Hazy Shade Of Winter- An Instant Star "Holiday" Fic

Chapter 1: Prologue, Christmas Present

Author's Note: So, I started writing this Thanksgiving weekend- the perfect time to start thinking about the rest of the season. In my case, that means following up on my tradition of "Holiday" stories. Yet another saga in the "Next Generation" series. This one is a continuation of last year's "Holiday", and also relates closely to "Picking Up The Pieces"... with lots of yummy seasonal cuteness and "Jommyness" thrown in!

As with many of my stories, there's some "time travel" involved. The first chapter takes place three years after Tommy and Jude are married. Afterwards, it flashes back to their second Christmas together, with Jude and Tommy now living together in his apartment...

"Hazy Shade Of Winter" is a song originally written by Paul Simon and re-released in the 1980's by the Bangles for a movie soundtrack. The opening lines to most, if not all of the chapters will be from that song...

That's all I'm going to say now... if you want to know more, you gotta read it! And please- hit that little button and review. It would make a really great present for me...

Chapter 1: Prologue, Christmas Present.

"Time, time, time..."

"See what's become of me..."

Gray clouds thickened in the sky, as daylight slid into twilight in Toronto. A young man watched the sky darkening and frowned. His impatience heightened, as he waited for his wife in the living room of their penthouse apartment.

"Jude!" he called to her.

"Just a minute..." she replied. "I'll be right there..."

"We'll be late!" he warned her. "Besides, it's going to start snowing soon..."

"I'm coming!"

She walked towards him, a large, heavy shopping bag in each hand. Quickly, Tommy walked over and took them from her.

"You shouldn't be carrying those." he gently chastised her.

Jude laughed softly.

"Come on, Tommy! They aren't that heavy! And Dr. Smythe said some exercise was good for me."

"Yeah- but I don't want you to overdo it." he said lovingly, reaching out to caress her swollen stomach.

"I can't let anything happen to you."

"I'm fine. We're fine." she assured him. Tommy was definitely much more nervous about this pregnancy than she was, constantly worrying about both her and their unborn baby.

"I know." he replied softly, dropping the bags and wrapping his arms around her.

"Just three more months... I can't wait!" Jude smiled radiantly.

"Me either." her husband agreed.

"I never thought this could happen for me... Any of it..."

His eyes took in their homey apartment. Family pictures adorned the walls, and there were mementos everywhere of trips and other things he and Jude had done together. Right over the fireplace was a huge portrait of them on their wedding day.

"So beautiful... The best day of my life..."

The warm feelings continued as his gaze fell upon their huge, festively decorated tree. Stacks of colorfully wrapped presents surrounded it. Carefully concealed in these piles was a small rectangular box. Wrapped in shinny red paper, and adorned with a green velvet ribbon, it did not appear outwardly different from any of their other gifts.

Only Tommy knew how special it was. This present's ordinary appearance masked it's significance. It had a value far beyond money. It was one of the most important things he would ever give to his wife.

It was a link to his past.

Now, the time had come to share it with her.

Just six years ago, he had been given his legacy...