It was early December at Plumfield, and the house was all abustle in preparation for the Christmas season. The first order of business, to the children's disappointment, was to clean the house from top to bottom. Nan and Nat were in the guestroom cleaning the windows when they heard a loud crash in the kitchen.

"What was that?" Nan exclaimed. She rushed into the kitchen where she found the Christmas china shattered to pieces on the floor.

"Oh my gosh!" Nat said in horror when he saw the broken dishes. "Mrs. Jo!" Nan noticed that the backdoor was standing wide open, but when she looked to see if someone was just outside the door, there was no one there.

"What on earth happened in here?" Asia came into the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel with a concerned look on her face.

"The Christmas china, it's broken," Nat lamented.

"What?! Oh no! Jo! Jo!" Asia knelt down to clean up the mess, and Jo came in moments later.

"What's the matter?" she asked as she walked into the room.

"The Christmas china is broken," Nan said solemnly. "Oh no! How did it happen?" Jo rushed over to the broken dishes and found that not one had survived the fall from the counter to the floor.

"I don't know. We just heard the crash from the guestroom and came in to see what happened."

"Oh my! What are Marmee and Father going to do when they find out about this?" Tears began to well up in her eyes as she cleaned up the treasured Christmas china.

"It'll be all right, Jo," Asia said reassuringly. "We'll think of something."

"Hey, Tommy," Dan called from across the barn.

"Yeah?"

"What's your Christmas wish for your essay?" The day before in class Franz had assigned the monthly essay, and because of Christmas coming, the subject was "Your Christmas Wish."

"I dunno," Tommy answered. "What's yours?"

"Can't decide. I want it to be somethin' real good, though."

"Well," Bess interjected. "I am going to wish for more drawing pencils, paints, and a new canvas. I am dying for new art supplies."

"Why don't you wish for something worthwhile?" Emil asked haughtily.

"And your wish is better?" Dan retorted.

"Of course it is."

"And just what is it?"

"A trip to London."

"Oh, yeah, Emil, that's a lot better," Dan said sarcastically. Emil frowned and then climbed down the ladder to go into the house to finish up his list of chores.

"Thank you, Dan." Bess walked toward him with a sincere smile on her face. "That was very sweet of you." She lightly kissed his cheek and then went back to work. Dan sheepishly smiled, and his cheeks turned a little pink as he watched Bess pitch the hay.

Jo sat outside on the frontporch in the cold night air holding one of the chipped cups that had not been badly damaged in the mishap earlier that day. She stared at the night sky with tears in her eyes as she thought about all of the Christmases her family had used the delicate china.

She remembered the last Christmas she had spent with her late sister Beth, and how on Christmas Eve they had stayed up all night talking about Fritz and the future. Beth spoke lovingly of the Christmas china and how she couldn't wait to use it with her own family in years to come.

"Now no one will be able to use it," Jo thought sadly.

"Isn't it a little cold to be sittin' out on the frontporch?" Nick climbed up the steps and leaned up against the railing.

"I just need some time to think."

"I, uh, heard about the china. You all right?" Jo shook her head as the tears welled up in her eyes again. "Hey," Nick said as he moved to kneel down beside her. "It'll be all right." Nick gingerly clasped Jo's cold hand and held it in his own warm hands.

"I know," Jo sniffed. "It's just that the Christmas china has always meant so much to my family, and Marmee entrusted me with it. She insisted that I have it, because she knew that it could be of more use here than at Orchard House. She trusted me, Nick, and now it's all ruined."

"I'm sure she'll understand." Nick took the chipped cup from Jo's hand and sat it down on the ground. He then pulled her up out of the rocking chair and embraced her. "It'll be all right. You'll see. Everything'll turn out just fine, like it always does."

Jo sniffed and held Nick tight. "I hope you're right."

The following morning Nick rode into town early to run some errands. On his way back to Plumfield he remembered his conversation with Jo the night before. She did not look forward to sharing the news of the broken china with her parents, so Nick resolved to go by Orchard House to pay them a visit in order to inform them about what happened.

Nick rapped softly on the front door as a light snow began to fall. Mrs. March answered the door almost immediately and smiled widely at the man standing before her. Over the past few years she had grown to love Nick Riley as though he were her own son. She saw the beautiful changes that had occurred within Jo since his arrival and welcomed his love in her lonely daughter's life.

"Oh! Good morning, Nick! What a pleasant surprise! Do come in!"

"Good morning, Mrs. March."

"What brings you to Orchard House?" Mrs. March warmly hugged his neck and then straightened his collar.

"Well, I have some news for you and your husband."

"Oh, all right. I will call for Mr. March if you will go on into the parlor. I will bring some coffee along, too."

"Thank you, ma'am." While Nick waited for Jo's parents to join him, he looked at the photographs covering one of the oak tables in the parlor. The photograph from Jo and Fritz's wedding particularly intrigued him. Jo looked so beautiful in her flowing white gown. She was so young and bright with that irresistible look in her eye that had captivated his own soul. And there stood Fritz next to her with a broad smile on his face that revealed his extreme happiness in having won the heart of this ravishing young woman.

"Jo and Fritz," Mr. March remarked as he joined Nick by the table. "Thew certainly were the happy couple."

"Yes, they were from what I'm told," Nick replied softly. "How did they meet?"

"Jo was living in a boarding house in New York, and one afternoon on her way home for a newspaper office she and Fritz quite literally ran into each other. From there the relationship grew into a friendship mainly because of their shared interest in writing."

"Fritz was a writer?"

"No, he wasn't, but he certainly knew how to critique it. He helped Jo with most of her stories."

"Did she mind?"

"Not too much. She highly respected his opinion, so she generally just asked him for his advice. Fritz always delivered his criticism in a way that spoke directly to Jo's heart and soul without upsetting her." Mrs. March entered the room quietly with a tray beautifully laden with the coffee service.

"But why are we discussing Jo and Fritz? Tell us your news my boy!"

"Well, sir, I'm afraid it isn't very good news."

"That's all right. Do go on."

"I am afraid," Nick said as he took his cup of coffee from Mrs. March. "That yesterday afternoon there was an accident, and all of the Christmas china was broken." Mrs. March's face grew pale, and she gripped the arm of the chair in an effort to keep herself from sliding to the floor.

"None of it survived?" she asked quietly.

"None of it, ma'am."

"Well," Mr. March interjected. "It doesn't affect the state of the Union, now does it? It will be all right."

"Yes," Mrs. March reassured herself. "I-it will be all right. Thank you, Nick, for telling us about this." Nick nodded his head and then stood up to leave.

"I'm afraid I have to get back to Plumfield. With all the decorating Jo's gonna need my help."

"Thank you for stopping by."

"No problem, ma'am. Just wish I could've brought better news." Nick saw himself to the door and left Orchard House with a heavy heart.

"Hold it a little higher. A little higher. There! The garland is perfect!" Bess beamed at the success of her instructions and then busied herself with rearranging the ornaments on the Christmas tree. "Dan?"

"Yeah?" He hammered the last nail through the garland and then turned to look at Bess.

"Do you suppose we will get new china for Christmas?"

"I dunno. I hope so, but Mrs. Jo seems so sad about the china that's broken. She put the broken pieces in on of her old trunks up in the attic earlier this morning."

"She's saving it?"

"Yeah. I guess she doesn't want it to be forgotten."

"Hey, Dan, Bess." Nick came into the parlor with Rob's angel in his hand. The beautiful hand-carved angel glistened in the light from the fire.

"Hey, Nick."

"'Bout ready for the angel?"

"Yes," Bess smiled. "I will go find Rob and call everyone else in here." Bess left the parlor with a swoosh of her skirts, leaving Dan and Nick to talk by the fire.

"So, Dan, what's your Christmas wish?"

"Still haven't decided, yet."

"Does it have to do with a certain young lady?" Nick smiled devilishly at Dan, knowing that he could embarrass the young man by bringing Bess into the conversation. He had known that Dan was sweet on Bess ever since the day Bess arrived at Plumfield.

"Maybe," Dan's face grew hot, and he shrugged his shoulders to try to mask his embarrassment. "What's your Christmas wish?"

"Aw, I hadn't really thought of one."

"Maybe you should. Maybe if you make a wish for Christmas it'll come true."

"And what would I wish for? Already got everything I need."

"You do?" Dan questioned as he looked at Jo and Rob coming into the parlor laughing and smiling. Nick looked over at Jo and smiled at the sight of her and Rob enjoying each other's company. He remembered what Mr. March had said about Jo and Fritz being such a happy couple, and for a moment he could not stifle the intense envy he possessed. He wondered if perhaps someday he and Jo could be as happy as she and Fritz had been so many years ago.

"Mama!" Rob asked. "Can Nick help me put my angel on the tree?"

"Sure, honey. Why don't you go ask him?" Rob bounced across the room to Nick and plopped down on the sofa next to him. He grabbed Nick's left hand and held it firmly. Nick's eyes flashed open and his entire body tensed.

"Nick?"

"Yes, Rob?" Nick felt a surge of intense fatherly love for this young boy looking up at him so tenderly.

"Will you help me put my angel on the tree?"

"Uh, sure."

"Thanks, Nick!" Rob hugged Nick tight and then leaned up against his strong frame. Jo sat on the floor beside the Christmas tree watching the interaction between Nick and Rob. Rob had grown so fond of Nick, especially since she and Nick had decided to court. It seemed that Rob had started to follow Nick's footsteps most of the time. The enchanting thing was that the more attached Rob became to Nick, Nick grew equally attached to Rob. The children quickly filled the parlor eagerly awaiting the placing of the angel atop the tree.

"Are we ready?" Tommy ran into the room and barely skidded to a halt before he almost crashed into the Christmas tree.

"Almost!" Jo laughed. "Where's Asia?"

"She, uh, had to go into town." Nick got up from his seat and approached Jo.

"What for? She knows that tonight is the night for the angel."

"She just said it was something she had to get done today."

"Then I guess we're ready. Rob, will you please bring me the Bible?" Rob nodded his head and went to pick up the large black Bible off the coffee table. He took the well-worn Scriptures and gingerly handed them to Jo.

"Nick, would you like to do the honors?" Jo placed the Bible in his hands but expected for him to refuse her request.

"Uh, sure." Nick's response shocked everyone in the room, but they all stifled their reactions and waited for him to begin the reading.

"Um, Luke chapter two verses eight through fourteen," Jo said. Nick thumbed quickly through the Good Book and found the passage easily. He cleared his throat and began to read.

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. " And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."" Nick closed the Bible and let it rest in his lap.

"Thank you, Nick." Jo smiled proudly at Nick's excellent reading ability. She remembered that hardly two years ago he couldn't even read his name, and now he was reading entire passages for the Bible without stumbling over a single word. "Now, it's time for our angel to take his rightful place."

Nick and Rob both stood to their feet, Rob with the beautiful wooden angel in his hands. Nick picked up Rob by the waist and held him up to the top of the tree. Rob lovingly put his angel at the top of the tree while Nick smiled proudly at the young boy. The interaction between the two appeared so very natural - it almost startled Jo when she found herself at ease about the sight in front of her.

"Thank you, Nick," Jo looked beautiful sitting on the rug by the fireplace. She had blown out all of the candles in the room, leaving only the blazing fire to light the room.

"For what?"

"For being so good to Rob. He has grown quite fond of you."

"Ya think?"

"Yes. Haven't you noticed? He wants to be just like you, Nick."

"Well, ya might want to discourage him about that one." Jo frowned at Nick and patted the floor next to her. He sat down at her side and leaned against the wall quite at ease.

"I went to see your parents today."

"My parents? What for?"

"I told them about the china."

"Oh." Jo cocked her head and a thoughtful look came across her curious face. "What made you do that?"

"It gave me an excuse to see 'em. Besides, I knew you didn't want to tell 'em, so I figured this way you wouldn't have to worry about it no more."

"How did they take it?"

"Just fine. Your ma wasn't too happy, but she wasn't mad or anything. They both understand." A silence crept into the room and lingered in the shadows for quite some time. Nick's gaze landed on the framed picture of Jo resting on the coffee table across the room. As he studied the beautiful photograph he breathed deeply and thought about his conversation with Mr. March earlier that day.

"They were a happy couple."

"What are you thinking about?" Jo gently placed her hand on Nick's right forearm.

"Aw, nothin'."

"Have you thought about what you want for Christmas?"

"Don't really need anything."

"But isn't there something you want?"

"I'm with you, ain't I? What else could I want?" Jo smiled at him and leaned up against his chest. She felt the rhythmic pulse of his beating heart and listened to his expanding lungs. Nick wrapped his arm around her shoulders and watched the fire burn brightly in the fireplace.

Over the next couple of weeks the preparations for Christmas at Plumfield continued to escalate. The children found odd jobs to do after school in order to have money for Christmas presents. Isabelle did her best to help out around the house, but she was beginning to tire quickly now. Franz slacked up on the schoolwork so that he could help his expecting wife a little more comfortable.

"Franz, please don't fuss over me! I'm just going to have a baby. It's not like I am going to try to save the world when I'm in this condition."

"I just want to make sure you're comfortable," Franz fretted as he covered Isabelle with another blanket. She smiled at him and closed her eyes. "I'll wake you up for dinner, all right?"

"You don't have to fret like this, you know."

"I love you, Isabelle," Franz said as he closed the door to their bedroom.

"I love you, too." Franz hurried downstairs into the kitchen where he found most of the children busy writing their essays.

"I got it!" Dan exclaimed.

"Got what?" Nan asked.

"I now what I'm gonna wish for."

"And what's that?" Bess inquired.

"Oh, uh, nothin'." Dan did his best to calm himself down and then went back to writing. "Bess, will you come out onto the porch with me?" he asked a few minutes later.

"Oh, well, sure." The two stood up from the table and walked out the kitchen door onto the back porch.

"What is it, Dan?" Bess crossed her arms in an attempt to keep her fingers from freezing off in the cold winter air. Dan looked at Bess' beautiful face and suddenly felt panicked. His pulse quickened, he throat went dry, and he began wringing his palms nervously.

"Well, uh..." Dan rubbed the back of his neck and took a cleansing deep breath. "My, uh, my Christmas wish..."

"Yes?"

"Is, uh, it's you."

Bess's eyes sparkled and she blushed. "Me?"

"Yeah. Look, Bess, I've liked you since the day you came to Plumfield, and I'm tired of not doin' anything about it. Would you mind if I ask your father if it's all right for us to court?"

"Please, Dan, ask Father!" Bess threw her arms around Dan's neck and held him tight. Dan was taken back by Bess's forwardness, but he willingly embraced her.

"Sorry it's taken so long," he whispered into her ear.

"The best things are worth waiting for, Dan."

"Hey, Jo."

"Oh, hi, Nick. What are you up to?"

"Nothin' much. Just about to go fix the hinges on the barn door." Jo closed the Conscience Book and let it rest on the desk. "I was hopin' maybe I could have some company."

"Sure. I've finished my work here. Just let me get my shawl."

"All ready got it." Nick held out her black shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders. "So," Nick broke the silence as they walked out the front door. "What was Beth like?"

"Beth? Why do you want to know about her?"

"I'm told that the two of you were pretty close, and I was just curious is all."

"Oh, well, we were. Beth was very dear to me. She would stay up late at night reading my stories just to tell me she loved them. She was so kind and gentle, like a dove. Beth never thought of herself. That's what brought on her death. She got scarlet fever from an immigrant family, the Hummel's, because she took them food and cared for the children while they were ill. She made it through the first attack of the fever, but a few years later she died of it. I miss her so much sometimes."

Nick wrapped his arm around Jo's shoulders and held her close against his frame. Jo sank into his arms and sniffed while blinking away the tears that moistened her eyes. "What about your sister?" Jo asked. "What was she like?"

"Oh, Ruth was amazing. She took care of me and Ben like we were her own kids instead of her brothers. She did everything for us, leavin' only the really dirty work to us boys. Ruth was a good sister even when she got sick. Ben and me, we did everything we could to take care of her, but there wasn't nothin' we could do. She kept takin' care of Ma and Pa, and I think that sent her on to her death earlier than it should've. Ruth died on her sixteenth birthday."

"How terrible. I am so sorry." Jo looked up at Nick and encountered a face full of pain and regret.

"Parents died a week later." Nick swallowed hard. "Me and Ben were shipped off to my aunt and uncle's place after that. You know the rest from there."

"It seems we've both had our share of difficulties, haven't we?"

"Aw, it didn't affect the state of the Union, now did it?" Jo smiled at Nick's loving quotation of her father.

"I suppose it didn't. Marmee always told me that hardships are a good thing, because they define one's character. I never quite understood what she meant until Beth died, and when Fritz passed away I understood all over again."

"Jo!" Asia called from the back door.

"Yes, Asia?"

"Can I get your help in here?"

"Sure. I'll be right there." Jo turned and gave Nick an apologetic look. Her merely smiled in return and lightly patted her arm.

"Hello, Dan." Laurie welcomed the tall young man into his house, and they walked into the parlor together. "How can I help you?"

"Well, sir," Dan began. His face was pale and he shuffled his feet nervously. "I, uh, was wantin' to talk to you about Bess, sir."

"Yes. What about her?" Laurie smiled, suspecting Dan's intentions.

"I, uh, would like to ask you if it would, um, be all right if I, I mean, Bess and I could, um, court?"

"Yes, Dan, you may."

"Wh-what?"

"I said it would be fine with me if you and Bess court."

"Thank you!" Dan grabbed Laurie's hand and shook it rapidly. His eyes sparkled and the grin on his face made Laurie inwardly laugh. "I'm, uh, I'm gonna go! Thank you so much, sir!" Dan ran out of the house and down the road as fast as he could toward Plumfield. His heart raced, his head pounded, and the rhythmic stride got him home faster than ever before.

"Bess!" he yelled as he approached the house. Jo and Nat looked out the kitchen window and were surprised to see Dan sprinting across the frontyard. Bess came out the frontdoor and gaily bounced down the steps.

"What is it, Dan?" Jo and Nat came to the front door and stood watching Dan and Bess. Dan skidded to a halt in the snow and took a deep breath. He took of his hat, smiled, wiped the sweat from his brow, and then looked lovingly at Bess. He took a step toward her and tentatively took her hand into his.

"He said yes," Dan beamed. Bess's face showed her joy with a gentle curve of her lips and sparkling eyes. Dan firmly kissed her and then held her against his chest.

"Oh, Dan," Bess whispered into his ear. "It's about time."

Christmas Eve came, and with it the reading of the Christmas story around the fireplace in the parlor. All of Plumfield gathered into the warm room ready to read their part of the Christmas story. Jo handed out the carefully copied papers that contained each person's few lines of the story.

Bess began reading first. "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city."

"And Joseph," Dan continued, "also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David.) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great withchild."

A silence fell in the room. Dan nudged Tommy, who stirred from his daydream and whose ears turned quite pink out of embarrassment. "Uh, so-sorry."

"It's all right, Tommy," Jo said. "Go on."

"Uh, and so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered."

"And she brought forth her first born Son," Emil continued, "and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

Nat carrying on in the reading. "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid."

"And the angel said unto them," Nan read brightly, ""Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.""

""And this shall be a sign to you,"" Rob read bravely. This was his first time to ever participate in the reading of the Christmas story, and he wanted to make sure he got it just right. ""Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.""

Nick smiled at Rob and then continued the story. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hose praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.""

Fritz read his part next. "And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."

"And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child," Isabelle read. "And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds."

"But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them," Jo concluded.

Everyone sat in silence for a few moments, reflecting on the birth of the Christ child. Franz looked quite thoughtfully at his expecting wife and gently placed his hand upon her belly. She grasped his hand and looked deep into his eyes, somehow understanding a little of how Mary must have felt so many years ago.

"You know," Nan murmured, "hearin' the Christmas story again makes me realize that we've gotten so distracted from what Christmas is all about."

"Yeah," Nat added. "We've all gotten so wrapped up in our jobs and our wishes that we forgot what it's all about. I mean, we wouldn't even have Christmas if it weren't for Jesus."

"You're right," Jo agreed. "I became so upset because of the broken china I let the spirit of Christmas fade into the background. This isn't the season for us to be sad and anxious. It's the season for us to be joyous and thankful. And what better for us to be thankful for than the birth of Jesus?"

"Just think of the Jewish people," Franz said. "They were hoping and wishing for the Messiah for hundreds of years, and He finally came late one night in a dilapidated old barn from a man and woman most people probably wouldn't have even looked twice at. Our Christmas wishes seem to fade into the background now that we realize that the greatest wish of all actually was granted."

"And thank God it was!" Nick exclaimed. Everyone laughed at that and then began signing Christmas hymns around the fireplace until it was time for bed. That night everyone at Plumfield climbed into bed knowing in his or her heart that no matter what they wished for this Christmas, the most important wish of all had already come true.