Author's Note: Merry Christmanukkahwza my loves!! Just a little holiday present from me to you!! Happy holidays!!

-Jennifer K.

Many people believe that the most magical place for the holidays is some Caribbean Island or a cruise to some exotic destination. Others partake of the winter cabin wonderlands complete with skiing and hot toddies and snow (be it real or fake depending on the location). Yeah well these places are all nice and sweet, but when you think about it…hasn't the one of the many morals of Christmas and the Wizard of OZ taught us, there's no place like home? Well, for one family that is truly their most favorite holiday location and where our story takes place.

Tucked away in the hustle and bustle of the most famous city in the world stood a medium sized apartment complete with half moon windows and covered in a pile of snow. The forecasters had said to prepare for a white Christmas after all and they weren't kidding. However, one of its inhabitants of this spacious building was having a little bit of the holiday blues. After all, it just isn't Christmas without your husband by your side.

"Gah…I can't believe the chief put Ryo on second shift…on Christmas Eve of all days!" A dark haired man complained as he placed cloves onto a holiday ham. "He knew we were going to have a party complete with him invited dammit!"

"Damit!" A voice echoed happily nearby. The man turned towards the voice and scolded.

"I mean darn it!" The man repeated. "Do me a favor Gracie, don't let daddy hear what you just said. Otherwise Papa Dee is going to be in the dog house for a month!"

Squeals echoed from the high chair where a red haired toddler sat. She was only a few months over 1 and the pride of Papa Dee, also known as Dee Maclean-Laytner, and Daddy Ryo, aka Ryo Maclean-Laytner's lives.

"Oh quit whining perv face!" A young mulatto teen said appearing. "Ryo's only going to be gone till six and bringing the party with him. Didn't he say it was just paperwork?"

Dee growled his emerald eyes slightly ablaze at hearing one of the many nicknames his and Ryo's adopted son, Bikky Goldman christened him with.

"Don't call me names around the baby!" Dee said angrily. "You know she's like a sponge now and mimics a lot of what we say. Last thing both you and I need is a piss…I mean…mad Ryo because of Grace's new found vocabulary."

Bikky cringed.

"True that." He said remembering his adopted dad's tactics on punishment.

"And Ryo's not just doing paperwork; he's on patrol with Drake getting the DUI stakeouts ready on all the major roads tonight. Make sure no one decides to have too much Christmas cheer and cause a vehicular homicide on one of the nicest days of the year."

The thought of his husband of almost 2 years in his patrolman's uniform sent a warm pleasant flush throughout his body. His husband was so sexy…maybe Dee should put sexy patrolman Ryo on his Christmas list for Santa.

"Eww…I don't want to know what that creepy smile is all about!" Bikky said with a disgusted look on his face.

"Then don't ask about it and get Gracie some lunch and then start chopping those veggies for the vegetable platter." He pointed to the carrots and celery sitting on the counter. "I still gotta get the potatoes started. Your father of course gave me strict instructions on what to do while he's at work!"

Bikky nodded and went about getting baby Grace her afternoon mush.

Normally Dee would have a "I do what I want" kind of attitude and would probably still be in bed right now...it was only a little after 1pm…but since he had married Ryo, he had this incessant need to fulfill his hubby's beck and call. One might say Dee was whipped…but it was on the contrary. Seeing that beautiful smile on his husband's face was more than enough to make Dee do what Ryo needed. And Ryo of course always reciprocated happily. They were one of those married couples that people believed that if they didn't last right through to old ripe age there was no hope for anyone.

"Turn the radio on Bik!" Dee yelled to his foster son. "Let's get some Christmas music in here!" Bikky did as he was told and soon the apartment was full of the sounds of the Christmas season. Bikky then began chopping up the veggies for the platter and Dee began boiling the potatoes he had just peeled. Grace meanwhile continued to eat her lunch of fruit sauce, smearing much of it on her face and bib.

A little before 5pm the sky had already turned to a deep black. Thick snow flakes began once again to fall and cover everything in its path including a dark eyed man who had just emerged from the subway station and out into the winter wonderland. He was smiling though, thoughts of his family and Christmas Eve running through his mind and he hurried a little quicker to home.

Ten minutes later he was on an elevator going up to his apartment. He was covered in snow and freezing. He had spent most of the day outside getting the DUI barricades set up. He craved the warmth of his home and smiled as he neared his door and heard the sounds of the radio and his husband's voice coming from the inside.

He unlocked the door and walked in warmly greeted by the sight of their decorated Christmas tree, the smell of dinner coming from the kitchen and the pristine living room ready for a party. His smile grew even further when he heard his husband and daughter singing to the Christmas music. Or rather he was singing, the girl was babbling. Ryo Maclean-Laytner peeked into the kitchen quietly. There he saw his dark haired husband with a baby on his hip singing and bopping to the music

"Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus right down Santa Claus lane…"

"DA LA MAH BA PFFBBTTS"

"Man Gracie you sure can carry a tune!"

Ryo giggled.

"She's working on it!"

Dee turned around to the sound of the new voice.

"Ryo!" He said with a smile. "You're home!"

Ryo nodded as he moved back into the hall began removing his snow covered jacket.

"We got the barricades done early so chief let me and Drake go." He said as he shook the snow off his policeman's hat and boots.

Dee smiled and noticed Grace was pulling from him.

"Let Daddy warm up for a second Grace!" Dee soothed.

"I'm getting warm now that I am home…give me that baby!" He said as he lifted the girl from Dee's arms.

"Dadee." She said happily as Ryo held her and kissed her cheek.

"Well hello there sweetheart! Were you a good girl for papa while daddy was at work?"

"Aside from getting food mush all over herself at lunchtime…a perfect gem." Dee said. "Most of the Christmas stuff is done and ya know I still haven't gotten my greeting."

Dee put his hands on his hips and pouted. Ryo grinned as he looked up in the kitchen doorway to see the mistletoe he had put there days before.

"Well come over by the mistletoe and I'll greet you." Ryo said. Dee bounced over happily and wrapped his arms around his husband while Ryo wrapped his free arm around Dee. Within seconds they were lip locked."

"Oooo you still cold baby?" Dee asked as he took Ryo's hand and blew into it. "You must have been freezing out there!"

Ryo shrugged as he placed Grace down in her high chair.

"Your typical New York City Christmas weather…ice cold with or without snow." Ryo peeked over to the stove. "You need help with anything for the party?"

"Nah." Dee said as he wrapped his arms around Ryo. "I got it all taken care of, and the bra…I mean Bikky went to go get Carol…so why don't you and me have some fun?"

Ryo grinned.

"Like we did last year before our Christmas party!"

Dee smirked at the thought of the steamy shower sex they had had before going to their catered Christmas party.

"If you'd like…bet I could make you warmer then any shower would and I must say the look of you in your policeman's uniform is having quite an effect on a certain part of my body if you get my drift."

Ryo cocked an eyebrow and leaned in to kiss his husband's lips.

"We also have a 1 year old who is awake and needs to get ready for the party." Ryo whispered. Dee pouted as Ryo lightly kissed his lips.

But if you're good later maybe then we can have some fun…in bed." Ryo whispered.

"Ohhh…me likey!" Dee said as he leaned in for another kiss.

"Damit!" Grace said aloud all of a sudden. Ryo turned his head quickly to the baby!

"Grace Aiko Maclean-Laytner, where did you hear such a bad word?!" Ryo asked worriedly and then turned his head to his husband who was now blushing profusely.

"Uhhh."

"Dee?"

"Umm...it was Bikky! Bikky!"

Ryo glared.

"Take Grace to get dressed and we'll talk about it later." Ryo said as he handed Dee the baby and sauntered into the bedroom to get ready. Dee looked down at the baby in his arms.

"Thanks squirt…thanks a lot." Dee said as he headed into the nursery to get the baby dressed.