Chapter 45- The Christmas Puppy

It was two days before Christmas and there was no snow. Not that there were a lot of hills on Spoon Island, just a small-ish one near Wyndemere, but Danny was still hoping to go sledding since Spinelli and Sam had made some for the kids/teens. But at least they'd be bringing home their puppy on Christmas Eve, so he was looking forward to that.

That Saturday morning, they all gathered at the church for Chase and Kristina's wedding. Danny sat on the left-hand side with Willow, Scout, and Lexie (who wanted to sit with her cousins) behind Julian, Alexis, and Leo. Behind the cousins sat Carly, Donna, Lulu, and Rocco. And on the right side, Jason and Elizabeth sat with Aiden. And some of those who worked with Chase both past and present such as Mac, Felicia, and Anna.

Lexie sat on Willow's lap facing her. Lexie played with the necklace dangling from Willow's neck that Sam made her for her birthday.

Chase stood at the front with Michael, TJ, and Lucas.

Soon, Violet walked up the aisle, for her second time being flower girl, with Jonah the ring bearer. Jonah ran over and sat with Julian and Alexis, while Violet hugged Chase, then darted over and sat on Elizabeth's lap.

Sam, Molly, and Josslyn followed and stood up front on the left.

Everyone rose as Dante and Kristina walked in, arms linked. Dante walked her up the aisle and kissed her cheek, before sitting with Julian, Alexis, Leo, and Jonah. Alexis teared up and hugged Kristina before returning to her seat.

Chase and Kristina held hands and kissed after they said their "I do's" and by the time Father Coates announced them husband and wife, Danny hoped this was the last wedding he'd be invited to for a while. After being to three in a matter of four months and also hearing about a double wedding, he was all weddinged out!

When Christmas Eve finally came, Drew, Sam, Willow, Danny, and Scout headed to Wyndemere to help decorate Julian and Alexis' tree, and most importantly according to Danny, to bring their puppy home!

The doors opened and Jason, Elizabeth, Cam, Jake, Aiden, and Violet walked out. Jake was holding their black and white fluffy puppy.

"Hey, Danny!" Cam grinned at all of them. "This has gotta be one of the best Christmases ever. We finally get a dog."

Danny smiled. "What's her name?"

Violet and Aiden reached up and petted the puppy.

"Mom and Jason actually named her," Cam said.

"We're calling her Harley," Jason said.

After exchanging a "Merry Christmas" with each other, the Morgan family left and the Cain family walked into the castle.

In one of the common rooms, Julian, Alexis, Leo, Lucas, Jonah, Chase, Kristina, TJ, Molly, Lexie, Nikolas, Ava, Spencer, Avery, and Nikky were sitting around their evergreen tree that had to be close to seven feet tall. They were sorting through old boxes of decorations that Nikolas had in the past.

"Merry Christmas!" Alexis waved over at them and beamed.

"Uh Mom… Dad?" Danny pointed above them in the doorway. "You're standing under the mistletoe."

Sam blushed and Drew grinned. He wrapped his arms around her and tilted her forward kissing her passionately.

"When can we get our puppy?" Scout spoke the question Danny was dying to ask.

"When we're done decorating the tree," Sam said, which made Danny frown.

Scout, Jonah, and Lexie messily wrapped the tree with some silver garland, while Avery and Nikky hung a snowman and a Santa Claus on a couple of branches.

"Is everyone still good to come for dinner tomorrow?" Alexis asked.

"Yes," Sam said. "But we're going to Monica's for lunch first while Willow visits Jax and Josslyn."

"We're going to put on so much weight this Christmas," Drew said.

Julian walked up behind Alexis and wrapped some purple garland around her, pulling her close to him. She turned around and kissed him.

"Oh, none of that now," Lucas said as he hung some tinsel on the branches. "Jonah and I will be here for dinner too tomorrow. But he's spending the night and Christmas morning with Michael, then I'm meeting them over at Mom and Carly's for lunch. They finished re-building the new house last week."

"That's where I'm going with Jax and Josslyn," Willow said. "Joss is making peace with her mom for Christmas."

"Kevin, Dante, Lulu, and Rocco are going too," Lucas said. "It'll be a little crowded in their little house, but I'm looking forward to it."

"All right," Julian said. "I guess it's time for the star! Lexie, do you want to help Grandpa do the honours?"

Lexie's face lit up. "Yeah!"

Julian handed her the golden star and lifted her up high, so she placed it on top.

"Grandpa?" Lexie asked as he set her down. "Why did we put a star up there?"

"Well…" Julian said.

TJ lifted Lexie onto his lap and kissed her forehead. "It represents the star that led the three kings to the baby Jesus."

"Oohh…" Lexie smiled. "Like at Sunday School."

"Yes," TJ said. "Like you learned at Sunday School."

Molly shrugged at the others. "TJ and Stella have been taking Lexie to the new church every week…"

It was finally time for them to go get their new puppy. He was snuggled up against Annabelle the second and the last female puppy.

"Oh, Mom, Dad!" Danny's face lit up. "Can we take both of them?"

Sam sighed. "We agreed on one."

"But will the last puppy get a home?" Scout asked with a little whine to her voice.

"Yes, Cookie," Alexis said. "Michael and Jonah are taking the last puppy. But they're waiting until after Christmas."

Danny frowned. "Well, at least she'll have a home, I guess."

Alexis lifted the male puppy and stroked his ears. Leo kissed the top of his head before she handed him to Willow.

Danny and Scout smiled brightly and petted him.

"What are you going to name her?" Leo asked.

"Good question…" Sam said. "What do you guys think?"

"Um… Chester?" Willow suggested.

Danny scrunched his face. "Veto. Diesel?"

"Veto," Willow said. "Buddy?"

"Veto," Danny said. "Rocky?"

"Veto," Willow said.

"Well, you don't have to decide tonight—" Drew started to say.

"Franklin!" Scout spoke up. "Like the man who discovered electricity."

Sam grinned. "You remembered."

Willow smiled. "I liked Franklin."

"I could live with Franklin…" Danny rubbed the puppy's back. "Hey, Frankie. Merry Christmas."