A Christmas Story by

A Christmas Story-

Carrie Horton smiled at Mike as they hung their ornaments on the Horton family tree before moving aside to let Jeremy, Alyssa, Mickey, Laurie, and JR do the same. After they were done Mike sat in an armchair and pulled Carrie into his lap.

�Mom and Dad are being mushy again.� JR whispered to Jeremy, making a face.

�You�re one to talk little brother. I saw you and Beth at Wings before.� Lyssa said.

�And I saw you and Brady.� Jeremy said giving Lyssa a stern look.

�Well I saw you and Jeannie.� Laurie said, feeling sisterly in the spirit of the holiday.

�I saw you and Phillip.� Mickey piped up.

�And I think we all saw you and Lily.� JR said.

�Yeah but did you all see Kat and Shawn D?� Abby Devereaux piped up as she and her brother Tommy sat down with their cousins.

�I did.� Their cousin Lucy Roberts said as she and Jimmy sat down. �I timed them.�

�How long were they under the mistletoe?�

�Ten minutes.� Jimmy said. �I think they�ve become more attached at the lip since they got engaged.�

�I think it�s romantic.� Faith Brady said as she joined the group.

�You would.� Laurie said.

�He�s my brother and if he�s happy then I am happy for him.�

�Speaking of which where is your brother?� Bo Brady asked from where he and Hope were standing.

�He and Kat are taking the long way.� Sarah Horton Reed said as she and Maggie Horton walked in from the kitchen.

�Well I hope they get here soon.� Maggie said as she set down a tray of hot chocolate.

�Why?�

�So we can finish hanging the ornaments. We have to get to midnight mass soon.�

�I�m sure they�ll be here soon Maggie.� Carrie said.

�Well to make the time go faster why don�t you tell the Christmas story again Dad?� JR said.

�Well I�ve got a better idea. I�ll tell you about another Christmas story. It happened twenty years ago on a night very much like this�..

Carrie and Mike smiled as Jeremy helped Lyssa hang her ornament on the Horton family Christmas tree before he set the little blonde girl down. Carrie smiled peacefully as she laid her hands on her expanded girth while Mike hung their ornaments near Jeremy and Lyssa�s.

�Your turn Jen.� Mike remarked to his sister and her husband, who were holding their son and attempting to keep their daughter from spilling her hot chocolate. Abby was at that stage where she spilt everything.

�Where are Bo and Hope?� Alice said as she kept a watchful eye on Faith and Shawn Douglas.

�They had to help over at the pub, Gran. They�ll be here soon.� Shawn Douglas said.

�I hope so.� Maggie said as she tucked her daughter Sarah�s hair behind her ear before smiling at her. Her daughter was so happy and with good reason. She and Austin Reed had just announced their engagement. �We have to get going soon.�

�Stop worrying Mom. I�m sure they�ll be here in plenty of time.� Sarah said.

�Sarah�s right Maggie.� Carrie said before a peculiar look crossed her face.

�Carrie? Are you alright?� Mike asked.

�I�m fine. Just a twinge.�

�You sure?�

�Posit-oh!�

�Carrie?� Laura said as she looked at her watch. �Have you been having these long?�

�Since dinner.� Carrie admitted quietly.

�What?� Nearly everyone in the room said.

�Jeremy?� Lyssa said yanking on her brother�s jeans.

�What Lyssie?� Jeremy said kneeling down so he was at eye level with his sister.

�What�s going on?�

�Well it looks like mom may just be having a baby tonight.�

�Like Mary did?�

�Right. Like Mary did.�

�Shawn D, call the pub and see if Uncle Roman�s there and then call Marlena and John�s house.� Alice instructed.

�Okay Gran.� Shawn Douglas went into the kitchen and took Faith with him so that they were both out of the way.

�Abby take Tommy upstairs and Jeremy take Lyssa. You guys don�t need to be in here for this.� Jen instructed. �And be careful on the stairs.�

�Ok Mom.� Abby, Tommy, Jeremy, and Lyssa went upstairs while Jack picked up the phone.

�Who are you calling?� Jen asked.

�The hospital to tell them to get ready.�

�We don�t know that this is it.� Jen said.

�She�s got the same look you did when you had Tommy. Trust me Jen this is it.� Jack said before speaking into the phone and Jen turned to look at her sister-in-law, who was having her contractions timed by Laura and her hand held by Mike.

�Uh guys?� Austin said as he walked in.

�What?�

�I don�t think we�ll be getting to the hospital anytime soon.�

�Why not?�

�Take a look outside.�

Jen went to the window. �Oh my God. When did it start to snow?�

�About two hours ago.� Alice said. �I didn�t think anything of it until just now.�

�So we�re stuck here?� Carrie asked in a panicky tone.

�I was not panicky.� Carrie of the present said.

�Yes you were baby.� Mike said.

�What happened then Daddy?� Laurie asked.

�So glad you asked that.� Carrie said. �Right around the time I was allegedly getting panicky the lights went out and let�s just say your father didn�t react to well.�

�Mike?� Carrie�s voice called out frantically.

�It�s okay Carrie. I think Mike just passed out.� Jen said.

�What?�

�It�s not the first time.� Laura reminded her daughter-in-law.

�Last time he waited till after the baby was born.� Carrie said. �Somebody wake him up.�

�We�re trying Carrie. You need to stay calm.�

�I�ll do that after you wake my husband up.�

�I think he�s coming around.� Mickey said.

�Good.� Carrie gritted out as another contraction came over her.

�You really fainted Dad?� Jeremy asked. �How come I didn�t know that?�

�Cause you were with Abby upstairs trying to keep Tommy from pulling my hair.� Lyssa said and the room laughed as Tommy blushed faintly.

�What happened then Uncle Mike?� Lucy asked.

�Well without going into detail, labor happened then.� Laura said. �But after your father had delivered the newest Horton-Brady, just after midnight on Christmas Day, we all made ourselves scarce so that Mike and Carrie could be alone with the latest addition to their family tree. So we don�t know what happened.�

�That�s right all we know is that when we came back in the baby had a name.�

�So Mom what happened then?� Laurie asked.

�Well as you know the agreement your father and I had was that if it was a girl he named it and if it was a boy I named it. And I couldn�t think of a better name for our first son than Michael William Horton Jr.� Carrie looked at her first-born son fondly. �I still feel that way. Happy birthday sweetheart.�

�Happy birthday Mickey.� A chorus of voices said.

�Thanks guys and thanks Mom and Dad for telling that very entertaining story.�

�Well you guys did ask for a Christmas story and that was the best one that I could of thought of.� Mike smiled as Carrie started to sing and was joined by the room.

�Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Mickey, Happy Birthday to you.�

�And Merry Christmas too.�

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