A month later...

25th of December, 1965

As a month passed as swiftly as the wind, the Christmas day arrived at last. Since the beginning of December, the days were snowy, freezing but embracing the astrological winter with a warm welcome, smiles. Howsoever, they were magnificent, memorable days with its winter vibes.

It was eventually marked more than a year anniversary since Jude and Timothy left the snake pit, Briarcliff, though the immense risk. In the contrary, the former priest who resigned from the church, he proceed in stealthily, daredevil way. Even without being caught by Dr.Arden, nor anyone else who was taking a higher position in the institution. No one was aware of their abscene.

The day before, the couple spent the entire day in the grocery store for ingredients as there were huge queues. They spent 2 hours waiting like rabid dogs, thereafter returning back at home with their children who were always under their eyes since they were nearly 3 months old, marking almost 30 days of their habitation in this world, besides Howards family, welcoming 2 new family members which cannot be replaced with anyone else.

2 more months until the couple marks formally their first wedding anniversary.

Moreover Judy and Timothy spent more time with preparing the Christmas meals and baking rather than with their children, unfortunately. They realised how much time they actually had until Christmas. It wasn't just a day. It was hours. Literally hours.

After a couple of hours of cooking and baking, they served each dish and glass, including silverwaves on the dining table with its blanketing cotton tartan cover over the table. They spent some time with their children even taking care of them, besides celebrating. As an addition, they decorated along the Christmas tree in the first days of December. There were some presents beneath the Christmas tree, located in the living room.

As Timothy woke up first in 6 o'clock on Christmas morning as he wore his cotton pajamas, whilst his wife, Judy was still sleeping as her snoring floated in the entire room as the curtains were opened, penetrating light as illuminating the entire room as Ellie and Tristan were sleeping peacefully, meekly like lambs. Once he glanced at the clock, noting what time it was, he rocked lightly his wife's shoulder as she wore one of his pajamas in the bed. As a result of rocking her shoulder, she opened her eyes as she rubbed them with her petite, brittle fists, a yawn escaping her mouth. Her lips trembled like a thrown rock in a limpid lake.

"Good morning, sweetheart!" The blonde exclaimed as her savage golden hair ruffled all over her blanket, offering a smile as she smiled sacredly.

"Good morning, rare bird!" His lips pressed hers as he held the back of her head, his fingers playing with her soft hair. "Merry Christmas!" He continued with rather beatific voice.

"Merry Christmas to you too, Tim!" She responded simply. "Aren't you excited for today, are you?" The former nun inquired with infant-like, sweet smile. As her smile grew rapidly once she saw her husband's smile shone on his face, in the interim liting her face.

"Of course, I am. Can't you see it?" He responded her enquiry with a giggle as their laziness had already corrupted their bodies, betraying them. Nevertheless the couple had more opportunities to stay in the bed yet, cuddling, talking, kissing and so forth.

"It's indeed visible." She mocked him as they chuckled silently to one another as his elation was pretty obvious. "How about me?"

"You are either too." He said honestly with a gleaming smile across his lips, playing with her hair as she enjoyed it so much.

"I can't wait to check what's under the Christmas tree."

"Either too." Mr.Howard exhaled. "Why don't we do it right now?" He questioned quizically.

"Can't we just say in the bed for a while?" She pleaded with tranquil, mildly tempting voice as she held his arm with her both hands, not letting him to get from the bed without her.

"Sure." He replied her as they continued to spend more time in the bed, cuddling, kissing, talking and caressing each other as it felt like centuries had passed since their habitation in the bed sheets.

All of a sudden, they fell asleep again as their eyes closed abruptly, their warm bodies pressed against one another, sensing the electro shocking sensation that sent them directly on the 7th sky.

Sometime later...

As the whole family was in the living room after breakfast. Rather excited to see what's under the Christmas tree, their patience's walls were already damaged, destroying slowly.

As Jude held Tristan whilst Timothy's arm was occupied to hold Ellie, the both proud parents of twins crouched down as they started traditionally to open every present. Just like their last Christmas. On turns.

It was Jude's turn to umwrap, discovering what's behind the box that contained her gift. Once she did it, she was in awe, whilst holding by its satin spaghetti straps as she studied the present she got. Her eyes widened momentarily as her mouth was widely opened, unable to pronounce individually vowels. What she got for Christmas was actually another slip as this one was more amorous than her mere red one with which she presumed to be noted by the Monsignor during her nunnery. The slip was in scarlet red, besides thr fabric was satin. It quite reminded her of her old one.

"Wow! That's just splendid." She wowed like a little child who had just received their Christmas present. Beyond their excitement. Then she looked up at her husband with a broad, sunny smile. "I love it a lot, honey!" She continued as he chuckled due to her ecstasy as Mrs. Howard joined him, chuckling together. Furthermore, he couldn't be more than happy for his wife and for noticing immediately her primary reaction.

"You know what's my secret so that cheer you up, right, rare bird?" He winked at her playfully as they smiled to one another as they didn't stop giggling once again.

"I definitely do know. This secret of yours isn't actually a secret anymore." She mocked him as her voice sounded ironical.

He just smiled to her, satisfied to behold her euphoric face as she bited her bottom lip nervously.

"Your turn, Tim!"

As the former priest started unwrapping the bigger box with his present, he was in awe jjst like his wife. His glee was deliriously visible as he took in his only available hand a classy crimson red tie, which would perfectly suit his suits as well. Afterwards he looked up at his beautiful wife as he offered her possibly one of the most charming smile.

"It's so beautiful, sweetie." He exclaimed blissfully as he scrutinized the crimson tie as the tiny thing abided in his palm. 

"It would look fantastic with your costumes." Hence, titter escaped their mouths. "Don't you think?"

"I do." He confirmed otherwise. 

Then they unwrapped the another presents which were their children's as they were Barbie dolls for Ellie. Whilst Tristan got a toy truck. Once they were done with unwrapping the Christmas presents, Jude and Timothy rose up as they watched the spectacular, aesthetically embellished Christmas tree with variety of toys in front of their eyes. 

As the couple commenced discussing about Santa Claus as Mr.Howard rose the topic whilst holding each twin per a parent in their arms as he questioned each child, Jude didn't seem to be far cheerful when she was reminded of Santa Claus. 

"And so children, do you believe in Santa Claus?" He asked joyfully the both twins as he pinched lightly every twin's nose as they wrinkled their tiny noses, whilst Jude didn't seem radiant at all. She was rather disgusted to hear about this old man in whom the majority of the children believed he actually existed.

In the meantime, Ellie and Tristan babbled as they meant lucid, loud "Yes!" unlike Mrs.Howard who lowered her head as a handful of tears welled her gorgeous, light complexion, looking desperately at her son, Tristan who was babbling euphorically. Suddenly Mr.Howard can note his wife's current condition due to her lowered head, signaling him that the things weren't alright at all, placing a hand on her shoulder. She didn't cock her head, despite the pleasant sensation of warmness had just passed through her body like an electro shook. 

"Anything wrong, rare bird?" He pursued for her eyes but initially he prefered to wait for her to raise her head, besides her response. He smelled anything behind her misfortune, probably shame. 

No answer was heard. No answer was returned. It was just like an idle question or perhaps the blonde was too ashamed to say why "Santa Claus" was the main reason of her remorse that she felt almost powerless to share it directly. 

"Rare bird? Is it something that had to do with that weird rapist Leigh Emerson?" Eventually he realised the essential reason why she was so quiet, arcane as well.

Afterward she cocked her head as their eyes met, noticing her puffy, mildly reddish eyes at last as he wiped every welling tear from her enchanting hazel eyes as he left Ellie on the couch for a while so that to embrace firmer, warmer his wife, as she murmured as an answer to his question with a mere "Yes!". Tristan felt the warmth of their parents hug, whilst Ellie stared uncertainly at her parents especially her upset mother as she was wondering what was going on. Why she was like that? Although she was lacking of knowledge about her biography and what she had been through, besides one of her nightmares that happened the early days of December the last year. Especially with that murderer and rapist Leigh Emerson, who had done malicious, unhallowed things such as attempting to rape her mother, opting to kill her father after being christened as he purified himself from his wrongdoings. 

After they managed to break the hug off, they sat on the sofa as Timothy took Ellie into his arms back as he wrapped one of his arms around his wife's shoulders, throughout to comfort her as he had weight on his shoulders. Just like her too. He tucked her hair behind her small ear as his courage prevailed to share his story.

"Honey, do you know that you aren't alone?" 

"What?" Firstly she was so confused, scarcely having an idea for what he is talking about as her sobs stopped abruptly. "I know that you are always by my side." She carried on as her absent-mind dominated over her concetration.

"Not only that." He paused as he exhaled and inhaled sharply. "I was attacked by him too. Mr. Emerson himself."

Jude was quite astonished to hear that she wasn't alone as it joints a word about Leigh Emerson and the people he attacked in this institution when they were working along yet. She hadn't heard from her husband to raise the topic about this murderer, who was sent in the solitary, thanks to the former nun. She expected more answers to her inward question what this imbecile had done to the man of her dreams and her life as she restrained herself from asking, awaiting for his first and last word.

"After my mistake by stripping you off your position due to my stuborness, besides being blinded and dazzed by those monsters Dr.Arden and the possessed Sister Mary Eunice, when I was about to baptize Lee, then he attempted to drown me." The former priest continued with his monologue as Jude's tears didn't stop welling since she heard from her loving, sincere husband to being attacked by the criminal, who was disguised as Santa Claus himself. 

"Despite your wrongdoings either too, you don't deserve it. But gladly you realised who is actually this person that tried to kill you with his bare hands." Her sobs can be alternatively heard as Timothy shushed to her, comforting her as he pulled her closer to him, resting her head on his broad shoulder. 

"It's okay, darling." He planted a kiss on her forehead, factly to soothe her as she felt somewhat much better though she cannot forgive even more to Leigh for not only for hurting 2 people who she admires, respects and loves so much but in different ways loving them: Frank and Timothy. Including herself. 

"You were actually right about him. He is such atrocious and abominable person, besides a rapist and offender."

After the comfort, they spent the rest of their Christmas day at home as they didn't miss their chance to attend the church too, besides receiving phone calls from their friends Mother Superior Claudia, Grace and Kit, wishing one another "Merry Christmas!". 

To be continued...