[ I ask all of you this question. What is the thing you remember most about Christmas? For all of us it's differnt things. For some it's the sounds we think we heard of reindeer landing on the roof top of our home. Maybe the rustling of Santa leaving the presents under the tree. For those of us who weren't lucky enough to be fooled by our parents into thinking for the first 10 years of our life that there indeed is a Santa Claus we remember the family fights. The reality that most people have of dreading the family coming over the house and everyone putting fake smiles on. For me it was something a bit differnt, and some may think a bit odd. The thing that I always remember was our christmas tree. And no "O'Christmas Tree" isn't my favorite christmas song. I really don't think anyone has one of those, but I digress. What I remember most is the people my dad would hire every year to put our tree up. The first saturday after thanksgiving a crew of about six people would come in our home and put up our expensive fake tree. They would take all the christmas decorations down from our attic and decorate our whole home. Never once did my dad allow any of the children to touch even a single christmas ornament. I would sit on the stairs leading up to the second floor and watch as they put all the decorations up on the tree. I suppose it's the simple things that we take for granted.

Needless to say once I got older and moved out getting my own christmas tree and decorating it myself is a huge deal. It's truly the one thing that really brings out the little kid in me. Go on laugh if you must but for me that's the one thing I do love about christmas. And for the record I only get real christmas trees not a store bought fake. Who ever tells you that cleaning up the pine needles is not worth it, is just plain lazy. Because nothing takes the place of the real scent of pine waffing through the air of your home.

So as many of you can guess by now today I'm having my tree delievered to my home. I mean you really can't find a great christmas tree in the greater Miami area. So since I have lived here which is about five years now I've had my tree delivered direct from Minnesota. Expensive? Hell yes it is, but very worth it. I spent all morning taking a good eight boxes of decorations down from my attic. While Rick was out only doing God knows what. I told you that I didn't mess around when it came to decorations. I finally heard my door bell ring. I put my pink fuzzy slippers on my feet and rushed to the door.

I opened the door and looked past the gentleman standing there and saw them un-doing the ropes to bring the tree he. Then I looked at him and rudely said.]

Brandi James:"It's about God damn time you got here. I have millions of things to do today!"

[ C'Mon now what did you expect? Did you really think I'm going to be nice to him and hug him for bring me my christmas tree? Fuck No! I do have a reputation to uphold. He looked at me and before I would allow him to apologize to me, I grabbed his clipboard and signed my name. Then I slammed it into his chest, and shoved him to the side.]

Brandi James:"There ya go! Now move out of the way fat boy."

[ He quickly moved out of the way and they brought my nine foot chirstmas tree into the house. I directed them where to go and to make sure they were careful not to bend a single branch on it. Once inside my living room it was set into the tree stand. I stood back and took my first look as they cut the remaining rope that as around the tree, allowing the branches to spread out. I looked at the space between the top of the tree and my ceiling and thought to myself that I really could have gotten away with an eleven foot tree. Ah the benefits of having cathedral ceilings. I shrugged it off and figured that the nine foot tree I had would just have to do this year. Next year the tree I get will be bigger. After all it will be the baby's first christmas. Sure he or she won't remember it but I still would like to make it as special as possible. Anyway the men left and no I did not tip them. They get paid hourly and frankly they just delivered Brandi James Wrestling's Goddess her christmas tree. Seeing me was reward enough for them. I went up stairs and got the sugar cookies I was baking from the oven just time. Whew.....I nearly forgot about them. I put them on the waterford crystal serving dish and set them on the counter. Then went upstairs and put on a pair of black sweat pants and folded the top of them over to show my stomach a bit. Hey I have to feel as sexy as I can and show off my belly while it's still flat. I had on my baseball style red and white "Naughty but Nice" half shirt and still my fuzzy slippers. I got a cup of water for the tree and took the plate from the counter and went into the living room. After filling the tree stand with water I put the plate of cookies down on the coffee table. Then I sat on floor and opened up my first box and began to decorate.

The time seemed to pass really quickly while I checked all the lights and seperated the ornaments making sure they all had hooks in them. Just as I was about to open the last box Rick walked through the door. He saw me sitting on the floor chirstmas decorations all around me, and me eating a cookie. At first he almost looked a bit shocked. Then he walked over and took a cookie from the dish then kissed my cheek.]

Rick Young:"So this is a bit odd."

[ I looked up at him and smirked.]

Brandi James:"Odd? What do you mean odd?"

[ He took a bite of the cookie and chuckled.]

Rick Young:"I just mean that I didn't think that you would get a tree...."

[ Taking a glance around the whole room and then at me.]

Rick Young:"Or be so into christmas...Geez Brandi look at all this stuff."

[ I took a deep breathe and rolled my eyes.]

Brandi James:"Do you have a point to your rambling? Or is your intention to wreck my fucking day?"

[ Finishing his cookie and taking two more from the plate he sat directly infront of me on the floor.]

Rick Young:"Christ...You're touchy today aren't you?"

Brandi James:"No...I just want to enjoy decorating my tree and this house. Is that so much to ask for?"

Rick Young:"It's not much to ask for at all baby."

[ I didn't look at him while I was speaking. Instead my focus was on un-tangling the lights. You know I just don't get it. No matter how carefully you put the lights away. No matter which way you wrap them up. When it's time to take them out they alway seem to get tangled all over again. Never the less Rick sat and watched me try to un-tangle them as he finished his cookies. As he was about to grab a few more I lifted my eye up to look at him.]

Brandi James:"Didn't you just get done working out?"

Rick Young:"Yeah, and your point?"

Brandi James:"My point is that if you plan on being serious and contending for Carson's World Title or even want a chance of beating Carson and Jalie for the tag titles...Well you need to leave those cookies alone......"

Rick Young:"Worry about yourself...I'll worry about me."

[ He said a bit abruptly.]

Brandi James:"Fine! I was just giving you my advice...but whatever..."

[ I stood up and began to wrap the lights around the tree, row by row till I couldn't reach. Usually the girly thing to do is when you can't reach any higher you think one would ask her 6"2 boyfriend to help. Get real bitches, I'm not a helpless little girl. Sure I maybe only 5"3 but that's what laddars were made for. Without saying another word I went and got a laddar from outside and dragged it into the house then set it up infront of the tree. Rick jumped to his feet and sharply said.]

Rick Young:"Ok Brandi..I need to know what your fucking problem is!"

[ I gritted my teeth, and tried to move him with a slight push out of the way, but failed.]

Brandi James:"For starters your in my God damn way."

Rick Young:"Oh is that all? You know you could say Rick can you please you....And guess what? I would get the fuck out of your way."

Brandi James:"Good....then let me finish doing my damn tree!"

Rick Young:"Just your tree?"

Brandi James:"Why who else's tree is it?"

Rick Young:"Stupid me, I thought I lived here to and that maybe it was our christmas tree. But seems I'm sorely mistaken. Excuse me, Ms. James....."

[ Rick's voice raised and he moved to the side and motioned towards the laddar.]

Rick Young:"By all means...don't allow me to interrupt all your fun."

[ Snubbing my nose at Rick, I climbed the laddar and began to put the rest of the lights on the tree. When out of nowhere I felt a warm watery sensation on my cheeks. Rick looked at me then put his arms around my waist and took me off of the ladder and held me tightly in his arms. He hugged me and kissed the top of my forehead.]

Rick Young:"I'm sorry baby...I didn't mean it."

[ I tried to speak but couldn't as I sobbed into this chest. He put his hand under my chin and lifted my face. With his thumb he wiped my tears away as my bottom lip quivered. Then he put one arm behind his back and reached into the back pocket of his jeans.]

Rick Young:"Baby, I wanted to show you this."

[ He held infront of me a large envelope and softly said.]

Rick Young:"Let's sit down."

[ Still I didn't say a thing. Truth is I felt really ashamed and confused as to why what just happened upset me so much. If this is what being pregnant is like I'm in for one hell of a long pregnancy. Rick moved a few things off the couch and sat down. He took my hand and lean forward to kiss me.]

Brandi James:"Rick...."

Rick Young:"Sssssshhhhh....I want to say something to you."

Brandi James:"Alright. I guess I owe you that much."

[ I said softly. Rick smiled and gave me a kiss on the lips then looked down at the envelope and up at me.]

Rick Young:"Brandi, Do you know what Thersea's idea of Christmas was?"

[ Where in the fuck was this going? I didn't fucking care what her idea of christmas was! Looking away from him I shook my head.]

Brandi James:"Why do I care?"

[ Rick put his hand on the side of my face so I looked directly at him. As he chuckled a bit.]

Rick Young:"All I'm saying is this. That never once during christmas did I walk into my home and smell a real pine tree..."

[ Rick looked past my shoulder at the tree. At that moment he looked like a little boy he seemed so excited about it.]

Rick Young:"I mean damn...how tall is that?"

Brandi James:"Nine feet..."

Rick Young:"Wow...."

[ After another few seconds Rick looked at me and into my eyes.]

Rick Young:"That's one big tree..."

Brandi James:"I could have gotten a bigger one...but I guess this will have to do."

Rick Young:"It's more than fine baby....Also my other point was. That not only did I not smell pine but when I walked into to OUR home today. I see my goregous girlfriend on the floor seperating decorations, and the whole entire house smells of sugar cookies."

[ Enough was enough..He was about to make me cry again. Rick opened just the fold of the envelope.]

Brandi James:"It's not a big deal Rick. I really like doing this stuff. When I was a kid my dad hired people to do this, and never allowed us to help. So now this is something I do on my own. Sure I could hire someone to do this, but I don't want to."

Rick Young:"That's what I mean. Even though you're spoiled some ways in others your not. Brandi, when I walked through the door today. I saw the tree, you the smell of sugar cookies and pine in the air. What I'm saying is that it only confirms that the decision I made was the correct one."

[ Without saying another word Rick took out a piece of paper and turned it over so it layed face up.]

Rick Young:"Today before I went to work out I stopped by my lawyers office. I still can't believe the son of a bitch re-located here just for me, but I guess over the years I paid him well enough with all the trouble I've been in...Still, I picked up something that really made me a bit emotional in differnt ways. I took all my angry and everything else out on a weight machine and a sparring partner."

[ Ok that is a weakness of mine. Little did Rick know that I've always had a thing of a guy that can box. I smiled a bit and got excited.]

Brandi James:"You did some boxing today baby?"

[ Looking him up and down I licked my lips.]

Rick Young:"Yeah...but don't mind that now. I need to say this."

Brandi James:"good enough...continue."

Rick Young:"Thank You baby...Alright well as I was working out and sparring alot of shit went through my mind. After my work I got into my truck and took this out of my glove box and starred at it for a long time. I got angry because I didn't know if I should cry or what to feel so I just put it beside me and drove home. Even when I pulled into the drive way I folded it up and put it in my back pocket thinking about what to do. I even stood infront of the door for a few minutes debating if I wanted to turn the knob and come in. But once I did and I walked through the door anything I felt was answered."

[ God damn all this babbling....as I was about to say something Rick put his index finger over my lips. He then took it down and said.]

Rick Young:"Brandi, I've never been so sure in my life that I've made the right choice. For the first time I feel like I'm in a solid mutal relationship. I wasn't thrown together with you, or felt like I had to be. I saw you for the first and well...You're just so fucking beautiful. Funny thing was when you said "hi, I'm Brandi James." I had to think for a second what my own name was."

[ That's so cute, I made him speechless. I giggled and Rick nearly blushed.]

Rick Young:"See that's how beautiful I think you are baby. You made me so excited and nervous at the same time. I really felt like a high school kid with a crush. You're the woman of my dreams and who I want to spend my life with."

[ The tears started up again. I kept thinking how wonderful to hear those things with the small exception of him being married to Thersea. Before I could hang my head Rick wiped the few tears that had fallen, and sofly said.]

Rick Young:"Brandi...This is my finalization on my divorce. It's officially over between Thersea and Me. I'm not married to her any more. As of December 9th we were no longer married. My lawyer called me today and told me to come by and pick this up."

[ I looked at the paper in Rick's lap and that is indeed what it was. Rick smiled and asked.]

Rick Young:"So what do you think?"

[ For a moment I was frozen. This was a huge deal for both of us with out saying a word I stood up and went to my closet in the foyer. I took out a box with shiny silver wrapping paper and a glossy white bow. Rick raised his eyebrow as I sat back down.]

Brandi James:"I want to give this to you."

Rick Young:"Already with the christmas presents?"

Brandi James:"You'll need it for today."

Rick Young:"If you say so..."

[ With no hestiation Rick opened the box and took out a christmas stocking that I had bought for him and put his name on. Along with a Red christmas bulb that had his name on it in silver glitter. I had one just like it except my bulb was purple with silver glitter. Rick smiled and kissed me.]

Rick Young:"Thank you baby."

Brandi James:"Do you like them?"

Rick Young:"Yes...very much."

[ I took them from him and set them gentley back in the box and placed them on the table.]

Brandi James:"I just figured I have my own stocking and christmas ornament. So I thought I'd get you one. It's something I'd really like to do. You know start a tradition with us. Like us having our own ornaments for the tree then our kids will have their own and then their kids..."

[ Rick smiled and leaned me back against the couch.]

Rick Young:"You've been thinking alot about kids lately...haven't you?"

Brandi James:"Have I? I didn't notice."

[ What a lie! It's nearly all I've been talking about ever since Jalie talked me out of having an abortion, and now I was just about seven weeks pregnant. I needed to know though how Rick felt about kids. How he felt about a future with me. Slowly all my questions were being answered.]

Rick Young:"Well you have..."

Brandi James:"Oh...I'm sorry baby."

Rick Young:"No need for that. It's nice to know that you have a some what soft side for me."

[ He passionately kissed me, and layed me down. No need to search for the perfect moment to tell Rick about me being pregnant. This felt really right.]

Brandi James:"Rick...I have something I need to tell you."

Rick Young:"Is it good or bad?"

Brandi James:"I guess you won't know till you let me tell you."

Rick Young:"Alright....so what is it?"

[ Just as I was about to tell Rick the news his cell phone went off. He looked at it and saw it was Mike. ]

Rick Young:"It's Mike, baby..."

Brandi James:"Can it wait?"

Rick Young:"Mike's worse then a woman. If I don't pick it up he'll keeping calling like a lunatic."

[ I pushed myself up from laying down a bit, and motioned for him to answer the phone. Rick picked it up to answer it.]

Rick Young:"What is it Mike? Don't you know that I'm trying to help Brandi decorate our christmas tree......You're where? What the hell? Now why the fuck did you go do something like that? Fine I'll come get you. I swear you're worse than a damn girl....It only takes about 20 minutest to get to the airport...See ya then."

[ Rick gritted his teeth and looked at me.]

Brandi James:"Everthing ok?"

Rick Young:"Yeah...Mikes took a flight to Miami to spend some time with me. He feels that if we're going to go against Jalie and Carson that we should be on the same page. So he thinks we should try to patch up a few differnce and spend time together. See I told you that he's like a chick."

[ Rick did have a point. Mike did have his moments were he was very feminine. Rick stretched then stood up. He took out the keys to his truck then looked back at me.]

Rick Young:"Oh, I'm sorry baby. What was it that you wanted to tell me?"

[ Note to self...Remind me to kick Mike in the ass when he gets here for destroying a completely perfect moment. I could have done the girl thing and pouted and cried. Rick probably would have called Mike and demanded he took a cab here but I didn't. Instead I shook my head and stood up and took another set of lights out.]

Brandi James:"Nothing that can't wait Rick...You get Mike. I'll finish putting the lights on the tree and then we can hang our ornaments on after. I'll cook lasgna for dinner since Mike loves it so much."

[ Rick smiles and hugged me.]

Rick Young:"Thanks for understanding baby..I love you."

Brandi James:"Love you too...Now hurry who knows what kind of trouble he'll get into by himself. You know how unstable he's been lately."

Rick Young:"So true...Alright I'll be home in about an hour."

Brandi James:"Good enough...."

[ And with he was gone to pick up Mike, and so wasn't my most oppertune moment. Hopefully there will be more of them. I mean I just don't want to blurt out "Rick I'm pregnant". Hell even if I have to create the perfect I will. Who knows how much longer I have before I begin to show. The time is slipping away quickly and I must tell him soon I thought. For now I'll just enjoy the silence before Mike comes. Who knows how many fights the two of them will have when Mike begins to take shots at Rick about Thersea and what not. Atleast for now nothing can or will spoil my time alone as I decorate my tree.]