A/N: Hey guys! So I am currently right smack in the middle of finals' week at school, and thus I have had zero time to update my current story "Finding Our Way." But, my last exam is tomorrow, so expect me to devote some serious time to it come winter vacation :) Anyway, the idea for this one-shot came to me the other day while I was taking a study break, and I just decided to go with it...I felt like it needed to be written. It's a spin-off from Chapter 10 of FOW when Laurie talks about her trip to Yellowstone with her parents and grandparents. You can read this without having read FOW, but in terms of background information, reading the first few chapters of FOW first would probably be helpful. I hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Except for Laurie, who, I might add, is pretty cute as a 10 year old.

Winter Vacations

Lauren's POV

"I think this seriously redefines my idea of cold," Mom says, teeth chattering, as we walk out of the airport in Jackson, Wyoming.

It's the middle of December, and, as of about a month ago, Mom's parents decided they needed to make a winter trip out to Yellowstone. According to my grandmother, since my parents are both working parents, they don't get out enough so it was only natural that we should go with them. Either that or Bizzy probably would have bargained to take just me, and well me being me, their "ever-charming only grandchild," it would have been hard to let her down. And I think Mom knew this, so here we are.

"Oh Addison stop complaining, the fresh air will do you some good," Bizzy says, in the middle of yelling at our driver to make sure the suitcases get loaded properly.

"Oh I can think of a lot of things that would do me some good," Mom mutters. Even though I'm only ten years old, I can tell she means alcohol, and lots of it.

"Let's just make sure your mother survives this week without getting an ulcer," Dad whispers to me, making me giggle. We've already been over this. I'm to be on my best behavior – "When am I ever not?!" I joked to Dad - and spare Mom any added stress. Her parents give her enough.

Unfortunately, Mom hears Dad whisper and me giggle, and puts two and two together.

"And just what are you laughing at?" She comes over and stands next to me, tickling my ribs.

I laugh again, louder this time as it starts to snow and a flake falls on my nose. "Nothing, nothing! Dad said it...Mom stop!"

As soon as I rat him out, Dad immediately puts a hand on the small of Mom's back and kisses her temple before she can give him "the look."

"It's only because we love you, honey," he says, and she nudges his arm, playfully.

"If you three are done playing around like immature teenagers, we're ready to go," Bizzy gives us a look. Her and the Captain, my grandfather, both slide in the middle row and I squeeze in between my parents in the back. Taking off my snow-covered hat, I rest my head against Dad's shoulder and snuggle into him to warm up. Before I know it I'm dozing off as we begin the drive to our cabin.

The word "cabin" is an understatement. This place is huge; five bedrooms (two master), four bathrooms, large windows in the living room that look out into the mountains, you name it, this place has it.

Later in the evening, once it's gotten dark and we're sitting around the dining room table having dinner, Dad tries to make nice. "Wow Bizzy, you've outdone yourself once again."

"Well don't thank her, thank my company. It's their cabin," the Captain says before taking another sip of scotch. "So Lauren," he continues after taking a sip, intentionally not using my nickname – he and Bizzy never do. "How is school going?" I know how serious he is about education, since Mom and her older brother - my Uncle Archer - are both Ivy League graduates. And since the Captain is a doctor himself.

"It's good," I respond, in between bites of cooked carrot. "We had our state-wide tests a couple of weeks ago." Mom and Dad are looking at me now too, because I didn't tell them about this. "My teacher, she um, she said I tested at a 10th grade reading level." I blush and look down sheepishly, I've never really been one to brag about my being smart – Dad does enough of that for me – I've just always really loved school.

"Laurie!" Mom turns to me, smiling. "That's incredible, why didn't you say anything?"

"I don't know," I say modestly. "It wasn't a big deal."

"Why of course it's a big deal," the Captain tells me from the end of the table. "You should never be afraid to show off your smarts, young lady. You'll go far in life." He nods at me.

"And you're still playing that ridiculous sport I assume?" Bizzy asks tartly, taking a sip of her wine.

"She enjoys it Bizzy, just leave her alone about it," Mom answers for me. Bizzy has always hated me playing soccer – she thinks it's not proper for a young lady to "run around in the mud."

"I want to play for Stanford one day," I tell my grandmother proudly.

"Hmm well at least you'll be attending a real school."

"Now what is that supposed to mean, Bizzy?" Mom interjects again. I can sense an argument brewing between the two of them, something I've seen all too many times, much to my parents' dismay.

"Just what I said dear. But let's not compare your daughter's prospects to your college education; that's all in the past now."

I can tell Mom is getting worked up by the clanking of her silverware that's getting increasingly louder.

"And Addison don't clank your silverware, it's not polite." Bizzy's talking to Mom like she's the 10 year old here, and it's starting to annoy me. Fortunately, Dad opens his mouth before I can say anything.

"Bizzy there is absolutely nothing wrong with Yale. Your daughter is brilliant, and if your granddaughter ever wants to go there, she'll be brilliant too. So let's just drop it, okay." It's more of a statement than a question, and I'm sure Mom appreciates it.

"Yeah, and I mean if soccer doesn't work out, I could always take up a singing career," I smirk.

The chorus of simultaneous "no's" throughout the room is like music to my ears. At least everyone can all agree on something, even if it is my tone-deaf vocal cords.

A few hours after dinner Bizzy and the Captain, and then Dad all decide to head up to bed. He and Mom are going skiing early tomorrow morning and he said he wanted to get "plenty of rest."

"Ha, you're just scared you'll get beat by a girl," Mom teased.

"I'll have you know Dr. Shepherd that I was a very good skier back in my day, so no, not scared, just sleep deprived," Dad smirked and kissed her on the lips, long enough to make me turn my head in disgust.

"Honestly Addison look at the example you're setting for your daughter," Bizzy walked by, heading towards the stairs. "It's inappropriate the way the two of you are always-"

"Bizzy!" Mom interrupts her, eyes wide as quarters and jerking her head in my direction, as I sit on the couch with a book.

"Whatever dear, it's your fault not mine. Now I'm off to bed, the both of you goodnight."

Dad comes and kisses me on the forehead. "Goodnight, bookworm. Don't stay up all night."

"Night, Daddy," I giggle. "And I make no guarantees, it's Tolkien."

About an hour later Mom and I sit snuggled together on the couch in front of the fire, swaddled in a blanket with her arm wrapped behind me and around my middle. Looking out the window I notice it's snowing outside.

I've just finished Book I of the Fellowship of the Ring when something I've been thinking about a lot lately pops into my head, and I can no longer keep it to myself. I close my book and wrap my arm around Mom.

"Mom?"

"Hmm?" She responds without taking her eyes off her page.

"Do you…I mean I was just wondering, do you think Rinny would have liked it here?" My voice gets quieter as I finish the question. I feel her stiffen slightly next to me, and she sets her book down, peering at me through the reading glasses perched on her nose. I don't mean to upset her, or anyone for that matter, by asking about my sister, but every time I travel to a new place, I can't help but wonder this.

"I…I think she would have, yeah," Mom sighs. I can tell the question caught her off guard.

"She'd always get so excited for Christmas, and she'd wake me up so early," I smile, remembering, and Mom lets out a small laugh, wrapping her other arm around me.

"I remember one year when we-" I start, but then cover my mouth with one hand as if I were giving away a secret, which I guess, in a way I am.

"When you what?"

"Oh nothing…" I giggle.

"Lauren Maureen," Mom tickles me, making me laugh some more.

"Mommy!"

"I'm not gonna stop until you tell me, you know."

"Okay, okay! That year when we made you the jewelry box and Daddy the coffee mug, well…Rin forgot to put them under the tree, so on Christmas morning she woke me up when it was still dark out and we snuck downstairs. She said we were just gonna put the presents under the tree and run back to our room in case Santa hadn't come yet, but when we got there he had already came and we…we didn't open anything but we picked through our stuff!" The last part comes out like one word, like I'm admitting to a crime, which I guess back then when I still believed in Santa, I would have been. "It was her idea!"

"You did not!" Mom gasps dramatically as I look up at her and blush. She's smiling, but I can see her eyes glistening with unshed tears and I immediately feel bad for bringing up Rinny.

"Oh. Mom I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought her up." I lean my head against her chest.

"No, honey, it's fine," she sniffs and then kisses the top of my head, my red hair matching hers. "I don't ever want you to feel like you can't talk about Rinny, even to me. Okay?" I nod against her chest.

"I miss her so much," I whisper. "She was my best friend. She wasn't supposed to leave me. She was supposed to drag me to those stupid ballet classes forever."

I can tell Mom is trying really hard not to cry in front of me, which only makes me feel worse. I appreciate her wanting me to talk to her, but I don't like seeing her like this.

"I know," she whispers so her voice won't betray her, and rubs my back gently. "I miss her too."

I close my eyes and hug Mom tighter, listening to her heartbeat. Being here makes me appreciate her more, since I have to witness firsthand the type of mother she was forced to grow up with. I am incredibly lucky. We stay snuggled together in silence for a while and I start to doze off, until another question comes up, one that I think will make her feel better.

"Mom?"

"What is it, baby?" She rubs my back.

"Could you maybe, teach me how to ski tomorrow? Please?"

She laughs and kisses my head again. "Why, I would love nothing more, Miss Shepherd."

I smile and start to doze again leaning against her. "Thanks. I love you."

"I love you, too." Mom rests her cheek against my head. I'm just about asleep when I hear her whisper something, thinking I'm already out.

"I hope you know how special you are to me, baby girl."

"Okay Laurie, now we've gone over the basics, and Mom's waiting for you at the bottom. Do you think you can get down by yourself?" Dad waits next to me on his skis as we stand at the top of the mountain's bunny hill. I let out a breath, some of it fogging up the inside of my goggles.

"I think so."

"You think or you know?" He's testing me, like he does when I'm stuck on a tough math problem.

"I know," I tell him after a moment. "But all of this gear makes me feel like the abominable snowman." I pull at my very puffy ski jacket and Dad chuckles.

"Just remember if you feel yourself falling try to lean so that you fall facing up the mountain. But we're not gonna think about that, because that's not gonna happen," he winks at me.

"Um, Dad, I saw you fall on this hill like an hour ago. Mr. I-was-a-very-good-skier-back-in-my-day…and I've already fallen seven times. Who's to say it won't happen again?" I'm nervous.

"Well, I say it's not going to happen again because as of right now, I'm enforcing a new law. You're only allowed to fall on this mountain seven times, and you've already done that, so you're set." I give him a look, which he ignores.

"Now on the count of three you're gonna go, and I'll follow behind you, okay?"

"Okay. I'm ready."

A little more encouragement and a count to five later, and I'm off. Trying my hardest to keep at an angle and not plummet straight down, I feel almost as though I'm flying. The sky is a clear blue and the air is so crisp, I know I'd be able to see my breath if my mouth wasn't covered up. As I pick up speed, I feel as though nothing can touch me, nothing can hurt me. I hear Dad cheering in the background from the top of the hill.

About halfway down, I pass a group of young kids in a ski lesson. A couple of them glance at me and smile and I smile back through the scarf covering my mouth, as if they were silently encouraging me. I'm a little wobbly, but so far no falling. I feel like nothing can make me fall now.

Almost a minute later, I see Mom at the bottom waving at me. Still in her skis, she leans against one of her poles. As I get closer to the bottom, I yell her name, willing her to watch, even though I already know she'll never take her eyes off of me.

"You're almost there, Laurie!" She shouts as I get closer.

I try to slow myself down, listening to the smooth sound of my skis against the snow. I can't believe how nervous I was for this – it's so exhilarating. Turning into a stop, I immediately unclip my boots and run over to Mom, who does the same. The adrenaline has me on a high.

"I did it!" I shout, as I run into her arms and tackle hug her to the ground.

"I'm so proud of you, sweetheart," she smiles, lying down next to me and wiping snow from her eyes. "I knew you could do it."

I turn towards her. "Yeah, I was starting to think I was eating more snow than skiing on it. Turns out, skiing on it is so much more fun."

Just then, Dad meets us at the bottom and unclips his boots, lying down on the ground and sandwiching me between him and Mom.

"So ladies, what's the verdict?"

"It looks like we have a little pro on our hands," Mom says proudly. "She did it, no falls, no nothing."

"Really? Well sign her up for the next Winter Olympics."

"Oh very funny," I nudge his arm. "But first, let's head back up to the top." I sit up. "I wanna race you."

Thanks for reading! Reviews would make this week so much better :)