Mace woke up with a gasp and found himself back in the Temple, in his chambers.
"Was I... dreaming?" Mace said. He looked at the time, and he looked out the window. "It's Life Day morning! I haven't missed it!"
Mace felt a big smile appear on his face. He'd gotten another chance. A chance to fix all he'd broken before he almost shattered the holiday beyond repair.
"I've got so much to do and not a lot of time to do it!" Mace said.
Mace found a list of names of all the Jedi who'd left the order in the last few years and all the names of the younglings in the order and what toys they wanted. He found the Life Day fund and rushed out to get some things done. But, he needed a little help.
Olivia rushed downstairs to find what Santa left for her under the tree, the rest of the family coming downstairs, when there was a knock on the door.
Obi-Wan went to answer the door, and found some little boxes and a card on top.
"Merry Life Day, Kenobi." Mace called, riding his horse Strawberry Sundae.
"Master Scrooge?" Obi-Wan said, surprised.
"Tell your family to come to the Temple tonight, it's really important. No time to explain. Got more deliveries to make!"
Mace snapped the reins and got Strawberry running to pull the cart of gifts fast. They were not Santa Claus or his reindeer, but that didn't mean they couldn't make holiday miracles happen.
All over town, former Jedi and their families got a knock at their doors, and found presents and an invitation to a surprise at the Jedi Temple that night.
Kit Fisto and his wife Aayla Secura found toys at their door for their kids Zatt and Kayla.
Ki-Adi and his adopted pony daughter Comedia found a jack in the box for the young pony and a bunch of candy canes and gummy bears.
And the Cratchits were especially surprised to find so many toys for all the kids, as well as papers saying that an appointment had been made and an operation paid for to be done for young Gabriella in three days. An operation that would save her life! It was a miracle!
And when everyone Mace visited arrived at the Temple that night, they were all astonished to find the place decorated for the holidays. There were lots of beautiful decorations that had not been up in years. Garlands, colorful balls, candy canes, little snowmen, even a beautiful tree. And in one of the biggest rooms, a feast of treats had been set up for everyone.
"Merry Life Day to all!" Mace called, all dressed up for the holidays.
Everyone was sure Mace probably hit his head or something.
"Are you feeling alright, Master Scrooge?" Anakin asked.
"I've never been better." Mace said. "I had a realization."
Mace called for everyone's attention and began to make a speech.
"Thank you all for coming here tonight. As you all know, I've been against Life Day for years. I've been stuck with the old Jedi Code, forbidding attachments, never having a family, and never celebrating holidays. I let all that harden my heart, and in doing so I've hurt many of you. And for that, I apologize greatly. I understand now the importance of this holiday. Knowing that no matter what material item you get or give, the real greatest gift in the universe is family, the people you love, our friends, and remembering never to take what we have for granted. I did that to a woman I loved long ago, and I should've realized that she didn't deserve to be treated the way I did. If I could go back and change it, I would. And Brenda. You don't have to take me back, but if you would allow it, I would like to make up for lost time with my daughter and be the father she always deserved."
Brenda looked shocked then. And everyone else was shocked too.
Brenda asked everyone if they told Mace about Myra, but all of them denied it.
"I almost made the mistake of denying every youngling the gifts they earned this year. And I want to fix it." Mace said. "A wise man left me to lead the Jedi, and for the longest time, chances are he would've been gravely disappointed in what I turned the order into. But now I see what he wanted me to learn. From here on out, I intend to be a better Grand Master, and raise the younglings to be good citizens and to make their own decisions of whether or not they decide to start families of their own, but I will need some help from those who understand family better than I do, and I know it will take time to earn everyone's trust. Therefore, I ask any Jedi who'd like to come back and help me mend and improve the Jedi Order to consider being part of the cause. And Cratchit?"
Anakin looked at Mace.
"I was especially wrong to force you to choose between this order and your family. I had no idea what your family was going through, and before I probably wouldn't have cared either. But if you would come back, it would mean a lot if you would join me as a fellow master."
Anakin was flabbergasted by Mace's words. He never imagined it would be possible. Him, Anakin Cratchit, a Jedi Master. A position that would allow him to invoke real change among the younglings of the order.
"You really mean it?" Anakin said. "But, what about my family?"
"They're your family. They always come first if that is your choice. And, if you would accept, I believe your youngest child would make a great Jedi one day if she were taught properly in the ways of the Force, under the new Jedi Code."
Anakin thought about it. Being a master would not only invoke changes for the order, but Anakin would get paid better and be able to help his family get back on their feet. And so would so many others whose families needed to get back on their feet. So, he accepted.
Mace then looked at Brenda and Myra.
"Excuse me, Anakin." Mace said, approaching his old flame.
"Mace..." said Brenda. "You know about-?
"Yes, I know about Myra. Please don't ask how I know, because I don't think you'd believe me if I told you."
"After all this time, why now?"
"Brenda...I know I wasn't there for you or for Myra growing up, and I want to let you know I'm sorry I wasn't a better man. I don't expect you to forgive me or take me back, but if you'd let me, I'd like to make it up to you. Both of you."
Myra looked at Mace and then at her mom.
"That's really my dad?" Myra said.
Mace looked at Myra and slowly put a hand on her cheek.
"You look just like your mother." Mace smiled, looking at his daughter with love appearing in his eyes. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you. If you'd let me, I'd like to do everything in my power to be the father you deserve."
"Hey," said a little voice. "This tree's missing its star."
Gabby picked up a star that was still in its box.
Mace smiled and said, "I'd hoped a couple of very special girls would like to put the star on top."
Myra held little Gabby up, and together they placed the beautiful star on top of the tree.
"It's perfect." Myra smiled, giving Gabby a kiss on her cheek.
"God bless us everyone." Gabby said, hugging Myra, and then giving Mace a hug too.
Brenda smiled as she saw that Mace really had gotten a change of heart. This Life Day was not only a great celebration of new beginnings for the Jedi Order, but by the next Life Day, it was confirmed that the future had changed for the better.
Mace became a mentor for Anakin's children, he proved himself a great father to Myra, and by some miracle, he and Brenda rekindled their romance and Mace got to do something he'd wanted to do years before.
"Will you marry me?" he asked Brenda on one knee.
"Of course!" Brenda cried tears of happiness.
And the couple embraced each other in a passionate kiss under the mistletoe just as they did the first time they'd kissed.
"And so, Master Scrooge and his newfound family lived Happily Ever After." Qui-Gon finished.
"I love stories with holiday miracles." Lamenta sighed.
"I wonder if those three spirits could help other people realize the meaning of the holidays." Gabby said.
"It might make some less materialistic." Boba said. "Dad nearly got trampled in the store a few days ago, and that was just a grocery run."
"Holidays do have a way of bringing out everyone's crazier side." Carousella said. "But they also bring out the most amazing miracles in one way or another."