"Wake up, wake up, wake up! It's Chwistmas!"

An excited bundle of energy wiggled between Gabe and Colleen, pouncing on them each in turn. "Wake up!" Allie shouted again. "Huwwy! Pwesent time!"

Gabe laughed, reaching out and trapping his daughter in his arms. Colleen nestled deeper into the pillows. "It's not even light out," she murmured sleepily.

Allie wiggled in Gabe's arms. "Come on, Daddy!" she said. "Wake up Mommy!"

Gabe chuckled. "Gladly." He reached for Colleen, nuzzling her neck with his whisker-roughened cheeks. His wife squealed, rolling away from him. "Gabriel Kinslow!" she exclaimed, trying to sound aggrieved. Her laughter gave her away.

Allie dissolved into giggles. Her parents tickled her, making her giggles turn into shrieks of laughter. She scampered to the edge of the bed, jumping off. "Get Daisy!" she said. "It's Chwistmas!" Excited, she darted from the room.

Colleen was still shaking with laughter. Her beauty overwhelmed Gabe. Unable to help himself, he leaned over and kissed her. Colleen's arms wrapped around his neck. They spent several moments like that before he pulled away. His wife smiled up at him. "This is a very pleasant start to Christmas," she said, her eyes twinkling.

Grinning, Gabe nodded. "Agreed." He slid out of bed, reaching for a robe as Colleen did the same. Last night they'd decided to spend Christmas morning in their pajamas with the girls. Allie had been thrilled.

The little girl came rushing back into the room. "Daisy is stinky!" she proclaimed, holding her nose.

Colleen started for the door, but Gabe took her arm. "Let me," he said.

She smiled at him. "Thank you." She scooped Allie into her arms. "Want to help Mama make coffee for Daddy?" she asked.

"Yes!" Allie exclaimed.

The two of them headed downstairs while Gabe went into his daughters' room. Daisy was laying on her back. She smiled and gurgled when Gabe picked her up. Instantly, his nose was assaulted with the contents of her soiled diaper. "Phew!" he said, blinking. "My goodness, Daisy-girl. What have you been eating?"

His daughter babbled and stuck her hand in his ear. Gabe kissed her cheek, then set about changing her into a clean diaper. Once she was ready, he nestled her in the crook of his arm and walked downstairs to join Colleen and Allie.

His wife met him with a cup of coffee. He thanked her, and she took the baby from his arms. "How's my little Daisy?" she cooed, kissing their daughter's cheek.

Daisy gurgled happily.

Allie bounced around them. "Can we open pwesents now?" she begged, eyeing the prettily wrapped parcels beneath their tree.

Gabe bent down, getting on her level. "Do you think now's a good time?" he asked, thoughtfully tapping his chin.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Allie said, bouncing up and down. She grabbed his hand, her brown eyes wide and earnest. "Pwease, Daddy?"

When she looked at him like that, there was no way Gabe could deny her. He lifted her into his arms. "Yes, sweet girl, we'll open presents now."

"Yay!" Allie cheered. The little family settled themselves on the floor. Gabe built a cheerful fire before passing out the gifts. Fluffy the kitten made her way cautiously into the room, her pink nose sniffing to see if it was safe. Deciding that it was, she made her way to Allie and plopped herself in the girl's lap. Allie giggled, running her hands through the soft black fur.

Gabe placed a present beside Allie, amused that she was distracted by the small kitten. A good three minutes passed before Allie's attention turned to the gift. "Oooh!" she breathed, touching the shiny red paper. "Pwetty!" She looked up at Gabe. "I open now?"

"Yes, sweet girl," he said. Colleen leaned against him, and Gabe slipped an arm around her waist. They watched as Allie ripped open the paper, then pulled the box from the gift. She squealed, startling Daisy, who jumped in Colleen's arms.

"Dowhouse!" she yelled, clapping her hands. "Wif dowwies!"

Gabe had commissioned Nathan to make the child-sized dollhouse, and Colleen had sewn the two dolls that went with it. Allie hugged them tightly to her now, already chattering a mile a minute in her toddler babble. Eventually, they were able to convince her to open her other presents. She did, discovering a ball in one and some books in the other. She was sufficiently pleased with the presents, thanking her parents over and over.

Colleen handed him a small box wrapped in gold paper. "For you," she said softly

Gabe raised a brow. "You didn't have to get me anything."

She chuckled. "As if I would leave you out of the gift-giving at Christmas!" she teased, pecking his cheek with her lips.

Gabe became suddenly serious, grasping her free hand in his. "Knowing my wife loves me is the best gift I could ever receive," he told her, brown eyes locked on green. "You've made me the happiest man in the world, Colleen."

Tears sparkled in her eyes as she leaned forward to kiss him. Gabe savored the feel of her lips, sliding his hand behind her head to pull her closer. When they broke apart, Colleen let out a soft breath.

"I do love you, Gabriel," she said softly. "More than I ever dreamed possible."

"I love you too," he returned. Smiling, he pulled back and reached for the final gift under the tree. "And this is for you."

Colleen's eyes lit up. Before she took it, she reached for a blanket and spread it on the floor, laying Daisy gently on it. The baby kicked her legs, excited by her sudden freedom. Colleen then held out her hands, and Gabe placed the gift in them. His wife looked as excited as a child herself, but her warm eyes turned to him.

"You go first."

Gabe obliged her, opening his gift. Laying in the box was a shiny harmonica. He stared at it a moment before lifting it out. "I haven't played one of these in ages," he murmured. The feel of the gleaming metal in his hands brought back memories of summer nights, playing the little instrument while his mother accompanied him on the piano and his father on the guitar. He brought the harmonica to his lips. Tentatively, he began to play. The memories of how to do so came back quickly. A Christmas song filled his mind, and he slowly played Silent Night. When the last note faded away, Colleen's eyes were glistening with happy tears. He reached for her, hugging her close.

"Thank you," he whispered. "This is the perfect gift."

She smiled. "I remember you playing all the time as a child. Nathan told me yours was lost in the Northern Territories. I thought you might like having one again."

"You thought right," Gabe said, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

Allie was staring at him in awe. "Pwetty music," she said. "Pway again?"

Gabe smiled, ruffling her hair. "Later," he promised. He smiled at Colleen. "First your mama needs to open her present."

Allie turned to Colleen. "Open, Mama!" she exclaimed, eyes alight.

Colleen carefully opened her package. A small pile of books fell into her lap. She peered at the titles, then gasped, a hand flying to her heart. "Gabe!" Tears welled in her eyes as her other hand gently stroked the leather-bound covers. "Novels by Louisa May Alcott?"

He nodded. "You mentioned your first copies were…" He glanced at Allie. "Ruined." That was putting it mildly. She'd briefly told him in passing a couple months ago that Dylan had sold all her books early in their marriage to pay for his gambling addiction. Among them had been her beloved novels by Alcott. "I know you have beautiful memories connected to these stories."

The tears started falling down her cheeks. "Nathan and I read them together as children," she said quietly. She smiled at him through her tears. "I seem to recall you being there a time or two as well."

Gabe smiled back, gently wiping the tears away. "Those were happy times," he said. "Hopefully these bring you some happiness too."

She sniffed, nodding. "I'll read them to our children," she said. She placed a hand on Allie's head. "I can't wait to share these stories." She slid the books sideways to see all the titles at once. "Little Women, Little Men, An Old Fashioned Girl." Her breath hitched at the last one. "And The Inheritance." A little laugh escaped. "That one is my favorite."

Gabe nodded. "I remember."

Colleen placed the books to the side, then scooted toward him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Thank you, Gabe," she breathed. "That was the best gift you could have given me."

He enfolded her in an embrace, content to hold her until Allie wiggled her way between them. "I hungwy," the little girl announced. "Time fo' bweakfast?"

"Yes, Allie," Colleen said, her eyes meeting Gabe's. She smiled at him, and the pure love there made him catch his breath. As they made their way to the kitchen to start preparing their first Christmas meal as a family, he felt his heart swell in his chest. These were the moments that mattered. The little things of the everyday, building up together to create a life.

He wouldn't have it any other way.

Elizabeth woke late on Christmas morning. As she stretched under the covers, Misty protested from her spot against Elizabeth's side. She laughed, sitting up and pulling the kitten into her arms. "We go through this routine every morning," she reminded her pet, rubbing the soft fur with one hand. "You should be used to it by now."

Misty purred in response, butting her head against Elizabeth's chest. She cuddled the kitten for several minutes, then readied herself for the day. She couldn't remember the last time she'd slept in so late. Glancing at the clock, she realized Nathan would be over in half an hour. She hurried down to the kitchen, humming a Christmas song as she prepared some special coffee.

Nathan knocked at her door precisely on time. Elizabeth smiled, opening it and pulling him inside. "It's freezing," she said, shutting the door behind him. She studied him. "Your cheeks are so red." A stab of guilt pierced her. "Did you walk here all the way from your apartment?"

He chuckled, shrugging out of his coat and hanging it on the rack by the door. "It's not so bad," he said, winking at her. "Knowing you were at the end of the road was the best part."

Elizabeth flushed red. Thankfully, Nathan was distracted by Misty as she curled herself around his boots. He handed the package he carried to Elizabeth. "Merry Christmas, my love," he said softly, giving her a tender kiss before picking up the small cat demanding his attention.

"Merry Christmas." She rubbed a hand over the green paper. "What is it?"

Nathan laughed, cuddling Misty to his chest. "I suppose you'll have to open it to find out," he said, his blue eyes sparkling. "But now you have a decision to make. Do we open gifts first, or make brunch?"

Elizabeth's stomach growled in response. Sheepishly, she put one hand over the offending spot. "We should probably do brunch first," she said. She went to the tree, placing the gift from Nathan under it. She smiled at him as they walked to the kitchen. "It seems too big to be a ring," she teased.

Nathan laughed again. "I told you, a Christmas proposal isn't happening," he teased back. "You're not going to expect it when it does."

"Humph," Elizabeth said, placing her hands on her hips. "I still think I might have an inkling before it happens."

He winked. "If you say so." He nuzzled Misty's fur, grinning. "I don't think she's going to have a clue," he whispered to the cat.

Elizabeth laughed, shaking her head. "We'll see." She went to the stove to pour the coffee. "I have a treat for us while we make brunch," she said.

Nathan placed the kitten on the floor, then walked over to Elizabeth. He peered over her shoulder. "Peppermint coffee?" he asked, noting the thick peppermint sticks Elizabeth was using to stir in the sugar and cream.

She nodded. "It's one of my favorite Christmas morning traditions. I started it the first year I moved here. Abigail showed me how to make it, and I've been addicted to it ever since." She handed him a mug. "Try it."

Nathan took a sip, then licked his lips. "That is excellent," he proclaimed. "My compliments to the chef."

They settled into an easy companionship as they moved about the kitchen, laughing as they cooked. Elizabeth had prepared cinnamon rolls the night before, and this morning all that remained was to heat them up and then drizzle on the sweet icing. Nathan proved adept at cooking bacon and eggs, and Elizabeth warmed up some berries to layer over buttered toast. After a half hour of preparations, they were ready to eat.

Nathan said a blessing over the food, and then they dug into their feast. As they were eating, Elizabeth noticed that Nathan was glancing around the rowhouse, a thoughtful look in his eyes. She put down her cinnamon roll.

"What is it?" she asked softly.

Nathan looked at her. He absently reached for her hand. "I was just thinking how many wonderful moments we've spent together in this house," he said. "We've spent a lot of time getting to know one another here." He chuckled. "And at the cafe, of course." He smiled at her, a free look that warmed her heart. "I was just reflecting on that." His eyes dropped to the ruby pendant hanging around her neck. "Like the night I gave you that."

Elizabeth waited until he looked at her again. "Your promise that we would be together forever," she whispered.

He suddenly seemed hesitant, dropping her hand and fiddling with his napkin. Elizabeth's brow furrowed. "Nathan?"

His eyes closed briefly. "Elizabeth, I've heard about how Jack proposed to you," he said, his voice low. "My plan is much simpler. A part of me is worried that I won't measure up."

Elizabeth leaned forward, taking his face between her hands. "Nathan, Jack's proposal was beautiful," she admitted. "But it was extravagant because he knew our time together was limited. We'd just had a terrible argument. I think he was trying to make up for that in a way. He proposed because he was leaving, and he wanted it to be memorable. I appreciated the gesture. It was romantic and stunning and heartfelt. It was done out of love." She leaned closer. "But I don't care about romantic and stunning. If your proposal is heartfelt, if it is full of love, it will be just as memorable and beautiful to me. I promise you that." She let her fingers rub against his cheeks. "It's knowing I'll get to marry you, to spend the rest of my life with you that matters. You could ask me right now, sitting here over Christmas brunch in this house, and I would think it beautiful."

Nathan didn't reply with words. He leaned forward, finding her lips with his and letting his kiss communicate his feelings. When they finally pulled apart, tears were shining in his eyes. "I love you, Elizabeth," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I promise I won't wait much longer to ask you to be my bride."

"Good," she whispered back. "Because I'm ready to take that step with you."

He smiled. They continued their meal, the conversation turning to their Christmas traditions as children. By the time they were finished eating, both of them had gained a further understanding of each other. Elizabeth loved learning new things about Nathan, and she knew the feeling was mutual.

After cleaning up, they retired to the living room. Elizabeth handed Nathan her Bible, asking him to read the Christmas story from Luke. He did, his voice ringing with conviction as he read. When he finished, they sat quietly for a time talking about that first Christmas, imagining how Mary and Joseph felt being in the stable, how the shepherds felt when the angel announced the birth, and whether the animals recognized their Creator in the manger.

After a while, it was time to exchange gifts. Nathan accepted a golden package from Elizabeth. Opening it, he found a leather tool belt, made of the finest material with plenty of space to place his carving instruments. It was both practical and beautiful.

"Thank you, Elizabeth," Nathan said. "This is perfect. I've been needing one of these."

"I noticed," she said, her eyes warm with humor. "You move around your shop and constantly have to go back to your workbench to get a new tool. This way, you can carry several of them around with you."

He grinned. "It will definitely make my life easier." Setting the tool belt carefully on the table, he retrieved the package for Elizabeth and held it out to her. "For you, my lady."

She chuckled at the playful title. When she opened the gift, she let out a soft exhalation. "Oh, Nathan," she murmured. "How lovely."

She lifted the dark, walnut box from the paper. It was smooth and well sanded, with intricate designs carved all throughout. She knew instinctively that he had made it for her. Moving her hands along the wood, she noticed something strange. Glancing at Nathan, she tilted her head.

"There are no openings here," she said, slightly confused. "I thought it was either a jewelry box or a memory box, but that can't be."

He shook his head. "It's neither. This is a puzzle box."

A little gasp of excitement left her. "A puzzle box! Oh, I've always wanted to try my hand at one of these! I hear they can be very complicated."

He chuckled. "I hope that is the case." His eyes twinkled. "There are five compartments within this box," he explained. "One of each of the four sides, and one on the top. But there's a catch."

Elizabeth blinked. "A catch?"

Nathan nodded. "I want to be here when you work on these puzzles," he said. "There is a gift hidden in each of the compartments. They are small, since five of them fit in the box, but hopefully you find them to be worth the wait." He smiled. "This way, you might find gifts scattered throughout the twelve days of Christmas."

Touched that he wanted to be a part of the process, Elizabeth kissed his cheek. "That sounds like a plan," she said. She glanced down at the box. "Though I can tell you right now, my curiosity might try to get the best of me."

Nathan grinned, sliding an arm around her shoulders. "I believe in you," he said with a wink, earning him a chuckle from Elizabeth.

She looked at the box once more. "This truly is beautiful. You are a master craftsman. And...since you're here…can I try the first puzzle now?"

Nathan nodded. "I was hoping you'd say that," he said, his smile growing. He tapped the front side of the box. "Try this one first."

And so she did. Though she didn't figure out the puzzle before they had to leave for Gabe and Colleen's, she didn't consider the time a waste. It allowed her to spend Christmas with the man she loved, and for that she was grateful – even if she couldn't wait to see what he had hidden in the puzzle box.