"Why is it that I'm nervous because it's Christmas Eve? I'm old enough to be calm not nervous like the kids." Sofia looked around. What could she do now? Where was something to do? What could distract her?

"You're a child caught in the body of an adult." Sara sipped her coffee.

"I wouldn't mind if my body comes closer to my mind."

"Why? You're a stunning woman, why do you want to be a teenager with pimples? Why change something so beautiful?"

"Christmas suits you." Sofia pulled Sara in her arms. "I'm glad you're here."

"I did some work for you."

"You know I don't mean that even if it's true, you helped us a lot. I mean I'm glad you're here, Sara. It feels like you've been here all the time, like we're all a huge family waiting for Christmas and…God, I'm awful. Something about Christmas makes me act and talk strange. Shall I lock myself up in my room?"

"No." Sara laughed. "We'll miss you when you're not around."

"Thanks. Jamie kicked me out of the kitchen because I can't stop eating cookies. I think put on two pounds in the last week. As soon as Christmas is over I've to work hard to lose the weight again. I'll do the meadows the next week and the barn all by myself. That will be a good workout."

"Mind some help?"

"You haven't eaten too many sweets, you haven't put on weight, there's no reason why you should workout."

"I like to spend time with you."

"Oh, you should say that to Jon."

"I do. And I do spend time with him. We'll go with Kieran skiing next week. If you want we can take Pat with us."

"I'm sure Pat is happy. You don't have to ask, you can take my son to wherever you want to go as long as he's happy to join you. That way I don't have to feel too bad when I don't spend as much time with him as I want. I should spend more time with my baby."

"You spend a lot of time with him."

"Not enough. There's too much work."

"Somebody is always there for him, he's never left alone in front of the TV like other children are. He's a lucky child."

"I hope so."

"Get your hands off my girlfriend, mother!" Jon came with Kieran and Pat in the room.

"Let me hug my best friend."

"It looks like you don't want to let her go anymore."

"Sara, come with us?" Kieran asked.

"To where, Honey?"

"Church. Children Christmas Church."

"There's a Christmas Eve mass in one hour, we want to go there. Do you want to join us? Mom?"

"I'll get the books settled and then they'll be fine for the next two days."

"I come with you."

"Perfect. Get your coats, kids and Kieran, you've to put on a clean jeans. You can't go to church with dirt on your pants. Santa Claus will see that and bring you nothing more than a clean jeans. No toys for dirty boys."

Sara had to hide her laughter. That was a good way to make Kieran change his clothes. Together with Pat the boy left the room.

"What kind of mass is it?" Sara wasn't into church and mass usually, she said mostly yes because she wanted to be with Jon to the boys.

"It's around an hour, kids will make a little play of the Christmas story, there's a children choir and they have a donkey in the church the kids can pet at the end of the play. It's all made for children, so no boring talking like a usually church. You might like it."

"Sounds good."

"Last year there was a cookie on each seat, the best way to start a mass."

"I'll keep mine and bring it to here, I know a cookie lover, who'll be delighted." Sara smiled at Sofia.

"Didn't I just tell you I put on two pounds?"

"Didn't I just tell you that you look stunning?" Sara shot back dryly.

A huge smile appeared on Sofia's face. "Jon, I swear, sometimes I feel like hitting on your girlfriend because she can be so charming. Then I remember she's your girlfriend most times a bitch and forget this idea."

"Get your own girlfriend, mother. Sara is mine." Jon got Sara in his arms.

"Like I said, most times she's a bitch, you can keep her. I might borrow her sometimes for an hour or an evening."

"Forget it."

"Am I allowed to say something to this too? Or are the two of you making the decisions for me?"

"You're my CSI I've to protect you."

"You're my girlfriend I don't share you."

"I don't want to be shared, Jon and I'm not a CSI anymore, as you're not a detective anymore Sofia."

"Some things will stay forever, no matter what your currant occupation is."

"I'll bring you the cookie, detective. Excuse me, I need to change too. Otherwise I'll get also only a clean jeans for Christmas." Sara kissed Jon on the cheek and left the room.

"What?" Sofia asked her son who eyed her.

"I won't let you and Sara go out for an overnight trip anymore."

"Not?" She chuckled.

"No. Keep your hands of my girlfriend."

"We're a big family, we share, son."

"Not Sara."

"Are you jealous?"

"Sometimes."

"Cute." Sofia walked to her son and hugged him. "I love you, Jonny. And Sara loves you too. I can't remember how Christmas was without her, it's like she had been here all the years. We'll keep her."

"I don't plan to leave her. Do you need something from town? The big supermarket is still open."

"No I think we've got everything. Ask Jamie if he needs something."

"Alright. I see you later…after I married Sara in church."

"You can't tease me with that, she won't marry you this year."

"Good that the year is almost over. I'll ask her next week again, first of January."

"She'll say 'no'." Sofia smiled. She knew Sara good enough to know, the brunette wouldn't take the proposal. And she knew her son good enough to know, he won't ask her.


"I'm ready to burst" Sofia had no idea if it was better to sit, stand or lay. She felt like her stomach was about to explore, did she eat lunch or TNT?

"You ate for three, why didn't you stop after the second plate?" Cat asked.

"Because your brother cooked so good, I had no chance to stop. It's his fault when I die now. Jamie killed me with his food. I'll die because of a pound of mouse au chocolate – the death I always wanted to have." She let her hand run over her belly. This noon she had put on at least another two pounds, very soon no jeans would fit anymore. It was about time that Christmas was over, Boxing Day tomorrow and then she had to eat healthy. Salad instead of steaks, fruits instead of cookies…alright, she would try it for an hour or so.

"You won't die, mom." Cat sat on a chair. They had their own Christmas tradition. Unlike most American families they didn't get the presents in the morning, they got them after lunch. This way they could take care of the animals first, have lunch together and a quiet afternoon.

"No I'll pass away with a huge smile on my face."

"And a belly that looks like you're pregnant…do you want to tell us something, Sofia?" Sara teased.

"Yes, you're not welcome anymore, Miss Sidle."

"Kick me out, Miss Curtis."

"Detective Curtis."

"You're not a detective anymore and if you are, you're Detective Delicious."

Kieran's face lighted up. "Oh 'Tective 'Licious'!" He hadn't called his grandmother that for a long time. Usually he called her 'tective' or 'detective'.

"You're a lucky girl that it's Christmas, Sara." Sofia eyed her friend.

"I know, Christmas presents." Sara pulled Sofia in her arm and kissed her cheek. "Let's go into the room, the kids are nervous, they want their presents and I'm sure there are some more cookies and chocolate, what means, you'll eat in five minutes again." They had decorated one room as a 'Santa Claus Room' where Santa could leave all the presents. Because the living room was an open area, you saw as soon as you were in the house, it wasn't a good place to leave the presents. Pat and Kieran would have opened them immediately.

"Are you sure Santa was already there?"

"I heard the window half an hour ago, I think he was there while we had dessert."

"Alright, we can have a look and the rest waits. Jon can give us a hand in case there are some presents. Pat, Kieran, you'll stay on the couch, understood?"

"Yes Ma'am!" Kieran said and corrected himself. "Yes, 'Tective."

"That's better." Sofia linked one arm with Jon and one with Sara and walked with them to the room. Without a sound they entered and closed the door. All the presents were on the table, the bed, chairs and wherever they had found a free place.

"Where shall we start?" Sara asked.

"Anywhere. We pack all in front of the tree." Jon handed her a big box.

"Alright." With the box she left the room. Sofia heard the happy scream of the boys.

"Santa was here! Santa was here!"

"Yes. You'll stay on the couch, we'll bring the presents to the tree."

"Have one!"

"No Pat, you've to wait like all the others too."

They had to go a few times until all presents were under the tree. Satisfied with their work and the look of the mountain of presents under and around the tree, they sat down with the rest of the family.

"Alright, I think we need to tell Sara we've a Christmas tradition…another one to all the others she experienced already." Jamie said. "We always put all the presents under the tree and then we elect one person to play Santa Claus, means this one has to give everybody the gifts. I'd suggest that's your job because you're new. It's a honor to have this job."

"Is it?"

"Yes."

"Alright." Sara got up. "I'll start with this one. It's for Cat." Sara brought a small box to Cat. Almost five minutes later everybody had a lot f presents on their lap or in front of them. Sara went back to her place, tried not to sit on any of her gifts.

"Open?" Kieran asked. He was trembling, couldn't sit still because he was too nervous and so was Pat.