DECEMBER

As if the weather knew the season had changed, the first snowfall of the season came on December 2nd. And with the first snowfall, Barry and Kara (or the cheery twins, as Leonard called them) decorated the suite and set aside time to drag Leonard and Sara out to find a tree.

Sara usually loved this time of year, and while this year wasn't any different, she really felt she had to tone down her enthusiasm. Living with Barry and Kara was like living in the land of Christmas itself. It was like they were always happy about something, and while Sara believed in happiness and true love, she also needed quiet alone moments.

"So, apparently, we are buying a tree tomorrow." Leonard said as he sat down on the couch next to her and handed her a glass of wine.

Sara accepted the drink and took a sip. "Guess so," she replied with a sigh, rubbing her hand across her forehead.

Leonard took a drink of the beer in his hand and watched Sara carefully. "I figured someone going into event planning and the lover of all things weddings, and love, and happiness would love this time of year."

"Don't get me wrong, I do. I really do. But someone in this apartment has to look out for you," she said with a grin. "I can't imagine how you would cope if I acted exactly the same as those two."

Sara nodded in the direction of the kitchen, where Barry and Kara were trying to make eggnog and all but giggling together.

Leonard looked over at the kitchen and shook his head. Love was a stupid thing, that was for sure, he thought. "So, movie?" he asked.

"We never agree on a movie, Snart, you know that."

"You know what, I'll let you choose tonight, Lance. You know, for not being Christmas crazy like the cheer twins."

Sara grinned at him and pulled out the second Transformers movie, her way of showing him she wasn't completely insensitive.

The four of them decided not to go home for the winter break. Both Kara and Sara's parents had taken off on a couple's cruise somewhere sunny, so rather than go home to their sister's, they figured why not spend Christmas just the two of them.

When Barry found this out, he decided for not only himself, but for Leonard also, that the two of them would stay out, too.

Leonard didn't really care that much. He had never been big into Christmas, and if he was being honest, his best Christmases has been spent with Barry and his family. If Barry was staying, he might as well stay, too.

"Careful!" Sara exclaimed as Leonard pulled the tree off the roof of her car.

"I'm being as careful as I can for not having any kind of help," Leonard shot back, annoyed that Barry and Kara had ditched them to go for coffee after choosing the tree.

"I'm sorry, here," Sara said, grabbing the bottom to help Leonard carry it.

She locked her car, and the two of them got the tree inside the suite and into the waiting tree stand that Kara had set up earlier. Once the tree was in place by the window, Sara watched as Leonard went and collapsed onto the couch. She shook her head.

"How long do you think we have until Barry and Kara are back?" Leonard asked.

Sara shrugged at him as she made her way over to the couch and sat on the other end, stretching her legs out onto Leonard's lap. "Who knows. They both tend to get distracted by shiny things, so it could be a while."

"We could decorate the tree," Leonard suggested.

"Would it really be worth it to do that without them?" Sara asked with a yawn.

"Probably not."

As Leonard flicked on the TV, Sara leaned her head back against the couch and closed her eyes. Even with them closed, she could tell Leonard couldn't figure out what to watch. The program kept changing, and she felt it distracting her tired brain.

"Just pick something," she said.

"You're not even watching, so what does it matter?"

"I can still hear it, and you being indecisive is annoying," she all but pouted with her eyes still closed.

At some point Sara must have fallen asleep, because the next thing she knew, she was being woken by Barry and Kara arriving home. She looked over at Leonard, who was still on the other end of the couch, and he smirked at her.

"You talk in your sleep, did you know that?" he asked.

"I do not!" Sara exclaimed, nudging him with her foot.

"You do. I should have recorded you, because it was hilarious."

"I hate you," she said glaring at him.

"See, but I know that's not true," Leonard said still smirking.

"Oh my gosh, you're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Sara removed her legs from his lap and sat up, looking across to the kitchen where Barry and Kara were in their own world.

"I mean, you're the one who said my name while you were sleeping."

"I was probably trying to murder you," Sara said, sticking her tongue out at him and then walking over to the kitchen.

"I'll have a beer while you're over there, Sara," Leonard called behind her.

Kara sat in one of the overstuffed armchairs, watching the lights flashing on the tree, her unfinished book on her lap and an untouched green tea on the table beside her. The suite was quiet with all her roommates out for the evening, but she didn't mind. She liked the peace that came with evenings like these.

Her phone rang, and she answered it, suprised to hear Nora Allen's voice on the other end of the line.

"Sorry Nora, Barry isn't home right now, but I know he left his phone here this afternoon," Kara said politely.

"That's fine, better even," Nora said. "Barry told us that him and Leonard were going to stay there with you and Sara for Christmas, but Henry and I thought we'd come up and surprise them. Would that be alright with you and Sara?"

"That's fine with me. I'm sure Sara will be okay with it, too. She is pretty easy going. I'll speak to her tonight and let you know, or I can give you her number and you can call her," Kara said.

"No need to bother her. You can just text her and let me know. And I'm happy to make Christmas dinner for everyone when I get there. I'll just bring everything with me."

"I can do that. I'll text you either tonight or tomorrow. You don't have to cook, but I know that it would be greatly appreciated," Kara told the woman.

"Lovely, and how is everything there?" Nora asked.

"Everything is good, no hospital trips or anything like that, so, this holiday season we are doing well so far," Kara said with a laugh.

"I'm glad to hear it. I should keep going. I have a couple more phone calls to make tonight for different things. I look forward to seeing you soon."

"You too, Nora. have a good rest of your evening."

After Kara hung up, she smiled at the thought of surprising the boys on Christmas morning and also the thought of her and Sara not having to cook, or the four of them just ordering pizza.

The sound of the front door broke her from her thoughts, and Leonard appeared at the end of the hall just as she was about to call out and find out who was home.

"You look like something out of one of those Christmas movies you watch, sitting there like that," Leonard said.

Kara smiled at him before picking up her tea. "Better than when you had a knife sticking out of your hand like a horror movie," she said.

"Very true," Leonard agreed from where he stood in the kitchen.

"The coffee machine is on and I made cookies, if you are interested," Kara said.

Leonard placed a pod in the machine and hit the button, making himself a drink before making his way over to the lounge area. "These cookies look amazing," he said, pointing to the plate on the coffee table as he sat down on the couch across from where Kara was sitting.

"Thanks. They're Sara's favorites, so I figured since I have the afternoon off, I'd make some."

"Any particular reason why they're her favorites?" he asked before taking a bite. "I mean other than the obvious?"

Kara placed the book beside her on the table and picked up her tea, sipping from it as she thought about how to answer.

"They were the only thing she would eat during the depression after she broke up with her ex."

"If she was the one who broke it off, why the depression?" Leonard inquired.

"Sara has been in a heap of relationships before. Wait, no that makes her sound like a slut or something, which she is not. But anyway this one was different. Sara was in love, but it wasn't a good relationship. I never really liked Nyssa. All of the others, I didn't mind: Oliver, Travis, Penny, Jason, and even that short fling her and Felicity had, which is totally funny because now Liss and Ollie are together and they're so adorable-"

"Kara!" Leonard exclaimed. "I think you're off track."

"Sorry, yes, so Nyssa and Sara dated for just over a year, and in that time, I completely lost my best friend. Nyssa was demanding and controlling, and Sara became this person I didn't even recognize. The Sara you know, strong and independant, basically she was nothing like that. Everything was about what Nyssa wanted and what Nyssa thought, so much so that Sara lost too much weight because Nyssa told her she was fat, which of course she never was. Seven months in, Sara tried to break it off, but Nyssa threatened to do all sorts of awful things if Sara left her. So during the next seven months, Sara's health just went completely downhill. It was awful, I can't even explain it. In the end, our dads stepped in and that was the end of it. Now I'm not saying they hurt Nyssa, but she's never tried to contact Sara since."

"Crap, that's really bad," Leonard said, only just being able to form words since he was fuming inside.

"It's why she doesn't date a lot and why if she does find someone she likes, I make sure that they are a decent person."

"What, do you run background checks on them?" Leonard asked with a slight laugh.

"Oh, no nothing like that, but I'm pretty sure our dads do," Kara said with a shrug. "It's just more about looking out for my best friend."

The front door opening ended their conversation just in time as Sara and Barry walked into the room.

"Is the coffee machine on?" Sara asked as she headed for the machine and let out a cheer before she pushed a pod into place and closed the lid.

"Kara made cookies, too," Leonard said, suddenly behind Sara in the kitchen with the plate from the coffee table.

Sara turned to thank Kara but found her friend and Barry had disappeared, into one of the rooms no doubt. Instead she took a cookie off the plate and smiled at Leonard.

"How was your day?" she asked, leaning back against the counter before taking a bite.

"It was okay. I didn't get in too long ago," Leonard said with shrug. "How was yours?"

"Fine. I'll be glad when these night classes are done though. The only plus is that Barry has one in the same building so at least we can go together."

Sara watched as Leonard took a cookie off the plate he had placed on the counter, and then she turned to grab the milk out of the fridge.

"These are good cookies," she heard Leonard say as she poured some milk into her coffee.

"They're my favorite cookie," Sara said turning back to face him sipping her coffee.

"So I've heard."

"Was Kara telling stories again? You can't believe everything she says."

"I don't think she would lie about this. In fact, I'm not sure Kara knows how to lie."

Sara froze for a moment. Leonard knew about her past, and there was nothing she could do to change that. She looked down at her drink and hated that tears were filling her eyes at the memories from her past. Sara shook her head and looked back at him.

"I guess you are going to look at me differently now," she said, biting her lip as hair fell down in front of her face.

Leonard reached over and tucked the hair behind her ear. "If I do, it won't be in a bad way," he said, letting his hand linger for a moment before pulling it away. "You're so much stronger than I ever knew, and I'm proud to have you as my friend, Sara. One day I'd love to hear your story, but only when you're willing to tell it."

Sara smiled at him and then sipped her coffee. She wasn't ready to tell him, not yet, but it was nice to know that he was there for her if she needed him.

"Want to watch some cheesy holiday movie?" she asked him, picking up the plate of cookies and heading for the couch.

"I guess I have nothing better to do," Leonard said, following behind her and smirking at her as they sat down and he looked up. "Mistletoe."

"What?" Sara asked, confused.

"Mistletoe," he said again, pointing up.

Sara looked up and rolled her eyes. "Kara's doing no doubt," she said, looking back at Leonard.

"It is a Christmas tradition," Leonard said.

"Kara's not here, so we're off the hook," Sara said, starting a movie.

"I think that they're in your room, so I'm going to just call it a night," Leonard said.

"What about the movie?" Sara asked.

"Another time," he replied.

"Your choice," Sara said, slightly sad that he was leaving.

Leonard got off the couch and moved toward the bedroom, but before he got there he leaned over the back of the couch and pressed his lips to Sara's cheek.

"Night, Sara," he said before heading into the bedroom he shared with Barry, leaving a very confused Sara alone on the couch.

"So he just kissed you and then went to bed?" Laurel's asked over the phone.

"On the cheek, but still, I mean when he talked about the Christmas tradition, I figured he was just talking, and now I have no idea," Sara said.

"Did you tell Kara?"

"No! You're the only person I've told."

"Have you spoken to him today?"

"No. I mean, he had an early class and I haven't seen him. I don't want to make things awkward if it was just a tradition thing for him."

"I guess. See what happens when he gets home, and if it's normal then just let it go," Laurel suggested.

"That sounds smart," Sara said.

"Of course it does, it was my idea," Laurel teased her sister. "But I have to go. My lunch break is over, and I have a huge case that I'm working on."

"No problem, Kara and Barry should be home soon anyway. Good luck with your case," Sara said with a smile.

Not five minutes after Sara hung up the phone, Kara came rushing through the door and dumped her stuff on the kitchen table.

"I beat Barry today, right?" she asked quickly.

Sara nodded. "What's going on?"

"Nora called me last night asking if we would mind her and Henry coming her for Christmas and surprising the guys. She said she'll cook and everything," Kara rushed out. "I just said I'd check with you first."

"I have no problem with it. In fact, it will be nice to spend Christmas with a family," Sara said.

"Awesome. I'll let her know, and don't forget, not a word to the guys!" Kara exclaimed.

"I'm a better secret keeper than you," Sara shot back as the front door opened.

"You two look like you're up to something," Barry said as he appeared in the room.

"Us? No, why would you think that?" Kara said with a smile. "Are you still coming Christmas shopping with me?"

Sara smiled as Kara changed the subject and Barry's face dropped.

"That's today?" he mumbled.

"Yep, I'm ready to go right now, and Sara, well, she could do with getting out since she had no classes today," Kara said, grabbing her bag and heading for the door.

Sara picked up her own bag and threw an arm around Barry's shoulder. "It's just better to follow her lead," she said as they headed out.

"'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse," Sara read from the book in her hands and then smiled at the children in front of her, quickly glancing up at Leonard across the room.

Kara had signed the four of them up to volunteer at the local hospital on Christmas Eve since none of them were going home. They were helping out with a Christmas Party on the children's ward, for those who weren't permitted to leave to see their families the next day.

Leonard was making paper chains for the tree, with a five year old boy named Daniel, who had attached himself to Leonard as soon as the party had started. Daniel, Leonard had found out, had been diagnosed with leukemia in February and had to be in the hospital over Christmas for treatment.

He looked over to where Sara was reading across the room and caught her staring back. He smiled at her before going back to his paper chains. Nothing had changed between them since he had kissed her cheek the week earlier. He wasn't sure why he had done it, or what it even meant, so he was happy that life had just gone on as normal.

Leonard looked back over to where Sara was reading the story. As a small girl climbed onto her lap, suddenly the holiday he never cared too much about became one of his favorites. After Kara telling him about Sara's past, he had to admit that he did look at her differently, but more only in that he couldn't believe how strong she was, and he never wanted anyone to make her feel that she couldn't be herself again.

Sara was up early Christmas morning, somewhat out of tradition, but by six am, she had showered, dressed, and was moving around the kitchen organizing breakfast. She was just taking a sip of her coffee and flipping a pancake when Leonard walked into the kitchen.

"It's six-thirty in the morning. What the hell are you doing awake?" he asked before taking in her appearance. "And dressed!"

"Well, it's going to be a big day," Sara said with a shrug as Leonard stole her coffee and sipped it. "And that was mine."

"A big day? Sara there are four of us, and you are making a feast here: pancakes, waffles and a fruit platter, come on," he said before continuing to drink her coffee.

"I'm also doing bacon and eggs."

"Why?" Leonard asked as the front door opened.

"I believe that is why," Sara said as Henry and Nora appeared.

Leonard looked at Sara in disbelief, and she smiled widely at him as Nora pulled him into a hug. Sara hugged Henry and then Nora, once the woman had let Leonard go. She chatted to Barry and Leonard's parents while she sent Leonard to get changed and to wake up Barry.

Henry stacked gifts under the tree as Nora helped Sara to finish breakfast. Sara had never seen Barry so excited, but when he saw his parents she could have sworn he was five years old. Leonard joined her in the kitchen as she made some coffees, and she turned and smiled at him.

"Good surprise?" she asked.

"Pretty much the best," he answered, taking one of the coffees.

"Merry Christmas, Len," Sara said with a warm smile.

"Merry Christmas, Sara," he replied before taking the tray from her and carrying it into the lounge.

The morning had been perfect. Sara and Kara were so happy with how the surprise had gone, as was Nora, who Sara just knew was so happy to have actually seen her boys for Christmas. Snow started coming down sometime after breakfast. Nora was in the kitchen, already preparing dinner. Henry was killing Barry and Kara at a game of cards, and Leonard was sitting in a chair, reading by the fire. Sara watched the snow fall outside the window and sent a quick text off to Laurel to wish her sister and Merry Christmas. She hadn't thought about it until now, but this was the first Christmas that they had ever spent apart.

Her phone buzzed a little while later, and she was graced with a photo of Laurel, Alex, Felicity and Thea smiling happily, with a caption that read, We Miss You! Sara smiled to herself and shook her head. She needed to stop feeling guilty that she didn't feel guilty about not going home. Something about staying in National City this Christmas just felt right to her and she wondered whether it was because of the guy sitting by the fire.

She moved from her spot at the window and into the kitchen to give Nora a hand with the food prep for dinner.

"So how have you been, Sara?" Nora asked.

Sara looked up at the woman from the carrots she was cutting and gave a shrug. "Okay, I guess."

"Just okay?"

"It's just been a long year, I mean with all the assignments, and work, and Kara and Barry's constant pep-no offence-and then stabbing Leonard, I just feel exhausted all the time," Sara admitted.

Nora let out a laugh and then reached out and patted Sara on the arm. "No offence taken, believe me; we know all about Barry's pep."

"I bet he was a handful as a kid," Sara said.

"You have no idea!" Nora exclaimed.

"What was Leonard like? When he came to live with you," Sara asked.

"Quiet, reserved. He never liked to let us see any part of him that he wasn't willing to share. It was the hardest thing for me."

"Why do you say that?" Sara asked.

"Because he wasn't a kid, not really. He was 16 and he basically had no idea of a family or the love a family could give him. All I wanted to do was hug him and tell him that he was safe with us and that we were his family now, but I couldn't, I had to wait for him to come to me."

"How long did that take?"

"About a year and a half. Toward the end of his junior year, he called me mom, but it wasn't a mistake, he said it like it was planned. Leonard never does anything without a plan."

Sara looked over at Leonard, who was still reading, and then looked back down at the carrots. Her mind was going at a hundred miles a minute. There was so much about him that she wish she knew, so much about herself that she wanted to share with him, but it all felt like too much.

She continued to work with Nora in the kitchen, suggesting Leonard come and help them, but his reply was something about not going anywhere near her with a knife again.

After the dinner was finished and the presents were opened, they said goodbye to Henry and Nora, and then Barry and Kara took themselves off to bed, Barry telling Leonard he was sleeping on the couch.

Sara laughed as she pulled the leftover chocolate cream pie out of the fridge and started eating it straight from the dish.

"Yeah, laugh it up," Leonard said as he grabbed a fork out of the drawer and then sat across the counter from Sara, sharing the pie with her.

"Oh I will. I'll laugh as I lay in my comfortable bed while you're on the couch," she said.

"I guess I'd do the same if the roles were reversed."

"Oh, you totally would!" Sara exclaimed.

Leonard smirked at the thought. Sara was easy to tease and annoy and he liked that about her, but he also liked how she didn't take his crap either.

"It was a good day."

"It was," Sara agreed.

"Thanks for letting Mom and Dad come up," Leonard said.

"It was no problem. I kinda love them, especially after this beautiful gift," she said, running her fingers across the sliver bracelet on her wrist.

"They kinda love you and Kara, too."

Leonard pulled a box out of his pocket and slid it across the counter to her. Sara looked at him strangely.

"What's this?" she asked.

"A Christmas gift."

"So, wait, the signed photo of you from earlier wasn't my gift?"

Leonard shook his head as he looked at her. "That is an awesome present, but I think you'll like this more."

"I don't know, my dart board is gonna love that photo of you." Sara laughed before picking up and box and opening it. Inside lay a thin silver chain with a tiny bird charm on it.

"It's a canary. The girl at the store said that it represented joy, happiness, and selflessness. It reminded me of you," Leonard said.

"Len, it's beautiful. I don't know what else to say. I mean, thank you," Sara said, looking up at him and then back at the necklace.

"You're welcome," he said before stuffing a huge piece of pie into his mouth, signalling to Sara that he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

She closed the box again, picked up her fork, and ate some more pie, licking the cream off her lip, before turning and pulling two beers out of the fridge.

"Pie, beer and a movie?" Sara asked.

"Sounds like a great end to Christmas if you ask me," Leonard replied picking up the pie and heading for the couch, with Sara following behind with the beers.

NEW YEAR'S EVE

The party was era themed; Barry and Kara had been given the '30s, and both Leonard and Sara were given the '20s. Kara had been so excited when the invitation had arrived, and she automatically got online to work out a costume. The announcement that she and Barry would be attending the party as Bonnie and Clyde sent Sara into fits of laughter at the irony. Leonard and Sara took a general approach to the costumes, him and gangster and her a flapper, simple and easy, and no stress.

They had been invited by mutual friends and knew many people at the party, but as if drawn together, Sara had gone outside for air and found Leonard alone on the terrace.

"What are you doing out here?" she asked. "It's freezing!"

"I could ask you the same thing," Leonard replied.

"I needed some air. It was a little too much in there," she said, moving over to lean against the railing next to him. "Your turn."

"The same, I guess. I'm not really a party person."

"I've noticed."

"Kara was excited, so I figured, why not?"

"She has a way with things, my best friend. It's like peer pressure, but she doesn't actually say anything," Sara said.

Leonard laughed and nodded at the blonde next to him. "Her and Barry really are perfect for each other, aren't they?"

"Like two peas in a pod, as my mother would say."

Sara smiled up at him before shivering. She was running her hands up and down her bare arms trying to warm up when she felt Leonard wrap his jacket around her shoulders.

"Won't you be cold now?" she asked.

"The cold never really bothered me," he replied.

"Thanks," Sara said.

"You're welcome. Maybe we should head back inside though. It's almost midnight, and who are you going to kiss to welcome in the New Year if you are out here with me?"

"I'm really not into kissing strangers just for the sake of traditions, at least not anymore. You can go in though."

"I'm good here," he replied.

"Okay."

Sara moved closer to Leonard and leaned against his shoulder as the countdown started. The cheers from inside signalled that it was midnight and that the party would wind down eventually.

"I guess we can go home now, you know, without being rude," Leonard said.

Sara nodded and then stood on her toes to press a kiss to Leonard's cheek.

"Happy New Year, Len," she said, before walking toward the door.

Leonard reached out and caught her wrist and pulled her back to him. Sara had no time to react as he pressed his lips to hers and dipped her at the waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss, the sounds coming from inside all but fading away.