Christo sat by the window and looked out at the garden of the suburban house where his future in-law family lived, and where he and Garrick were invited to spend Christmas and New Year.

It was still very early in the morning and the houses either side of the street were dark and quiet. Nobody was up, yet, though since this was Christmas Day and almost all of these houses had children in them that wasn't going to last for long.

This part of Beta Delta IV was in the temperate Zone of the northern hemisphere, which meant that the date the Human colonists had determined to be Christmas fell a few days after the winter solstice as it did in Europe and North America back on Earth. The irony of naming the city New Canberra after the capital of Australia, where the opposite was true, had long ago ceased to amuse either residents or visitors.

True to that geography and to the delight of those who thought it important to the festive season, it had been all night. Deciduous trees supported layers of delicate white along their branches that stood out as ghostly shapes against the dark sky. Evergreen trees and bushes were thoroughly covered by thick blankets of snow. Many of these garden features had solar powered lights adorning them. Most were still glowing faintly as they waited for the winter daylight to renew them.

“Nice,” Christo remarked to himself as he took in the scene. It wasn’t the wide, snow covered plain stretching for miles around his home on Gallifrey, or the tall, majestic mountains of Ventura where he had spent many winter holidays, but this Human community in its Christmas gaudiness had its own peculiar appeal.

“It's Christmassy,” he whispered to himself. “Very Christmassy.”

“Is that actually a word somebody who has taught English ought to be using?” He looked around at the familiar and very welcome voice at the bedroom door. Julia, in a cotton nightdress and fluffy slippers skipped across the floor to him. He reached out and she slid onto his knee with his arms around her. He pressed his face close to her loose hair, faintly smelling of shampoo and Christmas incense from last night's church service.

“You're up early, sweetheart. You didn’t get to bed until after two once we got back from Midnight Mass and then cocoa and mince pies by the fire.”

“I always get up early on Christmas morning,” Julia answered. “I love the quiet time like this. I love watching all the neighbours waking up. It isn't really Christmas Day until Mr Devoy over there opens his drawing room curtains and switches on the big electronic Christmas star in his window. But, anyway, stop deflecting from ‘Christmassy’.”

Christo laughed.

“It is probably not in any standard dictionary. But I wouldn’t mark down any of my students for using it to describe the feeling or atmosphere of Christmas. Besides... This IS Christmassy, from the light up sleigh in that garden over there to Mr Devoy's Christmas star.”

Julia looked up and down the quiet street and signed, softly.

“What’s wrong?” Christo asked her.

“Nothing bad. But... there was a special reason why I got up early this morning. This WILL be my last Christmas in this house, waiting for all those familiar sights of the street waking up. It is my last Christmas as part of this family. Next year.... “

“Next Christmas is a long way down my to do list,” Christo admitted. “In February I need to contrive something very special for your twenty-third birthday. Then at the Easter holiday....”

“Yes...” Julia gave the same sigh again. “The school knows I’m finishing my teaching contract. And Aunt Marianna has been planning my ‘bottom drawer' as they used to call it on Earth.”

“What will this drawer contain?” Christo asked. “Traditionally it would be things like bed linen and tableware for a new home. Marianna DOES know that we will be moving into a mansion – one fully equipped with duvets?”

“She does, but she's been doing it anyway. I'm her only opportunity to prepare for a girl leaving home to get married. I'm just letting her get on with it. I'm pretty sure my main Christmas present is flatware.”

“Good job I’ll be coming for you by TARDIS,” Christo said. “If your dowry is going to be so bulky. Besides, if you think Marianna is making a fuss, Valena is just getting steam up for the society wedding of the century. “

“I know. I’ve been talking to her by vidphone. With all that ahead, this is why a few quiet hours like this are so important.”

“Then enjoy them and don’t worry about next year for now.”

He pulled her closer and they both sat quietly for a little while. He could appreciate the peace, too. This was a busy family house and chances to sit alone and enjoy Julia’s company were rare.

For nearly half an hour more the fading Christmas lights were the only thing to look at outside. Then there was a movement in the garden below. Cordell, Julia’s younger cousin and Garrick who was nearly the same age as him made running footprints in the virgin snow as they scooped up snowballs for a battle. Christo watched his brother indulgently

“We have lots of snow on the southern continent, but snowball fights are not really a part of our culture. Garrick only gets to do this sort of thing when he’s with humans.”

“All that snow and no snowballs,” Julia commented. “Its worse than winter without Christmas.”

“I agree,” Christo assured her. “I think we'll have to bring both concepts with us.”

Several more boys and a few girls were outside now. The snowball fight intensified.

One latecomer to the game was Julia's elder cousin. A year as a cadet in the Space Corps had given Michal a straight stance even casually watching his brother at play and a quiet confidence in himself.

“It only seems like yesterday that both of them were dropping snowballs into my hood and that sort of mischief. Now Michal is so grown up and Cordell is taking his advanced level exams in the summer term. Sometimes it seems like too much is changing.”

“Everything changes. And a lot of it is good. We’re getting married in the summer. We've waited a long time for that. “

“I know. But we need to slow down sometimes and hold onto quiet moments like this.”

“We will,” Christo promised. He watched his brother with the other boys. His life would be changing, soon, too, as he began his years at the Prydonian Academy. He would need times like this, with snowball fights and simple fun. It would be up to him to make sure his brother got those times.

“The noise that lot are making, nobody is going to have much more quiet. Christmas Day has well and truly begun.”

“Not quite,” Julia said, pointing to the still dark window of the Devoy house.

Now the recipients of new bicycles, scooters, hoverboards and sledges were out and about even though it still wasn’t quite dawn.

“Any other day you would have to drag those kids out of bed,” Julia commented. “Look at little Annie Kerr. On her first real bike without stabilisers. I bet she had less sleep than I did thinking about that all night.”

“You’ve grown up here amongst these people,” Christo said. “Of course, it’s going to be hard leaving it all behind.”

“I'll be ready when the time comes. But for now....”

Now lights were turned on in windows up and down the street as parents rose and dressed and made breakfast. Finally, the curtains were opened in the drawing room opposite. Mr Devoy in dressing gown and santa hat looked out at the children playing in the snow covered and traffic free street before reaching for the switch that turned on the silver and yellow star that filled most of his window.

“There we are,” Julia said triumphantly. “Christmas Day is officially started.” She slid from Christo’s lap. “Time to get dressed and gather around the tree downstairs. None of us are too grown up not to be excited by presents.”

That much was true. Christo dressed himself quickly, but still managed to be among the last to arrive in the drawing room. Cordell and Garrick were reading the labels on the mountain of presents under the tree and discussing relative sizes of gifts. Julia was sitting by the window watching a fresh fall of snow obliterate the pre-dawn children's activity. Michal and his father were both trying to preserve an element of dignity while Marianna attempted to lay a tray of coffee and toast down safely.

“Nobody is going to eat breakfast until at least one present is opened up,” Herrick pointed out to her. “You've been trying since Michael’s first Christmas and it hasn’t happened once.”

Marianna gave in gracefully and sat down while Christo passed her a neatly wrapped gift from among those he had put under the tree. Everyone watched with genuine interest as she opened the first present of the morning and gaped in astonishment as she realised what it was.

“This is a holodisc recording of the Nutcracker... The actual premiere of the Nutcracker in St Petersburg in 1892.”

Marianna looked at Christo curiously.

“How could even you do that?” she asked.

“Paracell Hext has a whole new set of discreet surveillance devices with high definition hologram recording and full quadrophonic sound and he owes me a lot of favours,” Christo answered. “And Julia told me it was your favourite ballet long before it was hers.”

“It is,” Marianna admitted. “I’ve seen it countless times, but I never imagined having the chance to see the original. This is amazing.”

As Marianna stared at the lenticular image on the holodisc's cover and perhaps wondered if there would be time to sit and enjoy that unique gift on such a busy day, there was a flurry of gift exchanging. Michal and Cordell both paused in the midst of the excitement to examine their presents from Christo. Cordell thanked him effusively for the precision engineered telescope that would make his friends in the astronomy club envious. Meanwhile Michal opened his much smaller present and knew that size certainly wasn’t everything.

“This... Is....” he stammered, holding up the satin lined box to show his family what lay inside.

“A second hand watch?” his brother suggested.

“An antique watch,” his father corrected. “If I'm not mistaken....”

“It's a Harrison Marine Chronometer,” Michal said. “The kind designed to help sailors find longitude and navigate Earth's seas and oceans accurately. Before they let us navigate space, they taught us the old history of sea travel at the space fleet college.”

“That’s why I thought you might like a souvenir of your predecessors as you embark on your space adventure,” Christo told him.

“Yes,” Michal answered. “But... This isn’t just a reproduction. It is actually an eighteenth century century original.”

“I hope so,” Christo answered him. “I bought it in Portsmouth in 1770.”

“That must be worth a fortune,” Herrick commented. “Do I have enough home contents insurance to cover it?”

“I’m not sure Michal’s watch is your main problem, uncle,” Julia said in a quiet voice. She had opened a gift with her name on and found a jewellery box embossed in gold with a crest she knew well.

Inside was a set of jewellery, a complete set, including a tiara in addition to the usual necklace, earrings and bracelets.

“Are those rubies?” Marianna asked about the sparkling red gems set in silver

“No, red diamonds,” Christo answered. “Very rare... Very expensive. I mean VERY expensive.”

“They’re from Penne,” Julia said. “Ready for when I’ll be the wife of his Crown Prince. When I’ve been to State Balls in the past he loaned me jewels from the Royal Collection, but these are my own.”

She lifted the necklace from its padding and held it against her plain jumper. It sparkled beautifully, but she quickly put it back in the box.

“They’re beautiful, but I’m not ready for them, yet. Look at me... Look at all of us. Just ordinary people. I don’t need jewels that cost more than this house.”

Christo thought they probably cost more than the whole street, but he kept that to himself.

“Later, I’ll put them in the TARDIS vault along with my Crown Prince coronet,” he said. “There will be parties where those jewels will dazzle, but not right now.”

Julia nodded quietly. Herrick looked relieved, and perhaps not just because he was thinking about his insurance premiums.

“This is my present to you,” Christo added, passing her one of the largest boxes that had been a source of speculation. She opened it slowly, with some trepidation after the jewels. Christo’s family owned gold and diamond mines. He could be just as ostentatious as Penne Dúre if he chose.

“Ohhh!” she exclaimed as she looked at the set of finely carved and painted wooden figures and buildings. The centrepiece was a stable with the usual nativity figures just like Marianna kept on the sideboard at Christmas, but in addition there were figures as diverse as a butcher, a flower seller and a knight on horseback.

“It is a provençal crèche,” Christo explained. “The tradition in that part of France is that everyone in the village goes to greet the newborn King of the World, from the highest to the low. This is a base set that you can add to year by year as a family heirloom.”

“What a lovely idea,” Marianna commented. “That’s just the sort of thing a young woman starting a home should have.”

“There is a set at Mount Loeng House already,” Christo admitted. “It was my mother’s. I think father means to bring it to the Dower House when he and Valena and Garrick move there. This is for you to start your own family heirloom.”

“That's....” Julia looked at her fiancé with suddenly glassy eyes. She knew, of course, that when she and Christo married he would become Lord de Loengbaerrow and his father would retire from the duties of Patriarch, but until now the enormity of that hadn’t quite hit her.

She said nothing for a long while. Everyone watched her a little anxiously.

“It is beautiful,” she said at last. “Thank you.”

She leaned over and kissed Christo on the cheek. He turned and held her tightly.

“Cordell, Garrick,” Michal said. “You can open presents again after lunch. There's snow enough for the biggest snowman on Beta Delta. “

As the boys departed, Marianna and her husband found things they had to do in the kitchen. Christo and Julia were left alone, hugging each other tightly.

“It is a wonderful present,” Julia said. “I hope Penne won’t be offended if I like it better than his diamonds. But the thought of building heirlooms, of moving into Mount Loeng House as Lord and Lady... all if it still feels too big. I need this ordinary Christmas more than ever before I step into that life.”

“I understand,” Christo told her. “It scares me a little, too. Stepping into my father’s shoes is daunting. You’re right. We both need this ordinary family Christmas before we face all of that. But when we do, we'll face it together."