Remember WENN and its characters are copyright Rupert Holmes, Howard
Meltzer Prods and AMC. The original Baby Singer characters are mine. As is
the story. :-)

This is for the Christmas Story Challenge, and my Gift to you guys.. A
special look ahead to 1947 in the Baby Singer Series. This skips ahead past
where I intend (I say intend.. LOL) to end the series in 45 or 46 after the
war.. so you will know little snippets of things to come. :-) Enjoy!!

December 23rd '47

"Daddy, Mama said to have you zip my dress." Bethie said rushing down the stairs holding the holly green velvet dress against her chest.

"Okay, come here." Jeff said from the couch. He set the paper he was reading down to reach the six year old who'd just presented her back to him. "Is your mother about done?"

"Almost." Bethie answered, "she's finishing her hair." After her dress was fastened, she sat next to her father on the couch. She handed the paper back to him, "Can I read with you?"

"Sure." He folded the paper and found an article about a local Christmas display of a small handmade church. He sat back and put his arm around the girl's shoulder and cuddled her against his side. He held the paper between them so she could see and read the article aloud, letting her sound out some of the words.

Hilary walked down the steps and interrupted the two, "Bethie, where is your brother?"

"Don't come in here, Mommy!" a small voice from the dining room said insistently.

Hilary quirked her eyebrow in confusion and looked at Jeff who just shrugged. She asked stepping off the staircase, "Alexander what are you doing?"

Shuffling papers were heard and finally the contrite four year old appeared in the room, "Nothing," He said earnestly.

Hilary smiled, "Why don't you come upstairs and let me comb your hair. We have to leave in about fifteen minutes." Hilary held out her hand to the little boy who ran to her and took it. As she started up the stairs she glanced again at the couch. "Elizabeth, what color is your dress?"

"Green." The girl answered.

"And what color is the bow in your hair?" Hilary continued.

"Yellow."

"Do you see the problem?"

"No." Bethie answered with a grin.

"Elizabeth." Hilary repeated again, this time a little more demanding.

"But I didn't see the green bow," came the argument.

"Bethie, I set it next to your dress. I know you saw it. Now march right back upstairs and get it."

"But I have green on my dress, mama, I want a different color in my hair."

"Bethie," Jeff finally nudged from behind her, "Stop arguing with your mother and go get the other bow."

"Oh, all right," she scooted off the couch and ran up the stairs.

"Let me go make sure she finds the right one this time," Hilary said to Jeff, "Would you comb his hair?"

"Yeah," Jeff pulled a comb out of his back pocket, "Come here, bud."

Alexander ran to his father and Hilary followed Bethie up the stairs.

"Hop up here." Jeff said as he set the lanky boy on his lap. He ran the comb through the nearly black auburn mop of hair on his son's head. "I need to take you to the barber shop, Alex."

"Not tomorrow," the boy replied.

Jeff laughed, "No, not tomorrow." He finished combing the hair and sat back, still holding the little boy. He hugged him close and whispered quietly, "So what were you doing in the dining room?"

Alexander whispered back. "I was making a picture for Mommy for Christmas."

"You were? She'll love that." He grinned as the little boy beamed with pride. When it came to differences between the two kids, Alexander was like night to Bethie's day. He was shy, quiet and reserved. There were times when it was easy to forget he was in the room. Bethie certainly never let you forget she was there.

Alex would run to his mother first whereas Bethie would run to him. He attributed some of that to the fact that he was gone for the first two years of his son's life. When he returned after the war, Alexander was afraid of him and clung to Hilary for the first few hours. But much to Bethie's chagrin he'd spent quite a lot of time cultivating a father/son relationship over the next months. He knew Alexander would always be closer to Hilary as a result and now understood how she had sometimes felt about his close relationship with Bethie.

"Jeffrey would you see what the dog is barking at?" Hilary yelled from upstairs.

Jeff walked into the kitchen and opened the back door to let Miki in. "Cold out there isn't it?" he said as she ran past him and settled onto a heating vent near the pantry.

Alexander laughed. "Silly dog!"

Bethie came running back downstairs her hair now neatly adorned with the green velvet bow that matched her dress. "I still don't know why I have to wear a green bow."

"Because it makes your mother happy." Jeff answered. He walked past her and ruffled the curls at the back of her neck. He picked up the phone in the living room as Hilary descended the steps.

"Jeffrey are you--"

"--calling the cab," He finished for her, "Yes, Mittens I am calling a cab. Will you relax?"

"I don't want to be late. Bethie is supposed to be with her class at seven-thirty." Hilary reminded him.

"We have time, darling." Jeff told her. "You look beautiful." He said of her own dark green velvet dress. He pulled her close and gave her a quick kiss.

"Why are you always kissing mama." Bethie observed with a bit of annoyance.

Jeff glanced at her, "to make you jealous."

Bethie crossed her arms and huffed while Hilary laughed and stuck her tongue out at the annoyed child.

"Can I ride with Diane?" Bethie asked suddenly while glaring at her mother.

"No sweetie you have to ride with us." Hilary told her, "They are probably already gone anyway."

"Rats." She stomped off and sat on the couch.

Jeff gave Hilary an amused grin, "She's your daughter all right."

While Bethie sulked on the couch, Hilary bundled Alexander up warmly. Jeff handed the sullen girl her own winter coat. He sat next to her and whispered, "You're still my little pumpkin." She smiled broadly and helped him put on her coat.

The taxi soon arrived and the family was on their way to the grade school for the Christmas Pageant.

Hilary fluffed her daughter's shoulder length auburn hair. "Do you remember your song?"

"Yes mama, I remember." To prove that she did, Bethie serenaded them with the French version of The First Noel.

"Very good, Little Pumpkin." Jeff praised. "What about the other song?"

The girl happily started singing, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," moving her arms along with the beat as was choreographed by her teacher.

Jeff joined in and soon everyone in the cab, including the driver were singing the song.

The driver pulled in front of the building and stopped to let his passengers out. "You have a merry Christmas now." He said as they filed out of the vehicle.

"You too." Hilary said as she handed Alexander to his father and slid out of the car herself.

They went into the school and walked down the hallway toward Bethie's first grade classroom.

With waist length brown hair flying, Diane Sutton ran towards them, "Hey Bethie!" She grabbed her friend's hand, "I was waiting for you, come on."

"Wait!" Hilary said before the girls ran off, "Let me take your coat so it doesn't get lost."

"'k," Bethie stood while Hilary unbuttoned the black coat, then turned out of it, nearly throwing it to the floor. "Bye!" She took off with Diane and ran towards the classroom. Suddenly she stopped dead in her tracks, turned and ran back. She quickly gave Jeff a kiss, stuck her tongue out at her mother and was gone.

"How did you two manage while I was away?" Jeff asked with amusement in his eyes, wrapping an arm around Hilary.

Hilary smiled and leaned against side, "We found another man to fight over."

Jeff laughed, "Yes, and I'm sure Nick was glad when I came back and took my rightful place in the tug-of-war."

Hilary giggled and blushed slightly, "I was talking about Alexander here." She said, lightly squeezing the little hand she held.

"Oh right," Jeff retorted, hugging his arm around her enough to be able to give her ribcage a slight tickle. "Him."

Hilary yelped in surprise then clamped her mouth shut, slightly embarrassed. "Jeffrey!"

"Lets go find a seat." He chuckled, and moved his hand to rest behind her neck.

They walked into the crowded auditorium and looked for Will and Susan, who were supposed to be saving seats for them.

"There they are," Jeff said, nodding toward the middle section of the fifth row. Hilary followed as he wound through standing parents and family members of the other children.

"Pumpkin, would you carry Alexander so he doesn't get lost?" Hilary suggested feeling him get bumped.

Jeff turned and bent, "Come here, buddy." He picked the boy up and settled him on his hip. "You are almost too big to carry, son."

"Sorry." Alexander said with a grin.

He finally reached the row they were going to and moved to let Hilary in first. Will and Susan acknowledged them and they settled in to small talk while waiting for the show to start.

Finally the show started, with the younger classes doing their programs first. As the first grade lined up, Hilary leaned toward Jeff, "I hope she's all right."

"She'll be fine, Mittens. She sings every Saturday morning on the radio." Jeff whispered back.

"I know, but this is the first time she's actually been able to see an audience."

"Good point, darling."

The piano started and the class opened up their act with "O Christmas Tree." Once that song was finished, Bethie stepped forward from the back row to join another classmate to sing their respective verses of The First Noel. The other girl's in English, and Bethie's in French.

As soon as Hilary got a good look at her daughter, she groaned, "I am going to strangle that child."

Perched proudly on top of the little girl's head was the yellow bow.

Jeff could do nothing but laugh, and Hilary turned to her chuckling husband, "She's your daughter."

"That she is, Hilary," Jeff said proudly, "That she is."

Once their song was finished the two girls, still standing at the front microphones, led the rest of the class in the closing number of "We Wish You A Merry Christmas." Bethie bowed and catching sight of her parents in the audience, waved covertly.

Jeff gave her a quick thumbs up and she grinned proudly before leaving the stage with the rest of her classmates.

December 24th '47

After signing off at eight p.m. to play holiday music for the rest of the evening, the staff of WENN gathered in the green room for their annual Christmas eve party.

Eugenia asked Betty, Hilary and Maple if they would help her bring up the food that had been cooking in The Buttery's generously donated kitchen. She and Mr. Foley, who had surprised everyone by getting married in the summer of 1943 drew the turkey honors.

"While we are bringing up food," Hilary asked the men, "Would you boys mind setting the table and making sure little hands are clean?"

After Hilary left, Scott turned to Jeff. "I'll take cleaning patrol if you and Nick take table duty. Mackie and Foley can put the leaves in the table."

"Sounds good." Jeff replied. "Hey has anyone heard from Victor?"

"Yeah, actually I got a Christmas card from them last week." Mackie replied, "He and Grace are sorry they couldn't make it this year, but she's busy with a movie and can't get away."

"Oh, darn." Scott said, "I was hoping to talk to him about netting us some network sponsors."

"Are we going network Scott?" Nick asked.

Scott snorted, "Not if I can help it. We're doing plenty good along with the big boys." He grinned, "I'm planning on getting us a stronger transmitter this year, so we can at least get a broader audience."

"Sounds good to me." Mackie said

"Yeah, and hopefully it will sound better to our listeners." Scott retorted. "All right Alex m' man, lets go take Matty and wash up." Scott said to Alexander who sat on the couch keeping one year old Matthew Sherwood company. He grabbed his son off the couch and walked with Alexander to clean up.

"Daddy, can I help?" Bethie questioned, picking up the silverware.

"Are your hands clean for supper?" Jeff turned to her. He nodded that she could after she proved that her hands had already been washed. "Hold the silverware for me, and when I set a plate down put the forks on this side, and the spoons and knives over here."

"Okay." She agreed and followed him around the table, helping him set it.

Eugenia unlocked the front door of The Buttery. The owners had closed early so their employees could spend Christmas Eve with their families. The women followed her into the kitchen. There was a note on the counter reminding them to make sure the ovens were completely off and not to worry about any extra dishes.

"This smells wonderful." Betty remarked as they began to gather the food.

Hilary stepped up to the counter next to Betty and set the dish of honeyed yams down on a hot pad. She leaned to quietly ask, "Betty, how is Scott doing these days?"

"Okay I guess." Betty answered making sure her pies were done. "Some days are better than others." She sprinkled a bit of sugar across the top of the still warm pies. "He won't talk about it."

Hilary gave her friend an assuring pat on the back. "He went to hell and came back, Betty. Be thankful of that."

"Okay ladies are we ready?" Eugenia asked while carrying a turkey that looked too heavy.

"Eugenia, let me carry that." Hilary offered, seeing the woman hiding her discomfort. "You carry the tray with the side dishes."

"I'll make sure everything is off and lock up." Maple chimed in, "and I'll help Betty with the pies." She held the door open while everyone left the diner and took the elevator upstairs.

Once they reached the closed door to the WENN studios, they quickly realized none of them had a hand free and Maple was still closing up downstairs. Hilary kicked the bottom panel of the door with her foot hoping someone inside would hear. She could hear voices, then finally someone rushed to the door and opened it.

"Let me take that!" Nick said relieving Hilary of her heavy burden.

"Thanks, Nick." She turned and grabbed the tray from Eugenia and walked into the green room.

Holding the door open as the women filed past him, Nick noticed, "We seem to be missing my wife."

Hilary grinned, "She made one too many cracks at my cooking and I locked her into the pantry." When Nick gave her a sour look, Hilary lifted her eye brow, "She's making sure everything is off downstairs." She set her tray on the counter, and turned to Betty. "Are we going to do this buffet style?"

"Yeah," Betty answered, putting serving silverware into the dishes, "That would probably be easiest. She turned to face the rest of the group, "All right, which of you fellas wants to carve the turkey?"

"I'll do it," Mackie offered. He walked to the table and took the knife from Betty.

"Hey, look who I found downstairs." Maple entered the room with Tom and Ellen Parsons behind her.

"Sarge!" Jeff said gladly when he saw his friend. He pulled the man into a bear hug, "How the heck are you?"

"The leg still bothers me, but well, you know how it is." The man answered rather wistfully.

"Yeah." Jeff answered, "My shoulder still gives me problems on occasion." Lightening the mood, "So what are you doing in our neck of the woods?"

"The in-laws live in Harrisburg." He explained, "Ellen and I decided since we were this close we'd drive on over. We can spend Christmas with her folks any time."

Hilary walked around Jeff to greet her ex-husband. "Tom it's so wonderful to see you." She paused a moment and smiled, "I never thought I'd hear myself say that."

He returned her smile, "You look beautiful, Hilary." He hugged her tightly. Stepping back, he lay his hand against the back of the woman standing next to him. "Hilary, this is--"

"I'm thrilled to see you again, Ellen." The two women hugged.

"Again?" Tom asked, confused.

"Yes," the stout brown-haired woman explained, "Just after you were wounded. I stayed with mom and dad and having been exchanging letters, Hilary and I decided to meet."

"She caught a quick train down here because Bethie was sick and I couldn't leave her." Hilary added, "We formed a rather mutual support system."

"Hey," Mackie interrupted, "Are we gonna eat this turkey before it walks away?"

"Cooked turkeys don't walk away, Uncle Mackie!" Bethie reminded him with a giggle.

"They do if they get lonesome." He replied, then in a gobbling voice, Mackie bent closer to the bird, "I should go find other lonely turkeys. We can walk off into the sunset together."

Both Bethie and Alexander laughed at his joke. Alex ran to his mother, "Mommy do turkeys rea-wy walk away?"

Hilary bent and with a chuckle explained, "No, turkey's 'rea-wy' do not walk away." She tapped him on the nose, "Your Uncle Mackie is teasing you."

"Now, would I kid a kid?" Mackie questioned with an insulted tone in his voice.

"Yes Custard you would." Maple chimed in, smacking his hand.

Tom noticed the set table and food, "I'm sorry, we came at a bad time."

"Nonsense," Hilary stood, still holding her son's hand, "We haven't started and believe me there is plenty of food." She turned to her husband, "Jeffrey darling would you see of you can find two more chairs?"

While Jeff went off in search of more chairs, Hilary introduced the rest of the gang to Tom.

After the dinner was eaten and the dishes cleared, Hilary let the children open their gifts. Little Matthew spent more time playing with the paper than his new toys. Bethie coddled the tyke as if he were a doll of hers.

Since Matt had been born, Bethie had become a little mother to him. Betty had taken to giving her a small allowance for 'baby-sitting' him after school. Bethie generally just kept him occupied while his mother worked on scripts.

"Mama," Bethie said while teasing the boy with a truck he'd gotten from her parents. "Can I have another baby brother?"

Hilary chuckled, "Bethie you don't like the one you have. Why would you want another one?"

"Because I don't like the one I have." Bethie answered without missing a beat.

"Why you don't like me?" Alexander asked, hurt.

Bethie huffed as if the answer was obvious. "Because you always get into my things."

"Bethie if you had another brother, he'd grow up and get into your toys as much as Alex does." Jeff told her, "Then you'd be back to complaining."

"Can I take Matty home?"

"I'd think that his parents might miss him." Hilary answered.

"But they can have Alex." She answered as if Hilary was missing her point. "Then it would be even."

Alexander ran to his mother, "I don't wanna live with Aunt Betty, Mommy"

Hilary set the whimpering boy into her lap, "You aren't going anywhere darling," she assured, "your sister is just being -- your sister." She looked at her daughter, "Will you stop tormenting your brother."

"No."

Hilary gave Jeff a 'you deal with her' look and went back to consoling the boy she held.

"Bethie." Jeff sharply warned.

She stood, "Can't a girl have a little fun?" and stormed out of the room.

Jeff looked at Hilary and slyly smiled, "How did I end up with two of you?"

She sarcastically grinned his way and Mackie patted him comfortingly on the back. "You're a glutton for punishment."

"Hmm, maybe that's it." Jeff replied as if he were considering the thought.

Some time later as the party was beginning to wind down, Jeff cornered Hilary underneath the mistletoe. He kissed her ravenously. "I have been wanting to do that all evening."

Hilary settled herself into Jeff's arms and trailed a finger across his cheek. "You know, all you have to do is ask. I never mind." She recaptured his lips, drawing the kiss out contentedly.

After a few moments she felt a sharp push against her side. She glanced at the culprit and found an icy stare from her daughter. "Go away."

Hilary blinked, not quite sure she'd heard correctly. "Excuse me?"

Bethie wrapped her arms around her father's side and repeated her angry statement. Hilary looked at Jeff, stunned.

"Elizabeth Booth Singer!" Jeff reprimanded, using her full name. "Don't you ever speak to your mother in that way again."

Bethie backed away, surprised hurt in her face. "You don't love me anymore." She softly cried, "That's why you went away for a long time and when you came back you only played with Alexander and Mama." She turned and ran toward the front door, "I hate you Jeff Singer!" She yelled, purposefully using his name as he'd used hers, and charged through the front door.

Jeff leaned back against the wall completely disheartened. "My god, Hilary." He responded with sadness in his voice, "I had no idea she felt this way."

"Let me go talk to her." Hilary offered.

"No." Jeff stood straight, "I need to talk to her." He left the lobby and walked to the end of the hallway where Bethie sat sobbing on a couch.

He crouched in front of her, "Can we talk?" he asked softly.

"You're going to anyway." She muttered.

He sat next to her, "Bethie," When he turned her chin to face him, the sad look in her eyes nearly broke his heart, "do you really think I went away because of you?"

She nodded, still crying, "And then Alexander came," she whimpered, "and Mommy spent time with him and you came back and you spent time with him and I don't matter anymore." She began to cry harder.

Jeff pulled her into a strong bear hug, setting her into his lap. "Little Pumpkin sweetheart, I didn't leave because of you. I left because there was some work I had to do."

"Because of the war?" she asked against his shoulder.

"Yes, because of the war." He assured, "It had nothing at all to do with you. I didn't want to leave you pun'kin, but I had to."

Bethie wiped her eyes and sat, listening.

"Mama spent time with Alexander because he was a baby. He needed the attention." Jeff explained. He smiled, "You know you got quite a bit of attention when you were a baby."

"I did?"

"Of course you did." He leaned the calming child against him. Smoothing her hair, he continued explaining, "When I came home, I spent time with your brother because he didn't know me. Wouldn't you have wanted me to do the same with you? If you didn't know me?"

She nodded, "yeah."

Jeff kissed the top of her head and sat her straight so she could see his face, "Bethie, I love your mama in a different way. In a way that grown-ups love each other. That does not mean that I love you any less."

She sniffed, but listened intently. Jeff handed her a handkerchief from his pocket. "Are we all cleared up?" he asked.

She threw her arms around him, "I'm sorry daddy."

"No, Little Pumpkin, I'm sorry." He said as he hugged the little girl tightly, "I didn't know you were hurting this much."

"Let's go in." She hopped off his lap, "I want to tell mama I'm sorry." She took his hand when Jeff stood. They walked down the hall to the station when Bethie chimed in, "I'm not going to quit tormenting Alex."

Jeff laughed, "Somehow I didn't think so." Just before they went in, he stopped and knelt to her level. "I have an idea Bethie. After we open presents and have breakfast tomorrow, why don't you and I go spend a couple hours together. Maybe we can go to the park and build some snowmen."

"Thank you daddy!" she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I don't really hate you."

Jeff grinned, "That's good, kiddo, because you're stuck with me." He stood her straight, "Hey, you want a ride?"

"Yeah!" She ran behind him and threw her arms around his neck. He picked her up by the legs and stood so she was riding on his back. They went into the station skipping and laughing, the earlier somber mood all but forgotten.

December 25th '47 (6AM)

Hilary was rudely awakened by two kids and a barking dog suddenly bounding into the bed. She groaned and tried to bury herself further beneath the covers. She jumped when her ribs were grabbed by two much larger and very familiar hands.

"Come on mom get up!" Jeff exclaimed excitedly in her ear.

She opened her eyes and glared at him, "Will you stop encouraging the children?"

He thought for two seconds, "Umm--no!" He laughed, "Okay," he grabbed Alexander, "Tickle Mommy, buddy. Wake her up!"

"Jeffrey . . ." She warned jokingly.

"I'll get daddy, mama!" Bethie dove at her father and started tickling him.

Hilary sat and pulled Alexander into her lap, "Thank you Bethie." She turned her attention to the little boy, "You know what Alex," she lowered her voice to a stage whisper, "I think we should get daddy too, for waking us up. What do you think?" He nodded once, assuredly. "I'll show you right where to get his attention." Hilary explained. She pointed her finger and reached to the fleshy part of Jeff's waist. "Right there!" She poked him hard.

He jumped, "Aahh! Hilary!" He sat up, dislodging a giggling six year old from his stomach and pulled Alex from his mother's arms. "Excuse me, son."

Hilary backed away, warily laughing, "Pumpkin," she held her arms protectively in front of her.

He turned and tackled her so she wouldn't hit the headboard. Jeff tickled her mercilessly , enjoying the sound of her laughter. Soon both children joined into the merriment, with the dog excitedly hopping over people trying to get her nose in on the fun.

The sun rose before the family finally made their way downstairs. The kids oohing and aahing over the unwrapped gifts. Bethie finally got the bicycle she'd been asking for, and Alex was thrilled to find a car and truck set complete with play garage. Alex gave Hilary the picture that he'd been working diligently on, of a Christmas tree with lots of presents surrounding it. She thanked him with a hug and a kiss.

Jeff brought her a cup of coffee and they stood and watched the kids play with their new toys. Hilary lay her head against his shoulder, "Merry Christmas, Pumpkin."

He put his arm around her and hugged her to him, "Merry Christmas to you too, darling."