This story has been written as a Christmas gift for my dear friend Melissa. Hope you like this, Melissa. Merry Christmas!
~*~Chapter Two : Christmas Gifts~*~
"Cole, I really can't believe you just got out of prison," said Starr as she and Cole were on the sleigh-ride with the children.
"Me either. But I am so glad I am out now; I missed you and our little Hope so much," replied Cole as he snuggled Starr while she sat next to him on the horse-drawn sleigh.
"We missed you, too," Starr told him honestly. "I tried moving on with James, but I just couldn't. All I could think about was that I wanted to be with you..."
"Do you really mean it?" Cole asked in surprise.
"Yes, I mean it. I still love you, Cole."
"I love you, too, Starr. I'm so thankful to be home," spoke Cole as his lips lowered onto hers.
~*~o~*~
Meanwhile at Llanview Stables, Blair and Patrick were getting on their horses and setting out for a ride. "I've forgotten how much fun this could be," Blair called out to Patrick as they rode out into the cold.
"Yes, it brings back a lot of happy memories," Patrick hollered back to her as the chilling wind whipped at his long chestnut hair.
Blair's heart turned over in her chest as she gazed over at Patrick upon his horse. She realized in that moment how much she had missed him. In the depths of her heart, she knew that the two of them had a lot to talk about... but later- right now it was time for a little fun.
They rode their horses until their cheeks were rosy and their hands were chilled even through their warm, fuzzy gloves. Only happiness was keeping Blair warm as their horses galloped back toward the stables. "That was a lot of fun," Blair said as they stabled their horses.
"It was," Patrick agreed as he gazed into Blair's eyes.
"Patrick, is it true? Did you and Marty really split up?" Blair asked him.
"Yes, only our son was keeping us together. But now that he's grown up and ready to have a life of his own, Marty and I realized we were moving in other directions. She'll always have a special place in my heart... but it was time for me to let her go," Patrick explained. "So, what about you and Todd?"
"Ohhh there isn't a 'me and Todd,' and there never really was," Blair said with a heavy sigh. "I don't know how many times I have broken up with that man and gotten back together with him over the years... but never again. Been there and done that - end of story. Right now I am just concentrating on my kids. Starr's all grown up... with a little girl of her very own. And Jack's quite a handful..."
Blair sucked in her breath. "Then there's Sam. He's been going through a very tough time, considering Victor died," stated Blair.
"I'm sure. It always hurts ... when you lose someone you truly love," Patrick spoke.
As she gazed into Patrick's eyes, Blair knew whom Patrick was speaking of in that moment - their son, Brendan. It had been years since she had spoken his name outloud ... but even now, all these years later, the pain continued to rip through her chest just as much as it had at that very moment- that moment when they had lost their son. Only Patrick would know the depth of that seering pain, considering he was Brendan's father. Blair had never even gotten the chance to hold her baby boy or to properly tell him good bye after the tragic accident which had taken his life far too soon.
Placing her hand into Patrick's, Blair said, "Let's go to the cemetery." Patrick nodded as they left the stables together.
Minutes later, they were driving in the car as the heavy snow was coming down. "It was a day like this one... except then, it was the rain that was pouring down in sheets," Blair remembered.
Patrick glanced over at Blair, nodding his head. Amazingly that memory made him happy, not sad. They had been singing to their son when the accident had occured. It was a moment of bonding with their child that he would never forget.
Even as he drove, Blair held his hand. She clutched it tightly as though it were a life-line. When they had arrived at the cemetery, Patrick had pulled up along a row of graves. There in the distance they could see it; a small ivory stone which read in bold lettering: Brendan Thornhart. "I have nothing to bring him. No flowers- nothing," Blair said in a whisper.
"Then we'll bring him our love," said Patrick as he hugged her. A moment later, they got out of the car, walking together toward the little grave. Quietly, Patrick held Blair in his arms. Neither spoke as they were lost in their own thoughts.
"He should be here with us this Christmas. I wish he could be," Blair finally said.
"I wish he could be, too. But he'll always be in our hearts," Patrick reminded gently.
Going into his arms, Blair held Patrick so tightly. After a couple of minutes of just holding each other, Blair shivered. "It's freezing out here," Patrick spoke. "I need to get you warm."
After they had returned to the car, Patrick turned up the heat all the way as Blair rubbed her cold, reddened hands. "I'm not ready to go home," she admitted as tears shown in her amber eyes. "I just want to be with you..."
"I want to be with you, too, Blair," he told her with a smile. "Where would you like to go?"
"Anywhere..." she answered. "As long as I'm with you."
Patrick drove away from the cemetery, having no clue where their destination might be. It was Christmas, and today he knew he had been given the best gift of all- he had gotten Blair back. Although their son was spending Christmas with the angels, the two of them would be happy this day, because they were finally back together after so many years of being apart. He and Blair had many mountains yet to cross, but they had already been through so much and survived. Patrick just knew in his heart that now, finally, everything was going to be alright.
~*~o~*~
Back at La Boulie, Todd had carried Marty over to the bed. "I want to make love to you so badly, Marty. But I am afraid I will hurt you," Todd admitted.
"You won't hurt me, Todd. I believe in you... and I want this," Marty said softly as she took his hand and gently kissed each of his fingers. Her tender touch made Todd shiver.
"If I make love to you, I'll never be able to let go of you..." Todd said in warning. "After everything we have been through, we belong together..."
She nodded, agreeing with him wholeheartedly. "This time you'll stay?" she whispered.
"Forever," he answered as his lips lowered onto hers.
~*~o~*~
Tea and Dani had spent a lonely Christmas day at home without Victor. She was four months pregnant now and spending the holidays without the father of her child. Daniela had gone to bed, so Tea sat alone before the fire, thinking of the man she loved. *Ohhh Victor, I wish you could be here to see this baby when he or she arrives,* she was thinking as she took a small sip of her hot chocolate.
Just then, there came a knock upon the front door. Tea wondered who it may be coming to visit, considering it was Christmas day. She got up carefully and walked over to the door. As she pulled it open, she got the shock of her life.
"Tea, it's me," Victor spoke as he gazed at his beautiful wife.
"How can this be?" Tea gasped. "Are you real... or is this just a dream?"
Taking her in his arms, Victor let Tea feel that he was in fact real. "I'm definitely real... and this is not a dream," Victor said as he held her. "I just escaped my mother's compound. She faked my death ... and she's been holding me captive these past few months. She wanted to frame Todd in my murder to make both of us suffer."
"That's terrible," Tea said as she took Victor's hand into hers and they moved in out of the cold. "How did you ever get away from her?"
"It wasn't easy... but I knew I had to get back to you and Dani. I missed you both so much. Where is she?"
"She's upstairs sleeping," Tea replied.
"Victor, I have something to tell you..." Tea began hesitantly.
Looking at her, Victor was suddenly worried. Had Tea moved on without him? Had he lost his wife to his own brother?
"What is it?" he asked her quietly.
"How would you like to be a daddy again?" she asked as a slow smile came to her face.
"What-? You mean... Wow!" he gasped, tugging her into his arms.
"We're having a baby?" he asked with hopeful excitement.
"Yes! Merry Christmas, Victor," Tea said as he crushed her close in his embrace.
~*~o~*~
In the afterglow of their lovemaking, Todd held Marty close. "Merry Christmas, baby," he whispered as he kissed the top of her head.
"It's the best Christmas ever," Marty remarked.
Todd nodded in agreeance. "For you and me both."
"What's Blair gonna do if she finds out we just made love in her guest bedroom?" Marty asked Todd with a mischievious little giggle.
"She'll probably kick us out into the snow," responded Todd with a little chuckle.
"That's alright ... as long as I have you to keep me warm," Marty whispered as she placed a tender kiss upon Todd's sexy chest.
Minutes passed, and Todd just held her, feeling sleepy and content. He thought about Marty's words; that this was 'the best Christmas ever,' and to him it truly was. He had received the greatest gift of all- Marty's love. Her love meant the world to him, and now that she was back in his arms, he had all that he had ever really wanted.
Merry Christmas!
THE END