"Mmm! Smell those trees! It smells just like Christmas!" Chloe exclaimed as she stepped onto the tree lot, bundled up in a coat, scarf, and a cute little hat.

"Yes it does." Jax said. "So what kind of tree does your mom want?"

"She said anything we thought was fine would be good. She trusts our judgment. Oh, Jax, do you remember how we used to go out in the woods with your dad and your brother to get a tree?"

"Yeah, that was fun. We could always pick out the best trees too."

"Yep."

"Hey, if you want to go cut down a tree, we can."

"No no no, one from the lot will be just fine. And plus, it's less work!"

Jax laughed. "Good point."

Jax and Chloe walked around, admiring the different trees.

"Ooo, this is a cute one." Chloe said, pointing to a little tree. "Too small though."

"Yeah." Jax agreed.

"Hey you two." Felicia said, walking over to Jax and Chloe.

"Hey, Felicia." Chloe said merrily.

"Hi, Felicia." Jax said.

"Well I guess we had the same idea! We just came here to get a tree for the girls." Felicia pointed over to Mac, who was being led all over the place by Maxie and Georgie.

"We're here looking for a tree for my mom." Chloe explained.

"Oh great. How's your mother doing?"

"She's doing fine. Can you believe it is almost Christmas?"

"I know. Speaking of which, I need to get my shopping done!"

"Me too! I'm the Queen of Procrastination!" Chloe laughed.

"Mommy! Mommy! Come look we found one!!" Georgie yelled and ran to her mother, tugging on her arm. "Come on!"

"Well I better go! Bye!"

"Bye, Felicia." Jax and Chloe said.

"Well, do you see anything that you like?" Jax asked.

"Hmm." Chloe walked around, looking at each tree carefully. Then, she found one. "Oh, I like this one. What do you think?"

"It looks great."

"Yeah! And it's not too small but yet it isn't that big either. Yeah, let's get this one, Jax!"

"Good choice. Excuse me, sir, we'll take this one." Jax said to the man at the lot.

"Hi, Chloe. Jax." Elizabeth said with Lucky on her arm.

"Merry Christmas." Lucky said.

"Merry Christmas!" Chloe said.

"Merry Christmas." Jax repeated.

"You two look adorable!" Chloe commented.

Elizabeth laughed. "Thanks."

"So have you picked out a tree yet?" Chloe asked.

"No, there are so many good ones that it is hard to decide!"

"I know that feeling!" Chloe laughed. "Well good luck."

"Well, we just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. See you later." Elizabeth said.

"Bye." Jax and Chloe said.

"They really are adorable." Chloe said, smiling at the two lovers, who were now in a liplock.

Just then, a few snowflakes started falling, then more. Jax and Chloe looked up to the sky and laughed.

"I love the snow!" Chloe said cheerfully. "I can already tell that this is going to be a great Christmas!"

"I couldn't agree with you more." Jax said. "Well, why don't you say we get this tree into my dad's truck?"

"I say let's go."

"Mom, we got your Christmas tree!" Chloe called out as she and Jax carried the tree though the doorway. Andy the fat cat immediately darted under the chair in fear of the big green object.

Valerie walked in, laughing at the cat. "Andy, it's just a tree." She teased the cat. "Oh wow, it looks great."

"Wait till you see it decorated!" Chloe said.

"Where do you want it, Valerie?"

"Hmm, let's see, how about right there beside the window? Yes, that will do. It looks nice there."

Jax and Chloe carefully set the tree up by the window.

"So you really like this one, Mom?"

"It looks perfect. Thank you so much for getting it for me." (The phone rings)

Chloe was standing right next to the phone so she picked it up. "Hello…yes she is, hold on. Mom, it's someone named Joshua?"

Valerie took the phone. "Thanks, honey. Joshua, hello…yes, that was my daughter…Seven-thirty…"

Jax and Chloe exchanged glances. Valerie, dating??

"Yes, that's fine. Okay, great, see you in a little while. Bye."

"Mom, who was that?" Chloe asked, teasing.

"He's just a guy from work. He's really nice."

"You've got a date, Valerie?" Jax asked with a grin.

"Yes, I have date. He's taking me out to dinner tonight at that new French restaurant in town."

"Whoa, go, Mom!" Chloe said.

"Alright you two, you act like I've never been on a date before! Well, we need the ornaments now. I have those in a box in the closet, let me go get them."

"Oh no, Mom, I'll get them. You go get ready for your date. Jax and I can decorate the tree."

"Okay, well have fun."

Chloe went to get the tree ornaments from out of the hall closet. She then brought them to the living room. As Jax looked through the box, Chloe turned on some Christmas music. Nat King Cole's voice filled the room, and Chloe smiled at Jax. A fire was lighted in the fireplace, and it with that and the music, it suddenly felt more like Christmas than ever. Chloe then joined Jax on the floor and rummaged through the box of Christmas decorations.

"Well, I'm off." Valerie announced a little while later.

"Have fun, Mom."

"Bye, Valerie."

"Bye. Oh, and I have some more decorations up in the attic."

"Okay, Mom." Valerie then walked out the door. Chloe smiled at Jax. "My mom has a date." Chloe said proudly.

Jax smiled. "Well I think that's great. She hasn't dated in a long time."

"Yeah, and that Joshua guy on the phone seems real nice. Oh, look at this, Jax!" Chloe held up a small little dress ornament that she had made for her mom at age eight.

Jax smiled. "Even then, you knew you were going to be a fashion designer."

"Yes I did." Chloe smiled.

"I'll go get those other decorations from the attic."

"Okay, thanks."

A few minutes later, Jax came back with some decorative Christmas tassels. He and Chloe each took an end of the string and draped it over the tree. Suddenly, Andy wasn't so afraid of the tree anymore. He reached out for the string with his claws, playing with it.

"No, Andy." Chloe laughed.

A half hour later, Jax and Chloe had just about finished. "Ready for the lights?" Jax asked.

"Yeah, let's try them out."

Jax turned on the switch and the tree lit up in all of its glory, decorated in a rainbow of colors. The only light came from the tree and the fire, giving the room a Christmas ambience.

"Oh, it's beautiful." Chloe said, mesmerized. "Ooo, we forgot the most important part of the tree, Jax!"

"No we didn't." Jax pulled out the angel from behind his back. "Here you are." Jax handed her the angel. "You do the honors."

Jax leaned as close as he could to the tree and lowered his hands so that Chloe could step up and put the angel on top of the tree.

"There, how does that look?" Chloe asked as Jax put her down.

"It looks great."

Jax and Chloe admired the tree for a good long while, and they were each flooded by memories of doing this many times years before.

"Well, I think this calls for some milk and cookies? What do you say?"

"Chloe, you know how much I love milk and cookies."

Chloe laughed. "I'll take that as a yes! I'll go make a batch."

Valerie got back home a little after 11:30. When she opened the door, she was taken aback. The tree was absolutely breathtaking. In the background, she heard Christmas music playing. The CD of music then stopped, and then it rewound and started all over again. Valerie had assumed that Jax and Chloe had left it on and were in another room of the house, because she knew they were still there from the truck in the driveway, but then, she saw them. They were both asleep on the couch, along with Andy, who was sitting in Chloe's lap, purring in his sleep. Valerie smiled. This wasn't the first time she had caught them in a peaceful slumber together. They must have been worn out from all the decorating they did she figured. Valerie quietly grabbed the blanket from the other chair and wrapped them up, although it wasn't an easy task with the cat in Chloe's lap, but she managed. Then she went upstairs and went to bed herself, being careful not to wake the three up.

To be continued...