So… the author's note below was written last year. I had this idea for a whole year, but I sat on half of it because I had no idea where to go with it. Well, I knew how I wanted to end it, but how to get there I wasn't sure. This is not usual for me. He usually gives me an idea to start off, and I HAVE NO IDEA how it's going to end. I knew He wanted me to write it so I never tried to start over, but left it sitting on my computer.

Well… then about a month and half ago, I had a dream of me being in Christmas Town. And I had a place to start off again. So here I am after a whole year finishing this!

(Original AN: I couldn't resist a Christmas chapter. The past two Christmases have felt more special than ever, and I actually have a Christmas story this year!)

Merry Christmas! It's HIS birthday! And Happy New Year! May the Lord Jesus continue to bless you in this upcoming year!

Humming my favorite Christmas carol, I buzzed about my room, grabbing the garments for my planned Christmas outfit. (If you knew me, I was the tacky Christmas girl. It didn't help that I was a kindergarten teacher too. Or did it help? You decide.) Stepping in front of the full-length mirror, I adjusted my red dress. It looked like the elf dresses from any Christmas movie, with white fur on the neckline, wrists, and hemline. I wore warm leggings, striped with red and green. Red ballet shoes with a furry ball on toe like Tinker Bell, and a green wide leather belt cinched my waist. Christmas tree beaded earrings donned my ears. As the finishing touch, I pulled a warm Santa hat on my head, my long brown hair flowing free.

I gave one last spin in front of the mirror to make sure everything was in place. Pleased with myself, I gave a nod to the mirror.

"Someone excited?"

I jumped, and there looking at me through the mirror, standing behind me, was Holy Spirit. I whirled around and hugged Him tight.

"Yes!" I squealed. "It's my first Christmas here in Heaven! I've been looking forward to this every Christmas on Earth!"

Holy Spirit laughed. "Yes, I know." Gesturing to my outfit, He added, "And I see you are already decked out." He chuckled a bit.

"Yes," I stated emphatically, stepping back and giving another spin. "You made me this way, I'll run with it!"

He raised an eyebrow, with a smile. "You misunderstand, little one. Did I ever say I didn't like it?"

I froze, embarrassment running red over my face. I looked down at the floor, my hands coming to clasp each other behind me.

"So… He'll like it too?"

Holy Spirit only smiled.

"Wait!" I pointed my finger at Him. "You haven't told Him right?!" I then pointed at a flat, rectangular present wrapped in colorful paper and topped with a bright red bow, sitting on my desk. "Or about that either?!"

And there was the Holy Spirit I knew, His face filling with sass, smirk on His face, eyebrows raised, and arms folded. "And do you think I would?" He snorted. "We can keep things from Each Other if necessary." As He said this, I was reminded of the fact that Papa only knew when Jesus would come back to get everyone on Earth. Holy Spirit didn't know either.

I looked at my gift. "You sure He'll like it?"

Holy Spirit placed His hand on my head. "Of course. You made it."

I gave a snort. "You helped. A lot."

"Did I take the pen?"

I shook my head.

"No," He agreed, "you did."

Suddenly, His posture changed, and His eyes twinkled. "I also came to let you know that someone is waiting for you and is about to scream your name."

And on cue, I heard a familiar voice scream, "EM! AH! LY! GET DOWN HERE! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOREVER!"

I jumped and ran to the window, as Holy Spirit roared with laughter. Giving Him a small glare, I looked out my open window to see my cousin, Jacqueline, or to everyone who knew her, Jacqui, looking up at me with arms crossed, tapping her foot. She, like me, was dressed in Christmas colors, though less tacky and along with her ever-present black leather jacket.

"I'll be down in a minute!" I yelled down to her. "I'm coming!"

She snorted.

"I'm coming!" I reiterated. "Holy Spirit distracted me!" I pointed to the Culprit behind me.

Jacqui's face immediately lit up, and she jumped impulsively. "Hi! I love You!" she called up, looking to Someone beside me, for Holy Spirit had joined me by the window.

"I love you, too, Jacqui!" He called back. He winked at me, while still speaking to Jacqui. "I was about to send her down." Addressing both of us, He said, "I will see you there!" And with that He vanished.

I stared at where He disappeared for a moment, when I heard Jacqui call, "Come on, Em!"

"All right!" I sassed back. "And just come on in. We'll take my shortcut!"

Snapping my fingers to close my window, I ran to the mirror for one last look, and grabbed my present, and put it in my pocket, which of course was bigger on the inside like all things in Heaven. I rushed out my bedroom door and ran downstairs to meet my cousin in the foyer.

"I see you are tacky as always," Jacqui said with a smirk.

"And why not anything else?" I retorted, giving her a smirk of my own, twirling once again.

If anyone looked at us, they would think us to be sisters, sometimes twins, despite myself being six years older. And essentially we were. I did not have any biological sisters, and Jacqui had grown up on Earth without her elder sister, Sarah, who had gone to Heaven before either of us were born. We had another cousin, Caroline, born between myself and Sarah. Jacqui and I planned on meeting them later.

"You got your gift?" she asked, holding up her own in a gift bag.

I nodded, tapping my pocket. "Right here!" I waved my hand for her to follow me. "Let's go."

I led my cousin through my mansion to a certain hallway where three different doors stood. Each of these doors did not lead to a room in my house. These led to different places in Heaven that I liked. One was the Crystal Sea, the second was a place in the mountains, and the last was where we were headed.

Placing my hand on the door knob, I looked at her. "You ready?" My smile was ear-to-ear.

Jacqui smiled wide. "I've never been more ready. This will be the most magical Christmas ever!"

With a deep breath, I opened the door, and immediately, wind blew through the open door, carrying snow with it. But it wasn't cold. Giggling like two school girls, we ran through the door, leaving summer behind us and entering a winter wonderland, known as Christmas Town.

If you have ever seen those magical looking towns all decked out from ground to roof in Christmas lights, with little houses that look like gingerbread, covered in snow and mountains such as the Alps behind them, you would have a small idea of what Christmas Town looks like. The biggest differences are the houses are mansions, and the mountains go higher than you have ever seen. Oh, and one more difference. Instead of banners that say, "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year," these banners say, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" in the biggest and largest gold lettering you have ever seen.

Thousands of people walked the streets, decked out in their best Christmas attire. Even angels and spiritual beings have some type of red or green on. My heart is already bursting with joy, for I never thought I would feel even more joy than I already have here. The joy everyone feels at Christmastime is Heaven everywhere and all the time. But Christmas Town seemed to be even more. There was only one place that beat this amount of joy, but that was the Throne Room itself of course.

"Jacqui," I squealed, "we're here! All those times, we talked about it. WE ARE HERE!"

"I know!" she squealed back. And we clasped hands and proceeded to jump up and down like kids. "I hope we're not late!"

"Let me ask," I suggested, and taking a step forward, I waved at a man, standing by a red sleigh, hooked up to reindeer. "Umm, excuse me? Has the party started yet?" Then, I gave a sheepish smile. "Umm, what I mean is…"

"What she means is, has the Guest of Honor arrived yet?" Jacqui finished for me. She smirked, nudging me. "She's all shy." And I turned red.

The man tilted his head back and chuckled. "Ah, first time, hmm?" He laughed, as he pointed up the hill, where a huge Christmas tree could be seen, rising above the snow covered mansions. "Oh no, not yet. You'll know when He's here. Just head up in that direction, toward the tree. You can leave your gifts under the tree and–" At this, I clutched my pocket, but he noticed and smiled, adding, "-or not." He chuckled. "Don't worry, miss. We ALL get a turn." With that, he slung a huge sack up into his sleigh, and suddenly, it clicked. Sleigh, sack, and reindeer…

"Wait!" I exclaimed, my hand coming up to point at him. "You're– you're– you're Saint Nicholas!" Jacqui's eyes widened for she had come to the same realization.

The man turned and smiled, and gave a bow. He looked exactly how you would picture Saint Nicholas. In fact, he looked very much like Father Christmas from Narnia, his eyes full of joy.

"That I am," the man admitted. "Or all the other many other names I have been called. But most call me St. Nick. And if I am correct, you are Emily and Jacqueline."

Jacqui and I looked at each other, silently communicating, He knows who we are? He'd only know that if… We jumped.

Our reaction must have been commonplace, for it didn't faze St. Nick and he went on, "I've been asked to give you a ride." Our eyes widened even more. "I do this quite often, especially for those who haven't been here before."

I swallowed. "Really?"

"Yes," St. Nick replied. "Hop on, as you youngsters say now."

Jacqui and I wasted no time, climbing into the sleigh beside St. Nick, one of us on either side of him.

We had just sat down when St. Nick flicked the reins and cried, "Hold on!" And immediately the sleigh took off, and the two of us gave a small exclamation of surprise, being pushed back in our seats.

Having blinked my eyes shut at the movement, I opened them to see we were no longer on the ground, but in the air! Just like all the stories of Santa Claus.

"Jacqui! Are you seeing what I'm seeing?!" I called out to my cousin.

"Of course I am!" she laughed, her mouth and eyes wide with joy.

My heart pounding with joy and excitement, I looked over the rail to see how high we were flying. Christmas Town spread out below us, and I could see the people below, waving and whooping as they watched the sleigh fly through the air. As I waved back to them, I was reminded of when I was a child at my family's beach vacation condo that was near an army base. My brothers and I would wave at the military helicopters that would fly over us as we swam in the Atlantic Ocean. Every so often, they would wave back or come back and do special maneuvers. I had always thought of what it would be like if I had been in the helicopter, looking down at the vacationers. And here I was in Heaven, doing that same thing except over Christmas Town, in St. Nick's sleigh. I burst out laughing, my heart singing with thanks to my Lord.

As we flew, I noticed there were other sleighs flying around below us.

"Jacqui!" I exclaimed, pointing. "There are other flying sleighs!"

She peered over to look. "Why, they even have Santas!" she added, her eyes wide.

"They are training," interjected St. Nick. We looked at him in confusion.

"Once you can fly a sleigh, you have passed a so-called 'rite of passage'," he explained. "I don't do this job all by myself, you know," he added with a laugh. "I have helpers. Usually they once were people who dressed up as Santa Claus during their lifetimes. You will probably see a few in the Town itself."

Jacqui and I looked at each other, dumbfounded. "Wow… I never would have guessed," I said. "But that's so wonderful!"

"You might want to take a good look at the Town," advised St. Nick. "We have a good view of the tree."

Jacqui and I peered out and saw the huge tree that was in the center of Christmas Town. It rose high above the mansions around it. We began to descend, and we slowed to hover right above the town square the tree was centered in. The people who had already gathered moved for the sleigh to land, cheering and waving at the sight of it.

"Here's where I drop you off, ladies," St. Nick smiled. "I have many waiting for me."

"Thank you!" I said, almost curtsying, jumping off the sleigh. "It was wonderful!"

"I'll take you again, some other time," he replied, and then turned his attention to all the children who had run up to the sleigh to hug him.

"Well, that was fun," said Jacqui, her smile wide.

"And that was an understatement," I poked, giggling.

I looked around. Music was playing, and bells were ringing. Children and adults alike were throwing snowballs, passing gifts, and singing. Snow was falling, and I couldn't resist sticking out my tongue and catching the "Charlie Brown" snowflakes, as my mother called them. (The big dime-sized ones that looked like they were straight out of the Charlie Brown TV show.)

"Em!" Jacqui shrieked. "Look at that toy store! It looks like something straight out of those Christmas Hallmark movies!" And she began to drag me toward it.

It was EXACTLY like a Christmas Hallmark toy shop. Toys were piled from floor to ceiling. Life-size nutcrackers stood like sentries around the center of the shop (which were alive and watched you with their eyes, because everything in Heaven is alive). They stood guarding the most important merchandise. Books.

I immediately plopped down and began scanning the shelves. Almost the next second, a book stood out to me, and I reached for it, pulling it from its place on the shelf.

"Jacqui!" I squealed. "Come look at this!" She knelt down next to me on my left. "It's a pop-up book about the very first Christmas!" I began to flip through the pages.

Jacqui gasped. "It's gorgeous!"

Gorgeous was an understatement. Gold accents littered the illustrations that grew out from the page higher than you expected. Bible verses were printed at the bottom of each page, so you knew where to find the reference and place of each event. I was falling in love with it.

"If you like it so much, why don't you take it home?"

I froze, as Jacqui gasped, for she already could see Who had spoken due to the angle she knelt.

I turned to my right from where I had heard the Voice. And there was the Guest of Honor leaning over and smiling at us, Jesus Himself.

We didn't even get to our feet before throwing ourselves at Him, tackling Him to the floor.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" we screamed, covering His face with kisses, as we lay in an undignified heap on the floor. And then we proceeded to sing Him "Happy Birthday" with full gusto, without any warning, Boccarossa Family style.

When we had finished, Jesus gave a large grin as He hugged us tight. "Thank you, Emily and Jacqui." He gave us each a kiss on the cheek before wishing us a "Merry Christmas."

We sat back and giggled, responding together, "Merry Christmas, Lord!"

Still smiling and standing to His feet, He said, "Come." He held out His hands to help us up.

"I have something to show you."

Now, we come to the part of the story where the "magic" of our Lord began to work. If you hadn't already noticed, Jacqui and I had begun to act as one person, for those who are a part of Him become one in Him. Yet, we are still our individual persons, with our personal likes and dislikes, and He being Who He is can give them to us, while at the same time doing the same for another. Because He is your God.

And that is what happened from here on out. I disappeared in Jacqui's eyes, and Jacqui disappeared in mine, and we each were alone with our Lord.

I clasped Jesus' hand tightly as He led me out of the toy shop back onto the snow-covered streets. I found I couldn't stop staring at Him with probably the goofiest smile on my face.

"I don't think it's goofy," He commented on my thoughts, glancing down at me with a smile of His own. He squeezed my hand.

We walked past many people, but no one said anything to us. It was as if they didn't see Him. I felt my cheeks heat. It meant He had come to see me. I grabbed His arm in happiness, rubbing my face against His red cloak.

"Thank You," I murmured.

He nuzzled the top of my head with His cheek. "You're welcome, Emily." And He stopped, looking upward. "We're here."

I looked up, and of course! He had brought me to the tree! It towered over our heads like a giant sequoia, except it was lit up by lights and decorated with massive ornaments. It reminded me of the Christmas tree in the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I smiled to myself, for nothing on Earth came from nowhere. Its origin was always somewhere in Heaven.

"It's so beautiful!" I exclaimed. "And massive!" I added, laughing.

Jesus laughed. "Well, it needed to be big enough for everyone." We laughed together, before He took my hand again, saying, "We need to get closer."

I cocked my head, but soon I understood. Stepping up the stairs of the platform where the tree was standing, being careful of the presents piled around and on the steps, we stepped under the branches of the tree. Here the business and festivities were muffled, but the music of the carolers still drifted through.

Jesus then turned to me and said with a glint of mischief in His eyes, "Hold on."

My eyes widened and with a "Oomph!" from me, He swept me off my feet and jumped, or I should say flew, up through the tree landing on a high branch and setting me down to sit.

Here I realized the Tree itself was singing, along with the carolers below. It did not sound like words, but a hum. I shook my head again, laughing at myself how I was still surprised how everything in Heaven was alive or sentient. I could feel its joy being what it was. I began to sway to its music, singing softly, not able to resist.

"Go on," Jesus encouraged, as He sat down next to me. "I love hearing you sing."

I blushed, but didn't stop and sang louder.

Fall on your knees

Oh, hear the angel voices.

Oh, night divine

Oh-oh, night, when Christ was born.

Oh, night divine

Oh, night divine

As I sang, something magical began to happen. The lights of the Tree glowed stronger and brighter and began to move, swirling around us in time with our (the Tree's and mine) singing. They even joined the song with their own harmony.

Christ is the Lord! Oh praise His Name forever!

His power and glory evermore proclaim

His power and glory evermore proclaim

Here I stopped, and the music quieted and slowed but still hummed around us. He said nothing, but I felt His gaze on me, so I turned my head slightly to look at Him from the corner of my eye. What I saw made my heart turn flip-flops and made the breath leave my lungs.

His eyes flamed with blue fire. A beautiful, gentle smile on His face, as He gazed at me with rapture.

I turned away, unable to bear it, but I had a distraction.

"I – I have something for You," I stammered, rummaging through my pocket.

"Oh?" He said, meaning I'll let you off for now. But He slid over so He could lean against me, which I tried hard not to think about.

Pulling my present out of my pocket, I held it with both hands, presenting it to Him. I bit my lip, suddenly very nervous. This was my first present to Him, and…

The sound of tearing paper filled my ears, and I froze as it felt as time slowed, as my present was revealed.

It was a picture I had painted of the two of us in the middle of Christmas Town. I was giving Him a kiss on the cheek, as others cheered and shouted "Happy Birthday!", which also could be read on a large banner above our heads.

"Happy Birthday, Jesus," I said softly, my face burning.

The next few seconds were a blur. One moment, I was fighting to look at Him, and the next, I was in His arms, with His lips to mine. His left hand buried itself in my hair, my hat long gone. I sighed with happiness. My earlier hesitation gone as I wrapped my arms around His neck and my hands in His hair. Why was I so reluctant earlier? My heart was light. I felt as if I were floating, as He surrounded me.

Pulling back only slightly, but never loosening His embrace, and His lips still brushing mine, Jesus murmured, "Thank you."

I blushed, as my right hand brushed His cheek. "You're welcome."

Then, His eyes flashed. "Now I must give you your present," He said.

My eyes widened in surprise. "Mine? But… I thought this," I gestured to our surroundings, "was my present."

Jesus laughed. "Did you forget Who I AM?" He leaned in closer, brushing my lips with His once more. "I AM the Giver of Gifts."

And the next moment, we were elsewhere.

One moment, we were sitting in the Christmas Tree; the next, we were sitting on a large boulder facing white. I say white because it took me a moment to process what I was seeing. I blinked a couple times before gasping in joy, for I recognized where He had taken me.

With my arms still around His neck, I turned to Him, seeing His expectant smile, and exclaimed, "It's the Valley of Waterfalls!"

When I had lived on Earth, He had brought me here once before, but I had not seen full details and saw everything like I saw things without my glasses. Now, He had brought me again, and I could see everything for how it actually was.

"Thank You!" I squealed, squeezing Him in gratitude. "I always wanted to see this again!"

Jesus kissed my cheek, His arms still around my waist. "You're welcome. And I wanted to take you again."

Letting go of me and standing up, He turned to me and held out His hand. "Come."

As Jesus pulled me to my feet, I felt Holy Spirit surround me like the wind, and my Christmas outfit transformed into a long, simple, silky, blue dress. It shimmered and flowed like the waterfalls around us.

And as Holy Spirit pulled away, I heard Him whisper, "Have fun," leaving us alone once more. I could not help the heat that rose in my face at His comment.

Now standing close enough that I could lay my head on His chest, I shyly glanced up at my Lord.

His expression from earlier was back. The one that made my heart jump, and my lungs to stop breathing. The one that made me want to melt and become one with Him all over again. His left hand came to touch my cheek, His thumb slowly brushing my bottom lip.

My skin shivered, and my lips quivered, as I began to understand. Surely, He could not mean this to be my present.

Jesus smiled, and I knew He knew what had just crossed my mind. He bent His head, so His nose brushed mine, and I closed my eyes, my heart pounding.

"And why not, Delight of My Heart?" He spoke softly. He gently kissed my cheek and continued, still speaking in a low tone, "When it is what we both desire."

I felt faint, for my legs were shaking, and I grabbed at His robe in an attempt to balance myself. It wasn't necessary, for immediately, He wrapped His arms around me, taking my weight, pulling me flush against Him. His left hand once again buried itself in my hair, and His mouth descended on my neck, kissing the sensitive skin.

I gasped audibly. Every single part of me quivered and shook, so I could not move, nor did I want to. I could only say His Name, looking out through half-lidded eyes.

"J-Jesus."

I felt more than heard Him hum with satisfaction. He pulled away from my neck and chuckled as I couldn't help but reach for Him. Bringing our faces close once more, and sending another shiver down my spine, He whispered, "I've only just begun."

With that, He swept me up into His arms, holding me in such a way it was easy for me to rest my head on the top of His as I hugged His neck and stroked His hair. I barely paid attention as He carried me to the water, until He brought us into the midst of the waterfalls.

I was immediately drenched, but I didn't care. It was the most delicious feeling I had ever felt. It was as if the water amplified the emotions and feelings He brought up within me and soaked me with them. I went limp. I was drowning, and I wanted more.

And more He gave. He laid me down in a pool of shallow water, as the waterfalls thundered around us, though they sounded like music to me. Once He laid down beside me, I turned to Him.

He was so beautiful, I almost didn't get my words out. In fact, I could only say one.

"Why?"

Jesus turned on His side, resting His head on His hand, and gazed down at me with an expression I felt every single ripple of water and every strand of my hair move as it flowed in the water. He brushed my cheek with the back of His free hand, and I closed my eyes instinctively.

It was a few moments before He answered. "I told you I would drown you." He smiled, as I blinked, remembering His promise. "Did I not?"

I shakily lifted a hand to His cheek, as my body shook with ecstasy. "I-I want to give You more." My lip quivered, as I felt tears come. "You always give so much more. I want to give You more."

Jesus bent over me, and I drew my knees up in expectation. His left hand came to stroke the top of my head and his right hand interlocked with my left, holding it down by my head. He was now half-lying on me, and my heart pounded. His eyes burned and I couldn't look away.

"My love, you are My present."

My hands shook.

"All of you is Mine," His Voice dripped with passion, and His flaming eyes filled my vision. "I bought and paid for you." Our lips were barely apart. "You are all I want and have ever desired."

With that He closed the distance and kissed me fully.

Thank you, My love.

I smiled against His kiss as I felt His joy. I made Him satisfied. Not by giving Him things, but by just choosing Him.

Our kiss ended but we did not leave each other's gaze, as our faces still touched the other's.

"I love You, Jesus," I whispered, and with a happy smile added, "Happy Birthday."

He smiled back and kissed my cheek hard, and I realized He was reversing what I had given Him in my painting. My heart skipped a beat.

Whispering in my ear, He spoke, "I love you too." He kissed my cheek again. "Merry Christmas, My love." He pulled back. "Now let's go find your family. They've been waiting for us."

Happiness came over my face, realizing what He meant. "Yes, let's!"

Merry Christmas once again, everyone! Enjoy your time with friends and family, our greatest gifts, next to Him. :)