A/N: After writing "Christmas Blues" I felt that Jackie deserved a happy Christmas too :) Hope you enjoy this one as well :)

Christmas Joy

Jackie sat on the couch in the lounge room, wearing a Christmas hat and nursing a mug of hot chocolate as she surveyed the damage.

Home-made Christmas decorations were scattered around the room, Christmas paper littered the floor around the Christmas tree and the coffee table was covered in lollies and remains of Christmas crackers.

A loud snore drew her attention to the other occupant of the room: in the middle of all the chaos was Nelson, sound asleep.

She looked up as Michael entered the room, also in a Christmas hat and looking as exhausted as she felt, he flopped down on the couch next to her.

"Merry Christmas," she said with a smile.

"Ho-ho-ho," he replied half-heartedly, resting his head on the back of the couch and closing his eyes.

Jackie looked around the room again, "I guess we should clean up," she said after a moment.

Michael's only response was to groan.

Jackie poked him with her foot, "Come on Michael; get up," she coaxed.

"I'll get up when you do," he countered, his eyes still closed.

It was Jackie's turn to groan, "That's not fair," she grumbled.

"I'm just as tired as you are," he opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her, "can't we just leave it until tomorrow?"

"I thought you had to go back into work tomorrow," she said suspiciously.

"And your point?" he asked with a cheeky grin.

This time Jackie kicked him, "That's mean," she told him and he chuckled.

"I promise I will help you before I go," he said, "but can we just go to bed now? Katie woke me up at 4AM this morning."

"She woke me up then too!" Jackie protested.

"Then we both need our rest," Michael replied smoothly.

Jackie regarded him for a long moment, "All right," she conceded, "but can we at least get the dishes into the dishwasher?" she asked.

Michael nodded in agreement, "Seems fair," he said, heaving himself off the couch.

He stretched and held out his hand to her, Jackie looked up at him, "By 'we' I meant you," she told him.

Michael sighed and rubbed his eyes, "Why me?"

"You're the one standing," Jackie replied simply.

Michael pursed his lips and sent her a mock glare, "Slave driver," he muttered, turning to begin clearing the dishes.

"Scrooge," she teased cheerfully, taking another sip of her drink.

Michael stuck his tongue out at her as he carried a pile of dishes into the kitchen.

"I love you," she called after him.

"Whatever," he called back and she laughed as she settled back against the cushions.

She would help him in a minute, but she figured that being three months pregnant should give her some latitude. Besides he was the one who had started the paper fight with the children.

Jackie smiled into her mug: it could be messy and chaotic, but she wouldn't trade her family Christmases for anything.

...

A/N: I leave it up to you as to whether it's Ebony or Andrew who's on the way in this story :)