"That was a great dinner." Rudy proclaimed, standing up and embracing Robin as she brought in dessert.
"You're welcome, I didn't know if you'd like my version of Beef Wellington, but you know why this dinner was so special?" She leaned down and dropped a kiss on Oscar's cheek. "Because you helped bring my parents home safe." she told them.
Rick found himself misting up watching Oscarreach upand hug Robin.
It was a wonderful Christmas in spite of the fright they had all experienced, he decided, sitting backand watchingas Ian insisted on dishing up the ice cream log cake he'd helped make.
He glanced over at Laurie, then found her hand in his. So much had happened in the last week, he couldn't believe it was finally Christmas.His spirits had been pretty low following their ordeal, but being with his family helped him get in the holiday mood.
After visiting Carlos in the hospital, he found out the truth about why his friend wanted to see the two of them. His old friend would scarcely look him in the eye, and Rick was relieved to say good by and re-join his wife.
"I'm sorry, Rick, that Carlos wasn't truthful about his hepatitis. You know, the doctors say he'll have to take medicine the rest of his life or he'll die." His sister told them as they met her in the corridor.
"God, Consuelo, I'm sorry. I figured he'd been sick, he's so thin, but … What's going to happen with Andrea while he's in the hospital?" Rick didn't bring up the subject of him and Laurie adopting the child,
There was no way he'd get his wife's hopes up.
"Why, I and my sister will take care of her. Why? Did Carlos tell you otherwise?" a stubborn look came over the woman's face.
"No, of course not, Consuelo." Laurie interrupted, then gently put a hand on her shoulder.
"But you must know, Carlos never intended to saddle you with Andrea to raise if you didn't feel you could."
"Raise Andrea? Why would I have to? Carlos is going to be all right, and if something was to happen to him…why, I love my niece, nobody could care for her more!" Consuelo replied emotionally.
Laurie's eyes filled, then she took a deep breath and answered, "You need to tell your brother that, he should know how you feel about his daughter, and him."
Consuelo nodded, then embraced both Simons.
"Thank you, I never thought about how we talk to Carlos or treat him. If he makes it, I'll remember how much I love him before I open my mouth and judge him."
As she went down the hall to see her brother, Rick gathered his wife in his arms.
"Sweetheart, thank you for straightening her out. I know that was hard."
She buried her face in his shirt, then nodded.
"I want you to know something, Angel." She raised her face to his, then he kissed her gently.
"Yes, love." Laurie's voice was breathless when he released her lips.
"As much as I would have loved helping to raise another daughter, I want you to know how happy I am just to be there for our grandchildren. My life is so full with our family and you." He told her, trying not tocry at the love he saw in her eyes.
"Rick, you're so dear to me. You make me feel so special, all I want is my beloved with me always. I love you." She smiled through her tears, then shared kisses with him once more.
Thinking about that night, Rick was brought back to the present when Robbie brought out the piñata he and A.J. had picked out for the party. A howl of laughter sounded as the large green Christmas tree stuffed with candy and small trinkets was hung over the arch in the living room.
As each of the children took turns whacking at the papier-mâché, Laurie took pictures then coaxed each of the children to take an extra hit with Ricky's Nerf bat.
Finally Ceci made a direct hit then squealed with joy as the candy and toys and dime-store jewelry rained onto the carpet.
Rick saw one piece of jewelry in particular he had placed in the tree especially for his wife, and scooping it up, went to hand it to her. Not seeing her in sight, he started to head for their room, only to find Abby standing guard with his mom.
"Uh, huh, Rick, Laurie has a surprise for you." His friend announced, then Cecilia laughed as her son looked puzzled.
"Rick, she's been planning this for a couple of weeks now, so you just be patient and help Santa with his bag." his mom added.
Grinning, he whispered something in Cecilia's ear, causing her to shake with laughter. "Abby." She gasped, then related the message to the former lieutenant, making her snicker.
"That's good-okay, we'll tell her you had to go someplace and'll be right back."
"Thanks pal!" Rick hugged Abby then went to help "Santa".
As the family assembled for Santa's entrance, Laurie came out of their room covered with a cloak, then surveyed the group for her husband.
"Mom, where's Rick?" she asked, not seeing him.
"Oh, honey, I'm sorry, he drove over Oscar's; I think Rudy forgot his gift for Linda." The older woman said, trying to look sympathetic. "He'll be back in about 20 minutes.
"That's too bad, I wanted to surprise him." Laurie's face fell, then she made the best of it.
"He's so thoughtful, I'll have to do an extra special version for him tonight." She smiled, then caught A.J.'s eye and he nodded.
As "Santa" made his appearance to the delight of Joey and Ricky and the other children, Rick listened to the level of excitement rise with the gifts to each child. When it was time to give Laurie's present, she shed the cloak she wore to display a short Mrs. Santa dress.
"Uh, Laurie, come tell Santa what you want for Christmas!" "Santa" managed, then nearly fell off his chair when A.J. turned on the music to "Santa Baby".
Laughter erupted as Laurie started to sing the lyrics of what she wanted Santa to bring to her, and "Santa" played along with her. As she came to the end of the shortened version of the song, Laurie ended up on the familiar "old" gentleman's lap to wild applause.
"Well, Laurie, Santa knows you've been an awful good girl, so I did bring you something special, just look in my bag." he told her, giving her a hug.
"Thank you, Santa!" Lauriekissedhis cheek, then slid off his lap to open up the beribboned sack.
As she went to open it, something moved in it, then Rick popped up, wearing a bow on his head and holding a package. Letting out a shriek of surprise, she went into his arms as he said, "Merry Christmas, darlin'!"
"You're what I want for Christmas, Rick!" she whispered, then giggled as he stood up with her in his arms then swung her around as the others laughed. "Santa" took the opportunity to slip out of the room as Laurie teased "You fooled me, darling. I wanted to surprise you."
"I know, so I decided to surprise you, too." He snickered, then sat in his chair and pulled her onto his lap.
He produced a gaudy gold metal ring with a big blue stone on it, then took her hand in his.
"This is for giving me such happy memories, sweetheart." He smiled, then put it on her finger.
"Rick, it's beautiful, it's like the one you found in the dime machine at the old drugstore! Thank you!" she beamed, then looked at the silver wrapped package in her hand.
"Open your present, sweetheart." he urged, and watched her face as she tore the wrappings, then gasped at the sparkling silver and turquoise pendant and earrings set.
"Rick, it's beautiful, absolutely gorgeous! Thank you!" she exclaimed, kissing him ecstatically.
"Merry Christmas, Angel." He told her, then chuckled as she reached carefully inside her dress and pulled out a small box. "Merry Christmas, my love." She whispered.
As he opened up the box, Rick was moved to see a new watch, one that had a silver engraved top, which opened to show a picture of Laurie and A.J. and him as children. There was a silver framed copy of the same picture for his desk in the bottom of the box.
"Laurie, where did you find this?" he said at last, his eyes on her as she replied softly, "Mom found it, so I went to the photo shop at the Cultural Center and they made up the face, then Rudy had the works installed. It's got a transmitter too. Read the words, darling."
He looked inside the lid, then had to wipe his eyes as he read "To Rick, My Dearest Love Of Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow, Always Yours. I Love You, Laurie."
He had no words, so he let Cecilia look at his watch as he embraced his wife, then kissed her, murmuring in a broken voice, "Thank you, precious, I love it. I love you."
Cecilia passed the gift around, then hugged her son and daughter-in-law. "Merry Christmas, my children."
"Thank you, Mom, for saving that picture," Rick kissed her cheek, then exchanged hugs with their friends and family as the party started to break up.
As the house settled down, Laurie brought a nightcap in for Robin and Ian, who were staying the night, then insisted on Oscar and Rudy sleeping over too. "I don't want you guys getting sick for Christmas!"
"All right, missy." Rudy looked over at Oscar, who added. "You won't get any resistance from us, honey, that cabin definitely is too cold to go to tonight."
As everyone said good night, Rick closed the lights, then scooped up a tired Laurie in his arms.
"Come on, my princess, time to go to bed." He told her, then laughed as she smiled up at him and said, "Yes, love, I can finish showing you "Santa Baby."
Pushing open the door, Rick chuckled "I may need an encore." As the door closed behind them, A.J. poked his head out of his room, then spied Rick's Santa cap on the floor.
"Thanks, big brother!" he chuckled as he picked it up, then Linda's voice sounded in back of him.
"A.J., what are you doing?"
"Uh, just borrowing something. Linny, keep your eyes closed." The younger Simon put the hat on, then slipped back into his room, humming "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."
As his room darkened again, Rick cracked his door open, then seeing the Santa cap gone, smirked.
"Nice going, little brother." As he closed the door, the strains of "Santa Baby" could be heard in the silent house.