Note From The Author—So this year I'm doing a little holiday one shot for every category I write in. This has been interesting, let me tell you. Here we have CSI: NY, and I'm not sure about this one but we'll see what you think. Just so's you know this is set not this Christmas but next. I think you'll understand why. Also, how serendipitous is it that The First Noel by Josh Groban came on while I was writing this?

Disclaimer—I don't own the characters of CSI: NY or the song from which the title of this story comes

The New York Crime Lab's holiday party was in full swing when Stella noticed that Don had gone missing. With a frown she scanned the room again just to make sure she hadn't missed him, but he was definitely nowhere to be found. She handed her drink off to Mac and after being stopped by a couple of different techs who wanted to give her holiday wishes, she managed to get free of the room and go after the missing detective.

Stella knew him well enough to have a relatively good idea of where he might have gone, and after striking out on her first try she went to check the venue's patio. Sure enough she found him out there, leaning against the building in his jeans and sweater.

"Awfully cold out here," she said quietly as she came to lean next to him.

He lifted his steaming coffee cup with a little smile. "This helps."

"Ahh, liquid heat." She paused, searching for the right words before she spoke again. "Are you okay?" The moment she said it she knew it sounded clichéd.

Flack nodded. "Yeah Stell, I'm okay."

They both fell silent, neither of them quite believing what he had said. The strains of music from the party drifted out to them, and Don found himself humming along quietly.

"I've always loved this song," Stella told him.

He looked at her curiously. "Never pegged you for the First Noel type. I always thought you'd be a bit more Silver Bells."

"I am a big Silver Bells person," she told him with a laugh. "But there was always something about this song that I liked. Maybe it's the idea of firsts, or the melody, I don't know."

"Yeah, Jess always liked it too."

She didn't really need to ask, but she did anyway. "You were thinking of her?"

"I was. I know it's been over a year but I still have these moments…" He trailed off and rubbed his free hand over his face. "It sounds stupid, but sometimes when I'm having a really good time it hits me that she's gone, and I feel bad for moving on and for feeling good."

"Don, we both know the last thing Angell would have wanted was for you to stand still and mourn for the rest of your life."

He sighed. "I know; logically I do, but sometimes I just can't seem to help it."

With a sigh of her own, Stella wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned into him. "The holidays make it harder. Missing those we've lost and wishing they could be with us. It's only natural for us to feel that way. You're allowed to miss her."

Flack looked down at her with a smile and hugged her just a bit closer. "I know I am, and I still do. But I'm moving on, and all I can do is hope she's happy for me wherever she is up there."

"I didn't know you were seeing anyone," she said, unable to keep the question from her voice.

Their eyes met, and for a moment that vivid blue seemed to look right to her soul. "Not yet."

"Don," she almost gasped. Turning, she found her hands fisted in his sweater as he lowered his head.

"Ready for another first?"

She barely had time to nod before their lips met, and then the world went away.