.

Meghan grinned and wiped her hands onto her apron before grabbing the little wreath candy and pressing it into the "door" of the gingerbread house. As she added more candies, making sure it looked nice, something cold smeared across her neck. She gasped out loud and her hand fling to her neck to wipe some blue frosting away.

She swiveled around to glare at Gordon who pretended to be focused on watching Carly place a trail of candy down one side of the house. "Gordon!"

"What?" he innocently asked.

She watched him swipe some frosting out of the bowl and lick it off of his fingers. Shaking her head, she placed her hands on her hips. "Gordon, you act like the kids."

He gazed at her, his hand slowly coming up so that he could lick one more bit of frosting off of his thumb. Meghan laughed, giving up on him. When he wanted to be, he could be the goofiest guy she had ever known.

"I'm going to take the trash out," she told them instead, lifting the garbage bag out of the trash. She couldn't deal with the smell anymore.

Gordon made a sound of acknowledgment, too focused on the gingerbread house to look up at her. So she carried the bag past Vixen and toward the front door. As she opened it, a burst of cold air rushed across her body and she shivered, stepping outside. She made her way toward the trash can on the curb. Soft snowflakes clung to her hair and glasses as she tossed the heavy bag into the trash, giving a heave as she did so.

When she turned back to the house, she jumped, her heart jolting. A fawn rested on the sidewalk, shivering in the cold snow.

"Vixen?" Meghan hesitantly asked, stepping forward. How did he get out here?

As she approached him, some clouds passed over the sun and darkened the morning light. She crouched next to the baby. He looked up at her, clearly frightened. She furrowed her eyebrows. "How did you get out here? Come on. Let's get you back inside."

She scooped him up and cradled him against her. His warm fur thawed out her frozen palms as she moved back toward the front door. The driveway had a small coat of ice on it, making her walk more slowly so she didn't slip.

A clatter turned her attention to down the road. A glass bottle rolled into view from the curb, making its way loudly down the cement until it hit a pile of snow. After that, an eerie silence fell. Meghan swallowed, despite her mouth being dry, and subconsciously squeezed Vixen closer. No neighbor was in visible sight. It seemed that no one wanted to be outside right now. Just as she began to turn back up to the house, a figure slowly walked into view. Their movements were sluggish, a hoodie covering their face completely as their slim body swayed. Their long legs stepped around the corner and their body shifted in her direction.

Insecurity immediately flooded Meghan's body as she realized they were looking at her. No piece of skin was visible. Their body build was peculiar. As she stared at them, and they at her, a sudden moaning sound filled the street. The moan was raspy, sending a bone-chilling shiver across Meghan's body.

She turned away, breathing heavily, and raced toward the front door. She threw a glance over her shoulder and released a terrified scream as the figure was suddenly inches behind her, their long arms lifting slowly.

She yanked the front door open and raced inside, slamming it behind her. Without missing a beat, she bolted the locks on the door before yanking the curtains to the window shut.

"Meghan?" Gordon asked, moving toward her as she leaned against the wall, peeking through the curtains.

There was no one in sight.

She squeezed Vixen closer, her body trembling. Who was that? How were they so fast?

"Don't go outside," was the only thing she could manage whispering. She took deep breaths to try and calm her racing heart.

Gordon placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression that of concern. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Ryder and Carly inched closer. Her daughter let out a gasp as her eyes fell on Vixen. "Another fawn?"

Another fawn?

Meghan turned around. She gasped at the fawn resting by the fire, his leg wrapped in a bandage. She looked down at the fawn in her hands. There are two. Two fawns.

"What's going on?" Gordon questioned, literally speaking her mind.

She only shook her head, whispering, "Something is wrong here."

❄️☃❄️

Finally, I get to a teensy bit of "thrill."

I like to draw scenes from my books when I'm bored and taking a break from writing, so the above image is just a fun drawing I did November 1st when I felt like it. xD It's amateur, but whatever. :P

If you ever feel like drawing something from this book, do it! And let me know so I can post it in here!

Question: How do you like Carly? I love her. She's so innocent!