"I'm afraid it's been awhile since I've had coffee," Gretel admitted. She normally drank tea. "But if it's not too much trouble, I'd be glad to share some."

He gave a brisk nod, plodding through the snow towards the coffepot, which hung over a fire. His sandals were not useful for snow; thus he had wrapped canvas around his feet. After a moment he returned with a tin cup, handed it to her. The Arabian stallion, whom had been wandering about, snorted at the visitor, his ears pricked, alert.

Jo watched them in silence.

Gretel looked at the stallion, smiled. "That is a handsome animal," she stated. "What is his name?"

"Ali." Saida stated. A fluid gesture brought the horse trotting up to him, his tail raised and his ears still pricked. "Thank you."

((Time Skip))

December 25, 1863

While it isn't snowing, there is snow on the ground from earlier that month coating the ground, patted down in places where many feet have fallen. It is early Christmas morning.

Saida--a follower of Islam--honestly had nothing to do with Christmas in any way and or fashion. However, he still wanted Jo and Gretel to enjoy it, thus he left his tent, nodded in greeting. "Merry Christmas."

Jo opened her eyes when she heard his voice and turned her head to look at him, smiling slightly. "Merry Christmas to you too."

Saida grunted in reply. this was no special day to him, just...another day, and he knew that the same applied for Gretel, she would have celebrated Yule about four days ago. There was almost a sense of guilt that Jo did not get to spend her Christmas with people that celebrated it; almost.

Charlie headed into the meadow with frustration searing hot in his throat. Why the hell was he even doing this? He certainly didn't love Josephine and he certainly didn't give a whittler's damn about the child. "Josephine."

At the sound of the voice, Jo's head shot up and she turned quickly, her eyes locking onto Charlie in a second. The surprise of seeing him reflected on her face although also a sense of joy rose within her. He'd come to find her! Maybe something could actually change! "Charlie!" Jo moved towards him.

"Josephine. Don't touch me." Charlie said, withdrawing a wad of bills. "This is for the child. Twenty-five dollars. I won't be seeing you, or it, again."

"Charlie..." She froze, unsure of what to do as she stared at the money. "It's your child as much as mine... What will I say if it asks who it's father is one day?"

"That's your descision," He stated coldly, turning on his heel.

"I want you to be there!" Jo called after him, "In some way! You can't just walk away and hide from it forever!"

"I'm not hiding from it. But Jo, you were five years older than me at the time and you threw yourself at me like a badwoman. Think about that," he stated icily, casting a last glare over his shoulder.

Jo made no move to follow him, although she tried once more to make him understand. "You wanted me too then, until you found out about the child! You're just afraid of what it means for you! You're too afraid to face it!"

"I wanted you but I never loved you! I've seen prettier women than you, Josephine, much prettier women! But there's a thing as desperation! You should learn it sometime!" His lip curled, "I'm not afraid to face it! I'm over fear now! It's your fault more than mine and you're its mother. You're taking care of it. Goodbye!"

There were no words to say as the tears started to come again, blearing her vision so that his retreating form swam before her eyes. She sank to knees on the ground and buried her head into both hands, the tears still coming. It was clear that he was never going to love her, even though she still loved him and knew that she always would. But there was nothing there for her and he didn't want anything to do with her. The only joy of their short love would be looking for a part of him in the child, and remembering what it was like to be in his arms. That was all she had left.

Gretel stepped forward, placing a hand on Jo's shoulder as she watched Charlie's retreating back. She had overheard most of their conversation.

While she felt the hand on her shoulder, Jo didn't look up. She wasn't sure what to do, except keep moving on and try to get over the fact that she wasn't likely to ever see Charlie again. But she wanted to hope and love him, no matter how much it broke her heart. That was the problem, she couldn't stop loving him, no matter what he did or said to her.

"Twenty-five dollars." Gretel mused. "That's almost two whole months' pay. Even if he doesn't care for you, he at least gave that much."

"The money isn't important to me," Jo said, looking up at her then with a tear-streaked face. "I want him to care, and he doesn't. Money can't make me happy like his love would be able to. Does he want the child to grow up without a father?"

Saida approached them both from behind, watching with a keen expression. "He did not have to return," the tribesman remarked after a moment, "The fact that he did accounts for something." He the lord has his own plans for all of us. It will work in the end.

"Saida's right," Gretel said softly. "Even if he doesn't plan to stay, he's helped you in the way he can. That will count for something."

"I wish that he would stay though." Jo's voice was soft.

Gretel nodded. "But we all have our duties. His is to the army. And yours is to your child. Duty and loyalty are not the same, though they often collide and tangle."

Jo sighed softly and looked down at her stomach, putting a hand over where the baby was. "I still love him, that will never change."

Gretel nodded gently. "I know," she answered.

"Love and stability are two different things." Saida remarked, speaking up after a moment. The Arab watched them both. "The latter, being the more important in a relationship. That will never be between you, and neither will love. My father didn't love my mother but we were a stable tribe unit. Without stability, what do you think would have happened?" His dark eyes seemed to deepen. "You may love him all you like but knowing this, your child will only suffer if you act that way around it."

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