* Disclaimer - I do not own any of the members from 'N Sync (though the more I thought about it, the more I.. *SLAP*..erm...never mind..*LOL*), they belong to their respective owners. I do, however own all fictional characters such as Devon, Mike, Ashley, etc. Plagiarism is still punishable by law. Thank you.

The bed and breakfast hotel was small, quaint and homey, something Chris had depended on. The two rooms he had rented were adjoined by a large sitting room set up with a huge, decorated Christmas tree and a fireplace. Chris dropped his single bag onto the floor of his room then decided to take a look around the bed and breakfast.

The hotel was run and owned by a nice, elderly couple who had been married for forty-six years. They had been extremely helpful when he had called to inquire about the place. The woman, Grace, had told him that the home their children had grown up in had been converted into a small bed and breakfast. The house was set back quite a distance from the road and never really got that much business. That had been one of the major deciding factors why Chris had chosen this place.

Devon wouldn't be showing up until the next morning and Chris could hardly wait to see her face when she saw him waiting for her in the sitting room. He had purposely shown up a day early so he could get some last minute things done before she arrived. She was going to love it, he knew deep in his heart.

"You look like a man in love." Grace smiled from across the main room downstairs. Chris smiled at her, startled from his thoughts.

"How could you tell?" he questioned, fingering the small box tucked away safely in his coat pocket.

"That's easy Mr. Kirkpatrick. My Henry had that very same look in his eyes when he looked at me. He was such a handsome man back in his day." she sighed, love shining in her eyes.

"Call me Chris, please. You have a beautiful home." Chris commented, stepping further into the room, watching her dust the immaculate furniture.

"Thank you, Chris." she laughed. "Of course this house hasn't really been alive in a long time. I remember when Henry told me he wanted to build this house for me. He was so adamant about doing it himself. The old coot. He never did know when he was in over his head, and to tell you the truth, he still doesn't. Oh, listen to me ramble on, keeping you from your own doings."

"I don't mind, Mrs. White." Chris shook his head as he took a seat on one of the chairs in the room. "I like to find out more about this house."

"It took Henry four years, but he built it with his own two hands. Amanda, my oldest, was three years old when we finally moved in, and Mark was only a year behind her. I was pregnant at the time." Grace shook her head with amusement. "The plumbing went haywire the first winter we had. My poor Henry had to trek back and forth to the well in town so we could cook, but that year was the only year this house was filled with such laughter."

"How many kids do you have?" Chris inquired, settling back into his seat.

"Oh my, we have seven boys and one girl. My children all have children of their own now, and such beautiful children they are. My pride and joy, but I don't get to see them as often as I'd like." she sighed, taking a seat across from him.

"Why not?"

"They've all scattered to the four winds. My boys, every single one of them, are in the military. I see their kids more often than I do my daughter's little girl. She just turned twelve the day before Christmas. Children grow up so quickly." Grace smiled, more to herself than anyone else. "My daughter lives in California now, and a successful woman that I'm very proud of, but she hasn't been home in four years."

"That's really too bad. I know what it's like not being able to see your loved ones as often as you'd like. It's hard." Chris agreed with a nod, an idea slowly forming in his mind.

"Is that so? What do you do for a living?" Grace inquired, slowly climbing to her feet to resume her dusting.

"I'm in a singing group that tours all over the place. I get to see my family about once every four months." he answered with a sigh.

"You sing? We could have used your expertise to sing the carols this year. My Henry is so tone deaf that he makes dogs in the next town howl in pain." she laughed, wiping tears of humor from her eyes. Chris smiled, laughing himself.

"I could sing a few carols for you before I leave. I would actually enjoy it." he stated as he climbed to his feet. She gave him a slightly sad smile as he turned to the door.

"Young man," Grace called out just before he left the room. Chris turned to look at her with a smile. "Dinner's in about an hour, you're more than welcome to join my husband and I in the kitchen. We don't use the dining room too often. Not enough people to make it homey anymore. And just a word of advice, call your mother every so often. She worries about you."

"I will, Mrs. White." Chris nodded with a smile before disappearing through the front door. He took out his cellular phone and dialed the number he knew so well as he walked over to his rental car and climbed in.

"Hello?"

"Hi mom."

"Chris, what a pleasant surprise. How's Vermont?"

"It's beautiful, snow all over the place. You'd like it mom."

"I'm sure I would, dear. Was there a specific reason you called me?"

"No, not really. I just missed you and wanted to hear your voice."

"I miss you too, son of mine. But I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks mom. I have a question for you."

"All right, go ahead."

"Would you like to come up, stay for a few days?"

"Sweetie, this is your week with Devon. Live it up, have fun."

"I know mom, I just thought you might like to see snow again."

"As much as I love snow, I don't think I could handle the cold. Thank you for the offer though, it means a lot to me that you put some thought into it."

"Well, how could I not? You're my mother and I love you."

"As I love you. You better get going, I'm sure you have a thousand things to do before Dev shows up in the morning."

"Yeah. I'll talk to you later."

"I look forward to it. Bye, sweetheart."

"Bye mom." Chris smiled softly and hung up. While he was talking, he had driven to one of the local floral shops so he could pick up a dozen yellow roses. While inside, he spotted the perfect silver pewter picture frame that he knew Devon would love, so he picked that up as well. He had the perfect picture to go inside.

The picture had been taken the year before during his birthday party. He and Devon had been together for five months by that time. They were sitting at a table, intent in conversation, heads close together. He remembered they had been talking about their dreams, smiles on their faces. Mike had seen the couple talking so intimately in the middle of a huge, wild party and couldn't resist taking the picture.

Chris shook himself back into the present as he walked inside the entryway of the bed and breakfast. He could hear Grace and Henry laughing in the kitchen and glanced down at his watch. Twenty minutes until dinner. He strolled up the stairs to Devon's room and set the vase of roses on the table, then walked to his room where he found the picture he had tucked into a side pocket of his bag. He slipped the picture into the frame, then set it with the flowers before heading downstairs to the kitchen.

Devon ran around her apartment like a chicken with it's head chopped off while Mike waited near the front door, tapping her foot. She had an hour to get to the airport before she would be late for her flight, which was typical Devon and aggravated Mike to no end. Devon stood in her room trying to decide which sweater she should take. The purple and black one, or the all black one.

"Devon, come on, let's go! I have to meet JC after I drop you off and I don't exactly want to be late!" Mike yelled folding her arms over her chest.

"Oh shut up, Kayla! I swear to God, if you don't...," Devon's voice trailed off as she stuffed the all black sweater into her suitcase. She closed the suitcase with a slam and locked it before picking it up and carrying it out to the living room. She took one last look around and nodded with satisfaction.

"Okay, I'm ready. Lets go." Devon smiled. Mike rolled her eyes heavenward as she opened the door and rushed down the hallway, Devon following close behind her. Traffic to the airport was horrendous, making both Devon and Mike nervous about missing her flight. Mike pulled up to the drop off area and shifted her car into park. Devon jumped out and opened to trunk to grab her suitcase.

"Thanks, Mike. I'll tell you all about it when I get back!" Devon called cheerily.

"All right, have fun!" Mike returned with a smile as Devon slammed the door shut. She turned around and rushed into the airport. Lucky for her, the lines weren't that long and she didn't have to wait long before she could check her suitcase in and run to her gate. One of the flight attendants was about to close the door to her plane when Devon ran over to her, ticket in hand.

"You almost missed it." the flight attendant sighed as she took the ticket and ripped it in half, handing Devon the stub. She walked down the ramp and onto the plane, finding her seat. She sat down with a sigh of relief. That was a close call, she thought to herself as she got comfortable. An old man and a young boy sat on her right, next to the window, talking about what they were going to do once they reached Vermont. She smiled to herself as she closed her eyes.

Devon could believe how sweet Chris had been. She hadn't really expected anything this spectacular for her Christmas gift, but it was wonderful all the same. She drifted off into a light sleep as the plane taxied out of the terminal area and down the runway. Soon they were up in the air.

"Miss? We've landed." a female voice woke her. Devon glanced around her, slightly disoriented.

"Thank you." she smiled as she climbed to her feet. Chris had said someone would be waiting for her at the baggage claim to take her to the bed and breakfast. He's thought of everything, down to the last detail. God, I love him. She smiled as she waited for her suitcase at the baggage claim. And elderly man walked over to her with a smile.

"Are you Devon Summers?" he questioned, his voice just a bit shaky.

"Yes, I am. Are you the person sent her to meet me?" Devon smiled back as she darted for her suitcase.

"Yes. The name's Henry White, let me take that for you." the gentleman stated taking her suitcase from her.

"Thank you." she laughed as she followed him out into the parking lot. Snow covered the ground, causing her to laugh gaily. She had always loved snow, ever since she was a little girl and her older brother helped her build her first snowman. She laughed softly to herself as she gazed out the window. The trip to the bed and breakfast didn't take very long, and soon Devon was standing in her room gazing around at the giant four poster canopy bed, old restored furniture. She walked over to the table and leaned over to smell the yellow roses resting in a vase. Chris had been the only person inventive enough to give her yellow roses when most everyone else gave her red. She picked up the picture frame and laughed out loud when she saw the actual picture it was holding. Devon remembered that day so clearly in her mind. It was the day she finally admitted to herself that she was in love. She turned looking around one more time before she noticed an open door. Curious, she walked to the doorway and peered inside. A huge Christmas tree filled half the room and there was a soft glow coming from the fireplace. She stepped inside with a sad smile to take a better look around the room.

"I was wondering when you'd get here." a familiar male voice stated with humor.

"Chris!" she breathed as she spun around to face the couch. He stood up with a smile as he walked over to her. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"You sneaky little devil! I swear Chris." She laughed as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

"I know, but I thought this would be a good surprise for you." he agreed with a nod. Devon pulled away from him slightly and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

"You're way too sweet for someone like me. I don't think I deserve you, but I refuse to let you go." she whispered smiling.

"I'm glad." Chris whispered back.

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