Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter Twenty-four

'Somebody's Miracle'

"Are you sure I should leave?" Lucas asked.

"No, we're not sure, but if you don't leave, Brooke's going to beat you," Haley said, laughing.

"Very funny," Lucas said sarcastically, looking towards Nathan and Haley's room where Brooke was taking over to help Rory get ready got the Christmas party that Peyton was throwing at Tric.

"Lucas, seriously, it's Brooke," Haley said, "it's not like I'm turning Ru Paul loose on Rory or something."

"Still," said Lucas, "its Brooke. That's not comforting either."

"Look, if Brooke breaks out the mini-skirts and anything that Hugh Hefner would find acceptable for one of his photo shoots I promise I'll tell her no," Haley said.

"You promise?" said Lucas, and even though the words came from Haley, he was still somewhat skeptical. Hey, it was Brooke.

"Promise," said Haley smiling.

"Alright, alright," said Lucas, "but if Rory gets forced into anything she doesn't want to wear-"

"Good god are you her boyfriend or her brother?" said Haley. "Go, get out. You are officially banned from this apartment for the night. NATHAN!"

Nathan came out from where he'd been assuring Peyton he'd take care of the last minute details that had to be taken care of for the club. "You bellowed?" he said.

"Ha ha," said Haley, "look, can you get Luke out of here before Brooke kills him for not letting her do her thing?"

"C'mon Luke, let's go," said Nathan, "I can't have only one person around to piss Dan off, which is what will happen if you continue to annoy Brooke. Come on."

"Fine," said Lucas, "fine, fine."

Nathan kissed Haley on the forehead and then he and Lucas left, leaving the girls to do a makeover on Rory.

"Seriously, guys, I don't need a makeover," said Rory, "I know how to do my makeup fine, and my dress-"Rory was saying as Haley walked into the room.

"Your dress looks like you stole it from Dorothy's closet," said Brooke, "and while the school girl look can work, it doesn't work for a party."

"And the Santa's Playboy Elf look does?" Rory said, looking at Brooke's red ensemble which was topped off with a traditional Christmas elf hat.

"Exactly," said Brooke.

"Hey, nothing Hugh Hefner would like, okay Brooke?" said Haley. "It took me an three hours to convince Lucas that you weren't going to ruin Joey Potter over here."

"Hey, enough with the Dawsons Creek references," said Rory.

"Sorry," said Haley, "if it makes you feel better, I put up with it for years before Nathan. Skillz just couldn't be convinced that a guy and a girl could be friends."

"Whose Skillz?" said Rory.

"You'll meet him later," said Haley.

"Okay, seriously people, enough with the chatter," said Brooke, "I have to pull a She's all that makeover in twenty minutes, and the more you people talk, the less time we have, so shut it."

"Hey Brooke," said Peyton, "why is bitch being a-"

"Its old, Peyton," said Brooke, "now shut it, and give me that damn makeup kit."

Rory looked darkly at Haley. "Death to you if she goes for the hooker lipstick and glitter," she muttered, and Haley just smirked.

Exactly twenty minutes later, Rory Gilmore had had her movie-makeover moment and was said to have been completed by Brooke. The end result was that her hair was lightly curled, she wore a cream white dress that was something Brooke owned, and was something that any Gossip Girl book character would approve of, but at the same time classy enough that both Lucas and Rory wouldn't kill Brooke for.

"Damn, the girl next door cleans up nice," said Peyton when Rory came out from the bathroom to show them the completed look.

"Lucas is so going to want to sl-"Haley, Rory, and Peyton all narrowed their eyes at Brooke, knowing how she was going to finish that sentence. "I mean, Lucas is so going to want to go on a sleigh ride with you when he sees you."

"Lame save, Brooke," said Peyton, "everyone knows there's no where we could have a sleigh ride."

"Right, right," said Brooke, "well, you wouldn't let me finish the dirty innuendo so I had to come up with something. And what's with all the glares anyway? I would think that, being his girlfriend, Rory would want Lucas to sleep with her."

"I'm kind of hoping he doesn't right away," said Rory, "considering his history of getting into things to fast. I'd like for us to have a relationship before we go into anything like that. And any talking about sex could you know, jinx it."

"Okay then," said Brooke.

"Hey guys," said Peyton, "where's Lane?"

"Oh," said Rory, "she's convincing Jess to go, but he doesn't want to. He says he's not a Christmas party person, and he thinks Liz Phair's lame because she's lost all her bitchy credit by singing songs that are on soundtracks to Mandy Moore movies."

"Yeah, well I tried to get Rob Zombie, but you know, I didn't think that would get people into the holiday spirit," said Peyton.

"I would like to see the perky Korean try to get the broody rocker there to the Christmas party though," said Brooke, "that would be some hot, hot, banter underlined with sexual tension."

Rory just looked at Brooke like she was crazy. "Jess and Lane-seriously?"

Haley, Brooke and Peyton looked at Rory like she was daft. "Seriously," they all said in unison.

"I don't see it," said Rory.

"Clearly Stars Hollow isn't an all couples all the time town like we are because Rory here hasn't learned how to spot a potential relationship yet," said Peyton.

"Clearly," said Brooke.

The last time Lane Kim had had this much trouble convincing someone to do something was when she had to convince her Mother to let her go to Rory's school project/ production of Romeo and Juliet. Convincing Jess to go to a Christmas party was ten times harder.

"Jess, if you don't get your butt up right now and get in that cruddy car we drove here in, I'm going to drag you into it and drive you there myself," said Lane.

"You are not driving my car," said Jess, sitting up straight suddenly.

"I thought that might get your attention," said Lane, "you're going."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"I don't want to go to the Christmas Party," said Jess, "I don't want to be stuck in a room with a bunch of people I don't know and have to socialize and I don't want to have to eat crappy sugar cookies and listen to some hack musician."

"You are going," said Lane.

"Why?"

"Rory needs you," said Lane.

"She'll be on a date. I'm fairly certain that she won't be needing me," said Jess, "if she did, I'd have to ask some questions about the future of her and Lucas's relationship."

"I promise to let you continue our argument about which version of the song 'Hurt' sounds better," said Lane, "and I'm still siding with Johnny Cash."

Jess perked up slightly at that, and Lane could have sworn she saw him smile for a moment. "Fine," said Jess, "but I'm bringing ear plugs. There's no way I'm listening to Liz Phair."

"Bring 'em, but I guarantee you'll be changed once you hear Somebody's Miracle," said Lane, "it's going to make you smile."

"Whatever," said Jess, "You're not driving."

"You're not picking the music," said Lane.

"But it's my car," said Jess.

"I have to have something to calm me down while you're behind the wheel," said Lane pointedly. "Unless you want me to puke from my nerves because you're driving is scarier then Jennifer Love Hewitt's attempt at covering Janis Joplin's Me and Bobby McGee."

"Fine," said Jess.

"Oh wait," said Lane, "we should probably ask Karen if she needs help closing up since she's going to have to go to Tric soon too."

Jess looked over at Lucas's Mom, who was busy with Keith, both cleaning up the place so that they could leave. "Somehow, I think she'll be fine."

"Fine," said Lane. The two of them then left and headed for the club.

Tric was something that Peyton had started when she'd wanted a club for all ages so that everyone could enjoy great music. She'd gotten Nathan's Mom, Deb, in on it, and Deb had gotten Karen in on it and together the three of them ran it. When Nathan and Haley had first announced they were married, Peyton and Brooke had thrown a party for them in the building that had become Tric.

The place was incredibly popular, and everyone liked it. For the nights festivities, the club had been decorated out in Christmas themed colors, the classic green and red, and the famous indie-rock chick, Liz Phair, was playing all due to Peyton's ability to track down great musicians and her persuasive abilities and Deb Scott's cash.

Lucas, who hadn't been there for the creation of Tric, had to admit that he was completely impressed by the whole thing. "Wow," he said upon entering with Nathan, "this place is great."

"Yeah," said his brother, "Peyton's really outdone herself. She's good at this club thing. I won't be surprised if she owns like, twelve of them or something in the future. That and the place made an awesome reception hall."

"Wish I could have been there," said Lucas.

"Well, you've been to Tree Hill parties before man," said Nathan, "it as exactly like every other one of them. Makeup's, break ups, and fighting."

"Right," said Lucas, "I didn't miss much."

"Yep," said Nathan, "although, yeah, it would have been nice to have you there."

"Oh well," said Lucas, "whatever."

"Um man," said Nathan, "I believe Cinderella has arrived."

"What?" said Lucas.

Nathan pointed behind Lucas and Lucas looked in that direction and was awed when he saw Rory walking in wearing a white dress, looking beautiful, and making Lucas, erm, rather…excited. Calm down boy, Lucas thought to himself. "Wow," said Lucas when Rory came up to him, "you look…"

"Can you insert an adjective to finish that sentence or am I to take that pause for breath taking?" said Rory.

"Take the pause to mean breath taking," said Lucas.

Just then Brooke, Peyton and Haley walked in. "So Lucas Scott, you haven't had a heart attack I take it that you're liking Rory's upgrade," said Brooke.

"It's not an upgrade, because Rory didn't need an upgrade, but I'm definitely liking this," said Lucas, smiling at Rory, who smiled back.

"You can apologize for doubting me later," said Brooke and she bounced off to go say hi to some other people who she knew that were also at the club.

Haley walked over to where Nathan was and sat down on his lap. "She's crazy, but you have to admit, Brooke does know fashion," said Haley.

"Well she did do an awesome job on that uh-'honeymoon look'," Nathan said, winking at Haley, reminding her of the wedding gift Brooke had gotten Haley, and Haley giggled.

"Right then…we're off to go find a dark corner to make out in," said Haley.

"Gross. Haley, there's a thing as too much information," Lucas said, "that was a prime example of something your brother in law doesn't need to here."

"Whatever," said Haley, and she dragged Nathan off.

Lucas and Rory were both pointedly looking at Peyton now, making it clear that they wanted her to leave so that they could be left alone. "Right," said Peyton, "I'm just going to go….check on some important club stuff. Have fun, you two." She then quickly left, leaving Rory and Lucas alone together.

"So," said Rory, "you really like it?"

"Definitely," said Lucas, "although I loved you before the whole Cinderella thing too, you know."

"Good to know," said Rory. Lucas kissed her on the forehead, making her smile. "So," she said, "you want to follow Haley's example and go occupy the other dark corner in the club?"

Lucas smirked. "Most definitely," he said. The two of them then went and did exactly that.

"Oh my god that was the worst drive I've ever taken in my entire life and that includes the one with my aunt when I went to Korea that one summer," said Lane.

"I don't drive that fast," Jess objected as he opened the door to the club for her.

"Yes, you do," said Lane. "You could have made Superman look slow, and he's faster then the speed of light."

"It wasn't that bad," said Jess.

"My life flashed before my eyes," said Lane.

"You clearly don't live dangerously enough then," said Jess, "because I wasn't going that fast."

"Yes, you were," said Lane, "If that cop hadn't been busy eating his doughnut, he totally would have pulled you over and given you a ticket."

"Not true," Jess said.

"You're Dale Earn heart," said Lane.

"Whatever."

"You shouldn't have a license."

"You shouldn't be able to call yourself a music fan since you think that the Johnny Cash version of 'Hurt' is better then the original by Nine Inch Nails."

"Don't try and change the subject, you almost killed me tonight," said Lane.

"I didn't almost kill you because a car wreck wasn't how I'd planned your death," Jess retorted.

"And how did you plan it?" said Lane.

"I planned on putting an ice pick through your skull like in that one episode of Bones," said Jess.

"Good. When I'm dead I'll tell the psychic that Rory will contact to find out who killed me to look for an ice pick, and that you did it," said Lane.

"Whatever," said Jess, "and I don't drive fast."

"Yes, you do."

"No I don't."

"Children, will you two please go make out already?" said the familiar voice of Brooke, who had come out of nowhere. "The tensions killing me."

Jess and Lane just looked at her like she was a crazy person. Brooke sighed irritably and then walked off, annoyed with the two.

"Um, Lane," said Jess. "There's some weird guy staring at you."

Lane cringed, and looked to where Jess was pointing and sure enough there was the Tiim guy from at the café earlier. "Ew," she said, "it's Tim."

"It's who?" said Jess.

"That annoying guy," said Lane, "he was at the café earlier today. He was hitting on me. He was totally gross."

"Lane, why would anyone hit on you? You're all wholesome and what not," said Jess.

"Oh nice," said Lane, "I'll have you know I've been hit on plenty of times before. That's beside the point though. The point is that this gross guy is coming over, and he's going to talk to me, and I need to deter him from doing that." She was now looking at Jess pointedly.

"What are you looking at me like that for?" said Jess.

"I need you to pretend to be my boyfriend," said Lane.

"Why?" said Jess.

"Because I sort of-told the Tim guy that you were my boyfriend," said Lane.

"What?" said Jess in shock. "Why on earth would you do that?"

"Because," said Lane, "you were the first name that came to mind."

"Why?" said Jess.

"Because," said Lane, "I was trying to get rid of him. I was desperate."

"Oh god," said Jess, "You have a thing for me or something Lane Kim?"

"No," said Lane, "I don't. I'm telling you, I just had to say something to get rid of him."

"You could have made up a name and yet you mentioned mine," said Jess, and he was sounding strangely smug about it.

"I didn't have time to make up a name," Lane said.

"You told him you were dating me," said Jess, "to get him off your back. You like me."

"No," Lane was lying, "no, I don't like you."

"You totally do," said Jess, "you like me."

"No I don't," said Lane.

"Lane Kim," said Jess, "I'm going to kiss you and if you kiss me back I'm going to take that as confirmation that you like me."

"What, but I just said that I don't-"Lane was interrupted by Jess kissing her full on, on the lips, and it involved tongue and everything. They broke apart after a few minutes, coming up for air.

"So," said Jess, "you kissed me."

"Shut," said Lane, "up."

"You like me," said Jess.

"So," said Lane, sounding kind of hurt suddenly, "what does it matter? You don't like me."

"What do you mean I don't like you?" said Jess. "I've been doing nothing but flirting with you for months now."

"Yeah, but you'd flirt with anything that had boobs," said Lane, "besides, I know you're joking. You don't like me. You like Rory."

"Correction," said Jess, "I used to like Rory. Rory hasn't given me the time of day since I got back to New York. She kissed me at Sookie's wedding and then Lucas got here and it was like, Jess who? I don't like Rory. I used to like Rory. For a long time now, I've liked you."

Lane was looking at him in shock. "Jess Mariano," she said, "this had better not be a joke."

"No joke," said Jess, looking at her seriously.

"Good," said Lane, "because I like you to and that pervy Tim guy is getting really close and now it looks like I've got a date to tell him to go away."

"Actually," said Jess, "it looks like you've got a boyfriend to keep him away."

"Seriously?" said Lane.

"Seriously," said Jess, smirking at her.

"Well, merry Christmas to me," said Lane, "looks like I got everything that I wanted."

"Same here," said Jess.

Just then the Tim guy walked over. "Hey there, café girl," said Tim, "how about making the Timster have a merry Christmas and givin' me some lovin'?"

Jess stepped forward just then. "How about backing away from my girlfriend before I punch you and make my Christmas merry?"

Tim looked at Jess in shock, then at Lane. "You weren't kidding about the whole boyfriend thing?"

"Nope," said Lane smiling.

"Man," said Tim, "that sucks." Then he walked away, looking like a disappointed puppy dog.

Lane and Jess both looked at each other and laughed. "So, you want to go and find some mistletoe?" said Jess.

"We don't need mistletoe," said Lane, and she leaned in and kissed him. Then they kept on kissing.

Peyton Sawyer was over by the d-jay booth with Mouth, looking around at all the friends and happy couples celebrating Christmas together. "Okay, this is just depressing," said Peyton.

Mouth looked up from the records he was looking at in an attempt to find the song that he was going to play next. "What is?"

"This," said Peyton, "its Christmas, and I've got absolutely no one. Dad's not home, my friends are all busy with their love interests, and when all this is done, I get to go home to an empty house."

Mouth paused and then he said mysteriously, "Peyton, you might not be as alone as you think this Christmas."

"What are you talking about, Mouth?" said Peyton oddly.

"I can't say," he said, and gave her a funny look. "It looks like Karen needs some help at the bar. Why don't you give her a hand?"

"What were you talking about earlier Mouth?" Peyton demanded, wanting to know what he was being so mysterious about.

"Karen needs help," said Mouth and he went back to looking through records.

Peyton sighed and looked at Mouth oddly, then shook her head and went to go help Karen out.

Rory stopped kissing Lucas and Lucas looked at her with a pout on his face. "And just why are you stopping?"

"Because I need air," said Rory.

"Yes, but I really was enjoying this," Lucas said.

"Yeah well I am too, but I need air, I need to breathe," said Rory, "and if we want to continue doing this, then you need to breathe too."

"Only a few minutes, okay?" said Lucas.

"Only a few," said Rory.

Just then Lucas's cell phone rang. "Don't answer that," said Rory, "if you take that call then it's going to be more then a few minutes and we won't be able to go back to our making out, which I was rather enjoying."

The cell phone rang again and Lucas checked to see who it was. A funny look crossed his face. Then he looked at Rory apologetically. "Sorry," he said, "I have to take this."

"Luke," said Rory.

"It'll only take a few minutes, I swear," said Lucas, "and besides, didn't you say that you needed a few minutes to get air?"

"Okay fine," said Rory, "but if you're not back within ten, then I'm going to take that cell phone and keep it."

"Ten minutes, I swear," said Lucas.

"Fine," Rory said and she kissed him on the forehead and Lucas took a few steps away from her and answered his phone.

"So was your flight okay Jake?" Lucas said to his friend on the phone. Jake was a guy he'd been friends with his first year on the basketball team. Jake was a teenage father who had to be on the run from his baby's mother who wanted to take his kid from him. Lucas however was in contact with him for a special purpose. Peyton and Jake had had a thing for each other which had never fully become something and as a special Christmas present Lucas had found Jake and he was coming home to Peyton.

"Yeah it was," said Jake, "Jenny slept…well, Jenny slept like the baby she is."

"So are you on your way here?" said Lucas.

"Yeah," said Jake, "where's this place again?"

"In the back of town," said Lucas. "You can't miss it. It's a big brick building with a sign that says Tric on it. There should be a ton of people standing outside."

"Right then," said Jake, "does Peyton know?"

"Nope," said Lucas, "I thought it might be a nice surprise for her. You know, she hardly ever has good things happen. I just thought she might like the surprise."

"You know what Luke; I think she will," said Jake, "you're a good guy, Lucas."

"Thanks," said Lucas, "see you soon Jake."

"See you," said Jake. He hung up, and Lucas hung up his phone as well. Then he walked back to where Rory was a smile on his face.

"Wow," said Rory, "I've never seen my broody boy with such a smile on his face. Should I be jealous of whatever is making this smile?"

"No," said Lucas, "its nothing like that."

"Good to know," said Rory, "so you want to go back to that thing we were doing before?"

"Most definitely," said Lucas, and then he added, "are you sure that we should do this? I mean, if we keep it up we won't have mouths left."

"Not possible," said Rory, "now, let's get back to where we left, because I was rather enjoying it."

"Right then," said Lucas, "if you insist." The two of them went back to kissing like they had been before.

Brooke Davis sat looking awfully lonely all by herself. "Wow, that's no way for our class president to look," said Mouth, who had just sat down next to her at that very moment. "Shouldn't you be the life of the party?"

"I just can't get into the spirit," said Brooke, "I love the holidays because it's the one time of the year my parents actually pay attention to me and come home but the holidays are also a moment to have with someone you love and right now I'm a little lacking in the love department."

"Brooke, it's Christmas, not Valentines Day," said Mouth.

"But looking around at all the couples in the room, it might as well be," said Brooke. Mouth looked around and noted that all of his and Brooke's friends we're in fact making out, including Lucas who was kissing that girl Rory, Haley and Nathan, and those people that Brooke had introduced to him earlier, Jess and Lane.

"Well if you want, we can be lonely together," said Mouth.

Brooke smiled. "You're sweet Mouth," she said.

"Thanks," said Mouth, although Brooke couldn't help but note that there was something slightly off in his voice. Brooke just smiled because that was the only thing she could think of to do.

"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, I want the person who wrote that song to go to hell," Peyton said as the twentieth person that night had started singing the Christmas carol. "When is Liz Phair going to get here? I thought she'd be here by now."

"Peyton, relax," said Karen, "Liz is going to get here and everything's going to be fine. Now will you calm down and tell me what the real problem is?"

"Problem-there's no problem," said Peyton, "I'm just crabby."

"Peyton, come on you can tell me stuff," said Karen, "honestly."

Peyton sighed. "I might just…be feeling a little crabby because I've got no one to spend the holidays with."

"Peyton, if that's it, you know that you can spend the holidays with us," said Karen, "I've already got Lucas's girlfriend and his friends staying, so you should come along."

"Well she can't come along," said a guy whose voice was familiar, "because she's already occupied."

Karen smiled mysteriously and Peyton turned around quickly to see who it was. "And just who are-"She smiled happily. "Oh my god, Jake!" Yes, it was Jake who was standing there, holding his little baby Jenny. "And you brought Jenny—wait-how-what-"

"Santa," Jake said mysteriously.

"Is Santa code for Lucas?" said Peyton.

"Santa is code for Santa and Santa doesn't look anything like Lucas," said Jake, "even Jenny knows that."

"Jake," said Peyton.

"Peyton," said Jake, "I just took a very long flight out to see you. Now are you going to kiss me or what?"

Peyton sighed, smiled, and then kissed him. Just then someone tapped her on the shoulder. Peyton reluctantly took her lips off of Jake's and then looked to see who it was. It was one of the people who worked at the club. "Liz is here," said the guy, "she's going to be ready in like fifteen minutes or something."

"Thanks," said Peyton. She then turned and looked at Jake. "So where were we?"

"I think we were right about here," said Jake, and he leaned in and kissed her again.

Twenty minutes later, Liz Phair was ready to be on stage, and Peyton went up to go and announce her. "What's up Tree Hill?" she said into the microphone and the crowd gave a loud cheer. "It's that time of year again people. So let's give it up for Liz Phair!" The crowd applauded and Peyton went off stage just as Liz was coming on.

Lucas, Rory, Nathan, Haley, Jess, Lane, Brooke, Mouth, and Jake had all gathered around a booth and were sitting together and Peyton went and sat down with them. "Well guys," said Lucas, "I'd say this is the best Christmas yet."

"Agreed," said Rory, who was nestled in his arms.

"Totally," said Peyton, who was sitting next to Jake and was now holding his daughter Jenny in her arms and looking at Jake with a smile on her face. Then she looked at Lucas, "Oh by the way Luke, and thanks for my Christmas present."

Lucas blushed slightly. "I've got no idea what you're talking about," said Lucas.

"Well I didn't mail a letter to Santa so-" said Peyton.

"Santa knows all," said Jake, "just accept it, Peyton."

"Oh yeah and Luke, I hope you liked your present too," said Brooke.

"Brooke you didn't get me-"

"Hey, that dress was for both you and Rory, and I know you enjoyed it because it cost me my entire allowance," said Brooke.

"Brooke, you said that dress came from your closet," Rory said pointedly.

"Yeah, it did," said Brooke, "I bought it for you and put it in my closet for safe keeping until I could convince you to wear it to the party."

"Right," said Rory.

"Oh yeah, and Nate and I got you two together, so that's our present for you," said Haley.

"And Jess and I helped," said Lane, "and don't worry about getting us anything, because by getting together, you gave us leave to get together and that was a present itself."

"How did us getting together help you guys get together?" said Lucas, completely confused.

Lane and Jess exchanged glances, and then laughed. "It'll be a story for your wedding," said Lane simply.

"Hey, we're not pulling a Naley," said Rory.

"Especially since my Mom would probably kill me," said Lucas.

"My Mom would probably rejoice, but I'd rather not have my Grandparents after my head," said Rory.

"We just meant sometime in the near future," said Jess, "relax kids."

"Oh, right," said Rory and Lucas in unison.

Brooke was smiling. "You know, I have to say this was a pretty good Christmas," she said.

"Yep," said everyone else.

"And it looks like we all got our miracles," said Peyton, just as Liz Phair started on the chorus of her song which went something like: Baby, there goes somebody's miracle, walking down the street, there goes some other fairy tale, I wish it could happen to me, But I look at myself, wondering if I'm just too weak, to have such faith in myself…

It was amazing, but in Tree Hill, a place where hearts were usually breaking, most of the hearts were whole that night. Everyone had their own miracle, and that itself, was a Christmas miracle.

The kids as well as the adults got home late last night. In the morning, Lucas woke early and rummaged through his room, looking for the present he had gotten Rory before he'd left Stars Hollow. Actually, he hadn't gotten it…he'd….well, he'd written it. He'd been writing it for a while, but he had only recently completed it and it was this, his novel that he was going to give to Rory for her Christmas present. Lucas found it, and headed out from his room to go out to the living room where Rory was sleeping on the couch.

"Rory," he said and he sat down on the couch in the empty space by Rory's feet. Rory groaned in her sleep.

"Rory," Lucas repeated her name. Still nothing.

"Rory!" Lucas said yet again.

Rory woke from her sleep, jumping, startled. "Lucas, what the heck?" she said. "Are you trying to scare me to death?"

"No," said Lucas, "I was just trying to wake you. Sorry."

"Its okay," Rory said and she smiled and leaned over and kissed him. Lucas kissed her back.

"Merry Christmas," said Lucas.

"Merry Christmas," said Rory.

"I wanted to give you something," said Lucas.

"Luke, you didn't have to get me anything," said Rory.

"Well I didn't," said Lucas, "I sort of…made it."

"You made it?" said Rory, confused.

"Since last year I've been writing a book," said Lucas, "it started as a journal, when I joined the Ravens, and then I turned it into a book. Last night….I finished it."

"You finished it last night?" said Rory.

"Yeah," said Lucas, "I did….and I want you to have it."

"You wrote a book for me?" said Rory.

"Well it didn't start that way," said Lucas, "but you're so much apart of it that I want you to. It's your Christmas present." He took the manuscript from his back pocket where he was hiding it and handed it to her.

"This is for you," said Lucas.

"Lucas, this is amazing," said Rory.

"Thank you," said Lucas.

"Does it end happily?" Rory asked.

"I think so," said Lucas.

"Good," said Rory. "So are you going to read it to me?"

"If you want," said Lucas.

"Of course," said Rory.

"As you wish, then," said Lucas.

The two cuddled up next to each other, the blanket wrapped around them. Lucas took the manuscript from Rory, and started to read. "There are many myths about Ravens. Some call them tricksters, others say they're bad luck, whatever the case, it seems that Ravens have, and always will be, apart of my life…."

Rory Gilmore and Lucas Scott had started out as friends. He had been running from his past, with no intention of going out with another girl given the circumstances he had left back home. She hadn't even been looking for anyone. Yet somehow, they had found each other. That alone is a miracle itself-because very rarely do people find each other without looking. Rory brought Lucas back to love, and Lucas brought out the best in Rory. They were each other's miracles.

The End

A/N: So finally it's done. I never thought it would take this long, and I never thought I'd get to chapter twenty-four. I told you I would finish it and I did. I only hope you liked the ending. Thanks to all the reviewers who have been with me from the start of this story to the finish of it. Oh yeah, I just made a website for myself and I'm going to put a link to it on my profile page for this site so you can keep in contact with me there. I hope you all like the end, and once again, thanks for all the reviews and support.