"You made it!" Erin said warmly as she opened the door, smiling at Jessica and Haley.

"Sorry we're late, Jack was not the happiest with me when I dropped him off at Aaron's, and it took me awhile to get him to agree that it was Daddy's turn to have him at Christmas, and that I'd see him on Boxing Day. He was especially mad that he wouldn't be able to see Elise, once he found out where we were going. I promised him that we would come over for playtime after Christmas, if that's okay?"

Erin nodded as she took their coats, hanging them in the hall closet before guiding them into the dining room. "That would be fine. Elise has been looking forward to seeing her friend again, so I know that she'll be excited for that. And we're starting in the dining room to get food before heading into the living room." They nodded as they picked up plates, and Erin smiled as she turned and left them there, knowing that Haley was familiar with where the living room was. Entering that room, she made her way over to David's side and sank down onto his knee, wrapping an arm around his shoulders to support herself as she looked around the room at their guests. David's agent was in an animated conversation with her parents, and she could only begin to imagine the stories the woman was telling about her fiancé. Snuggling in a little closer to him, she let out a little sigh as she watched Haley and Jessica come in and find places to sit, finding herself a little surprised when Haley joined Karen and her friends while Jessica came over to their side and took a seat on the chair next to the sofa.

"Haley said that I have to get to know you both better, since I've only heard of you in passing," the younger woman said before beginning to eat. They fell into an easy conversation, and Erin found herself pleasantly surprised with how sweet Jessica was. There were none of the sharp edges to her that Haley had, and the softness stood in sharp contrast to her sister. "I never thought that, four years on, we'd be friends with you like this. Haley was so angry with Aaron and you when she read that letter from him, and I felt that righteous anger, too, because she's my baby sister, and I have to protect her."

"I completely understand," David replied evenly, his hand lightly squeezing her thigh. "But Erin was truly in a difficult position, and I found myself willing to protect her. Everything seems to have turned out for the best, though."

Jessica nodded as she finished up her plate before setting it aside on the coffee table. "We always try to protect the people we love as best we can. Sometimes, that can be a bit destructive, and we have to reel ourselves back in. Aaron knows?"

"He does," Erin replied softly as she looked over at Tabitha and Elise. They were reading a book together, and she smiled a little wider to see the way they interacted. There was something so perfect about their interactions, and she hoped that it would always be like that between them. "I just couldn't live with holding back the truth any longer. I hope that that didn't cause more problems for you and Haley."

"No, it was just a surprise, that's all. But I get it. It would be hard to hold that back for me, too." Jessica followed her gaze over to the children, and she grinned. "I know you probably don't want to hear this, but Elise really looks like a little Aaron. I mean, she has your eyes, but I can see his face in every picture that you send Haley."

Erin nodded. "I've been noticing that more and more lately."

The doorbell rang, and she frowned, wondering who else had appeared at their door that evening, since all the guests were currently in the living room. "I'll go see who it is, Erin," David whispered in her ear, and she nodded as they got to their feet, sitting back down as he left the room. Still, she couldn't help but anxiously watch the doorway for his return, feeling a bit foolish for the worry.

"Elise!" Jack called out loudly as he thundered into the living room, and Haley and Erin met eyes before looking at the little boy as he made a beeline for Elise.

"I couldn't say no to him, Haley," Aaron said as he appeared in the doorway, a slight smile on his lips. "I hope you don't mind us crashing your party, Erin."

"That's fine, I'm just glad that we can make Jack happy for Christmas. Make certain you grab a plate of food for both of you, there's more than enough food, believe me!" He gave her a small nod before going over to the tree and placing a few gifts there. That was a shock to her, as she had never asked him for anything for Elise, but it was a good shock, and as he stood once more, they exchanged a look of tender understanding before he went out to the dining room.

"I guess things really are better between you guys," Jessica said, and Erin nodded. "That's good, for everyone involved. Though the nosy part of me would love to know what he brought by."

"I have a slight feeling that those will be the first gifts Elise opens come Christmas." Jessica nodded as they settled back into their conversation, David squeezing in next to Erin as soon as he'd handed a small plate of food to Jack, along with a few cookies for Elise. "David, you know that that much sugar will keep her up."

"Or she could crash, you don't know which will happen."

"Then you're the one who will put her to bed and deal with the fussing and whining." He grinned as he nodded, leaning in to kiss her cheek softly. "Do you see what I have to put up with, Jessica? Someone who is thoroughly incorrigible and knows that he's handsome enough to get away with it. Though there are times when I wonder if I made the right decision in hitching my wagon to his star," she teased, listening to Jessica giggle at the exaggerated huff David gave out.

"You would be bereft without my cooking, stellina." She nodded as she scooted closer to him, welcoming his arm around her shoulders, his hand reaching up to gently push her head against his chest. "As well as missing a few other perks that I bring to your life," he growled lowly in her ear, and she felt a fast blush bloom in her cheeks as she glanced over at Jessica to see if she had made out the slightly ribald statement. From the way that she was covering her mouth with her hand, Erin knew that she had, and she rolled her eyes a little as she breathed in deeply as she allowed the conversations around the room to rush over her, feeling a wave of love spread through her heart when she saw Elise crawl into Aaron's lap and rest her head on his chest as she pointed to the book still in Tabitha's hands. He nodded and gesture for Tabitha to move closer to him as they settled in to read together, and even though she had promised herself that she wouldn't cry that holiday season, she found herself tearing up anyway, knowing that she was truly blessed beyond words.