Jim and Ellie were awakened by squeals of excitement the next morning. Remembering what day it was, Jim slipped into his slippers and padded to the living room to find Aiden bouncing around the Christmas tree. Ellie stumbled in a moment later, yawning. Her expression changed immediately as she smiled at her son's excitement.

Seeing Aiden's reaction to the toys that Santa had left under the tree, Jim was glad he'd made the extra shopping trip his first night here. Another squeal erupted as Aiden spotted the Thomas train set tucked under the tree. He pulled it out and immediately grabbed some pieces. Running to Jim, he held them out, "Make it, Grandpa," he insisted.

Jim's excitement was equal to his grandson's as he looked into the small animated face. "Okay," Jim agreed as he began to assemble the set. Ellie slipped down on the sofa next to Jim, her hand resting on his shoulder. "Thanks Dad. I couldn't afford…"

"Hey, Santa brought it. I just get to play with it," Jim grinned.

Eventually, they exchanged gifts. Aiden gleefully handed a wrapped package to Jim. "I made it at school," he declared proudly.

"You did?" Jim asked as he opened it. Inside was a small box covered in pasta shells that had been colored blue. "Hey this is really nice," Jim said as he admired the box.

Aiden beamed. "You can keep your watch in it. Mommy said you like to keep your watches in a box."

"I do," Jim agreed. "And this is the perfect size box for my favorite watch," Jim assured the boy.

Ellie cried when she opened Jim's present for her. "Its like you were thinking what I was feeling," she told him with a hug.

"It's what I've always felt about you, Ellie."

Aiden pushed between them with another package in his hands. "Give him yours, Mommy."

Ellie took the package from her son and smiled. "I wasn't sure…I mean, I know so little about you anymore…" Shyly, she handed the box to Jim.

His hands shook slightly as he opened it. Inside, he found a gold chain with a medal attached that depicted Saint Joseph. Jim looked at his daughter quizzically.

"I know you wear St. Michael…that Grandma gave it to you when you became a cop. But Joseph is the Patron Saint of Fathers and I thought… well, I wanted you to have it. I mean, he raised a child that wasn't his… as his son. And you…have always insisted that I'm your daughter and…"

Tears ran down Jim's cheeks as the meaning behind the gift hit home. "Oh Ellie…" he said as he wrapped her in a bear hug. "You are my daughter… you always have been."

Put it on, put it on," Aiden insisted.

His eyes glistening, Jim smiled softly. "Yeah…" Wrapping the chain around his neck, he fastened the clasp and pulled the medal down to rest easily on his chest. "Feels good," he said as he looked at his daughter.

The rest of the day was spent playing with Aiden and his toys. He showed each to Jim several times and even insisted on his grandfather helping him run Thomas's train. Ellie cooked a simple Christmas meal, which Jim enjoyed. He made sure to compliment her cooking, remembering how tired she had been the night before.

Aiden took a short nap that afternoon and Jim suggested to Ellie that she take advantage of the time to get some rest too. "But…I don't want to miss spending time with you," she told him. Jim grinned, her words the best gift he'd received. "We'll have more good times together," he assured her. "But you look tired." Once the house was quiet, Jim dozed off himself as he sat on the sofa, watching a time worn Christmas special.

That evening, Jim warmed leftovers and the three settled down for a little playtime with Aiden's new toys, then another video, and then finally Jim read a book to his grandson before tucking him to sleep.

Ellie smiled at him as he walked back into the living room. "You've only been here a couple of days and you're already spoiling him," she chided him softly.

Jim smiled wistfully. "You know, if you lived closer to me, I could spoil him even more…and you too."

"Yeah…but, I'm doing okay where I am. I'm learning to …I dunno… be responsible maybe… Anyway, L.A. is bad enough; I don't want to try to raise Aiden in Vegas."

Jim tilted his head in concession. "Yeah, it hasn't exactly been family friendly the last few years…"

"But you could visit some maybe?"

Jim looked into her hopeful eyes and nodded. "A lot maybe?"

"I'd like that… maybe it is better this way anyway. I mean, you'll visit for a few days and then just as we start to irritate each other, you'll go back," she chuckled.

Jim smiled. "Yeah, maybe. But you could visit me some too…"

Ellie looked into his warm eyes and agreed. "Yeah, when I get time off. Maybe Aiden and I could stay a week. That way, he gets to see what life is like at Grandpa's house."

Jim simply sat, watching his daughter, marveling at the changes in her. "Hey, I know I've said this but…I am really proud of you. You're doing good, kid."

Ellie looked away, apparently a little overwhelmed by her father's praise. And then she looked back at him. "Since we're …I dunno…bonding here, can I ask you something?"

Jim looked at her quizzically. "Sure…do I have to answer?"

"I just… well, I can't remember things ever being good between you and Mom. Why did you marry her?"

Jim bit back the sarcasm that threatened and looked back at the time when he first knew Nancy, trying to remember. "I don't know that I have a simple answer. I was back from Vietnam and, well…I lost a lot of buddies over there. I was trying to sort out my future and most of the friends I'd had in high school had moved on, married or left. I felt pretty isolated from everybody. And then I met your mom and she was ..." he paused as he tried to find a good word. "She was a fresh start, I guess…" He frowned as he remembered the early days of dating his future wife. "I knew she had… a bad side, but most of the time, she was good to be around. She made me feel good. But, it was all about her, even then. So, as for marrying her, I guess I wanted someone in my life, someone to come home to, someone who would care if I did come home." He shrugged and then grimaced. "And she did for awhile. But when I made detective and started working all kinds of crazy hours… I dunno, I guess she just got bored. Maybe she worried about me, my safety, in the beginning but…that wasn't what …" he sighed. "Maybe if I'd been around more…but, I'm not sure it would have made a difference."

"So, who had the first affair?"

Jim swallowed and shifted his weight on the sofa. "What'd she tell you?"

"She didn't. I've never been able to talk to her…like this. I mean, she sort of blurted out that I wasn't yours, that she had an affair to get back at you and I happened…and she didn't really want me."

"Oh Ellie, I'm sorry you heard that. I think she did want you. But then she got so bitter, she just lashed out in all directions. As for the affairs…I only had one, after I found out about her first one. It wasn't what I really wanted and I just hurt Annie with it."

"So, that was when I…"

"No. O'Toole…the sperm donor… came along later. He and I were actually working Vice together… not as partners but in the same squad. I think she was just trying to rub my nose in it by then. Thing was, I wasn't really paying much attention to her behavior by then. It wasn't until later, when I turned him and his little band in to I.A. that their affair came out and she congratulated me for sending your real father upstate. I'd suspected but until then wasn't sure."

"And that's when you were drinking and…didn't come around much?"

Jim grimaced. "Yeah. I'm not proud of those days, Ellie. Her little confession felt like a major kick in the gut and I was feeling pretty much emasculated. All we did was fight if I did stay home and you cried. So I thought it was better if I left the house…looking back, I was wrong."

"Did you ever love her?"

In his mind's eye, Jim pictured the young woman he'd married. "Yeah, I did. She was pretty, not as pretty as you, but…" He sighed, a bittersweet smile settling on his face. "And in the beginning, I would have done anything for her…" Jim looked across at his daughter, who seemed to be considering all he'd told her. "I never wanted you to find out…about the sperm donor," he told her. "We'd decided it would be better for you and…I was afraid that you might go off looking for him and I'd get left out in the cold."

She looked up at him, surprised. "I did kind of do that didn't I? Even before I knew the truth I wouldn't let you help me. And I did go looking for him. He wasn't interested in knowing he had a daughter."

"He doesn't… have a daughter, I mean. You're mine, kiddo. Don't forget that…ever," he said sternly.

She looked at him tenderly. "I know…and I'm glad."

As often happens with plans, mine went astray. But perhaps this chapter is better on Christmas Day anyway.

Ellie's gift to Jim was inspired by a conversation beaujolais and I had awhile back about the gold chain PG wears. St. Joseph's Medal didn't come up in the conversation but it did pop into my head while I was writing and thinking about the St. Michael possiblity.

And finally, I hope everyone is having a very Merry Christmas!