Shortly after Bethia, Jacob and David had resettled in the drawing room, Georg led the men in. David rose and welcomed them, then he walked across to Georg and shook his shoulder. "Thank you for the quick thinking."

"I caught them as they were ready to come up. We need a more accurate clock for their mess. It can't decide to be fast or slow. Unpredictable."

David Laughed. "We'll take care of that." He pointed to the chairs arranged in a semicircle around the tree and then motioned to the men. "Please sit. Wine is on its way."

Once everyone was seated and had a glass in hand, David stood beside the tree. "I've not organised one of these before, so bear with me as we proceed. Most of you are familiar with the tradition of your officers and NCOs serving Christmas dinner." He saw the many nods, so he continued, "We're doing that today."

He pointed to Jacob and Michael. "Both Herr Meier and Mr Smeaton had been officers in the Swiss Army, and they'll be assisting Georg and me with this." He paused and looked at the presents under the tree. "The next tradition I'm imposing on you is gift-giving, and the last one is singing songs and carols." He chuckled. "But we'll do that one after dinner when we're mellow and less concerned about how we sound."

David lifted his glass and swirled it. "This is the wine we served when you arrived in October. Remember how cloudy it was then? It had just finished its fermentation, and it had not had a chance to clarify." He swept his finger past the men, then he pointed to his chest. "We were the same at that time. Our scheme had barely finished brewing, and it had not had time to settle."

He raised his glass. "Things always change. Here's to changing with them." He took a sip and gathered his thoughts before he continued, "Alright, those are my traditions. Who has more to add to the mix?"

There was silence for a while before Georg spoke up. "We were always snowbound. Zermatt is buried under snow from mid-November until early April, and there's seldom less than two metres – more often three and more on the ground. We'd spend most of our time inside and telling stories."

"But what did you eat? How did you get it?" Maria asked.

Georg chuckled. "By acting like squirrels. We'd spend the autumn drying and smoking meat, making cheese, gathering and drying berries, fruit and nuts. These were added to the grains and hay ..." He looked up from his memories. "Seems I'm telling a story, as was our tradition, so I'll continue. The animals lived on the ground floor, so we had fresh milk and occasionally a supply of fresh meat. We lived above them, and their heat helped keep us warm."

"Crikey! Christmas came in the middle of our summer school break. We'd all go down to the beach at Bondi and play in the waves as they rolled onto the shore. That and try to cop a Sheila or two." Manny looked into his glass. "But we was always tryin' that."

Several of the others contributed memories from Christmases with their families, and when David sensed they were done, he stood again. "Right. Now let's begin the gift-giving." He reached under the tree and picked up the eleven boxes wrapped in blue tissue. After he had given one to each of the men, he said, "These will keep our timing more precise."

He picked up the green package and handed it to Georg. "And yours is set to correct time, so the men can set theirs from it. Go on, open them. At least that's what we did in my family." He laughed. "And since this is my tradition, we'll do it my way."

Georg removed the tissue and opened his box, stared at the gold wristwatch for a while, then lifted his hand to wipe his tears. "Long time since I've received a Christmas present." He wiped his eyes again as Rachel stroked his back. "Being part of a family sure beats living alone." He buckled the watch onto his wrist, looked at it for a moment, and then stood and hugged David.

A short while later, Georg laughed as he released the hug. "Funny, isn't it? Before we started this mission, I always thought men hugging each other were the limp wrist types." He reddened. "Nothing queer at all about this."

After Georg had returned to his seat, David took Maria's hand and invited her to stand with him. "Next, Maria and I have gifts for Mama and Tante." He stooped to pick up the two boxes in pink tissue, handed one to each, and then they watched the women open them.

Bethia lifted her watch out and placed it on her hand to examine. Then she chuckled at Maria. "This is just like yours. I wondered why you were giggly when I admired it yesterday." She strapped it on and lifted her arm for all to see. "I love it, and it'll be easier to see than my pin watch." She looked down at her bosom and squinted. "It's either too close or too far away with my eyes these days. Thank you both."

Georg helped Rachel strap on her watch, then she and Bethia stood and hugged David and Maria. "Thank you," Rachel said. "All of you. Thank you for all you've done."

As the women regained their seats, Maria reached under the tree for a large box wrapped in a piece of red and white gingham. "And this is for you, Oma and Opa. We bought them in Dijon on our way back."

Jacob untied the ribbon, then Maddie unwrapped the cloth and lifted the lid. "I've been searching for some like this since I tried Bethia's. What an amazing difference a large glass makes to the wine." She lifted one out of the box and held it up for all to see. "Thank you for being so thoughtful."

David pulled a heavy box from under the tree and set it at Michael and Mary's feet as Maria said, "Some of our 1911 Riesling and Gewürztraminer."

"I still have taste memories of them both whenever I think about them. Thank you. I was going to ask if I could buy some from you while we're here." He laughed. "I still will."

Then, back in front of the tree, Maria said, "This isn't for Christmas. It's a wedding gift for Georg and Mama." David carried the large bundle across and set it at Georg and Rachel's feet as Maria continued, "Yours was thin and tattered, Mama."

Rachel unwrapped the package a pulled out the duvet. "I almost bought one last week. I've needed a new one for so long."

"It's goose down, Mama. I found it in a little shop in Bern."

Rachel laughed. "That's why I didn't buy the one last week. I didn't want ordinary feathers again." She held it up so everyone could see it as she thanked David and Maria.

David bent and picked up the small box wrapped in white tissue and handed it to Maria. "This is for you."

Maria unwrapped and opened the box, then burst into tears. She lifted the necklace out and held it up as she blubbered, "It's so beautiful."

David took it from her and fastened it around her neck. "I had thought the emeralds would match your eyes. Let me see."

Maria turned and wrapped her arms around him. "Oh, God! You are my god." She blotted her tears on his shoulder, then lifted her head. "I need to see it in a mirror. First, I must parade it around and let everyone else see it."

As she made her way slowly around the arc of chairs, David went to the kitchen to check the temperature, add wood and adjust the dampers. He checked his watch, and then he slid the rack of potatoes into the top of the oven.

Maria was nearly finished when he returned to join her for the last few. Then, back in front of the tree, David put his arm around Maria's waist and addressed the group. "Well, that was our gifting tradition. It's someone else's turn now."