"It's really coming down out there... I'm probably going to have to do some major shoveling if I want to get customers to the shop tomorrow morning... though, I doubt many people will be coming to buy flowers when they'll need to shovel snow just to get out of their houses..." Mercy mused to herself as she stared out at the snow piling up outside her window.

She had been running the flower shop she was living above for a few years now and it was going rather well. It wasn't all that well known, but she still made enough money from it in order to keep herself and the business afloat. She just was glad people hadn't found out about her relationship just yet as that would likely bring down business quite a bit.

Currently, Mercy had a small fire in her fireplace going in her living room, being curled up under a blanket as she watched the snowstorm raging outside her window. Though, soon enough, something had caught her eye. It was a small figure collapsed in the snow.

Concerned, Mercy grabbed a coat and boots and went outside to investigate, the snow and wind whirling around her. Upon reaching the figure, she had discovered that it was a small girl, as skinny and dirty as could be with what seemed like burn scars on her body and old and worn rags for clothes.

A pitying look overtaking her features, Mercy gently lifted up the child, who was shivering badly by this point, holding her close to preserve some warmth as she headed back to her house. Once back home, Mercy gently set the child down in front of the fireplace, wrapping her in a large fluffy blanket to warm her up. she had also placed a warm, wet cloth on the child's forehead. With that, Mercy simply took to watching over the child as the snowstorm outside raged on.

A few hours later of Mercy keeping a watchful eye on the child, making sure she was doing alright, the child finally awoke. She groggily rubbed at her fiery orange eyes before tensing, immediately on high alert as she got a look at her surroundings.

Noticing Mercy, the child began to back away from her until she noticed the fire in the fireplace and scrambled away from it, an absolutely terrified expression on her face. Mercy approached the child slowly, doing her best to calm her down.

"Hey, it's alright, little one. I won't hurt you and neither will the fire. You had collapsed outside in the snow, so I figured it'd be best to bring you inside and warm you up a little. We'll probably have to go to the doctor soon, though, just to make sure you'll be okay. There's a clinic nearby that we can get some help at." Mercy spoke in a warm voice, a soft smile on her face.

The child remained silent as she stared wide-eyed at Mercy, trembling violently, though Mercy figured it was mostly from fear. Trying to calm the child down a little more, Mercy asked. "Do you have a name?"

The child nodded and responded in a soft, trembling voice. "N-name Faith."

"Faith? That's a beautiful name. I'm Mercy." Mercy responded, extending a hand out to shake.

Faith tensed slightly as Mercy extended her hand, but soon enough relaxed and tentatively shook it. "Pwetty name, too..."

That warm smile remained on Mercy's face. "Thank you... so, Faith, are you hungry? I can easily make some warm food and hot chocolate for you if you are."

Faith tentatively nodded in response, just as a loud growl emanated from her stomach. Mercy let out a soft laugh. "Alright, then, I'll get something made for you. Is there anything in particular that you'd like?"

"Veggie soup?" Faith suggested, a bit of a nervous look on her face.

"Alright, veggie soup it is. I'll be back in a few moments. Feel free to explore in the meantime, alright?" Mercy responded before heading off to her kitchen.

A few minutes later, Mercy had reemerged from the kitchen, a large bowl of vegetable soup and mug of hot chocolate in hand. Though, she paused as she noticed Faith had found one of the old stuffed animals she had as a kid that she had set on a shelf. The young girl stared at the small stuffed kitten, her eyes practically sparkling.

Setting the bowl and cup down, Mercy spoke up. "Oh, hey, you found the old plush kitten I had as a kid. I think I was around... maybe six when I got this?" She picked up the plush, a wistful, yet slightly sad look in her eyes. Though she soon shook her head slightly, clearing her mind of whatever memories were going though it as she handed the plush to Faith. "Here, it's a bit old and dusty, but I think it should go to someone who can cherish it as much as I did."

Faith looked at Mercy with a stunned expression for a few moments before a wide grin formed on her face and she cuddled close to the plush. "Tankoo..." she spoke softly, smiling shyly at Mercy.

"No problem. Now, I've got the soup and hot chocolate ready, so why don't you eat before it gets all cold? Trust me, they'd be much better warm." Mercy suggested, grabbing the bowl and mug she had brought into the living room and placing them on the coffee table near Faith.

Nodding, Faith did as suggested, quickly beginning to eat as if this was the first decent meal she'd had in years.

"Hey, I'd slow down a bit, Faith... it's still pretty hot... and you don't want to make yourself sick by eating so fast." Mercy responded in a bit of a concerned manner. Thankfully, Faith seemed to listen and do as suggested, slowing down just a bit as she ate and finishing the food rather quickly.

"Alright, well, I suppose a bath is in order now... um... hold on a second, I'm going to go find you some clean clothes to change into, alright?" Mercy said before heading off to her room. She rummaged through the back of her closet for a few moments before finding some old clothes that looked like they would fit Faith. Afterwards, she returned to the living room.

"Okay, I found a little nightgown for you and I've also got some clothes for tomorrow ready for when we go visit the doctor. I'm not sure how well they'll fit since they were clothes I wore as a kid, but we'll have to make do for now. Now, let's go get that bath started." she said to Faith before heading over to the bathroom. Faith quietly nodded in response and followed after her.

Once inside, Mercy was quick to get a bath started, making sure it was an alright temperature before turning to Faith. "Alright, let's get you cleaned up. Let me know if the water's too hot or too cold, okay?" Nodding, Faith got undressed, tentatively stepping into the bathtub.

"How's the water? Is it alright?" Mercy asked, receiving another nod from Faith. With that, Mercy got to work, helping Faith wash up, deciding to strike up a conversation to get to know the girl better in the meantime.

"So, Faith... how did you even end up in such a storm? Don't you have a home to go to stay warm? Do your parents even know you're out here dressed like this?" she asked in a gentle manner.

Faith shook her head. "No mama... no papa... no home..." she responded, tears beginning to fil her eyes.

"O-oh, dear, I'm sorry if that brought up bad memories... um... well, I know there's an orphanage nearby with a really nice lady running it... maybe we could go there tomorrow? I'd offer to take you in, but you don't know me that well... and I'm not in the best place to raise children right now..."

"No! No orfange! No like!" Faith practically howled, splashing the water a bit.

"Faith, wouldn't you like to be somewhere safe--" Mercy began, but was cut off by a knock on the door. She sighed. There was only one person she knew who would come over this late, but she didn't expect him to be crazy enough to come over during a snowstorm.

She briefly turned her attention back to Faith, having finished up cleaning her and draining the tub. "I'll be right back. Why don't you get dressed in the meantime?" she suggested before heading to her front door. Letting out another sigh, she opened the door, to be met with the sight of her secret lover.

Gregory smiled brightly upon seeing Mercy. "Mercy! How've you been, hon?"

"What do you want, Gregory? I'm a little busy right now... and it's the middle of the night during a snowstorm. Shouldn't you be back at home with your wife?" Mercy questioned in a slightly impatient tone.

"Oh, c'mon, you know I just can't stay away from you..." Gregory responded, tucking a lock of Mercy's hair behind her ear. "Besides, Anastasia is really wanting a kid and, well, I don't. I figured I'd blow off some steam before talking to her and finally breaking things off... this was just the last straw, y'know?" he responded.

Mercy sighed. "Well, what if I want kids? Did you ever think about that? And besides, tonight really isn't a good night. As I told you, I'm busy."

Gregory seemed to ignore the first part of what Mercy had said. "Oh, please, what could you possibly be so busy with?"

"Well... a kid." Mercy responded, just as Faith had emerged from the bathroom, now in the nightgown Mercy had provided her. Upon seeing Gregory, she shyly hid behind Mercy, peeking out at him with wide eyes.

Gregory's eyes widened. "What the... when did this happen?"

"Only a little bit ago... poor thing was collapsed out in the snow... I took her in and warmed her up and I'm planning to take her to the doctor's tomorrow so she can get a real checkup."

"You're going to be sending her to the orphanage afterwards, right? You know you have barely enough money to provide for yourself, much less a kid while keeping your shop running!"

Mercy and Faith shared a look before Mercy turned her attention back to Gregory. "Actually... no, I won't. If she'll have me, I'll be happy to be her mother. And since you said having kids is a final straw for you, I guess we're through. Goodbye, Gregory." Mercy responded before abruptly shutting the door in Gregory's face before he had a chance to argue.

Once the door was closed, Mercy let out a relieved sigh, laughing softly. "I've... I've been wanting to do that for years!"

Soon enough, Faith spoke up in a soft voice. "Y-you... you wanna be mama?"

Smiling down at her, Mercy nodded. "That is, if you'll have me... I'll warn you now, though, I won't be perfect and may not have that much money to--" she was cut off by Faith wrapping her in a tight hug.

"Yay! Faith have nice mama!"