Marissa answered the door to find Erica and Jackson on the doorstep.
"Merry Christmas!" they chorused.
"Merry Christmas." Marissa replied with a surprised laugh. "We weren't expecting you. Are you… well?"
"I'll be better for seeing my daughter and her girls." said Erica pushing her way through.
"She's in the parlour." Marissa called after her.
Jackson was still waiting at the door with a bag of presents in his hand.
"Forgive her." he said apologetically. "She talked about Bianca all morning… after all those weeks together in that cell…"
"…She's more protective than ever." finished Marissa. "I know how she feels."
"And how are you?" Jackson asked.
Marissa grinned gratefully.
"I'm… very happy." she said. "Thanks for asking… and think you for bringing Bianca home."
Jackson gave her a half-hug.
"You are very welcome."
…
Reese was putting away the last of the plates when there was a knock at the back door. Their neighbour Camilla walked in with a plate of cookies. A guy walked in behind her with Ayesha walking slowly ahead pushing a toy buggy with a teddy in it. It took her a moment to recognise the guy as Bianca's cousin Reggie.
"We came to wish everyone a Merry Christmas." explained Reggie.
"Not me!" exclaimed Ayesha.
"Oh yes and Ayesha wanted to show Gabby her Christmas presents… But you want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas too though?"
Ayesha pulled a face.
"'Guess so."
Reese laughed and Gabby's little playmate.
"Well Bianca and the kids are in parlour and Marissa just went to get the door. Go through, they'll be glad to see you."
"Thanks." said Reggie.
"And Merry Christmas." said Camilla giving Reese a grin as she followed her boyfriend through.
…
Bianca looked up in surprise as her mother entered. She had been busy reading Gabby one of her new story books. Miranda and AJ were busy with his new art set and were listening with only half an ear.
"Well that is the perfect picture." said Erica at the sight of her daughter curled up with her girls. "God is in heaven and all is right with the world."
"Well they are getting better." said Bianca. "Merry Christmas mom."
"Merry Christmas." chorused the kids too. Gabby wriggled off of her mom's lap to give her nana Erica a hug. Miranda only looked up briefly from her drawing to wave. Whatever she and AJ were doing was very important.
"Merry Christmas to you all." said Erica. She looked behind her. "Jackson should be following with the presents."
"I'm here, I'm here." called Jackson striding in holding up the gift bag. "And a found a few more packages in the hall."
He meant Reggie and his family who followed in with grins.
Gabby instantly let go of Erica and hurried over to her friend to admire her new toys.
"Well this is becoming a real family Christmas." said Bianca in surprise.
"Did you want to stay for dinner?" Marissa asked. She had followed Jackson and the other in. "We got a huge rib of beef in. The Chandlers will be joining us too for AJ and in thanks for our Thanksgiving invite, but there will be plenty to go round."
"I think that would be perfect." said Jackson. "Thank you."
Just then the doorbell rang.
"That should be them now." said Marissa, skipping back out into the hall.
…
Marissa had quite a shock when she opened the door to her mother and the whole Martin Clan standing on the doorstep in the snow and singing out 'We Wish you a Merry Christmas'.
Marissa gave her mother a hug and then noticed all the bags being carried by everyone.
"What's all this?" she asked.
"I was worried out you." said Krystal." So we decided to make life easier for you and Bianca and bring Christmas with us!"
"What?"
Tad walked up with a grin.
"We have it all; turkey; pie; puddings."
Marissa stood speechless for a moment.
"Well you had better come in then." she said, not sure what else to say. "We'll get that through to the kitchen."
"We can do it, we know the way." said Opal, pausing at the door to give Marissa a kiss. "You just relax and enjoy your family being back together."
"There's quite a few of us to enjoy it." she said her grin growing a little fixed.
Just as she was about to close the door she spotted Maggie trudging up the drive from her car.
"I hope that this isn't inconvenient." she said, hurrying up the steps to get out of the cold.
"Not at all! Reese, the kids and Bianca would love to see you." said Marissa. "But I must warn you it looks like it's going to be a full house."
Maggie skidded to a halt.
"Bianca?"
Marissa laughed, forgetting that not everyone knew of her girlfriend's miraculous survival.
"Bianca and Erica are home safe and sound; our own Christmas miracle."
Maggie gave Marissa a big delighted grin.
"She's in the parlour." Marissa added pointing the way.
Marissa was just about to shut the door and keep out the cold when she spotted three more cars pulling into the drive… Who was it now?
She recognised Kendal's car and waved as her friend parked. She then identified Ryan driving the second car, and was that Cara in the back with the baby? Finally Jesse got out of the third car, followed by Frankie and Randi, he was clearly here for her mom.
But it left her wondering if there was anyone in Pine Valley who wasn't coming to her house for Christmas?
…
Adam stood nervously on the door step adjusting his tie again. Brooke patted his back.
"You look fine."
"It's good to see you get into the Christmas Spirit." said Stuart. He had come dressed in a full Santa suit, right down to the beard.
"What's taking so long?" wondered Scott as he rang the doorbell again. It was cold out and he was worried out Holly getting a chill. Scott had shared the news of Erica and Bianca's rescue with the family and they had arrived a little later at the Montgomery-Tasker house than planned in order to give the family a good Christmas morning.
They were surprised when it was Tad Martin who opened the door.
"Merry Christmas." he boomed, a glass of beer in his hand. "Come in, we're all in the parlour. How are you at playing charades?"
…