The living room looked like it had been ransacked. Every available surface was covered in tinsel or glittering fake snow, twinkling fairy lights dripped from the ceiling and the tree itself, decked with a mindboggling amount of decorations, easily took up quarter of the room.

The small voice in Meredith's head still whispered that the living room looks like 'Santa's freaking village' but it seems that motherhood has mellowed her and because the kids seem so utterly enchanted with the shining, glittering cavern that was once their front room, she finds herself starting to like it.

At four years old Emily Shepherd was easily capable of making her opinion heard; much to the chagrin of her parents. Happily, little Emily absolutely adored their newly transformed living room and delighted in inviting her friends from daycare over in order to show off her winter wonderland. Her younger brother, Chris, was much less impressed; being only eighteen months old the lights and glitter interested him but his attention easily wandered.

Chris was already fast asleep on his father's chest as eight o'clock on Christmas Eve came around however Em was still valiantly trying to fight exhaustion in the vain hope of seeing Santa arrive.

Completely out of the blue Emily turns to her mother inquisitively and asks "Why is there stockings with George and Izzie on them?"

Meredith stumbles momentarily, grasping for an answer, before deciding that Emily should know about the Aunt and uncle and the reasons they aren't here. "One is for your Uncle George. He went to heaven a long time before you were born but he would have been your favourite uncle; he was funny and kind and loved kids. The other is for your Aunt Izzie, she left before you were born but we hope she'll come home when she's ready. Aunt Izzie was beautiful; with long blonde hair and blue eyes like a princess. She was the one that showed Mommy how to make everything pretty for Christmas. They're both part of our family, even though they're not here, so we always put their stockings up."

"Okay, momma" Emily replied sleepily before yawning widely and then closing her eyes and giving in to sleep.

Meredith quickly wiped the tears from her eyes before carrying Emily carefully upstairs to her bed. She hoped she'd explained about George and Izzie well enough; Emily wasn't old enough to understand the complexities of Izzie's cancer or George's sacrifice which resulted in his death. Maybe when she was old enough then Meredith would tell her the whole story but for now she knew that they existed and that was enough.

After settling Emily for the night and checking in on Chris, who Derek had put to bed, Meredith wandered back downstairs and lay under the Christmas tree. Exactly like she had done long ago she lay quietly and looked up at the lights. Every year she did this and, understanding its significance, Derek crept quietly into the room and lay silently next to her; both of them reliving cherished memories of those no longer with them.

So, what do you think? I've got an idea for maybe another Chapter or two. Yes, I know there's a lot of missing George in my stories, I'm still not over his death :'( Hopefully I can write some MerDer Christmas fluff to balance things out xD Read and Review. Marie X