A/N: Thanks so much to all my reviewers! They've been so appreciated, believe me.

I'm happy to say that after this chapter, I'm really going to be getting into the better part of this fic plot wise. Hopefully you all will enjoy what I have written and keep reviewing.

4. A Holiday Miracle

John had fallen asleep almost instantly upon being placed in his bassinet, and once Beth had witnessed her father's car backing out of the Pryor's driveway, she quickly washed her face in the bathroom down the hall and then descended the stairs into the kitchen. Although the better part of her wanted to hole up in her bedroom with John for the rest of the afternoon and evening, Beth knew that her son would wake up hungry and that she might as well make a few bottles while the kitchen wasn't in use.

She couldn't believe Mrs. Pryor could betray her that way. Inviting her father into their home when she clearly knew that she didn't want her father around her baby? How dare she. After all her father had said about the Pryor family, JJ, and herself, how could he sit there and pretend to love the grandson that wouldn't have existed in his life if Beth had gone through with the abortion or adoption? What right did he have to have any contact with John without her permission?

Angrily, she stormed into the kitchen and filled a pot with water, setting it on the stove to boil. She had just gathered several empty bottles out of the dish rack and was wiping them dry when Helen's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Would you like some help?"

Beth glanced over, finding Helen perched in the doorway of the kitchen. "No, thank you," she replied shortly, going about her business. Maybe if she ignored her, she would get the hint and leave her be.

But it seemed that Helen wasn't going to give up easily. "Bicycle his legs, maybe…?"

"John's asleep." Beth shook her head and flung the dishtowel onto the counter. "How could you do that to me?"

Helen sighed deeply. "Your father called-"

"After all the things he and my mother said about me and my baby, the way they made me feel about JJ?"

"Beth, this is more important than your feelings," Helen retorted arrogantly, positioning herself by the stove.

"Why!" she shouted at her, walking over to the table and sitting down in a chair. Anything to put distance between herself and Helen. "They're my parents. I don't want them with my baby! That's my right."

"Well, they have a right to get to know their grandson."

Beth glared at Helen, disbelievingly. She couldn't believe she was having this conversation with her. "Really? And why do you get to decide that?"

Helen blinked, placing her hands on her hips. "Because you're living under my roof, and whether you like it or not, Beth, Jack and I have our rules, and they need to be followed."

"And ignoring the fact that I refuse to let my parents see their grandson is a rule that you and Mr. Pryor decided that I need to follow?" Beth challenged. "You don't understand. They wanted me to have an abortion. They didn't want their grandchild to live! And when I tried to explain to them and make them understand that everything would be okay, they refused to hear it and turned their backs on me! I'm their only daughter! How can any parent just act like their child doesn't exist to them?"

"Beth, I think it's best for you to sit down with them and discuss these things," Helen pushed gently. "They won't resolve themselves on their own, or if you keep turning your father away."

"I don't want him here! He has no right to be here!" Beth stood up from the table and walked back over to the stove, pouring some milk into an empty bottle. "And why should I even sit down with them only to have another terrible repeat of the dinner we tried to have with them months ago?"

"It won't be like that—"

"How do you know that?" Beth sighed, hearing John's cries echo down the stairs. They had woken him up with their shouts and arguing.

"Beth…"

"My son needs me." With that, she turned and jogged up the stairs, leaving a bewildered Helen behind in the kitchen.

Helen stood in the kitchen later that evening, numbly wiping the last of the supper dishes dry. Christmas Eve dinner had been somewhat of a success; however, everyone seemed to be lost in their own thoughts. Chris and his mother left right after dessert, and Pete soon followed. Beth had taken John upstairs wordlessly, having barely spoken all night. Meg too had remained silent and brooding, claimed she had a headache, and skipped out on helping clear the table to retire to her room. Patty and Will were the only form of entertainment at dinner, as their joyful personalities brought a little cheer to the holiday table. JJ's presence had certainly been missed at dinner, and it was odd to see Pete seated in his usual chair. Everyone seemed to notice this their own way, but no one had brought it to attention. God, how she wished he was home.

She had been scrubbing the same patch of countertop with the sponge over and over again, back and forth, up and down, daydreaming. The sound of Patty and Will's footsteps thundering down the stairs broke Helen out of her reverie. Midnight mass. She had almost forgotten about that tonight.

Will and Patty entered the kitchen, still pulling on their coats. "After the holidays yes, or after the holidays no?"

Helen tried to hide her smile and preoccupied herself with the remaining dishes in the dishpan. Will was still trying to talk Jack into buying a color television for the family to replace their old black and white set.

Jack didn't seem to find as much amusement in it as she was. "After the holidays, don't push me. Let's go."

Patty glanced back, noticing her father's hesitation on following herself and Will out to the Buick. "Coming, Dad?"

"Go ahead. I'll meet you in the car." Jack watched to make sure his two youngest were out of earshot and turned back to his wife. "It's the first Christmas Eve mass I remember you missing."

She smiled over her shoulder, continuing to scrub down the pan that the ham had been baked in earlier that afternoon. "Maybe next year."

Suddenly, Beth appeared in the kitchen, tugging on her gloves. She smiled at Jack, but shot Helen an icy glare that both husband and wife caught apprehensively. "Mr. Pryor? If you don't mind, I'd like to go with you. I've already asked Meg. She says she doesn't mind missing church to watch John."

Jack raised his eyebrows at Helen and shrugged. "Sure thing, Beth." Beth brushed past them both and out the door, heading to the car where Will and Patty were waiting. "Want me to talk to her for you?" he questioned.

Helen shook her head. "No. We just had an argument, that's all. It'll blow over."

He nodded and walked over to the sink, kissing her lightly on the cheek. "Bye sweetheart."

She forced a smile onto her face and finally emptied the dirty dishwater into the sink. "Bye," she whispered quietly. The phone began ringing shrilly, and without even making a move to answer it, she already heard Meg coming down the stairs to get it.

Meg tiptoed softly down the stairs towards the hall telephone, slightly proud of herself. She had managed to put John to sleep; the first time she had ever managed to handle him on her own like that without Beth or her mother's intervention and guidance.

After a strenuous night with Chris, Meg was hoping that the person on the other line was Roxanne, telling her she was on her way over. She needed her best friend to vent to tonight, and Roxanne had promised that after dinner had ended with her mother, Walter, and Luke, she'd come straight to the Pryor's.

She reached the phone on the third ring and picked it up, cradling it against her ear. "Hello? Yes, it is."

Meg couldn't believe what she just heard.

"Who are you looking for?" she whispered unbelievably. Shocked, she placed a hand over the receiver. "Mom."

Helen dabbed at her hands with the dishtowel and glanced over at her daughter, seeing her on the verge of tears. Suddenly, she felt her stomach drop. Oh, God, no. Not JJ. He was gone.

She mentally prepared herself for it, ready to console both herself and Meg when she took the phone. "Hello? Yes, this is she. Pardon? Yes. He is? Oh, thank you God. Thank you. Merry Christmas to you too."

Meg burst into tears and Helen automatically embraced her, rubbing her back gently. "Mom."

"I know, sweetheart. He's coming home." Helen began to laugh and cry at the same time, taking Meg's hands in her own. "You'll be okay watching John?"

She nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Yeah. I'm going to call Roxanne."

Helen nodded and opened the closet door. She located her coat and tugged it on, making sure get the keys to the spare car off the hook in the kitchen. "I'm going to drive over to the church and meet everyone after mass."

Meg nodded and headed over to the phone again. "It's okay if Roxanne comes over though, right?"

"Of course." Helen wrapped her scarf around her neck.

"I can't believe he'll be home tomorrow."

Helen sighed and kissed Meg on the cheek before heading for the door. Nothing could describe the feeling of relief that was overwhelming her at the current moment. Finally, JJ was coming home.

Beth placed her hands in the pockets of her pea coat, shivering slightly at the gust of bitter air that entered the church's entryway as she and the Pryor's paused outside the doors. Midnight mass had gone quickly this year, and after lingering for a few moments so Mr. Pryor could greet various neighbors, customers, and friends and wish them all a happy holiday, they were heading home.

Patty and Will seemed to lag in front of her, both tired from the night mass. Will had almost dozed off on Beth's shoulder in the pew, and Patty couldn't hold back her yawns any longer. Everyone was exhausted.

Descending the icy church steps carefully with Patty and Will, Beth was surprised to see Mrs. Pryor getting out of the station wagon and making her way across the snowy street. If she had changed her mind about midnight mass, she was already half an hour late. What was going on?

Praying that everything was all right with John and Meg at home, she pinpointed the only other thing that could have caused Helen to meet everyone at the church. JJ.

Beth watched casually as Helen approached Jack somberly. She spoke something to him, and instantly, Jack enveloped her in his arms, kissing her briefly. At first, she didn't understand, and apparently, neither did Patty or Will. Both glanced up at her curiously.

"What's Mom doing here?" Will questioned Patty tiredly.

"I don't know."

Suddenly, Helen waved her arms over to them. "He's coming home!"

The statement cut the cold night air like a knife, and for the first time in months, Beth felt like she could breathe again. She let out an exasperated laugh and smiled as Helen embraced her tightly. Their previous argument had already been long forgotten.

"When did you find out?"

Helen smiled and pressed her hand against Beth's cheek, hugging her again. "There was a phone call a little while ago. He'll be home tomorrow afternoon. Jack and Pete will pick him up at the airport."

"I can't believe it." Beth smiled as Jack embraced her as well. "It doesn't seem real."

Will clung to his mother's side and Patty leaned against Beth happily. Jack stood next to his wife, hands now shoved in his pockets.

"Believe it, Beth. It's real all right." Jack grinned. "I think we all can get a good night's sleep now."

"I second that," Helen smiled happily. "For the first time in months."

Next up: JJ finally returns home.