"Can you believe it?" Linda asked with her arms crossed as she looked at the calendar. She turned her head to her husband, "our first Christmas together as a married couple."

Danny wrapped his arms around her from behind, and kissed her neck. "What do you want this year?"

"It's Christmas Eve eve, and you're just asking me this?"

"I meant after we spend the day with family." He nibbled her ear, "what do you want to do?"

A smile crossed her face, "I'm sure I can think of something." She turned in his arms and kissed him soundly. "You do know I have to meet Mary, Erin, and Nonna for brunch, right?"

"Not for another two hours."

Erin looked up from her coffee, "here she comes."

Rosita watched Linda fluff her hair before turning the corner. She smiled as her granddaughter started to apologize.

"Sorry I'm late," Linda sat down. "Time got away from me."

"Especially if you're having fun," Erin smirked knowingly.

Linda frowned, leaned towards the table, and whispered, "you're just jealous."

"We would love to have you over for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Rosita." Mary interrupted before her daughters could argue over their marriages.

Linda looked excitedly at Rosita. "Will you come, Nonna?"

"On one condition... I get to make Christmas Eve dinner."

Mary smiled, "I'm always willing to let someone else cook the meal."

"So what are we going to make for the Reagans Christmas Eve?" Linda asked as she and Rosita went shopping later that afternoon.

"A traditional Italian Christmas Eve feast."

"Muscoli vermicelli? Ooh. One of my favorite dishes."

"With plenty of other fish and pasta dishes."

"Can we make torta di cannoli?" Linda wondered as she tossed a pack of pasta noodles into the cart.

"Whatever your heart desires. You know the Reagans better than me."

"That's true, but they did give you free range on the meal."

Rosita smiled, "we're going to need a few more things."

Her granddaughter nodded, peering into the already full cart. "Agreed. And lots of wine. The Reagans love their liquor."

"We Italians love our wine."

"Very true, very true."

They shopped in silence for a little while before Linda mused, "I wonder if they'll be upset by the lack of meat. Those people are carnivores, especially Frank and Henry."

"They'll have no choice but to eat it. We're not a restaurant."

"No, of course not. We're only serving them a four course meal, including the desserts."

"They'll like it, Miele. Don't worry."

"It's just discouraging when you work so hard on a meal, and people hate it."

"Lucky for you that your husband will eat anything."

She laughed, "that's true. He has a very open and accepting palate."

"Holy groceries, Batman," Joe said as he saw the amount of grocery bags in the car. "What did you do? But out the whole store?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Joseph," Rosita handed him a bag of groceries.

"We only bought half the store," Linda laughed as she grabbed some bags. "You're gonna love what we're going to make."

"Need help?" Jamie came bounding down the front stairs.

"Yes, we do, grazie," Rosita picked up the pile of bags she had laid out.

"Have at it, boys," Linda called over her shoulder as she made her way into the house.

"Are you trying to fatten us up?" Joe asked as he and Rosita started walking up the walkway.

"A traditional Italian Christmas Eve meal has multiple courses."

"We've never had a multiple course meal! Ever!" Jamie chimed in excitedly.

"You're in for a treat then," Linda informed them. "You have not had a meal until Nonna has cooked you a meal."

"Are you going to make that pork roast for tomorrow's dinner?" Frank asked as he slid into bed with Mary.

"I don't know."

"You don't know? Aren't you cooking it?"

"No. Linda and Rosita are making Christmas Eve dinner for us. I don't know what they're going to make."

"I hope it's nothing too..."

"Different?" She smirked, "you can't have meat and potatoes for the rest of your life."

"I talked to Mary last night, and she said she wanted to eat dinner at 4:30, five at the latest," Linda told Danny as she fluffed a pillow Christmas Eve morning. "I told Nonna, and she thinks we need to be there by ten."

"What're you going to make?"

"It's a surprise."

"A surprise? Can I get a hint?"

"Nope."

He studied her for a minute, a smug smile playing at his lips. "I can make you talk."

"Make me?" It took her a minute to understand what he was implying. She mirrored his smirk, clasping her hands behind her, "and if I don't give up my secrets?"

He walked up to her, put a finger under her chin and tilted it up. "I won't stop 'til you tell me."

"We'll miss everything, then, 'cause I am never telling."

"You're late, Miele," Rosita said as Linda made her way into Mary's kitchen.

"I know, I'm sorry! I just- the morning got away from me." She put her apron on and tied it in the back. "But I'm here."

"What were you doing?"

She blushed slightly, "just... enjoying the relaxing morning."

Rosita looked over at her granddaughter and smiled lovingly. "And never one to shirk or turn her back on tradition, Linda is now asleep."

Danny looked down at Linda in his armd; sure enough, she was fast asleep. "Has she always done this?"

"Oh yes, ever since she was a little girl. She didn't do it very often when she was younger, but when she was a teenager and started cooking the meals... It was a guarantee she'd fall asleep. "

"Well, lucky for her, I like it when she's in my arms." That way, no one can take her away from me, he thought but didn't care say.

Mary smiled, "the dinner was marvelous, Rosita. I absolutely loved it."

"Grazi, Mary. I'm sure your dinner tomorrow will be delizioso."

Rosita had planned to leave and come back in the morning, without saying goodbye to Linda, who had been sleeping.

It was one o'clock in the morning when they all said goodbye to each other. Rosita hugged the Reagans goodbye, and told Linda she'd be back in time to help with the meal.

"So did you have fun?" Danny asked as Linda snuggled next to him beneath the covers. They were staying overnight.

"I had loads of fun. Did you like the meal?"

"Best meal I've had in a while. I can't remember the last time I had a five course meal."

"I hope we can do it again next year. Maybe it'll become tradition?"

"Maybe." He kissed her goodnight, looking forward to celebrating Christmas Day with her, his family, and Rosita.