"Can we open my stocking now, Daddy?" Jack lowly whispered as he shook Aaron's shoulder.

Blearily, he opened his eyes, looking over at the clock. "Do you know what time it is?"

"Christmastime?" Jack asked, smiling sweetly.

"No, Jack, it's five in the morning. Go back to your room and try to sleep for two more hours. I don't want to see you back in here until your clock reads seven, okay?" Jack nodded and left the room, shutting the door once more.

"Honey?"

"Go back to sleep, dear." She nodded and snuggled into him once more, her breasts pressing into his side. Aaron wrapped his arm around her and turned into her, falling back asleep quickly. A few hours later, he felt Jack shake him again and he woke up fully this time.

"It's seven now, Daddy? Can we open my stocking now?"

"Give us a few minutes, and we'll be in the living room." Jack grinned and raced out, letting the door slam behind him. Aaron felt Erin wake up and he looked down at her, smiling gently. "Merry Christmas," he said before kissing her upturned lips.

"Merry Christmas, Aaron. What's this?" she asked as he handed her a small package.

"Open it and find out." She sat up against the headboard of the bed and slipped a nail beneath the tape, removing the paper with care. Erin opened the box and gasped slightly. "I haven't given you much jewelry, since I don't know yet what to get you. But I remembered my mother had this locket given to her by her mother when I was a baby, and I wanted you to have it."

Erin popped open the round pendant and smiled a little. "Is that you?"

"Uh huh, and the other one is Jack. I want us close to you, honey, even when we're away."

Closing the locket, she smiled at him through her tears. "Thank you. I love it." She held it out in the palm of her hand. "Would you put it on?" He nodded and she lifted her hair, baring her neck to him. As Aaron clasped the necklace, he couldn't resist kissing her neck and was pleased to feel her shiver. "None of that now, dear. We have to get out to the living room. You can go appease him while I take a shower – do not start without me!"

Erin slipped out of bed and went to his closet, pulling out a plaid skirt and crème blouse. He chuckled as she slipped on his terrycloth robe, and she whirled around to glare at him. "What? You look about five wearing that!" She just shook her head as she grabbed underwear and headed out the door. Still smiling, he got up and quickly dressed. Jack came barging in just as he was buttoning the last button of his shirt.

"Aren't you guys ready yet?"

"Just about. Miss Erin had to take a shower first. What do you say we make breakfast as a surprise for her?" Jack nodded reluctantly and they went out into the kitchen. "Grab the bread for toast, and I'll whip up some scrambled eggs."

Jack did so and climbed up on the counter, putting the bread in the toaster. Aaron smiled at his son who couldn't help but grin back. "Daddy, when are you going to ask Miss Erin to stay with us?"

"Soon, buddy."

"I'll remember that, Daddy." Shortly, they had a stack of toast and a plate of eggs prepared and Jack was setting the table just as Erin appeared in the kitchen. "Sit next to me, Miss Erin."

"All right, Jack." Aaron served them, breathing in the scent of his shampoo. "Remind me to bring over some of my own soap for our weekends. Yours just doesn't smell right on me." After he'd said grace, they ate and soon Jack was tugging Erin into the living room while Aaron cleaned up.

"Are we going to open our presents now, too?" Jack looked hopefully up at him and he shook his head.

"We'll do it tonight, after we get back from dinner with everyone." Aaron picked up his camera and began to take pictures of Jack opening his stocking. Surreptitiously, he took a few pictures of Erin, smiling and laughing at Jack's enthusiasm.

"I see you, muster," she said lowly, still smiling. "Those had better not end up online."

"They won't. I promise." Jack came over and crawled up into Erin's lap. Aaron took some more pictures of them and then sat down as well, trying to capture some shots of the three of them.

"Could we play a game until it's time to go?" Jack asked suddenly.

"What would you like to play, Jack?" Erin softly said.

"Apple to Apples. It's really fun."

"You'll have to show me how to play. I've never heard of that before." Jack pulled out the box and brought it over. Erin soon caught on and they got lost in the game. After numerous rounds, which Jack won handily, they moved on to Go Fish until Aaron saw it was time to go.

"All right, time to head out." They stood and while Jack put the cards away, Aaron grabbed their coats. "The presents are in the trunk, right?"

"We put them there after we finished wrapping last night." Erin kissed him. "You're amazing."

"I've heard that before."

Erin shook her head and kissed him again. "You're picking up too many pointers from Dave. I like my serious, brooding, Aaron better than smart ass Aaron."

"Can't I be both?" he asked seriously, looking for her reaction.

"Well, yes, of course. I've just managed to…"

"To what, Erin?"

She looked away from him and smiled at Jack, who'd entered the hallway. "Are you ready to go?"

"Uh huh." He took his coat and put it on before grabbing Erin's hand. Erin slipped her free hand into Aaron's and they walked out to the car as a family.

As soon as the car was under way, Erin turned on the Christmas music, shutting down any hopes he'd had of getting her to revel more. Aaron knew they were both dancing around the same feelings, though neither was ready or willing to admit it.

He parked next to an idling Toyota and smiled as he recognized Georgia's profile. They got out and while Erin hugged her daughter tightly, he got the presents out of the trunk. Going to the door, he pressed the bell with his elbow and Becca opened the door moments later.

"Hello, Aaron, come on in. We're just waiting for Molly now. Who's that with Mom?"

"She'll make introductions once they're inside. Where should I put the gifts?"

"In here. I'll help you put them under the tree. Jack, why don't you go help Josh in the kitchen, I heard he was looking forward to seeing you today." Jack smiled and took off, yelling Josh's name. Aaron set the packages down on the sofa and let Becca hand them to him so he could place them under the tree. "Aaron, who's Georgia and why is her present addressed in my mother's handwriting?"

Aaron sat down on the floor and looked at Becca. "You'll know soon enough, but I must ask that whatever your mother tells you, you won't be angry with her. This is going to be difficult enough as it is, especially with Molly."

Becca stared at him with dawning understanding. "Is she our sister?"

"Yes, dear, she is. Georgia and I will finish doing that if you two want to go set the table. We'll be along shortly."

Becca stood and went over to her mother, hugging her tightly. "I love you, Mom." Aaron smiled and stood up, shaking Georgia's hand before kissing Erin's cheek as he left the room. As he helped Becca take out the good china from the cabinet, he was surprised to hear her ask, "Are you going to marry our mother?"

"I don't know, Becca. I care for her deeply, but we're still dealing with the fallout from the death of our first spouses. I promised her that I would never let her go. Is that all right for now?" He put a wine glass at each setting, not knowing where Jack would sit.

"For the moment, yes." She smiled at him as she finished setting out the silverware. "Do you want to help me bring out the food?"

"Aren't we going to wait for Molly?"

"She knows dinner starts at 1:30, with or without her." He smiled and followed her into the kitchen. Josh was showing Jack how to make decorative sculptures in the mashed potatoes and then both grinned at him. "Have you guys been doing any work in here?" Becca asked exasperatedly.

"Work? Where's the fun in that? I was showing the little man here how fun cooking can be."

"Whatever. Let's get the food on the table." She picked up the bowl of corn and turned on her heel, almost running into Molly. "Good, you made it just in time. Take this to the dining room while I grab something else."

Molly took the bowl, looking quickly away from Aaron and Jack. They'd not spoken since Thanksgiving, though she had written them an apology. Becca looked pointedly at Josh and he picked up another bowl. Aaron followed suit and soon everything was on the table.

"I'll go get Mom and Georgia," Becca said as Josh set the ham down on the table.

Molly scowled a little bit as she took her seat on the right hand side of the table, next to the head. Aaron sat at the foot, with Jack next to him. Josh chose to sit next to Jack and when Becca came back, she sat on Aaron's other side. Moments later Erin entered, Georgia on her arm.

Aaron stood and Josh followed his lead, prodding Jack up as well. "I'm so happy my family can be together this Christmas," Erin softly said as she took her seat at the head of the table. "Before Aaron says grace, I'd like to make an introduction. This is my daughter, your half-sister, Georgia McIver."

Molly drew in a sharp breath as she tried to stand up. Aaron saw Becca was keeping a tight grip on her arm, tugging her back down. "What?" she yelled, glaring at her mother. "Why did you never tell us about this supposed sister we have?" The anger was palpable in her voice, and Aaron watched Erin wince a little, Georgia reaching out to clasp her hand.

"Your father wouldn't let me, sweetheart. A momentary indiscretion resulted in someone lovely who I only got to hold for five minutes before they took her away to go be with her adoptive family."

"That is such a load of shit! Daddy would never have done something so mean!" Molly glared at Aaron. "This is all you fault! You've made her believe our father was a monster! I hate you, I hate her, and I hate Georgia!" Molly burst into tears and finally pulled away from Becca's grip, finally standing.

"Molly! Your father was not a monster. We loved each other, there were just some things he couldn't accept in my life, and that was one of them. What happened in Wyoming is something I can't change, but I can fix this now. Since I've been able to find Georgia, I want her to be a part of our lives."

All Molly could do was glare, at all of them, until Joshua spoke up. "Molly, this is ridiculous, you need to let go of your anger at Momma and Aaron and everyone. We have a chance to heal, you should be jumping at that. Aaron, would you please say grace so that we can eat?"

He nodded and said a short prayer of thanks to God for bringing them together and the time they were going to spend celebrating the joy of the season. "Amen," he said quietly, taking his seat.

"Do you have any siblings, Georgia?" Becca asked, smiling gently.

Aaron looked at the young woman, noticing the wary look in her eyes. Imperceptibly, he nodded and she smiled a little. "Yeah, I have brothers. It's kind of nice to know I have sisters, too."

"What do you do?" Molly asked sullenly, not looking up from her plate.

"I'm a writer of sorts. My MFA will be complete next semester, and then I have to find a publisher for my short stories." Georgia relaxed back in her seat as they ate and a natural conversation began to grow.