A/N: OMG, you guys! I'm so sorry it's been forever since I've updated! I've been super busy with exams but I AM FINALLY DONE WITH THEM! For now, at least lol. So, I'm going to be updating a lot more often and I have to say, it's really weird writing about Christmas in the summertime lol but I'll have to get used to it! Anyways, this is the first sequence of the three part holiday story, hope you all like it! Keep the reviews coming :)

"I can't believe my family didn't buy a tree, it's Christmas Eve!" Gabrielle said, as her and Tyler walked around, looking for a suitable tree.

"Hey, give them a break," Tyler said, catching up to her. "They've had to deal with a lot lately."

"True," She nodded. "But now we're going to get stuck with those tiny, ugly trees!" She pouted and he laughed.

"Why don't you go check that one out over there?" He said, pointing further down. She looked at him.

"We already checked down there, there was nothing!" She said and he gave her a look.

"Will you please just give it another look?" He begged and she sighed.

"Fine," She said, walking over to the other side of the lot. Tyler followed her and watched her stop as she saw a huge tree, it was perfect. Near the bottom of the tree, was a tiny, light blue box.

Gabby stared at the tree and the box then looked back at Tyler.

"Go on, open it," He smiled and she ran forward, picking up the box and opening it.

Her mouth flew open as she let out a gasp when she saw what was inside, a beautiful diamond ring. She looked up and saw Tyler kneeling down on one knee, she couldn't believe this was happening.

He took a deep breath and then took her hand. "Gabrielle Mendoza," He said and she stared into his eyes. "I have loved you since the first moment I saw you, eating sand in kindergarten," He said and she giggled, tearing up. "I watched you grow from an adorable teenager to a beautiful young woman and I would be honored to call you my wife… Will you marry me?"

"Yes, of course!" She exclaimed, as he slid the ring on her finger. He stood up and she jumped into his arms, kissing him.

The next morning, Dean sat in the living room with his boys, opening their gifts. Gabby had slept over at the Vanderbilt's and was on her way over.

Dean was proud of his boys, they were actually acting civil towards each other and Andy smiled for real for the first time in months.

"Mom would be happy to see you two like this," Dean said and his sons looked at him. "You may not be talking to each other, but you're getting there, right?"

Jared swallowed. He knew once Andy found out that he and Sophia were back together, there was no way he was going to forgive him.

"Yeah, sure, Dad," Jared mumbled and continued opening his gifts.

"So, I just wanted to let you boys know, I invited the Conway's tonight," He said and they looked back up at him.

"Why would you do that?" Andy asked. "I mean, I know they're your friends but… Gabby's going to kill you."

"Lindsey's a single parent and so am I, so we found some common ground… I just don't like the idea of them feeling alone on Christmas," He explained. "With Charlie and Tony in Paris and everyone else here, it just made sense to invite them, okay?"

The doorbell rang and Dean got up to answer it. It was Gabby, she walked in with a huge smile on her face and kissed both her brothers on the cheek.

"What are you so happy about?" Jared asked.

"Well, it's Christmas morning! And I get to celebrate it with my favorite people in the world,' She said, smiling.

"Great, she's happy," Andy said, shaking his head. "Good luck, Dad," He said, passing Dean and going into the kitchen.

"Good luck with what?" Gabrielle asked, confused.

"My dad here invited the Conway's over for dinner tonight," Jared told her and her eyes widened. "You know, including Ryan Conway."

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes at Dean. "Are you trying to make my life miserable?"

Dean rolled his eyes. "Oh, don't be so melodramatic, you'll be fine."

"No, I won't be because I was planning to announce that I'm engaged tonight but now I can't because the father of my baby is going to be here!" She blurted out, Jared and Dean stared at her. She gasped. "You didn't hear that!"

"The father of your baby?" Dean questioned. "I thought Tyler was the… Gabby!"

"I'm sorry I lied!" She quickly said. "It's just that, it was so much easier to say that Tyler's the father! I love him and I want to be with him, not Ryan, and Ryan's only eighteen… it was just easier,"

"Gabby," Dean sighed, walking over to her. "You can't always take the easy way out, you should know that better than anyone," He said and she looked at him. "Does Ryan know about this?" He asked and she nodded. "And he's okay with it?" She nodded again. "Well, if this is what you want to do…"

"It is," She nodded.

"Okay, then we're going to go along with it," He said and turned to Jared. "Don't speak a word of this to anyone, understand?"

"Yes sir!" Jared said, laughing and Dean gave him a look. "Okay, yeah, I promise."

"Thank you," Gabrielle smiled and hugged Dean.

He smiled and pulled away. "So, you're really engaged?" She nodded quickly and started tearing up. "That's amazing, Gabby! Your mom's so proud of you right now."

"I know," She smiled and they walked into the kitchen.

At the Reed's, things were quiet. The kids were playing and the teenagers were sitting in the living room, while the parents all sat in the kitchen. The Germaine's were there also and Aidan sat comfortably next to Melanie. His parents hadn't been thrilled about letting him spend one of his only days home without them but he had agreed to come to the Mendoza's later that night.

Harlow and Grace, Tammy and Fulton's youngest daughters, came running up the stairs.

"Casey!" Grace said, running into her mother's arms crying. "Harlow said Jenny was never coming back!"

Casey looked down at his baby sister, her eyes full of tears. Having to deal with the fact that Jen was practically no longer part of the family was incredibly difficult for everyone. She had finally called about two weeks before and told them she was staying at a friend's house, trying to get sober. Though that was hard for everyone to believe, they were happy that she was safe.

"Harlow," Melanie said, in a warning tone. "You can't say those things, okay? Because it's not true, Jenny's coming back very soon."

"But it's Christmas and she's not here! Family's always get together on Christmas!" The eleven year old cried and Melanie didn't know what to say.

Casey picked up Harlow and sat her on his lap. "Sweetie, I know you miss your sister, we all do, but look at all the family you have here," He said. "We all love you and we all love Jen and want her to come home too, but it's just going to take some time."

"How long?" Harlow asked asked.

"She'll come when she's ready," Casey promised and Harlow hugged him.

Melanie turned to Aidan and snuggled to his side. "I'm sorry you have to deal with all this Jen drama," She shook her head and he shrugged.

"I don't mind it," He said and then kissed her nose. "I gotta go soon though; my mom's been calling me non-stop."

"Hey, is it okay if I catch a ride with you?" Ethan asked and Aidan looked at him. "I wanna see Emma today."

"Yeah, of course." Aidan nodded.

After everyone had arrived at the Portman's, Jared and Sophia had snuck into the basement and were making out.

"This feels… dangerous!" Sophia said and Jared laughed, kissing her again. She pulled away for a moment and looked into his eyes.

"What?"

"Nothing," She shook her head, blushing. "I'm just, I'm really happy with you, Jared," She told him and he looked at her. "And I don't ever want you to doubt how much I care for you, okay?"

"Why are you getting all serious on me, Soph?" He asked.

"No, I'm not, I'm just… telling you how I feel." She said and he nodded.

"Well, I feel the same way," He said and she smiled. "Can we get back to making out now?"

She rolled her eyes and laughed, playfully pushing him away. They heard the basement door open and froze, then quickly pulling away from each other, trying to make it seem like they were just talking.

"Hey," Andy said, shoving his hands in pockets as he walked towards them. "Do you think I can talk to Sophia for a minute?"

Jared looked at Sophia and she nodded. Jared took a deep breath, not sure if he was comfortable with his brother being alone with his girlfriend in a basement, and then walked upstairs.

"What's up?" She asked him, leaning against the wall.

"I've been stupid…" He said, looking at her and she knew what was coming next. "I'm sorry for everything,"

"No, Andy, don't," She interrupted and he looked at her. "I don't need an apology from you and I don't want some big confession about how much you want to be with me," She told him and he was surprised. "That ship has sailed and as much as I loved you I just, I can't have a boyfriend right now."

"Okay, I can understand that but maybe,"

"In the future? I don't know, Andy," She shook her head. "I'm just not ready for that again." She said, running up the stairs.

Andy stood there, completely shocked. After months of trying to get him back, Sophia didn't want him anymore? Something was definitely up.