He tensed.

Was he such a monster that he could drive away his daughter's joy and laughter in a heartbeat?

Fredo strove with all his might to gentle the harsh lines of his features,yet the pain, self-loathing, was so strong that he was sure that Kelsia's too wise to discern it

"Daddy, I didn't mean to bring her outside. I only thought that- that she needed fresh air, that's all,  father." Kelsia stammered.

"Mr. Oliveira." Kate dust her sweater,a halo of simmering snow fluttering from every fold of it, her face alight with hope. "You're back early." She smiled.

For an instant he seemed to drown in the loveliness of her smile,warmed himself in the golden approval shinning in those green eyes.

"I forgot to take something,so I came back for it," his eyes never left Kate. "What's all this about?" He demanded, gesturing to the maze of footprints and snow strewn all over the kitchen wall and door.

"We're merely catching fun." Kate remarked. "We can make a snow man if you join us. It'll be wonderful,you know."

"No,thanks." Fredo started to turn away but a snowball caught him on his back.

Fredo found himself smiling,a real smile ever since the day Sancha left. Dusting his coat, he thought,Perhaps I have gone mad.

Moved by the devils he couldn't name,he bent down and made a snowball,straightened up and three it at Kelsia,who lost her balance and fell on the snow with a squeak.

"But I didn't do it,Daddy." She cried,thrusting one cold hand at Kate. "She did!"

"Is that so?" Fredo stalked Kate with a measured stride,he captured her just as she was about to run away. He scooped up a handful of snow and planted it squarely on her smiling face. Kate spluttered,but didn't make a move to leave his grasp.

Suddenly,they both stilled. Fredo's gaze dropped on her lips,he knew then that he wanted to kiss her. He had to admit that he came home because he had missed seeing her face and couldn't stop thinking about what Mary said and what Kate also said last night.

This was madness. Who's she? Where had she come from?  Damn,what in the living world was happening to him?

A frisson of pure terror sizzled through him.

"Kelsia,go inside and wait for us in the kitchen." Fredo said more harshly than he intended.

Kelsia stood up straight and stood very still. "Daddy,blame me but not her. It was my fault. I brought her out here..."

"Go inside." He said in a gentler tone.

Kelsia's gaze flickered briefly to Kate for reassurance, it was not until Kate nodded in approval did she run into the house.

"You deliberately defied me, Miss Donovan," Fredo said in measure tones. "I suppose I could be angry with you. However,I am man enough to admit when I am mistaken. You were right to play with Kelsia. I see that now."

"You do?" Kate's eyes widened to the extent that Fredo thought they would pop out of their sockets.

"Kelsia have been lonely for sometime now. She needs someone who can look after her."

"You mean that I should look after her? What about Amy?"

"Yes,to your first question. As for Amy,she travelled to her grandmother place in Washington and won't be back until late January."

Kate felt a stab of disappointment. He only wanted her to stay just to take care of his daughter. He saw that look alright.

"You seem to bring out the life in her." Fredo thrust his hands in the pockets of his slacks. "And she's quite attached to you."

"She's a darling child. Affectionate and tenderhearted. You're lucky to have a child like her. But when you said I can leave when I am feeling alright," Kate took a deep breath. "I was thinking of leaving tomorrow."

Why was the noting of her leaving suddenly alarming?

"Then I am telling you to stay,or rather asking you to stay." He said with a half smile.

"I don't know what to say." Kate stared up at him with an eternity of secrets on her face,secrets that seemed to arouse his curiosity, to make him discover what she's hiding.

"So?" Asked Fredo,gently.

"Alright,I'd stay. But I would on one condition." Kate said.

Fredo's brows furrowed. "And that is?"

"You must play with us every once in a while," she smiled at him. "Do you have any Christmas decoration in this house?"

Fredo stared at her as if she was some maniac. "Of course. After me."

Kate followed him into the house to find Kelsia pacing to and fro in the kitchen with a worried look on her face.

"Kel,come help me and your father find the Christmas tree,will ya?" Kate said in a fake accent making Kelsia giggle.

Fredo felt a stab of jealousy when Kelsia slipped her hand into Kate's outstretched hand. He turned away before either of the could see his face and took them up to the attic. Once they were inside, he pointed to several boxes and the Christmas tree that sat covered in dust.

As much as he craved to join them,he had to get back to work. "I have to go now." He said,once he got to the door.

Kate clasped her hand in front of her. "Thank you,Mr. Oliveira."

"You're welcome." He hesitated. "Is that all you would be needing?"

Kate shook her head. "I was wrong about what I said to you last night. You don't have a cold heart and are not selfish. You're quiet the opposite."

Fredo nodded before closing the door on his way out.

All the way to the hospital,he was smiling like a loony.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~

December 18th 2013.
05: 01.

"It looks beautiful!" Kelsia exclaimed when Kate switched the lights on.

Kate stared at the glimmering Christmas light with approval radiating off her. They managed to set up the Christmas tree after cleaning the dust and cobwebs. Setting it up proved to be a bit difficult but they did it. Kate decided to call it a day after she went back into the attic for the last box which contained ribbons,fake hollies and mistletoes.

"Yes,beautiful." Kate beamed at the girl. "I will run real quick to get the last box in the attic and then we would make hot cocoa and eat the leftovers of her cookies, deal?"

"Deal. "Kelsia never took her eyes off the tree.

Kate couldn't stop smiling on her way up. It felt nice that Fredo was willing to change for his daughter. Very soon,they would be happy and... No way!

She didn't just wish that she was a part of their family,did she?

Shaking her head in denial, Kate opened the door to the attic,walked over to the big brown box to carry it. It was then she saw the army green carton,sitting under a rocking chair. Curious about what could be in it, she picked it up,set it down on the chair, and blew away the dust on the cover.

Some of the dust got into Kate's nose making her cough. It wasn't labeled. Kate opened the lid. There were several hair combs,pins,a bottle of unused perfume in it and some jewelry. What really captured her attention was a framed picture,which was facing down.

Kate reached for it. It was then Kelsia burst in through the door,panting.

"Kate, I..." Kelsia trailed off at the sight of Kate on her knees. "What are you doing?"

Kate replaced the lid of the box and returned it to where she picked it from. She got to her feet.

"Nothing, why?"

"O-okay." Kelsia gestured to the last box. "Come on,let's go. I am very hungry."

Kate laughed as she picked the box up. "Lead the way,my little hungry monster."

Somehow,calling Kelsia hers felt right to Kate. But she knew that would never be,no matter how hard she wished for it.

"What did you tell father to make him show you where the Christmas tree is?" Kelsia asked,when they got to the landing of the stairs.

"Nothing. I guess God intervened." Kelsia didn't need the details of the awful things she said to Fredo.

"This is so fun!" Kelsia squealed in delight.

"Yeah," Kate set the box down and ruffled Kelsia hair. "We're changing Christmas this year."