Chapter 18

Maggie and Harriet rushed out of the mall to Maggie's car. Harriet squealed, "Maggie it's cold."

Maggie looked down at Harriet. Her curls peeked out from beneath a burgundy knit beanie with two fur balls on either side of her head, and her cheeks were red. Maggie said, "We'll be at the car soon baby."

It was Christmas Eve. Jackson and Maggie had Harriet this year. Usually, April and Jackson split their time with their daughter between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but this time April and Matthew wanted to go to Moline for Christmas so April agreed to let Jackson have Harriet this year and next year she would get her and they would start doing the major holidays that way from now on.

Maggie was about eighteen weeks pregnant. She was excited to spend her first Christmas with Jackson and Harriet as a growing family. Today Jackson had been called in for an emergency with one of his post-op patients.

Maggie had taken advantage of the time that Jackson would be away to take Harriet shopping for a gift for her father.

As soon as Maggie had gotten Harriet secured in her car seat and slid behind the steering wheel, her phone started ringing. Harriet saw her father's name flash on the screen in Maggie's car. The little girl started kicking her feet chanting. "It's my daddy. Maggie answer."

Maggie stifled a smile as she accepted the call. They had been teaching her letters and making the names with the letters. It was obvious the three-year-old was picking up on the sight of the names. She waited knowing that she wouldn't be able to get a word in until the young princess got to speak with her father.

Harriet said, "Hi daddy."

"Hey, pumpkin! What are you doing?" Jackson asked enthusiastically

Harriet said, "in Maggie's car."

Maggie let out a deep breath thankful that the little girl didn't let it out that they were out shopping for him.

Maggie said, "Hi, Jackson. Are you done at the hospital? I'm about to go home. We have a busy evening. We have to go exchange gifts with my sisters, Alex, Jo, and Linc. Then we have to go over to your mother and Richard's. They want to make cookies with Harriet so that she can leave them near the tree tonight when she goes to bed."

Jackson said, "You can go ahead and head over to Amelia's. I have to be here a little bit longer. I'm going into the OR in thirty minutes. I was just calling to let you know and to make sure that you three were ok."

Maggie rolled her eyes at Jackson referring to her, Harriet and their unborn child as you three. Maggie replied, "So, our first Christmas is going to be ruined?"

Jackson wasn't surprised at his girlfriend's reaction. Pregnant Maggie was really emotional and really sentimental. Everything these days had sentimental meaning. He said, "Christmas isn't ruined babe, nor is this our first one. I'm going to be over at mom's before the cookies are even started. Harriet, are you going to make some for me to decorate?"

Clapping her hands Harriet said, "Yes, daddy. I will!"

Maggie said, "Well, I'm going to take Harriet home because we have some things to do there and then we'll head over to my sister and Linc's. Will you call me when you're on your way?"

Jackson said, "You know I will babe. I love you all. See you soon."

Maggie and Harriet went home. They cleaned up from their breakfast and then they wrapped Jackson's gift. Maggie was helping Harriet to write her name on the gift tag.

Thinking to herself Maggie said, "I'm going to be the best mom. I kind of already am."

After gift-wrapping Maggie put Harriet down on the sofa and together they both took a nap.

Maggie was awakened by the sound of her phone ringing. It was Amelia. Maggie answered saying, "Hey, Amelia. What's up?"
Amelia was way too chipper for Maggie's liking. Amelia asked, "Are you, Jackson and Harriet still coming by our place?"

Thanks to her ever-increasing pregnancy brain Maggie had forgotten that she needed to be at her sister's place.

Maggie asked, "Are Meredith and the kids there yet?"

Amelia said, "Yes, she just got here."

Maggie slowly sat up rubbing her barely-there belly. She said, "Harriet and I are on our way. Jackson is at the hospital."

Maggie could hear Amelia's smile when she said, "Great. Let me know when you're close."

Maggie looked over at a sleeping Harriet. She hated to wake the little girl but guessed it was all for the best. She didn't want her to be too rested to go to sleep on time that night. She wanted Harriet asleep so that they could put out her Santa presents and go to bed.

Maggie arrived at Amelia's house bearing gifts for Amelia, Linc, Meredith, and her three kids. She also had gifts for Alex and Jo.

They were opening gifts and laughing when the doorbell rang. Maggie was helping Harriet take her doll's temperature when her eyes met Jackson's across the room.

Jackson greeted everyone as he made his way over to Maggie and Harriet. He scooped Harriet up in his arms and leaned over kissing Maggie on the lips and placing a soft caress on her stomach.

Amelia asked, "Are we as gross and sickening as these two?"

Meredith said, "Let me be the one to confirm that you indeed are."

Alex asked, "Maggie can you make your eggnog?"

Maggie stood walking towards the kitchen. She pulled Alex by the collar saying, "I am going to teach you how to make it so that you can make it yourself in the future."

A few minutes later Jackson came into the kitchen placing his arms around her waist leaning forward to whisper, "We have to head to mom's now."

Looking over her shoulder at him, Maggie placed a kiss to the side of his mouth. She said, "I'll be ready in a minute baby, let me finish grating this nutmeg into this eggnog."

Ten minutes later Alex carried the eggnog bowl to the table setting it next to the punch bowl. Maggie walked behind him smiling at her handiwork saying, "Deck your halls, y'all!"

An hour later after dropping Maggie's car at home, they arrived at the Fox/Webber home. Catherine opened the door full of glee. She exclaimed, "My babies! Richard helps Jackson get their stuff out of the car. Maggie, you get in here out of the cold."

Jackson asked, "What things are in the car, Ma?"

Catherine said, "Your overnight bags and your packages for the morning."

"You think we're staying? We didn't discuss that." Jackson said.

Maggie touched Jackson's arm. She said, "I sent everything over earlier, Catherine."

Catherine said, "Come on grandma's baby. Let's go put on our pajamas then we can go make some cookies."

Once they were alone Jackson turned to face Maggie. He said, "Babe?"

Maggie said, "Catherine wanted us to have Christmas together as a family, because, uh we are a family. I liked the idea and I knew that you'd. push back. Jackson, it's going to be great. I don't get to do this with my mom. You'll miss it when you can no longer have it. Let's go get ready to make cookies."

Jackson new that Maggie was right. So, they went upstairs to change. They listened to Christmas music, made Christmas cookies and put Harriet to bed."

Once she was sleeping the put all of the gifts under the tree and went to bed. The next morning, they had coffee and Harriet and Maggie hot chocolate as they opened presents.

Maggie was utterly content with her first Christmas as a family. She missed her mother terribly, but she appreciated the new memories they were making. She couldn't wait to spend next Christmas with her dad, Jackson, and their new baby.