Peter repeated, "Merry Christmas."

"June, Thank you for inviting us, it was so nice of you. Your house looks so lovely." Elizabeth said handing June a nice bottle of wine.

"You didn't need to do this." June said while raising the bottle a few inches in her left hand while giving Elizabeth a small hug.

"I couldn't not do it" Elizabeth said.

"Peter go ahead and put those under the tree." June pointed to an open spot on the left of the tree.

The smaller children were playing tag and running around trying to use the grown-ups as shields and obstructions.

Peter was uncomfortable being a shield and made a face at the little boy who decided to run. Though out of practice with it, he tried some small. "The tree looks great, did you do that all by yourself, June?"

"Oh no, Neal and Mozzie helped last night and then the grandchildren finished it with me this morning."

Peter looked across the room to Neal. Neal saw Peter looking and smiled and raised a glass of wine, "Merry Christmas, Peter."

Though he could not have heard, at times it seemed Neal could read Peters mind. Peter wasn't sure if that should irritate him or not. It was Christmas eve, he decided not to let anything bother him.

In her red velvet with white fur trimming, Mrs. Claus announced it was time for dinner.

The table was set, every space was filled with either plate, glass or some food item. Ham and turkey, potatoes and yams, stuffing and dressing, cranberries, milk, water and wine, the quantities were surprising.

While the table was large enough for sixteen, there was only room for ten. Peter thought there were more people here than that.

Peter said, "I don't think I've seen so much food at anything other than one of Elizabeth's events."

"Take a good look at it and take a plate." June announced.

Peter walked to the table and stood behind a chair. June picked up a plate of dressing and said, "It needs to look just the same, follow me."

Mozzie picked up the ham, Neal the turkey, the family followed suit grabbing plates of food from the table. Peter looked at El, thinking what's going on?

"Peter, you can carry both the mashed potatoes and the yams, can't you?" Elizabeth asked.

"Sure" Peter had no idea what was going on.

They paraded about a block and a half when June turned into a building that had signs to feed the needy.

"I had no idea this was going to happen" Peter said to Elizabeth.

"Just go with it." She said.

They set their food on a table doing their best to recreate the setting at June's. Peter saw at least six other families had done the same thing

They stood on one side and filled plates for those that were in line. When everyone had been served they filled their own plates and found places to sit amongst those already eating.

Peter was sitting seven people away from Elizabeth. She was talking to a weathered man who, no doubt, spent most of his time outdoors. She had no problems with small talk, he was never good at it.

He saw Neal a few tables away charming the pants off of people that had nothing. He felt guilty for his thoughts and silence. He smiled at a couple sitting across from him.

"Hi, I'm Peter Burke, F... If you don't mind, can you pass the butter?" He stopped his usual introduction, that was close. "What's your names?"

"I'm Bill and this is my wife Elizabeth." She waved a fork.

"My wife is Elizabeth too." Peter said pointing to her. Peter started to relax and started taking everything in. In doing so he started hearing the conversations around him.

Peter could hear Mozzie behind him, "I was in foster care, I didn't really..." all the emphasis on 'really', "...really have a home either, 'cause I didn't have parents like you do." Mozzie was talking to a ten year boy.

Another conversation, "Well, I got sick, see, and I had to pay off the doctors, you know, and all the money they charged me..." June's daughter and son-in-law, or was it son and daughter-in-law, were talking about medical care to their table mates. Their daughter had needed a transplant and they knew how expensive care was.

June's grandchildren had started playing tag with some of the kids their age. Peter saw a Christmas tree and a big red chair near the tree. Lights lined the ceiling and walls.

Peter smiled, focused on Bill and his wife, "Merry Christmas." He said. Bill started talking about his job.

"Mrs. Claus" Peter was surprised to see June's housekeeper followed by a very round looking Santa carrying a big red bag. Santa went and sat in the chair by the tree.

All the kids went from playing to screaming and rushed to be near. June's grandchildren went to sit near her and watch as Santa started handing out presents.

The parent came to sit near their children and Peter sat close to El. "June and her neighbors are doing a really nice thing here." Elizabeth said.

Neal sat next to Peter, followed shortly by Mozzie.

Neal looked at Peter, "Are you crying?"

Peter wiped his eyes and lied, "No, it's these candles, they bother my sinuses."

Neal turned to Mozzie and almost said something.

Peter gave him a playful shove, "Stop it. Merry Christmas, Neal."

"Thanks, Peter, Merry Christmas."

Peter leaned forward, "Merry Christmas, Mozzie"

"You too suit, Mrs. suit" Mozzie raise his glass of water as if making a toast.

At one in the morning they were back at June's.

All the presents except those Peter had brought in were gone.

June said, "Take those home and open them after you've had a good night's sleep. Good night and Merry Christmas."

Elizabeth, turned to Neal, "Can you come over for dinner tomorrow?" She looked at her watch "Ah...I guess that's tonight? You too Moz."

Peter looked at El, surprised

"How's six thirty sound?" Elizabeth asked.

"Thank you, Elizabeth, that sounds very nice." Neal said.

"That would be great." Mozzie rubbed his hands together again. He enjoyed the idea of food.

Peter picked up the presents and Elizabeth got their coats. They said, "See you tomorrow" and "Merry Christmas."

On the way to the car Peter was weighing one present in his left hand, he then shook it and listened as he did so.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to figure out what you... what we got Neal."

"You're still a kid aren't you?" Elizabeth asked. "You'll have to wait."

Neal and Mozzie were about to walk up Peter's step when Mozzie said, "Hold on. I have to look nice."

Mozzie handed Neal two presents that Neal stacked atop the one he was carrying. Mozzie pulled out a different set of glasses that looked identical to what he had on. He switched sets and asked Neal, "How do I look?"

"You look great, Moz, you look great."

Mozzie smiled at the approval, took his two presents back and then they continued up the steps and knocked on the door.

Peter answered, "Come on in, Merry Christmas." He turned to call. "El, they're here."

"Thank you, Merry Christmas." Neal and Mozzie said.

Elizabeth walked out of the kitchen, she was happy to see them both and had a big smile.

"Usually my family did Christmas in the morning, and I feel like I've made you wait all day to get your gifts." Elizabeth said, "So I want you both to open the presents from us."

Mozzie smiled and looked to Elizabeth then to Neal and to Peter and back to Elizabeth. His smile was infectious.

Neal and Mozzie set the presents they brought in by the tree.

Elizabeth said, "Moz, let me take your scarf, you go first."

"Thanks, El" Mozzie unwound the knit scarf from his neck and folded it in half and then in half again and handed it to Elizabeth.

Peter heard this and wondered if he'd always be 'suit' to Mozzie.

Mozzie saw the present with his name on it and was surprised by it's size. Mozzie tore the paper off and found a bottle of wine. He stared at it, in shock, for a while.

Peter said, "Appleton's widow gave it to me. When she found out what her husband had done."

"It's a two thousand five Domaine Romanee-Conti. Neal did you see this? I don't know if I should drink it or sell it."

"Do whatever you want with it." Peter smiled.

"You've consumed enough of my wine this last year, I'd be glad to help you drink that." Neal said.

Mozzie rotated the bottle in his hands reading the label, still trying to believe it. "Thank you. This was very kind of you."

Elizabeth was anxious to have Neal open his present, "Your turn, Neal."

Neal picked up a box and shook it.

"You kids!" Elizabeth said, "You don't have to guess, just open it."

Neal carefully peeled the tape and unwrapped the paper without tearing it.

Peter looked at El, "Told you he'd do that."

"What's that?" Neal asked.

"You're just careful with this kind of thing."

"I didn't get a lot of presents as a kid, I'm savoring every moment."

Neal opened the box to find two boxes inside the first.

"Wow, two..." Neal said to himself as much as to anyone else.

Neal opened the smaller of the two boxes. "Oh, wow. Peter and Elizabeth these... You remembered... Frank Gehry Torque cufflinks and tie bar set."

"I remembered you said you thought these were the perfect set, functional and beautiful. Peter agreed."

"I did." Peter said. Let's see them." Peter mouthed a 'thank you' to El.

Neal pulled the cuff links out and held them at the end of his sleeve.

"Nice." Peter said.

"There's something else in there." Elizabeth said.

Neal opened the box and slid out a plaque of mahogany, the top two thirds was the FBI seal, the lower third had a statement engraved into the wood. 'Your work as a C.I. has been a benefit to all of New York. Thank you.'

Peter said, "I had a hard time thinking of something for you. I talked to Hughes, he agreed, and the whole department signed the back. I was afraid it wasn't enough, Elizabeth remembered the cuff links.

Neal flipped it over and read all the names. His eyes teared up.

"Stop it. Merry Christmas, Neal." Peter gave him a little push on his shoulder.

Mozzie looked to Neal and decided it was time for Elizabeth and the Suit to open their gifts from him. He bent down and picked up the two boxes.

"It's wine." Mozzie said, ""Nothing like what you gave me, but it's good."

Peter and El opened their presents to find a white and a red wine.

Neal was still looking at the plaque, he wiped his eyes one more time. "Time to see what I got you. El, if you will do the honors. Is that OK, Peter?" Neal handed Elizabeth a present.

"That's fine." Peter said.

"To The Burkes, From Neal" Elizabeth read the tag. "It's heavy"

"You kids." Neal smiled at El, having repeated her, "Just open it."

Elizabeth tore off the paper with no regard to it's condition. "Oh my...Neal."

Peter looked at it and asked, "Did you do this from memory?"

Elizabeth had all the paper off and held a painting Neal had done of the two of them, Prom picture style of Peter holding Elizabeth. Her back to his chest with his arms around her.

"Yes. All from memory. Hope you like it. It's the first one I've ever signed, as myself and been happy with.

"Oh, Neal. It's beautiful" Elizabeth said.

"Do you really like it?" Neal asked.

Peter said, "It's really special. Thank you." Peter hugged Neal.

"Yes, oh my God, yes." It was Elizabeth turn to get teary. She sat the painting on the chair and hugged Neal. She kissed him on the cheek and said, "Thank you."

Mozzie said, "You do good work, my friend." Patting Neal on the shoulder, then continuing, "As this is a special occasion, Merry Christmas, El, Merry Christmas, Peter. Let's eat."

~END~