A/N: Jo P.O.V.

I sat at the table with Pop, Mrs. G, Blair, Tootie and Natalie. I'm not always a cocoa drinker, but Mrs. Garrett makes the best hot chocolate with whipped cream, sprinkled chocolate and we always eat homemade sugar cookies.

"Must you chew like that?" I heard behind me. When I turned around my nose almost touched Blair's.

"Like what?" I could see the fear gleaming in her eyes. I scoffed and looked away.

"Girls!" Mrs. Garrett exclaimed.

"Come on Mrs. Garrett, were you going to tell us about your favorite Christmas?" Natalie asked smiling. She looked into the air thinking.

"My favorite Christmas was probably the first one I spent here at Eastland."

"But we all went home for Christmas." Mrs. Garrett nodded.

"Yes, but it was the time we spent together before hand, that made it Christmas for me." Mrs. Garrett turned in her chair and had everybody's attention.

"Mrs. Garrett, has my father come yet?" Molly asked coming down the stairs with her suitcases. She shook her head.

"I'm sorry Molly. He hasn't shown up yet."

"Oh." Molly put her suitcases down on the end of the stair rail and rushed up the stairs.

"Molly!" Mrs. Garrett walked towards the stairs when Tootie rolled by on her skates.

"Where's Natalie?" She turned to Tootie.

"I don't know." Natalie walked into the room.

"Hey Nat!" Tootie waved. "My parents are here. I'm leaving for Christmas."

"Bye Tootie." She hugged Tootie. "I'll see you next year!" Natalie giggled at her own joke.

"Bye Mrs. Garrett."

"Bye Tootie." She rode out the door. Mrs. Garrett turned to Natalie. "When do you have to go home?"

"I'll ride the train, so I can leave after everybody else. It'll be me and you Mrs. Garrett." She put a hand on Mrs. Garrett's shoulder. Nancy bounded down the stairs with a frown.

"What's wrong Nancy?" Blair walked down after her.

"Roger hasn't called and it's driving her crazy."

"He promised we'd get together before we left for Christmas." Mrs. Garrett rubbed her shoulder.

"I'm sure he'll call some day before Christmas." Blair smiled.

"Mrs. Garrett, I just had another one of my brilliant ideas."

"Oh boy." Natalie crossed her arms and Nancy sat on the edge of the couch.

"What?" Blair flipped her hair.

"Instead of going to Aspen with Mother for Christmas, I'll stay here with you. I don't really need to go to Aspen again." She exasperated. Natalie rolled her eyes.

"Thank you Blair, but I'll be fine."

"Alright, but if you need me, I'll be here." She walked up the stairs and headed to the right. Sue Ann and Cindy came down the stairs.

"Molly's in her room crying." Cindy told Mrs. Garrett.

"I'll go talk to her." Mrs. Garrett walked up the stairs.

"Come on Sue Ann. I'll go with you and Cindy to the bus station." Cindy, Sue Ann and Natalie walked outside. Nancy walked over and picked up the phone. She put her hand on her hip.

"Roger, if you don't call me before Christmas I'm done with this." She hung up and waited before she walked into the kitchen.

Mrs. Garrett knocked on Molly's door. Molly didn't even move. She opened the door.

"Molly? Can I come in?" Molly sat up. Her face was covered in tears as she held her pillow and hiccupped. "What's wrong?"

"My dad isn't coming is he?" Mrs. Garrett walked over and sat on the bed. She ran her fingers through Molly's hair.

"He'll be here. Maybe he's busy right now."

"My dad always takes the time for me. Or at least he used to."

"I know he'll come get you. He loves you."

"Yeah right." She sighed.

"Hey, your parents love you more than anything." Molly stood up and faced the door with her back to Mrs. Garrett.

"Then why did they get a divorce? If they love me why couldn't they stick it out for me?" Mrs. Garrett sighed.

"Sometimes things happen Molly. It doesn't mean they don't love you just because they couldn't stay together anymore." Molly turned and rushed over to hug her.

"Oh Mrs. Garrett," she cried. "I'm going to miss you."

Tootie and Natalie sat at the table listening to Mrs. Garrett intently as she talked about her favorite Christmas. I was listening, but could hear Blair yawning behind me.

"Would you mind? Some of us are trying to listen." I exclaimed over my shoulder. Blair scoffed.

"Not all of us are like you and don't need sleep." Blair responded.

"Jo." My father warned. I looked back at Mrs. Garrett.

"Why was that your favorite Christmas Mrs. Garrett?" Tootie asked. "It doesn't seem like it was a very exciting one. Mrs. Garrett smiled.

"It was very exciting Tootie." She nodded. "My sons were raised and living on their own. I had been divorced for many years and didn't feel useful. When I came to Eastland I knew that you girls needed me and that was the first Christmas that I knew I would have something to do; somebody to help."

"You like being here that much?" Natalie asked and Mrs. Garrett smiled.

"You girls mean everything to me; you really do."

"And that's why you're spending Christmas here with the four of us instead of being home with your family in Wisconsin." I stated crossing my arms and placing my elbows on the table.

"I didn't have any fun on that trip Mrs. Garrett. I could have stayed with you."

"You're here now Blair. That's enough." Natalie responded rolling her eyes.

"Natalie." Mrs. Garrett warned. I looked over at Blair.

"Well, since you think you know everything, why don't you tell us your favorite Christmas memory Blair?" I asked her. Blair smiled.

"That's a great idea!" Tootie replied. "We can all share our favorite Christmases." Blair blushed.

"Oh I have so many wonderful Christmas memories; I couldn't begin to narrow it down to one; and I wouldn't want to make anybody around here feel jealous." She looked around the table. I gritted my teeth. I hate it when she does this.

"You won't Blair, just talk."

"Oh alright, if you insist…."