Who: Maddy, Neil, Fi, Caleb, Jeff & Open
Where: Maddy & Neil's home
When: Morning
What: Merry Christmas!

Maddy was in the kitchen, hard at work making breakfast for her family and friends. Christmas music was playing as she made every breakfast item she could think off, delicious smells wafting through the house. She was giving Bruno bacon and sausage so he was close to her, happily eating any tidbit put his way.

Who: Maddy & Jeff
When: Afternoon
Where: Maddy's Home/Hotel
What: Maddy calls to invite her dad for Christmas

Maddy sat in the kitchen, the evidence of the days baking all around her. The whole house had the smell of cookies to it. On the table were the multitude of cookie baskets she made for everyone every year. She smiled at the biggest one with the most ribbons....it was for her dad.

Speaking of. She grabbed the phone and dialed the cell number he had given her. She wanted to invite him for Christmas. If she couldn't have her mom with her this year, she could have her dad...

Who: Ava & Jeff
Where: The hotel
When: Morning
What: A talk

( Ever since I was a baby girl I had a dream )

Who: Jeff
When: Midday
Where: Mysteria Graveyard
What: Jeff visits the woman he loves.



Jeff's stomach was in his feet as he moved through the gravestones, a bouquet of flowers in his hands. It was cold and windy, but he felt colder inside, especially when his eyes finally fell on a familiar name.

He stopped, staring at the stone. Her name, which had always been the most beautiful he'd ever heard, had been delicately carved into the polished rock. The date of her death crushed him. He'd been so late... there'd never been a chance of him seeing her again. Maybe she meant for it to be that way, or maybe it was just gross oversight. Either way....

He lay the flowers at her headstone carefully, then knelt, slowly brushing the snow off her grave marker as tears burned at his eyes. He pushed them back, though, not wanting to making a scene in front of her, even if she wasn't in front of him. He knew she was probably looking down on him, now, and he could only pray that she wasn't cursing him for abandoning her and their daughter.

Stepping back he looked at her grave, then up at the sky, as if she might appear in a swirling mist and bright light. If only... he had so much to say to her, so much to atone for. Maybe Maddy would give him the chance. He had to admit, though, that it didn't look like that was happening.

Looking at the tomb again he sighed, then bowed his head. "I miss you," he murmured, touching the top of the stone, then turning and inhaling deeply. Time to go get the supplies for dinner. Ava would be home soon and he made it a point to be there waiting for her. The hotel room wasn't a real home, but it was still all they had for now. Yet another failing.

Who: Jeff and Maddy
When: Late afternoon
Where: Maddy's Hospital Room
What: Another attempt to talk.


Jeff closed his eyes, giving a soft prayer before entering the hospital room, seeing Maddy in her bed, as beautiful and fragile as ever. He walked in silently, relieved that he'd finally caught her alone for a moment. Settling a pink unicorn on her table he took a deep breath, then turned and looked at her.

His lips parted, he intended to tell her that he loved her. He couldn't get it out. Then he wondered if he should tell her how much he loved her mother, and how he'd never wanted to leave them. Again, not a sound escaped him. He closed his mouth, trying to word in his head how he wasn't going to abandon her again, how he wanted to know to, to take care of her, and be the father he never was while she was growing up. He wanted to explain that he'd only left because her mother had asked him to, and that every day of his life he'd woken and wondered about her. He could love and nurture Ava all he liked, focusing on her, but he could never forget that somewhere out there was a little girl that he hadn't been able to do anything for.

He looked at his hands, the small box sitting in them dusty. It hadn't been opened in a long time. Inside was the ring he'd bought Claire when he found out she was pregnant. She'd turned it down, told him to return it, but he hadn't been able to. He'd always prayed she'd change her mind, call him, want it again. Now that would never happen, but the promise of being there could still be made to their daughter.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, putting the box down on the bed, within Maddy's reach if she chose to take it.

Who: Maddy & Family
When: Afternoon
Where: Mysteria Hospital
What: Maddy wakes up after her drug overdose.

It was dark. Everything hurt. Pain? Pain meant she wasn't dead. That was good. Maddy didn't want to be dead. But everything hurt. She heard beeping. What was beeping? Was she in the hospital? Was her mom being gone all a dream? Why else would she be in the hospital.

It felt like trying to swim through tar. The beeping got louder. She heard noises. Voice. Maybe she had just fallen asleep in the chair again looking over her mom. That's why everything hurt. The chair was uncomfortable.

She needed to open her eyes. To see her mom. It was all just a bad dream. Her mom was still here. A groan came form her. Why did everything hurt so much? Very very slowly her brown eyes began to open. She saw the ceiling. Was she on the floor? "Mommy?" she called weakly, trying to make her muddled mind work.

Who: Jeff, Maddy, and Caleb
When: Evening, around 6ish

Where: Outside Maddy's House

What: A Missing Father returns to his Daughter



Jeff turned off the car, sitting and staring up at the house. It was just like he remembered it being 17 years ago, though he could only guess how things had changed inside. For a moment he couldn't move, a could sweat breaking as he clutched Claire's letter. There was another letter for Maddy, but that was in his pocket. He wouldn't need it, he was sure of it. All he had to do was get up, go to the door, find the woman he'd been dreaming of since he'd left... and see their daughter. Then Claire would be alright and he could work to bring his family together like he'd always wanted.

But first he had to get up. For a moment he wished Ava were here, but he reminded himself that whatever was waiting for him inside, it probably wasn't going to be comfortable till they'd all talked. And she'd wanted to stay behind....

The man bowed his head, then finally got out, shutting the door and nervously straightening his suit and checking himself in the rearview mirror. Deciding he looked good enough he pulled out the large bouquet of white lilies, Claire's favorite, and a smaller bouquet or roses for Maddy. Going up to the front door he took a deep breath, feeling like his knees were going to give out or he'd be sick to his stomach.

Finally he inhaled and knocked on the door. "Alright... you can do this, Jefferson, you can do this...."