"Our lives are made in these small hours -
these little wonders, these twists and turns of fate.
Time falls away, but these small hours,
these small hours still remain."
-Rob Thomas

Though the clock read only a little after four, the sky had already begun to dim by the time Enos and Daisy arrived at the farm, and the western horizon was painted in brilliant hues of orange and pink with the setting sun.

Enos pulled up beside the General Lee, put the truck in park, and killed the engine. Instead of getting out, he shifted sideways in the seat with his back against the door, an expression of nervous anticipation on his face.

Daisy's glance fell from his face to his hands which had resumed their usual fidgeting, belying his internal turmoil despite the easy smile he flashed her from across the cab. His eyes flicked to the house behind her before settling back on her own. He exhaled forcefully.

"So...," he began, but waited, leaving his thoughts unspoken.

The silence stretched out between them, long enough for Daisy to muse on what Enos' behavior around Uncle Jesse and the boys might be tonight. It would be just as well if he was nervous - it would be expected, and it would do more to putting everyone else at ease than any new behavior would. She finally asked him what was wrong.

"Uh...well..." A defeated look crossed his face as he leaned towards her and propped his elbow up on the back of the bench seat. "Shucks, Daisy, I ain't been this nervous to see your family since I don't know when."

"Oh Enos, don't be silly."

His eyes narrowed intently as the ghost of a smile played on his lips. "I've been around enough times when Uncle Jesse's raked your boyfriends across the coals."

His words were light with humor, but they gave Daisy pause. Calling him him that sounded - well, it sounded cheap. For Daisy, boyfriends were meant to be admired and cooed over and then tossed back into that sea of men who were ever so much willing to be dangled about by her for a short while. Safely shallow - no strings attached.

They were...disposable.

But Enos was different in every one of a million ways. Although they had grown apart over the years, the way she'd felt about him had never really changed. There had never been a time when she could have honestly replied that she didn't love him, in some way or another.

She suspected part of her fickleness with men had to do with the fact that she'd always used Enos as their gold standard, and that no one had ever quite measured up to what she had come to expect from him. They were never reliable enough, sensitive enough, in love with her enough, never sweet enough, considerate enough, or honest enough, never cared about her opinion, never listened...

"You're not like them, Enos," she said, softly.

His eyes searched her face, trying to read her meaning. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

She turned her head to kiss his fingers which had been idly twirling her hair. "You really wanna be in the same category as they are?"

He looked up at the ceiling, pretending to ponder over her question before looking back at her and grinning. "I dunno, I reckon it depends on what category we're talking about."

She blushed and looked down. Regardless of whether he'd meant his words as innuendo or he was just teasing her, his lightheartedness over her past made the guilt inside her bubble up.

How could he sit there, loving her, when she'd never given him much more than a few shreds of hope? Most men would've cut their losses and thrown in their chips years ago. And yet Enos had always been there, hovering just out of reach - constant through everything.

"I've always loved you, Enos, ever since we were kids. It's just -"

"I'm not dangerous, mysterious, sexy, or terribly complicated," he offered, matter-of-factually when she hesitated.

Is that what he thought? He had always kept to himself, even when he was younger, and he was a heck of a lot smarter than he led most people to believe. More than anyone else she knew, he was an enigma- a puzzle of dark, erratic pieces that didn't seem to fit together unless you had first seen the big picture. It was that hidden side of Enos that most attracted her to him. It was easy to brush him off when he was playing a dimwit around Rosco or cloaked behind his politely detached propriety – but now - alone with her with all his cards at last on the table, and watching her with eyes that harbored even more mysteries behind them, he was all of those things and more, and ignoring her heart was as impossible as holding back the sea.

"No," she whispered, "that's not it at all. I was gonna say that... well, I ain't been a saint, Enos." The words were bitter, but true, and she fought past the lump in her throat. "I think you probably deserve better than me." He couldn't be surprised by her confession, her checkered history was no secret to anyone who had known her well.

He slid closer to her across the seat and tilted her face back up to his, but she focused on the barn out the windshield instead of him, not wanting to see the truth of it in his eyes.

He stroked her cheek. "Daisy, look at me."

She slid her gaze slowly back to his, where in place of their usual calm, a stormy, green ocean raged. She was momentarily transfixed by the thought of that metaphor, imagining herself drowning in their depths.

"I don't care about any of that, Daisy. Whats in the past is in the past, and I swear I've already forgotten anything you might be talking about."

She shook her head in disbelief. "How can you say that? You're just proving my point."

"Dang it, Daisy! I can't help how much I love you," he snapped, an edge of anger in his voice. "You're the only one who can't seem to let it go. If you think that's gonna scare me away, you don't know me as well as I thought you did."

Could she just forget? Was it even possible? Her mind cycled through all the petty flings she'd had - a few with men little more than strangers, drifting through Hazzard on their way to places unknown. It was more than forgetting, it was about forgiving herself. It wasn't something she was good at, she was far more talented at digging herself deeper holes.

As if he had read her thoughts, Enos whispered quietly. "Everyone deserves to start over, Daisy." He slid his arm around her shoulders and drew her closer to him so that her head rested against him and raked his fingers gently through her hair. "I just...I wish you'd trust me when I say I don't care."

Daisy closed her eyes and let herself feel the warmth and strength of his embrace. It had been true, what she had told him about being different from everyone else. There was something stronger than any fleeting feeling of attraction, something that had never died despite all that time had brought between them. She loved him, and being in his arms was like coming home after a long, wearisome journey.

"You promise?" she whispered against his shirt.

"With all my heart."

Through a crack in the newly installed living room blinds, a set of blue eyes watched the motionless pickup truck with growing dread. Footsteps sounded as Luke entered the room, walked across it, and settled beside his cousin at the window.

"What're they doing?"

Bo strained his eyes, but the image before him remained the same. "Just talking, looks like."

Luke pulled down a slat from the blinds to watch with him. "They sure have been talking long enough. Enos ain't hardly got the courage to be in the same room as Daisy for five minutes, much less sit in a truck and talk to her for twenty."

"They was doin' a lot more than talking this morning, cuz," Bo reminded him, sourly. "You know, I just hate for Enos to get his heart broken. I don't think the poor guy's got a clue that Daisy ain't herself right now."

Luke grunted his agreement. "At least he's finally -"

"You boys get away from that window," called Uncle Jesse from the kitchen, "there ain't much trouble they can get into in front of the house. Cletus'll be along any minute now, anyway."

Bo let the blind fall back into it's place, rubbing the dust on his fingers off on his jeans before heaving a sigh and slapping Luke on the shoulder. "Uncle Jesse's right. Can't get in to too much trouble out front."

"You must not remember Mary Lou Semple," chided Luke, "I reckon you two got into enough trouble parking out there."

Bo laughed. "Not as much as we would've if we hadn't gotten caught."

Luke dropped the slat he'd been looking through and pulled down another higher up. "There's Cletus coming down the road right now. I 'spect he'll drag Enos off to listen to him ramble on about something." He turned away from the window. "Come on, cuz, let's finish carving up that ham."

"It's gonna be dark soon, Daisy. We best get outta here for Uncle Jesse comes out to see what's wrong."

Enos' breath tickled the top of her head and Daisy sighed, not wanting to leave her current location or predicament. He was right, though, the last rays of daylight were quickly fading to the monochrome gray of dusk and the last thing she wanted was Bo or Luke tripping over themselves to see what was the matter with her. Instead of sitting up and moving away from Enos though, she tilted her head back, her nose grazing gently against his chin before his mouth instinctively found hers.

She could never be sure afterwards if she'd heard the car behind them and merely ignored it, or if she had even heard it at all. Regardless, when she and Enos finally separated, they were met by the sight of Cletus Hogg, staring at them from outside the passenger's side window, his eyes the size of saucers and his mouth falling open, unhinged by shock.

"Go away, Cletus, we're busy," Enos shouted, loud enough to be heard through the glass window of the truck.

Cletus blinked quickly several times and proceeded to walk slowly backwards, his eyes fixed on the two of them until he tripped over the first step and landed hard on his rear end. The fall seemed to jerk him back into the present. He turned around, ran up the steps, and knocked loudly on the front door of the house. It opened and he disappeared into the kitchen.

"S'pose he'll tell 'em what we were doing?" Daisy mused.

"It don't matter," Enos answered, "I'm pretty sure they already know 'bout us."

She turned quickly to look at him. "What'd'you mean? We ain't even been here, cept' early today."

"No, but Bo saw us in the kitchen this morning, and I'm fairly sure he's done spilled the beans to Luke and Uncle Jesse."

"Bo? I didn't even see him 'till Uncle Jesse had to fish him outta his room when we left."

Enos grinned knowingly down at her. "Yeah, well, I saw his reflection in the kitchen window," he said. "He was wearing about the same expression as Cletus was, before he ran off like a scalded cat. That's why I's so nervous about being here."

Daisy groaned inwardly. No doubt the guys would be watching them like a hawk all night. She wished Cletus hadn't of seen them, though, if only because he would have drawn everyone's attention away with his endless supply of crazy stories. The kitchen door opened again and Luke stepped out onto the porch, his attention focused on the truck.

"Well, sugar, you'd best get over it quick. Just act natural."

Enos uttered a nervous, high-pitched laugh before opening his door and getting out. Daisy followed suit out the passenger door and strolled leisurely towards the steps as Enos fell in step behind her.

"We were about to call the fire brigade to get the Jaws of Life after you," smirked Luke. "What'cha do, lose the door handle?"

Daisy frowned at her cousin. "Funny, Luke. Get too dark for binoculars?"

"You got something you wanna tell me?"

"No, not particularly." She brushed past him and opened the door to the kitchen.

The smells and sounds of Christmas enveloped her as she walked inside. Bo was carving the last of the ham from the bone while Uncle Jesse was finishing up the cranberry salad. As she and Enos entered, they stopped what they were doing and turned towards them. The looks on their faces were anything but typical, and Daisy knew Enos had been right. Both wore somewhat dour expressions; Uncle Jesse's full of concern as he seemed to examine her for anything that might be visibly amiss, while Bo focused worriedly on Enos.

"You guys look like you just got a call saying Santa couldn't make it this year," she told them, light-heartedly.

Bo shook his head and turned his attention to her. "Uh...well, sorry Daisy. I guess...I guess I'm still just a little worried about you after yesterday."

"Bo," she laughed, "there ain't nothing wrong with me. Y'all are the one's who've got me worried. Y'ain't even got the carols on. I can't make pies without Christmas carols."

She grabbed Enos' hand and proceeded to drag him through the kitchen towards the living room before he could even get a word in edgewise. He turned and called back a greeting to Uncle Jesse.

"Evening to you, too, Enos," Uncle Jesse said, quietly, watching as the deputy followed after his niece.

The rest of the night was much of the same with guarded looks from Bo and Luke, and Uncle Jesse being far too quiet - which usually meant she would be receiving a lecture on something or other soon. Cletus still seemed too unsettled to enjoy himself, even with a table full of food at his disposal.

Daisy found herself wondering why it was that they'd always seemed to have such a hard time imagining her with Enos. After all, they'd been nearly inseparable growing up. Why was it that she could bring home a complete stranger she'd plucked off the side of the road and the rest of her family would hardly bat an eye, but Enos...

Perhaps...perhaps it struck them, as it had her, as being more...permanent...since it was someone they had known all their lives.

Other than that, she could only guess, and she was determined not to let their reservations change her own actions. After gifts were exchanged (Bo had drawn her name that year and had given her a manicure set), she nestled beside Enos as Uncle Jesse turned down the lights and they sang carols bathed in the glow of the Christmas tree.

The soft blush of the colored lights in the darkened room and the warmth of the man next to her eased her mind until three carols later, she could barely keep her eyes open.

"You look tired," Enos whispered, as she stifled another yawn.

"Hmm. I didn't get much sleep last night," she murmured back.

Enos shifted so that her head lay against his shoulder and put his arm around her. She closed her eyes, feeling the vibration of his baritone voice resonating through him as he sang.

The next thing Daisy knew, Enos was gently shaking her awake.

"Daisy. Daisy, hun, wake up."

She opened her eyes and lifted her head from Enos' shoulder, momentarily confused by her surroundings. The living room was deserted save for the two of them, but the kitchen lights were on. The wrapping paper than had littered the floor earlier had been cleaned up and thrown away and there were fresh logs on the fireplace in preparation for bedtime.

"Hey, I'm sorry, hun," he said. "I gotta go."

She sat up straighter, realizing that she must have been out for some time. "Oh, shoot, Enos. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

He brushed her hair from her face. "Shucks, Daisy. That's okay."

She looked around. "Where is everyone?" she asked, thinking that it was odd for them to have been left alone what with all the attention bestowed on them earlier.

"Oh, they're all still lurking around. Making sure you don't take advantage of me, I reckon."

"Is that something you're worried about?" she teased.

His eyes danced with silent laughter. "Should I be?"

"Definitely." Luke cleared his throat, alerting her to his presence at the entrance to the hallway. "But I'd say you're probably pretty safe around here...for now."

"You about ready, Enos?" asked Luke.

Daisy offered to drive him home herself, but was answered immediately by two resounding "no's".

"You need to get some sleep," said Enos. "Don't worry, I'll see you tomorrow."

She took the hand he offered to help her up, but kept it in her own instead of releasing it. "Fine, then I'll walk you to the General." She shot Luke a warning look, daring him to protest.

In the kitchen, Bo and Uncle Jesse sat at the table, watching them as they passed by. It reminded Daisy vaguely of a "perp walk" for criminals, and she resolved to give the guys a piece of her mind the next day. It wasn't as though they had much choice in the matter, so they could just get over it.

Enos, didn't seem to notice. He bid them both a Merry Christmas and thanked them for supper as he pulled on his coat, and then followed her out the door onto the porch.

Daisy took his hand again as he stifled a yawn and together they walked down the steps and over to the Charger.

"You know Luke ain't gonna leave us alone out here," he informed her quietly, just as the door banged opened again behind them and Luke walked out.

"Hmm. I'm gonna have a talk with him tomorrow." She turned towards Enos and slid her arms around his neck. "I still get a good-night kiss."

"You're libel to get a talk from Uncle Jesse."

She shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first." A snatch of her dream came back to her, something that Enos had said about Luke. "You ain't afraid of Luke, are you?"

His passionate kiss left no doubt that, no, he was not.