Kate is busy packing a suitcase for a week at their Hampton's house. She still can't believe that Rick convinced their family to spend the holidays all together at their beach house. The logistics of traveling with 3 small children is troubling her. They'll drive up late on the 22nd and won't return until the 3rd of January. The boys are 3 now, but how is she going to get all the clothes and toys and paraphernalia to fit into the car?

Rick walks into their bedroom with a crying Lily on his hip, "Kate, we need to make an emergency trip to visit Santa. Hopefully, the boys will continue to nap while we're gone." His hand is rubbing Lily's back in a soothing rhythm.

"What's wrong, Sweetie? Why are you crying?" Kate tries to comfort Lily by running her fingers thru Lily's dark locks. Lily leans out into Kate's arms. Kate lifts Lily from Rick's hip. Lily wraps her tights-covered legs around Kate's waist. Kate can feel Lily's uneven breaths as Lily tries to control her tears.

Rick continues the back rub for his daughter as he answers Kate's question, "Lily is worried that Santa won't be able to find us at the Hampton's house. I'm going to take her to tell him, that we decided to go to the beach house for Christmas. I tried to explain that Santa is magic, and he'll know where she is. She's skeptical like her mother, so we're going to take him the GPS coordinates for the house. Lily wants to make absolutely sure he knows where we are Christmas Eve." Rick winked at Kate when he mentioned the GPS coordinates.

"The boys and I will be fine. Are you sure this will be a quick trip to Santa?"

"I called some people. We're going to Macy's and get a quick private chat away from the throne and the crowd."

"You'll have to tell me which elf helped you with this on such short notice."

Lily perked up at Kate's mention of an elf, "Daddy, do you know one of Santa's elves?"

Lily's innocent eyes are wide with awe.

"Not exactly, Miss Lily. I know someone at Macy's, and he is arranging this for us. We need to get moving. We have to be there at 2 o'clock."

Lily hugs Kate, "Gotta get ready, Mommy. Will you fix my hair for me, please, please?"

Kate looks at the clock. "Go get your brush. Do it quietly, so you don't wake your brothers." Kate lowers Lily to the floor.

"Thanks Mommy." Lily ran towards the door, but turns around to run back to Rick. She wraps her arms around Rick's thighs and hugs, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, Daddy. You're the bestest Daddy." Lily skips out of the room.

Kate walks to Rick, "What GPS coordinates did you print up? I know you're not going to give the address for our home to a stranger." She cups his cheek with her hand, and uses her thumb to wipe away a single teardrop from below his eye. Lily calling him the 'bestest Daddy' has brought a tear to the eye of her sentimental husband.

R: "The 12th Precinct."

Kate stretches on tiptoe to kiss her husband, "Smart man. And how did you arrange the private meeting with Santa so quickly?"

R: "Called that Santa school we went to for the Santa-fell-out-of-a-helicopter murder case. They put me in touch with the person in charge of the Macy's Santas. I bribed him with Nets tickets and a signed copy of my latest book. I'm also bringing a check along to Make A Wish. That's the charity Macy's sponsors at the holidays."

K: "Where was Lily while you were doing all this? She was crying when you brought her in here."

R: "I had sent her to change her clothes. She had soup from lunch on her clothes. By the time she had decided what to wear and changed, I had the deal made. She must have been worrying the whole time, because the tears were flowing when she came back down. I even had the coordinates printed out by the time she got back. It's amazing what a few phone calls and a little bribery will get you at the holidays. Well, the check won't be little. I'm always happy to donate to a good cause."

K: "You are the bestest Daddy." Kate rewards Rick with an impassioned kiss. They separate, when they hear Lily singing to herself as she nears their door.

Lily rushes through the door with her hands full and a smile on her face. "Okay, Mommy. I brought a 'lastic and a ribbon and my brush." She stops in front of Kate with a radiant smile.

Kate takes the hair styling supplies from Lily and sits on the bed. Lily turns her back to Kate and stands between Kate's legs. "Do you want a ponytail or should I just pull back the sides?"

Lily thinks for a moment with her lips pursed and her brow scrunched. She smiles and turns to look at her mother, "Will you do it with the sides up and the bow at the back top of my head? Please."

K: "Excellent decision, Miss Lily. Turn back around, please."

R: "I'll go check on the boys, while you ladies pretty up."

Kate and Lily both turn to glare at Rick's comment. "The Beckett glare. I'm in trouble." He laughs and walks out of the room.

10 minutes later Rick and Lily are both kissing Kate goodbye. Rick has a copy of his latest book in a cloth bag hanging from his shoulder. "Do you have any idea how long you'll be?" Kate asks before Rick can open the door.

"I called the car service. This close to Christmas, the subway will be crowded and there would be no where to park. Poor guy will have to circle around while we're there," Rick shares his reasoning. "I'm hoping it won't take more than an hour, but we'll see." Rick manages another quick kiss, before opening the door. His phone alerts with Road Runner's "meep meep." "The car service is downstairs. Time to go my little flower."

L: "Bye, Mommy."

R: "Bye, Mommy."

Kate laughs while she closes the door behind them. She walks up the stairs to check on her boys. Jake has climbed into bed with his brother, and their legs are tangled together. They are sleeping soundly. She returns to her packing.