Brooke came out of the bathroom, climbed into bed.

"The next baby, you're the one to carry it."

Julian put his book down. "That might be a bit difficult, Brooke."

"I'm not having another one, that's for sure. This last time has been the tenth time I've been to the bathroom today. I keep thinking this kid is training for the Olympics."

"Reach for the stars, remember." He went on to read his book.

"Yeah, I remember…that was before we had Leighann."

"You say that now, but next year, it'll be different."

"Oh, no it won't."

"Sure, okay." He was grinning ear to ear, but trying not to laugh.

Brooke changed her position. "I'm so uncomfortable, I can't sleep." She sat up, looked at what Julian was reading. "It's so hot in here, how can you just be reading and comfortable."

"I can turn the air up if you want." He said without looking at her.

"Am I so boring you aren't gonna leave that precious book of yours to even look at me."

He put his book down, looked at her. "Is there something you want to talk about."

"I love you." She smiled.

"Why do I get the idea you want something?"

She took the book out of his hands ad placed it on the table. "Yes, I do."

He saw the look in her eyes. "Now that is a look I've been hoping for."

Julian leaned down and started kissing her. Everything was going great, until Brooke got up. "Hold that thought." She ran into the bathroom.

Julian sat there waiting for Brooke to come back, a knock on the door sounded.

"Come on in Sam."

"How did you know it was me."

"Because I think Rick is too scared to visit his girlfriend's parents in their bedroom."

"Good point, where's Brooke."

"Bathroom."

"Again?"

"Yeah. So, what's up?"

"Rick is asleep and I'm not really tired."

"Well, um, now is not a good time for a late night talk…um…"

She saw Julian's face. "Oh God, I'm leaving, bye."

Brooke came out of the bathroom. "Was that Sam?"

"Yeah, Rick's asleep and she's not tired."

"But she left like she was mad."

"Apparently I have a look when we're about to…"

"Oh, yeah, you do." Brooke climbed into bed.

"So everyone knows when we have sex."

"Pretty much."

"I have to work on that."

Brooke smiled at him. "I think it's cute…sexy."

"But I have a look."

"Why is it that big of a deal, a lot of guys do."

"But how come we've been married for so long, dating even longer and I'm just finding out now that I have a look."

"You're really serious about this. We haven't had sex in weeks and you want to talk about what look you have."

"It's weird, that everyone knows what we do…in here."

"Julian, without a look, people would know. I'm three months pregnant, Leighann's not even two, it's not scientific."

Julian stayed silent for a minute. "So it's sexy?"

"Adorable, sexy…who cares…it's the guy who has the sexy look that I care about."

Julian removed his shirt, threw it on the floor. "And you are one sexy momma."

Brooke started to giggle in between Julian kissing her.

The sun was setting when Julian came downstairs, Rick and Sam were having fun putting presents under the tree, Sam was shaking the presents to narrow down what they could.

"Are you still five?"

Sam looked up. "No, but you do the same thing, so father like daughter."

"I do not."

Sam gave him a look. "Shall I tell Rick the story of last year, the big box that Brooke had gotten for you."

"No, that story shall never be told again."

Rick looked at them. "Now I'm curious."

Julian decided to tell the short version of it. "Big box, empty, taught me a lesson…the end."

"So it was empty."

"No, it wasn't empty, it just wasn't what I expected."

Sam composed her self from laugh. "Julian was so excited, thought Brooke was getting him a television or something since the box was so big. He was sure of it, even buying the cords and everything. Well, he opened it and on video we have the surprised shock that he got….drum roll ensued…two concert tickets to The Fray."

"But why not put it in a regular box?"

Julian nodded towards Rick. "See, he knows what I'm talking about."

"But you do this every year. Play it off like anything is fine that we give you, but in your heart, there's something specific you want, but you never hint at it."

"That would seem like I'm bragging."

"No, it would seem like there was something you wanted. So I'll ask you. Father…what would you like for Christmas."

He looked at the two them. "I can't describe it."

"The classic answer." Sam took Rick's hand. "We're gonna go pick up something at the store we ordered online. We'll be back. So, figure out how to describe it so you will have a nice Christmas."

"I'll try, but it's not easy."

"Julian…you write character descriptions for movies down to the fine detail of a strand of hair. You have like a talent for it. Think about it."

Julian smiled and started writing down what he wanted. He sealed it in an envelope and put it under the tree.

Someone knocked on the door.

Julian thought it was Sam when she forgot her keys. "Forget your keys?" He starred at the man. "Dad?"

"Hello…or Merry Christmas might be appropriate."

"Considering it's you at my door, no."

"I understand, I come bearing gifts." He showed the oversized bag.

"Buying the affection…just like when I was ten and started to realize that you had all the money in the world, but a heart made of stone."

"Julian, it's snowing…may I come in."

"Sure."

Julian folded his arms.

"Why are you here?"

"It's Christmas, I thought it was obvious."

"For other people, yes, but I haven't seen you since you tried to crash my wedding."

"You have children and I don't want them to have a relationship with me that I seem to have with you."

"No fault of mine." Julian kept a straight face.

"I know that. I'm trying to make amends here, would you let me."

"You see, they're not just my children, they're Brooke's children. It's her decision too. And since she has a stone hearted mother like I have a stone hearted father, she probably feels the same way I do."

"Then there probably isn't' a reason for me to stay here."

"Probably not."

"I'll go, you can keep the gifts…tell Brooke I stopped by."

"Sure."

He walked over to the presents and really started to wonder why about a lot of things.

"From grandpa….sure, yeah, he can't be a father, what makes him think he can be a grandfather."

He didn't hear the door open, but heard his daughter's voice.

"Daddy!" She came running into the living room, still in her winter coat.

He picked her up. "Did you and mommy have fun."

"Yeah! We got you stuff too, lots of stuff."

"Lots of stuff." Julian looked at the door. "Where is mommy?"

"She's talking to a man outside the door, says to call him grandpa."Julian had her stand on the floor while he took her jacket off. "Go on a play and I'll come and get you for dinner."

"Okay daddy!"

Julian walked quickly out to the porch, saw them talking.

"I thought you were leaving?"

"I stopped to talk to my daughter in law, is that wrong."

"Yeah, it is. Considering you were never a father, you don't have a son, and you don't have a daughter in law."

Brooke interjected. "Julian, it's fine…"

"I'll be going…Merry Christmas."

"Yeah, sure."

Julian let Brooke in first and closed the door behind him. "What did he say?"

"He just wants to be apart of their lives."

"Well he missed being apart of mien, what makes him think he make up for that for our kids."

"He's making more of an effort than my mother has yet to."

"Brooke, you understand what it's like to an absentee parent…he cheated on my mother, he never came home for any holiday, never even bothered to call. I don't want Leighann to get wrapped up in what he thinks is love and then leaves when it's convenient for him."

"What makes you think he will."

"Because he's done this before. Staying a while, thinking everything is okay, then waking up on your birthday to find your mother crying because he's gone….and I can't bear to have Leighann go through that."

"I want her to have a relationship with him. It's not like he'll be here full time and there will be boundaries, Julian. I've been through the same parent stuff that you have. We know what not to do."

Julian pulled her into a hug. "I just want them to know their parents love them…all the time and not when it's convenient."

"She does." Brooke held her stomach. "And so does this one…kicking like a Rockstar."

Julian felt that baby kick. "This is amazing."

"I think we should at least think about your father having time with our kids. Remember, we set the boundaries, not him."

"I'll think about it." He started to kiss her, then the door opened.

"Gross, first he look and now this?"

Julian pulled away from kissing her. "We'll continue this later." He kissed her on the forehead. He turned around to Sam and Rick. "So…did you find what you wanted at the mall."

"Sure did, did you at least try to describe your present on a piece of paper."

"If you're referring to the homework…yes…it's under the tree."

"Okay cryptic man…what's for dinner, or did you write that on a piece of paper too."

"Haha, funny."

Rick started getting some stuff out of the freezer. Sam walked over to him. "What are you doing?"

"I have yet to see this family sit down for dinner, it's about time we start."

"Oh, and exactly what do you plan on fixing, we have nothing for dinner, we always order out…Brooke calls it cooking."

Julian sat at the bar. "Yeah, what are you cooking."

"I found a few things yesterday, and it turns out, we can have a pretty good spaghetti."

"We have noodles."

"And sauce, and do you ever remember the groceries you buy?"

They all said in unison. " No."

"Sam, are you sure you're adopted?"

She laughed. "Yeah, I remember the days before being a Baker…quite interesting."

That night, after everyone went to bed, Sam went into the guest room, Rick was typing on his computer.

"Pretty fantastic tonight, and so was the dinner."

"Thanks…I hung out with the housekeeping more than my dad, I picked up on a lot of things."

Sam sat on the other side of him. "What's on the computer?"

"Homework."

"Over Christmas break?"

"It's about Julian."

"So my dad the homework assignment? I didn't know we had so much influence on the college curriculum.

"Not exactly Sam. You see, I have to write about my biggest inspiration and since I can't really observe Michael Jackson, I chose your dad."

"So he's runner up…nice."

"I'm kidding. He's like not even ten years older than I am and he's like my dad. He's incredible and the relationship he has with you…any mother would strive to have that with their daughter."

"That's nice, Julian would like that."

"I just now got start to writing it, so I'll probably be working on this all night."

"So you won't be able to get up early and play in the snow?"

"I'll try." He kissed the side of her head and went back to typing. "Things will probably get pretty boring now with me typing, so you can go to bed if you want."

"I like being near you, makes me feel good."

"Well, then you can help me…I constantly leave words out."

"So like proofreading."

"Yeah, sure…whatever that is."

"Okay."

Thirty minutes passed, Rick looked over at Sam who was fast asleep, under the covers. He rubbed her on her side, went towards his suitcase.

He got out the box and took the ring out.

Rick knew Sam was a light sleeper. He slowly lifted up her left hand and slid the engagement ring on her finger.

"Hopefully this works."