"But you never take Christmas off!" Sarah blurted, looking at Briar Rose as if she'd suddenly grown a second head. "For years!"

"Yes, well this year . . ." Briar Rose took a sip of coffee and tried to stay calm. She knew Sarah didn't like surprises; as the head of the surgical scheduling team, she planned everything meticulously, keeping the daily routines for everyone on the hospital rotation on an even keel.

"I can do it, I suppose," Sarah admitted, "but it's . . . weird. Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine," Briar Rose protested. "I'm allowed to celebrate a holiday ON the holiday once in a while, right?"

"Sure," Sarah agreed, her suspicion fading a bit. "It's not like you haven't put in the time for other people, that's for sure. Let me get on it and I'll see what I can do. I can probably get Horowitz or Martin to swap."

"If you could, I would appreciate it very much," Briar Rose told her, feeling mingled trepidation and relief. Having Sarah on her side helped, but the idea of not working on Christmas was still a little uncertain for her. She carried her mug into the elevator and went up to her office, getting ready for the first consultation of the day.

There weren't too many patients who wanted surgery before the holidays, and Briar Rose knew her schedule would definitely pick up by mid-January of course but it was nice to know that barring major emergencies she'd have some time to shop and decorate. After meeting with Mrs. Pham (routine tubal ligation) and Ms Thompson (vaginal reconstruction) Briar Rose opened up her laptop and did a little on-line window shopping.

It dawned on her that perhaps the best way to get to know the Reagans was to share who she was, and with that in mind, Briar Rose spent some time calling in a few favors from Cherry Hollow. Afterwards she ordered a tree to be delivered, and saw it was time to attend the weekly staff debriefing.

Lucas had saved her a seat at the long conference table and she slipped in, sitting next to him as Elliot Petrov, head of the department gave a little grunt. Most of the others were there with a few stragglers coming in after she did. Briar Rose kept her expression neutral, but Lucas wasn't as polite.

"Waste of time," he grumbled, as he always did. "All this could be done through emails and I wouldn't have to leave my breakfast Panini on my desk. So what's up with Christmas?"

Briar Rose was trying to pay attention to Petrov's drone about some sort of team review for March, and only half-heard Lucas' question. "Christmas?"

"Yeah, Sarah mentioned you wanted it off this year. So is this thing with the new guy getting serious?" he teased, but his glance held an honest question.

She took a sip of her coffee before answering, not exactly sure what to say, waiting for Petrov to look at the other side of the conference table. "It is," Briar Rose finally confessed. "Lord help me, it is."

Lucas grinned broadly, and scribbled a note on a post-it, passing it to her as he turned an attentive face to Petrov, who was frowning.

DETAILS! The note read, and Briar Rose smothered a giggle at that. She scribbled after the meeting and passed it back, turning her attention to the Chief of Surgery and his new guidelines on meetings with pharmaceutical reps.

Afterwards she and Lucas chatted on the way back up to their offices and he looked alarmed when Briar Rose finally dropped the name.

"Reagan? That huge one who was having lunch with the off-limits blonde of my dreams? THAT Reagan?" he blurted.

"That Reagan," Briar Rose admitted, trying not to laugh. "He's really very nice."

Lucas shot her a dubious look. "Have you seen him at a press conference broadcasts? Or when they do a sound bite for the news, B-Rose? He looks like he personally wants to reinstate the death penalty!"

"Yes well he can look intimidating," Briar Rose agreed, well-aware that Lucas had a point. A somber-faced Frank Reagan was a formidable presence. "But that's for the general public."

Her friend didn't look entirely convinced. "He called me, you know. Personally. Was very direct about . . . well, let's just say I got the message about boundaries and proprieties and the stalker laws. Not that I as stalking."

"You were being romantically enthusiastic, as you do at times," Briar Rose nodded. "And in this case you're lucky the intervention was cordial."

Lucas sighed. "Yeah message received. Still, you and that grizzly . . . that's scary. He really doesn't look like your type!"

"I don't have a type," Briar Rose shot back with a hint of bitterness as they reached her office door. "You know that."

"Hey," Lucas reached out a hand and laid it on her shoulder, his expression stricken. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. What I should be saying is 'good for you!' I know it's been a long time since you've gotten serious about anyone. And I'm glad for you, B-Rose, I really am. Just because I don't see it doesn't mean it isn't right for you."

She laid her hand over his and smiled. "Thanks. Still in the early days but he really is special, Lucas."

"Good," Lucas nodded. His face shifted to an impish expression. "So . . . is he also good . . . ?"

She blushed. "I am not going to kiss and tell, unlike some people around here!"

"Annnd with that I have my answer," Lucas crowed, grinning. "Man, does he know about your . . . prescription?"

"Gotta go!" Briar Rose told him, waggling her fingers and ducking into her office to giggle. She leaned against the door, feeling a surge of pleasure as she dipped into a few memories for a moment, giddy.

She knew things now.

Frank Reagan snored, for one. Not loudly or all night, but a little soft purr sometimes that rumbled a bit. She knew that while he didn't mind being the big spoon, he really liked being the little spoon, and when Briar Rose wrapped herself around his broad back and threw a long leg over his, he would sigh contentedly.

She knew he liked his eggs scrambled and his coffee black with a little sugar; that he checked on his family regularly and he said a lot without words. The two of them could pass an entire morning holding hands and sharing glances, giving into a kiss now and then.

It was quietly wonderful, this easy give and take. So much so that Briar Rose wondered what would eventually break. There had to be something that would work its way into this relationship, and all she wanted was a little forewarning. With Wendell it had been his parents, obviously. She was sure they'd been the ones to pressure him out of the relationship, not that he didn't agree with them. Being involved with a gweilo woman had been bad enough in their eyes, Briar Rose knew, but one who would never have children . . . .

She pushed the thought and herself away, straightening from the door and settling back at her desk, determined to get as much out of the way as she could before the holidays.

-oo00oo—

The call was unexpected but welcome; Briar Rose set George's food down as she wedged her phone between shoulder and cheek. "Hey Henry."

"Hey B-Rose," Henry responded, sounding a little awkward but upbeat. "Wanted to see if you had a free evening to do some shopping with me."

She checked the kitchen clock, noting it was nearly five. "Uh sure . . . where were you thinking of going?"

"There's a Christmas Bazaar down at John Paul Jones Park this time of year," Henry replied. "Sponsored by the Police and Fire Widows and Children's Benefit. I like to get a few things there every year."

"Sounds good," Briar Rose agreed, feeling a sense of relief—John Paul Jones Park was only a few minutes away compared to the ninety minute commute getting to Manhattan would be this time in the late afternoon. "When would you like me to pick you up?"

"I was hoping to get out there in about an hour?"

"Perfect," she told him. "See you then."

Henry came out as she pulled up and she realized he must have been watching from the windows for her. He was bundled up with a plaid scarf and a flat cap, looking merry as he climbed in the passenger side. "Thanks for doing this," he told her. "It's getting harder and harder to ditch the family when it comes to shopping."

Briar Rose grinned at him. "You like to surprise them," she deduced.

He grinned back at her. "Absolutely. No fun in being predictable. Besides, they have this booth with some of the best hot chocolate in all of North America. I'm telling you, whipped cream taller than the Empire State building and enough mini marshmallows to float an oil tanker!"

"I can't wait," she assured him.

They got lucky with parking, finding one of the last open spaces in the lot across from the event, and as they got out Briar Rose could hear music drifting through the air. Henry paid the lot attendant and nodded towards the candy cane archway where people were headed, keeping pace with Briar Rose. "This is the place. If you weren't in a Christmas mood before, you will be after this!"

He was right of course; the festive atmosphere was friendly and full of good cheer. They wandered around, looking at various booths for a while with Henry sharing his list. "Nicky wants something called an ear cuff, Lord help me, and Sean asked for Celtic wear. I usually get Erin some of these fancy cooking oils with the herbs in them, and maybe a houseplant but she told me to stop because they always die on her."

"No time?" Briar Rose guessed, and Henry nodded.

"Yep."

"You should get her a silk one," she suggested. "They look gorgeous and she won't end up feeling guilty."

"That's a thought," he agreed, steering her towards a booth where a line was forming. Briar Rose realized it was the hot chocolate and that only a few people were ahead of them.

Henry pointed out towards the middle of the fair. "There's an ornament maker there. I get Danny, Jamie and Frank a new police ornament every year. Frank's got enough to do a separate tree with 'em."

"Does he?" Briar Rose wanted to know.

"He does," Henry murmured with pride. "In his office. Nice display for anyone coming through."

"Nice," Briar Rose agreed. "Is the Reagan family tree up yet?"

"Nah," Henry told her as they moved up in the line. "We do it all together after the second Sunday dinner in December. We've got some family ornaments, and then everybody brings a new one to share, if they've got one by then."

A suspicion dawned on her and she caught Henry's too-innocent gaze. "If they've got one," she repeated.

Busted, he laughed. "Well we're here, so at least you and I will be able to bring new ones, right?"

The hot chocolate lived up to Henry's description, and they settled at a picnic table to enjoy it, taking a pause in shopping. Henry looked slightly pensive now, and Briar Rose waited for him to speak.

"Briar Rose . . ." he began, and hesitated. She gazed at him, waiting, and he started again. "Honey . . . you know Frank's crazy about you, right?"

"I had an inkling," she admitted, feeling warm. "A hint."

"Yeah," Henry gave a half smile. "So I guess what I want to know is . . . you feel the same way, right? You're not gonna break my son's heart, are you? Because it's been a long damned time since Mary Margaret, and Frank . . . he's not the kind of man who does anything half-assed. Not at work and not in his personal life. I mean-you're the only woman he's ever brought to dinner in the last fourteen years."

Briar Rose took a deep breath, warming her hands around the Styrofoam cup. "I would never knowingly, willingly break Frank's heart. He's . . ." helplessly she looked up and around, trying to find the right words. "He's the best thing to happen to me in years, Henry. He's kind and sweet and he's becoming a part of me. A really, really important part of me."

Henry smiled, his teeth flashing. "So . . . you have it bad too."

"I have it bad too," Briar Rose agreed, feel her face go red.

"Okay then," Henry reached over to pat her hand. "I love my son. Lost my first one, didn't think we'd have a second chance but we did. Francis is . . . he's a gift. Everything a father could want and more, even when we butt heads. Especially when we butt heads. And all I want is for him to be happy. Not successful or important or powerful—he's done that all on his own. But happy. And you . . . you make him happy."

Embarrassingly Briar Rose felt the prickle of tears. "Ohhhh . . ." she sniffled, trying not to sob at this honest confession. Henry fished out a handkerchief—a genuine cotton handkerchief and passed it to her. She noted the hand-embroidered monogram even as she wiped her eyes.

"Okay then," Henry murmured, his own voice none too steady. "I'm damned glad you feel the same way and I hope you understand why I had to check."

"Yes," Briar Rose nodded. "I do. But Henry . . . I can't promise anything I'm not in a position to promise beyond loving Frank. Life is complicated."

He took the final sip of his hot chocolate and smiled again at her. "Nah. Once you establish the loving part, the rest finds a way. Trust me on that, B-Rose. So let's go see if we can find whatever the hell an ear cuff is, okay?"