Welcome back! Thanks for the kind words and encouragement, and for the corrections. Like in Silent Night, a few things are different on the show just to make it a bit easier, like in this chapter, Hillridge is northern California.

Well, on with the story! Please read and review!

"Rocking around the Christmas tree," Lizzie sang merrily as she folded another shirt she'd forgotten David owned and laid it inside a box. She felt a joyful tug at her heart as her mind danced over the idea of returning home.

Granted, New York had been a dream come true. The penthouse apartment she shared with David was spacious, and the beautiful view that overlooked the city had been the prelude to many romantic nights. David was able to follow his dreams. New York City was always in search of directors. Though he wasn't directing on film, he'd found and incredible niche for directing Broadway plays.

Her fingers pushed her silky blonde locks away from her face as Lizzie let out a sigh and lowered herself onto a chair.

She felt a slight snicker creep up her throat at the fact that she was already tired and had hardly done anything at all. She'd decided to start in the bedroom because once their clothes and things were packed up, it would push them harder to continue packing until they were ready to move back to Hillridge.

Hillridge. Their hometown. The last place she'd seen everyone almost three and a half years ago.

It'd been a beautiful early spring day. Never in her life had she worn anything as beautiful as her wedding dress. Each bead shimmered in the spring light. Her father had given her away, her mother cried, and her best friend Miranda had stood right behind her.

After the ceremony, they'd danced until the early hours of the next morning, then caught a flight to New York City, and began a different life.

"Hey, honey," the smooth voice that still managed to send chills down her spine called.

Lizzie looked over her shoulder and smiled as she saw him walk into the room. He was a few inches taller than she was, and was the perfect size to wrap his arms around her and not seem to overpower her.

"How's packing?"

"You've got so many clothes you don't wear any more. Especially some that are particularly ugly," she stated, pointing a recently manicured finger towards the pile of clothes.

"You've known me for how long? You were already aware of my taste in ugly clothes."

"I know, some habits are just so hard to break."

He smiled at her and looked at the boxed. "I talked to the movers today. Everything needs to be packed up by Thursday night, they'll bring the truck Friday morning, and load it. Our flight will leave about two that afternoon. We'll get to California before the movers, but without as long as a wait. I figured we could spend the extra time in New York and get lunch."

"I like the sound of that," Lizzie nodded. "But are you sure we shouldn't drive behind the movers?"

"In what a rental car?" David chuckled. "That's one of the things we're going to do once we get to Hillridge. Buy a car."

Lizzie laughed softly, but the idea of never having to ride in a taxi again wasn't exactly the most depressing news she'd heard.

David gently took the pile of clothes away from her and held her hands. He reached up and his fingers grazed her cheek as he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Lizzie smiled as she tilted her head. A question had been gnawing at her since he'd told her the news a week ago. The process had been incredibly speedy. He told her, they'd begun to look for an apartment in Hillridge, and she'd begun to pack up clothes to keep the moving process from slowing down. In her mind, she assumed if their clothes were completely packed, it would encourage them to not stall them moving. She glanced into his eyes and took a deep breath. "When we go back, what are you going to be doing?"

She knew how the question sounded, but since David had been the main source of income. She'd been able to keep small part time jobs to fill up time, but she'd never found something she was happy with.

"Well," he sighed softly. "I'm going to be the executive producer on a play. I'll have a corespondent here who will keep me informed of stuff in Hillridge."

"Corespondent?" Lizzie smiled. It sounded almost as though he were going to have some kind of spy.

"I love you, Lizzie, and I want us to be happy. And I think going back to Hillridge is something that we both want."

She leaned over and pressed her lips against his. A surge of passion swelling through her. She knew there was a reason she married this man. She slipped her arms around his neck as she leaned closer. His hand wrapped around her waist pulling her to him. A moan escaped Lizzie's lips as everything except her husband seemed to fade away.

"All passengers please return your seats to an upright position and lock your trays. We will be landing in Sacramento, California in approximately fifteen minutes."

Lizzie smiled as she looked out the window. Fifteen minutes, then to the rental car place, and then the three hour drive north and she would be home. Home in Hillridge.