Merry Christmas to you all! Thanks for reading this story for 37 chapters by now. I never thought it would get this long, but you keep me going, though right now I guess some are on vacation. Anyway I wanted to post this on Christmas, so here's a little gift to you. Enjoy!

Chapter 37: Christmas II

Dear Mrs. Gilmore,

Merry Christmas! I'm not sure if I always thank you enough for what you did for me. But I am sure that I never can thank you enough. Still I'll try again with this letter. It's all I have to give.

Thank you for taking me in and caring for me when this was what I needed most. I don't even want to think about where I'd be without you today.

Thank you for being forgiving and giving me another chance when I screwed up. It may be hard for me to admit and I try to take as few as possible, but truth is I need a place and someone who cares for me and Becky. And even when we have disagreements I'll never forget what you did for me.

Thank you for giving me the feeling that whatever it is, I can always come to you to find the help I need.

Thank you for being Becky's godmother. It's good to know that whatever will happen, she'll always have you to turn to.

Thanks as well for letting me be your maid even though I had none experience and you being against it. You probably can't imagine how important it is to me to at least have the feeling that I give back something. Still I'm glad that I am more than a maid – at least this is what I feel.

I feel at home here and for this I thank you most. Despite me still calling you "Mrs. Gilmore" I feel close to you in some way. You wanted me to call you "Emily" and that's an honour, but as your maid it was and is important to me to address you in a more respectful way. And I'm grateful that you respected my wish. I wish I could give you more for a Christmas present, but you pretty much have everything I could think of. So I decided to write this letter. I hope that's ok. If there is anything I can do for you – please tell me. I'd do anything. I hope that you'll have a very happy Christmas with your family.

Thanks for letting me and Becky being a part of it. You may say that's self-evident, but really it is not.

At last thank you for all the kind words you said to me over the last months. They mean the world to me.

Lilly & Becky

I have tears in my eyes by now. I look over at Richard and see that it's the same with him. Wordlessly we exchange letters.

Dear Mr. Gilmore,

Merry Christmas! I want to thank you for the kindness you had for me – a strange pregnant girl and later a young mother and her baby. I know this wasn't what you had in mind and I totally understand. Not many men would've done that – opening their home to a stranger. I can't thank you enough for this, especially because I know that at first you weren't thrilled by the idea. Because of this everything you did and still do means so much more. I know that sometimes I wasn't worthy of your kindness (and probably there will be times where I won't be in the future) and I'm sorry for that.

Thank you for giving me and Becky a place to stay and the certainty that whatever will happen we won't be alone. I thought about a Christmas present for you, but nothing came to my mind what you didn't have already. I know this letter isn't much still it's all I have to offer.

Thank you for all the generosity you showed towards Becky and me. I don't know where I'd be without it.

Thank you for being there for me when I need it. If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know. I hope you have a happy Christmas with your family and thanks for letting me and Becky being a part of it.

Lilly & Becky

We look at each other again. "We should talk to her," Richard says.

"No – we should give her some time," I reply.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'll go make breakfast now," I say, going towards the kitchen. We won't eat much for breakfast, given how much we'll eat for the rest of the day. Richard goes into his study while I boil some eggs and coffee and get some bread, jam, honey and all the other things. When I go into the dining room to set the table I see Lilly and Becky coming downstairs. She approaches me with a guilty look.

"I'm sorry, I totally forgot about breakfast," she says.

"Understandable," I smile at her.

"Let me do this, please," she says, putting Becky down and taking the plates away from me. I let her do it and return to the kitchen to get the eggs. When she enters the kitchen I turn towards her. After thinking about it for some seconds I go to her, giving her a hug.

"Thank you for your letter. It was the best Christmas present you could make me. And don't worry about not being grateful enough – I know you are. And I'm glad that you are here. You don't know how much your sheer presence gives me. And Becky's as well of course," I say to her. She looks at me with teary eyes and nods. "Why don't you get Mr. Gilmore – breakfast should be ready now."

"Yes, ma'am," she says.

At breakfast it's an unspoken agreement between Richard and me not to mention our gift. Still all three of us know that it's out there. When we finished eating, it's Lilly herself who starts with the topic. "I thought about your gift and it would be another thing I'd have to put on my thank you list – and that list is so long already." Richard and I want to say something, but she holds up her hand. "Please, let me finish," she says. "Then I thought about your words," she continues, turning to Richard. "And I guess you're right. An Education is important and Chilton is the sensible solution. And I can call myself lucky that you're even considering sending me there. You're also right in saying that there won't be the perfect time to go back to school. And I guess the longer I wait the harder it will be," she says, looking at me. "I can also consider myself lucky to have a godmother for Becky who's willing to spend such an amount of time with her. But most of all you were right in saying that my pride let me decline this morning," she continues, looking back at Richard. "False pride," she admits quietly, looking down. After a moment she continues. "So if your offer still stands – "

"Of course it does," Richard and I say at the same time, smiling at her. She nods unable to speak for the moment. Finally she goes on.

"Thank you. And I'm sorry that I couldn't accept it this morning. I didn't mean to ruin the moment – "

"You didn't ruin anything," I say.

"Don't worry about that. Emily is right you didn't ruin anything. It's understandable you needed some time to think. And you left us with wonderful gifts. Thank you," Richard says.

Lilly nods. "I'm glad you liked them."

"That we did," Richard says.

The doorbell rings. I open it to greet the girls myself – Richard is still parking the car – it seems someone was very eager to arrive. "Merry Christmas, Grandma," Rory beams at me in one of the dresses I bought her. She looks beautiful.

"Merry Christmas, Rory. Merry Christmas, Lorelai," I nod at my daughter.

"Merry Christmas, Mom," Lorelai says.

"Come in. You look beautiful," I say looking at Rory. "Both of you," I quickly add – though Lorelai… Well, at least she's wearing a dress. Lorelai smirks at me. She knows I'm just being polite considering her.

"Wow," Rory says, looking at the tree and the presents beneath it – her presents. "Mom, it's beautiful. Even more than the one at the inn," she says, and I smile proudly.

"But haven't you seen it before?" Lorelai says confused. Right she did see it before.

"Yes, but it's so much more pretty today."

"The presents, eh?" Lorelai winks at her and they both giggle. As long as they're happy.

"Oh, Grandma, I brought something for the fairies," Rory says to me.

"Really? What?" I ask her surprised.

"Sugar of course," she says. I still look a little puzzled. "You said that's what they like most and I thought since it's Christmas – "

"Yes, Mom. Isn't that what you said? Rory is full of new stories every time she comes from here," Lorelai says teasingly.

"Of course. Right," I say, getting out of my daze. I guess I should pay more attention to the fairy-stories I make up.

"I'll bring it outside," Rory says, running away.

"Don't go too far, just outside the window," I call after her. When she looks at me disappointedly I add, "That way you can watch them eating." A smiling Rory opens the window and puts sugar on the windowsill. It's sweet to watch her.

"Sugar, Mom?" Lorelai says giggling.

"Hush, you," I say playfully. Suddenly Lorelai's light mood changes. Lilly comes downstairs.

"Merry Christmas, Lorelai," she says shyly.

"Merry Christmas, Lilly," Lorelai replies civilly, but I hear the shortness in her voice. I pray this will go over well. "And Becky," Lorelai adds.

"Thank you," Lilly replies.

"Merry Christmas, Lilly," Rory says bouncing back into the room. "Merry Christmas, Becky," she says, caressing Becky's head.

"You're still standing here?" Richard says surprised.

"Oh, right. Please lets sit down to eat," I say. Lorelai and Rory look disappointed.

"Why not presents first? Rory can't wait," Lorelai pouts.

„It's just a snack. Apple tarts," I say, knowing this will do her in. It always did.

"Why didn't you say so before? Hurry, Rory, these are divine," she says, ushering everyone to sit down. Richard and I smile at each other.

"Ah – I could eat a ton of them," Lorelai says, caressing her tummy.

"You nearly did – seven tarts, really Lorelai," I admonish her.

"Well I didn't have some for ages," she says, getting quieter with every word. That's right. It's silent for some seconds.

"So – a song and then the gifts?" I say, getting up. Everyone follows me and soon we're in the living room. After one carol that we sing ourselves – I insist on it, we always sang in my family - Richard puts in a CD with carols. Lilly has a nice voice, Rory however – well, she is my granddaughter, but even I have to admit that's not her talent.

"May I open my presents now?" Rory asks.

"Yes, you may," I say. She gets up and sits down next to the tree. Richard and I are on one couch, Lorelai on the other and Lilly sits in the chair, Becky next to her on her new blanket, playing with herself and listening to the music.

"A book," Rory exclaims, and I focus on her again. She brings it to me. "Thank you. Eu – euro – pe – Europe-an," she looks at me questioningly.

"European that means it comes from Europe," I explain.

"Ah – European fai-ry tales. European fairy tales. More fairy tales, that's cool," she says excitedly, showing it to Lorelai.

"Yes, it is," Lorelai chimes in. "Even more to read." I look at her and she smiles at me. So I guess that one is approved. Next thing Rory unpacks is another dress. Then some dresses for her doll. Then some fairy glitter I found. It's tacky, but I just had to think of my little girl when seeing it.

"What's this for?" she asks me.

"Maybe you should also put it on the windowsill?" I suggest. "Or decorate something. Though please don't open it here," I quickly add. She puts it away and grabs the next present.

"Oh, no Rory. This one is for your mother," I quickly say. Rory brings it to her.

"Mom," Lorelai says reproachfully.

"All complaints directly to Santa, please," I say, causing Lilly to giggle. Lorelai shoots her a look.

"Well, that's exactly what she said to me this morning," Lilly explains. Lorelai seems satisfied with this and opens her gift.

"What did you get from –" Rory starts to ask Lilly, and I'm more than glad that right now her attention is drawn to my gift to Lorelai. "You got it!" Rory exclaims happily, clapping her hands, while Lorelai just stares at it confused.

"Santa got it," I quickly correct my granddaughter.

"This dress… it's exactly what – " Lorelai stammers.

"It's your dress, Mom. The one you wanted to have, your dream-dress. And now you got it. Isn't that great?" Rory interrupts her mother.

„Yes, it is, honey," Lorelai says quietly. I think she even has some tears in her eyes. She swallows before looking at me. "Thank you, Mom," she says sincerely. I'm so relieved. Either that reaction or another flip-out. I smile at her. I'm glad I followed my impulse to search for it. I always get what I want in shops. "So, did you tell Grandma about it?" she asks Rory softly.

"Yes, I did. It was gone you know. Where did you find it?" she asks me.

"That's something you have to ask Santa. Maybe write him a letter," I say. Lorelai pulls Rory into a hug and right now I feel a sting of jealousy. When she releases her, Lorelai grabs her purse, giving me a little package. "Oh, that wasn't necessary," I protest.

"All complaints directly to Santa," Lorelai smiles at me.

"All right," I say opening it. It's a beautiful photo of Lorelai and Rory. They're sitting at the lake, laughing at the camera. They seem so happy. "Thank you. It's lovely, really. It'll get an honoured place," I say, handing it to Richard who praises it as well. Then Rory comes to us giving each of us a piece of paper. They're drawings. On mine are Rory and me and the fairies. On Richards are Richard and Rory on the couch reading a book. Above on each is written "Merry Christmas" in Rory's writing and beneath "I love you Grandma" on mine and "I love you Grandpa" on his. It takes all my strength to hold back my tears. "Thank you so much Rory. It's beautiful," I say giving her a hug.

"A fine piece of art," Richard says, taking her in her arms. "Thank you, Rory." When he releases her she turns to Lilly.

"So what did you get from Santa?" she asks her again. Sadly she hasn't forgotten. Lilly looks uncomfortable. Her squirming gets Lorelai's attention as well.

"Becky got this blanket," she says, pointing towards it, before naming Becky's other presents.

"Yeah, but what did you get? You must have gotten something as well," Rory prods again. Lilly looks at me. I don't know what to say either. There's no way to hide it from Lorelai forever and why should we? It was Lorelai's decision not to go back to school. Why punish Lilly for it, when she's smarter. I nod at her.

"Well, you know I dropped out of school, when I got Becky, but now I want to go on and there's this school right around the corner – Chilton. But it's not for free, so I got my education as a gift. I can go back to school," Lilly says reluctantly.

"You're sending her to Chilton?" Lorelai exclaims.