The rest of the family came back home a few hours later and when Charles walked into the living room where everyone was gathered to decorate the tree Bethany, Raquel and Jordan looked at him in shock.

"Your hair looks good, dad." Raquel said.

"It's about time you got a cut and a shave you were starting to look like Charles Manson." Bethany added sitting down next to Greg on the couch and stretching out her long legs.

"I acted a little like a serial killer for a while." Charles said. "Figured I might as well look the part." Everyone laughed at this except for Rebecca, Bethany, Jordan and Raquel.

"Did he just make a joke?" Jordan asked her pixie like voice barely above a whisper. Kent wrapped his arms around her and nodded.

"Sounded that way to me." he said. Bethany snorted and picked a piece of lint from her tiny red dress.

"Are we supposed to be happy that he's here?" she asked. Greg put a hand on her leg.

"Baby, he's your dad." he said softly. Bethany slapped his hand away.

"What do you know about it?" she demanded. She stood quickly and ran out of the room and up the stairs. Greg stood to follow her but Lane grabbed his arm.

"Let me talk to her." he said. Everyone could tell Greg was torn but he nodded and sat back down.

"We'll wait for you." Joey said kissing Lane's cheek.

"Kaylee, Kayleb, Laney lets go into the kitchen and finish decorating the last of the cookies." Rebecca said walking out of the living room. The three kids followed, happy to be away from the tension in the living room.

Bethany tried desperately to dry the tears on her face when she heard the knock on her door.

"I want to be alone." she said with a sniff. Lane tried to open the door but it was locked.

"Unlock the door Bethany. Your charming little brother would like to talk to you." He heard Bethany laugh.

"Go away Lane. The day I need advice from you is the day I know I'm ready for the nuthouse."

"Are you really going to make me go all Jake on you and break the door down?" Lane asked. Bethany smiled because she could remember several occasions when her older brother had indeed broken her door down to be able to talk to her. She stood and unlocked the door and then sat back on the bed.

"You can come in now." she said. Lane walked in and saw her sitting on the bed. Her usually perfect face was blotchy and red.

"You look like hell." he said sitting down next to her on the bed.

"Kiss my ass." she shot back.

"Since I know you're not really mad at me I'll let that slide." he said. "Can I ask why you jumped Greg's ass though? He loves you. He just wants you to be happy."

"I don't' want to talk to you about Greg." she said. Lane shook his head. His sister had serious commitment issues.

"Ok... What about dad? Will you talk to me about him?" Bethany shook her head. Lane smiled.

"Global warming?" he asked.

"Poor polar bears." she replied with a pout.

"Look Bethany, you and I are a lot alike. We hide behind our jokes and our smart ass comments. But I'm going to be serious with you for a minute." Lane said.

"Don't' hurt yourself." she replied. He shook his head but didn't take the bait.

"I know that you don't like dad and that's fine. We all have issues with him that are going to have be worked out with time but mom loves him. Mom needs him. She thought he was dead for twenty one years and then when she found out he was alive she gave him up again for us. She knew it would be hard for us to have him around."

"That was her choice." Bethany said.

"Bull shit." Lane snapped. "You know mom. She would sacrifice her very life if it meant making us happy. But is it right of us to ask her to? Doesn't she deserve to have her mate here with her?" Bethany shook her head.

"He's no good for her."

"People can change, Bethany. He must have been a good guy once because our mother loved him." When Bethany didn't reply Lane took it as a good sign to continue. "Mom deserves happiness. We all have our own mates and our own happiness. Don't you think it's her turn?"

"This makes twice in just a few days that you've made me feel like shit." Bethany said matter of factly. He reached out and dried her tears with his thumb.

"That's what brothers are for." he said. Greg walked in the room then and Lane stood up.

"I'll leave you two alone. Think about what I said Bethany." Lane said. Bethany nodded.

"Tell mom to go ahead and do the tree without us. Greg and I need to talk." Lane patted Greg on the shoulder.

"The dreaded words 'we need to talk.' You're either about to get lucky or get the kiss of death.... Good luck." he said and walked out shutting the door behind him.

Greg walked over to the bed and sat down next to Bethany. She ran her fingers through her hair and then broke down in tears. Greg was shocked. They had been together for nearly eighty years and he had never seen her cry. He gathered her into his arms and just held her tight.

Bethany had always seemed so strong. So independent. Now she was showing him weakness for the first time. He ran his hands over her hair and back and kissed her head. After a few minutes she pulled away and wiped her face.

"Sorry about that." she said suddenly seeming self conscious. Greg smiled.

"I'm not. It felt good to be needed. Even if it was just for a few minutes." he said. Bethany looked at him hard for a moment and then laughed harshly.

"I bet you're happy you got stuck with the messed up one of the family. Even my issues have issues."

"You're not messed up. You're perfect. You're strong." he said. She shook her head.

"No I'm not. I'm a chicken. I don't treat you very good." Greg wasn't sure how to respond. Bethany had never really opened up like this before. She was always either playing the sex pot or making wise cracks. He had known those things were only a front she put on and now he was seeing what was beneath for the first time.

"You're a good woman Bethany." he said, meaning every word. She smiled at him.

"And the fact that you can say that and mean what you're saying shows what a great man you are. How many times have you begged me to fully mate to you and I've laughed in your face? How many times have you told me that you loved me and I turned away?" He didn't know what to say so he didn't say anything. It had been countless times for both but he didn't think he needed to tell her that.

"I don't have a good excuse but I do have a bad one." she said and he couldn't help but smile. She could always make him smile. He waited for her to continue.

"I was around early enough that I can remember seeing my moms pain as dad pulled further and further away from her. I never ever wanted to feel that pain. I never wanted to feel so weak and so helpless. I still remember one night when she begged him to stop hunting. She begged him to settle down and become her mate in everyway and he laughed at her. That was the last time she begged him for anything.

"I never wanted to love a man and give him that power over me. I never wanted a man to have the power to laugh in my face and shoot me down. But I've done that to you. I am definitely my fathers daughter because I have laughed in your face when you've begged me.. I have shot you down when you offered me love."

Greg felt a tear run down his own cheek and quickly brushed it away.

Bethany stood then and slammed her fists onto the dresser. Greg didn't know what to do so he stood up too. She whirled around quickly and he took a step back.

"I'm tired of this!" she said. "I love you, dammit. I have loved you for almost eighty years. I want to be able to be weak with you Greg. I want to have what Lane and Joey have. What Jake and Angela have. What Kent and Jordan have. I mean hell Kent and Jordan hated each other for years and now look at them? They love each other so much it's sickening.

"It's not fair that they have that and we don't because I have been too damn blind or stupid or stubborn or whatever you want to call me! I want you Greg. I want us!" she took a break to breath and Greg was to her in seconds. He lowered his lips to hers and kissed with so much passion and tenderness that it nearly made her cry.

"I love you Bethany. I have always loved you." he said. She smiled.

"Beg me again." she said. He frowned.

"Beg you for what?" he asked. She blew out an impatient breath.

"Sometimes men can be so stupid." she said. He smiled.

"So help me out."

"Remember earlier when I said you always begged me for something but I would laugh in your face?" she asked rolling her eyes and waving her hand.

Greg felt his stomach twist in knots. Was she really going to do this with him? Was she really going to bond her life to his?

"Why do I have to beg?" he asked. She crossed her arms over her chest causing her breasts to push up and nearly out of her tiny red dress. Greg felt his mouth go dry.

"It's good for my ego." she replied. He dropped to his knee in front of her and grabbed her hands.

"Bethany, you are my one and my only. I love you with everything I have. We have been together for a long time and I am sure without a doubt that you are not only my mate you are the love of my life. I want to commit to you for the rest of my life in the truest sense of the words. I want you to be my mate in every way. I'm begging." he said saying the last words just to get her to laugh. She did laugh but this time he knew it wasn't at him.

She dropped to her knees and kissed him lightly.

"I would be honored to bind my life to yours, Greg. You are my soul mate." she said. He took her in his arms then and loved her like he had never loved her before.

888

"Ok, Laney, it's time for the angel." Rebecca said handing the angel to Jake. Laney looked over at Charles who had been standing in the corner of the room out of everyone's way while they'd decorated the tree.

She grabbed Jake's shirt sleeve and he came down to his knees so that he was on her level.

"What is it baby girl?" he asked. She bit her lip and laid her little hand on his cheek.

"Would it be ok if grandpa Charles helps me put the angel on this year?" Jake looked in those innocent little eyes and blew out a long breath. He looked over at his dad who looked just as shocked as Jake felt. But he was proud of his daughters kindness and he nodded.

"Of course." he replied. He kissed her cheek and stood up. He held the angel out to Charles who took it in one hand and lifted Laney up into his arms with the other.

Charles thought back to the last time he had held a child in his arms. Not since Lane had been born. One hundred and fifteen long years since he had last wrapped his arms around a peaceful, innocent child. He carried her over to the tree and lifted her high so she could place the angel on the top of the it.

"Ok Laney it's time to go up and get to sleep. Santa can't come if you are awake." Angela said. Laney kissed Charles's cheek and then ran to Angela. Angela and Jake each grabbed one of Laney's hands and took her upstairs.

"You guys need to be getting up to bed too." Raquel said at Kaylee and Kayleb. Kaylee rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on.. It's not like I really believe a fat guy in a red suit is going to come down the chimney. Why do I have to go to bed?" she asked. Kayleb nodded in agreement.

"Because your mother said so." Evan replied wrapping an arm around both of their shoulders and guiding them up the stairs. Raquel hugged Rebecca and gave Charles a small nervous smile.

"Goodnight dad." she said. He smiled back awkwardly and lifted his hand in a wave.

"Goodnight Raquel. I love you." Raquel was so startled by his words that she tripped on the stairs and barely managed to grab the banister before her face hit the carpet. She gave him an odd look and then ran the rest of the way up the stairs.

"Graceful that one." Lane said. Charles chuckled. Lane looked over at him.

"Since when do you think I'm funny?" he asked. Charles shrugged.

"I've always thought you were funny. That's one reason why I always pushed you away." Lane nodded.

"I had the same problem with Jake. It's so hard to be the only man in the family with charms." he replied. He patted his dad on the back. "If this family can deal with Jakes grouchy ass then you'll be no problem. Welcome home dad." Then Lane picked Joey up into his arms and she laughed as he carried her up the stairs.

"What are you doing?" she asked. Lane smiled.

"Being charming." he replied. She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. Jordan and Kent stood up off the couch.

"We'll be going up to bed now too." Jordan said. Charles nodded.

"Goodnight both of you. I love you, Jordan." he said. Jordan looked at him for several long moments. She stared at him like he was a puzzle she was trying to figure out.

"That's easy for you to say, dad. But will you actually stick around to prove it?" Then she quickly pulled Kent up the stairs.

Charles and Rebecca found themselves alone in the living room. Charles looked at Rebecca and saw that she was looking at him the same way Jordan had. Like he was the most complicated puzzle she had ever seen.

He offered her a nervous smile and gestured to the couch. She sat down and he sat next to her. They were silent for a long time listening to the sounds of the family upstairs all settling into their beds and watching the flames dance in the fireplace. Finally Rebecca spoke.

"What's going on with you, Charles?" she asked softly. He looked over at her and felt his breath catch in his throat. The firelight was dancing off her smooth porcelain skin. Her auburn hair seemed full of light and fire as the light reflected off of it. Her blue eyes looked confused as she stared into the dancing flames.

"Rebecca, it's been a long time since I've felt anything. At least since I've felt anything that I couldn't just shove aside and ignore. I heard you the other day when you were in the living room talking to Raquel. I was in the kitchen and heard you crying. I was ready to burst into this living room and kill whoever had caused you pain. Whoever had caused those tears.

"So imagine my shock when I realized I was the one responsible. I caused your pain. I caused your tears."

"I didn't realize you could hear me." she said, feeling embarrassed.

"I'm glad I heard you. I had never felt worse about anything in my entire life then I felt about making you cry."

"Oh Charles..."

"Don't Rebecca... The point is, love, that I felt something. I felt guilt. And it was strong and I couldn't just shove it away and forget about it. I looked in the mirror that night and realized that I truly hated the man I saw looking back at me. He was a cold, cruel monster. He had turned off his heart and turned his back to his family in order to save himself the pain of losing them and the idiot didn't realize that by doing that, he lost them anyway."

"Damn it all to hell Rebecca I don't want to be that man anymore. I want to be the man you fell in love with three centuries ago. I want to be the man that gets to run his fingers through your hair and kiss your lips. I want to be the father whose kids know they can come to him about anything. I want to be a grandfather who is able to spoil his incredible grandchildren.

"I love you, Rebecca. Please tell me I'm not too late." he said. Rebecca looked away from the fire finally and up into his golden eyes. She could see the desperation in them. But there was something else in them that caused the tears to begin to fall silently down her face....

How many times in the last two and a half centuries had she dreamt of seeing love in his eyes as he looked at her.... And now here it was.

"I need you, Charles. I have needed you for so long. Not the man you have been but the man that you used to be. The man whose heart and soul were in this thing when it began. But I need more than just that. I need all of you Charles. I won't share you with hunting again."

"I'm done hunting. I swear that to you. I just want to be with you and our family." Rebecca felt like her head was spinning. This all just seemed surreal. She had dreamed of this moment for so long but she had never in a million years actually thought it would come.

"I need time. I need time to think about all this. It is all happening so fast." she said. He felt his heart break a little but nodded. He had hoped that she would just fall into his arms but he should have known it wouldn't' be that easy.

"I'll wait on you forever, Beccs." he said. He grabbed her hand and pressed it to his lips and then stood and went up to the spare room where he'd been sleeping.

Rebecca pressed her own lips to the spot on her hands where his lips had been. She could still feel the heat and moisture from his kiss and imagined it was his lips she was pressing hers against. She didn't know how long she sat there just staring into the fire when she heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

She turned and saw Jake and Evan, there arms full of presents.

"Ho! Ho! Ho!" Jake said as they sat their loads down. Evan stretched out his back and grimaced when it cracked.

"Santa is either getting old or Mrs. Claus is getting a little too happy with his credit card when she goes to the elf shop."

"Just think soon Laney will be old enough to know the truth about Santa and then none of you will have to worry about it anymore." Rebecca said. Jake shook his head.

"Based on the yuletide carols coming out of Jordan, Lanes and Bethany's rooms.. It will only be a matter of time before we've got three more babies running around here."

'Well then if you guys will excuse me I'm going to get on upstairs and maybe sing a little jingle bells myself." Evan said. Jake and Rebecca both laughed and watched him run back up the stairs. Then Jake turned to his mom.

"What are you doing up so late?" he asked. "You ok?" She smiled and nodded. Her oldest son had always worried too much about her and his sisters and Lane. He had always been forced to take care of everyone.

"I'm just fine. I guess I just got so comfortable down here that I lost track of time." Jake nodded and kissed her cheek.

"Get some rest, mom. I got some cookies to eat." he said and headed toward the kitchen to eat the milk and cookies Laney had set out. Rebecca stood and walked upstairs. She paused at the door to Charles's room. She had never wanted anything worse than she wanted his kiss right now.

But then she remembered all the years of loneliness and pain he had caused her. She couldn't let herself forget that too quickly. She needed to take the time to see if he truly meant the things he had said downstairs. She sighed and walked on down the hall to her room.