Mara -- Thank you. So sorry it took forever to get this up. I hope you enjoy.

Ryanne -- I hope that you keep reading and enjoying.

Caia -- I don't know, I just thought Josh would say something like that.

Kursk -- Oh, there will be a meeting of the families. J

Nicole -- Thanks. I hope there are more lines you like.

Erin -- It is sort of a parallel to that story, something that takes place in the same universe.

Aseye -- Please keep reading!

MaryKate -- Thanks for the complement.

Therese -- Who knows who might show up in here.

Alias -- There will be little angst bits, but I'm really trying to keep it fluffy.

A/N -- Thank you as always to my lovely beta, Heather. She helped me whip this thing into shape and for that I am very grateful. Sorry this has been so long in coming, RL got hectic on me. Enjoy.

Donna had always loved Christmas growing up. From the time she was a little girl, she looked forward to the day that seemed like it was more than just a holiday. She felt that there was something intangible in the air, something that could only be found on that morning. She would wake up, run next door and wake up Nicola and then together they run into Paolo's room. However, as time went on, Paolo moved out, then Nicola, and then finally, Donna grew up as well. When she was eighteen she went on vacation with some friends to Florida for Christmas, when she was nineteen she went with Freeride to meet his family in Chicago, and when she was twenty she was in DC, working as Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff. After that every Christmas revolved around Josh: the antique book, a night in the ER, Senate hearings, a weekend getaway with Mr. Wrong, a fake-out Christmas gift. Hardly things that carried the lightness of Christmases past. However, for the first time in a long time, Donna loved Christmas morning once again.

She was wrapped in Josh's Harvard sweatshirt, laying in Josh's arms, under Josh's comforter and all was right with the world. The only thing that that could have made it more prefect was their own baby snuggled between them. She wanted a baby; she wanted her own family. It was something that she didn't know she had wanted until she had become so intimate with Josh, realizing that she wanted no one else to be the father of her baby. Sometimes it scared her, how close she felt to him. It had never been a conscious decision, to love him, that one day she said that this is what she knew she wanted, it just happened. She had been consumed by him and he had been consumed by her, and together they made up something more than themselves.

"Good morning, Delizia."

Josh slowly opened his eyes, smiled, and closed them again.

"Morning, Bugaloo." Donna adored it when he called her that. It was so warm, so personal.

"Merry Christmas."

Josh snuggled down and sighed, a very small smile on his lips.

"It's Christmas?"

"Yes."

"Hmmm, I thought it was Tuesday," Josh stage mumbled into his pillow.

"Wiseass."

"You know it. Besides, I'm Jewish, I'm not supposed to know when Christmas morning is."

"So where's my present?" Donna continued, ignoring Josh's fake whining.

"Where else would it be? Under the tree… the one you insisted on putting up."

Donna jumped up and ran out to the living room. A few days ago she had set up a tree, found the time to decorate the clear glass bulbs she had bought with glitter, and put up along with the twinkling lights. Over all it was a lovely, homey picture. The tree skirt was covered with all sorts of presents, mainly from their families. Josh and Donna agreed that they were only going to only give each other one gift so they could save the money for their fast approaching wedding. Their stockings, one embroidered with Josh and the other with Donna, were laying over their separate piles of gifts. The stockings were made by Donna's niece, Kara, who was quite the domestic diva at twelve.

Josh sat down next to Donna and gestured for her to start going though her stocking. He laughed at how she sat there waiting for him to get done setting up the coffee maker, all the while her eyes sparkling. Once the little trinkets were out, Donna dove into the presents. Josh just looked on in a confused wonder, having never experienced Christmas morning like that before.

"Josh? Aren't you going to open your gifts?"

"Go ahead. Open yours."

"You don't want to take turns?"

"You're in the gift opening zone. Go for it."

Josh was too busy watching the ritual to bother with opening his own gifts. Besides, only a few were from his mother and a handful were from other assorted relatives, the rest were from Donna's family.

"Okay, Aunt Pia needs to realize that I'm not, you know, ten."

"What?"

"Her gift. It's a sweater with some furry little rabbit on it."

"Bummer."

"Yeah."

"Aunt Barbara did me well though." Donna said, opening up a box wrapped in reindeer paper "She bought me a collection of Charlotte Yonge novels."

"Who is?"

"An author I wrote a thesis on in college and I just fell in love with her writing."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Okay, which means you'll have me remind you right before you want to do something that with that information."

"Right," Josh responded dryly. However, Josh knew she had made a mostly valid point. He wanted to cite the flowers that he gave her on their "non-anniversary" but he didn't want the pout. The pout was sexy, but sex under the tree and among a pile of presents wasn't too appealing. Between pine needles and the corners of boxes, he would get hurt, and not in a good way. Then there was the sap, and there are just some places that sap should never be.

Finally Donna got to the last gift which was from Josh's mom: a crocheted scarf and hat that matched her winter coat perfectly. It was nice to open a homemade gift after opening all the mindless gifts from her extended family.

"So, think you made out well this year?"

"Yeah, I'd say so. You lied to me though. I want your gift."

"Donna, I promise you that you'll get it. I just wanted to do all this first. Besides, I'm thinking that after you get this gift, you won't want to open any more."

"So the whole under the tree thing?"

"Just to get you out of bed."

"Well, that's a first."

"Yes, well, I'm thinking that we'll be returning shortly."

"Hmmm. Now I want to know."

"Last year you waited much, much longer. Besides, I think we've discovered taking turns works well for us."

"Open your gifts, Josh."

And so Josh did as he was told. Indeed he was whipped and had been since day one. His mom gave him a new black backpack, her note teasing him that the one he had was ratty and she realized it was no use to give him an actual briefcase. There were also little gifts from his Uncle Morty, Aunt Janie, Uncle Harold, and cousins Georgianna, Elaine, Naomi, Tim and Caleb. Donna knew how happy it made Josh to hear from them, especially Georgianna, or Georgie, who took on the role of his big sister without thinking. Her parents had given him a few gifts as well, mostly Harvard and Yale regalia.

"So, where is your gift to me?"

"You'll get it after I get mine," Donna gently teased.

Josh threw her a look, got up, and went to the storage ottoman. After rooting though things that they didn't need everyday, he produced a small envelope and smiled at her.

"What's so funny?"

"You're going to love this gift."

"We'll see," Donna smirked.

Without flourish, Josh handed the simple white envelope to Donna, his smile now an adorable grin. "Merry Christmas, Donna."

Donna took the envelope, bit her lip, and opened the flap. Before Josh knew what was what happened Donna pounced on him and was smothering his face in kisses.

"I told you we might be returning to bed shortly."

"Oh, Josh! You really bought tickets to Maui?"

"For our honeymoon. Ten days in Hawaii. Because that is what a guy does for his soon-to-be-wife."

"Really?"

"Really."

"You remembered."

"Of course I did, for I am a man of occasion."

"Right."

"So where is my gift?"

Instead of answering Donna once again kissed Josh, this time it was more passionate than playful.

"I still want my Christmas gift."

"It's in our closet."

"Hmmm…"

"Yep."

"What is it?"

Donna just got up, sashayed slightly, and looked back over her shoulder. "I'll give you three hints. White blouse. Plaid skirt. Knee socks."