A/N: My third, and final, Christmas gift to my readers in 2018. Although this story takes place, chronologically, after Holting Back, despite the fact it is being published prior to the conclusion of Holting Back, it has been written with care to reveal no surprises for its predecessor. This story will take 3-4 'uploads' to complete.

The Canon Series

It's Christmas 1994 and the Steele's begin a new Christmas tradition, inspired by the story of a sled.

For the most effective reading, my work should be read in chronological order as many of my one off's are spun into the history of the characters later on down the line. The chronological order of what I've written to date are as follows:

Steele Torn & Trying to Holt On
Cannes Steele be Trusted (co-written with the super-talented SuzySteele)
Steele Forsaken
Steele Mending
Steele Working out the Details
Steele Settling In
Steele Finding Comfort
Steele Holting on To Christmas
Steele Holting on To The Holidays
Holting on to the Moments
Steele Cold Relief
Steele Cloned
Steele Hurdling Obstacles
Steeling the Big Apple
Steele Dying to Get it Right
Holting Steele - Part 1 of the Be Steele My Heart series
Be Steele My Heart – Part 2 of the Be Steele My Heart series
Steele Pursued – Part 1 of the Steele Tested series
Steele Tested – Part 2 of the Steele Tested series
Steele Thankful
Down the Rabbit Holt
Steele in Wonderland
Expanding Steele – Part 1 of the His Holt World Series
His Holt World – Part 2 of the His Holt World Series
Holting Back
Steele the Story of A Sled

Standard Disclaimers apply: I hold no ownership or rights to the series or characters. I simply choose to borrow the characters I love to write.

Chapter 1

"I simply can't get over all the changes you've made to the house, Laura," Frances remarked, clearly in awe. "It was beautiful before, but now? It's just so…"

"Over-the-top? Ostentatious? Pretentious? Utterly ridiculous?" Laura offered, drily.

The two women were sitting on opposite ends of a sofa located in the newly expanded family room of the Steele's house in Vail. With the expansions Remington had suggested – a good deal of which had been paid for by the sale of Daniel's villa in Theoule Sur Mer – their once four-bedroom, four-bath vacation home had now expanded to thirteen bedrooms and thirteen baths… not counting, of course, the additional twelve bedrooms and eight baths in the two townhouses they'd built on the property which would serve, in part, as investment units.

"I was going to say amazing," Frances corrected. "I mean, did you ever imagine you'd one day have a house like this? And that's not even considering your house at home and then those in Greece and England… and, oh, we can't forget that beautiful castle in Ireland."

"I can honestly say I never imagined anything quite like it," Laura admitted. "Keep in mind, a good deal of those properties are because of inheritance and entitlements."

"It can be a bit overwhelming," Catherine commiserated. "Why when Thomas and I first became engaged, I'd no idea the extent of his holdings and obligations." She shared a smile with the other women. "I must confess, when Thomas finally let the cat out of the bag about Remington, I was relieved some of those holdings would naturally transfer."

"Wishing away my fortunes, were you, my darling?" Thomas called from the kitchen, having overheard the conversation as he and Remington prepared lunch, which was quite the undertaking given the guest list of thirteen adults and fourteen children that would be sitting down to dine shortly.

"Not wishing away, darling, simply being thankful for less," she answered with a sedate smile.

"Unlike Laura," Remington chimed in, "Who on more than one occasion I've suspected would gladly wish it all away, and would have the five of us crammed in to that little loft of hers if she'd her way about it."

"That's not true!" she immediately denied. "There's not a single part of our life that I'd wish away. There are just times when I feel more than a little guilty that we have so much when there are those who have so little."

"Remington, whatever you and Thomas are cooking smells heavenly," Frances announced. "Would you mind if I asked what we're having?"

"Of course not," he grinned at her. "Father and I thought lunch should be in keeping with the weather." He nodded towards the wall of windows where a rather substantial snowfall was coming down. "Cauliflower soup and salad greens accompanied by gruyere and fresh baked French bread, for the adults, and chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese and fresh fruit for the children."

"Gruyere?" Frances questioned.

"A cheese primarily made in France and Switzerland," Thomas chimed in, "Very rich, with a tangy undertone. You should be certain to try a slice on the bread while it's still warm."

Before Frances could answer, the front door of the house swung open and a gaggle of voices could be heard.

"It would seem our guests have arrived," Remington announced, wiping his hands on his apron, then untying it and tossing it on the island on the way out of the kitchen to go greet their guests. A pair of little girls – one tall and blonde haired, the other petite and dark haired – raced down the stairs, hurdling themselves past him.

"Pappouli!" Olivia shrieked, throwing herself at the short, stout Marcos Androkus. He bellowed a laugh as he snatched her up in his arms, leaving her feet dangling in the air.

"Oh, my little Olivia, you must have grown half a centimeter since last I saw you!" He dropped her down on her feet, his gold tooth twinkling as he smiled wide. "Before we know it, you'll no longer be a little girl, eh?"

"I'm in second grade!" she announced, proudly.

"Yaya!" Sophie fairly danced in place at seeing her small, rotund and beloved honorary grandmother, Elena Androkus, step inside the house behind her husband. "I have a loose tooth! See?!" She wiggled the tooth with her tongue.

"Oh," Elena crooned, taking her granddaughter's cheeks in hand, "You will be tossing that tooth on the roof soon! Very soon!" She leaned down and bussed Sophie on each cheek as the little girl giggled.

"No, I have to put it under my pillow or the Tooth Fairy won't come!" she corrected. Elena tilted her head to the side.

"You will have to tell me about this Tooth Fairy of yours," she insisted, gathering the little girl to her ample bosom and hugging her tight.

"Daphne! Eirene!" Livvie squealed excitedly, drawing Sophie's attention. In an instant, she left Elena's arms to run with her sister over to greet two of their favorite cousins.

"And who is it I see hiding behind his father's legs?" Elena asked aloud, bending over to peer at Holt who was peeking his head out from behind said legs. "Come, my engonós, give your Yaya a hug." At her open armed invitation, Holt ran to her and flung himself at her. While Elena loved all three of her 'grandchildren', there would always be a special place in her heart for Holt, who in resembling his father so in appearance and mannerisms, offered her the chance to watch the beloved child she'd found, then had lost, grow up before her very eyes.

"Thomas," Marcos greeted, with a handshake, "I see you take good care of our boy, eh?" He thumped Remington a pair of times on his stomach. Laura snickered at the affronted look on her husband's face.

"What do you think, Papa? Five," Christos eyes Remington's midsection as he stepped into the fray, "Maybe ten pounds?" Remington drew himself up to his full height, and glared at his brother.

"I'll have you know I haven't gained so much as a pound in the last decade," he rebutted, while his traitorous guffawed beside him.

"Ha! You've gained at least ten pounds," she contradicted, then eased her criticism with a warm, appreciative smile, "But it's only made you all the more attractive." A wide smile lit his face, and he lifted her hand to buss the back of it. She turned her attention to Christos, her eyes glimmering with unconcealed humor, "And you," she poked him in his chest with her index finger, "It's not fat, it's muscle mass. He's been running with me for nearly three years now, on top of his workouts in the ring, fencing and playing polo."

"Ahhh, my favorite sister-in-law," Christos greeted, gathering her in a hug. "What it is you see in my brother I'll never know."

"Believe me, there are days I still wonder myself," she replied, drolly, returning his hug, then turning to Helena to greet her as well, as she waved Frances over. "Frances, I'm sure you remember Christos, Helena and Marcos from Remington's fortieth birthday party."

"Danny!" Holt shouted. Abandoning Elena, he flung himself at his oldest cousin.

"Hey, there little man!" Danny greeted, swinging Holt up into his arms and scruffing his hair. "Long time no see. Are you keeping up with your pitchin' like you promised?" It was Danny who'd first dubbed Holt with the nickname 'little man', but Laura had taken a liking to it. She often teasingly referred to Remington as 'big guy,' so she held a certain fondness for the parallel it drew between father and son.

"Da and I have been playing football!" Holt extolled

"So I have competition, do I? Well, I'll have you back in form before you know it." He leaned in and bussed Frances on the cheek. "Hey, Mom." The gesture brought moisture to her eyes. "Aw, Mom," he shifted uncomfortably, "Don't cry. Please?"

"Hi, Danny." Laura gave the young man a quick hug.

"I can't help it," Frances replied, looking upwards towards the ceiling and fanning her face with a hand. "I'm just so happy you'll be with us for more than a couple days." Swiping at her eyes with her fingertips, she looked beyond Danny. "Where's Mindy?"

"Grandma wanted to 'freshen up,'" he informed his mother with 'what can you do' shrug, "So Dad and Min took her to the guest house. Where's the squirt?"

"Laurie Beth," Frances enunciated the name, to show her displeasure with the nickname that drove her daughter mad, "Is upstairs with Esme and Alex." Danny grinned at his mother, unperturbed by the rebuke.

"Girls," Laura addressed Livvie and Sophie, "Why don't you take Danny upstairs and show him where his room is. You do remember, don't you?" Livvie and Sophie both nodded eagerly.

"Danny and Alex share their room, just like Laurie Beth, Mindy and Esme! Can Daphne and Eirene come, too?" Sophie inquired. Laura unconsciously stroked the head of her eldest daughter.

"I don't see why not," she smiled. "They'll be staying in your room, after all." With a whoop of joy, Livvie skipped over to her two cousins – Daphne, 9 and Eirene, 8.

"C'mon," she instructed, grabbing their hands. "Sophie and me got bunk beds," she announced as though the stacked beds were the best invention since sliced bread, "And you get to stay with us! You can even choose!" Five pairs of feet were soon thundering up the wood staircase.

"We'll be eating as soon as your grandmother arrives," Remington called after the girls.

"Okay, Da!" Livvie called back, before disappearing down a hallway with the rest of the children.

Laura addressed the group of adults still gathered in the entryway, as Lena came through the front door with a pair of suitcases and an overnight bag slung over each arm.

"Why don't I show you to your rooms?" she offered. Remington rubbed his hands together, then gave them a quick clap.

"A splendid idea, Laura. Father and I will just get back to preparing—" Her head snapped in his direction and she gave him a pointed look.

"I'm sure Thomas will be fine while you help with the luggage… Xenos." He did some quick calculations in his head: Five adults, two teens, six children equaled… well, a considerable amount of manual labor, while he was on holiday no less. His eyes slid to the stairway. Not to mention umpteen trips up and down those dreaded things. He pasted a wide smile on his face, and slapped Christos on the back of the shoulder.

"It seems to me Lena has the situation well in hand, don't you think?" Christos returned the slap with a little more gusto, sending Remington stumbling forward a step before he caught his balance.

"Greek women are built for work," Christos concurred.

"And Greek men are raised with manners," Marcos reminded, "For certain Androkus men. Christos, take the bags from your sister. Xenos, more awaits outside."

"Yes, sir," the two younger men answered in unison, and immediately moved into action. Laura stood, brows raised, shaking her head.

"Marcos, you're going to have to tell me your secret one day," she commented, as she held out an arm towards the staircase. "Xenos would subject me to at least another five minutes of complaints and excuses." Marcos's boisterous laugh filled the room.

"The credit for this I cannot take," he shared, "Much as it was when he was only a boy, it is the fear of seeing Elena's disappointment directed toward him that serves to inspire! Now, let us see more of this remarkable home!"

At his insistence, Laura led the group up the stairs to where the bedroom suites were located.