The scenes from the past, feature the Walton family, as the scenes from the present, is focus on Lydia and her parents.

Brigitta10, thanks for the help

THE PAST

It started on December 22.

That night, Olivia Walton woke up startled, after having a frightening, vivid dream. Taking a deep breath, and trying to calm her restless heart, the woman looked to her side, to spot her husband sleeping peacefully at her side. Even so, something was preventing her from going back to sleep, so, as quietly as she could, she got out the bed and went downstairs for a glass of water. Sadly, the cold liquid didn't easy the tightness she had in her chest, so she just placed the glass in the sink, and made her way upstairs, just stopping to smile slightly at the sound of her in-laws snoring from their room.

Once upstairs, she felt the urge to check on her children. She stopped by her daughters' room, where she spotted her three little princesses, sleeping peacefully, dreaming about adventures and about what Santa Claus could give them.

She did the same at the boy's room. She stood still at the doorway, watching her three handsome gentlemen sleep peacefully. Olivia also stopped by her oldest son's room as well, and smiled at the sight. John-Boy had gained the habit of sleeping holding the headboard of his bed, she thought he was probably afraid to fall on the ground, but at least, he felt safe.

''Liv?'' she felt a hand on her shoulder, and as she turned around, she came face with face with John. ''Are you alright?'' he asked.

''Yes'' she nodded ''Sorry, John. I couldn't sleep and decided to check the children.''

''They are fine honey'' he whispered ''Come on, lets go back to bed'' he said and with an uncertain nod, she followed.

The next morning. Olivia tried to forget about the nightmare, it was just a bad dream she told herself. So together with her husband, she went downstairs for breakfast with the family. Once everyone finished their meals, the three boys went to town with their grandpa running some errands, while the girls helped in the house and John along with John-Boy were going to the woods, cut some wood for the fireplace.

''Its too dangerous, John, ' Olivia frowned at the announcement.

''Don't worry Liv, we aren't going deep in the woods, just where the smallest trees are… it's a surprise, come on, son, '' John said with a smile

''Well, be careful you two. And John-Boy, keep holding your father's arm, don't let go, alright?!'' Olivia recommended, ignoring the tightness in her chest.

''Don't worry Mama,'' John-Boy smiled in her direction.

''Can we play snowball fights when you came back?'' Elizabeth asked while everyone was walking outside.

''Sure honey,'' John agreed ''We will be back at lunchtime."

''Us too, come on you three!" Grandpa called the boys and they left.

''I just don't understand why I couldn't go with them,". Mary Ellen complained.

''Because a girl's place is at home, helping around the house to get everything arranged for Christmas!'' Grandma scolded her. ''Not going to buy supplies for the mill or cut wood,"

''Well Grandma, next year I will get into nursing school and then I will do whatever I want!''

''We will see about that…'' Grandma mumbled.

''Oh Grandma…''

''Mary Ellen, respect your grandmother'' this time it was Olivia who scolded the girl.

''Sorry Mama,'' she said changing the subject. ''Erin, Elizabeth, what have you two asked for Christmas?''

''Maybe, someone to love, like a boyfriend, " Erin giggled.

''Erin!'' Olivia recoiled, horrified.

''Well, I asked for a new coat," Elizabet said simply. "And you, Mary Ellen?''

''I don't believe in Santa Claus, but if I had to ask for something, I would ask for next year came quick, so I will be at nursing school, so I will be away from the mountain for a bit.'' Mary Ellen smiled. Olivia gave her a hard look.

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After lunch, as promised, the seven siblings met at the front of the house, to play snowball fights. Inside the house, the others got some rest, as they heard them playing.

''I love to hear them laughing, '' John grinned as he set down his paper.

''Me too, '' his wife agreed ''John, what did you and John-Boy had done in the woods? You didn't bring any firewood back home,'' Olivia said.

''I had gone to teach John-Boy to cut wood… I tried to do it myself with my eyes closed the other day and it worked well, so I thought he could to it easily, if he concentrated."

''You have such ideas, John Walton!'' Grandma exploded in disagreement.

''Come on Ma, he can do plenty of things around here, I thought cutting woods could be one of them, he just needed to concentrate," John said, when suddenly, a huge snowball smashed into the window, almost breaking it, and scaring the four adults. It had happened that Jason had put that snowball in his brother's hand and told him to throw, the problem was that John-Boy had no idea that he was facing the house.

_/_

That night, just after midnight, the house woke up with a scream. Olivia had had another nightmare, this time, with the family truck exploding right in front of their doorstep. It was a frightening scene, but once John managed to help her calm down and upon seeing her seven children were safe, she managed to sleep again.

Next morning, after breakfast, John and Ben went to the mill to work a bit. Jason and Jim-Bob wen to the store, to buy ingredients for the apple pie, while the girls went upstairs to grab a nice dress for Christmas. John-Boy and Grandpa set on the table, as the young man read what he had written to his grandfather.

''John-Boy, I want you to know that I'm proud of you, son, " Olivia smiled, while she and Grandma worked in the kitchen.

''Thanks Mama," John Boy flushed.

As she talked to her son, Olivia got distracted and just in a slight mechanical movement, she ended up cutting her finger. Immediately, she dropped the knife and held her hand. Still, the sight of that small amount of blood on her finger made her nauseous, and her chest was tighter again like it wanted her to know about something. She felt her legs getting numb and without warning, she collapsed on the floor.