WARNING: Some adult themes in this chapter but not enough to rate it M. May get to... descriptive towards the end.


Santa Barbara: December 25, 2012

"Are you alright?" Juliet rubbed Shawn's shoulder as they sat outside waiting for Carlton to arrive. Shawn nodded and sniffled before rubbing at his eyes. "Don't rub." Juliet softly pulled his hand away, "It'll just irritate your eyes." She stroked his hair.

"Jeez. I'm so sorry Jules, I'm just a piece of crying shit." He shook his head.

"No you're not. I love you and its fine if you break down every once in a while. You're so strong and emotionless a lot. It's perfectly normal to cry." Juliet kissed his cheek and held his hands.

"Lassie doesn't cry." Shawn mumbled.

Juliet chuckled, "Well, Carlton isn't exactly normal. But he's getting there. His relationship with Marlowe is really taking off. It'll be good for him to have someone to cuddle with."

"Really? Now I've got to get Lassie cuddling out of my head." Juliet leaned her forehead on the side of Shawn's.

"Even Lassie needs a cuddle." Juliet cupped Shawn's chin and stroked his neck.

"Not you too O'Hara." Juliet looked up and blushed slightly.

"Didn't see you there Carlton." She stood up behind Shawn. Carlton shrugged and put his hands in his pockets.

"Do you like cuddling Lassie?" Shawn asked standing up slowly.

"Let's go." Carlton turned around ignoring Shawn's questions.

"I'm serious Lassie. If so, I know what to get you for Christmas now!" Shawn ran behind Lassiter and jumped like a puppy. Juliet followed the boys.

"Which would be?" Carlton glared at Shawn.

"Snuggling coupons, duh. I gave them to Jules for our anniversary. She loved them. But they're just for snuggles. For you anyway." Shawn wagged his eyebrows.

"Shawn!" Juliet smacked his arm her blush spreading around her face.

"What Jules? Lassie doesn't care." Shawn motioned to Carlton who had sped up his pace.

"I do." She grabbed Shawn's arm and dragged him over to Carlton's car. Shawn sat in the back seat and Juliet sat next to him despite Carlton's numerous offers' to sit up front. "So. How's your morning?" Juliet had placed Shawn's hand in her lap.

"It was alright. Marlowe got me some ties. I got her a necklace." Carlton looks at her from the review mirror.

"The sparkly one with a heart on the chain?" Carlton nodded, "Good. I knew she'd like that one." She settled back into the seat as the car moved onto the freeway. Carlton flicked on the radio to replace the silence that had developed in. Juliet softly hummed along to the tune of "Jingle Bells" and played with Shawn's hand. Shawn had leaned his head against the window and closed his eyes.

"Why are his eyes red?" Carlton said. Juliet looked at Shawn's eyes and back at her partner.

"Allergies," She lied. "He's been rubbing at them all morning." Carlton let it slip. They'd been partners for over six years; he'd learned to tell when she was lying. However, Carlton had started paying more attention to her behavior after the announcement of her dating Shawn. If her behavior began to change to where she was upset and well, eating tubs of ice-cream, Carlton wouldn't hesitate to gun down the so called Psychic.

"I'm sure Marlowe may have some allergy medication at the house, she gets them too. I don't think she'd mind sparing one pill to give it to him."

"Thanks Carlton." Juliet moved her right hand up to rest on Shawn's throat. There she felt slow steady breaths making its way into his lungs, "He's asleep." Her hand ran up against his skin and stroked the side of his head.

"Did you guys get any sleep last night? I mean, because of everything that's happening not because of you two doing anything or…" He trailed off awkwardly.

"I slept okay. I thought Shawn did too but apparently not. And I wouldn't tell you anything about… that." She rolled her eyes.

"Good, wouldn't want to hear it." Carlton rolled down his window and let the warm air blow into the car. They sat in silence as the drive continued. Juliet kept looking from Shawn to out the window. Carlton knew something was wrong. His partner was taking extra care of the man she loved. He also knew Shawn only got allergy attacks in the spring and early summer. His eyes were red for another reason.

He wanted to ask Juliet what was going on, but as big as his curiosity was he held his tongue. With the wedding coming up soon and the recent uprising of crimes and the sudden personal issues that had begun to attack her home life, Carlton didn't want to add to her stress. Over the years he'd seen her in every emotion. Eagerness to please, happiness, sadness, the glints of mischief. He's also seen her at rock bottom. Her eyes flashing hurt whenever the Psychic came into a room after he'd started dating Abigail, pulling her from the clock tower Yin had strapped to her to- Carlton has seen it all when it came to his partner. Yet the look on her face now he couldn't place, and it bothered him more than anything.

"I'll go inside and tell Marlowe you're here. Wake him up." Carlton exited the car and walked up to the front door of the house. Juliet sighed and leaned her head against Shawn's shoulder. "Shawn?" She looked at him. Shawn let out a sniffle.

"Shawn? Come on." She placed her palm on Shawn's chest and shook him gently. His eyes jumped open and his body tensed, "Relax, It's just me. I didn't mean to startle you." Shawn blinked a few times, his eyes registering his surroundings.

"Jules?" he looked at her.

She nodded, "We're at Carlton's. You wouldn't recognize it. This is the first time you've been here." She patted his chest in order to reassure him.

"It's nice." Shawn looked at the dark green house in front of him. The lawn was made of dirt and sand with rocks at random points.

"Well it's Carlton. He wants a... rustic look to it." Juliet opened up the car door next to Shawn and gently pushed him out. Shawn stood up and stretched as Juliet shut the door. "Marlowe's waiting." She linked her arms through his and walked up the path. "Carlton?" She knocked on the open door and stepped inside.

"Juliet!" Marlowe appeared a few seconds later, sweeping Juliet into a hug. "Oh I'm so glad you could make it! Hello Shawn." She moved from Juliet to Shawn.

"Merry Christmas." Shawn let her hug him and was pushed inside. Marlowe shut the door and led them both further into the house. "I'm sorry for the heat, the AC is broken."

"Damn thing." Carlton said from the couch. He undid his tie and stood up, popping one of the buttons on his shirt.

"Want until I get singles before you strip Lassie, it's only polite." Shawn joked earning a laugh from Marlowe.

"Shut up Spencer!" Carlton hissed walking towards the bedrooms Shawn assumed.

"Oh cuddlekins calm down. I'm sure we'd all love to see your sexy body."

"Marlowe…" Carlton scratched the back of his neck while Juliet coughed uncomfortably and Shawn's eyebrows shot up.

"Marlowe?" She spun towards Shawn, "Honest question here, um, does Lassie have abs?" Juliet smacked the back of Shawn's head. From his tone Juliet could tell Shawn was trying hard to be normal, so she acted normal.

"Don't answer that!" Carlton screamed before a door slammed shut.

"Oh I don't know why he's so sensitive. He's got a cute body, and yes some abs." Shawn nodded. "Carlton mentioned you needed this." She placed a pink pill into Shawn's palm.

"Allergy medication." Juliet answered Shawn's puzzled look, "Just take it." Shawn popped the pill into his mouth and swallowed it.

"Dinner should be ready soon, are you both hungry?" Marlowe grabbed Juliet's hand and sat her down on the couch.

"A little." Juliet nodded patting the spot next to her. Shawn sat next to her and Juliet leaned against him.

"That's good. And how is the wedding plans going? Is that still happening? With everything going on?" Marlowe looked Juliet in the eyes.

"Yes. Despite everything going on, Shawn and I are still getting married in two months. We're rather excited." Shawn nodded.

"That's great!" Marlowe smiled, "I love weddings! All the white and people and cake. It's just lovely." She clapped her hands together.

"Take a break there Marlowe," Shawn chuckled, "Wouldn't want you fainting or anything."

"That's very thoughtful of you Shawn. Would you go check on Carlton for me?" Marlowe gave Shawn a look.

"Sure?" Shawn stood up and headed to where Carlton had disappeared to a few minutes before.

"I wanted to talk to you alone." Marlowe sat closer to her.

"What's up?" Juliet grasped her knees.

"You wouldn't be…" Marlowe looked to see if the men had come back into the room, satisfied that they wouldn't overheard she turned back to Juliet, "Pregnant would you?"

"Wha- Where's that coming from?" Juliet felt yet another blush creeping up on her cheeks.

"Well, Carlton told me you had a fainting spell a few nights ago. And I thought that maybe you were pregnant." Marlowe shrugged.

Juliet sighed, "I'm not pregnant. And even if I didn't know, they did blood tests when I was there, they would have told me. So no, I'm not pregnant."

"I'm sorry if that was too personal. Carlton's always telling me to watch what I say."

"Don't worry about it, I don't mind." Juliet nodded.

"Good!" She jumped up, "Boys! Let's eat!"

PsychPsychPsych

"Thank you for inviting us, this was awesome." Shawn wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"Yes, it was very good. You cooked this by yourself?" Juliet grasped Shawn's hand under the table.

"My little snooglykins can cook can't she?" Carlton gushed at Marlowe.

"Oh snugglybear." Marlowe rubbed her nose against Carlton's.

"Can we go now?" Shawn asked looking at Juliet pleadingly.

"I can take you guys home, or to the hotel." Carlton offered.

"Thank you Carlton." Everyone stood up, "Thank you again Marlowe. It was wonderful." Juliet and Marlowe shared a quick hug.

"Don't be a stranger you two." Marlowe called as they walked outside.

"We won't!" Juliet yelled back. They piled into the car and began to drive away.

"Snugglybear?" Shawn commented from the backseat.

"Shut up Spencer." Carlton glared at Shawn.

"Can I call you Lassiebear? Or oooh, I know!" Shawn opened his mouth.

"If you value your life you will not say another word." Carlton threatened. Shawn shut his mouth and leaned into his seat, mumbling something Juliet couldn't hear.

"Thank you so much Carlton. When Shawn and I get the house back in order, you and Marlowe will have to come over for dinner. We owe you so much." Juliet talked as Carlton pulled into the motel's parking lot.

"Think nothing of it O'Hara. You would be doing the same for me if the situation was reversed." Juliet nodded her agreement.

"No need to walk us in." Juliet and Shawn got out of the car.

"Two uniforms are on their way down for the night, take care." Juliet waved as Carlton drove off. Shawn and Juliet turned to start walking towards their room. "Man I'm full." Shawn placed a hand on his stomach and used the railing to climb up the stairs.

"Me too." Juliet unlocked the room and they both stepped inside, shutting the door behind them. Shawn turned on the light and walked over to the suitcases. Juliet sat down and pulled her hair from the ponytail it was in.

"Merry Christmas Jules." Shawn sat down next to her and placed a box into her lap.

"Shawn, this isn't fair. I didn't get a chance to get you a present. How did you get this?" She questioned opening it slowly.

"I asked Gus to get it and stash it in here earlier so you'd have it." Shawn explained watching her. Juliet carefully took off the red wrapping only to find a velvet box.

"Oh Shawn…" She opened the lid. Inside was a silver necklace stringed with diamonds leading to a ruby heart. "This must've cost you a fortune."

"Damn straight it did. Those are real gems." Shawn pointed to the ruby.

"Why on earth would you spend so much?" Juliet turned around so Shawn could put it around her neck.

"Because I love you and I wanted to get you something nice." Shawn clasped the necklace shut and wrapped his arms around her. "Do you like it?"

"I love it." She leaned back into his chest and looked up. He smiled down and kissed her lips. "Shawn?"

"Hmm?" He hummed resting the side of his head on the tops of hers.

"Don't give Lassiter the snuggle coupons." She broke from his arms and sat so she was facing him.

"And deprive Lassie of my snuggles?" Shawn pouted.

"Or you could give them to me." She said in a husky voice. He dipped his head down and caught her lips in a scorching kiss while pushing her back first onto the bed and climbing on top of her.

PsychPsychPsych

"That could've gone better." Henry sighed opening up the front door.

"You're telling me? Those boys practically clawed at each other." Maddie headed towards the stairs. Henry nodded his agreement and shut the door. He followed Maddie up the stairs and turned left. He flicked on the light of the boys old bedroom. A single bed sat in the middle. It had replaced the bunk bed that the boys used to share. Henry smiled, dimly remembering the nights the boys played peacefully inside.

A shrill scream made his heart stop. Henry turned and ran towards his bedroom. His ex-wife was standing at the doorway, her hands covering her face. Henry looked into the room and covered his own mouth to keep the vomit at bay. A man was on the bed, blood was gushing from numerous wounds as the man moved around. Henry pulled Maddie away from the scene and placed her shaking body against the wall. He turned and walked slowly back into the room as the man's body twitched then ceased to move.


Hope you guys liked :D

Question: Do you guys enjoy longer chapters or shorter ones?