Meg Brooke could hardly believe that Christmas was just a day away. It always seemed that the holiday caught up to her so quickly, and here she was now, trying desperately to finish the gifts she had made for her sister Jo and her nephew Rob.

With so many things to take care of at Plumfield - teaching, budgeting, chores, caring for nearly twenty boys and girls - Meg knew Jo had no time for herself. So, as eldest sister of three, Meg took it upon herself to sew at least one nice new outfit for Jo each year. It was something she enjoyed, despite all the time it took to measure and stitch and adjust. And then there was Rob. Just like her own son Demi, Rob was growing like a weed, and the outfit she had made thoughtfully two months before had to be lengthened already.

Meg looked outside at the twins playing in the snow. She knew they were excited about visiting Plumfield, but she had asked for their patience and received it without argument. She knew, though, that she should have done more to make the holidays a festive occasion in their own home. She had begun to write a column for Harrison's newspaper, and found it took a fair amount of time on top of the sewing she did for some of the more well-to-do women in town. This year, she had not even had time to decorate her own home much, and Demi and Daisy, now eleven years old, had finally given up hope of having their own tree. Harrison had promised to chop one down for them, but then had been suddenly called away to Boston on business. She and Harrison had only been courting formally for four months, but she - and the children - missed him terribly already. It was funny to look back and think how love struck Harrison had been of Jo when he had first come to Concord. At that time, there had already been a mutual attraction between Jo and Nick Riley, Plumfield's groundskeeper, and Harrison hadn't stood a chance, not to mention that he hadn't exactly started off on the right foot writing a scathing article about Plumfield that almost cost Jo everything she cared most about.

Meg had easily forgiven Harrison his past crush when he had first asked her out for a picnic. She had by then put her relationship with Edward behind her, and had gotten to know how caring and intelligent a man Harrison was as she worked closely with him those first few weeks she had been writing for the Chronicle. She had always thought of Jo as the writer in the family, but Harrison had helped her along and she had earned high praises not only from the people in town, but also from her own family, the people she wanted most to be proud of her.

When she finally lifted her head from her sewing, Meg was surprised at how dark it had become in the room. Surely it wasn't time to leave for Plumfield yet. The children would surely have come to get her if she had let the time slip by. Meg checked the clock. It was only quarter to three, but when she pulled back the curtain and looked outside, the reason for the darkness was apparent. Outside, despite its most brilliant efforts, the sun was losing its battle against a snowstorm that was brewing over Concord. Meg searched the yard, but the children were nowhere in sight.

"Daisy?" she called as she headed towards the front door. The only coat on the hook was her own, and there were no little mittens or boots to be had. "Demi?" Meg checked the kitchen to see if maybe they had come in through the back door. Other than a few patches of melted snow on the floor, there was no evidence that the twins might have been inside. Meg quickly scanned the kitchen and saw a piece of paper sitting on the table. She picked it up and read Daisy's tidy handwriting.

Meg smiled briefly at her daughter's careful note, but then she looked back outside and worried as any mother would. The storm looked bad, and if Daisy and Demi didn't return home soon, they'd surely be lost in the snow.

***

Daisy hated when her brother tried to prove himself as the "man of the house." She couldn’t understand what drove him to do such irresponsible things, but she knew that when mother wasn't about, it became her responsibility to see that no harm came to Demi. Like all the boys she knew, they had a tendency to get into scrapes.

The twins had been building snow men and snow forts outside the house when Demi had abruptly tired of the activity. "I wish Rob was here," Demi complained.

"I do, too," replied Daisy, "but Mama asked us to be patient. She has so much to do."

Demi sat on one of his snow chairs, ignoring the cold that quickly moved its way through the seat of his pants. He looked back at the house and could see his mother's silhouette in the window. Of all mothers, his was the most beautiful and kindest of any. He knew she missed Mr. Bridger terribly, and it still made her sad to think of Papa who had passed away so long ago. If not for the photograph in the parlour, neither Daisy nor Demi would have remembered what he had looked like.

"I know!" Demi exclaimed suddenly, standing up and wiping the snow from his pants. Daisy looked quizzically at her brother. She certainly hoped he didn't have some scatterbrained notion about heading to Plumfield without mother. "Let's do something special for Christmas," he said.

"Like what?" asked Daisy as she finished fashioning a flower in the hands of her snowman.

"Let's get a tree for the house."

"Demi…"

Daisy's brother's eyes were sparkling at the thought of how proud his mother would be of him if he was able to bring home a tree. It didn't have to be big, just perfect. Perfectly lovely for the best mother in the world. "We have time," insisted Demi. Then, seeing the doubt in his sister's face, he added, "You can leave a note on the kitchen table if you want. Just don't say anything about the tree. It'll be a surprise."

So, with the stealth of a little mouse stealing crumbs from the cupboards, Daisy snuck into the house to write the note and then joined her brother outside. With axe and rope in hand, he looked decidedly awkward, Daisy thought, but also determined not to make a mess of things.

Soon, they were romping happily through the woods in search of their prize. The wind whipped against their faces, brightening their cheeks as their eyes glowed at the sight of so many beautiful trees, but none was quite the right one.

"We mustn't go too far," said Daisy at last as she looked up to the sky. The wind had suddenly become colder, and the clouds seemed to be casting more shadows over the forest.

"Just a bit farther," insisted Demi. "I know we'll find the perfect tree just beyond that rise."

Daisy bit her tongue as she longed to complain about the cold and head home, but she had a feeling that Demi wouldn't take them any further than the rise. He would be feeling cold soon, too, and then he'd see she was right not to go any farther.

As the snow began to swirl about them, Demi approached his perfect tree, handed the rope to his sister, and began to chop.

Daisy wandered about, looking for pinecones that she might be able to use in a Christmas decoration when she heard a soft mewling. It sounded a bit like a cat wailing and she walked toward the sound to see if there was something she could do to help the poor creature. When she peered through the trees and saw where the sound was coming from, Daisy immediately dropped the rope and ran. "Demi! Demi, come quick! I've found a baby!"

***

Twelve years. Jo Bhaer could hardly believe so much time had passed since Plumfield had become her own to call home. When she had first inherited the property after Great Aunt March's passing, Jo, barely twenty years old, had first thought that the best course of action would be to sell it, but her mother had quickly planted the seed in her head that the grand house and all its surrounding property would be the ideal place to start a school for boys. Now, Jo couldn't imagine a life without Plumfield and all her children. She and her late husband, Fritz, had built a solid reputation of excellent schooling, and although the years had been trying since Fritz's death, Jo had finally earned the respect of the people in Concord and the school was once again thriving with almost twenty students, four of whom were young ladies who had joined Nan and Beth in the past few months. Of course, one of those young ladies was none other than her niece, Daisy, who along with her brother had decided that they would like to join classes at Plumfield regardless of the longer walk to school compared to the public school near Meg's house.

Jo walked into the kitchen, breathing in the sweet aroma of ham on the stove. "Asia, dinner smells wonderful."

"It should be ready within the hour," Asia replied.

"Well, Amy and Laurie have just arrived," Jo said. "It's already dark, though, and Meg and the twins aren't here yet."

Asia looked up from her cooking. "Miss Meg isn't usually late," she pointed out.

Jo frowned, looking out the window. "There's a storm brewing. Maybe I should ask Nick to ride up the road to make sure they didn't get stuck somewhere."

Asia nodded. "That might not be a bad idea in this weather," she agreed.

Jo walked back to the front foyer, checking in on the tree trimming activities in the parlour before stepping out onto the front porch to look outside for Nick. Freshly cleaned up, but still looking every bit his handsome self, Nick walked up to Jo from the barn. For every day that she had known him, Jo was doubly thankful that he had come into her life. Even before they had begun courting, Nick had been the support she needed to keep fighting for the existence of her school. They had often not been able to agree on what she deemed the most fundamental teachings, but somehow they had found their way to each other, growing closer despite their differences. Her foundation had always been in education oneself, whereas Nick was a man of the world, having seen much of it in his journeys as a merchant marine. But where they did not deviate was in their love for Plumfield, the children and each other. Jo was glad that this year's Christmas would be on time, unlike last year when Nick had stood trial and almost been hanged for a murder he had not committed.

"You look beautiful," Nick said as he wrapped his arms around Jo's waist and kissed her on the lips.

Jo smiled. "I haven't even changed for dinner yet," she protested.

"Don't matter," replied Nick. "Ya don't need fancy dresses to make ya the most beautiful woman in the world." Nick watched Jo as she pulled her shawl closer to protect herself against the wind. "Somethin' wrong?"

"Meg hasn't arrived yet, and the weather's getting bad."

"I'll get my horse an' check up the road," Nick volunteered without having to be asked.

"Thank you."

Nick stepped off the porch, but just at that moment, he and Jo heard the pounding of horses hooves on the driveway.

"Meg!" Jo had seldom seen her sister riding astride on a horse, particularly in the years since they had been young girls living with Marmee and Father. The sight of her sister now struck fear in Jo's heart. "What's happened?"

Meg pulled her horse to a stop, and Nick grabbed the reigns. Meg's face was white as a ghost's and there were tears threatening to roll down her cheeks. "The twins haven't come home. We were supposed to leave for Plumfield hours ago, but they never came home."

Amy, Laurie, Dan and several of the children stood in the doorway, having heard the commotion outside. "Nick and I can go out and take a look for them," Laurie volunteered, already moving to get his horse from the stable.

"I'll go, too," said Dan. A year ago, Jo might have stopped him, trying to protect him like a child, but Dan was a young man now, having proven himself time and again. Jo nodded.

Nick helped Meg from her horse and gave her support as he led her to Jo. "Don't worry, Meg. We'll find 'em."

Meg let Jo lead her inside, her heart aching to know her children were safe. If John had still been alive, or if Harrison hadn't had to go to Boston, none of this would have happened. She had been torn by the decision to seek out help because it meant she wouldn't be home if the children returned, but with darkness and the storm approaching, she had known she couldn’t' wait. She only prayed that Daisy and Demi would be safe.

***

The minute he had heard his sister's cries, Demi had dropped his axe and come running. He already knew dep down that they had wandered too far into the woods with the sky filling with blinding snow, and now there was something wrong. Daisy was always looking out for him, and he took advantage of her kind nature, but he would never let anything bad happen to her.

As he made his way toward his sister's voice, Demi began to run, seeing her waving her arms frantically. When he got to her side, he saw immediately that there were things far more important than Christmas trees and dinners with family. Sitting in the snow against a tree, with a terrified toddler by her side, was a woman in great pain. Her stomach was swollen with child, and Demi knew that she was due to have the baby at any time.

"We have to get you inside," said Daisy gently, adjusting the woman's hat and scarf to protect her from the cold. "I'm Daisy," she said, "and this is my brother Demi."

The woman struggled for breath, and then in a thick European accent, replied, "Marita."

Demi mustered all his strength and helped the woman to her feet. It was a struggle for both, but with darkness closing in on them, all were determined to find shelter from the storm. Demi looked in dismay at how quickly their tracks were now being covered by the snow. He could hardly see the clearing where he had been cutting down his tree and scolded himself, knowing that his father's axe would be impossible to find before the spring thaw.

"Where can we go?" asked Daisy, as she awkwardly carried the little girl, Kristina, in her arms.

"My cabin," said Marita with a gasp. "Just over there."

The twins looked ahead, and, for the first time, noticed the faint outline of a cabin. Only then did they realize just how far they had wandered, and both thought about their poor mother who would be worried sick about them.

***

Over an hour had passed. The children were up in their rooms, hungry but patiently waiting for Nick, Dan and Mr. Laurie to return with the twins.

Meg sat despondently at the piano in the parlour, playing Christmas carols one-handedly and at half their usual tempo. Songs that would normally have brought joy only filled the house like a mournful wailing.

Jo entered the parlour with a tray, holding a teapot and several cups. She placed it on top of the piano, but Meg didn't look up. Jo looked over at Amy who sat by the window, looked worriedly at the wall of snow that was now blowing all around. Jo sat down beside Meg and put her hand over her older sister's fingers to stop their playing.

"Have some tea, Meg."

"I can't…"

Jo put her arm around her sister. "We're all worried, but they'll be home before you know it. You'll see.'

Amy tore her attention from the storm outside. "How can you promise that, Jo?" Her voice was quiet for Meg's sake, but Jo felt the sting of the rebuke nonetheless.

Meg sensed a fight between her sisters, and at this moment it was the last thing she needed. Despite their best intentions, neither one of her sisters was helping. "Stop it," she said forcefully. "I don't need impossible promises, and I don't need negativity. Just be here for me. That's all I ask."

Jo saw the tears forming again in her sister's eyes and it broke her heart. "We're always here for you, Meg. No matter what."

As Jo wrapped her sister in an embrace, Amy turned back to the window. Through the darkness, it was difficult to distinguish shadows from the swirling masses of snow, but from the darkness, she was certain now that she saw the shape of horses.

"They're back!" she exclaimed, running to the door. The wind and snow swept coldly into the foyer as she opened the front door. Laurie dismounted from his horse, handing the reigns to Dan. Amy braved the snow to greet her husband, but she knew already that the news wasn't good. Meg and Jo ran up to them.

"The storm got too bad," Laurie called out over the howling of the wind. "We couldn't find our way anymore. I'm sorry, Meg."

Meg's knees suddenly buckled beneath her, and Jo caught her as she fell. With Laurie and Jo on either side of her, Meg was led back inside where she broke down in uncontrollable sobs.

"Laurie, take Meg up to my room," said Jo. "She needs to rest."

***

Daisy and Demi could never have thought they'd ever be so happy to see a stranger in their lives, but when Marita's husband, Jovaan, had opened the door of their cabin, they were relieved beyond words. Neither one of them knew the first thing about birthing babies, but an adult would doubtless have the expertise needed.

Demi went outside and brought in as much firewood as he could in preparation for a cold night while his sister kept water boiling on the fire, and some stew brewing in case they should all get hungry. Marita was feverish in her pain, but at least now they were warm. Kristina had been fed and now lay quietly in her bed, holding her doll as she kept an eye on her mother through the doorway. After several minutes, her eyes grew heavy and she slept even as her mother cried out.

"I have to get help," Jovaan said at last, pulling on his coat and slipping his feet into his boots.

"But we don't know what to do," said Daisy. "What if the baby comes?"

Jovaan looked lovingly at his wife and smiled. She was tired, but returned the gesture. "Marita will help you as much as she can. You are good children, but I need to get a doctor," Jovaan insisted. The children could never have known how difficult Kristina's birth had been, and the doctor had said at that time that Marita should not bear any more children or she would almost certainly die in childbirth. Her pains now were more than a month early, and Jovaan couldn't take the chance that both his wife and child might not survive the night. If he could get help, that would be the best thing he could possibly do.

Demi and Daisy exchanged a glance that spoke volumes between them. They were a team, and they had always been able to get through the most difficult challenges together. As frightened as they were, they knew they would be all right.

As Jovaan left, Daisy and Demi continued their chores, making sure that the storm would not penetrate the cabin walls.

***

Harrison Bridger realized now how stupid he had been to try to head back to Concord with a storm brewing ahead, but it had been years since he'd not been alone on Christmas and he wanted this one to be special. For once, there was someone he truly wanted to be with, and he knew she felt the same way.

With his saddlebags filled with gifts for Meg and the twins, Harrison rode back from Boston, grateful that he had made it more than halfway home before the snow had begun to fall. He knew now that he was close to home, but his goal was just to find shelter at the moment. His surprise appearance at Plumfield would be just as effective the next morning as it would have been on this night, but if he didn't find shelter, he was sure that he and his horse would freeze to death.

The road home was difficult to distinguish in the grey light of an early winter evening, but as darkness fell, Harrison could just make out the light of a cabin up ahead. He hoped the residents would be hospitable and give him shelter for the night because he knew for certain that he and his horse weren't likely to make it much further. Concord could have been only a few yards away, but he would never know in such a blinding storm. Forcing his horse directly into the wind, Harrison headed for the warmth of the light ahead.

***

Marita smiled at the young girl with golden curls who sat worriedly by her bedside. What a brave young girl she was, and Marita would always be grateful for the comfort of that little hand in her own no matter what might happen on this night. "It's time," she said softly. It was strange how peaceful she was, even as the pains increased in frequency and intensity.

"I don't know what to do," said Daisy, crying in spite of herself. She wished her mother was there now more than ever.

Suddenly, there was a pounding at the door.

"Mr. Jovaan must be back," Demi exclaimed hopefully.

"I hope he found the doctor," Daisy in partial relief as she looked to the door.

Demi opened the door, and the wind blew in with a terrible ferocity. At first he didn't recognize the figure before him for all the snow that covered him, but his eyes lit up when he realized who it was. "Mr. Bridger!"

Harrison closed the door behind him and pulled off his hat and mittens. He quickly looked around the cabin, seeing the woman on the bed. "What happened?" he asked quickly as he tore off his coat and went to Marita's side. "How'd you get here?" he asked Daisy as the young girl stepped aside, ready to help but grateful now for a familiar face to guide her.

Before either one of the twins could answer, Marita screamed again in pain, waking Kristina who cried for her mother.

"Demi, take care of the baby," Harrison ordered. "Daisy, I'm going to need your help. We'll need clean sheets or towels and hot water."

***

The night was a stressful one at Plumfield. The children ate little and in complete silence, retreating to their rooms immediately after their dishes were cleared and cleaned. Until the storm died down, there was nothing anyone could do but pray that Daisy and Demi had found a safe place to spend the night. No one slept easily, and Jo, Nick and Laurie stayed awake in the parlour, not wanting to relax their vigil in case Meg might wake or the storm might end, or, by some miracle, Demi and Daisy might find their way to Plumfield.

As the sun dimly shone its first light of Christmas morn, Nick and Laurie grabbed their coats and went out to the stable. Within minutes, both had saddled up their horses and were on their way. They only hoped they weren't too late.

***

Harrison had stayed awake the entire night, doing everything in his power to care for the people under the roof of this cabin. He smiled softly as he checked in on Daisy, Demi and Kristina, all of whom slept peacefully in the toddler's little bed. They were crowded, but they had all been so exhausted that sleep had come easily in the wee hours of the night.

As he re-entered the main room of the cabin, Harrison heard noises outside, and within an instant, a man came through the door, followed closely by Dr. Pierce.

"You must be Marita's husband," Harrison said as the man stopped in the doorway. Dr. Pierce worked his way to the woman in the bed at the other side of the room.

"Who are you?" Jovaan asked.

"Harrison Bridger," replied the newspaper man. "I'm a friend of the twins," he explained. "I was looking for shelter last night, and, by some miracle, ended up here."

Jovaan nodded and then turned his attention to his wife. "Is she alive?" he asked the doctor.

Marita's eyes opened sleepily and she smiled as she saw her husband's face.

"She seems fine," said Dr. Pierce. "And it appears you now have a perfectly healthy baby boy."

"Thank God," Jovaan said as he fell to his knees before his wife and son.

"I'd definitely say he had something to do with it," said Harrison with a smile.

***

When Meg awoke, it was with a sudden panic as she realized where she was and how late in the morning it must have been already. How could she have possibly slept so long while her children were missing, and why hadn't someone come to wake her?

There was a commotion down in the front yard, and Meg looked out to see that the storm had cleared and the sun was shining brightly on the newly fallen mantle of white.

Without any care for appearances, Meg put on her shoes and ran downstairs and out the front door, her hair falling loosely down her back.

"Mama!"

Daisy and Demi flew at their mother in unison, and Meg cried out as she fell to her knees to wrap her precious twins in her arms. "I was so worried about you," she said as she covered her children's faces with kisses then looked them over to see that they were indeed all right.

"We promise not to worry you again, Mama," Daisy vowed for both her and her brother.

"All we wanted to do was give you a surprise," said Demi. "I wanted to get a tree for you, like we used to with Papa."

"But we got lost," Daisy continued.

"Maybe we should all get inside and you can tell your story over a bite to eat," came a familiar voice. "It will certainly make a great story for the Chronicle."

Meg stood and looked at the man who spoke. "Harrison… But you were supposed to be in Boston."

Harrison held open his arms in a shrug. "Merry Christmas, Meg," he said humbly.

No longer caring what anyone thought, Meg welcomed Harrison's embrace and held him a bit longer than what might have been proper before she turned back to her children. Daisy and Demi smiled and then took Meg and Harrison's hands in their own to pull them into the house.

"We have so much to tell you, Mama," said the twins simultaneously as they disappeared into the house.

Jo smiled happily at the reunion, relieved that this Christmas would be one to remember for all the right reasons.

With a renewed energy, she turned to the stable to find Nick so that, together, they might join the family for breakfast.

Nick was just putting away the last saddle when he heard Jo's soft footfalls in the doorway. Without turning to look at her, he said, "There's a gift for you on the window sill. I wanted to give it to ya last night, but I never had the chance."

Jo went over to the window and retrieved a little box wrapped in plain brown paper and string.

As she untied the bow, she could feel Nick approach her from behind. The paper fell away to reveal a small black box, and Jo opened it, catching her breath when she saw what it contained. Inside was a small gold ring, nestled gently in a fold of velvet fabric. Jo turned to find Nick staring solemnly at her. "Jo, I know I don't have much to offer ya, but I would be the happiest man alive if you'd consider bein' my wife."

Jo's face lit up with a smile, and she threw her arms around this man who she loved with all her heart. "Yes," she replied happily.

As Nick placed the ring on Jo's finger, he gently squeezed her hand in his and pulled her towards the doorway. "I'd say Christmas will be full of good memories this year," said Nick. And, hand in hand, he and Jo headed back to the house to share their own good news and to listen to the twins' wonderful story of a little Christmas miracle right here in Concord.

completed 2000/12/20