NEW YORK CITY - December 24, 1947

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

Lucy stood on the observation deck, tentatively looking around for anyone that possibly looked like a Rittenhouse agent. Pulling her scarf tighter around her neck, she saw Wyatt nonchalantly looking out over the city.

"See anyone yet?" she asked as she went over to him.

"Nothing. The agent should be here. That is if this is the right date, time and place," Wyatt answered skeptically.

"Jiya said it was here," Lucy murmured as she scanned at the people standing near them.

Wyatt chuckled as he turned toward her, "Do you know what Rufus got her for Christmas?"

"A Klingon dictionary," she replied. They were laughing when Flynn and Rufus stepped off the elevator. Flynn spotted Lucy standing there laughing…with Wyatt.

Lucy looked over, saw Flynn and immediately walked in his and Rufus's direction with Wyatt following. "Did you find out where Maynard Nesmith is working?" she asked them as her eyes went to Flynn's, noticing that he avoided looking at her.

"We believe he may either be at Macy's…or Central Park Zoo," Rufus replied incredulously with an exasperated sigh.

Lucy was encouraged. "At least it's narrowed down."

"Flynn and I were thinking that maybe Ruth Walters will stop by Harold's Tavern because that's what her landlady told us," Rufus added.

Wyatt was skeptical. "She just offered you that information?"

"She did once we told her we were detectives," Flynn stated flatly.

"It's Christmas Eve. So, the tavern may be busy and I'm sure Macy's is." Lucy glanced at Flynn who, while keeping an eye out for the agent, still avoided hers. She continued, "We need to find the Rittenhouse agent and make sure that Ruth and Maynard come together. Rittenhouse has already kept them from their original get together. Now Maynard Nesmith will die because of the coming blizzard and The Maynard and Ruth Nesmith School for Orphans will never be established. We need to fix this, fast."

"Right," Wyatt agreed as he checked at his watch. "We're running out of time to be out of here before the blizzard starts."

"We can still check Harold's Tavern, Macy's and Central Park Zoo if we pair up and leave now," Flynn suggested.

"Let's do this," Lucy began, turning to Rufus. "Why don't you and Wyatt check Central Park Zoo while Flynn and I walk over to Harold's Tavern. Hopefully we'll find Ruth Walters there. If not, then we'll go on to Macy's."

"It'd be best if you went with Wyatt," Flynn replied. Her eyes went to his and he saw her brow slightly furrow. Flynn finally didn't look away, but Lucy only saw business-at-hand in his gaze and...nothing else.

"OK, let's get going," Wyatt urged, hurriedly walking toward the elevator.

"Yeah, I don't want to try to live through a blizzard," Rufus worried as he followed Wyatt. Lucy glanced at Flynn again. He silently held his hand out, indicating for her to go before him and she followed Rufus.

All four of them stood outside on 34th street.

"It's about a forty-minute walk from here to the zoo," Wyatt informed them as his eye was caught by a guy some ways down, standing next to a lamp post. The man was in his thirties, average height with black hair.

"That should be a fun, cold walk," Rufus murmured as he spotted the same man that Wyatt saw. "Wyatt? Isn't he the one we talked to earlier about the possible Rittenhouse agent?"

All looked over at the man as Wyatt answered, "It is." He turned to Flynn and Lucy, "Since we've already built a rapport with the guy, Rufus and I should have a chat with him. Then we'll go on to the zoo."

"Alright, Flynn and I will hurry over to Harold's Tavern to see if Ruth is there," Lucy replied.

Rufus pointed impatiently at his watch, "Um, guys? Blizzard. Remember?"

"We'll meet you two at the Lifeboat by midnight," Lucy said as Rufus and Wyatt went off to the man.

"Let's go get this done," Flynn offered his arm to Lucy. She slipped her hand into its crook, as they headed in the direction of the tavern.

HAROLD'S TAVERN

It wasn't as crowded as Lucy thought it would be. There were people enjoying a festive afternoon, but nothing over the top. "Doesn't look like Ruth is here," Flynn observed as he looked around at the various patrons.

"It's possible she's not here, yet," Lucy replied. There were three couples on the small dance floor, swaying around to Christmas tunes. "I think we should wait here a while to see if she shows up," she suggested.

"Great," Flynn replied flatly. They removed their coats, scarves and hats and placed them on a rack next to an empty booth.

"Let's dance so that we can blend in." Before he could object, Lucy had already taken his hand and pulled him over to the dance floor. She placed her hand on his shoulder as he hesitantly put his arm around her and took her hand in his. They began to sway as Dinah Shore sang O Little Town of Bethlehem which played from the jukebox.

Wreaths of garland with lights wrapped around them lined the walls of the tavern, making it feel very warm, cozy and Christmassy. A pretty Christmas tree was set up next to the jukebox with various multi-colored glass bulbs. Silver bell garland was wrapped around it and flowing tinsel reflected the lights wrapped around the tree's branches, making it sparkle.

"This is the first time we've danced," Lucy commented as she gazed up at him.

Flynn chuckled wryly, "I don't think you would have taken kindly to me walking up to you in the bunker and asking you to dance."

"How would you know if you never asked?"

They fell silent as they continued dancing.

He could smell her rose scented perfume. She was wearing a burgundy dress that had crisscross sequins across the bodice that twinkled in the warm tavern light. Just then, she gazed up at him and his heart tripped as he saw that her brown eyes twinkled too. He quickly broke eye contact and checked around the room again, but the feel of her body against his was very hard to ignore. Dancing with Lucy in his arms was the last thing he should be doing.

This was the one thing she wanted to do with Flynn, be in his arms, but her heart fell because he didn't even want to look at her. He was wearing a black three-piece suit with a burgundy tie that had a thin, slanting, gold-striped pattern. She caught the light scent of his after shave and felt the heat of his hand on her lower back as he smoothly guided her around the dance floor.

She repositioned her hand on his shoulder. "Is something wrong?" she suddenly asked.

"What do you mean?" he asked, certain that he didn't want her to explain.

"I don't know. We don't talk as easily as we used to." She shrugged softly, looking up at him, "We don't watch movies together anymore or…even have a beer. Something's changed."

Flynn was silent for a bit before he replied, "I want you to be happy."

"By avoiding me?" she asked pointedly.

"Lucy," he sighed, "I just want you to be with who you want."

"And clearly you know who I want to be with," she threw out, sarcastically.

"I'm sure you would rather be with someone else for Christmas," he murmured.

"Maybe I wouldn't mind spending Christmas with you," she retorted.

"As a last resort," he shot back.

She frowned, stepping out of his arms, and he saw the intense hurt on her face. "I know what you mean," she said quietly. "You are not a consolation prize. What I feel for Wyatt is completely different than what I feel for you." Flynn's heart stopped at her words. What was it that she felt?

"Hey Ruth! Nice to see ya!" A male voice called out, catching their attention.

"Hello Sam! Just stopping in to pick up my scarf and heading off to Macy's. Girls gotta make a living!" Ruth was a short, plump, attractive woman with light-brown hair. Flynn and Lucy watched her as she retrieved her scarf from Sam, who handed it to her from behind the bar.

"Here ya go! And in case I don't see ya, Merry Christmas to you and yours!"

"Thanks, Sam and Merry Christmas to you and your family! Gotta run!" And Ruth left the tavern.

"Let's go." Flynn said as he pulled her over to their coats, scarves and hats.

MACY'S

Out in the crisp, cold, New York City air, Flynn held the door for Lucy as they stepped into Macy's. It was warm inside and buzzing with plenty of last-minute shoppers. Christmas decorations were all around, adding to the driving excitement of the season. Wreathes with large red bows adorned every pillar and big, sparkling snowflakes hung from the department ceilings. There were nine reindeer and a Santa in his sleigh stretched out overhead, with Rudolph's nose glowing red. Various Christmas trees were set up along the whole department floor, and there was a gentleman playing Christmas music on a grand piano in the center of the department. Children were holding red balloons and candy canes in their hands as Flynn held tightly to Lucy's.

They followed Ruth from a distance through the throngs of shoppers until she went through a door marked Staff Only. Flynn moved them over next to a pillar, out of the traffic of people, but with a clear view of the door Ruth had entered. Lucy stood close to Flynn as men and women flowed passed them, this way and that. Some had presents stacked in their arms while some were trying to hold on to their screaming children. A tall man, in his sixties, accidentally backed into Lucy, pushing her into Flynn.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" he kindly apologized, "Didn't mean to bump your missus into you."

"That's quite alright, "Flynn responded cheerfully, "My missus is small, but she's a tough cookie."

Lucy gave Flynn a look as the man roared with laughter. "Like my Hazel! Now if I could just find that woman!" he replied craning his neck and looking around. "The name's Charles Peters, Merry Christmas to you both!" he nodded.

"Merry Christmas!" They replied as the man hurriedly walked off in the direction of the perfume counter.

"Tough cookie?" Lucy repeated.

"One tough, Christmas cookie," Flynn replied with a straight face.

A short, robust woman who also appeared to be in her sixties, knocked into Flynn then, making him quickly release Lucy's hand in order to catch the woman's toppling gifts. One escaped and hit the floor.

"Whoopsie daisy!" The older woman exclaimed, "Didn't see you there!"

Flynn quickly retrieved her gift before it was trampled. "Do you need help with these?" he asked, setting the gift back on top of the others in her arms.

"My Charles should be around here somewhere," she replied, looking around at the crowd.

"Is your name Hazel, ma'am?" Lucy asked.

The woman eyes widened with surprised. "Why, yes, I'm Hazel!"

"Charles is over at the perfume counter," Flynn informed her with a nod towards said counter.

"Oh, is he?" she replied, slightly annoyed. "I told him to stay put! What are your names?"

"We're Garcia and Lucy Flynn," he stated with a winning smile as he took Lucy's hand again. Lucy was surprised that he added his last name.

"Oh, my!" Hazel whispered loudly as she leaned toward Lucy, "You've caught yourself a tall, handsome one, haven't you?"

Lucy glanced at Flynn who hid a smile. "I have," Lucy smiled, agreeing with her.

"Reminds me of my Charles," she said thoughtfully. "Newlyweds, right?"

"What makes you think that we're newlyweds?" Lucy asked curiously.

"Because you two are standing here, holding hands in Macy's on Christmas Eve, and aren't trying to murder each other." Lucy looked at Flynn and he quirked one eyebrow. Hazel got a gleam in her eye, "Do you have plans this evening? Charles and I are having a little Christmas Eve gathering at our place about seven o'clock? I think you two would enjoy it. We live just two blocks up on 37th street near Lexington."

Flynn started to decline, "Thank you, but-."

"Hazel!" Charles called out as he came over to them.

"Well, here he is!" Hazel announced as Charles took the presents out of her hands. "I see you've met Garcia and Lucy Flynn!" she stated.

"I have! We meet again!" he laughed as he nodded to them.

"Have you spoken to Ruth yet? Is she bringing the young man tonight?" Hazel asked Charles.

That got Flynn and Lucy's attention. "Look, there she is now!" Charles replied. They all peered over to the jewelry counter. There, standing behind it, was the exact same Ruth that Flynn and Lucy had followed into the store.

Hazel and Charles hurried to their daughter as Flynn and Lucy nonchalantly followed them and eavesdropped.

"Mama, papa! What are you doing here?" Ruth asked.

"Your mother's shopping, of course," Charles replied flatly.

"Is Danny alright?" she asked worriedly.

"My grandchild is fine, he's at home with Mary," Hazel answered.

Lucy squeezed Flynn's hand. "Grandchild?" she mouthed to Flynn.

Hazel eyed at her daughter. "Now Ruthie Walters, did you invite that young man in the Christmas department to the house tonight?"

"What young man?" Ruth asked, already knowing who her mother was talking about.

"What's his name…Melvin? Martin?"

"Maynard."

Flynn and Lucy looked at each other. "Oh, yes, Maynard," Hazel beamed. "Did you?"

"Mama, I'm really busy. It's Christmas Eve after all and besides," she shrugged, "Maynard's busy, too."

"You didn't invite him?" her mother asked exasperated.

"Hazel," Charles sighed heavily.

Ruth sighed as well, "Mama, he's just not interested. And I'm not going to go around asking men to come home with me."

"Well, I should hope not, young lady," she replied shocked. Flynn and Lucy saw Ruth give her father a pleading look.

"Hazel, you still have to make your special eggnog," Charles tried to save his daughter from her persistent mother.

"Oh, alright. Maybe you can have him over for New Year's Eve?" Hazel suggested hopefully.

"Mama, I have to get back to work. I'll see you later tonight."

"Alright, Ruthie." Hazel leaned over the counter expectantly. Ruth leaned in, too, and kissed her mother's cheek. Charles leaned in as well and gave Ruth a quick kiss on her cheek.

"I'll be home just as soon as my shift is over," Ruth promised.

Her parents waved and turned toward Flynn and Lucy who were off to the side. "Oh, the Flynns!" Hazel exclaimed as she quickly took out a piece of paper and pencil from her purse and scribbled her address on it. She extended it to Lucy, "We're close to here, so please come by. It will be festive!" Hazel assured her as she chirped cheerfully.

"We will, Mrs. Peters," Lucy replied.

"Please, call me Hazel," she smiled as she reached out and squeezed Lucy's hand. "Let's go, Charles!"

"See you tonight!" Charles nodded to them and the couple walked off towards the main entrance.

"Let's go have a chat with Maynard in the Christmas department," Flynn suggested.

"My thoughts exactly," Lucy agreed, "But I need to stop at the restroom first." Flynn let go of her hand as she added, "Just hope I don't get lost."

"I'll find you," he stated. They held each other's gaze for a beat and then she headed for the restroom. Fifteen minutes later, Lucy came back over to him, "Every woman and child in the city was in there!" she said exasperatedly as he took her hand. "I'm remembering why I get my Christmas shopping done early or online!" He chuckled as she looked down at his hand holding hers.

"Don't want to lose you," he simply stated as they walked hand in hand through the crowd to the elevator.

"It's beautiful in here," Lucy breathed in awe. The Seasonal and Toy departments exploded with all things Christmas. "Look at that tree!" she pointed and gasped. He couldn't help but grin at the amazement coming from her as she viewed the large Christmas tree in the middle of the department floor. It was decorated grandly with glass bulbs, toys and stuffed animals, along with lights, tinsel and garland. Toys abounded in the department. Toy horses, baby dolls, train sets, tops, checker boards, Radio Flyer wagons, stuffed teddy bears and more. It was all topped off with a store Santa, who was sitting on a large red-tufted chair with a child on his knee. The little girl whispered in Santa's ear and he replied with a hearty HO-HO-HO.

Flynn watched Lucy's soften expression as she watched the Santa and child. He squeezed her hand as he leaned in, "We should find Maynard."

"Right, Maynard," she replied, pulling her eyes away from the heartwarming scene.

They walked around and stopped a clerk. "Excuse me!" Lucy called sweetly, "do you know where Maynard Nesmith is working?"

"Oh, Maynard?" the young man asked. "He should be back from his coffee break soon."

"That's good!" Lucy exclaimed. "He's wearing a brown sweater?" she asked him as if she were trying to remember.

"It's blue," the young man answered.

"Ah, that's right!" Lucy smiled. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome ma'am!" and the young man walked off.

"Good move," Flynn said approvingly under his breath. They waited near the large tree and kept an eye out for Maynard. "I think I see him," Flynn said, "Over by the train sets." Lucy peered over and saw a man in his thirties, medium height, red hair and wearing a blue sweater and brown pants. They made their way over to him.

"Hello!" Lucy said cheerfully.

"Good afternoon and welcome to Macy's. How may I help you?" Maynard greeted.

"We're looking at train sets for my nephew," Lucy stated.

"We have a number of sets to choose from."

"The one over there is nice," Flynn said, pointing to a box sitting up on the counter.

"That's our top seller, sir!" Maynard exclaimed enthusiastically, leading them over to the set as he went behind the counter and launched into his sales pitch. "This is an O-gauge Lionel train set. It comes with a red, gold and silver colored diesel locomotive, two silver coach cars and one silver observation car. See here?" he pointed to the observation car, "the doors open! Sir, ma'am? Come over this way!" he urged, moving from behind the counter, "We have this same train operating over here under this Christmas tree." Maynard led them over to a crowded corner with lot of mesmerized boys and girls standing around, looking at the train go around and round.

"The icing on the cake is the horn that blows!" Maynard went to the controls that were hidden behind the tree and made the horn blow a couple of times. The children watching squealed and marveled with delight.

"Do it again, Mister! Pleeease?" A little blonde-haired girl about nine years old begged Maynard.

"Yeah, pleath, Mifter?" A smaller, dark-haired boy missing his two front teeth asked.

"Absolutely, kids! Here we go!" Maynard happily blew the horn a number of times to the complete joy of the children.

"He seems to legitimately like children," Lucy observed.

Maynard came back over to them. "This train's good, sturdy, and assembly is so simple, that even a child can put it together. Just the right size for a boy or girl with a big imagination!"

"That's amazing!" Lucy stated.

"Your sales pitch is remarkable," Flynn stated. "I'll buy it."

Lucy looked at Flynn, trying to hide her surprise as Maynard sputtered, "That's-that's grand, sir! Let's get you all squared-away!" He went over to the register and pulled out a receipt booklet.

"The train is admittedly cool," Lucy whispered, "but you're buying it?"

"I have an idea," Flynn responded, letting go of Lucy's hand and taking out his wallet.

"Would you like Macy's to wrap this lovely gift for you?" Maynard asked.

"Yes, please," Flynn smiled.

"What color?" Maynard asked, pointing at a swatch of different wrapping paper on a small board.

"What do you think?" Flynn asked, raising his eyebrows as he gazed at Lucy.

Flynn watched as her finger quickly traced over the different wrapping papers, "Let's use this one; the green, red and white with the children on a sled," she decided.

"Good choice!" Maynard replied as he wrote up the receipt.

"What is your name?" Lucy asked.

"Maynard Nesmith, ma'am," he beamed.

"You were so sweet to the children!" Lucy praised.

"There was an orphanage here, visiting right after Thanksgiving and if only you could have seen the children's faces as they watched the trains." Maynard smiled at the memory, "It makes me want to do more for them. I find that most kids are just curious and excited about the world. I just want them to enjoy the good things."

"I'm sure they'll remember the day for the rest of their lives," Flynn commented softly.

"Maynard, we'd like to invite you to a Christmas Eve party tonight. It will be at seven o'clock at our friend's home. Please say you'll come and I won't take no for an answer," Lucy stated firmly.

Maynard stuttered, "Oh, well-well, I couldn't just intrude-."

"You won't be. We just invited you," Flynn interjected as he leaned forward, "Besides, once the missus has made up her beautiful mind, there's no opposing her."

Lucy glanced at Flynn as Maynard thought about the offer. Lucy added, "You can always leave if you don't feel comfortable. But I think once you're there, you will have a good time."

Maynard nodded his head, "I accept your invite."

"It'll be fun to have you there!" Lucy exclaimed.

"My wife and I need to make some more stops this afternoon. Do you think you can bring this train set with you to the party?"

"Absolutely, sir!"

"We're Garcia and Lucy Flynn," Flynn introduced them as he wrote down the address for him. "Put the name Danny on the gift, here's the address and thank you for your help. See you there!"

"You're welcome! See you there!" Maynard smiled wide as Flynn took Lucy's hand and walked towards the elevators.