The date was December 24, 2007.
Nicole and Terry were both decorating the Christmas the main lobby.
Nicole's hair had grown long and beautiful, she was only twenty but she looked ages before her own time.
Terry still looked the same, but was growing a thin goatee.
The two stood on the plush white carpet, and dug into boxes, taking out string lights and bulbs.
Nicole climbed the small step ladder and hung each sparking piece of glass onto the thick pine branches.
After Hunter had finally fallen asleep, Ana and Kenneth stunk out of the house and walked over towards the lobby with piles of gifts in each of their arms.
It was pretty hard finding out what kind of things a four year old would like, So weeks before hand when they were going for their supplies run, Nicole and Terry threw around some ideas.
Some Matchbox toy cars, building blocks, a stuffed rubber dog...the list went on.
As Nicole and Terry buzzed around the tree, Ana and Kenneth sat side by side in the glow of the lights from the tree, fussing the stuff together.
It was a pleasant evening, as soft carols played from Nicole's CD player.
There was a fire in he fireplace and the bright orange and red flames would crack and pop each time it grew more heat.
"What are you wrapping now?" Ana asked as she placed another gift under the tree.
Kenneth smiled and held up the box.
Ana rolled her eyes.
"He's to young to play chess."
Kenneth laughed
"Hey, you always have to learn things from an early age."
Ana laughed and started on another.
"What time is it Nicole?"
Nicole checked her watch
"Around twelve."
Ana smiled as she placed down a box of plastic soldiers, and started to cover it with bright colored wrapping paper.
"Remember last year?"
Everyone laughed.
Last year they spent almost all night wrapping and fixing things together, and by mid-afternoon...Hunter thought the boxers were better then the toys.
Ana then covered the last half and told the rest she was gonna go check on him.
Before leaving she covered her shoulders with a shall and walked outside into the cold and frost bitten night.
It was snowing...
The black velvet sky seemed to have opened up and huge flakes of crystal slowly fell to the ground.
Ana laughed as she walked towards her house, she remembered the small exciting feeling she used to get whenever she saw it snowing outside when she was a kid.
The same feeling you get on Christmas Eve, she thought as she opened her front door and kicked her boots off.
Her home was now warm and full of life, she hadn't cried in years...she was finally getting on with her life.
She then slowly walked up the stairs and opened Hunter's bed room door.
Her little boy was still awake and sitting up in bed.
The room was dark, but still lit up enough from his slowly spinning night light of sharks and the blue moon light.
A small concerned look spread across her face when she saw him still awake.
He was sitting up and in his hands was a huge pitcher book, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," something Terry had read to him a few nights before.
Her little boy was now four years you believe it?
It just seemed like yesterday, he was a chubby baby, laughing in her arms.
It filled her heart with joy and sadness each time she watched her son grow another day older.
He was starting to look like his father.
His hair was a sandy blond color, it had changed right around last year and his jaw line was just like Michael's.
The only thing Ana saw of her in him were his baby blue eyes.
He was a kind and sweet little boy, who always made everyone thankful for going on and starting over.
Right now, in this thin moon light she could have swore she saw Michael.
"Honey, you okay?"
Hunter looked up and gave a soft smile.
"I'm sorry mommy...I couldn't sleep."
Ana walked over and sat beside him on the bed, right away her mother/nurse mode kicked in and she covered his forehead with the back of her hand.
"You sick?"
"No."
Ana then smiled
"Excited for Santa huh?"
Hunter's eyes lit up and he nodded, Ana smiled and brushed the back of his short hair.
"Well, baby you better get to sleep, Santa only brings toys to little boys who are fast asleep in their beds."
Hunter smiled, she was thankful he didn't get into that whole "I hope Santa brings me a little brother," thing again.
He then put the book on the night stand and Ana covered him up and kissed him on the cheek.
"Love yeah buddy."
Hunter smiled and she stood up and looked down at his small sweet looking face.
"Mommy?"
"Yeah sweetie?"
His eyes looked set like stone
"Why do you talk to daddy when your alone."
Ana's smile faded and she sighed, she might of never cried...but she still felt like her heart weighed a ton whenever she thought of him.
She tried to smile and look strong for him.
"It makes me feel better."
"Does he answer you back?"
Ana got a sad look in her eye and said "No."
Hunter sighed
"He doesn't answer me either."
Ana then tried to smile again and bent down and kissed him again.
She shut the door behind her and slowly walked downstairs and out into the cold night.
She stood on her front porch and watched the snow drift around.
"Merry Christmas Michael."