Miranda walked to the top of the stairs. From up there she could hear the noise of family. It was a nice noise, she thought, especially for Spencer who was habitually alone when his family was back in Greece. Usually she enjoyed visiting with Nadine, Spencer's step-mother or just being with his lovely sisters.

But today it reminded her of what she'd lost. When she saw Nadine with her daughters, Miranda couldn't help but think that if she had had a girl, she'd want their relationship to be like that: easy, loving, fun. It was the same way with Spencer and Nickolas. If their baby had been a boy, she would hope that Spencer and his son would have a relationship like he did with his own father.

She shook her head, pushing the thoughts from it. It was Christmas Eve, she thought, and here she was, gloom settled around. By tactic agreement, she and Spencer had decided that it was unnecessary to discuss their loss with his family. It wasn't as if they'd known about the baby before it was too late. There was no point bringing that sad news to the table on Christmas.

Still, Miranda couldn't get it out of her head. She took a deep breath, started down the stairs. She knew that the girls would be going to bed soon and would do their Christmas rituals. She didn't want to miss those.

When she stopped at the bottom of the stairs, Spencer walked out to greet her. He moved up to her, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. She was struggling not to cry. She didn't know how he could be so calm about everything.

He frowned, pulling back to study her face. "You need to shut down for a few hours," he decided. He could all but see the wheels turning in her head. She was running on fumes, he thought. He'd noted that she'd barely touched her food at dinner or at any other meal in the last few days.

She smiled, snuggling closer to him as they walked toward the happy laughter. "I'm fine, Spence. I am a little tired, but soon we'll all be going to bed." She leaned up, kissed him hard and long. "I love you Spencer."

"I love you too, Miranda."

They walked into the living room. In the far corner, a giant evergreen tree stood regally, decked out in traditional Cassadine Christmas finery. The mantle above the fireplace was laid in evergreens and red berries. It was, Miranda thought, one of the best decorated houses, she'd ever spent the holidays in.

Nickolas sat in front of the blazing fireplace sipping brandy. It was his weakness, Miranda knew. Something he only partook in on nights like this one where outside their windows, snow and winds blew. Nadine sat on the arm of her husband's chair, watching her daughters agonize over their decision of the one gift they were allowed to open on Christmas Eve.

"Girls, you need to make your choice. Or it will be too late and Santa will just fly right past."

Laura frowned and lifted her head to face her mother. "Mom! We're too old to believe in Santa Clause. We're not six anymore."

"Now you tell me that Santa's not real?" Spencer moaned for effect. "Laura, you just ruined every Christmas from now on." Laura stuck her tongue out at her big brother.

Miranda smiled and slipped out of Spencer's arm. She moved to sit beside the girls on the floor beneath the tree. "It's a hard choice, isn't it?"

"There are so many things to consider," Natasha mused, studying two brightly wrapped boxes. "Do you want to open a box which could hold anything from clothes to books? Or would you rather open an odd-shaped gift that could be a game or something particular?" She set one of the boxes back under the tree, rose and walked to the couch. "I chose the square box."

Miranda turned to Laura. "What about you?"

Laura glanced back at her sister who was calmly waiting on the couch before she closed her eyes and plucked a gift at random. "That," she decided, "shows that sometimes consideration takes too much of the fun out of it."

Nadine laughed quietly even as Nickolas snickered behind his brandy. Spencer grinned and leaned down, pulling Miranda to her feet.

Being the youngest had its advantages, Miranda thought, as Laura opened her gift before her sister. Laura's eyes widened when she found that her gift contained a brand-new digital camera. She was a budding photographer and it was the perfect gift. She looked up at her, smiled. "It's perfect."

Natasha calmly removed the tape off her gift until she could take off the paper in one piece. When she opened it to reveal a new cashmere sweater, she held it up to her face. "Thanks," she said to her parents. "I love it."

"It's from Milan," Nadine supplied. "I saw it and knew that you'd love it."

"The color suits you, Tasha," Miranda replied. Just then the clock in the other room clanged ten o'clock. Nickolas stood, motioned to his daughters. "Bedtime. Tomorrow will be a busy day."

Laura groaned for effect, but stood and moved to kiss her parents and Spencer and Miranda. "Good night!" She called, before disappearing around the corner where they could hear her pounding up the stairs.

Natasha rose as well, hugging her sweater. She bid her parents goodnight. Just as she was about to walk out of the room, Spencer caught her in a hug. "I love you, Tasha," he said quietly so only that she could here.

She smiled, placed a kiss on Miranda's cheek before following her sister up the stairs, albeit more softly.

Nadine yawned and stretched out to take her husband's hand. "I'm tired. Take me up?"

"Definitely," Nickolas said, tugging her closer. He turned to his son as he and his wife prepared to make their way upstairs. "You'll bank the fire?"

Spencer nodded, moved to kiss his mother's cheek. "Happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas. To the both of you," Nadine replied, caught Miranda's hand in her free one. "It's a time to reflect on what has happened and on how to make it better." She tugged her husband out of the room and whispering could be heard as they walked toward their bedroom.

Spencer turned to Miranda, pulled her close. "She's right, you know."

"I know," Miranda replied, placing a kiss on his cheek. She too pulled him toward the stairs. "It's been so long since we've been together—really together. Please Spence, heal me."

Saying nothing, Spencer gripped her closer, taking her mouth into his. She closed her eyes, letting him take her. Letting him heal her. Together, they pulled each other up the stairs and turned toward the west wing to their own bedroom.

This was the most important part of healing, Miranda thought: trust.

GH*GH*GH*GH*HG

Georgie opened one eye. She was nestled in Dillon's arms, having spent the entire night with him. It was out of her natural milieu, she thought, lazily tracing a finger down his arm. She didn't usually stay the night when offered.

But being with Dillon was different.

There was no pressure, no assumptions, nothing that made it difficult. Perhaps it was their age, their experience that made the relationship so easy. Whatever it was, Georgie thought again, it wasn't worth her time in figuring it out. She wanted to just enjoy it.

Dillon shifted to look at her face. "You're thinking again."

She smiled. He'd done his best to distract her from any solid thoughts all night long. "I'm just thinking that it's Christmas Morning and Alex is probably up and waiting for us to come down."

"So maybe we should go down," Dillon replied, shifting so that he pulled her on him. "In a few minutes."

She laughed as they rolled together. And was still laughing when he slipped inside her.

* * * * *

Alex crept into the living room. It was quiet. The only sound was her stocking feet moving quickly across the carpet. The Christmas tree stood in the corner of the room, brightly lit in a swath of colors and decorated in heirlooms.

It was times like these that made Alex proud to be a Quartermaine.

The idea that she had this heritage, this legacy, however blighted, to live up to made her feel like she belonged somewhere. All her life, she'd grown up between her parents. In Llanview, she knew that she was loved but still felt as though her existence was forced.

And now that she was living with her father, she felt that she really belonged somewhere.

Smiling now, Alex curled herself into one of the big armchairs. She glanced skyward, thinking that her father and Georgie were probably together. She believed that her father was happy with Georgie. It was better that way, she thought, to have her father actually be happy with something. And she wouldn't mind having Georgie as a step-mother someday in the near future.

There was too much sadness in life that it made the happiness seemed even more special. Alex had always told herself that she would try to get along with whomever her father dated or married. But it helped a lot that she actually enjoyed Georgie. She was fun to be around and so very knowledgeable about a variety of things.

A noise in the foyer startled her and she rose from the chair to investigate. As she moved into the foyer, Dillon and Georgie were making their way down the stairs.

"Good morning," she called happily. "I'll go have Cook make some coffee."

Dillon glanced at Georgie as they moved into the living room. "You were right. She was already up."

Georgie smiled wisely. "You forget that I had a daughter once." Despite her smile, her eyes were cloudy. She frowned now, wiping furiously at her eyes. "Damn it. I told myself I wouldn't cry."

Dillon stopped walking, pulled her into his arms. "It's okay." He tipped up her head. "It's hard at times like this. Family times."

"Yeah, but I've already spent so many times like that without them that the crying is few and far between. Being with you and Alex reminded me of what I don't have."

"You're wrong." A voice from the doorway made them both break apart and turn.

Alex walked into the room, pushing a little teacart with coffee and Cook's famous holiday monkey bread. She stopped in front of the fireplace, busied herself with pouring and serving the fragrant brew. "You do have family time," she began quietly. "I hope that being with my dad and I will help you believe that you aren't so alone anymore."

Georgie cocked her head, wondered briefly how such a young and beautiful girl could be so wise. She moved away from Dillon to capture Alex's hands in hers. "Thank you, sweetheart. For saying something like that. Because I'm beginning to realize that very same thing." She turned back to Dillon, laid a hand on his face and kissed him hard. "Thank you. Now what do you say? Should we open some presents?"

Alex cheered as she passed her father a cup of coffee. When they were seated in front of the tree, opening gifts, she smiled again.

She may have been lucky to come from the Quartermaine legacy, but she knew building a family as this one took work.

And she was more than ready to contribute a nudge or two to make certain that her father and Georgie became her family.

GH*GH*GH*GH*GH

"Mom!"

The call was punctuated by the pounding of stocking feet over the hardwood floors. Maxie groaned, turned to tug the pillow over her head. "Five more minutes. Please?"

Their bedroom door was shoved open and the sound grew closer to the bed. "Dad?" The voice had dropped to a whisper.

Spinelli turned to wink at his wife before glancing at the glowing face of his youngest daughter. "Jamie. It's only seven in the morning. Could we wait another hour?"

Jamie's face fell. "But it's Christmas. Christmas Morning. And I think that Santa came." She tugged on his arm. "Please wake up. If we open presents now, then you guys can nap later."

Spinelli eyed his closed-eyed wife. "See that? See how considerate our daughter is?"

"She's a jewel," Maxie mumbled, wincing when her husband pinched her thigh. "Please…I just want to sleep."

"Your daughter is waiting."

"Right now she's your daughter. If she were my daughter, she would let me sleep."

"I'm still here!" Jamie said loudly. And had Maxie covering her eyes with her pillow.

Spinelli chuckled, reached out to pat Jamie's head. "I'll tell you what? Go downstairs, get your sister, and pick the first present to open. Your mother and I will be down in five minutes."

Jamie cocked her head skeptically. "Promise?"

"Promise," Spinelli answered confidently.

Jamie flashed him a grin and raced out of the room at a dead run. They could hear her calling for Fiona. Spinelli rolled over, tugged the pillow from his wife's face. He captured her mouth in his, giving her a quick taste.

She rolled the other direction, pushed her hands against his chest. "Oh no you don't. This is what kept me from sleeping last night. We are not starting anything this morning."

He laughed out loud, pulling her in for one last kiss. "Don't worry. I promised that we'd be down in five minutes. And it's going to take more than that to accomplish what I had in mind." He rolled out of bed, pushing the covers back as his feet hit the floor. "Makes you look forward to tonight, doesn't it?"

She flipped him a saucy grin and rose from the bed. Grabbing her robe off the floor where he'd tossed it the night before, she slipped it on and walked to the door. "Ready?

He smiled, grabbing her hand as they walked down the stairs. "Always."

* * * * *

Maxie picked up another piece of wrapping paper and tossed it in the garbage bag. It always amazed her that it took an entire month to prepare for the holidays and only an hour to be done with it. She smiled when she thought of how excited her girls had been when they'd finished opening gifts.

Even Fiona had smiles on her face.

Maxie knew that she should be grateful for Georgie's intervention. Ever since Fiona had talked to Georgie, there had been a definite change. Like she'd told her sister, Maxie understood how short life was. But maybe after all these years, she'd forgotten how it easy it was to lose those chances.

She bent down, drew up a piece of ribbon, and smiled when her gaze fell to the diamond tennis bracelet that had been Spinelli's gift to her. Rising, she tossed the ribbon scrap in the bag and nodded, satisfied that her work was done.

"You live your gift?"

Maxie whirled around at the sound of her husband's voice. Then she smiled. "Yes, it's beautiful. Thank you."

"And I thank you for mine as well. The book of poetry was nice."

She smiled, moved closer to him. He caught her in a hug, lowering his mouth to hers. "I love you. I love that you remembered the poetry from all those years ago" he whispered.

She smiled, resting her forehead against his. "You know, back then I thought that the idea of courtly love was ridiculous and a little silly. But now, I'm pretty glad that I let you convince me of it."

Spinelli pulled her away so that he could see her smile. "It worked. And that makes your gift of poetry that much more special."

"No more special then jewelry," Maxie mused, lifting her hand to watch the bracelet catch on the lights. It twinkled much like their Christmas tree.

Spinelli shook his head. "It's the same, but a different kind of special. Different people, different meanings."

Maxie frowned, cocked her head. "Now you make me sound shallow."

Spinelli laughed, gave her a smacking kiss and a pat on the butt. "I believe that you dug yourself into that hole. And I've heard you call yourself shallow before."

Maxie rolled her eyes just as she heard voices rise in the kitchen. "Be that as it may, I don't like the idea of my husband of so many years calling me shallow. And on that note, we'd better get on with breakfast. I think that Georgie should be coming home soon." She walked into the kitchen, still gripping her husband's hands.

Jamie stood by the table, attempting to pour orange juice into the glasses. Fiona was at the stove, checking on the cinnamon rolls in the oven.

"Are you worried about her?" Spinelli asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

Maxie turned away from the oven where she'd lifted out the steaming rolls. "Not in the slightest. I know that Dillon would never do anything that could hurt her. And she's getting past her loss to move on. I'm so happy for her."

Spinelli nodded, watching his wife. He knew that she was telling the truth. Maxie had complete faith in the fact that Georgie belonged with Dillon Quartermaine. He sat down in his chair, waited until the rest of his family had taken theirs.

Maxie smiled at her husband as they said prayers and dished out the food. She knew that no matter what sort of issues they went through as a family, they were still a family. It was important to remember that, and it was the holidays that served as a reminder. In looking back at the last year, of all they'd lost and gained, she learned to cherish was you have and to move on from what you lost.

All in all, it was definitely a Christmas to remember.

GH*GH*GH*GH*GH

So here's the last Christmas chapter. I hope that it lived up to your expectations. I like the family interaction where simple things are discussed and there's not too much drama. I think that those scenes are just as important as the more dramatic, emotion-driven ones. Please stay tuned for Mattie and Morgan's wedding. I hope to have the first chapter of that up tomorrow evening at the very latest. I will have two chapters of the wedding and two chapters of an epilogue. As always, thanks for reading and enjoy!