A note from your Author...What more can I say except I am SO very sorry for super long hiatus I had to take from this story. Now I can't promise weekly updates, or even regular updates at the moment, but I will do my best to use the slight lull in the usually crazy active schedule that is my life as efficiently as possible. This story means the world to me and I pride myself with staying true to the characters, plots, attention to detail, and of course, giving my readers as much entertainment as possible. Thank you all for being so loyal and understanding. With that being said, there is a lot going on in this chapter, tons of plot twist and turns(and for those keeping track, we are up to Christmas '16). As we move forward, we will delve deeper into lives of not only Will and Louisa, but the entire 'cast' as a whole. I've had the entirety of this beautiful couple's love story mapped out for years now, so please have faith in the process. I'm sure you will pleased with the end result. As always, thank you so much for reading and please let me know what you think. Enjoy!
~Bee

Christmas had always been my favorite time of the year, with our first as a married couple, bound to be the most special of all.

It was also the busiest time of the year for Will. His company had flourished and grown ten-fold over the past 12 months, which while wonderful from an income point of view, was quite taxing in all other aspects for him.

"You need a break," I stated, coming up from behind him to place my hands on his shoulders.

"No, I need to get through the rest of these emails," he returned pointedly, gaze still set on the computer screen in front of him.

My hands drifted down his arms, then across his chest, as I leaned forward to rest my cheek against his. "But it's Christmas Eve."

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Will roll his at my exaggeratedly innocent plea. "Which is precisely why I need to finish this up as soon as possible," he retorted, nudging my face a little with his chin. "I'll be damned if I'm going to open this computer even once tomorrow."

"Oh, you know you will," I teased and he smirked.

Sporting a grin of my own, I straightened a little before something on the screen caught my eye. "What is this one about?" I asked, pointing to the subject line in question with my festively manicured finger nail.

"It's nothing," Will was quick to answer, but not as quick to delete the message.

"Nothing?" I pressed through a soft chuckle. "Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you..."

Will let out a noise sounding like a cross between a groan and a sigh, so I paused. "Yes, apparently I'm a finalist this year."

"Will, that's incredible," I gasped, before pressing a quick kiss to his cheek.

He accepted the gesture but didn't seem all that impressed with the need for congratulations. "I suppose," he replied with a half-hearted chuckle. "Though I have absolutely no idea how the International Young Entrepreneurs Society would have ever come across my name or my business."

Maybe it was the silence that followed. Or the expression I was trying valiantly to hide. Or the incredible way my husband could detect even the slight hint of...

"Clark?"

Looking as natural as possible, I let go of the corner of lip I was holding between my teeth, and smiled innocently.

"Louisa?"

I sighed, then shrugged, then frowned. "I can't be certain, but I suspect Mum might have had something to do with this."

"Your Mother?" Will queried. I nodded and when gathered the courage to glance over at him, I was surprised to find not a bit of the displeasure or incredulity I was expecting. He looked downright amused.

"You're not mad?"

A hearty chuckle escaped and he shook his head slightly. "No. A bit surprised, but no, not mad at all."

I let out the breath I had been holding and smiled as I relaxed into the corner of his desk. "I honestly had no idea, nor can I be absolutely certain," my confession began. "But there was that one afternoon during tea, about a month ago, when Mum began asking me all these questions about the business, and your job. She asked in great detail," I shrugged off the memory and met Will's gaze once again. "At the time, I figured she was just curious."

Will returned the action with a widening grin of his own. "Regardless of source, I appreciate the gesture."

Without breaking eye contact, I lifted my hand to cup his cheek. "She's very proud of you, you know," I intoned, the softness of my touch emphasizing my complete sincerity. "We all are."

"More proud than you all were of Patrick when he was nominated?"

"Ugh, Will," I gasped at his quip in actual disgust. "How can you even compare yourself to him?" He was laughing at me now, to which I flashed a mock warning glare. "No contest," I declared with an utmost certainty, then added, "But now you most certainly have to win."

For a moment, I thought he might have misinterpreted my playfulness, but then Will's expression softened and his eyes sparkled. "I don't need some silly title to know that I've already have won."

As with the previous year, our Christmas Eve celebration would take place at the main house, and consist of both my immediate family and Will's. New however, would be the addition of a combined Christmas Day gathering that would include the entirety of Camilla's extended family as well as a sprinkling of any Traynor's who might be in the area...for good measure. It was a spur of the moment arrangement that sent Mrs. Traynor into a complete panic as she now ended up having only three days to prepare for two days worth of festivities.

"Your Mother seems to be handling it all very well."

Will's eyes darted to where I had just whispered into his ear and he tilted his head into his version of a shrug. "I keep trying to tally how many drinks she's had, but I can't figure out if she keeps refilling or is still nursing the same glass she started with."

I bit back a giggle. "Well, I can assure you she only had one while we were in the kitchen preparing everything this afternoon." He raised a skeptical brow, then glanced over at the glass between my fingers. "What?" I gasped in playful incredulity. "It's only my second."

Will's brow hitched higher. "What about that one at dinner?" he asked teasingly and I blushed.

"Or my third," I grinned, shrugging innocently as I moved to perch myself upon my husband's lap. Once seated, I offered Will a taste from glass, as well as one longer taste from my lips.

"Auntie Lou, Uncle Will, is it time to open presents yet?" Thomas bounded over and asked, mid kiss.

"Thomas, you stop pestering about gifts this minute," Treena scolded, rather harshly in my opinion. "Or you won't get anything."

My nephew's expression instantly deflated, and I could swear his eyes were about to fill with tears. My heart clenched painfully for him. "It's alright, Treen," I tried to assure her, only to receive a huff of annoyance in return. "He's just excited."

"It shouldn't be too much longer," Will added, motioning with his chin to the table at the far side of the room. "Desserts have just been put out."

The boy squealed with delight and I couldn't tell if his excitement was from the anticipation of the present exchange or the impending sugar rush that bound to occur with that many sweets at his disposal.

"Well then, before we get started," Georgina began as she rose from the chair and crossed the room. "There's one small thing I wanted to give Mummy and Daddy first." She handed the gift box to Camilla and smiled brilliantly. "It's just a little something to hang on your tree."

The Traynor's smiled lovingly at their daughter as Camilla lifted the lid from the small gift box. Her expression immediately turned to shock, before she burst into tears. "Oh, Georgina," she cried, leaping to her feet and pulling her daughter to her chest. Will's brow lifted in concern after his father mirrored the action to join them. It wasn't until David, wide grin spreading across his face, lifted the trinket from the discarded box and held it up for us to see. The sterling silver ornament had a grainy image in the center that was almost indiscernible-that was, until you read the unmistakable engraving.

"Our first grandchild," I mumbled aloud, realization setting with every word, and shrieked with pure delight. "Oh my God, Georgie. You- You're-"

At my sputtering, she nodded tearfully. "Early July," was all she could get out before emotion got the best of both of us and she reached out to hug me. We lingered in that embrace for a few seconds, until her attention drifted downward.

"Congratulations, Mummy," Will quipped, face beaming and eyes sparkling behind a glimmer of moisture. I feared those tears might spill over and join the rest of ours as Georgina eased herself into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, but Will held it together long enough to place a soft kiss upon her head. "I'm so happy for you. Both of you." He paused a moment, then sighed. "I just can't believe it. Weren't you only a baby yourself, not all that long ago?"

A loud chuckle erupted followed by a mock incredulous roll of her eyes. "Yes that long ago," Georgie playfully intoned under her breath, then still perched on her brother's lap, glanced over her shoulder at the rest of us. "Honestly though, if it weren't for the awful morning sickness, I still wouldn't believe it myself, " she confessed cheekily. "We never expected it to happen so quickly, especially since we weren't even trying."

"Well regardless," Dad pipped in with a smile and a wink. "I do believe this news is cause for celebration."

"Right you are, Bernard," Steven concurred. "I'll get the champagne."

Mum's smile widened as she turned to Georgina. "And the sparking cider for you and Thomas."

A hearty chorus of laughter rang out, and only as I turned on my heels to follow the men over to the bar to get the glasses, did I notice Katrina's unexplained absence from the room.

We opted to open presents shortly after toasting the soon-to-be parents, and save the desserts for last.

"Such a waste," I heard Treena mumble under her breath as we worked to tidy up the buffet table. I let out a small chuckle at what I thought was her joke, but she huffed in annoyance. "He always takes way too much and never finishes whats on his plate."

"His eyes are just bigger than his stomach," I quipped hoping to lighten the mood a bit, but Treena just continued to forcibly scrape the remainder of Thomas' chocolate cake into the trash bin.

"That's no excuse," she shot back, rather argumentatively. "It's wasteful and very expensive-"

My playful chuckle cut her off. "It's Christmas Treen," I reasoned. "And he's only a little boy."

"It's everyday, Lou," she hissed." You're constantly overindulging him."

I tried my best to not roll my eyes are her, as we've had this conversation before-but glancing over at Thomas, happily playing with Will, simply melted my heart. "No we don't."

"Yes you do. With everything." Treena sighed. "Football lessons, lunch dates, trips to the museums, extravagant holidays, a dog for Christ's sake. Come on Lou, you got him every single thing he asked for that isn't coming from me, Mum, Dad, Granddad, or Santa-and then some."

"The gifts were spread out between us and the rest of the Traynors-"

"You're not getting it, Lou," she cut me off, her voice now raising to above a whisper. "It may be easy for you, but It's hard for everyone else. Even with my degree, I'll never be able to keep up with what you can give them."

"I didn't know it was a competition," I returned, rather woundedly.

"It shouldn't be, but I'll never be able to shower Thomas with lavish gifts the way you can, or send Mum and Dad a bloody holiday."

"It's their thirtieth wedding anniversary in a few days," I countered the latter. "And besides, I told you I would handle getting them a proper gift from all of us."

Treena scoffed. "A proper gift is a piece of that pottery Mum loves to collect, Lou, not a two week excursion to Italy, with hired care for Granddad." My shoulders slumped in defeat, as did hers. "I'm sorry to go on about this today, but I just really need you to take a step back and respect my wishes when it comes to this-because in the end, I'm the one who has to raise them."

It took me a moment to process, not what my sister was asking, but how it was worded. "Wait. You said th-"

"I meant him," she shot back, even before I could finish my sentence and I began to expect she was no longer referring to our parents and Granddad.

"Treen?" I called out as she turned to walk away.

"It was a slip, Lou, nothing more."

"I don't think so," I countered pointedly. "You said them, twice."

"Drop it, Lou."

"Treena?"

She swiveled around on her heel and threw her arms up in defeat. "Fine. I'm pregnant too."

Silence fell over the room before either of us had realized how loud our conversation had become.

"Katrina?" Mum's voice startled us both.

"I was going to tell you all tomorrow morning at breakfast," Treen replied with a shrug. "I really didn't want it to come out like this," she added, glancing apologetically at Georgina and David. "I truly never intended to overshadow your good news."

"Nonsense," Georgie scoffed as she enveloped her into a hug. "Congratulations."

The air was still a bit tense when the two broke apart. "How long have you known, Love?" Mum asked, her voice cracking ever so slightly. "Wh-? Um, when are you due?"

"May," Treena replied softly.

Mum sighed heavily, and moved in to comfort her. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

Treena shrugged again. "I tried, but I just couldn't. I was going through a lot at the time and I-"

"Oh God, Treen," I nearly cried as the realization hit. "Is this why Kevin broke up with you?"

"Well yes," she sighed heavily. "Sort of." The air around us once again grew thick. "It was because he's not actually the father."

I tried to hold back my surprise, but found myself blurting, "Do you know who is?"

"Of course I know who is," she shot back incredulously, and after a moments pause, continued. "I got pregnant on your wedding night," Treena confessed, rather sheepishly. "Freddie and I-"

Will nearly choked on the air he was breathing and was forced to clear his throat. "Freddie Foster." At Treena's subtle nod, he added, "Does he know?"

"He doesn't," she replied softy. "No one knows-well, now all of you do." As her words trailed off, and the uncomfortable silence returned, the realization hit. It was all beginning to make sense now-from her avoidance the past few months, the lack of visits due to the excuse of 'not feeling well', the baggy clothes, her short temper and irritability.

"Mummy, I'm confused."

A chorus of laughter rang out, and much of the tension eased. Treena smiled down at her son and cupped his cheek. "Well Love, it looks like you're going to be a big brother in the Spring."

Thomas furrowed his brow and glanced from his mother, to Georgina, and back again. "And a cousin too?"

David chuckled and reached out to tousle the boy's hair. "Yeah, something like that."

"Okay," he replied, even it he were still looking mildly perplexed. After a moments contemplation, Thomas lifted his head once again. "Wait. So if our baby is coming in Spring and Georgie's baby is coming in the summer," he intoned, then glanced over at Will and I, "then when is your baby coming, Auntie Lou?"

To say I was surprised by the question was an understatement, and it was my turn to choke on the air I was breathing. "Well Thomas, it doesn't quite work that way," I began sputtering in reply, "You see, babies-"

"Actually Thomas," Will's voice rang out at the same time his chair began moving forward. "I've heard that babies are quite hard to come by, for some. And it looks like your Auntie Lou and I aren't able to have one."

"Is it because you were hurt?"

Will gave a small, almost apologetic smile, and nodded. "Yeah."

"I'm sorry," Thomas replied with a genuine innocence that nearly left me blubbering as he lifted his hand to rest atop Will's.

"Oh, Darling." "Lou?" Our mother's chimed in unison, but only Camilla continued on.

"After your accident, the doctor's all told us that there were specialists out there who might be able to-"

"I've been to those specialists, Mother," he cut in curtly. "Let's just say the results were less than positive."

"But not impossible?"

Will let out a soft sigh of annoyance. "Yeah, pretty much."

"What about adoption?" she asked next, her voice taking on a tone of desperation.

"Funny thing about that is, couples in our particular situation, aren't seen as suitable candidates when it comes to the raising of other peoples children."

Ignoring his obvious irritation, Camilla sighed and folded her arms across her chest. "Darling, you forget that I'm a Magistrate-

"Mummy?" Georgina cut in with a shake of her head and she finally backed down.

I flashed a bright smile, hoping to ease everyone's indisputable discomfort. "Thank you all for your much appreciated concern, but this moment isn't about us. It's about the two new additions to our family, and we couldn't be happier."

"Hear, hear," Dad seconded as he sent a bright, encouraging smile my way.

"Well then," Steven announced this time, "I do believe this news calls for another toast."

"Not sure I can remember a Christmas as eventful as this one," Will quipped as we rounded the corner to the annex.

"It was incredible," I replied, following him through the doorway. "I still can't believe it."

Will swiveled to face me, his smile fading as he lifted his eyes to meet mine. "I'm sorry about my mother."

"Don't be," I assured him. "They're just concerned for us. They love us." He knew I was right, but still glanced down at the floor and sighed. "I suppose we should have told them when we first found out."

Will gave his version of a shrug, but didn't look up. "I wasn't at all sure I was ready to acknowledge the disappointment that was sure to follow," he quipped dryly. "I was right."

Stepping forward, I began caressing his shoulder. "Will, no one is disappointed in you-" I paused, gathering by the skeptical frown he had flashed me, that whatever feelings he was having at the moment, ran far deeper than what he was showing on the surface. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied with a dismissive shake of the head. "What about you?"

I could sense a hint of playfulness edging it's way back into our banter and I took the opportunity to reclaim my rightful spot on his lap.

"I'm wonderful," I exclaimed, wrapping my arms around his neck as I snuggled closer. "And excited. And just a tad bit sleepy."

"Not too tired, I hope," he intoned pointedly. "I still have a present I need to give you."

"But it's only Christmas Eve."

"So this would make it the first of many."

I pulled away enough to look him in the eye and grinned. "Well when you put it that way, I suppose I could stay up a little while longer."

His playful smirk widened. "Glad you can make the accommodation," he quipped, and motioned with his chin. "Up. Go on and fetch our coats."

"Our coats?" I asked incredulously. "Will, please tell me you haven't bought me another car."

His hearty laugh resonated through the room. "No my Love, I can assure you I did not buy you another car." Will pressed his lips to mine, lingering there for a few seconds before nudging my cheek with his nose. "I need my tablet."

Without wasting another moment, I set up the tablet on the arm of Will's chair then headed to the closet to grab our coats. He seemed to have timed this surprise of mine right down to the second, for as soon as pulled the zipper up on his coat, he announced it was time to head outside.

I followed Will down the ramp and over to the edge of the gravel drive. It was there he stopped and we waited. And waited. It was really no longer than a minute or two before the chill in the air began to nip at me. "Maybe we should wait inside," I suggested, without even knowing anything about what was due to happen. "You've got nothing on your head or hands and no blanket covering up your legs."

"I'm fine," he scoffed playfully. "It's not even that cold out." Will's gaze continued to study the horizon. "It shouldn't be longer than a minute or two more."

True to his word, just seconds later, there was a light in the distance, heading right for us. "Will?"

"Just be patient."

As the light neared, my surprise came into full view. "Oh my God, Will. What is this?"

My shocked expression made him chuckle. "It's your one horse-well actually two horse open sleigh," he answered nonchalantly. "You've been singing Jungle Bells around here, non-stop, for the past month."

Moisture instantly pooled in my eyes. "So you just decided to go and have one built for me?"

"Well, not until you mentioned how magical you thought it would be to have a moonlit sleigh ride over the snow covered countryside."

"Will, I-"

"We've has this thing forever, but Henry here was instrumental in getting it in both working condition and accessible for me to ride in," he explained, nodding his thanks to the cherished employee who was lowering the hand built ramp to the ground.

"This is incredible," I gasped breathlessly. "Thank you, Henry. Merry Christmas."

"Pleasure's all mine, Mrs.T. Happy Christmas to you as well."

Suddenly rendered speechless at the reality of the moment, I glanced down at my husband in complete awe. Grinning, he motioned for me to move closer. "Don't worry," he whispered into my ear. "I made sure to give him a very generous bonus for his time."

"You are utterly mad, Will Traynor, and absolutely brilliant," I quipped, lowering myself onto his lap.

He beamed at me. So you like it, then?"

"I love it," I declared, eyes wet and shinning with hands clasped over his cheeks. "But not nearly as much as I love you."