Thanks JW,Goofygirl,lovesonny,LafilmeMichelle,bondgirl83,cicimalone,SB&JasonSamFan,and all the rest for reading and reviewing. I was going to post this last nite but it wouldn't let me. I promise the last and final chapter asap until then I hope you guys like this. Let me know what you think.

Chapter 31

Jesse had just arrived and Lucky was filling him in and Liz was talking to another officer when they all turned in the direction of the blast, husband and wife exchanging worried glances.

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Emily screamed and Sonny pulled her head down into his shoulder as Jason slammed on the brakes causing the car to skid slightly before pulling it to a stop and getting out to look at the ball of fire burning behind them.

"Emily wait!" Sonny yelled from the car as Jason turned to see his sister heading towards him. He grabbed her so she wouldn't attempt to go further as the other man walked to them re-wrapping Emily with his coat.

"Oh god that's was his plan all along." She said trembling. "That's what he meant." Emily turned to look at Sonny. "If Jason hadn't arrived…"

Sonny took her face in his hands. "We would still be here Emily," he tilted his head and looked up to try and make light of it all, "maybe with a few more bumps and bruises but we would be fine."

"He's right sis." Jason said from behind. "It wasn't your time or his or Liz's or any one of ours."

She couldn't respond as the sound of sirens and the flashing lights raced towards them. Emily soon found herself grabbed into a tearful embrace from Elizabeth. It would be another hour before any of them would be allowed to leave with the promise of coming in later to give their statements.

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Sam Malone had finally gotten Michael to go to sleep praying that she would be able to keep her promise of Emily and his dad as well as Jason's safe return. She dreamed of one day having a child with Jason but seeing the fear of the unknown in the Michael's eyes made her wonder.

She looked at the clock and walked over to the window facing Sonny's garden and looked up to catch a glimpse of a falling star, hurrying to close her eyes and make her wish. Lifting her hands to wipe away her tears she turned to find her wish answered as Max opened the door to Jason and Sonny who was carrying asleeping Emily. Jason pulled Sam into a much-needed embrace as he watch his best friend lay his sister down on the couch and covered her up. He hugged his fiancé hard against him thankful of the small graces given him this night fighting to hold back his own tears feeling that this was truly going to be the best Christmas he'd enjoyed in a long time.

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Lucky cradled his wife to him as she drifted off to sleep. So much had happened in the last few months. Fate had nearly ripped them apart once again. They had worried about how they would give Cam a good Christmas but nothing could ever replace the simple luxury of having his family alive and well with him compared to the alternative that nearly faced them all tonight. He closed his eyes as he kissed Liz's forehead. Tomorrow he would go get Cam early and spend the day with his family enjoying every moment.

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Over the next two to three hours Sonny and Jason along with Sam fought back their own exhaustion as they got the boys Christmas together. All of them determined to make this day as normal as usual for them.

Emily awoke a little while later to look into the eyes of the youngest Corinthos child watching her. She looked around to see Sam curled up in Jason's lap in one of the chairs and it didn't take her long to realize whose lap had been her pillow for most of the early morning hours. Emily smiled at the little boy.

"Merry Christmas Morgan." She whispered, putting her finger to her lips as she did so.

"Merwe Cwistmus Aunt Emwe." He whispered back winking at her instead. "Can we go get Micul?"

She nodded getting up as quietly as she could to walk with him back upstairs not seeing Sonny and Jason exchange a smile as they watched the two leave. Emily walked into his and Michael's room as the little one ran to his brother's bedside quickly forgetting to be quiet.

"It's cwistmus Michael, it's cwistmus. Efwebody is here Daddy, Unc Jason, Aunt Sam, and Aunt Emwy."

Michael stirred at the sound of his brother's voice and jumped up when he opened his eyes to find Emily standing behind his younger sibling. Tears filled her eyes as she felt the older boys arms go around her neck as she hugged him back.

Neither of them saw his father standing in the doorway until they heard Morgan talking to him.

"Hello Daddy." He whispered.

Emily laughed as she watched Sonny lift his eyebrow to him.

"Merry Christmas son," looking at his elder child, "Michael."

"Thanks Dad."

"You're welcome."

Emily stood up behind both boys as they hugged their father, smiling as he ushered them out the door to go downstairs the excitement ringing in their voices as they took in the surprises that awaited them below. Sonny reached out his hand to her and together they walked to the top of the staircase to watch the boys tearing into their gifts and Jason rolling Morgan around on his new tricycle like motorcycle and Michael showing Sam his newest game. Emily turned her face up to look at him as he was turning his down to hers. This seemed so right so natural, the kind of life she wanted surrounded by the people she loved the most.She closed her eyes as his lips found hers gently claiming them as his own each of them trembling as they parted his forehead pressed to hers.

"Merry Christmas Emily."

"Merry Christmas Sonny."