It was the "Night Before the night before" as Trivette called it, or rather, the day before Christmas Eve.

Gage, Sydney, Alex, Walker, and Trivet were all at the station tying some loose ends from there last case. "Okay people," Walker started, "As normal, you will be allowed time off for Christmas. We will need some Rangers close by in case something comes up." Everyone cheered. Walker looked at his watch, smiled and said, "Have a Merry Christmas everyone."

Gage and Sydney grabbed their coats and Sydney said, "So what are you doing for the Holidays Gage?"

"Staying home." Gage said hiding his shallow disappointment, "You?"

"Same here." Sydney said in the same tone as Gage.

Gage was somewhat surprised as he said, "Oh! I thought that you'd be with your family for the holidays."

Sydney smiled and said, "The family is all over now. My parents are vacationing in Florida, sister in Michigan, and brother in North Carolina. I will be expecting phone calls that day. As normal. What about you? Why aren't you with your family?"

Gage shrugged.

"Come to think of it," Sydney started, "In all the years we've known each other you've never spoken of your family. So?"

"Really?" Gage said. He already knew they hadn't.

"Yes really." They started walking out the door. "So tell me about them."

Gage looked at her and asked, "What's with the sudden interest in my family?"

"I just want to know why you will be alone on Christmas." Sydney explained, "So. Are you going to tell me about them or not?"

"I'm always alone on Christmas. No big deal." Gage said. Sydney eyed him funny, "Oh alright! My family..." Gage started. "I was adopted and my adopted family died in a car crash and I was sent to a foster home and grew up there. That's why I became a Ranger."

"Oh..." Sydney said.

"That wasn't the answer you thought you were gonna get was it?" Gage said. By this time they were walking toward their cars.

"No, not really." Sydney thought for a moment and said, "So, Merry Christmas."

"You too." They both were thinking the same thing but they were both to shy or stubborn so say it. They were thinking that both of them shouldn't be having Christmas alone.

Never-the-less they both walked away to their cars. They walked away slowly hoping that one would tell the other to meet for Christmas. But no, they left homeward bound.

**Later that day at Gage's place, around 7:00**

Gage sat at home listening to Christmas music. He was making Christmas cookies. His favorite. He remembered when his adopted mom made these same cookies.

He hummed the music "Winter Wonderland." He tried to forget that he was alone two days before Christmas. Little did he know that someone was about to walk through his door and change his life forever.

The doorbell rang.

He opened the door and there stood a man with a small girl, about 6 years old by the look of her. "Excuse me, are you Francis Gage?" The man said.

"Yes. Who wants to know?" Gage asked getting curious.

"You were adopted as an infant correct?" The man asked.

"Yes. Do mind telling me why you're here?" Gage asked.

"You didn't know it but you had a sister, one sister. Her name was Eve." The man started.

"Was?" Gage asked referring to the past tense as he spoke.

"Yes, she died a week ago." The man began his story again, "She was a single parent of Lily here," he motioned to the frightened girl standing next to him. "She said in her will that she wanted her biological brother to care and raise her child."

"Wha-I can't-" Gage started.

"If you do not want to care for the child she will be put in a foster home."
The man said.

Gage had no idea what to say. "Why didn't my sister ever contacted me?"

"She had problems. When you two were split up she wasn't given a good foster home. She died of drug overdose." He paused, "She knew you were a Texas Ranger and so she when she decided to end her life, she knew that if she left Lily to you that Lily would be well cared for." He paused again. "She was depressed. You understand?" He paused again before he said, "We have done a full background check on you. You are able to care for this child. Will you?"

Gage thought for a moment and looked at the little girl. You could tell she had been crying and was tired and sad. She probably had been through a lot. Gage couldn't speak. So the man said, "Tell you what, you keep her just until we find a foster home and you can decided." The man knew what Gage must have been thinking. "I'll call you as soon as we find a home for her."

"Uh-okay...It think..." Gage said.

"She has her belongs in her bag. Call if you need anything." The man said as he walked away.

This girl stood looking up and Gage and clutching a doll and she said, "Where is mommy?"

Gage had no idea what to say. His life totally changed within only 20 minutes. "Uh-come inside. Lily was it?"

The girl nodded. Gage hung up her coat and set her bag down. "Do you know who I am Lily?"

"Are you my new daddy?" Lily asked.

"No, no...at least...I don't know yet" Gage paused searching for the right words, "Your mommy was my sister. We never knew each other though."

The girl nodded. "Am I going to stay with you now?"

"Well now-uh-I don't know..." Gage said. "How about I show you around my place?"

The girl nodded.

After the grand tour Lily had lightened up. "I like your Christmas tree!"

"Why thank you Lily." Gage said.

"What's that smell?" Lily asked.

"Oh my! Those are my special Christmas cookies!" Gage said taking a plate and setting it on the table. "Would you like one?"

"Yes!" Lily said smiling for the first time.

"Now that is a beautiful smile! You should were it more often!" Gage said.

Lily laughed. After a moment Lily asked, "Am I gonna have to go away again? I like it here."

Gage thought, "Well, I don't know." He paused, "But I promise you that, you will stay here for Christmas."

"Yay!" Lily said. "Santa is going to come!!"

"Yeah...Santa..." Gage said. He now realized that he had to get gifts for Lily. He thought while they sat watching Rudolph that he would call Sydney, because he knew she would be alone most likely, and tell her the whole story and ask her to baby-sit for him.

It's like a bomb was dropped on him. But he admitted it to himself that he enjoyed having Lily around. He enjoyed not being alone.

"So what do you want from Santa?" Gage asked.

"A family and a home where I can stay." Lily said.

"Ah..." Gage said.

They were silent for a while until Lily asked, "What do I call you?"

"Well...you could just call me Gage." Gage suggested. "Or Uncle Gage."

"Oh..." Lily said, "When will I be able to have a new daddy and a new mommy?"

"I don't know sweetheart. I don't know..." Gage said.

"Do you live here all by yourself?" Lily asked.

"Yes I do." Gage answered. "Hey, would you like to meet one of my friends?"

Lily looked frightened at first. Then Gage said, "Her name is Sydney and she is a very good friend of mine."

"Sydney?" Lily said. "Is she nice?"

"Oh yes! Very nice." Gage answered reassuringly.

"Okay...I guess..." Lily said.

"Okay, I am going to go and call her. You can watch TV or play with...with...your doll. Does she have a name?"

"Her name is Jane." Lily answered.

"Ah, Jane, you can play with Jane." Gage said as he walked over to the phone.

He dialed Syd's number and waited to hear her voice, "Hello?" Sydney's voice answered.

"Hey Syd, it's me Gage." Gage said.

"Oh hello Gage!" Sydney said more than a little surprised.

"So what are you up too?" Gage asked.

"Nothing. You?" Sydney asked.

"Well, actually," Gage paused and looked over to Lily who he saw was looking at him on the phone. Her cute little blonde pigtails stuck out both sides of her little head. "I am at my place and there is a beautiful girl on my coach right now." Gage said smiling because he knew Lily could hear him. Gage was interested to hear what Sydney would say.

"Oh...that's-uh-nice..." Sydney started not knowing what to say or even think.

"Yep. She's the cutest blonde you ever saw. Young too." Gage laughed in spite of himself.

"Oh yeah?" Sydney said.

"Yeah. She's 6 years old." Gage said.

"6! Gage, what are you talking about?" Sydney asked.

Gage explained the whole story.

"Wow..." Sydney said when he was through. "That is very surprising."

"You're telling me." Gage said. "So can you come over and watch her while I-" Gage turned away from Lily so she couldn't hear him, "-go give 'Santa' her Christmas list. Hint hint." Gage heard Sydney giggle. "That is, if you're not busy."

"I'll be right over." Sydney said.

They hung up and Gage said. "Sydney's coming over!"

Lily smiled and asked again, "You said she was nice right?"

"The nicest!" Gage answered. "What do you want to do now?"

"Um...dance to Christmas music!" Lily answered.

"Well if you insist." Gage said. He turned up the music and held out his hand to Lily, "May I have this dance, Miss?"

"Y-yes!" Lily said giggling.

The music played and when Sydney arrived Gage was spinning Lily around to the music. The doorbell rang.

Gage picked up Lily and said, "Sydney is here."

"Oh...I'm scared..." Lily said.

"Now there is no reason to be scared. Syd is very nice." Gage said.

He opened the door. "Hey Syd!"

"Hey!" Sydney said coming inside and hanging her coat. "Where's Lily?"

"Well she's right-" Gage looked next to him and she was gone. She was hiding behind him, "Aw come on now." Gage said turning around and picking her up again. "She's a little shy."

Sydney looked at Lily and said, "Hello Lily! I'm a friend of Gage. My name is Sydney."

Lily nodded and said, "Hi." timidly.

"And who is this?" Sydney asked referring to the doll.

"That's Jane." Lily said.

"Ah. So what were you two doing?" Sydney asked.

"We were dancing." Lily said, yawning.

"Why don't you run along and watch TV for a minute while I talk to Sydney here." Gage said.

"Okay." Lily answered running to the sofa.

"She's tired. So really all you would have to do is put her to bed. Read her a story. She'll like that." Gage said to Sydney.

"Okay." Sydney shrugged. "Where does she sleep?"

"Uh-put her in my bed. For now, anyway." Gage answered.

"Okay." Sydney said, "When should you be back?"

"Around 9:30...depends really." Gage answered.

"Gage...what are you going to do? I mean, about Lily. Are you planning on keeping her?" Sydney asked.

"Well, yes, I was thinking about it." Gage said.

"Gage! Are you crazy! You can't-" Sydney started.

"But I can. I don't have a life. I come home to an empty place every night. I have no one to share holidays with. Neither does she. I am the only family-that we know of-that she has. Besides, I think she is starting to like me." Gage paused.

"Okay. I'm telling you, I think that it's a mistake keeping her if you do." Sydney said.

"And I'm telling you, you have no idea what it's like being alone. I mean really alone." Gage said.

"Now see, that's where you're wrong." Sydney said.

"Gage walked away and said, "Her pajamas are in her book bag over there." Gage pointed. Gage walked over to Lily and said to her, "Lily, sweetheart, I have to go-"

"No no! I don't want you to go!" Lily yelled.

"Hey hey now! Calm down. I'll be back soon. I'll be home when you wake up. Right here in my place. Sydney will read you a story and tuck you in okay?"

"Okay. If you promise." Lily said.

"I promise." Gage said.

Gage started to go but then Lily said, "Goodbye kiss!" and ran up to Gage.

"Alright." He picked her up and kissed her on the cheek. "There. Bye for now."

"Bye for now." Gage said. "Bye Syd. Thanks again."

"No problem. Bye." Sydney said.

Gage left.

To be concluded...