Author's Notes: It's less than a week until Christmas!!!

Time to write a little Christmas Story that has been in my head (since summer, actually). Unfortunately I don't have much time for writing at the moment, so I put off continuing Another Cold Case until after Christmas...

Enjoy...

Sunday December 4th, 2005

It was snowing outside. Winter had hit the city with its full force this weekend; but inside it was warm and comfortable. Danny sat at the small table in Sylvia's and Rafi's apartment, feeling stuffed and lazy and altogether very content, as he watched the big snowflakes dancing outside the window, lost in his thoughts.

A voice – Sylvia's voice – pulled him back: "You want another piece of cake?"

"Nah, thanks", he refused, laughing. "I've eaten enough to last a week!"

Sylvia looked a bit disappointed. "You know, it's no fun with you. You're so easy to satisfy. By the way, you coming for Christmas? Because with Rafi back in jail…" she paused but pulled herself together to end the sentence: "…well, there's no point in cooking a big Christmas dinner with no man in the house to eat it…"

"That so?" Danny asked, smiling sympathetically and reached out to take her hand, knowing that this wasn't really about food. "Don't worry, I'll be here, and maybe next year, Rafi will be, too. Besides, you have two kids, you're not alone, Sylvia, and you know that if you need my help, you just have to call."

"Yeah, I know…" She swallowed than she smiled again. "You're welcome to bring somebody else, too, you know? A girlfriend, maybe…"

"Sylvia…" pulling his hand back Danny felt a flicker of annoyance. He'd had this conversation with his soon-to-be sister-in-law before and he wasn't in the mood to have it again.

"I'm just thinking, Danny, that…"

"Well, stop thinking that. I'm quite happy the way I'm living my life right now especially since…"

"Oh, c'mon, are you really happy?"

"Yes, and if you let me finish I'll tell you why."

"I'm listening."

"I've decided to start practicing law. It's what I've always wanted to do and now I've passed the BAR exam I can."

Sylvia stared at him. "I had no idea…"

"Neither did I until today. I finally made up my mind this morning. I'll talk to my boss tomorrow and then I think I'll give notice at the end of this year…"

"If that's what will make you happy."

Rising from his chair Danny nodded. "Yes, it will. Listen, I think I better leave now, because I have a little paperwork left to do which has to be done by tomorrow morning. I don't want to mess up at my old job now." He smirked. "You need any help cleaning the dishes before I go?"

"Nah, you did enough." Sylvia shook her head. "Nicky will help me later when he's back from his friend's."

"Oh, I'm sure he'll be pleased to do that", Danny joked, before hugging her goodbye. "Thank you for having me today. It was nice."

"It was nice to have you here", she replied. "…. and Danny?"

"Yeah?"

"You're not mad at me for bringing it up again, are you?"

"No, I'm not", he lied to her, "Just try to not bring it up on Christmas Day, okay?"

He felt guilty about lying to her; there was no paperwork to do, but he didn't want to discuss yet again the lack of a girl-friend in his life, and he knew that was where the conversation had been heading.