Sam hid her shocked expression behind the hand that she brought to her mouth and looked over at Brooke, then slowly brought her hand down to her chest as she started to laugh.

Brooke took in a deep breath and nodded as she felt Kevin’s small hand patting her on the leg. She looked down into hope-filled eyes.

“Aunt Brooke,” he held up the shiny, glittered ball in his hand. “Where does this one go?” He watched as his aunt looked the tree over and motioned for him to come toward the front of the tree.

“Here, this is where we need to put your ball.” She knelt down, watching the small boy reach up to the branch and hang the ball right next to a grouping of lights. “There you go.” She smiled and kissed him, hugging him dearly. “Thank you, Kevin.”

The boy giggled and rubbed his cheek where he had been kissed on his shoulder then turned and faced his brother, smiling triumphantly. “She loves me too, David.”

“I love you all just the same as I love little Dumplin’ here.” Brooke picked up Julie and walked over to Sam. “Let’s see if we have something for Julie to place on the tree.” She winked at Sam, knowingly.

The blonde reached down into the box and came up with a gold star for the top of the tree.

The child’s eye grew bigger as she clapped her hands while Sam pulled the golden star from out of the box and handed it to her.

“You know where that star goes, right Julie?” Brooke asked her as she picked the child up into her arms and Sam handed the star to the toddler.

“Higher, Anti Bwooke, higher.” The child tapped the tall woman’s shoulder and pointed to the top of the tree.

“Okay, Sweetie, we’ll get you higher.” Brooke raised the youngster up above her head, holding her on either side of her body.

Fearful that the child might fall, Sam watched intently as the youngster strained to stretch her own arms as far as she could. “Brooke, be careful,” she cautioned as the tall woman moved a small step closer and Julie lowered the star onto its home at the top of the tree.

“There,” Julie breathed a sigh of relief. “Now the baby star is having Christmas with us.” She smiled as Brooke lowered her to her chest and gave her a hug.

“Baby star? No, Julie, that’s the Star of Bethlehem,” Sam corrected her.

“It’s da baby star ’til next year.”

“No…” Sam stopped to think for a moment, then smiled. “Well, yeah, maybe. It’s the star that showed the way for all those who came to pay homage to the baby that was born in the stable. It brought shepherds and kings alike from all corners of the globe so that they could welcome the new baby to their world. It’s said that the star was seen in the night sky for some time before the child’s birth.”

Sam smiled, then slowly looked over to Brooke, settling her eyes on the youngster in her lover’s arms. “So, you see, Julie, you were right. It is the baby’s star…the baby Jesus, that is.”

There was silence for a long moment while each of the adults reflected on what was just said. The soft sound of Kevin’s yawn brought them both back to reality.

“Looks like someone’s ready for bed,” Brooke teased her nephew as she took his hand in hers. “Okay, my little lady,” she hugged Julie tighter to her chest. “It’s time for bed.”

Sam looked over to the older child and noticed the drooping eyelids as well. “I think it’s time for all of you to go to bed,” the blonde reached out and laid her hand on David’s shoulder, pointing him toward the stairs as she started the line of tired bodies in a mock parade to the second floor.

“Even you and Anti Bwooke?” Julie asked amidst yawns.

“Yeah, Julie, even us,” Brooke smiled as she stooped down to pick up Kevin in her arms.

Sam turned around from her lead position and added, “Yeah, we all have to be asleep for Santa to come.”

Julie’s eyes lit up at the mention of the bearded man. “Santa?” She yawned, “Me sleepy now.” She laid her head down on Brooke’s broad shoulder, then a second later sat back up, and demanded to know, “Anti Bwooke, will you leave some milk and cookies out for Santa and his wayndeers?”

“Sure Sweetie.” Brooke’s smile stretched across her face. “Of course, we will.”

“Otay,” the child yawned as she laid her head back down on Brooke’s shoulder, “Me ready for bed, now.”

The events of the last few days, combined with a few sleepless nights and the stress from the Holidays, were enough to put the two adults fast asleep in record time. The gentle sound of Brooke’s breathing had very easily lulled Sam to sleep, much like the melody of her bedtime song had put the children to sleep for the night.

The sound of silence, as it held court over the bedroom, was enough to wake Sam out of her deep sleep. Even though they had slept together only a few nights a week, she was attuned to her lover’s presence in her bed. Raising one sleepy eye, Sam looked over to the clock on the nightstand as her arm felt the slightly chilled side of the bed that was empty. It’s only twelve thirty. I wonder where she could be?

Sam rolled over and laid on her back for a few minutes, staring up at the ceiling. Finally, her curiosity got the best of her and she threw the covers back as she sat up, letting her legs slide over the edge of the bed and into her slippers. Without a second thought, Sam crossed over to her suitcase and took a small box from it. She then walked down the hallway to the stairs and crept her way to the hall outside of the living room.

There, next to the decorated tree, was Brooke as she started to get up from deploying an armful of gifts underneath it. She pushed one small package with the tip of her foot until it was well hidden by the rest, then nodded her head as she rubbed her hands together.

“Okay, you impostor. Stop or I’ll call the Santa Police.” Sam’s voice came across with a little laugh interspersed.

Brooke turned to the figure in the doorway and smiled. “Hey, what are you doing awake? I thought that you might need some more rest after that concussion. That’s why I left you sleeping.”

“I only rest when you’re beside me. You should know that by now. Besides,” the blonde laughed softly, “I’m doing pretty much the same thing that you are.” She pulled a package out from behind her back and held it up for Brooke to see. “Honest, Brooke, if I didn’t feel good, I’d tell you.”

The dark-haired woman grinned, then motioned for Sam to come closer to the tree.

“I was trying to beat Santa out of a good spot for this one so that it doesn’t get lost.” Sam knelt down, placing the small, gift-wrapped box off to the side of the larger boxes gathered there.

“Oh yeah? What is it?”

The blonde stood back up as she studied the array of brightly wrapped boxes. “Hmm…that’s for only me and Santa to know until tomorrow.” She turned and smiled sweetly at her tall lover. “You see, Santa made me one of his elves this year.”

“Oh, yeah? Well, Baby…” Brooke cast an eye to the clock on the mantle. “It is tomorrow.”

Sam looked up to the clock and shook her head. “I see that, but that’s Eastern Standard Time and we elves go by North Pole Time.”

The tall woman sidled up to the blonde. “So,” she leaned over and whispered in her ear, “…when is that?” Brooke placed a light kiss upon her ear and stepped back to view the woman’s face.

The smile broadened on Sam’s face as she reached over and, taking Brooke’s hand in hers, slowly took a few steps away from the tree. “Well, that would be when I’m done with you.” The young woman smiled coyly and winked as she edged them closer to the stairs.

Blue eyes grew bigger as Brooke realized the possibilities that awaited her at the hands of her lover. Without a second of hesitation, Brooke lowered her voice and let go with a very sensual, “Ho-ho-ho!”

The sound of gleefully spirited children as they assembled in the hall outside the bedroom was Sam’s first inkling of the new day. Coming out of the realms of dreams, she rolled over to view her still slumbering lover. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, the blonde nudged the shoulder under her with her head.

“Hon,” she yawned. “I think I’m done with you.”

“Hmm,” came the sleepy reply, as dark hair began to move with the half-dazed motion of Brooke’s head.

The nudge this time was just a bit harder as Sam grew more awake. “Remember earlier this morning when you asked me when you could open that present?” She paused for a moment, then continued. “Well, I think I’m done with you.” Sam winked as the sounds of laughter come floating into the room. “Come on, Santa’s been here,” the blonde started to get up, “…and we best not leave those kids alone. God knows what they’ll get into.”

Blue eyes cracked opened and the husky sound of her voice croaked out words that were remnants from earlier in the night. “You mean I get to unwrap you again?” The sly smile came to the older woman’s face as she felt the slight slap of a small hand against her abs.

“Unwrap me, huh? How about later tonight?” Sam leaned in, kissing Brooke on the lips.

“Hmm…Now that’s a Merry Christmas, Darlin’.” Brooke lifted her head, straining for another kiss.

“Merry Christmas, my love.” Sam leaned back in and granted the tall woman’s wish.

The organized chaos of a Gordon Family Christmas commenced promptly at eight in the morning with the arrival of Mabel and Henry at Brooke’s much larger house. After many years of the ritual in their own home, they didn’t need any screaming children to wake them to be here on time. Within the next half an hour, Terri and Rick arrived, dressed in scrubs, for fear of missing any of the celebration. The next to grace Brooke’s home with her presence was C.C. who only feared not knowing everything that was going on.