This is something short and sweet for the holidays. This popped into my head this morning, and I was bale to break away long enough to put it down. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you.

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Lucien sipped his whiskey and patted the space next to him, willing Jean to sit down and enjoy a sherry. It had been a wonderful Christmas in the Blake household, but they were both relieved to finally have a little quiet time to themselves. Lucien wished they could have spent this Christmas as an engaged couple, but Jean had rebuffed his numerous marriage proposals since the day Mei Lin had departed to start her new life. Lucien enjoyed stealing kisses when the two of them were alone, but he was beginning to worry that Jean would never agree to marry him.

Lucien wrapped his arm around Jean and asked "Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?"

Jean smiled and nodded. "It was such a lovely day; I am so happy we could spend it with some of our favorite people."

Jean had outdone herself and prepared a Christmas feast that everyone would remember for years to come. Mathew, Rose, Alice, and Cec had joined Lucien, Jean and Charlie, and all agreed Jean could open her own restaurant. Lucien made sure nobody had an empty glass, and they had all sat around long after the meal was finished, exchanging stories and laughing at some of the odd christmas traditions each had endured as children. Jean was surprised that she was able to persuade Lucien to play the piano, and she was even more surprised when everyone decided to join in and sing some of the more popular Christmas carols. Jean loved having a full house, and could not remember a Christmas where she had had so much fun.

Bringing Jean out of her brief reverie, Lucien took Jean's hand and told her he had one more gift for her. It was a more intimate gift that he wanted to give her when they were alone. He was afraid that he would embarrass Jean if she opened it in front of their friends, so he urged her to open it now. Jean protested that he had already spent too much money on her, but she opened it anyway.

Lucien knew that Jean had lost her favorite silver bracelet during her last trip to Adelaide, and was hoping she would be happy with the one he picked out to replace it. Jean looked at the bracelet in the box and gasped, "Oh Lucien, it's absolutely beautiful! I love it"

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, before letting him clasp it to her wrist. "I have one more gift for you too Lucien. It's something I have been waiting to give you all day."

Smiling, she handed him a small box. "Jean, you certainly did not have to give me anything else." Winking at her, he went on, "You were gracious and opened my gift though, so I shall do the same."

Jean watched Lucien as he unwrapped his present and read the small piece of paper that was inside the box. Tears rolled down her face as she saw his look of confusion change to one of pure joy. Lucien looked at Jean with tears of his own and pulled her into his arms. Just as Jean was thinking he might never let her go, Lucien put his hands on her cheeks and pulled her into a long, passionate kiss. "Oh Jean, this is the best Christmas present I have ever or will ever receive. You have made me the happiest man in the world!"

Written on the piece of paper in Jean's neat handwriting, were the words Lucien had been waiting to hear for months: "Yes, I will marry you."