Disclaimer: The Television series, Hogan's Heroes, belongs to CBS, Bing Crosby Productions, and its creators Bernard Fein and Albert S. Ruddy. I do not own these characters and I am not making a profit from this story. I am just taking these characters out for a walk in the park and I promise to return them in one piece.

Enjoy!

"You wanted to see me, Kommandant?"

"Ah, Colonel Hogan! Come in! Sit down! Won't you have a cigar? How about some schnapps to warm you up?" rambled Colonel Klink, Kommandant of Luft Stalag XIII. A tall, bald man with a monocle in an eye and a riding crop under his arm, Klink at first glance appears to be a harsh, strict German Officer of the imperial Luftwaffe. One word out of the man's mouth is all it takes, however, to dispel that first impression.

"That's alright, sir." replied Colonel Robert Hogan, senior Prisoner of War, dusting the snow from his leather bombers jacket. "Is this going to take long? The boys are planning a Christmas party and I promised to help out with the decorations. Hey, that reminds me, could you play a little ditty for us at the party? It would mean a lot to the guys."

"That's exactly why you are here, Hogan."

"So you will play?"

"What? No! General Burkhalter and his sister, Frau Linkmeyer, are coming over for a Christmas Eve dinner. Tonight Hogan!" the last part was stated with misery lacing the Kommandant's voice.

"Did you buy them presents? Say, how about a gold ring for Frau Linkmeyer?"

"Hooooogan!"

"Sorry, sir."

"Just think," began Colonel Klink, walking over to the window and wistfully watching the snow fall. "I had a romantic evening planned with a beautiful woman I met in town the other night. And now I have to entertain the General and his sister, too!"

"Colonel, if you don't mind my asking, what does this have to do with me?"

"You are going to join the Christmas Eve dinner and distract… I mean, entertain, Frau Linkmeyer while I can have some quality time with my beautiful guest."

"But Colonel Klink, it's Christmas Eve and I promised the boys that I would judge their Christmas Caroling contest tonight!" the American Colonel said with just the right amount of distress in his voice.

"Colonel Hogan, you will be at my dinner party tonight. Six o'clock sharp."

The two officers stared each other down in a battle of wills, Hogan debating whether this was a dispute he could wriggle his way out of or not. He finally broke the silence, decision made. "Fine. But you're making me break a lot of promises to the boys and you know what that can do to morale!"

"It's just breaking my heart. Diiismisssed!"

"Problem, Colonel?" asked Staff Sergeant James Kinchloe as his commanding officer entered the barracks with a gust of wind and snow.

Corporal Peter Newkirk, Technical Sergeant Andrew Carter, and Kinch watched Colonel Hogan expectantly as Corporal Louie LeBeau served everyone a round of hot coffee, their card game temporarily forgotten.

"Our dear Kommandant has invited me to his little Christmas Eve party."

"What?"

"He can't do that!"

"But what about your rendezvous with the underground tonight, sir?"

"Glad you asked, Newkirk." Hogan replied with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, pausing to take a sip of coffee. "You're going."

"Oh, come now, Colonel! It's freezing out there! I'm bound to catch a death a cold! You know how delicate me system is." Newkirk concluded placing his hand dramatically on his chest.

"You should have thought of that before you volunteered." Carter stated innocently.

"Here, mon ami, you can take my scarf." LeBeau said, dramatically wrapping his red scarf around Newkirk's neck.

"Bloody marvelous." Newkirk muttered. Then, looking at his commanding officer in all seriousness added, "When do I leave governor?"

"Immediately following lights-out. Come into my office, I'll give you the details…"

By the time lights out had come and gone the wind was gusting more fiercely, whipping the falling snow to and fro in tangent chaos.

"Be careful out there, Peter."

"I always am, mate." Newkirk replied cheerfully as he wrapped LeBeau's scarf securely around his neck.

"Well, be extra careful, mon ami. We do not want to have to go searching for you in this weather."

Newkirk rolled his eyes as he pulled on a black knit hat. "Well, you fellas don't wait up for me. Santa Claus won't stop by if you all are awake and watching."

"I think we've blown up one too many bridges to even be considered on the "nice" list." commented Kinch with a smile.

"Well, I'd be okay with that." Carter stated seriously.

Newkirk looked up from his gloves, confusion gracing his handsome features. "Now why is that, Carter?"

"If we were on the "naughty" list, then that would mean Santa would leave coal for us. Then we could actually warm up the barracks for once!"

That received a round of laughter, which relieved some nervous tension that all the men were feeling.

"Well, mates, I best be heading off."

"Yeah, you better not keep Mother Nature waiting."

"Mother Nature." muttered Newkirk as he started towards the emergency exit. "Who comes up with these code names?"

Carter followed Newkirk in silence while Kinch and LeBeau stayed in the main tunnel by the radio.

Newkirk regarded the ladder leading upwards to the inside of a tree stump, mentally preparing himself for the freezing temperature.

"Well, I guess it's now or never."

"Wait!" Carter called as Newkirk stepped onto the first rung.

"Yes Andrew?"

"Make sure you don't miss Christmas, Peter. It wouldn't be the same without you."

"Andrew, I'll be gone three hours tops. I won't miss Christmas."

"Promise?" asked Carter quietly, his blue eyes shining with concern.

"I promise." Newkirk replied, flashing a confident smile before ascending the ladder and plunging into the frigid night.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I actually wrote this awhile ago but figured I'd wait until "Christmas time" to post it (and after some minor editing). I've been away from the "Hogan's Heroes world" for a little while and I'd love to hear your thoughts on this story, so please review! :)