Phil led them around looking at tree after tree, till every single one started looking exactly the same to Melinda. Skye had tugged on Melinda to be picked up about 3 rows ago, and even Bobbi had grown tired of bantering with and teasing Phil. Several workers had approached them but Phil had shrugged them off telling them all that his family was still looking.

Bobbi moved back to Melinda and whispered, "he's gonna set a new record huh?"

Melinda nodded. "I need to reel him in." She spoke up louder to Phil. "Hey it's now or never Philip."

He looked back and shrugged. "I just haven't seen the best one yet Lin. The one for us."

She shook her head as Bobbie sighed. Then she brightened. "Hey Phil. Since this is Skye's first Christmas with us, we should let her pick the tree herself. What do you think Skye?"

She looked up and grinned, nodding her head. Melinda set her down and took her hand. "So it's settled. How about any of these here Skye – you see any you like?"

Skye started walking with Melinda, looking intently at the trees. She stopped at one that had seen better days. Not exactly awful but obviously not as full as some of the others. "This one looks a little sad. But I like the color. It's a pretty color."

Bobbi came alongside Skye. "It's probably one they'll end up tossing away. How about that one over there Skye? It's the same as this one but much fuller."

"They're gonna throw it away?"

"Well probably. Unless all the good ones get taken and some poor family waits too long and is desperate."

"Oh." Skye looked back and forth at the two blue spruce trees.

"Skye that one over there is really full and the same pretty color. Isn't it Dad?"

"It's a nice tree. But maybe we should look..."

"It's perfect. Skye likes it and it'll fit in the living room and it's a pretty color. I don't think we've ever had a blue spruce before, have we Bobbi?"

"Not that I remember. And this tree is the one Skye picked out. Right Dad?"

"Okay this one is ours. I'll tell them to mark it and pay and they can put it on our SUV when we go to leave. You guys go look around. I'll catch up."

Melinda grinned and took Skye's hand. "Come on you two. Let's get some hot chocolate."

Skye took Melinda's hand and walked away to the stores but looked back several times at the sad looking tree nobody wanted.

They sat in the small café with their hot drinks and pastries. Phil soon joined them, and the conversation was light, and the refreshments were good. After their snack, they went to the outdoor area with the train display.

Skye was thrilled with the outdoor train layout that was set up outside within a tent. It was a large area with a small fence to stop people from entering the layout. Included was a small town with house, stores, a school, a few farms, a forest area, a park, and a river that ran through one side of the town. The train ran around the entire area. The display featured scale size cars and people and animals as well. They spent a good half hour there.

"Hey guys we should head over to the shops for bit." Melinda spoke.

"I wish we could have this in our backyard." Skye said wistfully.

"I think this layout would take up an awful lot of space in our backyard Skye. No more soccer or just chasing fireflies or one of dad's famous Bar Be Ques. But you know what we do have?" Bobbi looked at her and grinned. "We have a small train set we set up under the Christmas tree every year."

"You do?"

"Yup. We put it up after we decorate the tree and dad plays with it."

"That little layout isn't so little anymore. It's somehow spread beyond the tree and keeps doing so every year." Melinda added.

Phil nodded. "We get something new for it every year at the little shop here. Come on guys, let's pick out this year's piece, shall we?" He took Skye's hand and they walked to the exit.

"I wonder if they added anything new this year we could buy?" Bobbi said excitedly as she hurried after her father and Skye. Melinda followed behind them a bit slower.

Melinda entered the train and accessories shop and looked around for her family. She had run into a group of college kids who took classes at her dojo and had stopped to chat with them for a bit. Phil had seen her stop and she waved him on, so he had taken the girls inside the shop. She spotted her family over by the train sets and joined them just in time to see Skye giving Phil her puppy dog eyes and pout.

"Please Daddy." Melinda heard as she got closer. She smiled. She and Phil were going to have to start becoming immune to her. It wouldn't be a good thing for their little girl to grow up getting every single thing she asked for, would it. At some point they'd have to learn to say the word 'no' to her.

Skye continued. "He's such a great friend and he doesn't have too many toys. He gives what he can to his little brother. He should have his very own train. I bet he'd love to get a whole train set like this, don't you think so daddy? I can do extra chores to help pay for it like Bobbi said she did when she was little like me."

A woman near Melinda who had also overheard Skye, spoke up." She's yours huh?" Pointing to Skye. Melinda nodded. "Parenting done right. Kudos to you and your husband. Your daughter understands what the season is about already at such a young age." She nodded to Melinda and walked away. Melinda's smile grew larger as she watched Skye manipulate Phil for her friend.

Melinda walked to them and knelt down by Skye. "Hey baby. What are you up to now?"

"Hi Mommy. Look at this train set. Robbie would love it don't you think?" She batted her eyes at Melinda.

"How can you be so utterly incorrigible and adorable at the same time?" She tweeked Skye's nose.

Skye smiled at her. "So that's a yes?"

Bobbi laughed. "Oh yeah kiddo. That's a definite yes."

Phil also laughed. "You know Skye I already got a few things for all your friends. At the store at the zoo."

"You did?"

"Yes, he did." Melinda added. "We were thinking of maybe having a little Christmas party for you and your friends and giving them to them at the party. Nothing too big – just a gift handout, maybe some pizza and some play time and maybe a movie. I already talked with Sharon about it. Would you like that?"

Skye threw her arms around Melinda. "Very much. I love you."

"I love you too baby. And when we get home you can help me clean the family room real good for extra chores before we put up the tree and decorations okay?"

Skye nodded into Melinda's shoulder.

Bobbi picked up the large train box, and slipped it in the cart, adding it to the smaller boxes she and Skye had picked out for their own train display. Skye had chosen a skating pond and Bobbi had picked our two carriages, similar to the ones in Central Park, to put on the display.

They moved to the large book shop that had a lot of books about trains, and the holiday season. Skye found a book about the history of trains and thought it would be good to give Robbie with his train set. Phil put it in the carry basket he'd picked up, the book joining his many holiday books he was purchasing and planning to read to Skye.

After they finished at the book shop, they moved on to the toy shop. There Skye picked out a couple of model vehicles for her newest friend Mack, telling Melinda that he really liked to build things.

As Skye was busy looking at toys with Bobbi, Melinda sidled up to Phil and whispered, "you see how she looked at that Star Wars lightsaber?"

He nodded. "Bobbi's planning on getting her one."

"She is?"

"Yeah she told me what she wanted to get her so we wouldn't get the same things."

"What else?"

"She said she wants to give her a diary, a lightsaber, the Harry Potter books and she's making her a scrapbook/picture album of the time since she's been with us."

"She's such a great kid."

"Yeah. You know we should probably go over everything you and I have bought her and see where we stand. And ask the others what they are getting her, especially Maria who tends to go very overboard."

"And Akela. Apparently, she and Maria are in this faux competition over Skye. Both are going to spoil her rotten."

"Don't forget your parents."

"I know. We'll talk about it at home later." She moved away from him as Skye ran over to her.

They left the toy store and then spent some time in the small Knick Knack store but didn't purchase anything. Phil wanted to stop at the bakery, and he purchased a loaf of homemade bread and a donut for each of them for dessert with lunch. Then they stopped at the candy store where Melinda let Skye and Bobbi pick out a half pound of fudge each and one bag of candy. Skye chose orange-creamsicle fudge and bag of caramel creams. Bobbi chose dark chocolate toffee fudge and a bag of Swedish fish. Melinda got herself butter pecan fudge while Phil picked out cookies and cream fudge.

Loaded down with bags of goodies, the family made their way back outside to the parking lot. After loading the packages in the SUV, and getting in, Phil drove the car to the tree pickup lane and got out, presenting his ticket for their tree. The line was fairly long for pickup, so everyone got out and strolled around the trees again waiting their turn. Finally, their turn came and they watched as their tree was prepped and loaded onto the SUV hood. Melinda noticed Skye kept looking over at the sad little tree she had first looked at. Melinda bent down and spoke to her.

"You ready to go. We have a lot to do today. First lunch and then cleaning and getting the family room ready and then putting up the tree and decorating it."

Skye nodded. "Okay. No one's gonna take that one, are they?" She looked at Melinda with a sad face.

"I don't know. Someone might."

"It looks sad."

Melinda looked over at the tree and back to Skye. "Like you were at St Agnes?"

"I was always overlooked. Never chosen. Until you and Daddy chose me."

"Skye, it's just a ..." Melinda looked at the girl's face. "How about – uh – maybe we could put it in the bonus room."

"Really?" Skye brightened.

Melinda stood up and walked to worker. "How about you throw in that small tree over there for an extra twenty bucks. We'll take it off your hands."

He looked at the tree and smiled. "Sure. Hey, Joe," he shouted, "load that one up to for these folks."

Melinda paid for the second tree as Skye ran over to Bobbi to tell her.

After getting home, Phil had fixed a quick lunch of Spaghetti served with the bread he had just bought and salad. He used meatballs and sauce he had frozen the week before, so the meal didn't take long to prepare. After dinner, Melinda and Skye had gone to the family room to clean it while Bobbi and Phil went to the attic to get down the Christmas decorations. They worked for hours cleaning and moving the room around to fit a tree and the other decorations. Maria and Akela showed up a little after they started, helping as well as they did every Christmas. They finally finished the cleaning and prepping the room and brought the trees inside. Phil and Bobbi had gone to the bonus room to clean it and set it up to make room for the other tree.

"Hey dad."

Phil looked up from where he stood next to the small barren tree. "Yeah?"

"Skye was sad about this tree cause it reminded her of herself right?"

"Yeah. I guess Lin picked up on it quicker than I did."

"But she knows we are her family now. And that we'd never not choose her, right? She's here to stay forever."

"Yes. She knows up here." He pointed to his head. "And I'm pretty sure her heart and soul are beginning to know it but sometimes things in our past will always dictate our responses. And healing is a lifelong pursuit. Skye's come such a long way in such a short time though."

"Thanks to mom. And you."

"And you too Bobbi. You have been an amazing big sister to her. You and us, all her friends and our friends have just accepted her into their hearts."

"Well dad, that's wasn't hard to do. You know I bugged you and mom for years to get me a sibling. When I did, I thought maybe you and mom would have a kid, a baby. When I found out about Mom not being able to cause of the shooting, I felt so bad for annoying her all those years."

"You didn't know."

"No but it still must have been painful for her. You guys had talked about it before, right? Having a baby?"

"Yes. We had. We were." He paused and then spoke softer. "Bobbi, Melinda was eight weeks pregnant. She lost the baby, and the injuries were pretty severe. They told us that any other pregnancy would most likely result in a miscarriage. So Lin couldn't – she – the possibly of losing another baby – she – we – we stopped trying. She closed herself off to the possibility of ever having a child. After a few years, I mentioned adoption and other options and she just flatly refused. Having to shoot that girl, a kid, even to save others just devasted her. She closed all those emotions off. You – you were her saving grace. No matter how much she tried not to at first – she became your mother."

"I'm so sorry Dad." Tears were running down her face as she embraced her father. "She doesn't tell anyone – didn't tell – did she?"

"Just her mother and father know the full story. And me. And now you. It wasn't just the trauma of having to shoot a kid that changed her so much, it was also that in the process of doing her job – she lost her child, and almost lost me."

Bobbi clung to him until she heard Skye running up the steps and shouting her name. She stepped away from him, drying her eyes. "I won't say anything Dad."

"It's okay. I'm going to tell Lin that I told you and that you know everything. Secrets are never good between us."

Skye burst into the room and ran to the tree.

"Will she be mad? That I know?" Bobbi lowered her voice.

"No. Not at you anyway. She might be perturbed at me, but she'll get over it. I think talking about her loss is the very last step to her healing. Maybe she'll open up to someone, maybe even you."

"Daddy, are we gonna decorate this one too. Mama and me was lookin' at all the pretty things to put on the tree." She turned to Bobbi, "Mama says you get a new ornament every year from them, and from Meema, and from Auntie Maria. I never had no ornament of my own before. They are so cool."

"Sure. We can put some aside to put on this tree. We always seem to have too many anyway."

"Do you think maybe I'll get my own ornament this year Daddy?"

He laughed. "I've a feeling that is a very good possibility."

She grinned at him.

"I would imagine you will get more than one Skye, knowing all these people the way I do."

Skye looked at her thoughtfully. "You got me one too didn't you Bobbi?"

"Ha. No way am I answering that."

Skye's grin grew larger. "Come on Bobbi. Mama says it's time to put up the ornaments. She sent me to get you and Daddy." Skye took Bobbi's hand and tugged her to the door. "Come on."

Going through the ornaments and deciding where to hang them took a lot longer than normal. Skye wanted to look at each one and examine it asking about each one's story. Eventually Melinda and Akela headed to the kitchen to prepare a snack. Akela had brought a cheese and fruit tray with her, and Maria had brought some gingerbread cookies from her favorite bakery.

"So I half expected Maria to bring Carol along."

"She's teaching at your dojo, remember?" Akela raised her eyebrow.

"Yeah, I know. Isn't it strange though that Maria hasn't talked to me about her? About them?

"She will. She's just testing the waters. It's been while since she's dated a woman. And you know with her past 'dates' being less then wonderful, she's just moving slow."

"She's okay though? I mean you work with Carol more than I do. She's okay right?"

"She's okay Lin. She's very nice. Very helpful, energetic, kind, polite, respectful teaching her classes. And her eyes light up when Maria's around."

"Good. I know I've been really busy with Skye and Bobbi lately, but I hope you guys know that I'm never busy to talk to."

"We know. You've always there for us Lin. We never would doubt that. But you are busy. With two very important people and we get it. Skye and Bobbi should always be first in your life. Well, them and Phil. You know that the reason we have such high standards for our own relationships is because of what you and Phil have."

"We're not perfect Akela."

"Nope. But you are goals. Well, you two and Izzy and Vic. You guys have shown us no one has to settle. Even if we have to wait a bit longer, our soulmates are out there somewhere."

"Soulmates?"

"Yeah. Don't argue – it is what it is. And here's hoping Maria found hers. Lord knows we could all use a break from her whining about her bad dates."

"And you? Anyone on your radar?"

"I plead the fifth." She picked up the tray of food and walked out of the kitchen.

"Hey what's that mean?" Melinda yelled after her and then followed with a tray of drinks.

Hours later, with both trees decorated, Phil had called and ordered pizza for dinner. They were gathered around in the family room, eating and watching the lights on the tree. Skye was intrigued with the lights and that they could be changed from colored blinking to non-blinking and then to all white blinking or non-blinking. She changed them every thirty seconds or so until Melinda gently took the controller from her hands.

"When are we putting up the train and stuff Daddy?" Skye mumbled around a mouthful of pizza.

"Tomorrow. We'll set everything up and finish getting out all the inside decorations in the morning, and in the afternoon, I'll put the lights up outside."

"I can help you do that."

"Okay."

"Don't forget to check all the lights before hanging them dad." Bobbi spoke up.

"Have I ever done that?"

Bobbi looked at Melinda and both burst into laughter.

"Alright, alright. That was one time."

They laughed harder. Melinda finally was able to speak. "You mean it was one time you didn't forget Phil." She continued giggling.

"Haha. Very funny. You know maybe I won't put up any lights at all if you two are gonna give attitude."

Skye tugged on his sleeve. "I'll remind you Daddy. I really like lights."

"Oh Skye. We were just teasing him. Of course he'll put up the lights. All of them, right Phil?"

"Of course. You remind me to check them okay?" He asked Skye.

Skye nodded solemnly. "I will."

"So where did Meema and Poppy go this weekend?" Bobbi changed the subject.

"To her cousin's house in Pennsylvania. Near the Poconos. They'll be back tomorrow sometime."

"Mama I needs to do lots of extra chores. I want to buy Meema and Poppy gifts. And Bobbie and you and Daddy. And Aunties Akela and Maria. And all my friends at school. And Natasha."

"Skye you don't have to buy me anything." Maria answered.

"Yes I do. You're part of my family."

"Hey look kid. What she means is you could just make us a card or something. You're only eight. No one expects you to buy them a gift." Akela added. "you don't have to buy me and Maria a gift."

"But I want to. I never had no one to buy presents for."

"Not all presents need to be bought Skye. That's what she means. Maybe I can help you make some of your gifts."

"Like a dumb old card or picture? That's dumb. I want my gift to mean something. Cause it has to." Skye was on the verge of tears.

"Hey. Okay. I'll find lots of chores. Phil can find some too."

"I'll give you ten bucks if you clean my room." Bobbi chimed in.

Melinda shot her a dirty look.

"Okay, fifteen. It's kinda dusty." She smirked back at Melinda.

Melinda knelt down next to Skye. "Sometimes being creative about a gift can be very personal and important Skye. How about I'll give you more extra chores, and others can too," she looked pointedly at Bobbi, 'within reason. But promise you'll consider creative options too. Maybe look on the computer or ask your friends."

Skye nodded. "Okay. I will. I promise. But everything has to be special."

"Okay. So how about we watch a holiday movie to end the night? Phil why don't you and Bobbi and Akela help Skye pick something out. Maria can you help me with cleaning up?"

"Sure." Melinda and Maria started stacking pizza boxes, plates and various dishes and cups and carried them into the kitchen.

As soon as they entered, Maria spoke. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Tough. I do."

"You know my love life is really none of your business."

"Like mine was none of yours?"

"Cause that's different. That was you. And Phil. And you needed a push."

"No actually, we didn't. And I just am curious as to why you haven't said anything to me. Yet."

"That's simple. I don't want to jinx it by getting ahead of myself. You know I haven't had the best track record in the relationship department."

"Well, if I remember correctly the last women you dated was your longest relationship. You were even talking about marriage. I still have no idea what happened. A three-year relationship, thriving even, and then all of sudden – gone."

"We had different expectations. Different goals."

"How so?"

"I wanted an exclusive relationship and a commitment, and she preferred sleeping around."

Melinda sighed. "I'm sorry Maria. You deserve better."

"Yes I do. That's why we aren't together anymore. And probably why I went through a series of unfortunate dates."

Melinda laughed. "Yes. Yes, you did. For a cop that's pretty damn observant about people you sure overlooked a lot of obvious douchebags."

Maria grew thoughtful. "You know I wasn't even looking. I don't think she was either. She's real busy with school and now you are working her ragged at the dojo."

"Hey."

Maria put her hand up. "I know. She volunteers for extra classes and even to cover some of yours. But the point is she wasn't looking and neither was I."

"That's sometimes when the best relationships happen."

"She's just so nice. And kind. And funny. She talks. A lot. And we both love coffee, and books, and gaming. We both like that adrenaline rush, playing VR and she has a freaking Harley, and she..."

Maria trailed off and looked up at a grinning Melinda. "Sounds like your type."

"She's also gorgeous and well - she's in fantastic shape."

Melinda laughed. "Oh you are so smitten."

"What? No – I -I'm not – I just – what a stupid word." Maria looked at her indignantly.

Melinda laughed again. And raised her eyebrows at her.

Just then Skye came running into the room. "Bobbi sent me to get you. We picked out a movie and it's ready to go." She looked at them. "What you talkin' 'bout?"

"Auntie Maria and her new friend."

"Oh who?" Skye looked at Maria inquisitively.

"Carol. She works for your mom over at the dojo."

"Oh. She's nice."

"She is. We're dating actually."

"Oh. Should I get her a gift for Christmas too?"

"Oh no Skye. No. It's fine."

"So are you gonna marry her?"

"It's way too early for that. We'll see how things go."

Skye nodded. "Cause if you marry her, she'd be family and then I should buy her a gift, right?"

'We can talk about that if it happens."

"Okay. She's very pretty. And nice. You should marry someone who's nice. Cause that's important."

"Yes, it is, Skye. Very important."

"Some of my fosters weren't nice. They were mean to each other. Screaming and hitting and stuff."

Maria looked at Melinda who said nothing. Skye continued.

"Yeah always marry someone nice. That's even more important than if they are pretty. Lots of pretty people are not nice. I'm gonna marry someone who is very nice. Like Daddy is nice to Mama. Or how nice Lance is to Bobbi. Maybe Robbie. He's really nice. Lincoln's nice too. So is Jemma. I could marry Jemma maybe. Or Tashie. But she's lots older than me."

"Well you have long ways to go before you even think about getting married." Melinda was trying not to laugh.

"Okay. Is Bobbi gonna marry Lance?"

Melinda couldn't hold in her laugh. "Not any time soon. But maybe you could ask Phil. I'm sure he'd be interested in that question too."

"Okay." Skye answered innocently "Come on and hurry up. That's what Bobbi told me to tell you. We're watching 'Home Alone'."

"If you want popcorn, you'll have to wait a little longer."

Skye nodded. "Okay. I'll tell them." She turned around and ran out of the kitchen.

Melinda and Maria both laughed as Melinda got the popcorn and started making it.

Maria made herself busy making a pitcher of iced tea. "Do you think she's going to ask him?"

"Oh yeah."

"Oh and we're gonna miss it and never know his reaction."

"Nah. Phil and Bobbi will stare daggers at me if she really asks. Just watch."

Sure enough, as they walked back into the family room carrying popcorn bowls and drinks, Phil was pouting and gave her a dirty look, while Bobbi gave her a patented Melinda May stare that could rival her own. Melinda giggled and Maria burst into laughter.