O HOLY NIGHT:

Jess rolled over in the bed she was sleeping. She sat up with a start. It was ten in the morning, and she rarely slept that late, especially when she was a guest in someone else's house. She was terribly frightened that everyone would think she was lazy. She sneaked into the bathroom, took her shower, and got herself looking presentable. When she got back to the room that she was sharing with Joe's sister Fiona, she was greeted by the merry girl.

"Morning Jess."

"Oh…good morning to you too. Am I the last one up?"

"No…I think Joe is still sound asleep." Fiona answered. "He and dad were up late last night talking while the rest of us were sound asleep. Between that and your long trip from London, he's wiped."

"I can imagine…I'm still tired from the flight from California. By the time I get myself all straightened out time wise, I'll have to get back on that plane."

"I want to hear ALL about America. I would love to go there for school…but I doubt my folks would allow that. You're so lucky that your parents let you go"

"Trust me…I never thought mine would let me go either…but you know what, parents surprise us from time to time. Just ask them, and explain that it's really what you want to do…of course it helps when you have someone like Joe who helps convince them that it's the right thing to do."

The girls laughed rather hard over that. The two girls sat there for at least 30 minutes talking, laughing and getting to know each other better…Jess really enjoyed the silly stories that Fiona shared with her about Joe. They quickly became the best of friends.

"Jess, my mum actually asked me to come up here and drag you down for some breakfast now that you're awake."

"Okay, let's go…I'm hungry."

The girls laughed merrily down the stairs, and were greeted by Molly who had a pretty table set. "Hungry girls?"

They looked at each other, and said in unison, "Starving." Molly was overjoyed to see the happiness in her house. It had been a while since this much happiness was in their home for Christmas. For four years, there was a hole in their home…somehow this Jess, who was so different from everything they knew, had helped fill the hole of emptiness. Her son was very much in love with Jess, and who could blame him she thought. She was pretty, smart, polite, and shared her son's love of football. When her husband came to bed early this morning, Patrick told her that their son was going to marry her. Neither could argue with that. And now that she thought about it, Jess was really no different from them.

Jess sat there happily enjoying her breakfast with Fiona and Molly. The rest of the family, with the exception of Joe and Patrick, eventually joined them. The family relished in sharing the funny stories of Joe. So much so, that by the time that Joe DID join them at the table, Jess couldn't look at him with a straight face. When he greeted her with a "Morning, love" the only response she could give him was a snorting laugh.

"Ah, bloody hell…what did all of you tell her?" Which of course made the group laugh even harder. Joe sat down with a look of feigned disgust. "Whatever they told you, don't believe a word of it." Joe said with a wink.

"Sure thing, 'Captain Amazing.'" Jess said with a briefly sober face. Of course after she said it, she broke into laughter again.

"I should have known that story would come out…" even Joe had to laugh at that memory of his childhood. So Joe did the only thing he could do in that particular situation…join in on the fun.

When Patrick eventually came down, he too was happy with the scene in front of him. And he knew there was but one reason for the happiness in their kitchen…the young woman his son brought home. The woman that Joe told him he was going to marry.

When Molly started to clear away the breakfast dishes, Jess tried to help. "Oh no dear…you're our guest. Go…go and enjoy yourself. Joe, why don't you take Jess outside, and show her around?"

On that note, they grabbed their coats, Joe grabbed Jess' hand and out the door they went. Before they were more than two steps from the front door, Joe had Jess in his arms…complete with a very tender kiss. The family saw them from the kitchen window, and smiled. Jess was shown all the farm…complete with the places Joe would go as a kid to get away from it all. They were gone for about an hour, and just as they returned to the house a gentle swirl of snow flurries was starting to fall. Perfection.

When they got inside, the kids all gathered in the living room. There was a fire burning…between the warm chat, and friendly atmosphere, Jess snuggled up in Joe's arms and fell asleep. No one seemed to mind, as it all seemed so natural, besides most everyone took at nap at some point because of the late church service that was to come. Molly came into the living room and saw the beautiful girl peacefully sleeping in her son's arms. Quietly, she went to the quilt box, and got a blanket…she carefully went and wrapped up the couple. Joe's eyes fluttered open, and Molly simply put her finger to her lips and said "Shhh…" On her way out, she kissed the top of her son's head.

When Jess awoke, she had no idea how long she had been sleeping, but was reassured by seeing Joe looking lovingly into her eyes. "I love you." he whispered to Jess. He kissed her forehead, and told her to go back to sleep…which she gladly did. When she did wake for good, it was dark outside, candles were lit, and their was an excited buzz around the house. While they were sleeping, Joe's Nana had arrived, and had silently taken in the scene. Her smile conveyed her approval. The others had changed into their good clothes for Christmas Eve dinner and Mass. She gingerly kissed Joe's forehead to wake him up.

"Joe…I think there are more people here…and it appears that people have changed their clothes. I really should go up, and put something nicer on."

"Don't be gone long."

When Jess came downstairs, she had on a black wool skirt that just grazed her knees, a pale pink cashmere twin set, black tights, and black leather loafer type shoes. Her hair was all combed out, and fell around her shoulders, the way Joe loved it. Joe had changed into dress pants and a dark sweater. They met each other at the top of the stairs and went down together.

"Ah, my Joseph…" cried a happy Nana as she hugged her grandson. "It is so good to have you home."

"Thank you Nana." said a tearful Joe. "Uh, Nana…this is Jess…Jess, this is my Nana."

"Welcome to our family Jess." said a happy grandmother. She even gave a grandmotherly hug to the stunning girl before her.

Around 7pm, the family sat down for their Christmas Eve dinner. The food was good…lamb stew, vegetables, hearty breads…and the company was better. Jess' hosts asked her many questions about her family, as she did too. Their were no societal barriers, just good friends and family.

Shortly after 11pm, the family bundled up and headed to the church. Jess had never been in a church, especially not in one on a holy day. Jess looked at the beautiful façade of the church before her, and was suddenly rooted in place.

"Jess…what's wrong?"

"I-I don't know what to do. I've never been in a church before. I don't want to embarrass your family, because I don't know what to do."

"Don't worry…I'll be right next to you."

They went into the church, softly lit by candles. Jess thought to herself, that she had never seen such a beautiful religious service in her life. Sure she had heard the traditional Christmas carols growing up, but they were a million times more beautiful sung by the choir with the vaulted ceilings carrying their voices towards heaven. When the service was over, Jess was at peace…with herself, with the world.

Joe took her hand in his as they walked out of the church. He was stopped by many people who were pleasantly surprised to see him home. He ran into childhood friends that he hadn't seen in years. He stopped in his tracks when he heard

"Joseph O'Sullivan…I see the English have allowed you to leave the prison known as England."

"Kyle Murphy you crazy bloke…I was waiting for you to rescue me mate, but you let me down…so I let the lass here do your job."

Kyle stopped and looked at Jess. "Ah, so you're the mystery woman all of Blarney has heard about. Truth be told, when I heard Joe here was coming home and with a beautiful English woman no less, I thought that it was a bit of 'blarney' itself. Now I've seen it for myself…are pigs flying Joe?"

"Kyle…she's mine mate." laughed Joe. "Jess…this is Kyle, we were best chums growing up. Kyle, this is Jess."

"Nice to meet one of Joe's old friends…I'm afraid I've only met his English friends."

"Ugh…that pains me mate. ENGLISH friends? Oh, Joe, you've been away too long. I've supposed they've brainwashed you into their bloody British ways."

"Don't worry mate…Once and Irishman, always an Irishman." Joe laughed. "Hey, we need to get back to my parents' home. Are you in town for a while, because we should get together."

"Yeah…what are you doing the day after Christmas?" Kyle asked.

"Nothing, at least nothing as far as I know."

"There's going to be a big bash at O'Briens'…much of the old gang will be there. The two of you should come. Then you can bust the myth…no one will believe me if I tell them that you're home and with a girl no less."

"Sounds good…live music I take it?"

"Of course…my cousin Jill is the fiddler in the group."

"We'll be there…hey, we have to go. Take care mate."

"You too mate…Nice to meet you Jess."

"You too."

As they got into their car, Joe turned to her.

"Oh, the gossip is flying already…by the time we get to O'Briens' there will be wagers made already on whether or not you're real. Kyle Murphy has the biggest mouth in all of Blarney, if not all of County Cork." Joe laughed.

When they got back to the house, they walked to the front door. Joe needed to kiss her before she went to sleep…just as she needed to kiss Joe. The scene of freshly fallen snow was too romantic to pass up. With each kiss they fell more and more in love. It was if nothing could stand in their way.

"Merry Christmas love."

"Merry Christmas to you too, Joe."

They went inside, shared a cup of tea with the family. Shortly thereafter, everyone went to their rooms and slept until morning. Christmas morning.