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Sheriff Valenti says, "I’m very concerned that you’re starting to make sense to me."

Tess enters and sits right in front of the television. Seemingly intrigued by Christmas, she fishes to find out what the Valentis do. Unfortunately for her, their plastic tree remains in the garage -- a place for Kyle to hang socks -- and they habitually have Christmas dinner at the Crashdown.

I want to be a dentist

Isabel watches while Michael finds the "perfect gift" for Maria: an electric toothbrush. It’s even within the agreed-upon price range.

This mortifies Isabel. Michael would be in serious trouble were he to give that as a present. Instead, he should go home and think about Maria.

Her work done, Isabel must continue spreading holiday cheer elsewhere.

Carolers -- including Maria -- sing outside John’s house while Max looks on. John’s ghost questions why Max is there and, again, why Max did not save him as he saved Liz Parker.

Max wants to be sure that John's family is OK, but the deceased says this will never be. Dejected, Max wanders to the Crashdown, where Liz is working after hours.

The carolers now head to the house of a 5-year-old girl with cancer, who comes to the door and then calls her father -- much to Maria’s surprise, it’s Brody.

Back at the Evans house, Max explains that he didn’t save John because everyone was watching. Liz is justifiably concerned at the threat of exposure.

But the ghost does not let this easy explanation slide. Max reveals that he was actually afraid that exposure would earn him another round of torture in the White Room.

John begins to sing "Amazing Grace" while walking the edge of the balcony. Max tells Liz about the haunting.

The ghost tells Max he needs "to restore the balance."

Neither holly nor jolly

Maria visits Brody at home. His daughter Sydney is staying a few days for the holiday. She has inoperable bone marrow cancer, making it hard for him to talk about her.

When Maria says she wants to help, Brody says her singing already helped. Sydney comes looking for her father. She needs a hand putting on the crown for her Christmas pageant costume.

Isabel arrives at Michael’s apartment, stack of presents in hand. Michael has found the perfect gift: a new bumper for Maria’s Jetta. Isabel is dumbfounded that her advice led him to this.

She will take him shopping, canceling holiday appearances if necessary. He maintains that this is not necessary.

Isabel screams, "Is it too much to ask that one day a year I can be like a normal human being with a normal life and have a merry Christmas?"

The two exchange cool stares. She leaves, abandoning her presents there.

~

Sorta like figgy pudding

At the supermarket, Sheriff Valenti tosses Kyle several Meaty Man turkey dinners in case the game runs late. Amy DeLuca bumps into them, introduces herself to Tess, and promptly gushes over the Valentis opening their home to someone, making her feel special.

While the guys look sheepish, Tess seizes the opportunity to grab some ornaments.

Amy extends an open invitation to the sheriff to come over for Christmas. There are always pies around.

Tidings of comfort and joy

As Isabel prepares the children for the Christmas pageant, Maria tells Liz about what she saw at Brody’s house. Bizarrely, Maria says she’ll make a good mother to Sydney.

Liz, flabbergasted, provides a firm reality check. But Maria insists that Christmas stories have happy endings.

In yet another ominous turn, Liz gets an idea.

The whole town has come out for the pageant. Isabel introduces the children as "the cutest darned kids in America."

Liz sneaks up on Max, who is watching the children, especially Sydney. He glances at Brody, and then we see John behind Max.

The ghost says, "Looks like we have a plan."

No place like home for the holidays

Max tells Isabel, Tess, and Michael about his plan, asking their input. Michael reminds Max that the healing will leave a silver handprint -- but luckily Nasedo destroyed all records of similar marks.

Isabel approves, arguing that all they've endured this past year has taken a toll on their human sides. Likewise, if Max thinks it’s a good idea, it's good enough for Tess.

Michael remains a holdout. Max should not risk their lives solely to make himself feel better for the holidays.

Later, Tess is in the last stages of preparing a holiday meal at the Valenti house. She needs two extra dining room chairs, but there are none. Most nights, the Valentis simply eat in front of the television.

Where will Amy DeLuca sit? Sheriff Valenti is shocked. Who said anything about inviting Amy? Tess did. The doorbell rings.

Amy DeLuca is there.

Valenti jumps around, trying to straighten his clothes and clean up the mess in front of the TV.

Amy loved "Valenti’s" note. He looks back at a conspiratorial Tess.

Down the chimney he came

Meanwhile, Max lets himself into Brody’s house, only to find John sitting in a chair. It’s too late. Sydney has had a relapse and is in the hospital.

Max goes to Michael, who grabs his coat and insists on accompanying his friend to the hospital in Phoenix. Someone has to prevent Max from getting them all killed.

Dinner is in full swing at Casa Valenti. The sheriff and Amy trade stories about early times together, giggling the entire time.

Kyle is impressed that Tess has made his favorite: three-cheese potato gratin (with bacon on the bottom). He follows her into the kitchen and offers to carve the turkey. She does so with her powers.

Staring at her, Kyle says how great this dinner is. The best. It’s a great gift that Tess has given to his father. Well, to both of them. She thanks Kyle for welcoming her into their home.

What child is this?

Michael and Max, dressed in scrubs, infiltrate the hospital. Michael will keep watch outside, knocking if there is trouble.

Max approaches Sydney’s bed. She wakes and looks at him. Max tells her, "I’m just a dream. Go back to sleep." She does.

Slowly, Max holds his hands over her small body. His hands come to rest on her, and he begins to sweat. We see flashes of a younger Sydney with Brody and then flashes of her as an infant.

Done, Max clutches his side as John looms from behind. Max sees a boy across the ward.

Outside, a nurse notices Michael. She tells him that she needs to check on the children in the ward, but Michael claims that everything is done.

Max heals the boy as John continues to watch. Flashes. He moves to another child, who looks up and asks if he is an angel.

Unfortunately, all this healing takes its toll on Max, constricting his vision and causing apparent pain.

The nurse returns, accompanied by guards. Michael knocks, enters the ward and seals the lock with his powers, then looks heavenward for help.

Bearing gifts we traverse afar

The guards force their way into the children’s ward, only to find the patients -- miraculously healthy -- laughing and playing.

Back in Roswell, the Evanses watch the parents describe the cure as "miraculous" on TV. Mrs. Evans agrees -- that silver handprint was the Hand of God.

Isabel touches her brother’s shoulder, aware of what he must be thinking.

Maria surprises Michael while he is busy polishing the new bumper. While he hastily covers the gift, she thanks him for helping Max in Phoenix. That experience puts things into perspective for her.

Michael says he has a gift for her. She uncovers the bumper and is impressed. He kisses her.

Then she wants to know where her present is. Seeing the stack of presents Isabel left behind, she asks if one is for her. Reluctantly, Michael says yes.

He goes to the pile and finds one to the side. Its label reads, "Michael, Just in case, Love, The Christmas Nazi."

Isabel has saved him.

Michael brings it to Maria: pearl earrings. She is visibly impressed.

What if God were one of us?

Max visits Liz at home to thank her for telling him about Sydney and to report that John has stopped haunting him. He explains that he kept healing the other children because he realized he couldn’t help but do so.

Liz says he can’t continue. He's not God. She asks if he would like to come to the Christmas service, though, but he declines, since he doesn't believe in God.

Outside, Max reassures John that he will be there for the ghost's family when they need it.

John says that he knows, but he will be there too. He enters his house, leaving Max alone..

O night divine

Max finds Michael preparing to go to the service -- since he has had two prayers answered in recent days, he says, he supposes he should hedge his bets.

He regrets that does not have the power of healing himself. For now, though, Michael has a gift for Max.

The two go to Brody’s window to see him contentedly holding his daughter, who is falling asleep in his arms.

The Christmas service is held outdoors by candlelight. While a choir sings, we pan across the crowd. Maria and Michael sit together, as Isabel, with a smile,. looks on and reminds Michael what she has done. Kyle, Tess and Valenti form a unit, with the sheriff catching Amy DeLuca’s eye.

Max enters and approaches his family. He kisses his mother and then sits between Isabel and Liz.

Liz wants to know why he is there since he does not believe in God. He tells her, "I believe in you."

It begins to snow.