"And the clever Princess Amelia lived happily ever after in her castle made of snow with her beautiful and equally clever grandmother, The Queen. The end." Lucien closes the book, having made up his own word to an old copy of the Hans Christian Anderson tale.
"Tell it again Papa!" Amelia bounces on the bed.
"That is enough for tonight, Poppet." Jean crosses the room from the doorway, where she had stood watching the pair.
"You are the queen, Nana!" Jean settles the bouncing child in the bed, as only a well practiced hand is able to do. Amelia snuggles into the blankets, eyes already heavy with sleep.
"I heard. Papa is quite the story teller." Jean gives Lucien a wink. "But I don't really think he makes a very good troll."
Amelia gives a small giggle despite sleep overcoming her. "No he is your king, Nana." Lucien beams watching his girls. He hopes that he can be all they want him to be.
"Tomorrow is going to be a busy day so go to sleep." Jean kisses her granddaughter's forehead, Lucien following suit.
In the kitchen Jean is busy puttering around tidying up for an early start in the morning. Lucien makes his way, shuffling in his slippers. "I thought we were going to bed?"
"Oh!" She gives a slight jump, lost in her thoughts of the upcoming week.
It was Lucien's idea to celebrate Christmas a couple weeks early with their granddaughter since they would be leaving for a holiday on the 21st. Jean always dreamed of a white Christmas and Lucien plans to make every dream he can come true for her. The suitcases are packed with their cold weather clothes, ready for the next adventure but now they are going to do everything to make this rare time with Amelia special.
"Can't that wait till morning?" His expression is that of a spurned child.
She can't help but smile making her way to him. Her fingers trace the buttons on his pajama shirt, fingers gliding between the fabric. "Yes, I think it can. We should probably get a good night's sleep. I'm sure Amelia will keep us very busy tomorrow."
"Sleep? Of course." He doesn't notice the smirk on his wife's face as she turns to make her way towards the bedroom.
"Maybe you should lock the bedroom door behind you." She says coyly over her shoulder.
He can't contain the smile at her playful nature and his good fortune. "Will do, my darling."
Sweat is dripping down Lucien's brow as he struggles to get the huge tree through the door. "Oh, bloody hell!"
"Lucien, language!" Jean scolds. "You are the one that insisted that Amelia should pick out the tree."
"And it is a perfect tree."
"Hmm, maybe for the Tyneman House." She mumbles, sashaying down the hall to the kitchen, leaving Lucien in a tangle of branches.
"Want me to help you Papa?"
"No. Why don't you assist Nana in the kitchen? I'll have this up in a tick." The little girl runs to the kitchen eager to join her grandmother in what must surely be a more entertaining task than fighting with a tree.
The girls set to making a simple lunch, ignoring the repeated choice words that come from the parlor. Amelia licks chutney off her finger, eyes wide watching Jean cutting the sandwiches in symmetrical pieces. "Nana, is Papa mad at me?"
"What? Papa is never mad with you." Jean wipes chutney from the chubby cheek of her granddaughter.
Amelia looks up at her grandmother, offering the sticky face. "Are you angry with Papa?"
"No, I'm not angry with him. Your grandfather has a way of getting himself in a mess of trouble at every turn. Sometimes I just get a little frustrated with him. That's all." A quick kiss to the forehead seems to dismiss any further worry in the child.
A loud JEAN comes from the next room. "Should we rescue your Papa?" Giggling, the little girl nods.
"Well, what do you think?" Lucien's smile blankets his face as he proudly stands next to the slightly lopsided, very large tree, looking as if he wrestled a wild animal.
Before Jean has a chance to comment on his state of disheveledness or the mess that is her sitting room Amelia's gleeful cheer makes everything alright. "Papa it looks so grand!"
"Yes Lucien, it is grand." Jean smoothes down his hair, kissing him while Amelia dances around them.
The distinct sound of Matthew making his way down the hallway has them turning as he rounds the corner. The room is quiet as Matthew scans the scene before him. "Hmm, little crooked."
Lucien's shoulders sag. Jean injects before Lucien can reply. "Alright you lot. Lunch is ready." Guiding Amelia to the kitchen she adds, "We will trim that beautiful tree after we eat." Giving Matthew a scowl when she passes, warning him to not to mention the tree once again.
Jean and Lucien sit in the glow of the Christmas lights, Amelia asleep, curled up across their laps. The afternoon went by quickly with all the flurry of activity decorating the tree. The excitement carried well into dinner hour as they sat around the table. Amelia's animated antics amusing the four adults. With dishes clean and put away, Alice gone and Matthew retreating to his room a calmness has settled on the house.
"This is nice." Lucien says softly, rubbing his hand along her arm.
"Mmm. It is."
"I sense a but in that response."
"No. This is wonderful. I was just thinking how strange it will be to not be home for Christmas." She says tentatively.
"Jean, I thought this is what you wanted. Celebrate early with the family and have your white Christmas. It's the best of both, we agreed."
The red nailpolish is a sharp contrast to the small child's alabaster skin. Jean continues to run her fingers across Amelia's forehead choosing her words carefully. "I know we did. And I do want both. I just said it feels strange that's all." Her eyes remain fixed on her sleeping granddaughter. "I'm glad we are getting some time alone with her before the rest of the family arrives. Before long her brother will be old enough to stay too."
"That will be exciting too."
"Yes it will." Jean looks up at her husband both smiling at their good fortune.
"But different." Lucien states. Jean nods, her eyes fill with unshed tears. The relationship with the young girl before them runs deep, deeper than she will ever grasp. Both recall the baby asleep between them as they confess their affection for each other under a tree in the park in Adelaide.
She leans into him, Lucien meeting her half way. They kiss gently. Jean pulls away just enough to whisper an I love you.
Lucien takes hold of Jean's hand that is clasping tightly to the armrest. She looks at him gratefully as he gives her hand a kiss. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to landings."
She gives a small gasp and closes her eyes as the plane bounces on the runway. "Almost over, darling. Look!" Lucien points out the window to the white landscape. The Swiss Alps not failing in their wish for a white Christmas.
"Here is ours." Lucien pulls up to the chalet that he rented for the holiday. "Aah, yes, this will do nicely." he states, opening the door. A fire already glowing in the large fireplace.
Jean goes to the fire to warm herself from the bitter cold that she unaccustomed to. "Lucien! This place is enormous. Why on earth do we need a place this large?"
"It was all they had left. Besides it isn't that big." He is strolling around taking in the space. "I think we should use this bedroom down here rather than that big open loft. Much cosier don't you think?"
"Mmm." She grins watching her husband happiness. "Why don't you get the bags while I tend to this fire."
Lucien has her in his grasp in seconds. "Cold Mrs. Blake? I can think of something to warm you up." He begins peppering her neck with kisses.
"I'm sure you can," she groans. "Lucien you should get the bags first."
"Of course," he reluctantly pulls away. "I will be back in a tick."
"I'll be waiting."
The next two days are filled with strolls around the christmas market and town, romantic dinners and making love. It is on the horse drawn sleigh ride with a light magical snow falling upon them that he hears a sigh fall from her lips.
"Everything alright?" he seeks her eyes to know the truth.
"It's all so very Christmassy isn't it?" Her gloved hand wipes away the snowflakes that are sticking to his beard. "I certainly never imagined I would be in a true winter wonderland on Christmas Eve. I wish the children could see this."
"Yes, that would be nice." he shifts, pulling her closer. "I've ordered to have dinner delivered to the chalet this evening. Thought it would be nice to eat in this evening, it being Christmas Eve and all."
"Oh that does sound lovely." She snuggles closer to ward off the cold. "You know this is the first Christmas in a very long time that I haven't cooked a roast."
"I do love your roast." Their love and laughter fill the air.
"Lucien, did we leave all the lights on?" Jean asks nervously.
"It appears so." Lucien answers calmly. "Come on darling. The snow is falling heavier." He holds the car door for her, suppressing a smile.
Lucien opens the door to the chalet for Jean in a chivalrous manner. Once Jean crosses the threshold, her Christmas gift is revealed.
"Nana!" Amelia runs from her father's lap to her grandmother.
Jack, Christopher, and Ruby, holding young David chime in "Merry Christmas, Mum." Matthew and Alice stand close to the fire, holding up dinks, toasting their friend.
She turns to Lucien, who is beaming with joy, Amelia wrapped around her leg. "How on Earth? Lucien?" The tears that fall are of sheer happiness and love for this man before her.
"I thought the children would like a white Christmas too. And well, Alice has never seen snow." She falls into his arms and kisses him shamelessly despite her family looking on. When she pulls away he adds, "besides what is Christmas without the ones we love? Right?" He scoops Amelia up, pulling both his girls close while gazing at their family before them.