I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Mine was wonderful. It was a wonderful time with family and seeing friends who had come home from colleges across the country. My older brother proposed to his girlfriend of two years on New Years Eve, and she said yes! I'm gaining another sister, and so excited. I am blessed beyond words. Happy New Year to you all, and here is a very late Christmas chapter.

Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, but the story is!

Christy awoke Christmas morning just as the sun was beginning to peak over the mountain tops. She smiled, remembering the events of the day before. She was married. Her handsome husband was lying in the bed next to her. She turned her head to see that he was still sound asleep, laying on his right side and facing her. Under the covers, his left hand rested on her bare thigh. She shifted her position, his hand sliding up to her back in the process, as she ran her lips up his neck, over the stubble of his chin to his lips. He smiled first, and then his eyes fluttered open as she surprised him with her boldness. Last night, he had taken the lead and she had been shy, but now, she seemed to be far more comfortable than he had expected her to be.

"Good morning," He whispered. "It's wonderful to wake up to you, Christy."

"I think it's the best Christmas present I've woken up to yet," She whispered back, her big blue eyes staring into his gaze.

"It is Christmas, isn't it?"

She smiled and nodded, wrapping her right leg around him. "I don't hear anyone else moving around yet. I think we're the only people who are awake."

David grinned, his lips finding hers. "I like the sound of that. I can have you all to myself for a few more minutes."

"Are you too terribly disappointed that every room in this house is full with people and that the only thing giving us alone time is a few inches of walls and a locked door?"

"It's not a honeymoon suite, but as long as I've got you, I don't care where we are."

Christy kissed him.

"Are you alright this morning?" He asked, running a hand through her hair.

"Yes. Last night was perfect, David. Thank you."

David chuckled softly. "You don't have to thank me for that, Christy."

"Yes, I do. You eased all of my fears and drowned me in love. You were gentle and kept the baby in mind. Everything you did was…it was perfect."

"I love you," He whispered.

"I love you," She whispered back.

Her belly pressed into him as they kissed once more, and the baby began kicking rapidly, causing David to laugh into the kiss. Christy pulled back with a giggle.

"I think that this little baby is trying to tell Mommy and Daddy to stop kissing and give him some food instead," David teased.

"Him?" Christy asked. "I'm pretty sure it's going to be a girl."

"And just how do you know that?" David raised his eyebrows.

"A mother's intuition, I suppose. That, and Fairlight said that if we're willing to believe the old wives tales and superstitions, all signs point to a girl."

"What kind of wives tales?" David asked in curiosity.

"For one thing, I'm carrying higher. Another sign is that I crave mostly sweet things. I have had morning sickness off and on throughout the entire pregnancy, and Neil says that the baby's heartbeat is usually pretty fast. All of those signs point to a girl."

"Well, we'll just have to see about that one," David laughed. "For now, I think we need to get you both fed."

"Sounds fine to me," Christy agreed. "But I'm not getting dressed just yet."

"Well, I think you might have to put something on, honey," David teased, continuing to lie in bed as he watched her get up. "You'll catch a chill."

Christy laughed and blushed when she turned around to see him admiring her bare skin. "That's not what I meant. I'm going to put on my nightgown and robe. I want to be comfortable for as long as possible."

"That sounds better," David said, watching her pull her nightgown on. "I have to say, though, if we ever have our own cabin and you want to walk around inside it without clothes, I won't complain."

Christy swatted at him with the tie of her robe before pulling it on over her nightgown.

"Are you getting up or are you going to lay there and stare at me all day?" She laughed.

Ten minutes later, the couple was tiptoeing down the stairs to the kitchen. David first set about getting the fire going in the stove as Christy got out the ingredients they would need to cook breakfast. They laughed softly as they moved about the kitchen, David stealing kisses from her every time he got close enough to do so.

"Here you go, husband," Christy said, handing David an apron.

"Thank you, wife," he grinned. "But I have to ask, is the pink apron my only option?"

"Well, I figured you would want me to wear the blue one. You always tell me that you love when I wear blue."

"It does match your eyes," he agreed.

"Besides, if this baby is a girl, you are going to have to get used to all of the pink."

"Alright, I'm convinced."

"Well, you are very easily persuaded, aren't you?"

David wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. "Only when you are the one trying to persuade me."

Margaret cleared her throat then and David and Christy looked up to see her standing in the doorway, also still in her pajamas.

"I don't think the newlyweds are supposed to prepare everyone breakfast the day after their wedding," She said, an amused smile on her face as the couple in front of her blushed.

"The baby was very persistent in telling us that she was hungry," David explained.

"Oh," Margaret smiled, and lowered herself into a chair.

"How are you feeling this morning, Margaret?" Christy asked.

"Not well, I'm afraid. I slipped out of bed so I wouldn't wake Neil up."

"Try some tea," David offered, setting a steaming cup in front of her.

"Thank you," Margaret smiled.

"You should tell Miss Alice about the baby this morning," Christy suggested. "It would be a wonderful Christmas present, and our wedding is out of the way."

"I plan to," Margaret nodded. "I'm going to ask Neil about it as soon as he wakes up."

"Ask me about what?" Neil asked, striding into the room in a plaid button up shirt and his tan pants. He stifled a yawn and then bent to kiss Margaret. "Good morning, darling."

"Good morning, Mac," She smiled. "I'm sorry if I woke you."

"It's alright," He assured her. "I was close to opening my eyes anyway. Are you alright?"

She nodded. "My stomach just feels like I'm on a storm tossed ship at sea."

Neil kissed her on top of the head. "What were you going to ask me about?"

"How do you feel about telling mother about the baby this morning?"

"Are you sure you want to do that? We're not out of the woods yet."

"No, but honestly we won't be until the baby is here. We might as well tell her."

"If that's what you want to do, it's fine with me," Neil rested a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see David wearing the pink apron and flipping pancakes, Christy standing beside him and buttering them as quickly as they were finished cooking. He smiled as he watched them, planning to tease David about his apron choice as soon as he got the chance. "How are Mr. and Mrs. Grantland this morning?"

Christy looked up at David with a grin, before turning to Neil. "We are wonderful, Doctor MacNeill. Thank you for asking."

Margaret chuckled. "I caught them in the midst of a passionate kiss when I wandered in here, so I'd say they are quite well."

"I'm afraid we're crashing their honeymoon," Neil told her.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Christy argued. "It's Christmas morning and we don't want to be anywhere but here with all of you."

"Well, that's sweet, but no one believes you," Margaret laughed.

Soon everyone was awake and after a quick breakfast, they all had moved to the parlor to sit by the tree and fire and open gifts. David had made a large cradle for the baby, bringing Christy to tears when she saw it. Both her parents and Elizabeth had brought back more expensive gifts. While everyone was thankful for them, Christy knew that the gifts which had the most meaning were the ones that had taken a lot of time and effort. Neil gave Margaret a broach which resembled a family heirloom that had been lost in the fire. He had given it to Margaret when they had first married, and now this one could replace it. Margaret was deeply touched by the gift. In return, she had bought him a new medical bag; one that was larger and much less worn. Christy had made David a new scarf and she also had her parents bring him a new shirt and suit jacket, earning her a kiss. His old suit jacket was beginning to wear down and had a few moth holes in it. Christy most looked forward to Alice receiving her gift from Margaret and Neil, however. As time wore on, she began to wonder I they had decided not to tell her. At last Neil cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention as he stood and pulled Margaret up with him.

"Mother…I had something else to give you this morning, but I'm afraid we lost it in the fire," Margaret explained as she looked at Alice.

"Oh, that's quite alright. Just having thee here is enough," Alice smiled.

"We do have something for you, though, Alice. Something that we hope you will enjoy much more and for a long time to come. But it won't arrive until the summer."

Alice raised her eyebrows, watching both of them. Margaret and Neil smiled at each other, his arm secure around her waist.

"We're going to have a baby, Mother. You're going to be a grandmother," Margaret smiled, her hands clasped in front of her in anticipation.

Alice's hands immediately went to her lips and tears sprang into her eyes. "Oh, Margaret…"

Neil and Margaret grinned and Margaret moved toward her. She knelt in front of her mother.

"Mother, aren't you happy?"

"Happy? Oh Margaret, I…" Alice laughed, hugging Margaret to her. "My sweet daughter, I love thee so much. This is the best gift I have ever received."

"Oh, this is wonderful," Julia exclaimed. "Christy, your baby won't be much older. They'll grow up together."

Christy grinned brightly and looked up at Neil. He was watching Margaret with pride, happiness all over his face. David squeezed her hand and she turned her gaze to him to see him smiling down at her. She lifted her lips to his and kissed him, smiling the entire time. God had shown his endless presence and love in Cutter Gap once more. This was love.

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