Chapter One :

I had this idea after listening to one of BonJovi songs. This is not a song fic, it just the song inspired me to write this story.

I hope it is not too confusing, I will explain better in the next chapter, tell me so far what you think.

I have not given the story a title yet, currently I would like to call it the ultimate life gift.

August 25th 2027

Her brown curls and big blue eyes reddened from the crying over her belated father for the past few days. Although his death was not a surprise and she herself was praying towards the end, for his relief from the constant pain and agony, she still felt broken hearted and like an orphan. As the sun started to shyly move away from her tanned face, Celia looked down at her mom sitting on a bench holding a cup of coffee in her hand. Not drinking, just holding her elbows firm to her knees and inhaling and exhaling carefully, she wondered if any words could be said in compassion to her mother's great loss. Her heart shattered, she had never seen her sad, yes sad. No other words could describe what she saw in her mother's eyes. She knew that her mother loved her husband. She had witnessed the love and life of both parents and it was only more difficult to witness her mother dying a little everyday as she saw her father getting weaker and weaker every day, until the whole family lost its battle against what only is called a chronic illness. It did not matter that her mother was a brilliant scientist who understood everything about bones; her dad had to die of Bone Cancer as if life was slapping the only child Celia and her mother ironically across the face.

Celia held out her had to her mother, and she nodded in understanding, it is time to move on, or go back. Where would she go back, to an empty house too big for her since Celia is moving out end of this summer to go to college, or would she move back to an apartment she had left a long time ago. What purpose will that serve her, running from the sickening memories of her husband lying in bed ill for the last 2 years to an apartment full of memories that will only break her heart. She opted to go back to the apartment, at least it was closer to where Celia would be and the memories are at least happy ones that will keep her going for the next few years.

She was never a pessimist, but now she just wanted to go through what is left of her days awaiting the inevitable, death. She had never believed in the afterlife and she did not think that she would be reunited with her beloved late husband in heaven for another more happy life. To her death meant stop existing, and this is exactly what she wanted to cease.

December 15th 2027

"Hi Celia" she answered her phone, knowing it is the usual time when Celia calls to tell her all about her week's busy activities in college. But today she had a lot on her mind; she hesitated to take that call because she knew Celia is up to something. She called her several times during the week to tell her about everything and anything and somehow Brennan felt that Celia was keeping something from her and Brennan knew better than to push her daughter. They had a silent understanding and a life of beating around the trees or bushes or whatever it is the right word to say. Celia has been dating this guy for the past two month, and although Brennan knew nothing about the boy except his first name, she knew that Celia will eventually tell more when the time is right. Besides, Celia was only 18 and she took her studies very seriously and she was not about giving up her dream in assuming a leadership position in government in the nonprofit sector to make a difference in writing new policies that will be beneficial develop the country and world. Celia had big dreams, and to her the sky was the limit. Her father was her role model, he taught her everything he knew about people and her mother guided her towards making a difference through understanding policies, rules and evidence. She was not going to give up anything for romance, because to Celia, true Romance was when you make a difference in someone's life and she wanted that badly.

"Mom, are you still there? So what do you say?"

"Huh, sorry Celia, sure it is fine"

"Wow, mom, thank you, so we will all be spending Christmas together, thank you"

"Celia, we always spend Christmas together" Brennan not understanding her daughter's excitement, not knowing that she had missed half of the conversation until Celia shocked her with the news that she is bringing Terence to spend Christmas, because he will be all alone this Christmas.

They hang up, Celia, excited she turned to give a wide grin to Terence, who in return blushed and gave her the best charm smile ever. Brennan all alone in her apartment was already putting a list of things she needed to do before going back to her old house to prepare it for the Holidays. There is just not enough room in her small apartment for the festivities that the family is accustomed to. And she did not want Celia to feel any different just because they both lost the man they loved the most and they were celebrating Christmas for the first time without him, where he was always the maker of Christmas in their household.