A/N: Okay guys, this is it. Thanks for all the feedback, I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I loved writing it (most of the time, not so much in August...hmm). I hope this doesn't disappoint.

Christmas 38

Kristina was the third angel from the right. Michael was Joseph, Morgan a shepherd and Spencer was baby Jesus. Kristina worried that Molly would feel left out, but Mom promised that we would make it up to her somehow. Sonny held Molly on his lap and had his free arm around Mom. Carly and Jax sat in front of us, Carly mouthing Michael his lines. He only had two. And he knew them, but that didn't stop Carly. I laughed when Mom rolled her eyes.

Nikolas and Emily couldn't keep their hands off of one another. They hadn't set a date, but I knew that Spencer would be growing up with a mom. A good mom. And that made me happy. He deserved it after losing so much so early in life. For some of us finding a family took a lot longer. But hey, it was worth it. I wouldn't trade my family for anything. And considering the last six or seven months that was saying something.

I miss Danny, and I ache for Lila. Some days I even miss Cody. There will always be a part of me that yearns for what I've lost, but I know now those losses helped define me and make me stronger. Like my mother's losses did for her.

She's so happy. Last week she came home and announced she was quitting as DA. She hated it, all of it. She declared she was going back into private practice so she could make her own schedule and enjoy her family. I was stunned, but two days later she had a new office, three partners, and a list of clients a mile long. She and Ric have declared a tentative truce for the holidays. Now that there is some distance between them, Ric's actually being somewhat reasonable. Mom's wary of course, but she's determined to enjoy it while she can.

She and Sonny are still in no man's land. They are friends. No benefits, as far as I know, and I really, really don't want to know. He was the first to re-up as a client. They argued for hours when she insisted that she could not be his exclusive attorney. When Mom announced that he could take it or leave it, he decided he'd rather have her on his payroll part-time, then not at all. Smart man, Sonny.

I finished finals two weeks ago. I can't believe I have an entire semester under my belt. Or that I ended up with a 3.4 GPA. If it wasn't for biology, I'd have a 4.0. I'm soooo done with science. I'm not applying for the pre-law program. I told Mom that I've decided I'm not cut out to be a lawyer. She wasn't having the best day, and announced she was glad to hear that because it was the worst job, ever. That was just before she resigned as DA.

She wasn't thrilled when I told her I was thinking of studying criminal justice, when she realized I was thinking about becoming a cop. "Oh great, the only job worse than being a lawyer, but more people shoot at you." She'll come around…I think. Anyway, I like school and am looking forward to next semester (no biology, thank you very much).

Krissy runs to us after the pageant all smiles and wings. "Did you see me Sam? I waved to you! Mommy, Molly should have been Jesus, the hay was making Spencer sneeze."

"That's okay, it might have made baby Jesus sneeze too."

"Daddy, Jesus wouldn't sneeze." Kristina explained. "He's Jesus."

Sonny just laughed. He'd changed so much over the past few months, I could finally understand why my mother fell so in love with him. He was finally the father that the kids needed and deserved. And he was finally out of the business. Officially December 12th.

This was my real Christmas present. Mine, Kristina's, Michael's, Morgan's. Corinthos Morgan was 100 percent legit. They were really and truly importers. Coffee, tea, knick knacks, you name it they imported it. The FDC, FBI, CIA and WSB couldn't find a single uncrossed t or undotted i. And they never will, because my mother is the best.

She and Jason had been working to this end since June. Once Sonny was better they weren't sure what would happen. Jason felt obligated to turn the business back over to him, but wasn't sure Sonny would be willing to move forward with the plan. Mom worried too. But Sonny had his lawyers look it over and discussed it with Carly and Mom and Jason and Benny and Mike and everyone was for it. Everyone but Ric. That's when things got ugly. It had to do with me in a round about way, because Ric said Mom was only doing this for me. He wanted Sonny to remain in the business. Mom couldn't understand it. No one could. She couldn't tell me, because, well she didn't want me to know.

She didn't want me to know, because she wasn't sure it would work. She wasn't sure if they could pull it off without someone landing in jail or Sonny changing his mind. She understood…really understood how much I loved Jason. She was so ticked at him when she found out he slept with Liz, that he was afraid she'd back out. And maybe she would have, if she and Sonny hadn't reconnected. She and Jason argued when he found out about Cruz. She told him, he had other things to worry about since he might be a father. He shut up about it after that.

I told Lainey everyone was afraid of my mother, that so includes Jason. So now I walk with my family to Kelly's for a celebratory dinner. Jason on my right, Cruz on my left. I still love Jason. In some ways I know I always will, but the past few months have taken their toll. Cruz has been a terrific friend, Mom blames him for my interest in police work, I don't love Cruz, but I could. It wouldn't be hard. So we will take it day by day. I'm more than the man in my life. I'm a friend, a student, a sister, and most imorpantly I'm my mother's daughter. I am Natasha's girl.

Fin