2004;

I was woken up by noise coming from downstairs. Lindsey wasn't beside me and I was making myself more nervous by the second. I got up, tying my silk dressing gown around me and stepped into my slippers. I checked on my daughters in their rooms, sleeping so soundly. What precious gifts! I make my way downstairs cautiously.

"Hello?" I call out. What a stupid thing to do! If we were being robbed, why would the thief answer?

"Shhh! Steph, it's me" he whispers, rather loudly. I follow his voice into our living room and I gasp at the sight. There my beloved husband is in the middle of toy chaos! The boxes of some are ripped open, waiting to be put together and others are wrapped and ready.

"What on earth...." I sit down next to him, finding a spot that wasn't covered with tape, wrapping paper or toy parts.

"I'm sorry. Aria and Willow have toys that need to be assembled. I forgot all about it until now!"

"You scared me! I thought we had an intruder!"

He laughs and kisses my cheek. "I would have taken them out to protect all three of my girls."

"My hero!" I say, turning his face so he gives me a real kiss. I continue to kiss him all over and his eyes close.

"Steph, please stop"

"Why, baby?"

"I don't have much time to finish this. I'm going to throw you over my shoulder and take you back to bed if you keep at it"

I stop kissing him, giggling and wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. "Sorry"

"It's okay. If it were any other time..."

"I know. I appreciate all your hard work. I remember when I was like five and a half, I asked for a blue baby buggy and I caught my daddy putting it together. He explained to me that Santa was in such a mad rush to take the presents to other kids all over the world that he didn't have time to put it together so he promised he would do him a solid and finish it's construction for him. Oh man, was Santa grateful! And you know what? I really did believe him"

"I bet you were the cutest little girl! If our daughters ever see me, I guess I know what to say now"

I chuckle. "Yes you do!"

I sit with him for a while as he studies the instructions and puts things together then I decide to help him wrap or put bows on the assembled toys. The sun is just rising when we finish and I bring him a cup of coffee.

"Steph, I have to put some finishing touches on your present so can you go back upstairs and make yourself busy? Please?"

"Honey, you didn't have to get me anything."

"But I wanted to. You spoil all of us all year long, you deserve to be spoiled too"

"You do spoil me, Linds."

"I do try." He says and I nod. "We have guests coming as well so we should probably get in gear"

"Alright, angel" I kiss him, stroking his cheek then go upstairs to lay out the girls' outfits and get ready myself. My parents are coming over as well as Chris, Lori, Jessi and Sam. Karen will be joining us in just a couple hours. We have a few other guests who will be dropping by. I cannot wait for all of them to arrive!

I shower, blow dry and style my hair and apply my makeup. I put on a figure hugging red dress that has long sleeves and shows off just enough cleavage, as well as piling on my rings and a couple of random necklaces- the angel wing necklace Lindsey gave me the year we had Aria, my signature crescent moon and another one that was gift from Lindsey when we renewed our vows in 2002 with the girls' birthstones on it. My black tights and high black boots finish off my look. I give myself a once over in the mirror, retwisting my curls I had created with the curling iron and spray on my 'special occasion' perfume, as Lindsey calls it, because knows he's going to get lucky when I wear it. I pass Lindsey in the hallway and he tells me he's going to get ready too.

"Steph, are you wearing...?" he asks with a raised eyebrow. I simply nod and his jaw drops. I smile to myself as I descend the stairs to get the house ready for our friends. I start another pot of coffee and make muffins for breakfast. Next in line will be cookies, the pies and then the turkey. Thank God for the double oven Lindsey put in years ago, especially for holidays spent here. Who knew we would be here year round and not just a few days here and there!

"Mommy!" I hear Willow shout, coming downstairs.

"Merry Christmas, sweet girl!" I say, bending to kiss her cheeks. She has beautiful golden skin and dark brown curls that fall down her back. To my surprise, she didn't get the Buckingham blues like her sister. She inherited my dark brown eyes and Lindsey loves them. She flutters her long thick eyelashes, obviously still a little sleepy.

"Merry Christmas!" She squeals. "Did Santa come?"

"Were you good?" I ask, picking her up onto my front with her pink stripe pajama-clad legs hanging at my hips. She nods vigorously. "Hmmm...then lets go check" I walk into the living room, praying he cleaned up before he went upstairs and smile when I see all of his hard work.

"He's been here!" She announces, clapping.

"Yes he has! And by the looks of it, you and your sister have been angels all year long!"

"Yes! We were perfect angels" she says and I chuckle.

"Is sissy awake yet?"

She shakes her head, a familiar crooked smile playing on her lips. "No, she's snoring like daddy does!"

"Oh boy, what am I going to do with you?" I ask, tickling her. Her laughter can be heard all through the house and it's so contagious, I start giggling too. Lindsey comes downstairs, looking delicious! Black button down shirt, the tightest grey jeans and black leather boots have never ever looked so good. Willow asks to be put down to grab a muffin and I let her go.

"Merry Christmas, daddy!" She says, her mouth full of chocolate chip muffin.

"Merry Christmas, Stevie Junior." he says and I playfully slap his arm.

"Hey, I'm not Stevie Junior, I'm Willow!" She says, hands on her hips. Sassy little thing! We can't help but chuckle at her adorable expression.

"You're right, I'm sorry. Merry Christmas, Willow-baby."

"That's better" she says.

"Where does she get this stuff? Baby is three years old and talks like she's twenty-five!"

"Must be an old soul thing. We've all been here before, Linds"

"Yeah, yeah...past lives...whatever" he teases and he receives another playful slap. "Hey!"

"You deserved it!" I say and he points his finger at me, warning me. I point right back, giving a stern expressing and he kisses me hard, catching me off guard.

"Do I have time to ravish you?" He asks, and I turn to look over my shoulder at my tiny daughter sitting on the counter, having climbed up there with the help of a bar stool. I shake my head as I turn to face him and he sighs. "Damn..."

"Our guests will be here in a little bit"

"Do I look presentable enough for a Nicksmas celebration?" He teases.

"Oh yes." I pull him to me, putting my arms around his waist.

"How good do I look?" He asks, stroking back his greying curls.

"Mmm...so good"

"Am I handsome?" He asks, fishing for even more compliments.

"Devastatingly so." I kiss him passionately and his hands tangle in my hair. We continue making out until I feel a soft tug on my dress.

"Mommy" Willow says and Lindsey and I break away from each other, my cheeks going quite pink.

"Yes my darling?" I ask her.

"When you and daddy are done kissing, can I have chocolate milk?" I can't speak but Lindsey laughs.

"Sure, Dovey" he says, using the nickname we had for her since before she was born. And she truly was the most peaceful little dove once she entered this world. She was so wild in the womb. He gets the Hershey's powder down and mixes her up a glass quickly. "I'm going to check on Aria."

"She's sawing logs!" Willow announces.

"Seriously, where does she get this stuff?!" He asks. I wave him off and he goes to check on our eldest.

I put the radio on at Willow's request and we start singing Christmas songs.

"Sing this one, mommy!" She says, turning the knob on the stereo to make it even louder than it was. It's blaring and now I know for sure she's definitely a Buckingham. Lindsey listens to everything sky high!

Eartha Kitt purs her way through the first verse and I join in.

Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be oh so good
If you'll check off my Christmas list

Santa honey, I want a yacht and really that's not a lot
Been an angel all year
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa cutie, there's one thing I really do need, the deed
To a platinum mine
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, and fill my stocking with a duplex and checks
Sign your 'x' on the line
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany
I really do believe in you
Let's see if you believe in me

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring
I don't mean on the phone
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry, tonight

Willow claps as I curtesy, ending my performance. "You're so good mommy!"

"Thank you, sweet girl" I turn down the radio when a commercial comes on. Lindsey is carrying our six year old daughter Aria down the stairs and lays her on the couch. Her curly blonde mane was adorably mussed up, her big blue eyes were opening and closing as she rubbed them. "Not ready to get up yet?"

"I think she's kind of awake...she must get the sleeping late thing from her mother!"

"That's not true" I say, furrowing my brow.

"Stop doing that, or you'll get lines" he says, then turns away knowing he's about to be hit for that.

"Not funny, Lindsey. Take it back!" I pout and Lindsey is dying laughing. "Please! I'm not getting lines, right?"

"Of course not, I'm only kidding" he says finally, stroking my face.

"Okay" I'm still pouting, he knows that bothers me.

"Hey, you know I was just joking. You look gorgeous as always. I've been crazy about you since the second I saw you. That foxy chick that sang California Dreamin' with me at that party is the same foxy chick I'm staring at right now" He kisses me as an apology and I touch his chest through the first couple undone buttons of his shirt with my long red fingernails. I nod, feeling a little better. "I love you, Stephanie Lynn"

"I love you, Lindsey Adams"

"Forever?" He asks, flashing a boyish smile. He's melting me into a puddle right this second. I still get butterflies after all these years.

"Forever. And ever, and ever" He kisses me once again but we are interrupted by the door bell.

"I'll get it, baby" he tells me and I nod, watching him walk away.

Jesus, I'm so lucky!

A/N: I jumped right into a sequel. I hope you don't mind! I am excited to write this! Please tell me if you are still interested since I've begun this first chapter.