Okay, so maybe it's a bit early to be reading Christmas stories, but it was a welcome distraction from the heat and also I really needed something sweet. And gosh, this is so adorable and heart-warming! I really didn't expect the darkness and Stella almost dying (should've known after reading some of your other stories) and it shocked me a bit. At some point it even made me cry (well, I am a little emotionally drained today), but it made the rest of it so much sweeter. I loved the mystery girl talking to Stella and even more her giving the dolls to Mac. And it's beautiful how you put the magic of Christmas into the story without making it seem too cheesy. The idea of wishing on the Christmas tree star is really cute. I could probably go on much longer, but let's just sum up by saying: I absolutely loved the story! It was exactly what I needed right now and made my day so much sweeter. Thank you!

Thank you for that sweet story. It's moving even in late April, long before Christmas.

Sweet story :)

All four chapters were adorable! You've got the characterization down so well and I had so much fun reading this..not to mention I now can't wait for Christmas ]

Aww! I LOVED this so much! :) I'm more than happy that Stella had what she deserved - the family she had always wanted. This was such a beautiful ending and you actually brought happy tears into my eyes! :) It was delightful to read this. I loved that Mac and Stella named their daughter Holly, and that she was so much like young Stella and I also loved the last scene when Stella finally saw the magic of the two dolls that made her wish come true ;)

Thank you so much for sharing this amazing story! :)

Wow...I think this was the best chapter so far because there were so many moments and lines that tugged at my heart strings. The way you described Mac's thoughts and emotions was very touching and also so convincing. The description that Mac's unsaid fear sitting like a spider at the center of its web was so vivid and at the same time so intense. I loved the way you wrote the little girl! Flack seeing her was perfect! :)

I think you did do a great job of balancing hope and hopelessness, joy and sadness. The ending was just perfect and adorable :)

Wow! This was such an atmospheric chapter, with a lot of beautiful moments and lines that tugged my heart strings. I loved the banter between Mac and Stella and all the moments between them. They were all tender and calm and I could feel how comfortable they are with each other :) It was lovely to read :D

Oh my! The car crash! What a sudden change! I hope Stella will be all right with my fingers crossed!

Wow! The descriptions were perfectly vivid and I could picture clearly of young Stella and her life in the home. This was amazing and she is so sweet! :) I liked the childish excitement about Christmas so much. I could feel and see her joy as she decorated a Christmas tree. What I love most in this chapter is her stubborn conviction that Santa would come :D

I loved this fic. A lovely story on the magic of Christmas.

This has been on my to-read list for a while, and I haven't gotten around to it till now, which is my loss because this is incredible. They way you've written Stella and Mac is perfect, so in-character. The way you wove in the little girl is lovely, especially when she gives Mac back Stella's childhood dolls.
When Stella was hit by the car, my heart may have broken a little. You captured Mac's conflicted emotions so well. They certainly got their Christmas miracle in more ways than one, and naming their daughter Holly was just the icing on the cake. Even though it's June, this brings back a little Christmas spirit.

"Holding back, indicating to Mac that she would follow shortly, she bent down to retrieve Bear who had fallen into the heap of cookies. An impulse, stirred by memory made her pause by the tree and study the two tiny dolls sitting in pride of place near the top. Despite their best efforts the little girl who had given them to Mac that Christmas Eve had never been traced: Stella suspected that she never would be. Some things, she'd decided, would always hold their secrets. Like the two dolls.
Two dolls whose eyes twinkled and gleamed in the light, winking even, as if sharing a secret joke with each other. Stella stared suspiciously at them, head cocked on one side.
But it was probably just the lights from the tree, catching the glass of their eyes. Nothing more. Stella smiled to herself, shaking her head at her imaginings, before she picked up Bear, brushed the cookie crumbs off him and left the room. In the hallway though, she stopped, spun on her heel and darted back to the door of the living room.
A delighted grin spread over her face as she peeped into the room - the two dolls were hand in hand, smiling at each other.
'Merry Christmas and thank you, to you and Santa when you see him,' she whispered and tiptoed away to bed."

Best ending EVER! Never stop writing or making me cry with love...no matter how much I complain, LOL! :D Holly, do I squee now or what? It is a MARVELOUS name to show how much that Christmas changed their lives and to be forever reminded of how fragile but strong life and love can be. :) Bear too, I was wondering if it was Bentley. :) You can feel the love bouncing off of both of them in here for Holly, she's their child through and through with how she can move them with laughter and tears. You did an amazing job and even if you missed the Christmas deadline, you brought us a little holiday cheer when we needed it. Because now I'm wishing for some snow and a tree of my own. Angels can appear in all forms, I guess that little girl knew where to find Stella because that is what guardian angels do. Freaking Fantastic, my friend!

I know that I usually pick out a line that is my favorite but after the tears of sadness and joy in her waking up...I honestly can't say which one is my favorite. My heart froze with dread at the little black and white pic that Mac had in his pocket only to be confirmed as an ultrasound. We'll talk about it this weekend when I can chastise you in real time. :D

Seriously though, Mac was as fragile in here as an ornament. I felt that if he couldn't reach Stella, he'd shatter. Is the little girl Stella from the past, or better yet, Little Miss showing them their future gift of being a family? Either you have painted a picture that is worth more than a thousand, more like a million. :) I'm glad that that SCUM is going away for a long time...a horrid reason to hurt an innocent or two innocent beings.

*sighs* I need a moment here, to collect myself and what I'm going to say. *exhales slowly and opens eyes* Okay, how can you keep doing this to us? I mean really, Lily! This is Christmas! Sure its May when you posted this, but come on! And doing this to Stella during the holidays! I'm sure that Mac didn't ask to be this freaked out by nearly losing the one he loves after some hard negotiation for his beloved tree which I'm sure is going to wear yet another layer of drywall away from the ceiling.

I'm calming down now. Adam was so cute in his nervousness but looking so dapper! Ohhh, Fliss, she sounds cool! Will we see her in other stories? :D I hope so because if she can get him spiffed up for a night on the town, she' my kind of gal! The romance of them walking down the street hand in hand while frantic shoppers were busy dodging them was my favorite section, other than meeting the little girl and seeing her friends again. Ah, that nearly tore my heart out to see Stella touching them with such reverence. But you RUINED IT! Ah!

Every time I start to trust you, peril and suspense prevail! Sheesh, I could understand this from a non lover of MS but you...bad Lily! XD Marvelous job with this chapter and all of the love. You will always remain the Queen of Suspense and Freaking Peril! More please! :D

SQUEE! Tiny Stella is the BEST! I could have knocked over Jay and Clark for calling her a baby but also shoving her in the chest! Apparently they didn't get the message that you don't hit or mess with girls! Kirsty is a doll, even though she sleeps like the dead. The part where Stella was shaking her and rolling her, is one of my favorite parts! :D

This is why I love decorating the Christmas tree so much, the ornaments can come alive to an imagination far greater than ours, a child's. :) I hope that the fairy and solider stay will Stella, because I can see even now how much they love her. :)

I really like the ending to this story! It almost makes me want to take back what I said about you being an evil English person. :P I love that Holly is so much like young Stella! I think my favorite part of this story is the 4-5 lines where you mention how Mac told Stella about the baby, it works really well.

Now, if we can just get CBS to renew CSI:NY for another season, get Stella back and make the writers give us an ending like this...