~oOo~

"Daddy, Daddy, they here, they here!" Blair ran to the front door and flung it open. "Jessie, Joel, Santa camed and he left presents!" His slippers crunched on the snow-covered path. "He left presents for you at our house."

Joel picked Blair up before his slippers became any more soaked than they already were. "And do you know what?" Joel said, opening the trunk. "He also came to our house and left some presents for you there."

"Way cool," Blair answered, bouncing in Joel's arms. "I 'cided I really like Santa!"

Jessie laughed. "Merry Christmas, honey."

Blair leaned over and wrapped his arms around Jessie's neck and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Merry Chwistmas, Jessie."

Jim immediately set Lucas to work unloading Joel's car. They were now only waiting for Simon and Daryl to arrive, so celebrations could get under way. He had hoped that maybe Steven and his family could have made it as well, but Rachael's mother had made it perfectly clear that she was not going to spend Christmas without her grandchildren. Still, most of his family was there; adopted or not, they were still family.

~oOo~

"Hey, Simon, Daryl. Merry Christmas," Jim said, shaking Simon's hand. He spied the new Play Station Daryl held in his arms. "I see Santa was good to you."

"Yeah, real good. Can I go set it up?"

"Be my guest," Jim laughed. He took Simon's coat. "Did you get it?"

Simon pulled a parcel from a bag of presents he was holding. "Sure did. Good as new. I had the guys in the lab make a copy, just in case you have another run-in with a box of crayons."

Jim took the photo and studied it carefully. Simon had given it to the guys in forensics to see if they could repair the damage Blair had done. "It looks as good as new."

"It's better than new. They even retouched the colour."

"This was the only thing he had left of his brother." Jim said. "You should have seen his face when Blair scribbled on it. He was devastated." Jim looked back at his Captain. "But you know what, he never once took it out on Blair. He just shrugged it off." Jim glanced back down at the photo. "I've got a frame in my room." He moved toward the stairs. "Everyone's in the kitchen. Hey, can you get Blair for me? I think he should give this to Lucas. And, Simon, thanks."

~oOo~

Blair took Lucas by the hand and led him into the living room. "What you got there, Sport?" Lucas asked, noticing the package hidden behind Blair's back.

Once Lucas was seated, Blair moved to stand between his legs. "It fo' you, Lucas. It vewy, vewy special." He handed over the gift, a look of concern covering his face.

Lucas accepted the parcel and undid the bow. "I guess it must be," he answered not missing the look on Blair's face. He made short work of the wrapping, but his fingers trembled when he realised what he was holding. "I don't understand, Blair. How did you?"

"I very sorry I broked it," Blair blurted. He lifted his hand and wiped away the tears that were filling his eyes. "Daddy sayed he got it fixed just like new. You can see the boy now. The cwayon all gone." Blair started to tremble. "Do you still love me?"

"Oh God, Blair." Lucas was having trouble holding back tears of his own. He wrapped Blair in his arms and lifted him up so he was straddling his lap. "Of course I still love you. We made a promise, remember?"

Blair wrapped his arms around Lucas's body and sobbed into the teenager's chest. Lucas buried his face in Blair's curls, his own tears flowing freely. "You're the only one I have left. I don't have anyone else who loves me, Short Stuff."

Jim moved from the door where he had been watching and sat down on the sofa. He placed his arm around Lucas's shoulder. "You okay?"

Lucas took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean..." his tear-filled eyes met Jim's. "It's just so hard sometimes. Times like this, it's just so hard."

"You're wrong, you know," Jim said, drawing Lucas in. Without apprehension, he placed a light kiss, on the side of Lucas's head. "Blair's not the only one you have left. I love you, kiddo. We both love you."

They sat in silence, Jim giving Lucas time to compose himself and Lucas, for the first time, not ashamed to fully accept the comfort Jim was offering.

"C'mon," Jim said. "Today is about good things, remember? Why don't we go see what's cookin?"

Lucas swiped at his eyes. "You're right, only good things." He stood, with Blair still in his arms. "Jim, I, what you just said ...well, I want you to know that ... well .,, I just want you to know."

Jim left his arm around Lucas's shoulders and led him through the door. "I know you do."

"And me, too," Blair said quietly.

"Always Sport, always," Lucas replied

~oOo~

"I think it's about time we broke out the champagne and really got this celebration under way!" Jim bellowed. "Simon, the glasses are in the cupboard to your left."

"Can I have some, Dad?" Daryl asked from his position at the kitchen sink. Jessie had put him to work peeling potatoes. "Mom let me have a glass at Aunt Kate's wedding."

Simon smiled at his fourteen-year-old son. Every time he turned around, Daryl seemed to get that little bit closer to manhood. He'd sprouted at least two inches in the past month and he swore he could see a tiny patch of peach fluff on the boy's upper lip.

"Can I have 'pagne too, Daddy?" Blair asked. He was standing on the kitchen stool with his arms still flung around Lucas's neck.

"How about a nice glass of apple champagne for you, Junior," Jim said as he began to fill the glasses that Simon had lined up on the counter. "Simon?" he inquired, before filling a glass for Daryl.

"Half a glass," Simon replied.

"Half a glass! Dad, come, on I'm not a baby. At least make it three quarters."

Simon took his son by the shoulders. "You're still my baby." He pulled Daryl into an embrace, and planted a kiss on the top of his head.

"Dad," Daryl exclaimed, totally mortified that his father had kissed him in public. "There are people around," he hissed.

His son's words didn't wipe the smile from Simon's face. If anything, his grin grew wider as Daryl, despite his complaining, wound his arm around his waist.

With glasses filled to the brim, Jim passed a glass to Lucas.

"You serious?" Lucas asked. "I thought 'no alcohol' was one of your rules? One of your many, many, many rules," he added.

"I figure that you're old enough to have a drink with me once in a while. And besides, what fun are rules if you can't break them occasionally?" He saw a glint in Lucas's eye and quickly clarified his statement. "When I say occasionally, I mean occasionally and only with my complete knowledge and permission."

Lucas just shook his head. "God, at this stage I'll be fifty before I get another..." His last word was muffled as he took a sip of champagne.

Jim raised his glass. "To family." He reached over and squeezed the back of Lucas's neck. "As trying as they might be sometimes, you couldn't live without them." He leaned over and whispered into Lucas ear. "And with comments like that, you just might be locked in your room until you're fifty."

Lucas's eyes widened. "You heard that?" He took in the expression of Jim's face. "Of course you did, didn't you?" he groaned.

Jim slapped Lucas on the back. "Oh yeah."

Blair, who was now sitting on the chair, concentrating very hard on not spilling his apple champagne, spoke up. "I hearded it, too. What does 'lay' mean, Lucas?"

Lucas covered Blair's mouth instantly with his hand, his face flushing with embarrassment. He dared a quick glance at Jim. "It means that I'm in big trouble, Sport." Jim's expression remained unchanged. "Big, big trouble."

"Oh yeah," Jim confirmed.

Jessie, who had managed very well to maintain her composure, clapped her hands. "Why don't you boys go and find something to do in the living room?" She took the potato peeler from Daryl's hand. "Go, have some fun."

Daryl didn't need to be told twice. In less than a minute, he'd made a hasty exit from the room, with Blair hot on his heels.

"I guess I should ... I mean maybe I should ... I should go check on Blair," Lucas stuttered, backing out of the room.

"Might be a wise decision," Jim replied, straight-faced.

With all three boys out of earshot, Jessie could no longer contain herself. She lifted her hand to her mouth in a futile effort to smother her chuckling. Her actions caused a domino effect, and soon, not a dry eye was to be found as tears of laughter, along with more champagne, flowed in the kitchen.

~oOo~

Jim took his place at one end of the table. Blair was seated on a booster seat on the chair to the right of him, and Lucas was on the next chair down. The table was laden with a decadent amount of Christmas fare. and Jim's memories flashed back to his childhood. A table similar to this one had always been laid out for Christmas. Enormous amounts of turkey and ham, steaming bowls of mashed potatoes and butter beans, pumpkin pie and brandy-filled puddings always graced the Ellison table. And so, unfortunately did the strong hand of his father. He looked around his table, and at his family. Smiles and laughter and competition for the jokes and toys inside of the Christmas crackers that Jessie had hand-made, in an effort to bring something a little different to the traditional table setting, was all he could see. All he could sense.

Simon sat at the other end of the table, batting away his son's hands as Daryl tried in vain to place a paper hat from one of the crackers on his head. Relenting under the youth's persistence, Simon let the paper crown rest askew over one eye. Daryl burst into a fit of laughter and wrapped his arms around his father. "You look like a dork, Dad," he chuckled.

With glasses filled to the brim, Jim took a moment to say a few words. "I'm not very good at speeches, so I'll make this short."

"Amen to that," Simon interrupted.

"If King Arthur at the end of the table would care to keep his royal trap shut, maybe I can get started," Ellison retaliated. "Firstly, to Jessie and Joel. I can't even begin to thank you both for everything you have done for this family. We are richer for your love and support."

"And we, yours," Jessie added quietly.

"To his royal highness over there," Jim continued, nodding to Simon. "Despite being my boss, you are my best friend and it's a friendship I'll always value." He smiled, "Of course, I'd value it a little more if I got a pay-raise."

"Dream on, Ellison," Simon retorted.

Lastly Jim looked over at his boys. "It's without a doubt that this year has been full of highs and lows. Six months ago, I would never have seen myself as a father, but here I am, six months later, and am lucky to have, not just one, but two amazing kids to share my life." He took hold of Blair's hand. "Munchkin, you bring nothing but absolute joy to every single day of my life." He looked over at the other boy who he'd begun to think of as a son. "And Lucas, you've made me realise what true strength of character really is."

Lucas ducked his head. Although Jim didn't regret his words, it wasn't in his plan to make Lucas feel uncomfortable; he picked up his napkin and tossed it straight at Lucas's head. "Despite his obvious lack of training, which you all witnessed earlier," he said, with a broad smile on his face.

Lucas picked up the napkin and tossed it back, also smiling broadly. "You still throw like a girl," he said.

"Amen to that," Simon boomed. "Now, start cutting that bird, Ellison, before I faint with hunger."

Jim picked up his glass. "To family," he toasted.

The fire that crackled in the background could not begin to compare with the warmth that radiated from the table as three families came together as one to celebrate life, love and Christmas.

~oOo~