A/N I have taken a liberty in this chapter of using something that I know did not originate till many years later, in fact after WW2, but it is a tradition that I felt fitted this story so well and exactly the type of thing that Lucas would know about and choose to do.

Chapter 22

Mrs Winters famous plum pudding had gone down a treat with everyone after the celebration of Allie's adoption finally abated. The happiness all the children felt for her was clear to see, in a small way giving fuel to their own hopes of one day finding themselves being loved like that again.

Nathan had suddenly become very tired after that and with the arrival of Maggie for his next treatment he reluctantly bade everyone goodnight and allowed Gabe and Chuck to carry him back upstairs, the embarrassment of having this done now forgotten in the anxiousness of what had just occurred.

Earlier when Allie had said the word "Dad" he felt as though his heart might burst and to have Elizabeth and Little Jack here to share the moment with them made him even more certain that it would not be long before they would be calling themselves a family.

While Allie had shared her excitement with the other children, the girls all oohing and aahing over her mother's necklace, Elizabeth had come to sit beside him, the joy at what she had just witnessed showing on her face. "We will have a double celebration every Christmas Eve from now on", she told him, "Little Jack's birthday and Allie's adoption anniversary."

Nathan suddenly looked concerned, the thought that this might take away in the future from the little boy's birthday not having occurred to him at all. "Lizbeth, I'm sorry, I didn't think about that. I will speak with Allie and we will make sure that we keep it quiet each year. Perhaps we should choose another day to celebrate."

Elizabeth looked at him, a big smile on her face as she shook her head, "No, Nathan, you mustn't do that. I think it is beautiful. Don't you think it is quite symbolic that the day of the year when Little Jack became my son and when Allie officially became your daughter should be the same. It's a bond that we will all share. I'm not sure that I can promise that future children will be born on this day though."

She let out a gasp realising what she said then burst out laughing. "I guess I am getting carried away with myself here but I have wasted so much time I just want to have everything as it should be. We will have a lifetime together Nathan and I want to share so many experiences with you."

Nathan was lost for words. Yes, he had thought about how wonderful it would be to have a child with Elizabeth, in fact as many as she wanted. It was like a dream that was suddenly coming to life in front of him. Yet he knew however many they may have he would never feel differently about them than he did about Allie. She was his in every way. And Little Jack would be too.

He struggled to put into words what he was feeling in that moment, scared that if he pinched himself it would all come crashing down. That he would wake from the dream and find that nothing had changed. But despite this fear he knew there was something he had to tell her.

"Lizbeth, there is something I need to talk to you about. Something that I probably should have told you a long time ago, when I first came to Hope Valley but there never seemed to be quite the right time. I guess that is why I found it so difficult to speak with you for so long. I felt that as long as it stood between us then I had no right to ask for anything else from you. And yet I couldn't stay away."

Elizabeth felt a familiar fear rising within her. Why, when everything was falling into place did this have to happen? But what could be so bad that it would make a difference to them now?

"Nathan, there is nothing you can say that will change how I feel about you. I know the man you are and love every bit of you, your strengths and your weaknesses. Whatever it is we will put it behind us and look ahead to the future. That is what we both deserve."

Nathan could feel the dread in the pit of his stomach, wanting to think that it would all be okay but wondering if she would really feel that way once she knew. And yet he couldn't live with it between them for the rest of their lives, always wondering if one day she would find out in another way. Surely that would be worse than facing the consequences of being honest now.

He took her hand, stroking it with his thumb as he tried to find the right words to begin. "It is about Jack. I didn't know him but in one way our paths did cross."

At that moment Maggie came bustling into the room, her manner all business as she instructed Chuck and Gabe that their help was needed. Looking at Nathan she could see the strain on his face and chastised herself for letting him do too much. "Let's get you upstairs. If you want to be part of tomorrow's festivities then I need you back in your bed right now!"

Nathan looked imploringly at Elizabeth, who was unable to hide the look of shock on her face as she turned away. "Not now Nathan, let the children enjoy Christmas and then we will talk." She was gone then and he felt his heart grow heavy yet he knew that this was the only way he could consciously have an honest future with her. Suddenly his whole world seemed to be dropping out from below his feet and he didn't know if he could ever get it back.

Earlier, Lucas had requested that the children should all be dressed for bed and settled by the fire before anything began. The babies were put down for the night, fortunately both of them good sleepers who rarely woke anyone until the sun was up, which at this time of year was quite late. There was a lot of shouting and laughter wafting down from upstairs as water was splashed around the bathrooms. It was like a production line as the youngest were washed, dried and bundled up in their warm pyjamas, dressing gowns and slippers, a favourite toy or snuggly clutched in their hands.

Once they finished helping the older children were quick to wash and dress in their nightwear, the girls bringing down quilts to wrap around themselves as they settled on the floor, leaving the sofas for the little ones to snuggle up beside the adults. No-one knew quite what was going to happen but all expected it to be something that they had not experienced before.

Finally when everyone was settled the lights were dimmed and Lucas entered the room, a book in one hand and a lit candlestick in the other. He sat himself down comfortably in the chair that had been placed by the hearth, his face rising out of the shadow of the Christmas tree lights that glowed behind him, the candle now flickering on the table at his side.

There was a lot of fidgeting and low murmurs, a sense of anticipation that could be felt in the air as he began, his voice low and full of the promise of exciting things to come.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Then their eyes opened wide as the sound of soft piano music drifted through from the piano in the hallway, adding a mystical quality to the feeling of wonder that swirled around them.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

There was a tension in the room as no sound was heard except his voice and the music, the children hanging on every word as he made a point of enunciating each syllable, drawing out the drama of the picture being painted in the verse.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutter and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

All eyes turned towards the windows then as the music from the hallway grew in its intensity and then dropped again as lights began dancing across the snow covered lawn outside.

Now Dasher! Now, Dancer" now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys and St Nicholas too.

The music crescendoed with each name, while an underlying melody created a sense of motion as each reindeer responded. Then a switch to more lightness in the notes reflected the rising of the sleigh.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

Heads turned upwards as the music became staccato, each word separated by a single note like the sound of a hoof tapping on the roof. It felt as though the air had been sucked from the room with every word holding the children captive as they pictured the scene being created by the story unfolding before them.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddlar, just opening his pack.

His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow

Then a glow of red light grew brighter in the kitchen, shining around the edges of the almost closed door, the feintest of shadows floating back and forth. The music had softened again as the sound of someone moving in there matched the words they were hearing as they all waited to see what was to come. When the smell of pipe tobacco wafted into the sitting room there was an intake of breath, round eyes all staring in the same direction but no-one saying anything.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

Suddenly there was a busyness about the music but not too loud, with the steady beat of something happening just out of sight.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

An increase in tempo was cut off as a flash of red could be seen dashing past the windows, gone before the cries were out of the children's mouths. The sound of a whistle blowing out in the darkness was followed by silence.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

As the final words faded Lucas closed the book with a flourish and lent over to blow out the candle. No-one spoke, the children still mesmerised by what they had seen and heard. Then a little voice, barely audible, softly asked, "Are there presents for us now?"

Lillian came in from the hallway, an incredulous look on her face at what they had just done. She had heard people talk of Lucas in a somewhat derogatory way as someone who used magic for his own gain but tonight they had all witnessed the wonder of it.

Before she could answer Lucas rose, nodding towards the back of the room where Bill stood waiting, before addressing the audience still silent in front of him. "Everyone knows that even though Father Christmas may have left presents they cannot be seen or felt until every child has been to sleep on Christmas Eve. So the presents won't appear until you ALL wake up in the morning." As looks of disappointment began to appear on their faces he quickly held up his hand, "But, I want to share with you something that my family used to do when I was a child growing up, that my father learnt about when he was travelling."

Abigail and Mrs Winters entered the room then, carrying trays of warm milk that they handed out, shifting the focus from the presents they hoped to receive in the morning to what Lucas was saying. Now little eyes that were wide awake just moments before started to become heavy and so he continued quickly.

"There is a country a long way from here called Iceland, where in the middle of the year they can go for days without the sun even setting while in winter it may only be light for a few hours. It is a magical land full of glaciers and hot springs and yet despite its name in the summer it has lush green hills and brightly coloured houses with big windows that sparkle in the sunshine."

He could feel them all drawn into this new story, not even noticing when Bill brought in the big box and placed it beside his chair.

"Now, in Iceland they have a tradition on Christmas Eve where everyone is given a book and some small chocolate treat and they spend the evening reading and nibbling away. This is called Jolabokaflod (yo-la-boke-uh-flowed), which means "book flood" and it is shared by everyone, young and old. But the most important part of this tradition is that they read the books together, in a comfortable harmony, just like we have just done."

The younger children were not quite sure what was happening and so he and Lillian began reaching into the box to find the bags with their names on them. Big smiles appeared on all their faces as they realised that there was something for them tonight.

Each child had a different book. There were cloth ones for the babies, picture books for the younger ones and then adventure books for the older boys and tales of independent young women for the girls. If he could help to instil the courage that Allie seemed to have been blessed with in some of the others here then he would have something to be proud of, he thought, not a common feeling for him.

One by one they were given their bags, reaching in with excitement to pull out their books and shout out what it was. Joe gave a whoop when he looked at the cover of Treasure Island, Lucas quickly telling him that it had been one of his favourites when he was his age. For Chloe he had chosen Alice's Adventures in Wonderland because he believed if any child deserved an escape into a world of curiosity and madness then it was her. She had carried a burden that no child should have to for so long and he knew that there would be times when that overwhelmed her again and so he hoped that by disappearing into Alice's world even for a short while it would help her to get through it.

Allie was the last to come up, having helped Little Jack open his bag and taken the time to read to him his book about what made a family. Lucas had laughed when he flicked through it earlier as he realised that the characters even looked like Nathan and Elizabeth. If that wasn't a sign he didn't know what was, he thought.

He was surprised Elizabeth wasn't there with her son and searching the room he spotted her standing by the window staring out at the darkness beyond. Her arms were crossed and her shoulders seemed to have dropped. Something had happened and he didn't know whether or not it was his place to find out.

But first he wanted to share Allie's book with her and explain why this one had been chosen, because it wasn't he who had thought of it but Maggie Parsons. Somehow she had understood that Lucas would want to give Allie something special and it was from her own bookshelf that she graciously handed over her First Edition copy of The Secret Garden, saying, "You have told me so much about Allie just now that I get the feeling that she is someone special to you Lucas. From what you have said I see a parallel between her story and that of Mary. Both girls coming from a place of unhappiness to where they not only become who they are meant to be but are able to help others to find their way. I first read it in The American Magazine, where it was serialised, and loved it. Then when I heard it was to be published as a book I immediately sent away for a copy and this is it."

Lucas was not sure what to say, humbled as he was by Maggie's generosity, then when he started to speak she brushed his words aside. "I think it was meant to be and I shall take great pleasure in knowing that it will be loved and cherished by a very special person."

Allie had been delighted and quite taken aback when he explained where the book had come from. Finally, when she had gone to find Maggie to say thank you he looked back to where Elizabeth was still standing and was just about to walk across when Abigail approached her. He watched as she placed an arm around the younger woman's shoulders before she led her away into the hallway, the heaviness in her bearing clear to see.

(Twas The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore. First published 1823 as an "Account of a visit from St Nicholas" in the Troy Sentinel.)