Dan eased his car into the parking space at the mall. His mind was on anything but the coming holiday. He wasn't even concerned with any of the cases the Sleepyside Police Department was dealing with.

Today, he had received a cryptic call from his best friend's wife, begging him to meet her at the mall. He didn't have any pressing matters and arranged to leave work early. He'd headed for the mall immediately upon leaving the station.

Dan got out of his car and began to walk toward the entrance. He could see a dark haired figure peering out the doors every time they opened. She hadn't seen him yet, and when the doors closed after another customer's entry, she began to pace in a small circle.

Dan grinned when she looked up and made eye contact with him.

He felt the warmth of the mall hitting him in the face upon his entrance.

"Di, hi, what's so urgent?"

Diana Belden rushed to his side and hugged him. "Dan! Thank you so much for meeting me! I really need your help!"

Di instantly tugged on his arm, pulling him further into the mall.  "Did I say I really need your help?!"

Dan put his heels down, slowing the progress she'd made.

"Whoa! What is this? What has you all riled?"

Diana fidgeted in a move that mirrored their friend Trixie. "Dan! I just need your help! I am trying to find the most perfect gift for Mart!"

In spite of the desperation on his dark-haired friend's face, Dan laughed. "I have gotten the impression you need my help. But Di, you know anything you get him will be perfect. He loves you, and the gift is going to mean a lot to him because it came from you!"

She shook her head, "No, this is our first Christmas as husband and wife. It has to be special. I was hoping to be inspired by what would be perfect, but Christmas is three days away, and I really am at a loss. Please, can you help me?"

Dan wasn't immune to the imploring look on the pretty woman's face. With a sigh, he held out his hand and allowed her to lead him on.

She led him into an outdoors/sporting goods store.  She chattered on as she led him up and down the aisles.

"So, I was thinking that as much as Mart enjoys doing things outdoors, he'd really like something from this store. What do you think? Is a tent or some other piece of camping equipment personal enough? Or should I get something more romantic? Is our first Christmas worthy of a romantic gift or should I be practical and get him something he needs?"

Dan stared at the woman before him, blinking and mentally shaking himself when he realized she'd stopped speaking.

"Okay, that sounds good."

"What sounds good? A romantic gift or a practical one?" Di frowned in confusion.

Dan backtracked to what she'd said. "I think you should go with what you want to go with. If you find something you think is perfect, and it's practical, then get it."

Diana concentrated on the shelves of the store, trying to eyeball the 'perfect' gift. She moved over and then proceeded to walk fully down the aisle. Dan followed for the lack of anything else to do.

Up and down each aisle they went. Di would stop briefly to look closer at something, sometimes even taking it from the shelf to inspect it. But, she always put the items back.

With a sigh, she led the way out of the store and around the corner to the electronics store. More of the same ensued. Dan threw out suggestions of movies, CD's, cameras and other equipment. Nothing seemed right to her, and she led them to the next store. It was a jewelry store. Dan inwardly cringed.

Diana looked into the display case, starting with rings, and then moved to watches. It took everything Dan had not to yawn in boredom. He hoped she'd just find something already.

Di turned around to once again ask Dan for suggestions. He was standing there next to her, but he was looking like he was actually very far away. His head was tilted back and he seemed to be studying the ceiling.

"Dan, I really appreciate your help today. I did see a lot of things that just weren't 'it'."

"Di, I haven't been any help, really."

"You were, in a way. Thank you for your company today. I think I can handle it myself now."

Dan realized he was being dismissed, and knew she wasn't closer to solving her problem.

Glancing at his watch, he saw it was just coming up on two o'clock. In his rush to clear his desk and get to the mall, he'd skipped lunch. His stomach growled now that the thought had formed.

"Di, let's go get burgers at Wimpy's. Maybe a full stomach will help us brainstorm."

She shrugged and agreed. They left the mall, each getting into their own vehicles. The drive over to the diner was short. Entering, Mike waved from behind the counter. Di went to their usual booth, and Dan went to the counter to place their usual order.

Di called to him before he could speak to Mike.

"Dan, make mine a plain hamburger."

Dan turned and raised a brow in surprise. "No cheese? No lettuce or tomato?"

Diana shivered slightly and shook her head. Dan turned back to Mike and ordered their food.

He returned to her side and sat across from her in the booth.

Di had her head down, as if she were looking intently at a spot on the table. Dan studied the top of her head for a moment, thinking he knew what was wrong.

"Di, you had some great ideas today. I think Mart would love any of the gifts we looked at. But, the gift is going to be really loved simply because it came from you."

She didn't answer him and continued to stare at the table top.

"Diana Belden, I really meant that!" He was stunned that she seemed to be upset over not finding what she considered the 'perfect' gift.

Diana managed a brief nod; any further conversation was cut off because Mike came over with a tray laden with two huge burgers, heaping baskets of French fries, a bowl of pickles, ketchup, mustard, and two chocolate shakes.

Dan grinned at the feast before him and his stomach growled appreciatively.

"Thank you, Mike! Skipping lunch has never been rewarded so perfectly!"

Mike grinned and wished them 'happy eating'. He told them to give him a wave if anything else was needed, and left them to enjoy their food.

Dan wasted no time pouring ketchup over his fries and burger. He picked up the big, juicy burger, and bit into it. He moaned in happiness and sipped his shake to wash that bite down before he realized Di still hadn't stopped looking at the table, nor had she begun eating.

Swallowing the final bit in his mouth, he frowned. "Di, really, is something else wrong?"

Di slowly looked up, but her eyes settled on the greasy burger and French fries dripping in ketchup. Dan hadn't thought it was possible for a person to turn green, but she did. She bolted from the table and ran to the ladies room.

Mike saw her action and quickly moved to Dan's side. "Is everything okay?"

Dan still stared after the retreating figure, now inside the restroom. "I wish I knew. She never even took a bite of her food."

Mike also looked toward the restroom door, "Maybe she's got some flu virus."

"Maybe," Dan wasn't so sure that was the problem. He was more afraid she'd worked herself up worrying over Mart's gift and actually made herself sick. "Can you box this up for her? I doubt she'll be eating anything today."

Mike nodded, and took the plate and basket away to box the lunch.

Meanwhile, inside the ladies room, Di was splashing cold water on her face.  Yanking several towels from the dispenser, she blotted her face dry again.

 Standing straight once more, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was pale, and there were dark circles under her eyes.

"What is wrong with me? I'll feel fine, then all of a sudden, I'll feel so sick and I end up vomiting. I've been feeling this way since..."

Diana cut off then, doing a mental calculation in her head. She back tracked suddenly, thinking she was wrong. Again, the figures came out the same. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Tossing the towels into the trash, she went back out into the diner. The smells were still as strong as before, yet, now she didn't feel quite so bad.

She found Dan still seated at their table. There were two large to go boxes next to him. She felt certain they contained her lunch and the remains of his.

"Dan, I'm really sorry about that. That was so embarrassing."

Dan shook his head and dismissed her apology. "Are you okay? Don't let this gift shopping thing get to you."

It was Diana's turn to shake her head. "It's not. In fact, I think I know exactly what I'm getting him for Christmas."

"Wow! That was easy. We shopped for two hours and you weren't sure what you were getting him."

"Well, it just came to me. If you don't mind, I'm going to leave now. I have an errand to run before heading home."

Dan held her box of food out to her. "Do you want your lunch? If you don't feel up to eating it, I'm sure Mart will," he smirked.

"Thanks for everything! You're a prince!"

She planted a kiss on his cheek, and left the diner.

Dan stared after her again, and Mike came to his side undetected. He asked incredulously, "Did she just say you were a prince?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Well, I don't have to call you 'Your Highness', do I?"

Dan looked at his friend then, and grinned, "Nah! I let my friends call me 'Sir'."

Mike roared in laughter and slapped Dan on the shoulder. Shaking his head he went back to his post behind the counter. Dan stood and tugged his jacket back on and waved to Mike as he left.

"Merry Christmas!"

"Happy holidays!"

Dan left the diner wondering what was wrong with his friend. He hoped she wasn't coming down with something before the holiday.  He drove back to the cabin and stoked the fire. Then settled before it, to eat what was left of his lukewarm lunch.

Di made a quick stop before heading home to start Mart's dinner.  She hadn't eaten since breakfast and was actually feeling a little better now. Maybe she could eat her dinner too, without feeling sick later.

The next two days were filled with the last minute holiday preparations. Di did some last minute checking to make sure that Mart's gift actually worked. Her stomach was still a little queasy, but she got through the final set of things she had to do. She wrapped his gift, hoping he'd love it. They'd decided to exchange their gifts before joining the Belden family on Christmas Eve.

All of that afternoon, she was nervously anticipating his reaction to his gift. Mart made a grand show of placing her gift under their tree. It was a small box, and the box she placed under it with his gift inside, was only slightly larger.

They had both showered and changed before sitting down in front of their brightly lit tree.

"Sweetheart, I wasn't sure what to get you. I saw this one day, and I hope you like it," Mart presented her with the box.

Diana smiled sweetly and repeated the words Dan had told her numerous times, "I will LOVE it, Mart. It came from you, and that's perfect!"

Pulling the paper off, she eased the box open. Inside was a gold bracelet with a tiny charm attached. The charm was a Christmas tree with the year engraved.

Mart watched her reaction anxiously, and then reached for the bracelet. He opened the clasp and she held out her wrist for him to put it on.

"I thought I'd get you a charm bracelet and then we could add charms for every special occasion in our lives. I got the tree for this year, our first Christmas as a married couple."

Diana's eyes shone with unshed tears. "It's perfect! I love it!"  She hugged him tightly before releasing him to reach for his gift. "Now, Mart, you had a hand in your gift this year. I hope you like it as much as I do."

His curiosity was now piqued, and he opened the package.  The box was a little thicker than his to her had been and was just a little longer. He glanced her way before opening the box to reveal his gift.

Mart glanced again to his wife, then to the present. Diana watched her husband, waiting for a reaction. She was disappointed when he frowned. She bit her lip to keep it from trembling.

"It's wonderful, Diana. Um, is it what I think it is?" He looked into her eyes, his blond eyebrows raised in expectation.

Di didn't trust her voice, and nodded mutely.

"Well, it sure is pretty." Mart eased the gift from its package, holding it up look at it closer. Its silver was shiny and new. Turning it in his fingertips, he stopped when he turned it to the other side and saw the name 'Belden' engraved on it.

"My very own, um... toy. It's great honey, thank you."

Diana was stunned. She thought for sure he'd get the meaning of the toy. He seemed oblivious. She took a deep breath and spoke, "Mart, do you know why I got the toy for you?"

"You think I'm childish at times?" Mart guessed. When she frowned and looked to the floor, he felt ashamed. "It's okay, I really love it!"

Di shook her head and met his gaze. "The gift wasn't really meant for you. It is meant to be shared with someone else when the time is right."

Mart nodded as if he understood when he really hadn't. Di saw through his confusion.

"Mart, I know we weren't planning this yet, but I hope you aren't disappointed."

When Mart did nothing but stare at her, seemingly waiting for more of an explanation from her, she continued. "Mart, I took the test two days ago, and again yesterday because I wasn't sure I could trust the result. I'm, we're, pregnant."

There was a split second of dawning realization, and then he whooped for joy and jumped to his feet, pulling her up with him. He spun her in a circle, laughing the entire time. When he finally stopped the twirling, he set her back on her feet. His hands gently encircled her waist and he looked down at her adoringly.

"We're having a baby?"

"Yes, is that okay?"

"It's better than okay! I love you so much!" He pulled her close and kissed her lips sweetly.

Finally pulling back from each other, she smiled up at her husband, "I was so afraid you wouldn't be excited about the baby. We hadn't planned for this to happen so soon."

Mart ran a finger down her cheek, "Sweetheart, this was the most perfect gift I could ever receive! Thank you!"