A/N: I am republishing this story. There have been edits made. The text that has been italicized is a flashback, and the text that has been bolded is from the show. I am merely borrowing characters besides though that are not recognized.


Luke smiles. He watches his wife finish reading 'Twas The Night Before Christmas to their daughter.

"But I heard him exclaim before he drove out of sight. Happy Christmas to all and all a good night," Kathleen reads as Faylinn snuggles close to her. She smiles as she looks at her sleeping daughter.

Luke crosses the room and scoops Faylinn out of her mother's arms. He turns and places her into her bassinet. He smiles as she shifts before settling right down.

"Are you okay?" Kathleen asks as she comes up beside him.

He smiles and wraps his arms around her. He pulls her close before leaning down and kissing her.

She smiles as she returns the kiss. The two stand like that for a few minutes before she breaks the kiss. She turns down and peers into the bassinet one last time before walking out of their room.

Being the cautious dad he is, he checks the room one last time before following Kathleen out of the room. He shuts the door before listening and following the sounds of where Kathleen is. He walks down the hallway towards the living area and notices her in front of the tree.

In the corner of their great room sits a five-and-a-half-foot Christmas tree. They decorated it with bright candle-like tree lights and cartoon ornaments. He had found out last year that this was how her maternal grandparents had decorated their tree.

He smiles as he can pick out three different generations of ornaments. There was the classic Mickey Mouse cast from when his mother-in-law was growing up. There were Ducktales, Winnie Pooh, and Goof Troop from when Kathleen grew up. Now they had added ornaments from Tangled, Tinker Bell, and Despicable Me in honour of Fay's time.

He goes into the kitchen and pulls out a small box before walking over and sitting next to Kathleen. "I almost forgot to give you this," he says before presenting her with the box.

"Luke, Christmas isn't till tomorrow," Kathleen says as she takes the box. She gives it a cautious glance.

"I meant to give it to you when we were decorating," he says as he picks up the wrapping paper lying beside him.

She glances at him before looking back at the box. She takes off the lid and peers inside. The contents shocked her. "Luke," she says.

"Everyone else has one on the tree," Luke says as he wraps one of Faylinn's gifts. "There's a second one under it as well."

Kathleen looks at him as she pulls the white disc ornament out of the box. In red writing, it read 'My 1st Christmas,' followed by green writing. 'Faylinn Helen - May 1, 2010'. She places it next to her before spotting the second ornament. It was a red snowflake disc ornament. On one side it read 'Merry Christmas The Callaghan Family, 2010' and on the back, it was their Christmas photo.

"I thought we could do a new one each Christmas," he says as he wraps. "Have our own tradition to pass on."

"I love it," she says as she leans over and kisses him.

He smiles as he returns the kiss. He had been passing by a store in Eaton Mall after picking up their photos. It would be a perfect new tradition for them to start.

She breaks the kiss before standing up with the ornaments. Before placing the ornaments, she analyzes the tree. She places them around the one they received last year. It had a picture of a bride and groom with their names and the date of their wedding. It showed the start of their family traditions.

"What are our plans for the rest of the night?" Luke asks as he brings her out of her trance.

"We have to finish wrapping gifts and then I thought we could throw on a movie," she says. She walks back over to the pile of gifts and wrapping supplies.

"Rudolph or Polar Express," Luke suggests as he wraps one of Faylinn's toys. "What time do we need to be at Peck central?"

"Cute," she comments as she wraps, "No later than 3:30 pm or we are dead meat."

"True, don't want the parental thinking we are not bringing the guest of honour," he comments.

"Please, I'm more afraid of Steve and Gail," she comments before pausing. "Especially Gail."

"True."


They pulled up to the familial colonial home that was all decorated with lights and wreaths. Carols could be heard coming inside and the driveway already held the cars of all the other family members.

"I see, we are the last ones to arrive," Luke says as he pulls in behind Steve's Lexus RX 350. "Which is odd."

"Dad and Steve are on call this evening," she says as she unbuckles her seat belt. "Aunt Elaine and Uncle Bill are off, and Gail is on tomorrow."

"Explains the earlier time," Luke says as he gets out. He moves to the back of the car to get the presents while Kathleen grabs Faylinn.

"Yup," she says as she carries the little girl into the house.

"About time," Gail says as she opens the door. "You are usually here before me."

Kathleen and Luke merely share a look before Gail scoops Faylinn out of her arms.

"I'll give you a hand," Steve says as he walks out and helps Luke gather gifts.

Kathleen smiles as she follows her daughter-toting cousin into the house. She stops and takes off her coat before walking into the living room. She notes her father, aunt, and uncle already cooing over Faylinn's first Christmas outfit.

"Hey sweetheart," Gramps says after she leans down and places a kiss on his cheek.

"How are you doing?" she asks as she has noticed him looking more worn with each visit.

"I'm fine. I am glad everyone is here," he says as she sits down next to him. "The real question is, how are doing?"

"I'm perfect," she says as she watches her daughter be cuddled by her father. "It's more than I ever dreamed of."

"She has a point there," Luke says as he sits beside her. "I never could dream up these last seven months and I wouldn't change them."

"You both said it," Gramps says as he watches his family.

Times were difficult, but that didn't mean that they weren't worth it. Over the last few months, the family grew and tightened, and now, during the holidays, it showed more than anything.