The next week went by quickly. Ana was having such a great time staying at the mansion and hanging out with her friends that she almost forgot about Mick and Beth coming home.

“Mick called and said that they will be home by tonight” Josef said, at breakfast the day that Mick and Beth were due to come back. “They wanted to take their time coming home”

“Alright” Ana said “I’ll pack after breakfast”

“Pack?” Sarah said “You don’t have to pack. Didn’t Josef tell you?”

Nikki and Ana looked at each other and then back at Josef and Sarah. “No…” Ana replied “What’s going on?”

“Because of the fact that the penthouse is not decorated for Christmas, and the mansion is, you’re going to stay here through Christmas” Josef said, smiling “Mick and Beth are going to stay here too”

“And!” Sarah said, with a smile “We are having a huge Christmas party on Christmas day. Everyone is coming over”

“Are you serious?” Nikki said, excitedly “This is awesome!”

Ana was speechless. “Ana?” Josef said “Is something wrong?”

“No” Ana said, smiling “This is going to be the best Christmas I’ve ever had!”

&&&&&

“Do you think Ana knows about the whole staying-at-Josef’s-thing?” Beth asked her husband as they pulled into the driveway of the Kostan mansion

“Probably” Mick replied “I don’t think it was supposed to be a surprise”

“It will be nice to have everyone together for the holidays” Beth said, as the two got out of the car

“It will be especially good because of what this Christmas is for Ana” Mick said “This is her first Christmas without her mother”

“Speaking of which” Beth said “Does Josef have the papers that we need to sign for the stepparent adoption?”

“Yes” Mick replied, putting an arm around his wife “They are waiting inside for us”

“I can’t wait until its made official” Beth said, smiling “It’s so exciting!”

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Mick asked, as they stopped in front of the front door of Josef and Sarah’s mansion “You don’t have to”

“Of course I do” Beth said “Besides, what difference would it make if I adopted her or not? I’d still be your wife. She’d still be my step-daughter. All this is doing is making her my daughter in the eyes of the government”

Mick smiled. “I guess you’re right” he said “Come on. Let’s go inside and see our daughter”

&&&&&

“Dad!” exclaimed Ana, when she saw her parents “Beth! You’re back!”

Mick and Beth smiled as Ana walked up to them, hugging them both, with Josef, Nikki, and Sarah close behind.

“How was your trip?” Sarah asked “Did the weather cooperate?”

Mick and Beth chuckled. “Yes” Beth said “Yes, it did”

“I had a lot of fun” Mick said, putting an arm around his wife, smiling “I think we’ll go back there eventually”

“For a second honeymoon?” Josef said, with a smile

“No” Mick said, as Beth laughed “As a group. Have you guys ever been skiing? It’s amazing!”

“I haven’t” Ana said “What about you, Nikki?”

“Does cross-country count?” Nikki asked “Because I’ve done that before”

“Cross-country skiing is nothing like skiing down a mountain” Mick said, getting all excited and boy-like as he began to explain the experience to the two teenagers “The wind whips in your face, snow gets in your hair”

“Don’t forget when you go over the jumps” Josef said, getting just as excited “The exhilaration, the feeling like you are on top of the world”

“Come on, Sarah” Beth said, smiling at her husband “Let’s let the kids play”

Sarah nodded and chuckled as she and Beth headed into the kitchen of the Kostan Mansion.

&&&&&

Christmas Eve arrived quickly. Everyone was excited about their big Christmas celebration, which included singing, dancing, telling stories and playing games. Of course, no one could forget the presents.

The tree was surrounded by presents. Big boxes, little boxes. Long boxes, short boxes. Each box was wrapped in beautiful paper, paper with everything “Christmassy” you could imagine.

“Do we have a present for everyone?” Sarah asked, as she and Josef put the last few presents under the tree “We didn’t forget anyone, did we?”

“I doubt it” Josef said “There’s enough presents under here for an army”

Sarah laughed. “Do you realize what this whole thing means?”

Josef smiled. “Our first Christmas together” he said “Isn’t it amazing?”

“It’s the best present I could have ever asked for” Sarah said, wrapping her arms around her husband

“I agree” Josef said “I couldn’t ask for anything more”

&&&&&

Christmas Morning was bright and sunny. Ana woke up to feel the warmth of the sun on her face. She smiled, got out of bed, and went to the window.

“Merry Christmas, Mom” Ana said, as she looked out into the sunlight “Merry Christmas”

“Ana!” exclaimed Nikki “Merry Christmas!”

Ana turned to see Nikki standing in the doorway, praying that Nikki didn’t hear Ana talking to Alina. She laughed. “Merry Christmas, Nikki”

“Everyone’s already awake” Nikki said “Come on! We have to get ready before the others get here and our party begins!”

“Alright” Ana said “I’ll be down in a few minutes”

“God!” Nikki said, suddenly “I never chose what I am going to wear!”

“Well, go girl, go!” Ana said, smiling “Christmas isn’t waiting for you to choose what you want to wear!”

Ana chuckled as Nikki ran out of the room. Ana shook her head and headed to her closet to pick out what she was going to wear that day.

&&&&&

Ana decided to wear her favorite black pants and a red shirt with a white sweater over it. She let her hair flow past her shoulders and put a red headband in to keep her bangs from getting in her face.

She was not surprised to see Nikki wearing a black, velvet skirt and green top. Nikki had always been one for wearing skirts on special occasions, while Ana tried desperately to get away with wearing some nice pants.

“Merry Christmas!” came a chorus of voices as Ana and Nikki walked into the living room of the Kostan mansion. Everyone, with the exception of Kara who was with her family, was ready for Christmas to begin.

“Merry Christmas” Nikki replied, as she and Ana sat down on a couch

“So, what first?” David asked “Breakfast? Presents?”

“Presents!” exclaimed Eric “That will take the longest”

“Alright” Josef said “Let’s begin!”

&&&&&

By the end of the unwrapping, the entire floor of the living room was covered in wrapping paper and empty boxes. The teens had fun taking the wrapping paper and throwing it at each other, causing the adults to smile and laugh.

“I couldn’t imagine a more perfect Christmas” Danielle said, taking a sip of blood

“I agree” Coraline said “Everyone is together. Everyone is happy. What more can you want?”

“How about some Christmas carols?” Mick suggested “It’s not Christmas without carols”

“I agree” Josef said “It’s time for carols”

“Do we have someone to play the piano?” Sarah asked

“I can” Beth said

“Good!” exclaimed Danielle “Let’s go!”

“Guys!” Josef said, causing the teens to stop their little game of catch “Time for Christmas carols”

“Ooh! Christmas carols!” exclaimed Nikki “My favorite!”

“Who wants to sing first?” Mick asked

Everyone pointed at Ana. Not because they didn’t want to sing, but because they knew that she had a really, really good voice.

“I guess I will” Ana said, with a small smile

“Alright” Beth said, preparing herself at the piano “How about we start with ‘Silent Night’?”

“Perfect” Josef said “Whenever you’re ready”

Ana nodded and took in a deep breath.

“Silent Night, Holy Night

All Is Calm, All Is Bright

Round Yon Virgin, Mother and Child

Holy Infants so tender and mild…”

At this point in the song, everyone else joined in. Ana smiled as she looked at her family. Everyone smiling and singing. She couldn’t have wished for a happier ending.

**The End

**2008 – 2009

**To Be Continued….

Well, here it is. The final chapter of the first book in the "Ana Series".

I would like to thank all the people who reviewed this story. You guys are amazing! Thank you so much! You have made this my most reviewed story yet! :)

So, be on the look out for the sequel. But, I have to warn everyone, I only have 60-some-odd pages of that story done. I haven't (sadly) been inspired for that story as I have for my other stories. I'm hoping to get some inspiration soon.

I hope that you like this chapter and liked this story!

Please Read and Review!!!!