Prologue:

Thanks go out to the various fanfic authors and Maddy Bell, herself, for creating this ‘universe' and providing the inspiration. Whether you realize it or not, there's a part of each of you, in this work.

I also wish to dedicate this work to Karen J, Jillian, Angharad ,Saphira, Sidonie and Meri – for putting up with me all this time and encouraging me to do this.… *BIG HUG!* …… PB

(Trans Siberian Orchestra, lyrics for “Different Wings” from the “Lost Christmas Eve” CD)

Dave looked at the dashboard clock and saw it was after nine PM. Rubbing his eyes, he took the key out of the ignition before popping the boot. Gran was told to go into the house while he went to fetch her luggage.

“Hallo, Mama,” Jenny hugged her mum after she got into the house.

“Hallo, Tochter,” Josie replied. This had the desired effect on two very surprised young ladies waiting to welcome their Gran.

“You said ‘hello, daughter' … In German! … You never…” A puzzled Gaby questioned her Gran about this unknown talent.

“Hey … I don't remember much more,“ Gran interrupted as she opened her arms to hug both girls.

“Now, let me get in the house and I'll tell you all about it,” Josie whispered when Jen was out of earshot.

Passing a box to Gaby, Jenny instructed, “Gaby … carefully take this box into the kitchen … Jules? … Please help your father unloading the rest of the car?”

“What's in the box, Gran?” Gaby asked, noting it wasn't as light as its small size suggested.

“Mince pies and a Christmas cake … thought you'd be having withdrawal symptoms if you didn't get your fill,” Gran jokingly replied.

“I was starting to get worried … Danke Gran!” Gaby was genuinely happy that Gran brought them and showed her appreciation with a peck on the cheek while carefully holding onto the precious box.

After Gran got settled in the spare bedroom and all her other boxes were brought in, Josie joined the family in the kitchen for a cuppa. As soon as Jen brought a tea to her mum, both girls were at her to learn how she knew any German.

“Have you ever wondered how your mum was so fluent in German a very short time after going to Germany?” Gran had the undivided attention of both Gaby and Jules while Dave and Jen looked on.

“You girls never knew your Grampa or much about him … did you?” Josie calmly asked and without waiting for a response, she continued her story.

“Your Grampa was in the RAF when we were married. When your mum was three, we moved to RAF Wildenrath … near the Dutch border … actually it wasn't too far from Cologne as I recall.” She briefly paused to organize her thoughts. It was clear from her facial expressions; the memories were bittersweet for Josie.

“We lived there … in Germany for eight years … it's rather hard for a little girl to live in Germany for so long and not have German friends … or learn the language. She was about the same age as you were Gaby when she got bit by the cycling bug.” The girls saw it was getting hard for Gran to go on so when she paused, Gaby put her hand on her Gran's arm. That was her signal not to go on. “Thank you, dear,” Gran whispered.

Later when Gaby and her mum were alone, Gaby asked, “You knew German as a little girl? ... kewl.”

“Well, yes and no. After we moved back to England I never used it, until I went pro. I'd forgotten a lot of it, but it all came back after a short time with the team,” Jen explained.

“Mum? … I saw it on your faces … that wasn't easy for you or Gran, was it?” Gaby softly asked. She noticed her mum had a far-away look in her eyes. She broke her silence after pondering her answer for several minutes.

“No … I don't think it was … I'm sure it brought back a few painful memories ... I know it did for me.” Jenny explained that her Dad was killed near the end of his second four-year posting, when his jet crashed. Jenny was 11.

“C'mon, Kiddo! … let's get back to the others,” Jen suggested, changing the subject.

“Somebody's been busy baking,” Gran announced when Jenny and Gaby reappeared.

“Not me, Mum. That would be Gaby and Katia Pinger … you'll meet her later,” Jenny allowed.

“I wasn't going to go through a Christmas without your Shortbread cookies an' since you weren't here….” Gaby's voice trailed off as she proudly pointed out the full glass cookie jar.

“And these?” Gran asked as she finished the cookie in her hand.

“Kat taught me how to make Vanillekipferl,“ Gaby replied. Seeing a blank look on Gran's face, Gaby quickly added, “ Vanilla cookies.”

“Ahhh … should've known,” Gran replied with a knowing smile on her face.

C'mon girls, you still have one more day of school left, so off you go,” intoned Jenny when the evening got late. “Gran will still be here in the morning … I promise.”

The final day at school was for the most part a do-nothing kind of day. It seemed nobody, teachers or students wanted to do any class work on the last day before the Christmas holidays. Most of Gaby's day was taken up with making holiday plans with her friends and letting them know about Ally's visit. By the time school was let out, Gaby and her friends had the entire holidays planned.

The next morning, it was here - The 24 th of December, ‘ Heiliger Abend or Holy Evening' . When Gaby got out of bed, she was excited that it was her first Christmas in Germany. It had been one thing to participate in the various events on the previous Advent Sundays with the Pingers, but today was the big event!

It also didn't escape her that this was her first Christmas as Gaby. About the only things Drew liked were the food and the presents, but Gaby was determined to enjoy everything, including looking her prettiest! First order of business was to beat Jules to the washroom and freshen up then get downstairs for breakfast.

Completing her morning ritual, she stepped into her fluffy slippers robe and headed downstairs.

“Morgen, Frohe Weihnachten!” Gaby cheerfully greeted as she entered the kitchen. “Merry Christmas, Gran” Gaby added as she gave Josie a hug and a peck on the cheek.

After an early breakfast of tea, toast and whatever else everybody felt like getting, Dave took control following a quick inspection of the bare tree in the lounge.

“Ok, we've made it easy for everyone this year … all the tree decorations are already in the lounge … So …Gaby and I will start the tree, while you three prepare the kitchen for later. When you're done that, come through and help us … the Pinger's will be returning with us after church, so everything will have to be done before we go. That gives us a few hours before we have to get ready.”

“I've still got some wrapping, so when I'm finished here, I'll take care of that,” Gran offered.

Since Gran offered to stay behind while the rest went to the church service, Jenny felt better about putting the goose into cook. Gran also volunteered to get the roast potatoes and carrots ready to put on when needed for the dinner.

While Dave and Gaby started on the tree, the three others cleaned up the kitchen and prepared a platter of Gaby's shortbread and vanilla cookies, plus slices of Gran's Christmas cake. Once that was done, Jules and Jenny joined the other two finishing up the tree and Josie retired to her room to complete her wrapping.

“Nice timing girls … Gaby an' I have done all the ‘ard stuff,” Dave jokingly voiced as the two entered the lounge.

“Well, if nothin's left,” Jules teased.

“Grab some balls, Sis.” Gaby quipped without thinking as she was about to hang a couple of tree ornaments.

“GABY!” Dave, Jenny and Jules shouted in unison through outbursts of laughter. As soon as Gaby heard them, she knew.

“That didn't sound right, did it?” Gaby sheepishly asked as she turned deep crimson.

“NO!” Again the response came amid laughter.

Somehow they got through decorating the tree, despite the occasional giggling fit.

“I must say the tree looks lovely … I have to thank Maria for taking me to get those hand crafted ornaments … they certainly add a uniqueness to the tree. I think we'll have to get more for next year and eventually replace all the store-stuff,” Jenny stated as she stood back to admire their collective handiwork.

“What do you think darling?” Jenny asked Dave.

“I think you're right,” Dave replied.

“Ohh - kay … let's get the presents out and get the rest of the place cleaned and decorated … then lunch!” Jenny suggested.

“Here Sis … let's put this up,” Gaby offered as she handed Jules some mistletoe.

“Now who are you planning to get under here?” Nodding her head in agreement, Jules asked sarcastically as she grabbed a chair to stand on.

“No one … ‘scuse me,” Gaby quietly uttered then ran upstairs.

“Jules!” Josie had seen the entire exchange as she was putting a present under the tree and to her, it seemed Jules was teasing her sister. “There was absolutely no need for you to embarrass your sister like that …” Without saying a word or even paying attention to her grandmother, Jules bounded up the stairs after Gaby

“Kids! … lunch!” Jenny called from the kitchen.

“They're up up-stairs. Jules embarrassed Gaby about her boyfriend and she ran after her,” Josie offered as she entered the kitchen. It was evident she disapproved of Jules' behaviour.

As Jen started to leave, Josie offered to go and get the girls instead. “No Mum … I'll go … just leave it, please.”

Jen reached the doorway of Gaby's room only to see Jules holding Gaby in total silence. She thought she could hear the occasional sniffle, but they were so faint, Jen couldn't be positive if it was Gaby or Jules doing the crying.

“You two ok?” Jenny softly asked as she entered the room.

‘Yeah, Mum,” Gaby replied. When she looked at her mum, Jenny was clearly able to see tear tracks down Gaby's face.

“What happened? … Mum said Jules was teasing you about your boyfriend?”

“I've not thought of Maddy all day until I was helping Jules hang the mistletoe and Sis opened her mouth about getting someone under it … I felt myself loosing it so I came up stairs…” Gaby quietly replied, her voice fading as she ended her explanation.

“An' Mum thought you were upset because of your sister's teasing you about a boy.”

“Mum … I just had a thought … if Gran thought Jules was teasing me about ‘my' boyfriend … she doesn't know, does she?” A worried Gaby whispered.

“No … Not unless you told her … I've not had a chance to talk to her … Do you want to tell her or should I talk to her?”

“Maybe you could soften her up if you get the chance, then I'll tell her.” For a brief moment, Jenny thought she saw a smile of relief cross Gaby's face.

“Ok, let me deal with her … if I don't get a chance when she's here, I'll be talking to her other times … Now both of you fix yourselves then come downstairs and grab some lunch. It'll be awhile before we sit down to dinner.”

A short time later both girls made themselves a sandwich and joined the rest at the dinning room table, while Jenny took over the kitchen and put the goose into cook.

“Feel better, dear?” Josie quietly asked as Gaby sat down next to her, at the table.

“I'm ok, Gran.” Gaby whispered.

“I do hope Jules apologized for teasing you … that was uncalled for.”

“Nothing to apologize for, Gran … she did nothing wrong.”

“Nonsense … it's hard enough when a young lady starts to get interested in boys only to be teased by her own sister.” Upon hearing her Gran, Gaby was starting to get a bit uncomfortable with the conversation and started looking around trying to silently get her mum's attention.

“Mum … can I have a hand here?” Jen called out after watching Gaby's reactions to an unheard conversation. As Gran started out to the kitchen, Gaby mouthed a ‘thank you' to her mum. Jenny smiled and nodded as her response.

Out in the kitchen, Gaby could see her mum going through the motions of talking to Gran. During lunch nothing was mentioned of the conversation and Gran didn't broach the subject of boyfriends for the rest of the visit.

“Gaby, you take first shift in the bathroom while your sister and I do the washing up,” Jenny instructed.

“You planning to wear your feathers to church, Sis?” Jules asked as Gaby went to pass her on her way out of the kitchen.

“Didn't plan on it … why?” Gaby asked.

“Well … you look so nice and … I kind of thought it'd be rather nice if all three of us wore feathers, like we did at George's party,” Jules added in playful pout.

“If you wanted to borrow my earrings again, you just needed to ask,” Gaby offered.

“But it looks so kewel when all three of us do it,” Jules replies.

“I like your sister's idea, Kiddo.” Jen intoned when Gaby looked to her mum for support.

“Sis? … Say ‘yes' … pretty please?” Jules pleaded with her sister and at the same time giving Gaby her best puppy-dog eyes.

Gaby, more from habit than anything else, looked over at her dad who was half-following the exchange with more than a little amusement as he was trying to follow Heinrich's recipe for egg nog.

Acknowledging Gaby's pleading expression, he just shrugged his shoulders as he told her, “You're on your own, Princess ... but if you want my opinion...”

Gabs capitulated seeing see was out voted. “Alright! … (sigh) Maybe I should email Jessica and ask if she could pick up a few more?” Both Jenny and Jules high-fived each other then thanked Gaby for her generous offer.

Josie sat quietly at the kitchen table, amused at the conversation yet puzzled at all the fuss over some feathers. “F eathers? ” she wondered silently.

“Whaddya wearing?” Jules quickly asked when she noticed Gaby starting to move.

“Thought maybe my jeans...” Gaby calmly replied, not able to resist the chance to wind her mum up.

Just as Jenny was about to reach the boiling point and say something, Gaby quickly added, “… but I've decided on my black skirt … you know … the one that's just below my knees, and my red cotton blouse, beige opaques and my knee-high dress boots … an' you?”

“My black dress” Jules replied.

“Gaby, one … Jenny, nil … Think I better go upstairs and go through my closet, dear…” A red-faced, Jenny smugly suggested to Dave. “… or else these two will be complaining their ol' mum is showing them up!”

Jenny then remembered she had committed to helping Jules wash up and thoughtfully added, “After Jules and I finish here, of course.”

Gran sat silently at the table, looking amused, taking all this exchange in. It had been a long time since she'd seen her daughter this happy and carrying on with her children as she was. When Jenny and Jules finally left to go get ready, Gran cornered Dave before he also went to get ready for church.

“I've not seen her so happy in years … and a complete reversal from last year … what changed?”

“Her outlook on life's changed, having survived the cancer … the move … and being together again,” Dave thoughtfully replied. “Sometimes she still tears up when she tells me how lucky she is to have us.”

Josie sat on the couch with her knitting while the family were upstairs getting ready when the doorbell rang. Expecting the Pinger's, Dave called down and asked her to answer to her to answer the door.

“Frohe Weihnachten … er … Herr Bond?” Heinrich quickly wished a Merry Christmas and then realizing he was addressing someone he didn't expect, sheepishly asked for Dave.

“Heinrich! … Maria! C'mon in … you too Kat! Frohe Weihnachten!” Dave enthusiastically allowed as he came up behind Josie. Dave greeted each of the Pinger's as they walked past him by shaking Heinrich's hand and giving both Maria and Kat a peck on the cheek. Once inside, he quickly introduced Josie to the Pinger's.

“We brought some food for tonight's feast,” Maria explained as she and Kat held up their offerings.

“Take them on through to the kitchen,” Dave invited and added a tongue-in-cheek warning, “But mind the Mistletoe … Gaby made sure it was put up in a high traffic area … with little room to avoid it.”

“Hmmmm,” replied Maria, a devilish grin spread over her face. Dave thought he also detected a similar grin on Kat.

“She's not here … coast ist clear, Mama,” Kat jokingly offered.

Josie followed them into the kitchen, anxious to see what they brought and also to find out what had to be done while everyone was out.

“Well, we have some rotkohl … that's your basic red cabbage … Gurkensalat .. it's a cucumber salad und Rote Grütze … a dessert … literally means red fruit pudding. Kat und Gaby made both the Gurkensalat und the Rote Grütze, yesterday” Maria proudly explained their contribution to the evening's menu.

“Und der Sekt!” Heinrich added as he and Dave made their way into the kitchen. He gently put the bottle down on the counter.

“Sparkling wine to toast Christmas”, Dave whispered to Josie. At the same time, he produced one of the bottles Jenny brought back from her wine tasting with Carol and placed it on the counter beside the Sekt.

“For the dinner!” Dave announced. Heinrich examined the new wine Dave added to the menu with an approving nod.

“Frohe Weihnachten, Pinger's!” Jenny wished her friends a Merry Christmas as she and the girls entered the kitchen.

After Josie's assurances that she'd be all right for the short time they'd be gone, Dave, Heinrich and the girls made their way to their cars for the short drive to the Town Church in Bad Neuenahr for Christmas services. A little over an hour latter, Josie heard the cars pull up and everyone coming into the house.

“Mmmmm … smell that goose!” Dave exclaimed. The smells from the cooking overwhelmed the sense of smell as each person walked through the opened front door and into the main hallway.

Soon after hanging up their coats and finding more comfortable footwear, Jenny and Maria were ready to assist Josie with the Christmas dinner only to find she had everything under control. The plan was once the goose was cooked, Dave would be allowed to work his magic with the Yorkshire Pudding, but until then, the kitchen was deemed off limits to anyone but the cooks!

“Gaby Bond! … get away from the tree und quit snooping … und drag my Katia out here with you! Since you have nothing to do, you two can set the table … bitte?” Maria ordered, all the while sporting a huge grin.

Jules soon came back down stairs to voluntarily help with the setting of the table. As she entered the dining room and looked at the table, she asked, “Where's Gaby's Cranberry Sauce … don't need the poor child to go into withdrawal!”

Flash … Josie's digital camera went off just as Gaby was sticking her tongue out at her sister for that last remark.

“Graannnn,” Gaby protested in her patented ‘little girl' whine. Her objection would've been more convincing if she wasn't trying to laugh at the same time.

“Should send that to Maddy,” Kat suggested as she viewed Josie's photographic efforts.

“Don't give her any ideas,” Gaby playfully shot back as she moved her Gran's arm so she could better see the preview window of the camera.

At last, Heinrich placed the goose on the table and it was quickly followed by the rest of the food. Last to be placed on the table was Dave's Yorkshire Puddings. Finally they all sat down, and with a glass of Sekt for everyone, Heinrich offered up the traditional Christmas toast before they settled down to the Christmas dinner.

“Now for dessert, you have a choice … my Mum's Mince Pie or Gaby and Kat's Rote Grütze,” Jenny announced as she and Maria started to clear away the dishes. Both women knew full well that considering the wording of the question, any partisan decision was going to be tough.

In any case, the assembled throng made short work of both the desert choices and following the washing up, they all adjourned to the lounge. Gaby brought down her Trans Siberian Orchestra Christmas CD's and with them playing in the background, the Pinger's and the Bond's settled down to a quiet evening and enjoyed each other's company.

As the evening wore on, Jules noticed Gaby kept looking at their parents with a dreamy far-away look. It didn't take Jules any time to read Gabs' mind as she too, took notice of her mum and dad sitting side-by-side. To the girls they looked like two kids in love, not parents. Even though they were in conversation with Heinrich and Maria, Dave had his arm around Jenny and she had her hand on his leg with her head resting on his shoulder.

“Not at all like last year … innit, Sis?” Jules had a bit of a lump in her throat as she whispered to Gaby. She noticed Gaby's eyes were quite moist as she continued to look at their parents.

“Come with me, you two,” Gran whispered as she came up and knelt beside the sisters. Gaby whispered to Kat that they'd be right back and to stay put.

Out of sight from the lounge, Gran stopped the girls in the hall, took out a tissue and dabbed both of their eyes.

“Amazing what difference a year makes … It would seem this Christmas is special for a number of reasons.” The three of them enjoyed a group hug for several minutes before Josie instructed the girls to freshen up in the downstairs washroom then rejoin the others.

“Mum?... You want a cuppa? … How about you girls?” Jen asked as the three rejoined the others.

“You ok Gab?” Kat whispered as Gaby smoothed her skirt and sat back down beside her.

“I am now,” Gaby quietly acknowledged as she squeezed Kat's hand.

Despite the late night, Jules and Gaby were up relatively early the next morning and seeing no other signs of life, decided to each have quick showers and generally freshen up before going downstairs to brew up some tea. They knew that when the others did stir, it would be the first thing they would go for. But this was Christmas morning and they first had to look their best! When they finally ventured downstairs, Jenny and Gran were already at the kitchen table, with a tea in front of them.

Although she had kept it on since the family first gave it to her last year - the same day she told them she had cancer, it somehow meant more to the girls when they saw the bracelet on their mum's wrist as she sat at the table. Gaby went over and hugged her mum and at the same time Jen noticed a tear or two running down her daughter's cheek.

“Why the tears, Kiddo?”

“You realise it's been a year?” Gaby softly asked as she pointed to her mum's bracelet.

“I know!” Jenny barely got it out as a whisper before tears came to her eyes as she kissed Gaby on the cheek and tightly held onto her. The two only released their hold on each other when Dave came into the kitchen.

The four women relinquished the kitchen to Dave for his traditional Bond Christmas morning fry-up. Following a hearty breakfast and the mandatory wash-up, they all went into the lounge where Jenny resumed her traditional role of playing Santa, giving out the gifts.

After the presents were unwrapped and everyone got to see what the others had received, Dave and Jenny decided to maintain another Bond Christmas tradition and go for a family walk.

“C'mon kids, best get changed and put your hiking boots on. Could be a little slippery in places,” Dave urged and then added, “Coming Mum?”

“Most certainly … won't be but a mo',” Josie replied.

Unlike Warsop, they didn't walk around the neighbourhood; instead they opted to take a leisurely stroll down to the Ahr river. Dave and Jenny lead the way hand-in-hand with Gran a few steps behind them and the two girls on either side of Gran, each with an arm around her waist.

“You ok, dear?” Josie asked Gaby after hearing a couple of sniffles and noticing a tear running down her granddaughter's cheek.

“Seeing Mum and Dad … like that …I can't stop thinking …” Gaby's voice, already quiet, faded to a whisper.

“I know what you mean, dear,” Gran solemnly replied as she offered Gaby a tissue, at the same time keeping an eye on the two lovebirds walking ahead of them.

“Got another one, Gran?” Jules asked, prompting Josie to turn in her direction.

“You too?” Josie whispered so as not to alert Dave or Jenny. Jules nodded a reply as she gratefully took the offered tissue.

On the return trip to their house, they noticed they weren't the only ones about. A few times they stopped and chatted with neighbours setting out to do some Christmas visiting of their own.

After what seemed like hours, the family Bond stepped into their own house, removed their winter clothing and ran off to get ready to join the Pinger's and other members of the Team Apollinaris organization for a bit of a Christmas Day get-together at the M ü ller's. Before they ran upstairs to get ready, both Jules and Gaby gave both of their parents a hug and a kiss on the cheek then disappeared into their respective rooms, without an explanation.

“Gaby! … Jules! … Grab your coats and come along … The Pinger's just pulled up,” Dave called out as Heinrich pulled up behind the family's Passat.

By the time Dave pulled up beside their van, later that night, everyone was only thinking of crawling into their bed.

“Guten Morgen, Steffie … I presume you're looking for Gaby?” Jenny asked as she answered a knock at the front door.

“Guten Morgen Frau Bond … ist she around?” Steffie cheerfully replied.

“C'mon in while I get her,” Jen urged then turning to her mother, she asked, “Mum can you please tell Gaby that Steffie is here?”

While Jen was taking Steffie's coat, Gaby came running down the stairs and greeted her friend with a hug.

“Where's the others?” Gaby asked.

“Visiting … you know … relatives? … An' Mama has to work, so I'm letting Papa rest … I thought you might be home und would like some company,” Steffie allowed.

“Oh, I'm sorry Gran … Steffie … this is my Gran ... er … Großmutter … Frau Peters … Gran this is Stefanie Brandt … Steffie, for short ... we go to school together.”

“What does your mother do, dear?” Josie asked.

“ She's a nurse in Bad Neuenahr,” Steffie explained.

“Steffie? … You'll stay for lunch, won't you?” Jenny asked their young visitor.

“Danke, Frau Bond,” Steffie replied as Gaby vigorously nodded her approval.

When told that lunch would be in a couple of hours, the two girls disappeared into the kitchen where Gaby grabbed a couple of soft drinks and a few pieces of Christmas cake before making their way up to Gaby's room. The two girls only surfaced for lunch, then after washing up, returned to the solitude of Gaby's room.

After a few days of not being able to find time to get on the computer, Jen decided to take advantage of the quiet afternoon and finally log on to check her email. Upon downloading several emails into her ‘inbox', she noticed one from Carol that was sent a couple of days before Christmas!

“GABY!” Jenny called out from the bottom of the stairs, knowing Gaby was up in her room with Steffie.

“You called Mum?” Gaby replied after coming to the top of the stairs.

“Come down please? … I'm on your dad's computer and I've got an email from Carol I think you should see.” Just as Jen turned to go back to Dave's study, she heard a flurry of footsteps thundering down the stairs.

“Easy Kiddo! … I don't think you want to spend Ally's visit in the hospital,” Jen cautioned Gaby. She then turned back down the hall and proceeded to Dave's study with Gaby following her.

When Gaby entered the study, Jenny directed her to take the chair in front of the monitor.

“What're you and Steffie doing?”

“Talking about Ally coming tomorrow … an' girl stuff.”

“Uh-huh.” Jenny replied with a knowing smile. “Here you go … take a look.”

Hi Jen;

Sorry I didn't get this recipe to you sooner, but better late than never. Also, let Gaby know that Maddy took the bait!

When she looked at the pictures I brought back from my visit, I noticed she lingered a tad longer at the ones that showed Gaby. I also now have proof she's looking at Gaby's photos when John and I aren't here.

When I went to scan the recipe for you, I found the ‘Bond Christmas portrait' in the scanner! Maddy never cleared the scanner or the software before she shut down. As you know, the scanner software always retains the last preview image, unless you clear it and it had clearly been ‘cropped', proving that Gaby was selected to be scanned.

Carol

“What does it mean, Mum? Auntie Carol says nothing about Maddy saying anything or asking to call.” Gaby quietly stated.

“It tells us that she still has feelings for you, even if they're still bottled up inside. Maddy may not be talking, but she is looking and you have to see that as a good thing.”

“I do Mum, but…” Gaby solemnly replied, as her voice trailed off in mid-sentence. However, Jenny knew exactly what Gaby meant.

“Someday she will, dear,” Jen confidently replied. “Now you better get back up stairs … Steffie's probably wondering what's happened to you.”

“Thanks for letting me read Carol's email, Mum,” Gaby quietly replied as she gave Jen a quick hug.

As Jenny was starting to work thought her emails, she smiled to herself as she heard the fridge door close and the sound of foot steps on the stairs. “Things sound like they're back to normal.”

“We're back!” Dave announced as he came in the door, followed by Jules and Josie.

“How long does it take to run Mum's Christmas cake and Shortbread to the Pinger's? Where did you three get to?” Jenny asked.

“Sorry … I meant to call, but I got distracted,” Dave sheepishly explained.

“It was your ol' mum's fault, dear … I convinced Dave to play tour guide and show me some of this beautiful country.”

“Where did you go?” Jen asked.

“Kreuzberg and back,” Jules admitted.

“And?” Jenny asked her mum.

“I'm about this close to moving here ... it's lovely.” Josie replied with a smile, holding her thumb and fore-finger slightly parted.

“By the way, Heinrich suggested we go over anytime after three,” Dave interjected.

Later that afternoon, as the Bond women were busy getting themselves ready to visit with Maria and her extended family, Gaby found herself reflecting on her first Christmas, both in Germany and as Gaby.

In the end, she decided it had been one of the best Christmas' in a long time and with more good things yet to come.

“C'mon, Sis.”

“Be right there!”

(to be continued)

PB 10.06.07 © 2007
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