At noon on the 24th, on Christmas eve, the doorbell rang at Addison and Derek's apartment. This time it was Carolyn, and she was carrying various bags.

"Hey, hello..." said Addison as she opened the door.

"Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without gingerbread cookies, right?"

"I guess... what is all this?" she asked as she closed the door once her mother-in-law entered.

"Ingredients. I stopped by the store to buy what was needed. We're going to bake Christmas cookies."

"Oh, I don't know how to cook. I would ruin them."

"Come on, dear. Your baby will be born soon, she will need a mother who will prepare these kinds of things, right? I'll teach you. It's not that difficult."

"Okay..."

"Wash your hands, tie your hair back, and let's get started."

Addison had no desire at all to bake cookies, but how could she say no to her mother-in-law who had already come all the way there with all the ingredients? She had no choice but to do as she was told.

"The first thing we'll do is sift the flour with the cinnamon and ginger. I bought the powdered kind. Do you have a sifter, dear?"

"Will a strainer work?"

"No, the holes need to be very small. Do you have a net? An open-weave pantyhose?"

"Yes, I do... I'll look in my drawers."

"I meant a scrap, we won't tear up a pair of pantyhose just for this. Forget it, it doesn't matter. We'll integrate it manually. Pass me a bowl."

"Here you go..."

"While I take care of the dry ingredients, you'll beat the butter with the sugar and an egg. Then you'll add the honey while still beating."

"Alright..." she took another bowl, added the ingredients her mother-in-law had told her, and began beating with the metal mixer.

"More force, you need to integrate them all. It needs to be a homogeneous mixture."

"I don't want to overmix it..."

"It won't overmix. The more you beat, the fewer lumps it will have. Alright, now it's time to integrate everything."

Addison did as Carolyn told her.

"Once the dough is formed, it needs to rest in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes. Do you have a roll of clear plastic wrap to cover it?"

"A what?"

"Forget it. I don't know how you and Derek have survived so long like this."

Carolyn covered the dough with a kitchen towel and let it rest in the fridge.

"We'll prepare the tray in the meantime. We need to grease and flour a baking sheet. The largest one you have."

"Hopefully, we have one..." said Addison, opening the pantry to look for a metal tray.

"Seriously, Addison. What do you two eat?"

"I don't know, neither of us cooks much... for lunch, I usually eat leftovers from dinner, and Derek has lunch at the hospital. In fact, I did the same until a week ago... and for dinner, we order from restaurants or eat semi-prepared food."

"Goodness, and you're going to feed a child like that?"

"Well... no. But for the first few months, she will be exclusively breastfed. I have some time to learn to prepare healthier meals, I suppose..."

Carolyn sighed and preheated the oven.

"It's time to remove the dough," said Addison as she took it out of the fridge.

"We're going to roll it out on the countertop... I brought these cookie cutters with Christmas shapes. Derek always loved gingerbread men when he was a child. I have those and some little trees and bells."

"Okay..." Addison took the bowl and placed it on the surface.

"You need to sprinkle flour first! It will stick."

"Oops... sorry."

"It's okay, no big deal. Pass me the rolling pin."

"Actually..."

"Yes, I should have guessed. Do you have any cylindrical object that can be used for rolling?"

"The paper towel holder..."

"That will work."

Carolyn rolled out the dough, cut out various shapes, and repeated the same steps with the scraps until the dough ran out. They placed all the cookies on the baking sheet and waited for about fifteen minutes until they were ready.

"Let's make the icing. I brought some piping bags for decorating."

"Oh, I'm not very good at crafts."

"You're a surgeon, Addison. You must have a steady hand. You do much more complex things than decorating a cookie, come on."

"Alright..."

"We're going to put 2 cups of powdered sugar in a bowl, and little by little, we're going to add lemon juice until it dissolves well. Then we'll separate it into smaller containers and add a few drops of vegetable coloring."

"Red, green, and white..." said Addison as she read the colors of the food coloring.

"That's right."

They prepared the icing, put it into different piping bags, and started decorating the cookies. The first ones didn't turn out very harmonious, but with practice, Addison got the hang of it. In fact, they were starting to look nice.

"Derek loved doing this as a child... well, all the girls did too. We did all the Christmas preparations on the 24th in the afternoon. It was one of the most anticipated times of the year..."

"Derek always remembers those times with great affection. He even infected me with the excitement for Christmas. He made it our season."

"I'm glad to hear that... because it really is a time of unity, of rebirth in faith, of hope, joy... the Baby Jesus is with us once again. It's a reason to celebrate."

~•~

"Hey, doctor Shepherd," said Addison with a smile on her lips.

She didn't expect to run into him that afternoon at Joe's bar. She had already been too disappointed with him during the day and all her plans had been ruined. Derek had refused to go shopping with her or even look at catalog magazines to send gifts to their family members.

She had reminded him that it was their special date, that they loved Christmas, but he seemed to care little and nothing at all. He only had his attention on surgery that day. And nothing could be more important than that.

Derek smiled at her as he sat down at the bar. He had a glass of Scotch whisky in his hand.

"So... how is Mr. Epstein's frontal lobe?" asked Addison once he sat in front of her.

"He woke up smiling."

"Congratulations," she smiled.

"Thank you. What are you drinking?"

"Oh," she laughed, "it's hot buttered rum. It's delicious."

"It's Dickens style," he smiled.

"No..." she laughed again, "well, yes. It's because it's Christmas. Christmas, Derek... we love Christmas..." The smile disappeared from her face and she looked at him sadly.

He nodded.

"At least, we used to love it..." he sighed, looking down.

"Yes, Christmas makes you want to be with the people you love..." Derek's voice began to break.

Addison looked into his eyes again. Was Derek going to cry?

"I'm not saying this to hurt you. Not because I want to leave you, because that's not it... Meredith wasn't a fling... It wasn't for revenge..." his eyes began to fill with tears as he said that, "I fell in love with her."

Addison was speechless. Perplexed at what she was hearing. Would he say that on Christmas?

"And that doesn't go away because I chose to stay with you..."

She just lowered her gaze and continued to stir her drink in silence. Tears threatened to cascade down her face, but she held them back. She didn't want to cry on Christmas. She didn't want anyone to see her cry on Christmas. She didn't want them to know that once again, her heart had been shattered into a thousand pieces.

~•~

"Did you really make these cookies?" Derek asked eagerly as he chewed. They were sitting near the fireplace.

"Well, with great help from your mother, but yes... I decorated that one. Do you like them?"

"Are you kidding? They are the best I've ever tasted. I love them."

"Did you make the reservations? Did they confirm who's coming tomorrow?"

"Yes and yes. I already ordered the stuffed roasted turkey, portobello, and corn pies, Nancy will bring one of her famous apple pies, Kathleen will make eggnog, and Mom will bring her cranberry sauce, cornbread, and mashed potatoes, Mark told me he'll bring something too and Callie and Arizona probably will as well."

"Will there be enough for everyone?"

"Of course, Addie. There's always leftover food. I have something for you now," he said, getting up to get a paper bag.

"What is it?"

"Hot chocolate. It's probably cooled on the way, it's freezing outside. But it has a touch of cinnamon and ginger, the flavors of Christmas."

"Oh, thank you, honey," she smiled as she accepted the glass he handed her.

"Hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies, I think I am the happiest person in the world right now," he sat back down next to her.

"If I had known that cookies made you so happy, I would have made them earlier."

"You know how to make me happy in your way too. How have you been today? Many kicks from the miss?" he asked as he lifted Addison's sweater to caress her belly.

"No, in fact, she's been quiet. She doesn't have much space... she's probably asleep now, but with this chocolate, she'll probably wake up and won't let me sleep."

"I have something for her."

"Really?"

"I passed by the mall after the hospital. I stopped at the Christmas decorations and brought some for our apartment."

"Oh, really? I didn't know you actually went. Now I want to see."

"Wait, first things first. Look towards the fireplace."

She looked.

"I don't understand, what am I supposed to see? The fire?"

"Don't you feel like something is missing there?"

"More firewood?"

"No, Addie. The stockings. The Christmas stockings."

"Oh... ours are in New York."

"I bought new ones."

"Really?" her voice began to get excited.

"Yes," he got up and handed her two wrapped packages.

Addison opened the first package, very anxious, and found two large stockings. One was red with white pom-poms, and the other was green with embroidered yellow stars.

"Oh, Der. I love them. They're super soft. And what's in here?" she asked, taking the smaller package.

"It's another surprise... open it."

Addison opened it and found a much smaller white and green stocking, obviously for a baby. She couldn't hold back the tears at the sight of the size and delicateness of that garment.

"It's our baby's first stocking. Even though she's on the other side of the skin, I want her to have this memory of when we were expecting her. Besides... she needed to have one for Santa to leave her a gift, right?" he smiled affectionately.

"It's beautiful, Derek. I bet she will love it," she smiled excitedly.

"Well, then we have to hang them. Before midnight. And we also have to put up the tree."

"Did you buy a tree?" she said as she wiped her tears with the sleeve of her sweater.

"Of course. We had to dress up this apartment for Christmas. I hope that chocolate gives you energy because we have to decorate everything. I'll bring it right now."

Addison kept smiling as if she were a child. Once again, she felt like in the old times, when Christmas was the most important time of the year.

~•~

On Christmas morning in Seattle, it had started snowing. Something that didn't happen every year, so it could be taken as a special gift from the universe to all its citizens.

Addison woke up early that day, excitement had her feeling anxious. She was snuggled in Derek's arms, feeling protected and loved. His body warmth made her feel comfortable, she almost didn't want to get up.

"Good morning," Derek whispered when he saw that she had her eyes open.

"Merry Christmas, Der," she said sweetly before kissing his lips. He smiled and returned the kiss.

"Is it snowing outside?"

"Yes, isn't it perfect? It's like the weather knew today is Christmas."

Addison got out of bed after a while and went to open the window to her room, which led to the balcony. Her heart filled with joy at the sight of the beautiful white snow covering the entire landscape. It was a view she hadn't seen in a long time.

Derek got up and went after his wife, wrapping his arms around her and resting his head on her shoulder. Yes, the day was indeed perfect.

After being embraced for a while, watching the snowflakes fall slowly, decorating the trees and cars on the street, they got ready and went to have breakfast. The sunlight had not yet appeared, but the kitchen was illuminated thanks to the fireplace that Derek had lit the night before to ensure a warm and cozy atmosphere. Addison took her cup of hot chocolate and sat by the fire, admiring how everything had been decorated. The positive vibe of joy and excitement could be felt in the air.

"I think Santa left a gift for Bella...," Derek said, walking over to the tree. The night before, they had stayed up late to put garlands, colored balls, and twinkling lights on it.

"Shouldn't we wait for everyone to be here to open the presents?"

"No, because if we have to wait for Bella to open them it will be until carnival. Unless she decides to surprise us today..."

"No, please. Not today. Maybe tomorrow, but not on Christmas," Addison laughed.

"If she's born on Christmas, she should be called Merry..."

"Even more reason for her not to be born today."

Derek laughed and handed Addison her gift. She left her cup on the coffee table and unwrapped the box. They were silver snowflake-shaped earrings, just like the ones Addison had worn the previous Christmas.

"Oh, Derek... they're beautiful."

"As a winter baby, and future lover of Christmas, you needed to have them," he smiled.

"I love them, I can't wait to see her wearing them. They're beautiful," she said, putting a hand on Derek's face and kissing him.

"We're starting very early with the mushiness..." Amelia said entering the room. Both turned to look at her.

"Happy Christmas to you too, Amy," said Derek.

"Anyway, Merry Christmas. I hope there's a special case in the emergency room today, some head trauma from falling off the ladder while decorating the roof, or a multiple fracture from slipping on the ice, or..."

"Amelia, what's wrong with you?"

"What? We're doctors, Derek. We already know that accidents increase significantly during the holidays. People drink too much, eat too much... do stupid things to please their families..."

"I thought you were going to have lunch with us."

"Oh, no. I'll pass. I don't feel like listening to the harpies again."

"Mom was happy that you were here..."

"Mom will have to understand that I'm a doctor. I work on holidays."

"Well, as your boss, I give you the day off. Unless you're called for an untransferable emergency, you can be here."

"Derek, don't do this to me. Please."

"If I have to put up with them, you will too. Besides, you live in my house, Amelia, it's the least you should do for me."

"Just for that, I'll consider going somewhere else."

"I still win in that case."

"Ugh, I hate you. Fine, I'll stay. I just hope Nancy brings one of her chocolate or apple cakes."

~•~

The Christmas lunch started at 12:30 p.m. As people huddled inside the house listening to music, hugging, dancing, and having fun, Addison smiled at the warm atmosphere that had been created in her new home. Every time she looked out the window and saw the snow falling, she felt great peace in her heart. The snow had made the celebration even more special, and everyone was enjoying the magic of Christmas.

At the moment of eating, they found everyone sitting at the table, enjoying the delicious dishes that were on it. Addison and Derek were cuddled near the fireplace, Mark between Callie and Arizona, the most powerful trio in the building, Kathleen and Nancy together in front of them, Carolyn at the end, and beside her, Amelia's empty seat, who as always, was late.

"Amelia, for a moment I thought we weren't going to have the honor of having you," Nancy said upon seeing her arrive and take a seat at the table.

"Well... here I am... Christmas miracles... Can you pass me the punch, Callie?"

"You're going to drink? Amelia, no."

"It's just a glass, it's Christmas."

"A person like you can't handle a glass," Kathleen said.

"Oh, I'm sorry, the psychologist speaks. The addiction specialist."

"We don't want you to ruin the family event, Amelia. Addison and Derek have made an effort to create a warm and Christmassy atmosphere, we don't want a drunkard ending up vomiting at the table," Carolyn said.

"What were you thinking when you did that, Amelia?" Nancy asked.

"She wasn't thinking. That's the level of narcissism she handles," Kathleen laughed.

"I was 14, it was a long time ago."

"You were 18 when you ruined my wedding," Kathleen said. "Uncle Ron found you fooling around with a guy in the closet."

"I remember when she wrecked my car in a ditch," Nancy said. "Then she came home, said someone had stolen it and left it there. But she had left the keys inside."

"That was years ago! It's not fair for you to bring it up now!"

"I remember when she was so drunk at Uncle Adam's funeral that she let go of her end of the coffin and fell to the ground."

"I wasn't drunk, I was high."

Callie and Arizona's eyes opened in surprise at what they were hearing, but Addison, Mark, and Derek didn't seem surprised at all. Most of the stories they mentioned, they had experienced in person.

"I've had bad years, you don't have to mention every event at this Christmas lunch."

"No, we don't have that much time," Kathleen teased.

Amelia sighed nervously. Her new colleagues would now know about a past she wanted to keep hidden.

"You've always been impulsive. You never think things through."

"Why were you fired in Los Angeles?" Carolyn asked.

"I quit..."

"You didn't quit," Kathleen said.

"They fired you because you're never interested in anyone but yourself. You never think about the impact of things on other people," Nancy said.

"Yes, and then you make up absurd stories to cover up the truth that inevitably comes to light."

"Der..." Addison whispered in his ear to do something.

"I think that's enough..." Derek said, starting to get annoyed.

"Were you fired for drug use? Or for being drunk?" Nancy asked.

"You don't know me!" Amelia got up from her seat, enraged. "You haven't seen me in years! I'm trapped in your minds as I was at 14. And I'm not that person anymore! I'm sober, I'm responsible, and I'm a neurosurgeon, one of the best in my field. I save lives every day in one of the best hospitals in the country! Just like Derek. But Derek doesn't get these questions."

"Because Derek got you this job," Nancy said.

Derek took Addison's hand and whispered in her ear to leave. The discussion didn't seem to end, and he noticed how Addison was starting to get stressed.

"Where are we going, Der?" Addison asked as they walked down the hallway of their floor.

"You'll see," he pressed the elevator button and they waited for it to arrive.

Once inside, he pressed the number 13.

"Thirteen? Where are we going? Derek, let's go back..."

"No, they're not going to ruin our first Christmas with the baby. We're going to the terrace."

"But it's snowing, honey."

"Don't worry, Addie. You'll like it, I promise."

The elevator doors opened on the top floor, leaving them in front of a short hallway with a closed blue door. Derek took out his keychain, chose one of the keys, and opened the door.

A cold wind suddenly came over their faces, with some cold snowflakes. He went first and held out his hand for her to follow.

"Careful, the ground is slippery because of the ice," he said, looking at her. She smiled.

They sat in one of the chairs in front of a balcony that overlooked the entire snow-covered city of Seattle. It looked truly beautiful all covered in white.

"I've always wanted to look at the city from above, it makes you more aware of the number of people in the world... every little window, every door, every roof has a story below it. A family, a couple, a person... so many that we can't even imagine. So many different people, coming and going, with their problems, with their joys, with their sadness. There are as many different stories as there are snowflakes on the roofs... and among all those, I was lucky enough to meet the most wonderful woman on earth to write my story alongside her. And with my daughter. Her story began a few months ago and there's nothing that makes me happier than knowing we both took the first step for her, we were the ones who put the blank pages and gave her the pen, so she could start writing the book of her life and..."

"Oh, Der..." Addison began to cry softly. She couldn't control her emotions in the face of such a scene.

"Shhh," he said, hugging her tightly for warmth. "Christmas makes you want to be with the people you love. And I'm already with them."