Christmas morning at Ali's got off to a much quieter, and later start than at the Messer's. Ali awoke around 8:30, her head resting on Adam's chest, his t-shirt clutched in her hand inches from her face. Adam reached up and tenderly tucked a stray strand of her behind Ali's ear. "Morning beautiful." He murmured as Ali cautiously opened her eyes. She released her grip on Adam's t-shirt, lifted her head slightly and rubbed her eyes. "Morning." She replied, kissing Adam's chest before placing her head back onto it, wrapping her arm around him and squeezing gently. They lay in silence for a while, just holding each other and savouring being together. Ali eventually broke the silence. "S'pose I'd better get up soon, Christmas dinner won't cook itself." She said, begrudgingly pulling herself away from Adam and sliding out of bed. Adam grabbed her ankle as she slid her second leg out of the bed. "Don't go yet, come back to bed." He grinned, one eyebrow raised. Ali swatted his hand and laughed. "One kiss Adam, that's all you're getting, I've got lots to do!"

One kiss quickly turned into a ten minute make-out session, which both parties reluctantly separated from when Adam's phone began to ring. He moaned as he rolled over to retrieve his cell phone from the bedside cabinet. "It's my Mom." He sighed, reading the caller ID. "Perfect excuse for me to get started then!" Ali grinned before kissing Adam again and leaving him to talk in private. She walked into the lounge with a spring in her step, she always loved the holidays, but this year was extra special now she had Adam in her life to share it with. "God, I'm so cheesy!" she said to no-one in particular as she began to fill the coffee maker.

Adam followed Ali into the kitchen five minutes later, after a brief chat with his mother. "How's your Mom?" Ali asked as Adam stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "She's good," He replied. "She wishes you a Merry Christmas and wants to know when she can meet you; she even talked about coming to New York! In the seven years I've been here she hasn't once offered to come see me, and now it's all she can talk about!" Ali thought carefully for a moment before responding, knowing that she already knew the answer to the question she was about to ask. "What do you think's changed her mind then?" Adam shrugged. "I'm not sure, she said something about ex-girlfriends, and you, and something about me always talking about you or something. I'm not really sure; I think I was only half listening!" Ali laughed; Adam had a habit of only half listening to his Mom on the phone, and Christmas day was clearly no exception. "Do you want presents or breakfast first?!" Ali asked, moving the conversation away from Adam and his Mom. Adam contemplated his options for a moment before his face lit up. "Presents!" He grinned, taking Ali by the hand and leading her into the lounge.


Present opening at Ali's was quite different to that at the Messer's; there were no piles of paper covering the floor, no opened presents spread across the floor, everything was neatly placed. Adam had mostly bought Ali small gifts; a few DVDs she wanted; a book she had pointed out to him weeks ago and forgotten all about; a t-shirt saying "I heart my geek"; a box of her favourite chocolates. He had saved the best until last: just as Ali thought she had unwrapped all of her present from Adam, he whipped out another. "Adam!" She admonished. "Don't you think you spent enough on me?" He just grinned at her as she stared at him. "Open it then!" He chided, desperate to see the look on her face when she opened the silver box in her hands. Ali carefully tugged on the ribbon around the box before removing the lid. "Oh Adam!" She gasped as she took in the box's contents: a silver charm bracelet containing two heart shaped charms. "I know we haven't said that word yet, but..." he paused. "I love you Ali, I think I've loved you from the very moment I first saw you walk into the crime lab with Lucy." Tears welled in Ali's eyes as she looked at Adam. "I love you too!" She cried, flinging her arms around his neck, tears running shamelessly down her cheeks. "I love you too." She murmured, kissing Adam on the cheek before burying her face in his chest.


I really wanted this chapter to be longer, but my brain doesn't seem to want to function very well tonight! Soooo, here's the next installment anyway! Still more Danny/Lindsay/Lucy/Adam/Ali madness to follow!