It was a silent night. The fire was crackling, putting off a good deal of warmth on the very cold, Christmas Eve night. The lights were off, and the snow outside was casting a glow even through the windows.

"Someone's in the house," Lisa hissed, and Jack tried to move as quickly as possible, quite disheveled.

"You're weapon is the tv remote?" Lisa hissed again, trying to move around herself, panic settling in on her face. He looked at her, with a blank stare, without another option available.

"Jack, Lisa, anyone home?" Both felt their blood pressure drop drastically, as Tim flipped on the light, and Jack, facing the kitchen where Tim had just turned on the light, gestured like he was going to throw the remote.

"It's not even 9:00," Tim gestured to him. "Why is it so dark in here, and why do you look such a mess?"

"Tim!" Jack bellowed, "What are you doing here? It's Christmas Eve, and you were supposed to be up in Moosejaw." Jack tried to smooth out his shirt, while Tim shrugged.

"I came home," he shrugged like it was no big deal. "Tell you what," he gestured to the fire, "really glad you have a fire going. My hands are freezing. Wind is whipping out there."

"Stay right there," Jack held up a hand and shook his head. "No fire."

"What's going on-" Tim paused and looked over to the bedroom door, which was shut. Tim bent over starting to laugh, "Oh, man, what did you do to get banished to the couch, Christmas Eve no less? No wonder you look like you do," he pointed at him again. "The only time I really remember not seeing you completely put together, shirt tucked in and all is when you were trying to die on us and then recovering here at home. What happened?"

"Just go, Tim," Jack pointed again. "Here's a novel idea-to your own place. Why are you here?"

"Come on," Tim sighed. "I had a really long drive. I know my house will be cold because the heat is set low. I have no food there, and it's Christmas Eve. This was closer too. I'm not leaving here until you tell me what you did to get the cold shoulder."

"Tim! Oh my goodness! Get a clue," Lisa yelled from where she was clearly not visible on the couch. Jack closed his eyes and dropped his head, opening them to see her looking up at him extremely irritated their nice evening had been interrupted. She had her hand to her head looking like Tim had already given her a headache with his interruption.

"Oh, Lisa's there," Tim said, starting to giggle as he was almost bent over in laughter, realizing he'd interrupted their evening. "Gee Jack," he said with a smirk and a smile, "A very Merry Christmas. I'll get out of your hair, but can I stay here?"

"Go to the barn, Tim!" Lisa yelled. "It was good enough over 2,000 years ago this night. Sleep there."

Jack looked to Lisa, and he tried not to burst out laughing. She rolled her eyes at him and sat up, still appropriate, but looking as tousled as Jack. She tried to smooth her hair, but Tim just waved his hand at them and started for the door.

"Perfect, Amy's room in the barn. Great idea, Lisa, oh," he turned and grinned at them, "I'll make sure to eat breakfast there too, you know."

"Tim!" Jack sighed and pointed out of the house. "I'm really wondering why I didn't lock the door for the night."

"Cause you know I have a key anyway," Tim said as he left. Jack stood there, clearly irritated, and he focused on that, looking to Lisa.

"How does he have a key?" Jack asked, looking to Lisa again. She rolled her eyes and smacked her head back against the couch.

"Why he thinks he lives here, I'll never know," Lisa glared toward Jack. "Make sure we never let him know Fairfield is just sitting there or he'll probably try squatting there or something."

Jack, still standing there, sighed and finally looked at her with a shake of his head and a chuckle, "Sorry."

Lisa rolled her eyes and frowned, looking to him, "Just make sure this," she gestured her hand in a circle at them, "isn't brought up as one of Tim's funniest moments at the dinner table."

Jack's face turned red, but he narrowed his eyes at Lisa, "I can assure you, Tim will be made very clear my feelings on that." He walked toward the kitchen to actually lock up for the night and turn off the lights once again. When he returned, he gestured to the fire, "Do you want me to put another log on?"

She scrunched up her face, "No, just let that die out. I have to be honest," she said with a low chuckle, "my back is killing me."

"Oh," he groaned, "thank you because so is mine." He held his hand to her to pull her up. "Let's put this day to rest and enjoy our quiet Christmas tomorrow."

Lisa stood and pursed her lips at Jack, "You're forgetting your favorite son-in-law."

"Oh," he nodded to Lisa, as he leaned in to kiss her cheek and neck, "the animals don't go hungry just because it's Christmas. I'll keep Tim well occupied, and if he doesn't like it, he'll just go to his own home. Come on," he nodded, "hopefully, John is asleep for the night. He's been sleeping longer and longer, which has been a welcome change."

"Just his Christmas present," she grinned, with a wink. "You're not the only one who can talk to him about his behavior."

John kept to his early morning wake-up routine on Christmas, but Lisa was quick enough to grab him before it awakened Jack. She closed the bedroom door, hoping Jack would sleep longer, and she started to make her homemade cinnamon rolls. They didn't have any grand plans for the day, and she was very excited about that. She'd been in France for a few Christmases, and thinking back, she'd been really lonely for them. She'd spent a couple coming over to Heartland several years ago, but with things strained with Jack on and off again the last couple of years, she'd headed to France. Thinking about that now, she was really happy being here at the ranch, with Jack, with John, and just doing absolutely nothing. It felt like home.

Aside from enjoying a leisurely breakfast whenever Jack got up, the two had only planned to open their couple of gifts to each other. Jack had suggested taking a Christmas Day walk around the property, but both were waiting to see if the weather cooperated. The wind chill had been a factor, and by early morning glance, Lisa wasn't hopeful they'd get that walk in. It was spitting snow already, and that snow was blowing right across the front yard. Both her car and Jack's truck had a fresh dusting of snow, and the house definitely had a chill to it. She'd have Jack start another fire when he did get up.

The cinnamon rolls were the only cooking she was planning to do for the day. She'd made a fresh batch of Christmas cookies the day before, after sending what was left off with Lou and the kids. Jack loved Christmas cookies, not that Lisa didn't admit to loving them too, but she'd caught him sneaking his fair share over the last few days and then suggesting the kids had eaten them. Lunch and dinner were not going to be a large affair; she'd made soup yesterday too, and they both enjoyed a good bowl of soup on a cold day like today. Yesterday, Jack had pleasantly surprised her and brought home a new bottle of wine as well as some cheeses and crackers for their Christmas evening meal, and that sounded just perfect too.

"Merry Christmas," Lisa almost jumped out of her skin, as Jack wrapped his arms around while she was staring out the kitchen window at the snow. He realized he'd scared her and apologized.

"Glad you didn't throw a remote at me," he said, kissing her cheek. She chuckled and turned around to greet him.

"Merry Christmas to you, and you never know," she shook her head. "I've been told a remote can be a deadly weapon."

"Almost was last night, should have chucked it at Tim," he said, yawning. "Sorry, and that is just plain rude of me since I got a couple of extra hours of sleep I'm sure you didn't get."

"I'm glad you slept," she smiled at him and nodded to John there on the kitchen table. "I'm glad he didn't wake you. You realize," she smirked, "this will be our quietest Christmas with him for some time. All of the excited Christmas mornings to come."

"Mmm," Jack said, pulling her to his side as they looked at John. Jack nodded, enjoying that thought, "I'll take it, not that I'm not enjoying this very quiet Christmas, but it's been a long time since I really had to be in that kind of Christmas spirit. I suppose it's a little different when it's grandkids, even ones I raised, so seeing it through our son's eyes will be something I look forward to sharing with you."

"Well, I've never experienced it, so I'm very excited about it, all the years to come. Someday, he'll think back on his favorite gift ever, just like we talked about last night."

Jack shook his head, "Obviously, it will be a saddle."

"You're right," she smacked at him, stepping away to fix John's sock he's almost kicked off, "I'm sure he'll love an English saddle."

Jack scrunched his face, wanting to make some derogatory comment, but he didn't. Instead, he glanced toward Lisa with a frown, and she was there grinning.

"It's killing you, isn't it-the idea that he might like some of the fancier riding things in life, eeh?"

"No comment," he gave her a single head nod, and she grinned again, looking to John and tickling at him. Lisa pointed to the coffee pot.

"Coffee is still hot. I made a fresh pot about 20 minutes ago."

"Now that, sounds like a great start to Christmas," he nodded. Lisa, who was closer to the counter, started to make his cup of coffee while Jack sat down at the table with John. He picked up some toy John was gripping and held it up to Lisa.

"Oh, that's one of his Christmas presents, and you can see he loves it."

Jack started to laugh, "He loves pulling at his socks, so suggesting he loves some rattle toy," he shook his head. "Nice try."

"Well, fine, then, you don't need to see all of the new things in his stocking."

Jack gestured to her, "He has a stocking?"

"Of course!" Lisa said like it was a surprise. "How did you not notice it? It's sitting by the tree with the girls' stockings. Lou and Amy have theirs that match-"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Marion and Lyndy got those years ago, and don't ever ask either if they want something different."

"Right," Lisa rolled her head. "I remember them saying that several years ago. So," she shrugged, "I thought that Georgie, Katie, and John should all have coordinating ones too since there didn't seem to be any theme or set stockings for them."

"You are something else," he said, pulling her to him and putting his arm around her. "You really love this crazy family."

She leaned in teasing him, and said quietly, "Well, maybe most of them, most of the time, except that favorite son-in-law of yours barging in on Christmas Eve."

"Ex-son-in-law," he clarified with a smirk. Which reminds me," Jack made a face, "I need to text him to feed the horses. I'm not going out there, not with the wind whipping, and if he's taken up the 'no room at the inn' place in the barn, he can certainly get his lazy self downstairs to feed the animals.

"Here," she said, handing him her phone, "be my guest because if you don't text him, he'll show up here wanting cinnamon rolls."

"Oh," Jack's eyes widened, "you made cinnamon rolls?"

Lisa rolled her eyes, turned toward the stove, and she produced the casserole dish they were in, "You're slipping in your old age. You walked right by them."

He gave her a look, "I'll pretend I didn't hear that only because you make the most amazing cinnamon rolls."

The two settled in at the table with John right there too, enjoying their Christmas morning cinnamon rolls. As Jack finished, he tilted his head at John and gave Lisa a look, "What is he wearing?"

She gestured, wondering the problem, "It's his Christmas outfit."

Jack rolled his head toward Lisa and gestured again, "He has a Christmas outfit? What is that-dancing reindeer and gingham?" He spit it out like he was horrified. She grinned at him.

"You know gingham, great! Isn't it cute? I saw it in France, well," she reached over and patted his hand, "before you got there. I just love it. It's so sweet for Christmas."

"He's a boy," Jack gestured at John.

Lisa rolled her eyes, "Well, I hadn't noticed since I gave birth to him, but yeah," she gestured at the outfit, "it's a boy's outfit. Jack," she held up her hand and flashed a smirky smile, "I'd suggest you indulge me. There will be PLENTY of years he won't wear anything I suggest, and what he does wear will be the same black hoodie and gym shorts, even in the middle of winter here that every other boy his age will wear, or if he's into the ranching look, it will be well," she nodded to Jack, "jeans and flannels, and sometimes," she sighed, "it is nice to break out of the mold. So," she folded her hands on the table and twisted her head at him, "please let me dress him in the adorable things I've found while I can."

He rolled his eyes, but chuckled at her, "Okay, fine," he raised a hand in surrender. The two shared glances and laughs at each other, and after that moment passed, he reached over for her hand. "So, can I give you one of your Christmas presents?"

She gestured around the kitchen, "Ahh, I thought we were doing that after breakfast."

"Yeah," he shook his head from side to side, "we are, and I think we're done eating, but you have to trust me and close your eyes so I can show you."

Lisa narrowed her gaze, studying his face, trying to see what he might not be giving away from talking. He looked back at her with a completely blank face, challenging her. Finally, she rolled her eyes, "Okay."

"So untrustworthy. I'm offering you a Christmas present, and you're looking at me like I have some horrible disease."

"You're right," she said with a grin and a nod. "Let's see it."

"You will have to trust me to close your eyes and let me walk you into the other room."

Lisa gave him a glance like she wasn't enjoying this, and he rolled his eyes at her, "Come on, Lise. I know you love Christmas."

"Fine," she stood up and gave him her hand, gesturing with her other, "I'll close my eyes, but if you walk us into a door or a chair-"

"I know, I know," he nodded. "You already told me I'm slipping in my old age. Could be like the blind leading the blind here, but I promise I won't walk us into a door or anything else." Lisa let out a playful sigh, and Jack slowly took her into the other room with Lisa laughing as he did. He stopped moving and said, "Just keep them closed."

"This is so silly," she chuckled.

"Okay," he told her. "You can open them." Jack had walked her to the hallway area, which was way off from where she thought. She didn't want to admit that; she thought they were by the Christmas tree, and he opened the door to show her John's nursery had been set up.

"When did you do this?" Lisa asked, totally shocked as she put her hand to her mouth and shook her head. Jack stood there with his hand on the door knob, and she walked up to kiss him and gestured to what had been Amy's room. "Jack, this looks wonderful."

"Good," he nodded with a wink. "Ahh, the other day when you were so busy selling that horse, Ty and I took care of this. I was really worried Katie would say something, but we tried to keep her out of the house so we could surprise you. I was also really hoping you didn't just wander in here, and then, last night, I would have killed Tim if he'd tried to bunk in Amy's room. That would have been the second thing he'd ruined last night." Lisa glanced to him and started to laugh as she nodded.

She stepped into the room and looked around again; this was now the second time Jack had set up John's nursery to surprise her. The furniture fit perfectly like it had been picked for this room. She'd told him about wanting to repaint before John had been sick, and she noticed the walls now and gestured to those, "You painted too?"

He shrugged bashfully, "Ty and I were busy, but yes," he smiled. "We got it all done. Started painting after you left for Fairfield. Lou watched John, and after lunch, Ty and I went over to the house to take care of moving John's furniture. I saw Harry, and I asked him to make sure you didn't come up to the house."

She chuckled, "I was busy with my buyer, but I do remember now he brought me a cup of coffee out of the blue, and I guess that's why."

Jack smiled and nodded, "I'd made a fresh pot at the house for Ty and myself, and I told Harry that I had coffee for both of you."

"You sneaky, lovely man," she said, leaning up to kiss him. "Thank you. This really does look great."

"That means," he nodded to her, "John actually has to use his room now. I know you've been a little worried about leaving him on his own since he was so sick, and I'm not saying we have to move him instantly, but at least when you are ready, his room is here and is his."

"This is a very good present," she grinned at him, her arms around his shoulders. "Thank you for doing this. I'm feeling much more settled."

"Good," he said, wrapping his arms around her, "that's the goal."

"Okay," she took his hand in hers and pulled him out to the living room. She pointed for him to sit and gestured to the kitchen where they'd left John for the moment. She brought John back into the room, and Jack, now on the couch, gladly took the baby while Lisa produced two wrapped gifts for him.

"I didn't want anything, Lise," he shook his head, giving her a glance.

She rolled her eyes, "I'm giving you a gift, two gifts," she said. "I know you don't want a big fuss, but I hope you will like these. Honestly, I would have gotten you much more, but I know you really don't like much of anything."

She sat down next to him to watch him open the gifts. He didn't want to give up John, so he propped him up against the pillow while he opened the first one.

"Would you look at that!" Jack smacked at the gift, the fly fishing kit he'd been looking at in one of his magazines. Lisa grinned, knowing with his reaction, he was thrilled with the gift. Jack didn't want anything extravagant, and she knew that after all these years. It had taken her time to realize not much impressed him, well, small things like she'd tried to do; grand gestures were not Jack's thing. "Thank you," he smiled brightly at her.

She gestured to the table where his magazines were stacked, "I saw you looking at that, and well," she grinned. "I can be sneaky too."

"It's perfect, thank you," he told her again and started on the second gift. Lisa pursed her lips, hoping he liked this one too. "Fancy box and wrapping paper," as he glanced at her.

She shrugged, "At least you know it's from me then." Jack removed the paper and took the lid off the box. Lisa bit her lip now, watching his reaction.

"What is this?" Jack said pulling the first out of the box. He studied it and just sat there speechless. Lisa knew he loved it when he turned to her, and she could almost see a tear in his eyes. "Where did you get this?"

She wrapped her arm around his, "If you remember awhile back, I asked you if Marion looked like John. You said you saw it sometimes in him. I happened to ask the girls if they had any baby pictures of Marion, and they did, several in fact. We got to going through them one afternoon when you were in the back field, and I found that one. I took it into town and had it restored to a 5x7 size. She looks so much like John in that one. I mean, you can see in her features she's a little girl, but I thought you would like this, maybe on your nightstand." Jack just studied the two pictures, a side-by-side 5x7 frame, and she'd put Marion's picture on one side and John's on the other. Lisa pointed to John, "He was a little easier to get a current picture."

"This is something special, Lise," he said, pulling her to his side and kissing her. "Thank you. I'll treasure this. It's perfect."

"You're welcome. I loved the idea of you having both of your kids close to you," she smiled warmly at him, but she pointed to the box. "There's another one in there." He gave her a tilt of the head while he pulled out the second photo she'd had framed. This time, when he looked at the photo, he grinned and looked adoringly at her.

"This is great too," he gestured to her, "and I'll ask the same-where did you get it?" Lisa shrugged.

"I have my ways. You remember that particular cattle drive, I presume," she winked at him. "I believe that was the first time I told you something very important," she said in a teasing tone, batting her eyes at him. He nodded with another bright smile.

"You told me you loved me, and in that moment I still hate I didn't say it back."

She squeezed his arm and leaned up to kiss his cheek, "Your actions said it. I believe that was one-what is you have been saying-one whopper of a kiss. I knew you did, even if weren't going to say it yet. That woman, ahh, I can't remember her name, the one Tim was hitting on-"

"Well, that's a very general, broad statement," Jack added with a smirk. Lisa laughed too.

"Whatever her name was, she was taking photos. She sent that to me afterwards, and I've always had it. I don't know why I hadn't shown it to you before now, but I thought you would like it, the two of us riding together on the cattle drive."

"You sure do have my pegged for good Christmas gifts," he said, squeezing her leg. "Thank you."

"I didn't do too badly myself," she shrugged. "Got a stone, John got a stone, and John got a room."

"Then," he gestured to her to take John so he could stand up, "you need something else too." Lisa watched as he pulled one more gift out from under the tree and handed it to her. It was small and rectangular. She gave him a coy smile as she opened it. He explained, "I thought to myself what would Lisa really enjoy, and I thought that this necklace with John's birthstone would be perfect. I've made this new friend in the jeweler down in Calgary after having him redo your rings and all. He helped me pick out this. I know you like necklaces, and the green even sets off your eyes, so I hope you like it."

Lisa put it in her lap and turned to him, shaking her head, "Jack Bartlett, I love the fact you are so kind and thoughtful, and even more so that I'm one of the very few special people who gets to see it."