AN: So, this idea came to me after seeing FnFicJunkie's picture on Facebook of her angel Gabriel, that went along with her Christmas sotry "What Child is This A Grant Family 1st Christmas". I hope you enjoy this little glimpse at Brookfield.

It was late. The youngest of the children were tucked in bed. Smells of fresh bread baking came from the kitchen. It seemed like bread needed to be baked every other days these days and Eleanor often ended her days with the task. As Lillian sat at the diningroom table, Abigail's voice as she read the older children a Christmas story drifted from the sitting room. Abigail's help and influence with the children had proved invaluable this past year. With Cody away at Mountie training this Christmas, Lillian had a feeling that they were as much help to Abigail as she was to them.

Lillian looked down at the ornament she had made. It wasn't anything fancy, but it came from her heart, and she knew that was what would touch the heart of the man she had made it for. Reaching for the piece of brown store paper she had saved, Lillian set about wrapping it. She was just gently tying a bow in the ribbon around the package when Vincent called from the other room.

"Miss Lillian, I hear hoof beats. I think Mountie Gabriel is here to see you."

"Thank you," Lillian called back, a happy smile coming to her face. Despite the added hours that an increase in cattle rustling activity had caused Gabriel to put in these last few weeks, her fiancé always took a few moments to come say goodnight to her.

Picking up the gift, Lillian got to her feet. Entering the livingroom she was met by smiling faces of her charges though Abigail tried to focus their attention on the story. Lillian simply smiled back. She was glad they could be happy for her. The fact that Gabriel gave them his time as well probably helped that.

Grabbing her heavy shawl from its peg, Lillian wrapped it around her as she stepped onto the front porch. Gabriel was just slipping gracefully from Apollo's back as she closed the door behind her. Though his scarlet tunic was covered by his black overcoat, the yellow stripes on his jodhpurs stuck out in the dark. In two long strides, Gabriel was up the porch steps and looping an arm around her waist. Though he kept the kiss short, Lillian did not doubt the emotions behind the gesture as she returned the kiss.

"Any trouble today?" Lillian asked as Gabriel pulled back from the kiss. His arm still looped around her waist, his hand resting on the small of her back sending tendrils of warmth through her.

"No. It has been quiet, though none of the ranches are letting up their patrols," Gabriel told her. "Maybe the extra Mountie presence has caused the rustlers to move to another area," he speculated, referring to the two young Mounties the force had sent to help Gabriel out.

"I hope so," Lillian replied. Holding up her gift she added, "this is for you. Open it."

"I didn't lose track of the days, did I?" Gabriel asked, letting her go, as he took the gift. "It is Christmas Eve tomorrow, right?"

Lillian laughed. "Yes," she replied. "But you should have that gift before Christmas."

Gabriel pulled the end of the ribbon and unwrapped the gift. Inside was the angel ornament that Lillian had made. She had plucked white feathers from her chickens for the wings, using a peg clothespin for the body. A little sword hung at its side but while most angels wore a robe of white, this one's robe was the same red as a Mountie's tunic.

"It took me awhile to realize it, Gabriel, but you are my real life angel sent to me to make my life complete. Most men would not think twice about getting involved with a woman who runs an orphanage. You knot only support my dream and protect me, but you have accepted the children that pass in and out of my life as well," Lillian told him as Gabriel's gloved fingers gently brushed the feathers of the wings. "They loved being able to decorate a second tree in your apartment. I thought Gabriel the angel would make the perfect finishing touch to that tree."

Gabriel looked up from the gift and into her eyes. "I will think of you, my love, every time I see it," he told her softly, before his lips captured hers again.

This kiss was longer than the first reminding Lillian of her own words.

Actions did truly speak louder than words.