The following day was Saturday. Jimmy got up before Reese, and showered in the hall bathroom. He felt filthy and disgusting. He let the scalding hot water pour over him, scrubbing so hard his skin was pink. He knew he'd never be able to wash it away; he wasn't sure why he even tried anymore. But today was a new day and he had to try harder. Reese was amazing and he couldn't understand why, after everything, she hadn't bolted already.

Jimmy returned to the bedroom with a towel around his waist, smelling of aftershave and cologne, his baby face fresh and smooth. Reese was sleeping on her side; her bow-shaped mouth curled up, clearly dreaming of something pleasant.

"Hey…" she whispered, blinking.

"Hey."

The morning sun was streaming in, casting an aura over her as she rubbed her sleepy eyes. Jimmy admired her soft skin, only a fraction of a shade darker than her silk nightgown, and felt a stirring deep within him. She'd seen him at his worst, been there in his darkest hours; her sweet, reassuring voice lulling him back to serenity. But she would be leaving soon, taking a piece of his heart with her. He missed her already and she hadn't even left yet. He didn't want to waste anymore of their time together.

"Feeling better?" she asked, stretching her arms above her head.

"Much better," he said, eyeing her hungrily as he walked towards her.

Then Jimmy showed her just how much he appreciated her. Afterwards, they snuggled in a post-coital cocoon under the covers.

"Jimmy," she whispered, "I have an idea of what we could do today."

Can't we just stay like this?

"What's that?"

"Well…" Reese started.

And just when Jimmy thought she couldn't surprise him, she proved him wrong. As it turned out, she'd spoken to Richard at length the previous day. She assured him that she hadn't divulged any specifics and expressed only concern for his well being. Provided that his leg wasn't bothering him too much, she suggested that they take Tommy to cut down a Christmas tree…for the beach house. They agreed she was to call the mansion this morning with an update on Jimmy's condition, and decide whether or not he should bring the boy over.

Jimmy gave her a peck on the forehead. "How'd I find you?"

Oh, Jimmy- if you only knew…

By mid-morning their guests had arrived. Tommy hadn't seen the place in well over a year, his espresso eyes wide as he tip toed around, his little fingers glossing over every surface. They piled into the car and headed over to the mainland, where the forest was thick around the neighboring village of Smithville. Tommy picked out a reasonably sized tree and jumped up and down gleefully as his father and Richard chopped it down. Jimmy even let him take the last few swings with the ax as well, smiling proudly as Tommy toppled the white pine.

"Timm-brr!" he called, cupping his hand around his mouth.

"I did it!" the child beamed. "And all by myself, too!"

"Good job, pal," Jimmy grinned.

It felt good to be out of the house again, the crisp, cold air in his lungs. He shuffled back to the car and got some rope out of the trunk. Richard helped him secure it to the roof, as well as take it down and into the house when they arrived back at the beach.

"Hope this fits in the house," he muttered as they made their way up the steps, Jimmy holding the top of the tree; Richard the trunk.

"A little late. For that. Don't you think?" replied the other man.

The men set up the tree in front of the living room window, while Reese took Tommy back to the kitchen. She found a cook book in one of the drawers, and was eager to try the recipe for gingerbread cookies that was dog-eared. A lot of the pages were marked, and she wondered if this meant the recipes were Angela's favorites or ones that she wanted to try. The dough needed to rest before being rolled out and cut into gingerbread men to hang on the tree, and the pair spent this time stringing popcorn and cranberries to use as garland. Jimmy could hear them giggling as he added fresh logs to the hearth.

Between the tree, the cookies, the popcorn, and the fire, the whole house smelled fantastic and Jimmy wanted to bottle it up. He poured himself a drink and one for Richard, remembering the straw, and they sat by the fire before dinner. There were still plenty of Thanksgiving leftovers, and Richard brought a few packages with him which Reese was warming up in the oven. After supper, they began decorating the tree, Jimmy holding Tommy up to the highest boughs so he could encircle the garland.

"This is so much fun, Daddy!"

"I'm glad you like it, buddy."

"Me-mawh doesn't let me touch the tree at our house," he frowned and Jimmy felt like he'd been kicked in the stomach. The sadness was soon replaced with the sound of Jingle Bells from the piano in the far corner of the room, where Richard was seated; his head bowed in deep concentration as he tried to remember the notes without the benefit of sheet music. Reese gave Tommy a dinner bell to ring as she started on the melody, her voice cracking as she tried not to laugh.

"I didn't know you played," Jimmy said when the song was over. He'd bought the piano for Angela- a combination housewarming and wedding present. She didn't play, but she loved the classics and wanted Tommy to learn.

"My sister. Taught me."

"Swell. Do ya know anything else?"

Richard nodded. He would have smiled if he were able to. Instead, he cracked his knuckles and started on an instrumental rendition of 'Hark The Herald Angels Sing,' keeping the tempo slower than usual.

Reese stood by the window, admiring both the tree and the midnight sky. She had her arms folded across herself, and Jimmy moved in close behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and nuzzling the back of her neck. Tommy, meanwhile, was still dancing around the tree with his bell.

"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings…" she smiled.

"That's a nice thought," Jimmy whispered.

"I wish I could claim it as my own, but it's from one of my favorite Christmas movies."

"What's that?"

"It's A Wonderful Life."

"Yeah…I guess it is."

"No," she chuckled, "That's the name of the movie."

"Oh," he said softly, affectionately petting her hair and twirling his fingers around the ends.

"They're dreadful, I know. I'm in desperate need of a trim," she said. "I'll have to make an appointment when I get home."

But, Reese, you ARE home.

Jimmy was on the verge of saying so out loud when his thoughts were interrupted by his son.

"Daddy, look!" Tommy shouted suddenly, pointing to the window. "A shooting star. Wow!"

Jimmy bent down to the boy's level and watched as an iridescent beam flashed across the sky. Flying along the horizon, it left a glittering trail before disappearing over the ocean.

"Did ya make a wish Tommy?"

"Uh-huh," the little one smiled.

"Good. Don't tell anybody or it won't come true."

"Okay Daddy. Did you make a wish?"

"Yeah, pal," Jimmy smirked, glancing over at Reese. "Yeah, I did."