"You did what?" Sami stared incredulously at Austin as patiently repeated his explanation from seconds earlier.

"I told you. I was at Chez Rouge…"

"Yeah, yeah. You were meeting a new investment banker when you overheard Maggie tell Julie that she was looking for a last minute replacement 'Mrs. Claus' for the hospital Christmas party. Something about Jennifer not being able to do it this year."

"Because of losing Jack so recently." Austin nodded sadly. "Yeah, and I immediately thought of you and Nicole. Neither one of you has plans tonight."

"Thanks for rubbing that in." Sami's eyes narrowed. "So why am I getting stuck doing this?"

"Two reasons: a) It's very hands-on with the kids at the hospital. You'll be escorting each and every one of them when they see Santa. No offense to Nicole, but she's not exactly 'kid-friendly' if you know what I mean."

Sami shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose… So what's the other reason?"

Austin grinned as he reached for the garment bag he'd placed on the sofa when he'd arrived minutes earlier. "And b) you're the same size as Jennifer. Plus when I suggested your name to Julie and Maggie they thought it was a brilliant idea."

Sami rolled her eyes, but took the garment bag from his outstretched hand. "Fine. Whatever, and as you so thoughtfully pointed out, I have no other plans tonight. Apparently even my own family doesn't want to bother with me on Christmas Eve." She muttered to herself as she headed to her bedroom to change, remembering the way her grandparents had avoided her question when she asked if anything was planned at the pub that evening. Their hesitation had told her everything she needed to know. Yes something was planned, but no, she wasn't invited.

"Where are you going?" Austin asked with alarm as he watched her walk away.

Sami bit back the 'duh' on the tip of her tongue, silently counting to five before turning and smiling sweetly at him. "To change into the costume."

Austin shook his head. "There's no time for that! You can change at the hospital."

"Why can't I change here?"

"Sami." Austin whined. With a deliberate glance at the knee length red dress she was wearing he explained. "Can't you just change out of that outfit into the Mrs. Claus one once you're there? Maggie was insistent that it all has to start on time. You don't want to disappoint her do you?"

Sami shook her head. "No. I've already had enough disappointing looks from Horton family members this year. I don't need any more."

"Perfect." Austin exclaimed as he shoved some cash into her hand. "A cab should be downstairs waiting for you." Practically pushing, he moved her towards the door. "Have a great time. You won't regret this."

"Wait a minute. Aren't you coming too?"

"No." Austin explained as he propelled Sami out the door. "I'm taking Nicole out to dinner at the Penthouse Grille to celebrate Christmas Eve. Poor thing's all alone you know."

Sami spun around, outraged words of protest on her lips, but quickly found herself face to face with a closed door. "You-you—"

"Have fun Sami." She heard Austin's muffled call through the door. Resisting the urge to kick her sandal-clad foot against the wall she bitterly called back to him as she headed towards the elevator. "I hope the chef burns your dinner!"

"So how do I look?" Lucas asked as he finished adjusting the white beard on his chin and turned around to face the Horton women.

Maggie beamed. "Why I think you're one of the most handsome Santa's we've ever had! Don't you agree ladies?"

"I certainly do." Julie smiled broadly as she looked him over.

"Most definitely." Alice Horton nodded her head proudly. "Thank you dear, for doing this."

Lucas walked over to his grandmother and leaned down, kissing her gently on the cheek. "For you, I'd do anything." Straightening up he looked at Maggie. "So Hope's reading the Christmas story first?"

"Yes."

"And after she's done Mrs. Claus will be getting the kids ready for my arrival." He looked at Maggie and Julie questioningly. "Jennifer was supposed to be playing Mrs. Claus this year right?"

Julie answered. "She was, but because of Jack she just didn't feel up to it."

"Understandable. So who's the replacement? Anyone I know?"

Maggie, Julie and Alice all exchanged brief knowing looks before Julie explained. "Yes, I have a feeling you'll recognize her. It was so kind of her to fill in at the last minute."

"Yes it was." Maggie agreed. "Now if you'll excuse us Santa, we don't want to miss Hope's story."

Lucas furrowed his brow at their hasty departure, but shrugged it off seconds later. "Women."

Sami tugged in frustration at the small fur-lined top of her Mrs. Claus costume as Julie popped her head through the door. "You have about 3 minutes darling."

"Julie wait!" Sami hissed at the closing door.

"Yes Sami?" Julie smiled as she entered the room. "You look lovely Sami. The perfect Mrs. Claus. Santa will love you!"

"He'll be loving a lot more of me than I intend if I don't find a way to fix this." Sami muttered.

"Fix what?"

"This." Sami said as she opened her arms, exposing the ample creamy white cleavage that was visible despite, or rather because of her costume. "Whoever decided that Jennifer and I are the same size forgot one little factor." She glanced down forlornly at the tightly stretched fabric barely covering her breasts.

"Ah yes." Julie nodded, feigning concern while masking her mirth. "I see what you mean."

"Julie, I can't possibly go out like this!"

Julie studied her thoughtfully. "Oh I don't think it's a problem Sami."

"What?!" Her eyes widened. "Julie, the 'girls' are practically falling out. The kids don't need to see that!"

"Oh don't worry about the children Sami. They have one-track minds at Christmas. It's all about Santa and the presents. They won't even notice."

"But I'll notice." Sami grumbled. "And Santa will notice."

"I doubt Santa will have any complaints." Julie quipped dryly. "In fact, I think he'll rather enjoy it."

Sami rolled her eyes. "Not you too!"

"What?" Julie asked innocently.

"Maggie popped in a couple of minutes ago and mentioned that I'd love Santa this year. Apparently it's some handsome bachelor. She thinks we'll hit it off."

"She's right."

"Julie the last thing I need in my life right now is a man."

"Oh?" Julie raised her brow. "But I thought you were gung-ho on getting your hands back on Austin Reed."

Sami hung her head, partly in sadness, but mostly in embarrassment. "Yeah, about him."

Julie nodded her head knowingly. "You're not really all that interested in getting involved with him are you?"

"No." Sami shook her head sheepishly. "I thought that maybe, that maybe—"

"You thought that maybe you could lose yourself in the past right? That maybe you could convince yourself you've been in love with Austin this whole time?"

"Yeah." Sami said sadly. "I just thought that maybe—"

"That maybe he could help you forget your feelings for Lucas?"

Sami nodded her head, turning away to hide the tears that threatened to spill.

"But it didn't work did it?" Julie asked softly.

"No." Sami croaked, feeling the warmth of a single tear track its way down her face. "And it never will. Lucas was 'it' for me. He was the one, and I blew it."

"Now, now." Julie soothed, handing her a tissue. "Dry your eyes Mrs. Claus. Christmas is the time for love and laughter, not tears."

Sami scoffed. "Maybe for everyone else, but not for me. Face it Julie. I'm destined to be alone. I may as well get used to it because I'm going to be all by myself every Christmas for the rest of my life."

"Samantha Gene Brady!" Julie admonished. "I don't believe that for one second and neither do you!"

"But—"

"No buts!" Julie scolded gently as she added the final touch to Sami's costume, the Santa hat. "Christmas is the time for miracles. All you have to do is believe."

Lucas heard the door behind him as he fiddled with his Santa hat in the mirror. Seeing Maggie's red hair, he smiled. "Almost time?"

"It sure is." She replied as she walked further into the room. Catching sight of the wistful expression on his face as he stroked his long white beard she asked. "What's making you smile like that?"

"I was just remembering another time, long ago when I had a beard like this on."

"Oh? Did you dress up for Will?"

"Kind of." Lucas murmured, lost in the memory. "But more for—"

"Oh I see." Maggie grinned. "More for Will's mother."

"He was just a few weeks old. She had such a difficult time with the birth. I was trying to cheer her up." He hastened to explain. "I didn't even know I was his father."

"And if you'd known?"

"I don't know. I suppose I would have asked her to marry me."

"Really?" Maggie shook her head. "I don't think you would have."

"What?" Lucas looked at her incredulously. "You're the one who's always saying that you knew all along that Sami and I belonged together."

"Oh I did." Maggie agreed. "But let's face it Lucas, you and Sami both had a lot of issues and hang-ups to work through. You both lament the years lost, but have you ever stopped to consider that things worked out when they were supposed to?"

"What?"

"You've both been to hell and back and you managed to overcome nearly every obstacle thrown in your paths because of what you've been through in the past. It made your love stronger, deeper."

Lucas snorted. "Right. So that's why we're living miserably ever after!"

"You're miserable because you choose to be miserable!" Maggie scolded. "I know you don't want to hear this—"

"Then why are you telling me?" The sarcastic retort slipped out, and he instantly regretted it.

"Lucas Desmond Roberts! I don't care if you don't want to hear this; you're going to listen anyway!" Maggie frowned. "You're so damn stubborn."

"She almost got me killed, and what about Rex, Brady and Shawn? And Philip! Philip's suffered the most!"

"Philip went back out into combat when he had no business being there. Yes he got hurt, but not because of Sami. As for you and the other three, none of you were supposed to be there. And from what I understand Sami risked her life to save you all."

"But—"

"But nothing! I'm so tired of everyone pussyfooting around this subject with you. You know exactly why Sami ended up over there, and you played a big part in that."

"But my mom—"

"Yes, Kate sold you out, and one day she will have to answer for that with her maker. But you made the decision to believe in the lies rather than trust your love for Sami. No more excuses Lucas. You are the reason you're miserable, and only you have the power to change that."

"She's in love with Austin now."

Maggie laughed. "No she's not. She's hurt; she's lonely. Austin's her friend, but there's nothing more there. Trust me."

"But—"

"But nothing." Maggie stated firmly as she gave the final adjustment to his Santa hat. "Christmas is the time for miracles Lucas, and the best kind are the ones you make happen yourself."