Important note: Spin/Emma never happened. Ick. She dumped Kelly, but met a new guy after a year later. Sean is obviously endgame though. Tehe.

Upon the windows, frost coated the glass from outside creating pale, glittering swirls that caught the light of the battery-operated candles from inside Emma's family home. The sounds of glasses clinking against one another and the ladle swishing around the punch bowl were nearly drowned out by the voices and laughter of Emma Nelson's family and friends.

Everyone was here for the Christmas party that Emma's mom threw every year now. Everything was decorated so nicely, with the help of Emma and Manny ofcourse. Snake actually did most of the cooking. The Christmas tree stood in the corner and it was big and bright, with red and gold ornaments and a star up top.

A lot has changed. Not only were Jay and Manny married now, but Liberty was back from New York and spending the holidays with them too. It's been 4 years since graduating Degrassi and two years since graduating college. Emma had went back to school for Business and it had turned out to be one of the best things she could of done. Manny was back from Hollywood and opened a bar/club with her for new artists and musicians . Spinner too partnered up with them and they now own the hottest place downtown. The Minx. The Dot was too 'diner' for Spinner now. . he needed something more now that he and Jane had just gotten pregnant. It's been a money maker!

Jay was still working at his mechanic shop. He was doing well and he was really a changed man since Manny. Their wedding was beautiful, but Emma knew Jay felt it was missing something. Someone. Sean wasn't able to make it.

Sean had been deployed nearly four years now. The army had said that he'd return in time for this year's holiday season like he did every Christmas. But the weather was pretty bad out there. Emma was even glancing at the clock, noticing how late it was getting.

Emma sipped at her punch and hugged her arms across her chest a little tighter. It wasn't just her family and friends here , but that of her fiances family too. Emma had met someone a year after her break up with Kelly, and she was now engaged to him. His name was Josh, he was a nice guy who worked as one of the heart throbbing bartenders in her bar. Manny really pushed her to go for it since Josh was so into Emma even at the time when she had zero interest in him. It took her weeks to go for it but when she finally did, she was happy Manny gave her the push.

Josh was the nicest guy Emma's met in a while. So nice that the two hit it off and started officially dating quite quickly and got serious. He knew what he wanted in his future, and Emma did too. She was already successful and that was a turn on for Josh, also she was beautiful and smart. Jackpot right?

And knowing Josh had his life and goals planned out was attractive to Emma, and for any woman! So when he popped the question 7 months later, it might of been kind of early, but Emma said yes. They seemed to be good together. But there was one thing in the back of Emma's mind that gave her doubts. Her love for someone else... But she tried not to think of that. That guy had chose to be millions of miles away from her than choosing to be with her. Josh had to be the one if Sean wasn't. Right?

Sean came here every holiday. He even stayed with them. Emma was okay with it since they were 'friends' now, but this year she was a little weary of him coming home (If he did). Something had happened between them last Christmas, and she was nervous in seeing him again.

Sean and Snake were still close. Snake was the reason Sean probably still came back here to stay with them. I mean, it couldn't be her anymore right? Emma didn't mind Snake still having a relationship with Sean after their break up. She didn't know why, because normally, it should bug someone.. but it was Sean. She just wished Snake would treat Josh the same as he treated Sean but they would only talk of football and be on their merry way. She hoped if Sean did come, Snake wouldn't treat him like the son in law he really wanted.

That would be embarrassing.

What was more embarrassing was Josh still yet to meet Sean. And vise versa.

Emma wore a fitted black dress that had thin straps and hugged her every curve. She nearly glowed, standing by the Christmas tree and skin looking so smooth and so tanned for being the season of Winter. Her blonde hair was in soft big curls too.

Manny smiled as she came up with her own glass of punch in hand but Jay held a flask beside her.

"Seriously?" Emma teased as they were laughing quietly together and trying to hide it as Jay poured some of his flask in her glass too after his.

"Live a little." he taunted.

Emma raised an eyebrow at him, "Nice shirt."

Jay looked down at his sweater and Manny's laughter became louder. She made him wear a lame Christmas sweater. He smirked and nodded, "Laugh it up."

Emma giggled and sipped her spiked punch. She needed it tonight anyways.

"Easy there." Manny teased, noticing her start to chug it. Jay and her shared a look and Emma just swallowed it down hard and rested it on a table behind her.

More friends and family showed up, and Emma stood alone at the table again gazing at Josh talking to Liberty now. Even Liberty seemed to like him. That had to be a good sign, right? He was handsome too, with dark hair and dark eyes. He was tall, a little slim but lean .

Emma then gazed at Jay and Manny now, Jay was stealing a kiss from her from under the corny mistletoe that her mom put up earlier. They laughed and never left anothers side. They looked really. Emma's eyes saddened a bit, gazing down at her drink again and downed that one too.

"Emma, you look gorgeous!" Mrs Brown said. She came up to Emma with one of her friends, smiling warmly. She was Josh's mother, and she was so kind to her. Beside her was Josh's Aunt Kelly.

"Thanks Mrs Brown."

"Oh stop it! It's Kathleen now." she loved Emma already like a daughter. Her son had supposedly had some past bad ex's and Emma was her favorite so she was glad she had that ring on her finger.

"Show us the diamond, honey." Kelly teased as Spike came up and gasped.

"Yes show us!"

Emma blushed a bit and put her hand out, just as Josh came around and smiled at her, putting his arm around her. "What do you say to that Mrs Simpson?" he asked.

Spike gawked the ring with his mother and aunt. "It's beautiful, Josh. Just beautiful!" She looked back to Snake and called him over, "Honey come look!"

Snake tore away from talking to his friends from work, other teachers, and he frowned when he noticed what they were doing. "We've seen it 100 times!"

Spike waved him off and scoffed, turning to smile at Josh's mother. "I'm so happy. Aren't they just made for another?"

His mother replied, "I haven't seen him this happy in years."

Emma looked at Josh who was grinning down at her still and she smiled softly to then frown when the women went on about the ring on her finger and plans of a wedding date. Emma hadn't picked one out yet. She wasn't sure why not.

Over in the corner, Spinner went to the stereo to play some Christmas music and Jane stood behind him. She looked the same, just pregnant. She and Spinner were pretty happy now too. She even laughed behind him when he played a corny song from the stereo and started to sing with it.

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents by the tree

"you okay?" Josh whispered to Emma, noticing her tense as the song played around the room. The party seemed to love it, but Emma hated listening to it. It reminded her too much of something .

"Fine." she moved closer and wrapped her arms around him, leaning against him. He nodded and continued talking to their family.

Over by the door, Manny yelped and jumped more into Jay's arms when it opened right behind her. Some of the cold wind came in and snow along with it when a figure stepped inside. Jay noticed who it was first and grinned devilishly, "Well look who it is!"

Sean Cameron took off jacket, smirking widely too and he shut the door. His hair was the same, grown out a bit and wavy but he was now a man. He looked pretty jacked from the stay in the army. "Sean!" Manny happily hugged him and he smiled as he hugged her back.

He eyed the party that didn't seem to notice his presence yet. The music was loud, everyone was having fun, and he didn't want to make much of a scene anyways. His stormy blue eyes sought Emma out and he stared for a long moment before he felt Manny squeeze his arms and pat his stomach.

"Wow. Workout much?" Teased Manny, pulling away. Sean looked away from the party to give her a look and Jay did too, before rolling his eyes. She giggled with a blush, "What? I'm just saying."

"We've been married two months." Jay told Sean, lifting two fingers as a joke and gave Manny a look who laughed again. He knew she was just kidding.

Sean chuckled and shook his head. These two were perfect for another. "Yea, sorry I couldn't uh-" he paused as he glanced back Emma's way, "Make it."

Manny cornered her eyes and saw what he was looking at. Emma was still turned, but Sean knew it was her and the back view wasn't a problem per say. Maybe not as good as the front, but not bad either.

Jay replied to him, "It sucked, but I get it. They can't really let you go to go to some guys wedding."

"Hey," Sean said, gazing back at him and was serious, "I wanted to be there. I tried to fight it but things were bad in Iraq."

"How's it going now?" Manny asked, cringing a little sadly and wishing he'd just come home. Hadn't four years been enough?

Sean sat down at the bench near them by the door and shrugged. "It is what it is."

He never talked about it much. He wanted his visits to be about visiting, not the army or what he's been through. This was the only time away from it all.

Sean's eyes casted back to Emma and a bunch of her family and friends crowding around her, her mother holding her hand. He knew why. They were checking out her engagement ring.

"That's him, huh?"

At Sean's question, both Manny and Jay gave another alarmed looks. They were quiet for a moment, not sure what to say. Sean was now gazing at Emma's fiance, Josh, up and down.

"He's alright." Manny said.

"Not a big deal." Jay said too with a shrug and tried to stir his drink a bit in his hand to then offer it out to Sean, "Vodka and punch?"

Sean just gave him a look.

Meanwhile with Emma, she couldn't 't hold back the laugh towards her mother. She seemed more happy about this engagement than her. Wait, bad joke. But, she really did seem to hit it off with Kathleen.

"Emma, really, when are you going to set the date?" Spike whispered to her, pulling her away from the Brown's family.

Emma noticed her Uncle Pat passed out on the couch, probably drunk again. She shrugged while answering, "I don't know."

Spike gave a displeased noise. Emma looked back at her and raised an eyebrow, "I'll set it when I'm ready, Mom. And I promise, you'll be the first one I tell."

Emma then noticed a wierd look in her mother's eye when she seemed to notice something behind Emma. Emma turned when Spike didn't look very thrilled.

Emma saw him within the second. How couldn't she? Sean always stood out in a crowd. He looked good. Handsome, as always... Mysterious as always too.

"Emma," Spike went to grab her hand but Emma already went walking over. Snake came up behind Spike and took a look.

"What?" he asked, and then saw who was back. "Sean!" he bellowed, following after Emma.

Emma stopped in front of Sean first who turned and locked eyes with her. His mouth fell open, but he couldn't find the words he wanted to say to her. "Hi."

Hi? He wanted to even smack himself for that. Even her eyes seemed to taunt him as she greeted him back (rather sarcastically) "Hi."

Yet, as mad and confused as she felt right now, she felt relieved too that he was here. That he made it. And he was here. Did she say that already?

Behind, Snake stopped between them and put a hand on Sean's shoulder. "Always good to see you! The boy is back in town!" he joked.

Sean itched the back of his neck but sent Snake a small smile and nod. Spike came over and stopped by Emma, putting a hand on her arm but said hello. "Hi Sean."

On the other side of the party, Josh glanced over strangely from with his parents, wondering who the guy at the door was. Snake seemed awfully happy to see him. He noticed even his own girlfriend, Emma, couldn't take her eyes off him.

"Hi Mrs S." Sean greeted Spike back but felt a weird uncomfortable vibe right now. Was it coming from Emma? Probably. Last Christmas wasn't so good between them. He thought he maybe shouldn't of come this year, but Snake practically begged him to in emails. And he couldn't stay away from her..

"Good to have you home." Snake said.

Jay agreed, raising his glass, "To all the good men!" Manny swapped his arm playfully.

"Dude, you're back!" Spinner came over next.

Spike turned to Emma as they were all catching up with Sean, "Emma, those cookies in the stove are probably done by now. Can you check on them?"

Emma ripped her eyes off of Sean enjoying his guy time with Spinner and Jay again. "Yea." she blinked, trying to snap out of it and beside her, Manny grabbed her hand.

"I'll help." Manny said and guided her away.

Over by Sean, Snake walked back up to the boys with some shots for Christmas.

"How long are you staying this time, Sean?" he asked.

"I don't know .."

Jay and Spinner glanced at another, wondering what that meant. Jay eyed Sean and saw him looking around again, probably wondering where Emma went.

"MISTLETOE!" someone yelled and they turned to Emma's Uncle Pat now up again and grabbing their Grandma for a big kiss on the cheek. Some people laughed as she started to hit him with her purse, and the party was just getting started.

Sean removed his eyes from the hilarious scene to connect eyes with Josh across the room. The two eyed another for a moment before Sean looked away and clenched his jaw. Josh squinted his and moved towards the kitchen where Emma was, he was curious to who this guy was. He thought he had met everyone in Emma's family.

Christmas eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
If only in my dreams