Julia enters the hospital room, carrying an overnight bag and a purse. She leaves the purse on a table and drops the overnight bag on the floor. She looks a bit nervous...and extremely lonely. Spying a small red radio at the bedside, Julia switches it on, and strains of Silent Night fill the room. If anything, Julia looks more alone. As Julia leans against the bed, the nurse enters the room.

Julia turns when the nurse enters her room. "Oh, Ms. Wainwright. Doctor Marrick just called this floor a few minutes ago. He'll be in to see you on his rounds."

Julia nervously replies, "Thank you."

Pointing out the blue gown on the bed, the nurse continues, "We have set out a gown for you and the anesthesiologist will be in to talk to you very shortly."

Julia again says, "Thank you." As the nurse is leaving, Mason is seen walking into the room.

Turning to the nurse, Mason asks, "Excuse me, is this the Kit Kat Club" formerly known as "The Girls That Go-Go"?

The nurse is decidedly befuddled. "Are you lost?"

"Perpetually," Mason responds, making Julia giggle. Turning to the harried nurse, Julia explains. "He's a friend." The nurse nods, and Mason qualifies, "A very close friend."

The nurse leaves and soon it is just Mason and Julia. As Mason takes in the drab surroundings, he naturally cannot let it pass without comment. "Boy, this place could use a decorator."

Julia tries to make light of the situation. "Fortunately, I only have to stay overnight."

Mason points out, "Why do it today at all, Julia? It's Christmas Eve."

Julia looks down, fidgeting with the tie to the hospital gown for a moment at his comment. Then says, "Well, my good ol' buddy Bill Marrick has a medical conference right after the holidays...and I wanted to know where I stand before the new year rolls in."

Mason nods. "I guess I'm the uh...coward on this team, huh?"

Julia, still nervously fidgeting with her hospital gown, laughs. "I'm not afraid of the operation. I'm not." Julia sits down on the bed. Her eyes gaze downward, betraying her fears. "I'm just afraid of what I'll find out."

Her voice quivers only slightly, but it is obvious that Julia is scared. She looks at Mason. "I don't know if I can handle not being able to have a baby. I just, uh...took that for granted, you know...I just assumed that my body w...w...wouldn't let me down." Julia's gaze darts to and fro.

Mason attempts to reassure Julia. "Now, now. Remember the power of positive thinking. I've been staying so positive that you'll probably have quintuplets."

Mason's joke makes Julia smile. "You know what ward this is? The maternity ward." Mason gives a small grin. Julia continues, "It's ironic, isn't it, how they have everybody in here together? The haves and the have nots." Putting forth a sense of bravado and trying to be flip, Julia gets off of the bed and stands. "I'm gonna be all right." She forces a laugh. "I can handle anything, right? God knows I have." Julia pauses, still trying to retain her bravado, then relates to Mason, "The procedure will probably start in a couple of hours." Julia again is clutching the gown to her chest in a defensive manner.

Mason stares at Julia. "I'd like to come back later and stay with you."

Julia is visibly touched, but tries to discourage Mason. "Mason, it's Christmas Eve. Why don't you go home to your family? There's nothing you can do here."

Mason obviously wants to stay and is not easily discouraged. "I could be here when you wake up."

Julia waves around the gown. Her voice is a bit excited. "I should probably get this on, before the anesthesiologist comes in."

Mason spies the gown and takes an end while Julia is still clutching it. "Reminds me of a pair of boxer shorts I once owned." Mason gives a small smile.

Julia, meanwhile, giggles. "I'll save it for you."

Suddenly, Julia turns away. Trying to be strong, she attempts to dismiss Mason. "Thank you for coming here, Mason."

Mason stays where he is and tries to make Julia see reason. "Julia, you've got...no reason to believe that there's anything wrong. It's not like we've been trying for months."

A vulnerable Julia turns and gazes at Mason. "I know that. I know that in my head. It's just in my heart...it's difficult." Julia looks down sadly. Mason grabs Julia's arm and she looks at him. As Mason holds Julia, he again tries to boost her confidence. "You and I have a textbook success story."

Julia is quick with a comeback. "Now there is a chilling thought."

Mason resumes his speech. "Besides, I always get my own way. When I don't, I sulk."

With mock seriousness, Julia replies, "Well, we can't have that now, can we?

Mason smiles. "No, we can't. I'll be back." Mason kisses Julia on the forehead and leaves. Julia is left alone, looking both nervous and a bit uncertain.

Next Scene:

Julia is now properly garbed in her hospital gown. She is standing and drinks a glass of water. As she puts down the glass, she backs up then stumbles, as if drugged, and puts a hand to her face. Mason, who had been standing in the doorway unobserved, comes in and grabs Julia from behind to steady her. Mason smiles at Julia's state.

Mason laughs, leading Julia over to the hospital bed. "Take it easy. Let's get you back into bed."

Julia slurs her words a little. "Oh." Laughing slightly, she lays down and covers herself, as Mason helps get her comfortable. "They gave me a shot. Made me thirsty."

Lifting up the call button, Mason jokingly admonishes her. "Yeah, well you ever hear of this miracle of modern science? You press it and help comes."

Julia rearranges her pillow. "I'll do that next time." Mason sits on the side of Julia's bed and she smiles and says softly, "I didn't hear you come in."

Mason cannot resist teasing Julia. "No, I was silently admiring your...uh...spine. I'll never make fun of these gowns again." Mason flashes Julia a big smile.

Julia laughs, a touch embarrassed. "Mason!"

Mason isn't through teasing yet. "I always knew you were a woman of backbone."

Julia's smile fades a bit, her nervousness remembered. "What time is it?"

"A little after five."

Julia gives a slight nod and licks her lips. Giving a small shrug, she nervously says, "They should be coming for me any minute."

Mason continues to fuss over Julia. "Is there anything I can get you? A magazine or a book?"

Julia shakes her head. She gets a somewhat guilty look on her face and softly wonders, "Mason, it's Christmas Eve. Don't you want to be home with your family?"

Mason grins at Julia. "Unfortunately, Dad and Gina haven't negotiated the Christmas truce, so the place sort of resembles downtown Beirut on a good day." As Julia laughs, Mason gives her a big smile. "Besides, family's just a state-of-mind, anyway." Julia is deeply moved by Mason's declaration.

Suddenly a bit awkward, Mason pours out his heart to Julia about their would-be baby. "Julia, I know I promised not to play Daddy after the baby is born, but I...I still want this child. I want to give part of myself to someone." Mason gives a slight grin, as Julia looks at Mason, very affected by his words. "The beauty of your arrangement is that it has nothing to do with...money or...a name, unlike several marriages I can think of. All we want from each other is to bring a new life into the world."

Julia is deeply touched by Mason's words, almost crying at how simple and sweet his words are. Julia closes her eyes briefly and puts her head back, her voice anxious and a bit afraid. "Oh, God, please don't let there be anything wrong!"

Whatever Mason is about to say is interrupted by the arrival of the nurse and an orderly with a stretcher, ready to take Julia to surgery. "We're ready for you now, Ms. Wainwright."

Mason helps Julia from her bed to the stretcher, and she lays down. Taking Julia's hand in his, he leans over and kisses her. "Good luck."

The nurse tells Mason, "It shouldn't take long."

Nodding to the nurse, Mason reassures a nervous Julia, "I'll be here when you get back."

As the nurse takes Julia to surgery, Mason stands in the doorway of Julia's room looking after her, his gaze concerned and intent.

Next Scene

Julia's hospital room is in darkness, save for brief flashes of lightning. Thunder is heard. On Julia's bed is a bear and a shadowy figure, revealed to be Mason, hangs a stocking above Julia's bed. He turns when the light goes on and the nurse exclaims, "Oh!" when she sees the Christmas decorations that fill the room.

Mason turns on the charm. "I always wanted to be an elf."

The nurse tries to sound stern, but it's obvious that she doesn't really mean it. "No one has ever sneaked a tree past me in twenty-five years of nursing!"

Taking a candy cane from the stocking, Mason turns to the nurse and holds it out to her. "Um...how about a bribe?"

Giving a laugh, the nurse takes it. "Well, as far as I know, there are no rules about Christmas Eve. I think she'll like the surprise."

Curious, Mason seeks information about Julia. "Has there been any word?"

"Well, she came through the procedure beautifully. She's in recovery."

Mason is decidedly desperate for specifics, prompting the nurse for a definite answer. "Will she be able to have children?"

The nurse advises Mason, "I suggest that you talk to the doctor."

With a brief nod, Mason replies, "I'll give you a whole bag of those," Mason nods to the candy cane the nurse still holds, "if you'll tell me yes."

The nurse looks sympathetically at Mason. "I only wish I could. But you're talking to the wrong person." The nurse gives Mason back the candy cane and he is left alone, wondering.