Christmas 1995

Holly had gotten to her mom's in the middle of the night, she wanted nothing more than to surprise Sasha on Christmas. She hated being away from her, missing her growing and learning. She justified it with her not being domestic enough, she knew that was a lie. Things would be so much different if Robert were still her.

She laid her head on the pillow and drifted off to sleep.

Holly's dream

She felt kisses on her cheek. She turned and saw Robert sitting in the bed in just his pajamas bottoms.

"Good morning, Luv. Merry Christmas." Robert told her as he took her hand into his.

Holly's face lit up as she sat up, quickly realizing they weren't at her mom's. They were at the townhouse. She was confused but would figure that out later. "Merry Christmas." She wasted no time giving him a kiss.

Robert wrapped his arms around Holly, pulling her close to him. "Let's not get carried away, Sasha would be disappointed."

"Sasha?" Holly was even more surprised hearing him say her name.

"Yeah, you know that adorable child with my eyes and your smile." Robert reached over to grab his robe as a three year old Sasha ran into the room.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Sasha was lifted into the air by Robert, who spun her around. She giggled uncontrollably.

Holly's face lit up with a smile, this was all she wanted.

End of dream

Holly woke up to Sasha climbing in the bed.

"Mommy! Santa listened!" Sasha pulled her stuffed wallaby on the bed with her.

Holly sat up and gave Sasha a hug. "I didn't want to miss Christmas with you, darling."

"Ralphie say hi!" Sasha held her stuffed animal out to her mom.

Holly was caught completely off guard. "Ralphie?" She had tears in her eyes as she looked at hers and Robert's miracle.

Sasha nodded. "That's his name! Can we go open presents?"

Holly snapped back and gave Sasha a hug. "Yes, go wake up Nonna and I will meet you down there."

"Can you come with me?" She asked as she got down.

Holly got up and put her robe on. "Of course."

The two of them went and got Catherine. The three of them going downstairs to open presents. Holly wanted to ask her mom about the wallaby.

"Did you tell her about the name?" Holly asked her mother.

Catherine was caught off guard. What did she mean. "What name?"

"The wallaby." Holly spoke quietly, smiling so Sasha didn't get thrown off.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Catherine told her daughter. "She just told me one day his name is Ralphie."

Holly was still blown away by it. "That's really something." She decided to get up and go help Sasha with her presents. She was still so blown away by her naming the wallaby that.

Sasha looked disappointed. "Mommy, I didn't get what I asked for."

"What did you ask for?" Holly asked Sasha as she sat down near her.

"I asked for a daddy, too." Sasha frowned as she sat down on Holly's lap.

Holly's heart broke. She knew how much she wanted a daddy and she had the best but she couldn't tell her about him. "My darling, you had the best daddy but he's in heaven. You don't need a new one you have Nonna and you have me. We love you more than you will ever know."

Sasha looked up at Holly. "I love you, too, mommy. I wish you could stay." Sasha gave Holly a hug.

Holly hugged her back tightly, wishing she could stay too but knowing that she couldn't. "We have a couple of days, let's make the most of it."