#anywhere

She retreats to get her coat, and returns very quickly. Her hands keep curling and uncurling into fists, all of her anxiety channelled there and away from her blank stone of an expression

He puts a hand on her shoulder "You deserve to know... it turns out I didn't propose to her on Samhain after.all. I...it's long and complicated or maybe simple and embarrassing, but I thought I had, and she thought I had..and here you are caught in the middle. And I thought about leaving you out to keep you from hurting, but I think I hurt you anyway. I'm sorry, I'm new at this family stuff"

"S'fine." Subdued.

"No, it's not, but it will be" He says "I'm not being a great dad. New to it still. I'll make it up to you, but let's go get the last part of our family, shall we?"

A nod.

They head towards the lodge.

It is cold, and grim, and both father and daughter don't realize how alike their sullen faces are

Trudge.

Trudge.

(And to the RV room)

-----------

Twas much time before Christmas, and while he was tired, the satyr moved on, his glamour not yet expired. One time he was a wilder, a passionate young buck, ever eager to find some saucy lass with which to ....

say hi to.

But now he was older, a wiser dignified grump. And some urges were more easily controlled, though he still liked to ...

say hi to a lot attractive people.

But through the crowds Bachdion trotted all full of cheer, eyeing gifts for those he held dear.

He was eyeing some a dress, backless by chance, wondering if Sparrow would like it for the next time she danced?

When what to his dashing gaze came came into view, but the look of a fellow named Billy McShu. Now Billy was miserable, but his dreams they were bursting. While outward he sad, for Christmas love he was thirsting.

Bachdion could tell that Billy was packing, that is bags of stuff he was holding for the girl he was lacking. Yonder in the distance, a pretty young lass, was shopping with joy, there was Billy, being a good boy.

"You came in here with her," Bachdion observed, "Yet you're feeling alone. Not to be one o those guys, but I suspect you've been zoned."

"It's true," sighed Billy, "And it's such a pain. I get that she does't really OWE me anything. I should be satisfied, but i think we could be great if we only tried. "

Bachdion raised a brow, "So you're not one of those guys, who thinks that because they're nice, she should run right to your arms. Someone taught you right. I'll tell you what, Billy my boy. Only she can choose to love you, her heart's a gift not a toy. But it's a season of giving, and I'm something of a teacher. I can show you how to bring out, your more seductive inner creature."

Billly was stunned ,"Oh sir you don't know me, I'm a masculine shame. She deserves mister smooth, but I have no game!"

The Satyr poo poooed, "Please, my dear lad. You have hidden talents waiting to be honed, and while she might not be the one who appreciates them, some lady somewhere you'd surely bo...bring some joy to." He coughs "Give me a few days, to put you through a few paces, to show you how YOU, can get a woman's heart racing. I've turned choir boys into sex machines.. ohyes, i's true. And if I could help him... I can help you."

"You really think so?" Billy wanted to so to agree, "I only want one girl, she's caught my heart you see? But I'd like to please her, so she would never regret, picking me above all men from the whole guys' set."

"Well, a happy ending I cannot always ensure, but for having no game? THAT I can cure!"

And hands were clasped, a deal was struck. A satyr was sure, he could change one mortal's luck. As for the satyr, well, while not the gifts of his choosing, there's something to be said, for holiday musing.

............