A/N: Season 11

Lucy walked through the house carrying Savannah as Kevin opened the door. She smiled at him. Kevin gave her a worried look.

"What's that look for?" He questioned. Lucy adjusted Savannah on her hip.

"I think we should go see your family for Christmas."

"Lucy," he looked at her, "we spend Christmas with your family."

"I know, but I think we should go see your mom and Ben." She looked from Kevin to Savannah. "Besides, Savannah needs to know her Uncle Ben." Lucy tickled her and Savannah laughed. Kevin smiled.

"Alright." He took Savannah from Lucy. "How are you going to tell your parents?" Lucy looked up at him. She exhaled.

"I'm a child of seven. I'm sure they can find somebody to fill my place." She walked out of the room. Lucy wasn't excited to tell her parents, but eventually everybody has to grow up and move away.

Annie stood in the kitchen on the phone with Ruthie.

"I'm sorry mom, but I can't come home for Christmas."

"What?" Annie asked. Ruthie sighed.

"There is too much going on. I can't leave yet." Annie nodded.

"Alright Ruthie."

"Tell everybody I miss them." Annie sighed.

"I'll do that. Bye Ruthie."

"Bye mom." When Annie turned to put the cordless phone on the charger, Eric opened the back door.

"Hi Annie."

"Eric." She nodded at him. Eric walked over to her.

"What's the matter?"

"Ruthie's not coming home for Christmas."

"She isn't?" Annie shook her head with tears in her eyes.

"No."

"I'm sorry Annie." He hugged her.

T-Bone was sitting on the stairs in the kitchen listening to Eric and Annie.

"What are you doing?" Jane asked walking down the stairs. He looked at her.

"I'm trying to hear the Reverend and Mrs. Camden." She crossed her arms.

"Why?"

"Because when I was on my way downstairs I heard her on the phone. Ruthie isn't coming back for Christmas." Jane leaned against the wall.

"And?"

"It's hard on Mrs. Camden. She feels like none of her kids want her. We know what that feels like. Nobody wanted us either."

"Gee, thanks for THAT reminder, T-Bone." Margaret walked down and looked between them.

"We're discussing Mrs. Camden. None of her kids are coming home for Christmas." Margaret sat next to him.

"What about Lucy, Sam and David?" Jane asked.

"That's different." T-Bone replied and Margaret nodded.

"Sam and David have to be here, the others are choosing to not be here. Lucy and Kevin live next door; they are always here."

"What if we threw a Christmas party for her or something?"

"You want us to plan a party….. TOGETHER?" Jane asked with sarcasm dripping off her lips.

"Come on, the Camdens let us stay here." He sighed. "I think we should give them the money to take a trip or something. We all work." Margaret nodded in agreement.

"I think it's a good idea." She said looking up at Jane. Finally, Jane sighed.

"Fine, I'll help too."

Annie and Eric looked at the door when it popped open. Annie smiled widely when she saw Lucy walk in with Savannah.

"Hi!" She walked over and took Savannah from her daughter. "What are you doing over here?" Lucy put her hands in her pockets and looked at the ground for a minute.

"There is something I need to tell you."

"You won't be coming over for Christmas?" Eric guessed. Lucy looked up at him.

"How did you know?" Eric shrugged.

"Just a guess."

On the stairs, T-Bone, Margaret and Jane overheard Lucy's plans to go to Arizona and see Kevin's family.

"This is even more of a reason to have a party." Margaret spoke up and they nodded.

"Well, I need to go upstairs." They heard Eric say and all jumped up off the stairs and rushed for the second floor of the house.

Several days later

Eric was sitting in his office at the church when T-Bone walked in. Eric took off his glasses.

"T-Bone?" He slid into a seat across from Eric. "What are you doing here?"

"We wanted to talk to you."

"We?" Eric asked and then Jane and Margaret walked in. Jane dropped into the chair next to T-Bone and Margaret held onto the back of both chairs.

"We know that everybody is going to be gone for Christmas." Eric nodded.

"It was bound to happen eventually; all the kids are getting older." T-Bone sat up in his chair.

"Well, we have been talking and we want to do something for you and Mrs. Camden." Eric looked at him.

"What?" T-Bone rubbed his hands on the chair.

"You won't have any of your family here and so we want to send you on a trip for a few days; to get your mind off of the holidays." Eric nodded.

"I think that would be good for Annie. I can't expect you to pay for it." T-Bone stood up and walked over to Eric.

"This is something we want to do." He responded. Eric looked between them.

"Where are you getting the money?" T-Bone touched his chest.

"We have jobs Reverend. YOU got us jobs if you remember." Eric nodded.

"I remember." He looked at them. "If this is something you want to do. I don't know if I can actually stop you."

"Good. Everything is all set. We have prepared everything and are just waiting for Christmas to get here." Eric rubbed his head.

"I don't know what to say." T-Bone smiled widely.

"Just thank you Reverend. It's all you can do." He stuck out a hand which Eric stared at until T-Bone put his hand in his pocket. He pointed towards the door. "We'll be going now." Jane and Margaret followed T-Bone out of the room. Eric looked at the door and laughed to himself as he went back to work.

When Eric got home, Annie was sitting at the table with Margaret and the twins.

"Thank you for watching them." Margaret nodded.

"It's not a problem Mrs. Camden. Sam, David and I will get along just fine." She looked at them. "Right boys?" They nodded.

"Yeah." Sam said.

"Where are you going?" Eric asked. Annie looked at him.

"I have to make it to the grocery store." Eric nodded and Annie walked out of the room. Eric sat and looked at the boys.

"You can go with her Reverend Camden. I'm watching the boys." Eric looked up at her and Margaret smiled.

"I think I'll do that." He said softly and walked out of the house. Margaret smiled and the boys jumped up.

"I don't think we've done anything to help your mom." Kevin said leaning in the doorway of Savannah's bedroom. Lucy put Savannah on the bed for a nap and looked up at Kevin.

"What do you mean?" Lucy asked. Kevin walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. Lucy looked up from where she sat on the edge of Savannah's toddler bed.

"Your mom send awfully hurt that we wouldn't be here for Christmas." Lucy stood up.

"I know she was Kevin, and I'm sorry about that; but we're married, your family is important to."

"Luce-" He started to say, but she walked out of the room. He looked at Savannah and then walked out of the room.

Jane and T-Bone were at the Dairy Barn working together one night.

"Hey, everything is all set." T-Bone said. "I have arranged the trip for Reverend and Mrs. Camden. I've taken the money you and Margaret gave me and we got airline tickets for New York. They leave Christmas Day and we have everything arranged for them to stay in a hotel." Jane nodded as she pushed a hamburger bag through the window.

"That sounds alright; but who is going to take care of the house and Sam and David?" Jane crossed her arms and T-Bone got a big smile on his face.

"We are!" Jane stared at him and leaned back on her right leg.

"And you think Reverend Camden is going to let us do that?" She questioned sarcastically.

"I'm sure he will." T-Bone said. "It's all set; we make the final payment when we get our checks this week."

"Okay." Jane replied. Then she went back to work.

December 23rd

The phone rang and Margaret sprinted to answer the phone.

"Hello?" She asked with a staggered breath from running to get it.

"Is this the Camden residence?" A female voice said on the other end.

"Yes it is." Margaret replied. "Do you want Mrs. Camden?"

"Yeah." Margaret took the cordless phone and walked into the living room where Annie sat with Sam, David, Kevin and Savannah.

"The phone's for you." Annie looked up at Margaret held it out to her. Annie took it from her and Kevin smiled as he walked out of the room with Savannah.

"Ruthie?" Annie asked. "Ruthie is that you?"

Ruthie smiled. "Yes mom, it's me. I'm sorry the phone is breaking up." Ruthie put the phone between her ear and her shoulder as she put clothes into her suitcase.

"What's going on? Why are you calling?" Annie asked. Ruthie smiled.

"I wanted you tell you something."

"What's that?" Annie asked somewhat deflated.

"I'm coming home."

"What?" Annie exclaimed.

"I leave for the airport in about forty-five minutes. I'll be home for Christmas Eve."

"Oh that's wonderful! We'll all be so glad to see you." Annie replied. "You know with your dad's heart-" Ruthie shook her head.

"I know mom." She responded stopping Annie from finishing her sentence, and the changed the subject. "I'll be home hopefully by tomorrow afternoon. But I know I will be home sometime tomorrow." Ruthie said excitedly.

"I'm so glad. Oh, I hate to cut you off, but your father just came in and you have a plane to catch." Ruthie nodded.

"Alright. Bye mom. See you soon." Ruthie responded and hung up the phone.

Margaret was deflated when she heard Annie on the phone. Eric walked in and touched Margaret's arm. She looked up at him.

"Hi Reverend Camden." He nodded. "Ruthie's coming home." Eric smiled.

"Really?" Finally Annie hung up the phone and looked at Eric.

"Ruthie's going to be here tomorrow! She's coming home from Switzerland for Christmas."

"I knew it was going to happen. I figured she would come home. She can't miss a Camden Christmas." He smiled. Margaret backed up against the wall not sure what to say. She would have to tell T-Bone and Jane because they were planning a vacation and now they won't be going. She walked out of the room while Eric and Annie talked about their plans for Ruthie's return home.

"Do we have everything?" Kevin asked climbing into the car as they went to head out. Lucy looked into the backseat where she saw Savannah smiling in her car seat. She tickled her and Savannah laughed.

"Yeah, I think we have everything."

"Then let's go." Kevin pulled out of the driveway and drove down the road. This would be a Christmas they wouldn't forget. Lucy turned out the radio and they slowly drove out towards Colorado.

"We have a major problem." Margaret said when she got T-Bone and Jane in his bedroom.

"What do you mean?" Jane asked.

"Ruthie called. She's coming home for Christmas." Margaret replied softly.

"That's great!" T-Bone exclaimed. Both girls looked at him.

"How? The Reverend won't want to go on the trip if Ruthie's here."

"You aren't sure. They could." T-Bone smiled widely and looked at both girls. This would definitely be an interesting Christmas.

The front door opened about seven thirty that night. Eric, Annie, Sam, David, T-Bone, Margaret and Jane were in the living room drinking cocoa and looking at the lit up tree.

"I really like it mom!" Sam exclaimed.

"Yeah." David replied. Annie smiled. She hugged them.

"Thank you." She kissed the top of their heads.

"Merry Christmas!" Lucy and Kevin said in unison as they walked into the room. Everybody looked up at them.

"What are you doing here?" Eric asked. Kevin and Lucy laughed.

"We got out of California and it was snowing. We couldn't make it and decided to come home for the holidays."

"Well we're glad to have you." Annie walked over and hugged Lucy and Kevin. She kissed Savannah and took her from Lucy. "Did you know that Ruthie would be here tomorrow?" She looked at Lucy. Lucy's jaw dropped.

"No! Ruthie's coming home from Switzerland?!" Lucy exclaimed. "That's so wonderful!"

"She'll be home tomorrow." Annie responded. T-Bone, Jane and Margaret exchanged glances.

"Ruthie!" Annie exclaimed the next afternoon when she walked in the door. Annie and Ruthie hugged.

"It's so nice to see you mom."

"We would have picked you up at the airport." Ruthie shook her head.

"I was fine getting here mom. I didn't want to be any trouble for you and dad. I'm just so glad to be home." She smiled and Annie hugged her again.

"Ruthie?! Is that you?" Lucy asked as she walked in from the back.

"Lucy?" Lucy walked in and hugged her.

"Mom said you'd be coming in today." She squeezed her. "You are growing up so fast. I can't believe it. And look at your hair." Lucy held the long strand of Ruthie's curls.

"You aren't exactly the youngest either Luce." Ruthie laughed. She looked around. "Where's my niece? I haven't seen Savannah in almost six months." Lucy pulled her hair from her mouth.

"Kevin has her next door; do you want to go see her?" Lucy asked.

"Of course." They walked out the back door. Eric walked down the staircase by the front door.

"Did I hear Ruthie?" He asked.

"Yeah, she and Lucy just went to the house for a few minutes. They'll be back." Margaret and T-Bone walked down the stairs.

"What's going on?" T-Bone asked. Eric and Annie turned to face him.

"Ruthie made it home."

"Perfect!" T-Bone said with a smile, but Margaret stood there without saying anything.

On Christmas Day, after everybody had eaten breakfast and what gifts they had had been opened; T-Bone stood up.

"I know that I am not a member of the Camden family technically-" T-Bone started.

"T-Bone, you are family." Annie said. T-Bone nodded.

"I'm not a blood relative; but Margaret, Jane and I still wanted to do something nice for you. " He looked at the girls, pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Eric.

"Thank you." Eric took the unopened envelope and handed it to Annie. She looked between Eric and T-Bone, and then she looked at the girls. It took a minute for Annie to open it and take out the airline tickets. Finally when she did, her eyes misted over.

"Airline tickets?" T-Bone nodded.

"You leave in a few hours." He paused. "Since nobody was going to be here for Christmas; we all three chipped in and decided to send you to New York for Christmas. It's beautiful this time of year, plus you can see Matt and Sarah, and Mary and Carlos." Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Thank you." Eric looked at them.

"Who were you going to have watch the house? We can't just leave for a week without the house and the church being taken care of."

"I'm home dad; I'll be able to be here." Ruthie said putting her hands in her pockets. Eric looked at her.

"But you are still a teenager."

"A teenager who spent her summer in Europe alone; I can handle it."

"I'll watch out for them dad." Lucy spoke up. They all looked at her. "They'll need help and I can watch them. It won't be a problem for Kevin and I." Annie looked at Lucy and Kevin.

"Alright." She sighed. "We'll go." Annie smiled and turned to T-Bone. "When do we leave?"

"Your plane leaves at four this afternoon."

"And we already have your suitcase packed." Lucy, Margaret and Jane smiled. "We had to get you ready to go." Annie hugged all three of the kids.

"This is one of the best Christmases we've ever had." Annie pulled away from T-Bone to look into his eyes. "Thank you." He nodded.

"You're welcome."

"Come on guys. You have a plane to catch! Let's move." Ruthie hugged her mom.

"I can't believe you just got home and we are already leaving." Ruthie shook her head.

"Don't worry about it. I'll be here when you get back." Annie looked at her. "That's a Christmas surprise for you. I'm not going back."

"Ruthie," Annie looked at her.

"Mom, you don't have to say anything. I didn't have to extend my internship. I'm coming home for good."

"Oh Ruthie." Annie hugged her again before they walked out the door.