Author's Note: I'm so glad to see that some of my former readers have returned. Again I apologize for the extremely long delay on updating this story. But thank you so much for coming back after so long. Special shoutout to Ghostwriter and brankel1 for your reviews on the last couple chapters! It really does mean a lot to me to see you two return!

So with this chapter you guys get Christmas in June! Yay! Cause everyone needs a little Christmas joy in the middle of summer! Enjoy!

Chapter 46

"Kevin!" Lilly exclaimed as she rushed across the crowded airport lobby. Kevin grinned and scooped up the little girl and spun her around in a circle.

"That's Uncle Kevin to you little Missy." Kevin laughed.

"Right." Lilly's grin widened even more. "Uncle Kevin! I'm so glad to see you!"

"I'm glad to see you too, Lil. How was your flight?"

"Long." Lilly sighed over dramatically.

"Don't believe her, she enjoyed every second of being on the plane." Jason chuckled as he and Kat approached Kevin and Lilly. Kevin extended his hand out toward him, which Jason took immediately, Lilly was balanced on his hip with her small arms wrapped protectively around his neck.

"Glad you see you make it alright. It's about bloody time you arrived, I've been here all stinkin' day."

"Not like we could help that. It was a long flight." Kat protested as she rubbed the back of her neck. "And not the easiest seats to grab some shut eye in."

"Oh, I know what you mean, Fred." Kevin nodded. "Mum said she'd fix you all some breakfast when you got in, and I'm sure that you guys might want to grab a few winks too."

"That sounds like a great idea." Jason nodded. "It's well past bedtime back home."

"It'll take a couple days, but you'll eventually adjust." Kat laid a hand on Jason's shoulder, offering him a sympathetic smile.

They soon found their luggage and headed off toward Kevin's suburban. Jason and Kat decided to snuggle in the back, letting Lilly sit up front with her buddy.

"You're car is funny." Lilly commented as Kevin opened the "wrong" door for her.

"How so?" Kevin asked as he helped her buckle up.

"The wheel is on the wrong side."

"It's just how we do it down under, Lil." Kevin laughed.

"Do you think Santa Claus will find me here?" Lilly looked over her shoulder at her Dad as they drove down the road.

"Of course Lilly-pad." Jason nodded softly. Kat sat beside him, with her head on his shoulder softly dozing.

"Looks like Kat was the tired one." Lilly grinned. "I lasted longer than her!"

"That you did, Lil." Kevin laughed. "Poor Fred, she was never good with time changes."

"Her name isn't Fred." Lilly raised an eyebrow.

"It's what I've always called her." Kevin replied.

"She sure has a lot of nicknames." Lilly laughed.

"Have you ever seen a kangaroo, Lil?" Kevin asked.

"Just on TV and the pictures that Kat showed me."

"How would you like to go feed a joey with me tomorrow? Well, with your Dad's permission that is."

"I don't see any harm in it. I'm sure Lilly would like it." Jason nodded.

"Why'd you name the kangaroo 'Joey'? I could think of a lot better names than that." Lilly commented, her face and tone both deadly serious.

"The kangaroo's name isn't 'Joey', Lil." Kevin chuckled. "A baby kangaroo is called a joey. I have a friend that works at a kangaroo sanctuary. There's a few orphaned joeys there that need to be bottle fed. Robbie already said I could bring you out if you wanted to help."

"I'd get to feed a baby?" Lilly's dark eyes lit up. "Of course I want to help!"

"We'll go tomorrow after lunch." Kevin nodded.

"Oh look at the koala!" Lilly pointed out the window at a koala sitting in the tree as they drove by. "I learned in school that they may look like a bear, and we call them koala bears, they aren't actually a bear. They're called a mar... marsipiple."

"Marsupial." Jason corrected.

"That's what I said." Lilly retorted as she shot her father a 'duh' look over her shoulder.

"Whatever you say, Lilly-pad." Jason nodded with a smile.

"Home sweet home." Kevin announced as he pulled into a long driveway.

"Kat, we're here." Jason said softly.

"Hmm, did I fall asleep?" Kat muttered as she rubbed at her eyes.

"Yeah, but it's not a big deal." Lilly replied for her father.

"Mum thought you guys could use some privacy, so you're getting the pool house." Kevin commented as he climbed out of the vehicle.

"That's great, but what about Todd and Katie? Don't they want some privacy too?"

"Sure they do, but do you think Mum is going to let them hide away with baby Jack all day? She gets to see John's kid all the time, but how often is Todd here?"

"There's a baby here?" Lilly pipped up.

"There's two actually." Kat smiled. "Jack is my brother Todd's little boy. He's almost eight months old. And my brother John has his little boy, Andrew. He's four months old."

"Do you think they'll let me help with the babies?"

"I'm sure they'll have no problem letting you do something." Kat nodded.

"Mum wants a picture of all the grandchildren while they're all here. Be prepared for lots and lots of pictures." Kevin chuckled.

"They want pictures of me?" Lilly questioned.

"Of course, Lil." Kevin grinned. "Kat's going to be your step-mom, so you're officially family now. Just as I'm your uncle."

"I get a whole family?"

"Yes, you do." Jason nodded.

"Wow! This is going to be the best Christmas ever!"

"I'm sure it will, Lil." Kat smiled.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Look at the view from here!" Lilly gasped as she looked out the window of the livingroom. The pool house overlooked the beach and crashing waves of the ocean.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Kat sighed as she joined her soon-to-be step-daughter. The small family had settled into the pool house and gotten a nap, trying to adjust themselves to the new time.

"Did you grow up here?"

"Yes I did." Kat nodded. "I'm very glad that my parents didn't sell this place when we moved to Angel Grove."

"Me too, or else I wouldn't be here right now."

"Very perceptive of you." Kat grinned.

"There's people surfing." Lilly pointed toward the open water, just there was a firm knock at the door.

"Of course. It is summertime here." Jason added as he went to answer the door.

"Ah, you guys are up." Kevin said with a grin.

"Can we go surfing Daddy?"

"You should get Fred to teach ya." Kevin laughed from the doorway.

"You can surf?" Lilly looked up at Kat with expectant eyes.

"Sure she can, she was a champion surfer back in the day. I'm not bad on a board myself." Kevin grinned.

"But you didn't go surfing with me and Daddy this summer." Lilly said to Kat.

"I was still in pretty bad shape this last summer, Lilly. I didn't want to push myself too much."

"Can we go surfing later, please?" Lilly batted her long lashes at Kat, as she clasped her hands under her chin.

"I haven't been surfing in... almost fourteen years." Kat replied.

"Come on Snowflake, it's like riding a bike." Jason chided.

"Alright, we can go later." Kat agreed.

"It'll have to wait until after dinner." Kevin cut in. "I've been sent to fetch you. Mum said the food will be ready soon."

"Just the family, right?" Kat raised an eyebrow.

"Just us." Kevin nodded. Jason raised an eyebrow as relief flooded Kat's face.

"Expecting someone else?"

"You never know with Mum." Kat forced a laugh. "The last time I made it home, Mum practically threw a grand ball. All the the neighbors and Dad's co-workers..."

"But it's the first time all four of us have been home together since before you guys moved to America." Kevin interrupted her.

"Well, that's true." Kat nodded.

"Which means this Christmas, Mum wants to keep all of us just for herself." Kevin said. "Well, lets go eat. The sooner we eat, the sooner we can hit the waves"

"Is that all you're going to do on your vacation, you beach bum?" Kat laughed as they left the small house.

"No, I'm taking Lil to feed the joeys tomorrow, remember?"

"You're gonna steal my daughter the whole time we're here, aren't you?" Jason chuckled.

"I'm okay with that." Lilly chimed in.

"Well, so long as Lil is okay with it." Kevin grinned. "I hope you don't mind Jason."

"No, it's all good." Jason shrugged. "I'm just glad that you and Lilly get along so well."

"She's a good kid." Kevin said as he ruffled Lilly's long hair. Lilly raised an eyebrow and proceeded to smooth her hands over her now messed up hair. Kevin chuckled.

"You're a natural with her." Jason commented.

"It's just a 'Hillard' thing." Kevin winked at his little sister.

"Can we hurry up before John eats up our share of dinner." Kat cut in, giving her brother a playful shove and tugging on Jason's arm trying to pull him up the pathway toward the main house.

Kat suddenly let go of Jason and rushed over to Lilly. Jason watched as Kat leaned down and whispered something to Lilly before wandering away off the pathway. Jason narrowed his eyes and Lilly took hold of Kevin's hand with grin and pulled him along behind her.

Katherine was up to something, and she was using Lilly in her cunning little plan. The only question was, who was the victim in this plot? Kevin or himself?

Jason felt a weight on his back throwing him off balance and to his dropping him to his knees. "Now!" Kat cried. Lilly and Kevin rushed over with a bucket, pouring a white heavy liquid over him just as Kat jumped off his back. It appeared that he was the victim.

He wiped at his face, trying to clear his vision. Kat, Kevin, and Lilly were rolling on the ground laughing. "Glad you all find this so funny." Jason grumbled. "You're evil, Kat! Evil I tell you!"

"Hey, I let Lilly pick who we were going to prank. She chose you." Kat managed to say in between fits of laughter.

"You're supposed to be on my side, Lilly!" Jason mock-glared at his little girl, the corners of his mouth betraying him as they pulled up into a small smile. Lilly only grinned back at him. "What is this stuff anyway?"

"Heather's paper mache mix. She made a pinata earlier for Christmas." Kevin explained. "You better grab a shower before dinner. And don't worry, it's all natural."

"How did you know that it was even outside here?" Jason raised an eyebrow toward Kat.

"I saw the pinata hanging in the tree to dry earlier and I knew Heather would have left her materials out until later just in case she needed to do some more work on it."

"Oh my heavens!" Sophia cried as she walked out the backdoor. "You're making a mess of my future son-in-law! Oh, Jason, I'm so sorry."

"It's quite alright." Jason shook his head. "It seems Lilly and Kat are in a playful mood."

"This was your idea, Katherine?" Sophia raised an eyebrow toward her only daughter before a broad grin covered her face. "My dear, you're losing your touch."

"Wait! Don't tell me Kat was a prankster growing up!" Jason gawked. "Sweet, sophisticated Katherine Hillard?"

"My dear, she's the only girl in a family of boys. She had to be a level above to keep from the being the center of every prank." Sophia grinned proudly. "Lets get you cleaned up. Katherine, be a dear and run back to the pool house to get Jason something clean."

"Of course." Kat nodded and dashed back toward the pool house. Jason watched her go with a smile. He shouldn't have been surprised that Kat grew up a prankster, she did absolutely love to tease him, and joke. Plus she was always stealing his wallet from him. It wasn't a hard stretch of the imagination to see her setting traps for her brothers when they were little.

Definitely a good vacation. Jason thought to himself as he let Sophia guide him into the house and to the bathroom to get cleaned up.

XXXXXXXXXX

It was the most precious site he had ever seen, and warmed his heart like nothing else. His baby girl was laying in the bed facing him with her back pressed against his soon-to-be wife. Kat's arms wrapped protectively around the small girl.

Jason smiled to himself as he watched his girls sleeping in the giant bed together. He hadn't even heard Lilly come into the room, which means she had gone straight for Kat.

"Good morning." Kat whispered as she slowly woke up.

"Morning to you too." Jason replied. "When did she come in?"

"About three. She came to my side and asked to crawl in. I couldn't say no."

"It's probably being in a strange place." Jason shrugged. "Think we should wake her?"

"I'm sure Santa was here last night." Kat softly nodded.

"How many extras are there?"

"I'm sure Santa had at least two, maybe three helpers last night." Kat giggled. Her parents and Kevin had brought extra gifts from Santa out to the pool house were Jason, Kat, and Lilly were staying.

"She's gonna be spoiled."

"As if she isn't already?"

"Okay, even more spoiled." Jason laughed. He gently brushed Lilly's dark blonde hair out of her face. "Lilly-pad, time to wake up."

"I don't wanna." Lilly muttered and snuggled further back against Kat.

"But Santa was here last night." Jason argued.

"Santa!" Lilly exclaimed as she sat straight up in bed, barely missing knocking heads with her Dad. "Do you think he found me all the way over here in Australia?"

"I'm sure of it." Jason nodded.

"We did leave him that note on our tree back home." Kat commented.

"I'm gonna go see!" Lilly bound off the bed and ran down the hall to the livingroom where the small tree was set up. "Oh my gosh!"

"Shall we go see what's caught her attention?" Kat asked as she sat up.

"I think we shall." Jason nodded as he climbed out of the bed. He headed straight for the door, not bothering to cover his bare chest. Kat, on the other hand, took the time to slip on her silk robe before following behind.

Jason stood leaning against the wall in the hallway, watching Lilly dash from present to present around the tree. Kat walked up behind him, wrapping her arms under his and placing her hands on his shoulders before placing a kiss on his shoulder blade.

"She did get a lot of stuff." Kat muttered against his skin.

"That she did." Jason agreed. "Remind me to thank your family."

"Look, Kat! Santa brought something for you!" Lilly exclaimed as she dashed over to Kat with a small silver package.

"Oh, thank you Lilly." Kat smiled as she released Jason and took the present form the eager child.

"Don't thank me, thank Santa." Lilly giggled and quickly dashed off again.

"Wonder which Santa this could be from." Kat's eyes twinkled as she glanced at Jason.

"Don't ask me." Jason grinned. Kat gingerly tore the wrapping away, revealing a long, slender jewelry box. She snapped open the lid and gasped. It was a delicate diamond choker made of interlocking snowflakes with diamonds at each point and center. The middle of the choker was a teardrop shaped diamond that seemed to fall from the snowflake above it.

"Oh Jason." Kat looked up at him. "It's beautiful."

"Hey, as Lilly said, thank Santa."

"I will." Kat grinned.

"I was hoping I could convince you to wear this at the wedding." Jason said softly.

"It would be my pleasure." Kat nodded and leaned back against him. Jason wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder as they watched Lilly sort the gifts.

"There's earrings too, somewhere in that mess of gifts."

"Way to ruin a surprise, Jase." Kat teased.

"Something for you Daddy!" Lilly rushed over with another gift.

"Thank you baby."

"You both have more presents, but I brought you the smallest ones so they didn't get lost."

"You're so thoughtful." Kat complimented.

"Hey! There's more!" Lilly exclaimed and dashed to the other side of the tree.

"Your daughter." Kat giggled. "Sure she's not Rocky's kid?"

Jason shot her a mock-glare. "Not even funny."

"Come on, she's so hyper." Kat waved a hand at the little girl who had yet to sit down.

"It's Christmas." Jason deadpanned.

"You going to open that or not." Kat gestured to the red wrapped present in his hand.

"Sure." Jason nodded. He quickly tore off the wrapping with much less care than Kat had down hers, and blinked at the small plastic toy inside the case. He looked over at Kat who was grinning from ear to ear.

"Santa got you a toy?" Lilly paused in her present sorting to rush over to her Dad. She took the box from him to see what he had gotten. "He got you a power ranger toy?" Lilly had the same raised eyebrow tone that her father used often.

"Not just any power ranger." Kat knelt down to Lilly. "That's the first red ranger ever. He's the one that started it all."

"That's cool." Lilly nodded and handed the toy back to her Dad.

"Your Dad is a big fan of his, Lilly." Kat smiled. "That red ranger saved Angel Grove, and the world, more times than anyone can count."

"Did he ever save you?" Lilly looked up at her Dad.

"Everyday, Lilly-pad." Jason nodded as he stared at the figure in his hands again.

"Cool." Lilly repeated. "Do you know who my favorite is?"

"The pink zeo ranger?" Jason asked remembering the hours he spent searching for that costume.

"Well, she's the best girl ranger." Lilly nodded. Kat internally beamed. "But the coolest ranger of all times, is the white ranger."

"The white..." Jason was flabbergasted. "He's the best?"

"Of course." Lilly nodded. "The white knight!"

"He... you... Oh come on Lilly! He's not even one of the originals."

"Still the coolest." Lilly shrugged and dashed off again.

Kat nearly doubled over with laughter at the look of both shock and disgust on Jason's face. "Don't you so much as breath a word of this to Tommy. Do you hear me?"

"Oh, of course." Kat laughed as she stood up. "I'm going to get dressed and then we can open more presents."

"Sure." Jason nodded. Kat slipped past him and rushed to the bedroom. Jason's eyes grew wide after a bit, as he remembered that both their cell phones were in the bedroom. "Kat!"

"Too late!" Kat called back. "It's ringing."

"Sometimes I wonder if you're with me or against me." Jason groaned.

"Depends on the day." Kat stuck out her tongue, just as Tommy came on the other end. "Merry Christmas Dr. Oliver!..."

Jason groaned and turned on his heel. Tommy would never let him live this down.