Title: Stars
Fandom: N/A
Characters: Maggie Jourdemain, her father Paul
Universe: Wolves in Eden
Prompt: 46. Star
Word Count: 823
Date finished: 02/25/2006
Rating: G
Summary: Maggie's first days in Eden haven't been fun - and it's COLD there! But then her father shows her a wonder she'd never known she was missing.
Author's Notes: It occurred to me, when I started this, that I'd left this rather important part of her experience out. She needs this experience - to get closer to her father, and to get used to living in Eden.
Disclaimer: N/A

But it seemed they'd finally gotten it right. Her mother's picture hung over the fireplace, flanked by one of all three of them and one of Maggie and her father. He'd kept the wedding picture in his room, and she didn't blame him. People asked fewer questions if they didn't see it.

The door opened, letting in cool air, and she protested wordlessly as she turned around. Her father grinned at her as he let the door close behind him. "Get your coat on, and shoes. I want to show you something."

She thought about protesting, but it had been so long since she'd heard her father use that tone - and even longer for the smile. No way was she going to lose that now. Besides, whatever her father wanted to show her was probably interesting, and she was bored. She pulled her shoes on and grabbed her sweater as he found her a flashlight; when he handed it to her was the first time she noticed he already held one. "It's dark out," he warned her.

It was pitch black. There was a little light over by the barn, and even less at the house, but between was darker than she'd ever experienced at home in San Diego. "This way," her father said, and she followed his flashlight, farther away from the light. After a short walk, he pulled her beside him, turned off his flashlight and directed her to turn off hers. "Now," he said softly, "look up."

Her jaw dropped open in surprise. The stars were so bright, and there were so many of them, that she barely recognized the sky as what she saw at home. She could actually see the Milky Way, something she'd never been able to see except at the planetarium, when she'd gone with her school class. She just stared, drinking in the starlight, until she got dizzy and sat down on the ground. It wasn't very comfortable, and the weeds hurt her hands when she leaned back and rested her hands behind her, but she didn't care, staring up at the night sky with unabashed pleasure.

"How did you know?" she asked after a few minutes. Her hands were beginning to get cold, too, and she couldn't ignore that for long.

"That's what the sky looks like in Montana, where I grew up," her father said. She could hear the smile in his voice.

"How did you ever leave?" she asked softly.

"I found something that shone just as brightly," he said. "Let's go in. I'll make hot chocolate."

The offer was more than she could resist. "Okay. Help me up?"

His hand was warm as it grasped hers, and she kept hold of it even as they walked back. "What shone just as brightly as the stars?" she asked.

He opened the door and ushered her into the warmth. "Your mother," he said. "Only something like love could have enticed me away from Montana, and what I loved there. My parents never liked that I left."

"Is that why we never went to visit them, and why we aren't there now, instead of here?"

Her father filled the teakettle and put it on the stove. He turned the burner on - it clicked for a few seconds, then lit and he turned the knob a little farther. "Partially. I was afraid they'd say something like 'I told you so.' They were sure she'd leave me."

Maggie rolled her eyes. "Even I could tell that wasn't going to happen," she said as she sat at the table.

He laughed and ruffled her hair. "But you can sense those things," he said. "My parents would be appalled to find out you had that talent. They are very… traditional."

"Is that another word for 'closed minded?'" she asked after a moment.

He chuckled, and she smiled, glad for that. "I suppose so, yes. And I wasn't much better until I met your mother, either, to be honest. I'm so glad I was able to accept some of the things about her - otherwise, I think you'd be a lot less happy." He reached for the chocolate mix and a spoon. "You are happy, aren't you?"

"I'm not glad we live here," she said slowly, as he spooned chocolate into the mugs. "I miss mom. But… I think I am as happy as it is possible for me to be."

He set the mugs on the table, and grabbed the teapot as it began to whistle. "Good," he said, and smiled at her. "So am I."

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