JOHN

Have a holly, jolly Christmas.
It's the best time of the year.
Say hello, to friends you know
And have a cup of cheer!

Jesus, good thing I love the holidays, or Riles would be driving me nuts with the Christmas music. The minute we got home from Thanksgiving she started, playing an even rotation of her holiday CD collection. One right after the other. From sunup till we went to bed. Fuck, I had to laugh. I was hearing 'White Christmas' in my head even outside, stringing twinkle lights on the bushes along the porch and all around the battered old house.

Stupid, I know. Nobody could even see the house. Our driveway is a quarter mile from the road. But I wanted to make it nice. Christmas was tough on Riles. God sakes, the end of her horrible marriage came just three days before the holiday, only a year ago. Crashed to a close with a terrible beating and her first and only police report of his abuse. Not sure if she regrets tolerating and living through the fucking marriage or still holds some misplaced guilt about its failure. Doubt if I'll ever know. Maybe she'll never really know either. But that didn't make my responsibility any less. I was bound and fucking determined to make our first Christmas together a new and wonderful memory.

All my plans were in place. Made sure I was mailing all the Christmas gifts to the Family, hiding the ones that needed to remain with us, hidden and locked tight in the shed. Made all the arrangements. Hando and Colin had already confirmed. See, even though Riles said she thought it would be nice to spend the holidays alone with me, I knew damn well she needed more. Of course, she'd never ask, but I understand her far more than she knows.

And that's my Christmas gift to her. Understanding. Three days till Christmas, and I was feeling smug as hell, sure I was doing the right thing. Teasing her that she'll never guess what I got her.

Gotta admit though, I was looking over my shoulder, worrying that I'd missed something, ay. That it would all blow up in my face and I'd find myself in the dog house, instead of getting that smile I wanted on Christmas from her.

It wasn't till I walked into the house, rubbing my frozen hands and spotted her at the table, tears glowing in her eyes, that I knew I was doing the right thing. She jumped up, smiled a forced grin and started dinner. Yeah, I was doing the right thing.

RILEY

I hate this. I absolutely hate this! I needed to focus, see the great things about my life, the perfection of it all. And I was doing that, I swear. The living part of me, the part that sees the world I live in now, the man John is, really was right there, in the moment. But there's that dead part, the part I keep buried, that speaks the loudest sometimes. I had nothing to be depressed about. NOTHING!

I found myself hiding a lot as Christmas got closer. Crying in the shower, sobbing in the woods on long, lonely walks. And all that time, John was busting his ass, trying to make everything wonderful. He'd offered to take me away for the holidays, someplace tropical and warm. But that just wouldn't be Christmas, now would it? And I really wanted to start our own traditions. Have our own Christmas together. I had to shake this off. I just had to.

"Hey, switch on the lights, baby." John, his coat still chilled from outside, cuddled against my back as I started cooking. I ran my hands down my apron and turned into a luscious kiss. Jesus, if John could kiss me 24/7, I'd never be depressed again. His kisses are like medicine. Addictive. The warmest form of lovemaking on earth. My heart leapt and I hugged him, then ran to the window, flicked the light switch.

Oh my God! A winter wonderland, illuminated by a million white twinkle lights, glowed like a post card. He'd lit several pines, the bushes, even the old lamp post at the edge of the steps. "Oh Jesus! John it's beautiful! You just gave me a fantastic idea!" I turned into his arms.

"Yeah, what idea?" An eyebrow curled.

"John, wouldn't this view be beautiful all year round right outside the greenhouse dining room?"

"Huh," he gazed out the window. "We'll need to do some landscaping, but you're right. Great idea, baby." He smiled, kissed me again then took the stalk of celery from my hand, tossing it onto the counter. "Let's go for a walk," he suggested, pulling my coat from the hook with a grin.

This is one of the things I love most about John. Cold doesn't bother him the way it torments his Australian Brothers. He loves it, just like I do. We bundled in scarves, mittens, knit hats, boots, and ran out like a couple of kids ready to play in the snow. And play we did, to the lovely illumination of a million twinkling Christmas lights. What started with a snowball fight became snowman building. We were laughing so hard, pushing each other into the soft, new blanket of white, that eventually the poor snowman got the worst of it, tumbling in one piece, looking like a fallen manikin. Disturbing, but funny as hell. I stepped back, took a look. An image, an idea!

Taking the shovel, I gathered more soft snow and began reforming the three part blob, smoothing it, adding here, digging with my fingers there.

"Holy shit!" John said, obviously realizing what I was doing and joined in. A half hour later, John trotted to the door and took the pine wreath, bringing it and draping it carefully. "Wow. God sakes, Riles, it's perfect. Looks just like him."

There, right near our lamp post, in comfortable repose, a snow replica of our hibernating bear, his head up and protecting the house, festive with a holiday wreath around his neck. John had added tiny twigs for his whiskers and black stones for his eyes and nose.

John turned a gaze toward me, that easily identifiable hungry look, the one that held the promise of delights to come. "You getting cold?" He asked. "I'm getting cold. Aren't you getting cold?"

He wasn't getting cold. John Biebe was getting hot. So was I. I nodded and let him cuddle me under his arm, lead me up the steps. At the door, we both turned one last look at the snowbear, smiled and went inside.

I quickly tossed the rough chopped vegetables into the soup pot and brought it to a simmer while listening to the big claw foot tub being filled. John came into the kitchen, naked as a jay bird and proceeded to strip me to the bone. I teasingly protested, trying to get the kitchen in order. He sucked a nipple till it ached for him, then took the Tupperware container from my hand, tossed it into the sink and blinked.

"Hey, those things really do stay shut, ay?" He grinned and heaved me over his shoulder.

JOHN

Stood her in the hot water, sure her feet were frozen like mine then kissed everything I could reach. Sometimes, I'm so fucking selfish, don't even ask her what she'd like. All I knew, having watched her laugh with joy, show her stuff out there in the snow, her talent, her playfulness, was that I wanted her. Wanted that part of her. In me. To keep me complete. Keep my heart beating.

What can I say? If I could just keep her that way all the time . . . alright, alright, alright; if I could just keep her that way most of the time, I'd be one fucking successful man. It really isn't that tough a job. Just pay attention. Gotta make sure I do that.

I stepped into the big tub, held her tight and lowered us both into the water. Nice and hot. Perfect. I lay her over me, kissed her face, her hair. Let my hands slide and slither on her wet flesh. "Mmm, Riles." I sighed, watching her lick and kiss my chest. "Love you, baby."

She straddled me, sat up and shivered.

"Hey, stay under the water, you'll freeze," I laughed. "Should get a fireplace in here too, ay?" I actually could do it. There was one on the other side of the wall, in one of the sealed off rooms.

"Nah," Riley snuggled. "This is fine. You're working too hard on a house that's going through serious renovations in a few short months."

"Just want to make it comfortable for you."

"You do too much of that too, John. I'm fine. Really."

My heart ached. Fucking hate when she lies to me about this stuff. "Hey, baby?"

"Hmm?" Her hands were sliding between us, searching for my swelling cock.

"You need to make me a promise."

"Anything."

"You need to tell me when things are tough for you."

"I'm fine."

"You're fucking lying to me. Don't do that."

She sat up, flame in her dark eyes, but I had some fire in mine too. We were heading for something, an obstacle we hadn't hurtled yet. One I was ready to take a leap over. Together we could clear the damn thing.

"I don't lie to you, John. Ever."

I sat up a bit, sloshing water. "It's called a lie by omission, Riley. I'm not fucking blind."

She tried to get out of the tub, escape from me, but not that time, I pulled her down. "Talk to me, baby. Just tell me. I'm not asking for the world here, just the chance to know when you're having a hard time."

"And what do you think you could do about it?" She glared at me.

"I donno, maybe nothing. But --"

She slid to the far end of the tub, her knees tight in her arms, her eyes a combination of fear and anger. "But what? This isn't your problem, John."

"The hell it isn't!" I stood, looked down at her, wondering what the fuck I was doing. Took a deep breath. Counted to ten and sat back into the water. Her eyes never left mine. "Baby," I said softly. "I don't wanna fight. I just want you to be more opened about it. Tell me. Maybe I can help."

"And maybe you can't. How will that make you feel? It'll make you feel like hell, then you just pack up and . . ."

She stopped so abruptly I could feel the train screech to a halt. I crawled to her. "Is that what you think? How can you think that?"

Shaking her head, she buried her face in her arms.

"Riley, relationship isn't all fun and games. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. I will never leave you. Never. But I need to know when stuff is eating at you. Otherwise, how am I ever gonna know if it's me that's upsetting you?"

Her head leaned to the side, not looking at me, I touched her cheek. "There's no way you'll understand this, John."

"Baby, try me."

"I can't. Not because I don't want to. I just can't explain it. It attacks. For no reason." Finally her eyes met mine. "No reason at all. I swear, I've never been happier in my life."

"You want to know what I think?"

She nodded.

"I think you're just shedding the last of your old skin. Starting to discover the new you. The spectacular woman I already know. But this is just the process. That's all."

Riley blinked; I could tell she was thinking it over. It made sense and I knew it. Been reading everything I could get my hands on about abusive relationships and the aftermath.

"Listen," I kissed her soft lips. "We're gonna get through this. But only if we do it together."

"How can you stand it?"

I couldn't help myself, I laughed. Tugged her into my chest. "Jesus, you think I care what it takes to get this behind us? I don't. And besides, God sakes, if I was sick, wouldn't you want me to tell you? Even if you couldn't help me? Even if all you could do is give me aspirin and watch me suffer through it?"

She punched my shoulder and I pretended she'd done some real damage, getting a giggle. "It's not the same."

"Sure it is. Talk to me, baby."

A tear slid down her sweet cheek. "God, John. I'm so terrified. What if I hit the bottom and ruin this Christmas for us?"

Hugged her tighter, I resumed our original position, deep in the hot water. "That's not gonna happen. I'll never let you hit the bottom. I'll always be here to pull you out. But baby, you need to tell me when you're heading there. You've spent so much of your life hiding pain. Maybe you just don't know how to let me help you yet."

"So, your whole life, from now on, will be you taking care of a wuss?"

"Some fucking wuss. Nobody on the face of the planet would ever call you a wuss. And life balances out. Someday, I'll be the wuss you gotta take care of, ay."

Another punch, that one splashed water in my face. "Nobody's a wuss." And her hand took a slow easy slide deep between us, grasping my cock, slithering to my balls and making me groan.

"So," I asked between gasps, watching her lower her hips onto my ready cock, feeling her suck me into her depths. "You will talk to me from now on?"

She stopped moving; let our eyes connect for a long moment. "I promise, John."

"Good. Good baby." I held her hips tight and loved my Number One. Loved her like I knew I would for the rest of our days.

NATALIE

It had been a long flight from Dublin to New York. A long, crowded flight. There were so many people flying to the U.S. for the holidays that the plane was completely packed. Didn't bother Colin, though. Unlike me, he dozed off almost as soon as we were buckled in and slept through most of the flight. Me? I can't sleep on planes. Too many distractions, I guess. So, I spent most of the flight thinking about our trip and the changes in our lives over the past year.

Last year at this time, Col was in LA with me celebrating Christmas and I finally realized that we were better together than apart. Now, we're ending our first year together. There had been some ups and downs. We seemed to be apart a lot because of our jobs. During race season, he was away from home so much. I did go to the races with him as often as I could, but sometimes I was away on photo shoots and whatnot. It was almost laughable. When he was home, I'd be gone or vice versa. We spent more hours on the phone that I care to remember. But, we're still together, even stronger than before.

I'm coming home wearing his ring, a ring he designed and had made. It was absolutely gorgeous, a deep blue oval Australian opal set in platinum with two small diamonds set on each side. The platinum swirled around the jewels holding them firmly in place while creating an undulating pattern. Inside, he had the jeweler inscribe one word: Anamchara. It is 'soulmate' in Irish and his name for me.

I played with it now, turning it around and around my finger as I stared out the window into the darkness and remembered his face when he gave it to me, glowing with love, eyes glistening with emotion as he slid it on my finger. He shifted in his seat so I turned to him. He was facing me and his face was slack and easy in slumber. He has the most beautiful face, full of character. Laugh lines crinkling around his eyes, Cupid's bow mouth, freckles dusting his nose and cheeks, and his beloved sideburns. Sometimes I think he keeps them simply because so many people tease him about them. I've grown to love them almost as much as I love him. As I gazed at him, he opened his eyes. When I smoothed his hair back into place, he took my hand and kissed it, then held it his, snuggling against me as he drifted back into sleep.

MERE

Christmas Eve morning! All I wanted to do was sing every Christmas carol I could thinks of. Just like I'd been doing since Thanksgiving. Ha! Forget the twelve days of Christmas, I go for all 31!

But I gotta admit, I was driving Hando completely bonkers. I don't think it was my voice. Jesus, I hope it wasn't my voice. I'm thinking it was my choral selections that were getting to him. At five in the morning I was doing a rather boisterous rendition of Joy to the World in the shower. Just as I tuned off the water and reached for a towel, the shower curtain flew opened and a rather exasperated Skinhead glared at me.

"Meredith! Would you shut the fuck up!"

I giggled and slithered past him. His arm snaked around me then one of those big hands rubbed against his substantial hard on. "Maybe this will shut you up a fuckin' minute, then?"

I licked my lips. "Do you think we have time?"

"Fuck no, but it's now or never. So fuckin' cold in Vermont, I may not get it up again for the next two weeks." His icy blue eyes twinkled and I grinned. Nothing on earth like Hando for breakfast. Even the fast food variety.

I dressed like a lunatic as he hauled the luggage out the door, grumbling something that sounded like; Just got outa that fuckin' arctic weather. If it wasn't for Baby Sister, I'd tell them all to piss off. Don't feel like freezing my fuckin' nuts off again.

Too many bags in his arms, he thudded and thumped against the doorway then I heard everything hit the floor. His face appeared. "Don't forget my fuckin' vitamin C, Mere." More grumbling then he was gone.

After checking my hair, I grabbed my carry-on and trotted down the steps. It was still dark outside and H was out there revving the engine and honking the horn. I covered my ears with my hands and ran to the car. "I'm here, no point in waking the whole temple," I laughed and slid into the back seat.

"Just makin' sure everything's workin', love." He let out a wicked chuckle and I just shook my head.

"Alright, go, go, go," I barked and dug into my bag.

"What ya doin' back there?" He was watching me in the rear view mirror.

"Just wanted to do my make up, more room back here. Beside, I didn't want to be putting on eye liner and dodging your sneak grope attacks."

"What can I say? You're addictive, Mere."

I smiled and blew him a kiss. "There's a time and a place for everything. While I'm making myself beautiful is not it."

Hando grunted, lit a smoke and watched me. He hit the brake the moment I was smoothing lipstick. Needless to say, it was not a pretty sight.

"Thanks, Skin." I wiped my lips, teeth and cheek off.

"Anytime, sweet M," he laughed then finally focused on getting us to the airport on time.

***

The annual holiday sadness didn't begin its assault till we climbed aboard the plane. I gazed at the other passengers, wondering how many of them were suffering it too. By the looks of the grumpy crowd, my guess would be all of them.

I've had a pretty rough and broken past. Not like Riley's but I could sure identify. H let me sit by the window and as we lifted off, I began to wonder about his past. Hando's memories. What went into the man I loved so much and made him worth loving? All I was sure of was that he was going back to the arctic with me to celebrate the holidays and surprise my friend, the woman he lovingly called Baby Sister.

Bittersweet sad memories or not, I was determined to get over them before we got to the Inn. If Hando could get past the cold he hates so much, I could certainly find the light in my heart for the season. But the memories will always be there and someday soon Hando and I would need to shared them. Knowing how he is, he'd probably go on a rampage. He'd become rather protective, well, maybe a better word is territorial. I kind of liked it. But truth be told, I was still in the honeymoon stage of being a new Sister. Forming relationships with the Brothers and understanding this world. It wasn't time yet. But it was coming. I could feel it.

I looked over at H. Sound asleep and not even an hour into the flight. I opened a book, but couldn't read. Had no interest in the movie. Could care less about the In Flight magazine. I huffed and looked around. First class. Sterile. Quiet. Maybe I needed a walk. Something, anything to keep me from screaming with boredom!

I stepped out of first class to take a stroll through coach. A little more interesting. At least there, I could fantasize about the reasons behind the scowls. Jesus. I wanted to yell, 'It's Christmas. Smile!' But chances are the First Class Police would have come to drag me back to my seat.

As I neared the back of the plane, I could hear a baby fuss then cry. Boy, the scowls became positively J. R. R. Tolkien. I turned my attention to the distressed mother and her child.

"You know, little one. If I had to sit this whole flight looking at these people, I'd be crying too."

The young mother let out a nervous giggle that ended with a sigh of relief. "Thanks."

"How old is he?" I reached out for the baby's hand with my finger and he sniffled, smiled and gripped it.

"Six months." She bounced him on her knee, grinning at his pleasure. "I'm Marissa, and this is Nathaniel." Looking into my eyes, she added softly. "His daddy left a week before my due date then I developed complications. This little one wasn't supposed to make it through delivery. A nurse suggest I name him Nathaniel because it means Gift of God."

The baby fussed again. I knelt and softly sang a few lines of Silent Night, one of my favorite songs. Before the first verse was over, his pretty lashes fluttered and big eyes closed.

"Thanks so much," Marissa whispered, pulling a soft blanket over him. "Do you have children? You seem to know exactly what to do."

I blinked. "Ah, no. I can't have children, but I love being around them, looking at their little faces. God's little angels."

Marissa and I shared a smile then something behind me startled her. She blinked and drew in a breath.

"Wondered where you got off to, love." I looked up at Hando, his eyes soft on Marissa and Nathaniel. His hands lay gently on my shoulders and I turned to brush a kiss on his knuckles.

"He only looks scary," I teased as I stood. H winked at her.

"Merry Christmas," I said as we walked back to first class.

RILEY

Christmas Eve. Oh man, I had so much to do. Wanted to get some last minute shopping done, go to the market and pick up the fresh fish I'd ordered. Italian, traditional Christmas Eve fair. Seven different kinds of fish on the table. It was a shame there were only two of us. The table would be loaded. Oh well.

I'd pulled out the ornaments, hoping I could talk John into getting a tree without me. But he wasn't going for it.

"We'll do it all together, woman!" He was smiling but I was wondering why he wanted to do the shopping with me. He actually hates grocery shopping. Gets lost in the pickle aisle. Hell, we already had a huge variety of just about anything that can be pickled and shoved into a jar. I shook my head and laughed. He was in such a good mood and it would be fun.

We left the house right after breakfast. Started with the last minute gift giving needs. A MacDonald's gift certificate for the little boy who helped John shovel the walkway. A big festive jar of M&M's for our chocoholic mail woman. Nice gift boxes for the cookies I'd made for the neighbors.

That finished, I bought several holiday lottery tickets, just in case I forgot someone. Then off to the market. The bundles felt heavier that they should have, but when I asked Ben, my favorite fresh fish importer and the one I planned to use for all the Inn's seafood needs, he just shrugged and looked at John.

"Come on, come on, Riles. We still got lots to do." John looked like a kid, dancing from foot to foot, like he had to pee or something.

"Alright, chill. Let's get the groceries next."

"Yeah," he tugged the heavy bag from my grasp and led the way. I just shrugged.

In the store, John was like a lunatic. Everything I put into the cart, he added another one. Even the lettuce.

"John, this stuff's going to go bad before we can eat it all."

He gave me that delightful grin, his beautiful baby blues sparkling. "It's Christmas, Riles. I plan to gain fifteen pounds."

All the groceries loaded, he jumped behind the wheel and looked at me. "Next?"

"I think we should get back and put these groceries away before we get the tree."

His eyes cut to the dashboard clock. "Why?"

"I don't want this plethora of holiday food to go bad."

He pulled the jeep out of the lot and headed the other way, deep into the mountains. "It's not gonna go bad, Riles. It's colder in the car than it is in the refrigerator," he chuckled.

We strolled, hand in hand around the tree farm, searching for the perfect one then tying a bright pink marker to it we cuddled our way back to the attendant.

"Thee rows down and on the left. Pink marker," John said between kissed. Our noses were frozen and he rubbed them together.

"Mr. Biebe?"

John looked up. "Brad! Didn't notice you there."

"Can't imagine why. Hey, Mrs. Biebe."

I smiled. Brad is Maggie and Sheriff Mike's seventeen year old son. They're our nearest neighbors. "Stop by tonight if you can, I have cookies for your family."

"Sure will," Brad picked up his saw, headed out to our tree. "Just continue with what you were doing," he teased.

The tree tied atop the jeep, the groceries and bags loaded inside and almost encroaching in our space, we finally headed home. Then out of the blue, John wanted a cup of coffee.

"What?"

He pulled in front of Bonnie's Café and grinned. "Coffee. What about you? A nice mocha cappuccino? Whipped cream on top?"

Gotta admit, it did sound good. We hadn't had lunch, and I'd need a little caffeine boost to get dinner started. "Extra whipped cream," I called to him and he waved.

I sat. And sat. And sat some more. How long does it take to get a coffee and a cappuccino? Just as I was about to go inside to see what the hold up was, he came out.

"Home?"

Like he had to ask. "Well, hell yes. Home, Jeeves."

NATALIE

We didn't stay in New York, but after a short lay-over flew on up to Vermont, a relatively quick commuter flight. We arrived at Stowe late on the 23rd, and stay at a local motel until morning. Of course, we were still suffering from jet lag, and were both awake at 4 and couldn't get back to sleep! Colin spoke to John that morning about his plan to surprise Riley and confirmed the time we needed to meet Hando and Mere at the Inn. Since only one of the four of us was used to the snow, he assured that he'd hide a key for us under the doormat so we wouldn't have to wait outside.

So, it was no surprise when we arrived at the Inn and found no key. John forgot to hide it! Hando and Mere arrived about ten minutes after we did; you can imagine Hando's reaction to being locked outside. Mere though, was overjoyed. She loved the snow and claimed to have missed it since moving to the Temple.

Scooping up a snowball, she threw it at Hando then ran behind the large sleeping snowbear, hurling playful insults and trying to goad H into a snowball fight. He just glared and took another drag of his cig. Colin laughed loudly until she hit him with one. His eyes went wide with surprise. Then, he counter-attacked and a flurry of snowballs and squeals followed. They took cover behind trees and around the building, all the while trying to get the other good with large, wet, cold ones.

"Can you believe those two?" I asked H.

He stared at me for a moment then just grunted and took another drag which finished that ciggie. He crushed the stub under his heavy boot, lit another and grumbled to himself about the "fucking cold".

I tried again. "So, how have you been, H? I haven't seen you in a long while. The last time, I think, was that race at the end of July in New Hampshire."

He looked away. "Yeah, that was it." Then, he strode off down the drive, leaving me on the porch wondering what just happened.

Colin trotted up with Mere draped over his shoulder squealing and kicking. Both were soaked and covered with bits of snow. He plopped her down on the porch step just as we saw John's jeep come up the drive.

JOHN

Man, I was in deep. Had done everything I could think of to stall and to keep Riles from getting pissed at me. Maybe I should have suggested lunch, but she'd have just argued that our appetites would be ruined for the fish feast she was planning.

Almost three o'clock. We were still about twenty minutes early and I tell you, I was hoping for a traffic back-up, a stalled car, a slow moving cinder truck, anything to detain us just a little longer. Turning into our drive, I was almost shaking then I saw them. Two rental cars, parked right in front.

"Who the hell is that?" I said, just like I'd rehearsed for days in front of the fucking mirror.

"Good God, I have no idea." It wasn't till we parked that Riles gasped and screamed. There, sitting around the snowbear, Colin and Nat, Mere and Hando, all bundled and looking like very grumpy, freezing Christmas Carolers. Except for Mere, she looked like the cheerleader.

Riley turned to me, tears glowing in her happy eyes.

"Merry Christmas, baby."

RILEY

I swear, even the wildlife silenced when I squealed with joy! John laughed as I hugged Nat then him. Leapt into Colin's arms then back into John's. I wrapped myself around Hando then dove again for John. But when I hugged Meredith, tears in my eyes, I knew there was no way to ever thank John enough. Mere. My friend from the other world, now happy in our world with Hando. Arm in arm we just giggled, looking at each other.

"Can we take this fuckin' reunion inside, mate? Freezin' to death here," Hando growled.

"Jesus! I forgot to leave the key!" John ran to the door and herded us inside as he scrambled to light fireplaces and haul in groceries.

Hot coffee, hot tea and hot cocoa made, the two Aussies and the California girl wrapped in blankets in front of the hearth, I plopped on the floor. I sat cross-legged in my overalls, three sweaters and John's big wooly socks and smiled like a lunatic. Mere joined us, tossing marshmallows into her hot cocoa and lobbing one into Hando's tea with a giggle.

"God, you're here! I can't believe you're here!" I grinned, looking into Colin's sweet smile.

"Yeah, Baby Sister, we're here," Hando was shivering but grinning too. Wonder if he even knew he was smiling, his eyes on Mere.

John sat and pulled me onto his lap, then leaned back against the bookshelf. He raised a cold Penn Pilsner and smiled, his beautiful baby blues glowing in the firelight. "To family! Cheers." I watched his throat glug the beer and felt like my heart would burst. How did he keep such a secret? He must have needed that beer really bad.

"Ya did it, mate," Colin was finally letting his blanket drop, his face glowing pink from the fire's heat.

"So, how was Ireland?" John asked, cuddling me close.

And so it went. Happy conversation, jokes and teasing all the way around. Nat showed us the beautiful ring Colin had made for her. We put up the tree and decorated it. I started dinner and laughed as the women tried to help. I like to entertain, that means I do the work. Getting them to sit still at the table and let me do my thing was a real challenge.

Finally, John brought in all the gifts he'd hidden in the shed. Jesus, the man thought of everything. I was afraid our guests would be getting lottery tickets for Christmas. Then, in the living room, we could hear the Christmas negotiation heating up.

Nat joined in, shouting from the kitchen. "I vote Christmas Eve!"

But she lost. We'd be opening our Christmas gifts on Christmas morning.

MERE

Oh my God! What a dinner Riley cooked. The table was fantastic, laden with all sorts of fish dishes perfectly placed around a lovely centerpiece and about thirty candles. The kitchen was old and ugly; the table chipped and dented wood. But using her beautiful place mats, best china and pretty linen napkins, it simply glowed. I swear it already felt like the Inn was ready and opened. If she could do that with what she had to work with, what an amazing place it was going to be. You could tell John was proud. His eyes absolutely beamed at her and her return smile was radiant. Wow, Riley and John had found their place in the world. Their home. I almost envied them.

Riley had followed a true Italian traditional Christmas Eve menu. I'm not a big fish fan, the extent of my seafood repertoire consists of fish sticks with lots of ketchup, but I'm game. I tried a bit of everything. Hando put his nose to each platter and I suppose that whatever smelled good to him was what he took. We all ate and laughed to our hearts content then Riley made coffee. Good Starbucks coffee for Nat who loves it. I looked around the table; I don't think industrial strength five-gallon pails of caffeine was going to help that bunch.

Nat and Colin looked like they were going to pass out; they were still on European time and probably still exhausted from the trip back to the states. John and Riley weren't far behind. Riles got up to clear the table and I stood to protest. Jesus, you see, Riley doesn't let anybody do anything when it comes to cooking and doing dishes.

"Sit down, Mere. You're my guests," and she yawned.

John chuckled. "Baby, it isn't like Mere offered to cook."

Yeah, yeah. They all laughed, but I was determined. "Riley, you and John go to bed. And you two," I pointed to Nat and Colin. "You look like your falling asleep in your chairs. You won't be much help either. Hando and I can handle this."

I felt a brutal jab in my thigh and looked down at H with that oh, please help me look in my eyes.

"Yeah, we'll do the fuckin' dishes. Hit the sack, mates." He smiled up at me as if he was already planning how I'd be paying him back for this one.

I took the dishes from Riley's hands and started to clear the table as everyone headed to their separate assigned sleeping areas. Nat led a yawning Colin to the guest room off the living room, and John lifted Riles and carried her like a baby to their bedroom, right next to the kitchen. Hando and I had the living room floor. John made it wonderful, setting sofa cushions in front of the fireplace and a mountain of blankets.

I looked around. We had our work cut out for us. First things first, we got all the food put away, snug in the overloaded refrigerator. All the plates were scraped and stacked, ready for the soapy water. Just as I was thinking how well it was going, Hando showed his true colors. Leaning against the counter, dish towel in hand and scowling, he groaned.

"Can't we just pay someone to do this?"

"I got fifty bucks. Get busy, Skin," I grinned.

He winked and swooped me up into his arms and thumped me onto the counter. "You're a real funny sheila."

He had that glare in his eyes and I almost trembled but he surprised me, setting his lips soft and sweet on mine, sucking tenderly and moaning. God, I was in heaven. Until I heard the water, felt it gush right down the back of my blouse.

I shrieked and leapt from the counter, dripping water and shivering. "Damn! That's cold!" Couldn't help but laugh though, as he took the sink hose and blew on it like a smoking pistol.

"Now, who's the funny one, M?" Another gush of water hit my chest and I charged at him, wrestling the hose from his hand. Hando slipped and thudded on the floor, laughing and pulling my ankle till I was right there with him.

I reached up for the roll of paper towels and started to mop up the mess. "We don't have enough paper towels, Hando." I giggled.

"Doesn't look like it, love," he chuckled and helped me up. Jesus, if we had a mess before, we really had a disaster now.

I was soaked, dripping. So I stripped down to my panties and bra. Hando's brows shot up.

"This is your punishment. No more fun till we get this finished, Skin." Yeah, like that was going to work. He was so distracted while I tried to wash dishes; I started tossing things at him. The sponge bounced off his chest spraying foamy soap into his face. Now he was wet too. But Hando doesn't do anything halfway. He stripped to the bone, sporting a hard on that kept him at least ten inches from the counter. Hell, I marveled, setting pretty glasses in the rack to dry. Sometimes I think all it takes is for the wind to blow to get him ready for sex. Mind you, absolutely no complaints here.

His hands began to wonder, ticking me along my spine, up under my hair, fingers pressing between my legs, over my ass. Next to me was the remainder of the best Cheesecake Factory cheesecake I ever ate. It was a pity to do it, but I scooped a handful and tossed it at his chest. It stuck there on his sharp tattoo for a second then slid slowly to his cock.

Oh well, I thought. Why waste good cheesecake? I lowered to my knees and watched his smile grow. Ran my tongue along his smooth shaft to tease the head of his dick and sucked cheesecake. A nice tight pull that made him groan. He couldn't take it much longer, he grasped the back of my hair and pulled my head back, pumping easily deep into my throat.

Then Hando pulled me off, lifted me in a quick sweep that made me squeal and lay me on the table. Suddenly my bra and panties were shredded, history! Cheesecake in hand, he smeared an even layer of creamy sweetness over each breast then packed the rest between my legs. Before I could protest his face was deep in my pussy.

"Good fuckin' cake, M." He mumbled and I laughed so hard I thought I'd fall off the table.

RILEY

We heard a loud squeal. My eyes popped opened as John's did. We leapt out of bed and leaned our ears against the door. It was Mere, giggling and laughing. And a man, laughing and playing with her.

"Who the fuck is with her out there?" John whispered. "Colin?"

Surely it wasn't Hando. I shrugged. "Where's H?"

John knelt and pressed his face at the bottom of the door, trying to see what was going on in the kitchen. We heard water spraying, bodies thudding, giggling. Then it got quiet.

"Keep watching," I said. Hell at that point I could care less about who was in the kitchen with Mere. I was perving John's gorgeous butt. He gave me a glare, knowing exactly what was on my mind then there was another squeal.

John hopped to his feet and cracked the door opened. Our heads popped out just in time to see a very naked Hando, his face deep between Meredith's legs. We quickly closed the door and looked at each other, mouths wide opened.

Not because Hando was making love to his Number One on our kitchen table. Not because the kitchen looked like a war zone. Because it actually was Hando out there, laughing and playing like a kid.

"Damn," John whispered, then grinned and tossed me over his shoulder. "He just gave me one hell of a good idea, baby."

We didn't get to sleep for quite a while, and I did some squealing of my own. Before dawn the next morning I pulled on my robe and headed out to clean up the kitchen.

It was spotless. I glanced into the living room. Mere was snuggled deep in Hando's arms and they were sound asleep.

"Merry Christmas," I whispered and went back to bed.