The world around Lizzie exploded in a whirlwind of movement. Michael wrapped his arm around her and was leading her to his car while shouting orders to the stunned members of his team.

She heard him repeating, “It’s time. It’s time.” More to himself than anyone else, as if he couldn’t quite wrap his head around it. Heck, she couldn’t wrap her head around it.

This isn’t how her baby’s birth was supposed to happen. Her parents weren’t here. Michael was still on the fence about being a father.

Her baby was going to be born with her last name on the birth certificate!

Everything was all wrong.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

As another contraction wracked her body, Michael helped her into his car. She saw Brogan and Myranda running out of the house, followed by Donovan and Cloe before Michael swung out of the driveway and shot down the road.

“My hospital bag,” she breathed. “I need my bag.”

“Donovan and Cloe are picking it up.”

Relief flooded through her. Ok. Good. Her bag was on the way. Now, if she could only get the rest of the pieces to fall into place.

They made it to the hospital in amazing time. Not once did she feel unsafe with Michael driving as fast as possible.

At the hospital Michael helped her out of the car and rushed her through the doors, ordering nurses around like he was their boss. They scrambled to get her into a wheelchair and next thing she knew she was on her way to labor and delivery.

When they pushed through the doors it suddenly became a reality that this was happening. Her baby was on its way.

Lizzie started to hyperventilate. She grabbed Michael’s hand. “I’m not ready,” she pleaded. “I’m not ready.”

The nurse stopped at the front desk, putting the brakes on the wheelchair. Giving Lizzie a moment to panic.

Michael knelt in front of her, tucked a strand of damp hair behind her ear. “Babe, you got this. You are the strongest, bravest woman I know.”

Tears filled her eyes. Why couldn’t he love her? Love them? It hurt almost more than her contractions.

She would do this, she just wished circumstances were different. Perfect. The way she’d dreamed it. With Michael any her side, coaching her through the delivery of their baby as they cherished the moments and made plans for the future.

This was supposed to be the happiest time of her life.

Another contraction. This time stronger and longer. Michael squeezed her hand until it subsided and it was then she accepted the fact he didn’t want the life she wanted and made a vow to her unborn child that she would be the best mom she could be. She didn’t need Michael to do that.

She pulled her hand away from his as the nurse started wheeling her into the delivery room. A sense of calm came over her once she was inside the door. She turned to Michael and said, “You can go now. I have this.”

To her surprise he asked the nurse for a moment alone. The nurse gave them a two minute warning. Frowning, Lizzie watched Michael crouch in front of her, a small shiny wrapped Christmas present in his outstretched hand.

Her heart began to race.

“You can’t get rid of me that easily,” he said. “I’m not a perfect man, Lizzie, you know that. My work takes me all over the world into dangerous situations I can never share with you.” He met her gaze and she was surprised to vulnerability there. “You know me better than anyone. Know my past, how I was raised.” He paused. “And you know I never wanted to be a father because I never wanted to end up like my old man.”

Lizzie nodded. She knew Michael’s father had walked out on them and how his mother was never around. He nearly raised himself because of his mother’s drinking. She’d grown up the exact opposite and tried to share her happy home with him when they were kids. Of course, she’d been in the middle of her own self-destructive whirlwind with the weight of her future on her shoulders and the burden scaring the devil out of her. A future that was planned out on you was a hard pill to swallow. Now, she wouldn’t trade it for the world.

“I’m not my father. And, if I don’t break the chain now it will go on forever. A curse to the Kreegan family. I’m not going to let that happen.”

He put the package in her hand as the nurse cleared her throat outside the door. “This isn’t how I planned this, but, Lizzie, I want you to be my wife. My friend. My partner. And I want that baby to be born into a family with a mom and dad who love each other.”

Lizzie stared at the package, her hands shaking. This was it. Her Christmas miracle. The pieces were falling into place.

Blinking back tears, she started to open the gold wrapping when another contraction seized her. She gasped, gripping the present tightly in her hand as she breathed through the pain.

The nurse rushed in, followed by a handful more and whisked her into a delivery bed. People swarmed around her, starting an I.V., getting her undressed and into a gown. The entire time she held on to the present that was her future.

Michael managed to slip in beside her. He took the gift from her and opened it. A beautiful diamond twinkled like a Christmas light.

“Lizzie Lawson, will you marry me?” he asked quietly.

Everything except Michael faded into the background. With tears rolling down her cheeks, Lizzie said, “I thought you’d never ask. Yes, yes!”

Michael grinned, slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her. Sealing the deal and giving her her miracle.

She only needed one more thing before their baby came. “Priest. Minister. Officiant,” she breathed through another contraction. “I want to be married now, Michael. Before our baby arrives.”

She didn’t realize she was nearly shouting by the end of her sentence, the pain so great. Michael flew into action and twenty minutes later a wedding officiant was in the room to marry them and all their friends were crowded inside the door.

For Lizzie, this was the perfect day. The only thing missing were—

Her parents pushed through the throng of people and her mother rushed to her side, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I’m so sorry we’re late, dear,” she said. “Your father drove as fast as he could to get us here in time.”

Lizzie hugged her tight. Her world was complete. “Oh, Mom,” she cried. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

“This baby isn’t going to wait for reunions,” the doctor said. “Whatever you’re going to do, do it now.”

“We can talk later,” her mom said. “Right now it’s time for your miracle.”

Lizzie smiled as Michael took his place at her side. In between contractions they said their ‘I do’s’ and everyone cheered.

Then the nurses were ushering them out and little baby Kreegan was born on Christmas day. She came into the world with a cry that everyone inside and outside the room heard.

It was the most beautiful sound in the world to the happy parents.

As Lizzie held little baby Noel in her arms she was filled with more joy than she thought possible. Yet, this was only the beginning of her happiness.

She’d gotten her Christmas miracle.