Vince's face distorted into a look of rage. "Stupid queer!"

Danny dived at the same time as Vince raised the gun and fired. Down the two of them went in the small entrance way of the apartment. Danny had tackled him around the knees and then reached for the hand holding the gun. She knew she couldn't out muscle him, but she had the advantage of a clear mind and she was agile. She just needed to keep him down and the gun out of range until help could arrive. She hoped that Andy was on the phone calling the police and not lying in a pool of blood.

The gun went off a second time near Danny's ear, almost deafening her. Plaster rained down from the ceiling. Vince pushed off the wall with his foot and rolled clear of Danny and out into the hall. Fear grabbed Danny's gut and in a near panic, she managed to reach out and slam the door closed, waiting for Vince to open fire and knowing the thin metal door would not protect her.

Then sirens sounded in the distance and Vince swore. Danny heard him running down the stairs. The door slammed open and there were shouts. Then shots. Danny got slowly to her feet and turned around. She was shaking with stress and felt light headed.

Andy stood at the end of the hall, holding his bleeding arm. He was pale but calm.

"The police are on the way. Jill called them. I told her to stay in the bedroom. Mia is really upset."

Danny nodded. "Are you okay?"

"Just nicked me. You?"

"Scrapes and bruises. My ears are still ringing."

"Mine too. What do you think happened?"

"I'm hoping the police caught him."

Then from below a voice yelled out. "Police! Anyone here?"

"We're up here," Danny called and cautiously opened the door.

Danny didn't see Jill until late that night. She was taken to the police station and given some basic first aid and allowed to clean up as best she could. She was told that Andy was taken to the hospital for some stitches and that Jill and Mia were put in the care of a crisis management officer. Jill had gone through her story countless times, and then in the small hours of the morning, she was given a statement to sign and told she could go home. Ben came and got her. Andy was fine and home again, sleeping off the pain

killers the hospital had given him, and Mia and Jill were back in Danny's apartment.

"Are they okay?"

Danny had worried all evening about how Jill and Mia were going to take the news. Vince had tried to run from the police and then, realizing he couldn't, he turned and fired at them. The police had returned fire and killed him. He had terrorized Jill and Mia, but he'd still been her husband and Mia's father. Were they relieved or shocked?

"Emotionally exhausted but doing okay, I think."

Danny dragged herself up the three flights of stairs and hesitated on the landing. Then quietly she unlocked the door and entered into the hall way. She thought it would give her the creeps but it looked strangely normal, except for the slight acidic smell of gun power and the hole in the plaster of the ceiling.

Suddenly, Jill was in her arms. The two of them stood there for the longest time just needing to be close.

"I was so scared he'd hurt you."

"I'm okay. Andy's okay. It's over now. How's Mia?"

"Once she knew that Vince was gone, and we were safe again, she calmed down. I've explained everything to her as best I can. There are some things she doesn't need to know yet."

Arms around each other, they went into the living room and sank down on the couch. They were still there later in the morning asleep in each other's arms when Uther Pendragon woke Danny demanding his breakfast.

Carefully, Danny unwrapped herself from Jill's arms so not to wake her. She took down the stocking she had decorating the fireplace and stuffed it with the things she'd got for Mia. Then she got out the presents that she'd bought the day before and placed them under the tree.

Going to the kitchen, she busied herself making coffee and preparing the ingredients for crepes. The first crepe would be filled with a mixture of eggs, ground ham, and honey-coated walnuts and served with a drizzle of hot pepper sauce. The second crepe would be filled with vanilla ice cream and cherries and topped with whip cream and grated chocolate.

She took a cup of coffee into Jill.

"Merry Christmas," she whispered and used the opportunity to kiss Jill for the first time. It felt right. It felt good.

Jill smiled and then a second later sat up with a look of horror on her face. "Is it Christmas? I haven't... I forgot... I haven't anything for Mia." Tears welled in her eyes.

"No problem," Danny smiled. "I see Santa has filled Mia's stocking, and I do believe there are presents under the tree for both of you. Mia's going to love the toboggan you got for her."

Jill hugged Danny close, tears of joy rolling down her face. "This is a Christmas of miracles. You came into my life when I needed help, desperately, and turned all the hate and fear into happiness and comfort. You are the most special person I've ever met."

"Magic and caring are what Christmas is all about. How about you get Mia up to open her stocking. Then we'll have a good breakfast and open presents before we try out that toboggan. Okay?"

Jill reached up and kissed Danny and then went to get Mia. They sat drinking their coffees while the little girl pulled all those wondrous and special things out of the stocking that Santa leaves for small children on Christmas Eve.

Jill touched Danny's hand. "I haven't got anything for you."

Danny watched as Mia sat on the floor with a stuffed teddy bear under one arm and a patient Uther Pendragon wrapped in the other.

"I think you've given me a very special Christmas miracle."

Outside the snow drifted down slowly and in the distance a church bell rang. The fire warmed the room and soft music played.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas...

Silent Night

The snow fell slowly and gently in big, soft flakes. They drifted like feathers through the weave of tree branches, or piled on evergreens laden down with pillows of snow. The snow clouds played with patches of blue sky that still clung to a beautiful day, and in the distance a church bell rang out. Little chickadees happily chirped and fluttered around the bird feeder scattering sunflower seeds to a waiting grey squirrel below.

On the door, a Christmas wreath of cedar boughs added a sweet, spicy scent to the fresh air, and coloured Christmas lights shone though puffs of snow around the windows. The faint melody of Christmas music seeped from inside the house, borne along on the fragrance of wood smoke and fresh baking.

Lynne took the last of the Christmas cookies out of the oven and smiled. She had prepareda tonne of food for their families visiting tomorrow, but tonight was just going to be her, Paula, and their baby Timothy. Timothy had only been born two months ago and this would be their first Christmas as a family.

Turning the stove off and shaking her oven mitts onto the counter, Lynne wandered into the living room to look again at their wedding picture, which stood on a side table, and beside it the picture of the three of them taken at the hospital the day Timmy was born. So much had happened in the last five years. More than she'd ever dreamed possible. Blinking back tears of joy, she went to check on Timmy who was asleep in his crib.

Paula had been reluctant to go on this business trip to Des Moines just before the holiday, but Lynne had assured her she understood. Paula was the only bread winner at the moment and needed to take her work seriously. The business trip was important. Still, she would be glad when she picked up Paula at the airport this evening.

Outside, a wind had got up and the snow fell heavier.

Paula battled the sleet and wind as she opened the cab door and collected her luggage. She tipped the cabbie and then, head down, she rushed for the airport entrance. It was the morning of Christmas Eve but the airport was still packed with people trying to get home. A warm, wet front had come up off the Gulf of Mexico and met Canadian Arctic air. The result was a massive snowstorm that was now heading east, closing airports as it went. Paula hoped her

flight would be ahead of the storm. As she stood in line for her security clearance, she scanned the Departure Board. Her flight was still on time. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Once cleared through security, she made her way to her gate, impatient to get home to her family. Her family, that phrase sent a shiver of excitement through her and filled her with joy. Who would have ever thought that some day she would be married with a child? She had a lot to be thankful for this Christmas. Then the joy drained away as she looked over at the flight desk. The electronic sign had just changed. Her flight had been cancelled.

Paula was over at the counter in a second. "Excuse me. I need to get to Toronto. Are there no other flights?"

"I'm sorry. Pearson International just closed. We doubt it will open again before tomorrow. They're having quite a bad blizzard up there."

Paula chewed on her lip. "What is the closest airport you can get me to?"

"Let me check." With a frown of concentration the flight attendant checked through her computer screens. "The closest I could get you at the moment is Detroit. You'd have to change planes in Chicago. Detroit is still a good distance from Toronto. Do you have a valid passport to cross the border from Detroit to Windsor?"

"Yes. Can you book me on these flights please?"

"Sure, but you won't have time to get your bags. We'll send them on to you later. Do you mind?"

"Not at all."

"Gate 12, the other end of the airport. Your plane leaves in thirty minutes. I'll notify them that you're on the way."

"Thanks," said Paula, grabbing her paper work and dashing down the terminal. She fished out her cell phone as she ran and speed dialled the number she knew so well.

"Hi, love."

"Paula! Where are you, love? It's really snowing here now."

"I'm just leaving Atlanta. Pearson International has closed, so don't bother going to the airport. I'm taking an alternative route."

"Be careful. You know Timmy and I will understand if you can't make it through."

Lynne tried not to let her worry and disappointment sound in her voice, but Paula heard it.

"What's for dinner?" Paula asked confidently.

"French onion soup, grilled salmon, and oriental salad."

"I'll be there by eight if not before. Love you and Timmy."

"We love you, too."

Paula handed her ticket to the ground crew and hurried down the ramp to the plane. She just hoped they could get to Detroit before that airport closed, too.

The flight to Chicago was uneventful but full of cranky and frustrated passengers trying to get home for Christmas. Paula hurried off, ran down the huge terminal, and made her next flight with minutes to spare. The trip to Detroit was one of the worst Paula had ever endured. They seemed to bounce like a yoyo and snow whipped past the windows. She was relieved when the announcement was made that they would be landing soon. Slowly, they dropped through the storm. The seconds dragged by while the passengers in the small commuter plane held their breath. Then the wheels touched, the plane bounced, hit again, and then careened down the runway. The pilot applied the brakes and a second later relief turned to panic as the small plane fish-tailed.

Passengers screamed and cargo fell from the compartments above. Paula pulled her belt tight and curled, covering her head as she waited for the impact. It was more of a ripping sound at first as one wing touched the ground and spun them around. Then the wheel carriage collapsed and they were skidding on the plane's fuselage. The noise of metal and screams was deafening.

Paula didn't wait. As soon as the plane came to a halt, she snapped her belt off, leapt to her feet and wrestled to get the emergency door open as she had been instructed when she took her seat. People were panicking and pushing to get out. Paula made sure the plastic slide had unfolded properly and then stepped aside.

"One at a time. You and you," she said pointing to a couple that seemed reasonably calm, "slide down and hold the plastic and help people up."

"Yes, ma'am."

Quickly, with the efficient help of the crew, the passengers were evacuated from the wreckage. Paula was one of the last to leave, making sure the young and elderly sat and slid properly out of the craft before she did.

Emergency personnel were there to put them on a bus and take them to the clinic. Except for cuts, bruises, and shock, no one seemed in too bad shape for their moment of fear. It took Paula a good hour, and the signing of several release papers, to convince the airline that she didn't need to go to the hospital before she could get away. She used that time to make some arrangements.

Out came her phone once again as she headed to the airport taxi stands.

"Hi, Lynne."

"Sweetheart, where are you?

"I just arrived in Detroit."

"A plane just crashed there."

"Yes, I saw it. No one was hurt very badly. I'll tell you all about it when I get home."

"How are you going to do that? The roads are white-outs and the airports are closed?"

"Don't you worry. I'll keep in touch. Love you. Bye."

Only a few taxis still sat waiting. Paula flagged one of them and got in.

"Take me to the train station, please." Sitting back, she fumbled, trying to get her phone back in her pocket. Her hands were shaking and she was developing a blinding headache. Delayed shock, she realized and forced herself to calm. The plane had skidded on ice as it went down the runway. No one was seriously hurt and it was over, yet still her heart pounded. It could have been much worse and she'd have left Lynne and Tim alone. Tears rolled down her face at the pain of that thought. Pain for them and pain for herself at not seeing her child grow up, or getting old with the woman she loved.

She gave a sigh that came out more like a sob and wiped the tears away with her gloved hand. She had survived; everyone had. There was no point in brooding about what ifs. She took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. She was going home for Christmas.

Once again she milled through a tired, cranky crowd and found her seat on the train. It would take her through to Union Station in Toronto and from there she'd have to make her way home to the suburb of Rosedale. The train ride was slow. There were frequent delays so that the lines could be ploughed. Paula freshened up and got some headache medication and food. After, she napped and woke feeling a lot better.

The train pulled to a stop in Oakville a little after three in the afternoon. To Paula's horror, they announced that the train could not go any farther. Paula was still miles away from home. She piled off the train with the others to a foot of snow that whipped about her like a white shawl, and cold that cut through the coat that she'd taken with her on the trip. She pulled her hood tighter around her head and went in search of transportation.

This time there were no taxis to be had. She managed to reach a car rental stand just as the woman on the counter was closing up.

"I'm sorry we just closed. Everything is closed down because of the snowstorm."

"Please. I'm an hour's drive from home. It's my baby's first Christmas. Please."

The woman smiled, nodded, and took Paula through the employee entrance. Paula rented a pick-up truck with four wheel drive.

"You'll have to rent it for at least three days. We'll be closed for the holidays."

"No problem," agreed a relieved Paula, handing over her credit card. She pulled out her cell phone but the connection would no longer work. The lady let her use her phone.

"Hi, love."

"Paula, are you okay? The radio is saying the city is paralysed and only emergency vehicles are on the road."

"I'm just on the out skirts of Toronto. I'll be home soon."

Four o'clock and she was on the road again. It was bad — very bad. The police had closed off the highways and she crept along secondary roads, sometimes barely able to see where she was.

Three hours later, she turned a corner and the truck dug into a massive snow drift and stopped. This was as far as she was going. She backed up and managed to wedge the truck into the parking lot of a drugstore and got out. She was about a mile away from home.

Head down, she started off, wading more than walking through knee deep snow. Three quarters of an hour later, she halted gasping for breath and so tired she could barely stand. Her ears and fingers hurt with the cold, and her feet were blocks of ice. She wasn't sure she could go on. Then, up ahead for a brief second, she saw the lights she and Lynne had put up around their windows. She was nearly home.

With her last bit of endurance, she struggled forward to her front door. Through the window, she could see a fire burning in the hearth and her wife holding her son as she rocked in the chair. The Christmas tree was lit and through an archway Paula could see that the table was set for dinner.

She punched in her key code and stumbled into the house. She barely got her coat and boots off when Lynne was there in her arms.

"How did you get home?"

"Oh the usual ways. Am I late for dinner?"

"You're just on time."

Lynne wrapped Paula in a blanket by the fire and brought her a warm drink. She put on some Christmas carols and nestled

beside her wife, holding their baby close. Paula felt a lump form in her throat. There would be other Christmases but none as special as this one. She bent her head and kissed her partner. "Merry Christmas family."

Silent night, holy night,

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and child

Holy infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Sleep in heavenly peace.

~ "Stille Nacht" by Fr. Josef Mohr

The Christmas Fire Truck

Janet watched with a worried frown as her famous wife, Robbie Williams, got dressed. An actor and award winning director, Robbie was a law onto herself. The small northern town of Bartlett had not been the same since Robbie had married Janet and moved in. "You'll have a safety belt on, won't you?"

Robbie looked up as she slipped her feet into big, black fire boots. Her eyes danced with merriment. "I don't know about that, but they've promised me several belts of Bartlett Moonshine so I won't feel the cold."

Janet rolled her eyes as she passed her partner her big, red coat. "I'm not sure about this at all. Every time you get with these guys something happens to you."

"Hey, not so," protested Robbie, stopping to kiss her wife. "The guys have only had to bring me home a few times."

Janet crossed her arms. "Oh well, that makes all the difference if you're only carried home now and again. Did you put cream on your face? It's minus two out there tonight."

"Done. How do I look?"

Janet surveyed her lover, who was wearing a slightly worn, and very over-sized, Santa Claus suit. "You look damn silly. Maybe the hat and beard will help."

Robbie put her hands on her slim hips and raised an eyebrow. "I'll have you know I've won a number of Oscars. I'll make the role of Santa come alive."

Janet groaned at her partner's arrogance. "Just you come back alive."

"What could go wrong?"

"With you, anything."

Reb came to the door. Now thirteen, she was allowed to go along to the fire station meetings just as her sister Ryan had done before she went off to university. "You ready, Obbie?"

"Sure, kid. I just gotta have your mom comb my beard."

Reb sighed dramatically and leaned against the doorpost, placing the back of her hand on her forehead. "It's not bad enough that I live with the wackiest family in the world. It's not bad enough that I have to explain continually that I have two moms. Now one of them has a beard. My whole family could be a travelling side show."

Janet laughed and threw a pillow at her daughter's head. "And what would you be, Miss Smart-mouth? The side show clown?"

Robbie was looking at herself in the mirror. "Hey, I think I look good in a beard. Maybe I'll go in drag to the Oscars this year."

"Oh brother. The two of you just go. You're late as it is. Robbie, try not to fall off the fire engine. Reb, here's the cell phone. Call me immediately when Obbie falls off."

"Oh ye of little faith. I can see all I'll be bringing you this Christmas is coal," Robbie said, giving her wife a kiss and a hug.

"Have fun and be careful," Janet called.

Each year, the Bartlett Volunteer Fire Department got together on Christmas Eve to celebrate the year with a little Bartlett Moonshine. They decorated their old fire engine with Christmas lights and tied an ancient easy chair on top. This they flood lit and one of the volunteers, appropriately prepared for flying with several stiff drinks, would sit in the chair and play Santa as they went through the village with the siren going and Santa ho ho hoing over their loud speaker. This year it was Robbie's turn, mainly because no one, having sat up on top of a fire truck for an hour or so on a cold winter's night, volunteers a second time.

The party was well under way by the time they got there. George Drouillard came up to them as they arrived and gave each of them a big hug and a peck on the cheek. "Merry Christmas, ladies!"

Moe Singh was next in line. "Happy Holidays!" he laughed, giving each a gentle hug.

"Now don't you worry none, Robbie," explained George with a big, silly grin. "Moe here don't drink because of his Muslim religion so he's going to drive the engine. Come and have a warmer-upper. Reb, you go see what you can do to get that darn truck radio to work in case we break down and have to call for help."

Before her Obbie could walk off, Reb grabbed her mom by the arm and whispered in her ear, "Don't drink too much of that stuff and embarrass me. It's bad enough that my only claim to fame is being the daughter of the weird family up on Long Lake. Don't add to the myth."

Robbie laughed and poked her teenage daughter in the ribs. "You poor suffering kid."

The party got quite merry and ended with willing hands hoisting a laughing Robbie on top of the engine. Moe climbed up after her and made sure she was properly fastened in with a good strong rope, and that the chair was indeed firmly attached to the engine. "One year, we left Paul Digby sittin' in the middle of Main Street

tied to his chair. It was a block and a half before anyone noticed we'd lost Santa. Since then, I always check to make sure everything is tied down good and proper."

"Janet thanks you," Robbie said, beyond caring really if she was tied down or not.

Moe slid off and smiled at Reb. "Hop in, Rebecca, and let's get on the road."

"Sure thing, Mr. Singh," Reb said, rolling her eyes. "You know, my Obbie looks almost normal amongst this bunch tonight."

"Too much smoke inhalation, I suspect." Moe laughed.

"Too much Bartlett Moonshine more like it," countered Reb.

Over the speaker came a mighty ho, ho, ho. "Good set of lungs your mom's got," snorted Moe, as he put the old truck carefully into gear and they headed out of the garage. Reb gave a blast on the siren and they were off.

Janet stood with the staff and their families outside the film college that she and Robbie had founded and waved as the fire engine, shining in lights, went past with a blast of the siren and a ho, ho, ho. Santa blew her a kiss. Janet had to admit that Robbie did play the role well. Who would have known that there was a fat, jolly man in her beautiful lover's personality just waiting to show himself. Much relieved that Robbie seemed all right and that Reb was having fun riding in the truck, Janet headed over to the fire hall where the other wives and partners waited for the celebration to really begin.

But an hour later, when Santa and her merry elfin-daughter had failed to show up, Janet phoned Reb.

Over an incredible background of noise, Janet heard her daughter's hello. "What's going on? Is Obbie all right?"

"Hi, Mom. Guess what? Perkin's old shed is burning down. There's nothing in it but a lot of hay and an old tractor. Wow, what a blaze."

"Reb, where are you?" Janet asked with concern.

She heard her daughter sigh theatrically. "I have to stay in the truck."

"Good. Is Obbie okay?"

Reb giggled. "In a manner of speaking."

"What?"

"They left her tied to the chair because they couldn't get Moe's knot undone, or her off the seat. You know how the old hose leaks a little — well the spray iced up the rope and her suit is stuck to the chair. They can't get her off until they can get her back to the sta-

tion and thaw her out. They did throw a canvas over her though so she wouldn't freeze up too bad." Reb was laughing so hard by this time that she could barely tell the story.

Janet was laughing too but out of loyalty felt she had to come to Robbie's aid. "Can't she just rip the suit off?"

"She wanted to, but Mr. Drouillard said that would be a waste of a good Santa suit that was barely twenty years old. Mom offered to buy them a new one but Mr. Drouillard said they still had two streets to go and the kids would be disappointed if they didn't see Santa. Anyway, he said she could be acting fire chief for the night if she'd stop howling and swearing."

"Oh god," Janet gasped, between laughing bouts.

"I don't think they were counting on the shed burning. Nice touch though. Good dramatic effect. Santa would appreciate it if she wasn't busy yelling orders over the speaker."

By now the tears were rolling down Janet's face. "This could only happen to your Obbie. How long do you think you'll be?"

"Mr. Drouillard said it's pretty well over now. He thinks it will probably smoulder for days, but the house will be safe and the snow will stop the fire from flaring up or spreading. As soon as the guys pack up the equipment we should be on our way. We'll have the last two streets done in about half an hour and then we'll head back to the station."

"Okay, see you then," Janet said.

The engine returned with a very blue Santa iced to the top of the engine. All hands rallied round and with some heat from an old hair dryer they managed to get Robbie off the chair. It was George who called for order.

"You all heard that I've decided after twenty-five years to step down as the fire chief. Well, we had a vote the other day and it is my pleasure tonight to announce that Robbie here is to be our new chief of the Bartlett Volunteer Fire Department."

The cheer went up and Robbie waved down at Janet and Reb. "Hey, did you hear that? I'm fire chief!" In her excitement, she slipped on the icy surface of the engine and went tumbling off the back of the truck.

There was a second of shocked silence and then everyone ran to see if she was all right. They found Robbie hanging from her suspenders from the back of the truck's ladder.

George laughed. "Hell, I always knew she'd end up being hung. Get her down boys, before she dies of a wedgie."