LAST ONE....thanks for reading guys. I don't know if I should continue writing more GoT fanfiction, switch to something else, or give it up completely. I don't have a lot of time anymore, growing up is hard. But I would absolutely love to keep trying.

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year."

-Charles Dickens

Rochelle

"Where is she? Girl!"

I hide terrified in my closet, under the shoes, as my father rages on.

"Leave her alone, Michael! It's Christmas. Every child wonders about Santa Claus. She's 6 years old." The voice of my mother is terrified too. Both of us know what his drunken rages are like. I'm amazed that she's even trying to defend me. It's a Christmas miracle.

"I'm sorry!" I sob as he tears open the closet door. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it! Santa Claus doesn't have to come here, he doesn't! I just wondered why he didn't! It's okay, it really-"

"SHUT UP! Santa Claus doesn't exist, stupid slut. He's not real. The sooner you learn that and GROW UP, the better." On the words "grow up" he punctuates his point with a blow that makes me fall. Dazed, I look up and see my mother crying in the corner, forever unable to stand up to him.

"Repeat it! He's not real!"

"He's not real." I whisper obediently as I wait for the blow of his belt. "He's not real, he's not real, notreal, notreal-"

"Rochelle. Come back. Come back to me." I feel Ethan shaking me awake, and I know I'm having a nightmare. I roll into the safety of his arms, unashamed to have tears running down my face as I press it into his chest.

"It was like it was yesterday," I cried. "I was…he was…"

"I know," he breathes into my hair. He's dealt with this every Christmas since we began living together. "That was a long time ago. You're safe. Our children are safe."

Safe.

"Come on," he suddenly rolls out of bed. "I have to show you something."

"What if we disturb Santa?" I try a feeble joke. He grins anyway and holds out his hand. I take it and follow as he leads me down to the other bedroom, where Gabe is sleeping peacefully. His little curly head is just peeking out of the covers as his arms and legs sprawl everywhere, a leg uncovered. His breathing is deep and even, and as we watch him, he gives a little sigh and smiles.

I realize I'm smiling too, remembering how excited he was to go to bed for once, just so Santa would come sooner. He was in his pajamas right after dinner. Ethan had to convince him to watch Bob the Builder with him for awhile before hitting the sack.

Kaylee, in a crib across the room, gives a little cry and starts to fuss, as if she realizes that we're awake and wants to take full advantage of it. "Shhh, shhh…" I make little sounds as I cradle her, calming both of us. "There we go, baby," I say softly. "You're alright."

I look up to see Ethan watching me with a goofy smirk on his face. "What?" I whisper defensively.

"You're very cute as a mother."

"Cute?" I cock an eyebrow as I settle Kaylee back into her crib.

"Well," Ethan comes up behind me and wraps me in a tight hug. "Drop-dead sexy, also."

"That's better." I smile as we watch our children sleep.

"My point," he whispers in my ear, sending chills up my spine still, "is that our children will remain untouched. Our children will never know the evil you did, and yet despite that, you grew up to be one hell of a woman. Together, we'll be an amazing family."

Family. I love that word. When we leave the kids' room, Ethan doesn't lead me right back to the bedroom, he leads me to the living room, where we've placed all the presents already under the tree. "Here," he hands me a package that I've never seen before. "It's from me. I think you can use it now. It's technically Christmas morning I suppose."

It's a box, around the size of a toaster. Ethan's excited grin tells me that it's something more exciting…

A glass box.

"Wow, Ethan, it's…"

"No, no, no," he bounces up and down with excitement. "Shake it."

I give it a little shake, and immediately in its depths a picture forms. It's the one of I love of Ethan, playing with Gabe in the backyard in the leaves the year after we got him. He's holding the little boy upside down over a pile of leaves as Gabe shrieks in delight.

"Shake it again," he says quietly.

I do, and the image changes to a memory.

"Mommy, when are the cookies going to be ready?" Gabe runs in the kitchen with his Superman cape flying behind him. "Santa will be here soon!"

"It's 3 pm, bud." I say. "We've got some time. They'll be ready in time for tonight."

"Okay!" Gabe zooms out, making noises and shrieking. "DADDY!" Ethan has come home from class.

He comes into the kitchen. "Hi, I love you. Merry Christmas."

"No, you're not getting any dough." I smile. "These are for Santa and Gabe. Not you."

"Okay, fine," he pretends to look hurt. "I'm a man, I can deal with that."

I turn around and all of a sudden he's there, so close that our noses brush when I turn. "You're not getting any dough."

"Oh I know," he whispers, and then his mouth is on mine. I'm so lost in the kiss that I don't even realize that he's reached into the bowl behind me and has a finger full of dough. "Sucker," he laughs as he dances past the reach of my fist.

"I hate you." I mumble, knowing that the complete opposite is true.

I laugh at last year's memory, and shake the box again. It's a picture this time, with Kaylee at the hospital. I'm in the bed with Kaylee in my arms, with Ethan standing over me, an enormous, goofy grin on his face. Gabe has climbed on the bed too, staring at his little sister with a look of completely adorable puzzlement.

"Do you like it? I had to get some help from Jimmy, and the Atlanteans, but…"

I've never been good with words, so I kiss him instead. I don't think he minds.

Neriah

Isabel has really outdone herself with this Christmas party. I know she and Arkarian have been at Ethan and Rochelle's house since noon, working on decorations and food. Rochelle and Jocelyn are helping too, while Ethan plays with Gabe and Evie. They just be the most spoiled kids in Australia. We've all showered them with presents, obviously, because they're so adorable. I'm watching Kaylee, helping occasionally, but unable to put the little girl down.

She's so tiny, so perfect, with Rochelle's green eyes and Ethan's unruly brown hair. She'll be beautiful someday, and hopefully a part of the Chosen when she's old enough.

Matt comes over around 4, to help with…well, nothing, just to see me basically and bother Isabel.

"Matt! Have you ever hung up tinsel before? Have you?" she has her hands on her hips.

Uh-oh. "Here," I run over and give him the little girl. "Take Kaylee, I'll do the tinsel."

"Thanks," he gives me a peck on the lips. "Before you do that, though, I left something in our rooms. Could you run back and get it? It's just on the table."

I give him a look. "You're such a boy."

"I love you. Please?" he sends me a smile that I can't refuse. Ever.

"Fine."

It's not like it takes me more than a second to pop back into our rooms in the Coliseum, looking around for the thing that Matt forgot. I see it straightaway, a present, wrapped quite horribly.

To Neriah, the tag reads, From Your Secret Admirer.

I smile and decide to open it here, away from everyone else. He used about a whole roll of tape, which creates problems, but eventually the wrapping falls away to reveal a tapestry.

I catch my breath as the ornate gold thread border grabs my eyes and the floral embroidery on the edge. It's the center, though, that's the true masterpiece. It reminds me of Rochelle's blanket with the silhouettes of the Guard, but this has more than the silhouettes.

It looks like a picture, a recreation of one of our meetings. Ethan and Rochelle are laughing at Dillon, who is making a joke that is making me laugh hysterically and Matt glare. He's holding my hand, though. Isabel and Arkarian are in deep conversation to the right, unaware of anyone else. Shaun is there, too, talking with Jimmy and watching Ethan.

The sight brings tears to my eyes. With the death of Shaun, Rochelle and Ethan having a family, and Dillon growing up, I've been worried about the changing of the Guard. Losing our mortal friends, forgetting them as the Chosen and all future generations come forth. Matt and I will always be here, watching as Ethan, Rochelle, Dillon, Jimmy, and Jocelyn all pass on. Eventually Isabel and Arkarian will go too.

But looking at this tapestry, I smile and remember.

Matt doesn't startle me as he comes up behind me. I can feel him there, but I can hardly see him for the tears in my eyes.

Immediately he looks upset. "I'm sorry, Neriah, I just thought that you'd, I mean-"

"No, no, no." I put my hand on his lips to shut him up while I gather words. "This is the kindest, nicest, most wonderful…I love you. Did Laura help?"

"She did. And Jimmy," he admits sheepishly. "But most of the work was done by handmaids in the 15th century. I paid them well and gave them the materials, and they were all too happy to oblige."

I laugh delightedly as he kisses my neck. "I admit, I doubted you for awhile there. But you've quite exceeded my expectations."

We're late to the party.

Jocelyn

If there is one thing I've learned in my three years in modern times, it's that nobody throws a party like Isabel.

There are 30 different kinds of snacks, with turkey due out of the oven in an hour.

"You know, usually turkey is on Thanksgiving, and there's roast beef or something for Christmas." Matt comments. He likes to make his sister turn red in the face apparently, and wasn't here all afternoon, so he missed the commotion.

"Well we would have had ham, but someone decided that it would be funny to play catch with the meat before it was put in the oven, and the dog next store loved it, so now we're reduced to poultry."

Ethan and Dillon both try to shrink. Dillon ducks behind me. "So many scary voice inflections coming out of such a tiny, beautiful girl."

"Save it, Dill." Isabel can't stay mad on Christmas, but it's not part of her personality to forgive and forget quickly.

There are a lot more people crowded into Rochelle and Ethan's living room than I've ever seen before. The Guard is here, the Tribunal, Ethan's mother Laura, and the children are running around somewhere. Lady Arabella has made a particular favorite out of Evie, and between my sister and Gabe I think they own all of Toys-R-Us by now.

Lord Penbarin is holding Kaylee while Rochelle is having a silent heart attack, Ethan and Matt are playing a raucous game of foosball. King Richard is examining the Christmas tree extensively for some reason. Laura is talking to Neriah on the couch, while Isabel and Arkarian have disappeared into the kitchen.

I just sit and take it all in with a smile. A few years ago, I had Evie and no family, and Christmas was just another day to wake up and work. If Evie was lucky I could buy her extra food on the holiday. I look over at Dillon with a smile as he plays with Evie. He's turned out to be an excellent man, for all our sore beginnings. Living without him would mean that I don't belong here, or anywhere.

Sometimes I've wondered why he holds on to me. I'm a human, with no special powers, no extreme beauty like Rochelle or Neriah, no help to him at all in the Guard. Neriah comes over frowning at my thoughts. I haven't learned to control them quite yet.

"Jocelyn-"

"I know."

"No, you don't. Before you came along, Dillon had no one. He was the butt of every joke, the idiot of the group, and totally lost. Now…he's still the idiot of the group and the butt of every joke, I guess, but he's grown up. He's a man. You don't see the way he looks at you, but I do. We all do. Trust in that," she gives me a small smile. She's always been the most protective over Dillon, and used to scare me a little, but her words are kind.

"So you don't think he's going to chuck me then?"

Her smile becomes quite large. "Actually…"

"Jossey?" Evie's little hand paws my knee.

"Not now, Eve, I'm talking."

"This is important." I look at my little sister, who is more solemn than I've seen her in awhile.

"What's up, Eve?"

Then I see that she's holding in her hand a little box. A jewelry box, actually. Like the kind that usually holds a ring. "Evie…"

"Dillon asked me if it was okay that he's going to be around for awhile," my six-year-old sister explains to me patiently. As if I was the one who'd just outgrown the toddler years. Which is good, actually, because at the moment I feel like I have.

"And I said that I think it's a good idea. So now he says that you have to say yes. And this is for you." She holds out the box and I take out the most beautiful ring I have ever seen.

Finally my eyes find Dillon's in the crowd. He looks nervous, but his smile is reassuring, the most wonderful thing I've ever seen, and suddenly my stomach has grown wings.

His eyes don't leave mine as he makes his way across the room, and I don't let them. It isn't until he's right in front of me that I dare to blink. "Hi."

"Is that a yes?" he breathes, looking at the ring that I've put on my finger.

"You are, without a doubt, the craziest man I've ever met. The most frustrating, the most tiring-"

"Is that a no?!" he looks half-crazy. Rochelle is grinning, and as I look around the room, I realize that all eyes are on us.

"Yes."

"YES IT'S A NO, OR YES IT'S A YES?!"

"It's a yes." I smile and kiss him, hearing Neriah sigh.

"Dillon's getting married. So weird. So weird." Rochelle mutters to herself, but not in a bad way, just a shocked sounding way.

"You owe me ten," Matt whispers to someone.

"MATT!" Neriah's shocked voice rings out.

"Fine, five."

"Matt."

"Hey, Dillon didn't make the whipping sound."

"Dillon's slightly busy at the moment."

"Can I plan it? PLEASE?"

"Isabel, nobody else would dare."

"It's a Guard wedding. You know it's not going to go according to plan anyway."

"Your wedding was a fluke-"

"DINNER!" Arkarian's voice breaks through everything, and everyone troops into the dining room, where a long table has been brought in and set up.

King Richard makes the toast. "It's been a hard year. The passing of Shaun Roberts was hard and unexpected, but we stood through it. Radames hit us hard this year, too. We had the strength for that. To all that we have accomplished in this glorious year, and to all that we'll accomplish in the next. To the joy of what is, and what is to become-" he nods at Dillon and I "- and to the kindness and love that we all share. This is the true meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a-"

"Not your line." Matt cuts in.

"I beg your pardon?"

"That's from that Twas the Night Before Christmas. Everyone knows that. Even Gabe here does, right bud?"

"Right."

"Well, of all the things to-"

"It's okay, sire, the rest of it was good and sounded original. We'll let it slide."

"Well, I NEVER-"

"Who wants turkey?"

It's a merry Christmas for everyone. After all, when, in the Guard, is it ever not a merry affair?

God bless guys, and good bye for now.

-Halo