Roxanna stepped out of the bathroom wearing the dress Henrik had bought for her, a wide smile on her lips as she twirled around in front of him, the skirt flaring out a little as she giggled with happiness. "This fits like a dream! Henrik, how…?"

"I had a little help from your father. I hope you don't mind that I asked him for advice."

"No, not at all. This is a little more conservative than what I normally wear, but I truly love it. You're amazing!" She ran over to his side and hugged him tightly, kissing him a few times before stepping back and glancing at her watch. "I suppose that we have to get going now, so that we're not late to the service. I'll read the directions if you want to drive. There was a bit of fresh snow in the night, and you've always been the better driver in those conditions."

He nodded sagely as they went over to the door and pulled their coats on. After Roxanna had picked up her purse, she took hold of his hand and they went outside together, the cold air nipping at their faces as they made their way to the car. Roxanna turned the volume on the radio down to a low level before pulling a small torch out of her purse and training it on the directions she had carefully written out.

Somehow, they made it to the church a little early, and Henrik parked in the middle of a group of cars, wanting to appear to blend in. Roxanna set aside the piece of paper before getting out of the car, and he followed suit, taking hold of her hand once more as they headed inside. The moment he was in the building, Henrik felt like he was out of place, but Roxanna seemed to fit right in as she smiled at the couple standing near the door, handing out folded pieces of paper.

"Good morning! I don't believe we've seen you here before."

"No, we're visiting for the Julotta service specifically. My partner is Swedish, and when I found out this tradition was still carried out here, I knew we had to experience it before he went home."

The woman nodded as she handed them the papers, which Henrik saw was an order of service, before guiding them over to the doors that led into the sanctuary. "Well, enjoy, and we are so pleased that you came this morning."

"Thank you," Henrik said lowly as he guided Roxanna inside, choosing a pew that was closer to the back of the sanctuary. He helped pull her coat off before shrugging out of his own, and smiled a little when she cuddled up close to him once he'd sat down. "May I see the order of service?"

She nodded before handing him one of the papers, and he glanced over it, noticing that one of the songs was listed in Swedish, to which he raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I hope you tried to learn a little Swedish, Roxy," he murmured as he tapped the line.

"Oh," she breathed out before looking up into his face. "You're going to have to sing the words loud enough to cover up my fumbling voice. Please?"

"Of course, don't worry. I wouldn't let you make a fool of yourself." She pursed her lips a little as she nodded before letting her head thump down on his chest. He could feel the yawn that left her body, and it was hard not to answer it with his own as he rubbed his hand up and down her arm. Quite a few people filled the sanctuary by the time the service began, and he was pleasantly surprised to hear just how many call backs there were to Sweden and the stories his mother had told when he was growing up. Even the singing was a pleasant surprise, feeling like a comfortable jumper wrapped around him. By the time they were given a candle, Henrik felt like this may have been the happiest Christmas he had had in such a long time.

"Merry Christmas," Roxanna murmured as the lights went off in the room, the flames of the candles lending a romantic, tender, air to everything. To his surprise, he found himself tearing up a little as someone began to play the opening to Silent Night on a guitar, and Roxanna must have known how emotional he was getting, since she transferred her candle to her left hand and grabbed hold of his, threading their fingers together as they sang out, their voices blending in sweet harmony. As the final notes hung in the air, the lights came back on, and he blew out his candle before turning to look at Roxanna. Silvery tear tracks ran down her cheeks, and he lowered his head until their foreheads touched.

"Thank you for this, my darling." His voice was thick with tears of his own, and she nodded a little before helping him to stand, taking hold of their candles so that he could get into his coat. "I'll take care of these, and then we can head home?"

"Yes." A few fresh tears rolled down her cheeks, and he fought the urge to brush them away, knowing they were in a strange place, and he didn't want to offend anyone. Instead, he fished his handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it over before weaving through the people milling around talking in the aisle, setting the candles on a table in the back before looking around for his partner.

A soft smile graced his lips to see that she had been stopped by an older woman, allowing her to hold onto her arm as she talked. Knowing that he couldn't be rude, he came up to their side, his arm easily falling into place around Roxanna's waist as he nodded to the older woman. "Are we almost ready?" he asked lowly, still smiling.

"Just about. Esther here was kind enough to ask if we had someplace to be for Christmas breakfast, said that she and her family always make more than enough. I told her that we have an hour-long drive ahead of us, but that I'd at least check with you before saying no."

A part of him truly did want to say no outright, but then he looked at Esther and Roxanna's faces. There was something there that he found he couldn't say no to, and so he adjusted his glasses a little and cleared his throat before answering. "I think that that is a lovely idea, Roxanna. This is our last Christmas in America, most likely, so why not spend it with new friends?"

The smile that spread across Roxanna's face told him that he had made the right choice, and Esther grinned at them as well before reaching out and patting his arm warmly. "I'll go tell my Nancy about our two guests, and then be right back. After all, someone has to lead you to our home."

He watched Esther scurry over to another woman, speaking to her lowly, as Roxanna took a few shuddery breaths. "Henrik Hanssen, never stop surprising me with that loving heart of yours." He nodded as Esther came up to them once more, and he gallantly took her arm as they went out to Roxanna's car.