A/N: Here's a Christmas story I wrote. I couldn't figure how to end it, so it just sat there. I finally figured out an ending. A usual, nothing but fluff.

"So, have your folks arrived for Christmas yet?" Asked Morgan as she and Greg walked down the parking garage stairs to their cars. Both were grateful the long shift was finally over. Morgan was also glad she had been able to meet up with Greg in the locker room at the end of shift. She always enjoyed the light, friendly conversation that flowed between the two. Talking with Greg always made her smile.

"Yeah, they arrived, with my aunt as well." Greg said with a smile. "They're excited about spending Christmas and New Year's Eve in Las Vegas."

Morgan smiled as they reached her car. "Are you going to last nine days with them living with you?"

"I don't mind my folks or my aunt. I took Christmas day off to spend time with them, but I'm working the rest of their vacation. I don't think I could handle nine days of total family togetherness!" The duo laughed. "What about your Christmas plans? I hear you and Sara volunteered to work Christmas day."

"Yeah, night shift as usual. My mom and step dad are on a cruise and so is my father." She laughed when she realized it sounded that the three of them were on the same cruise ship. "Not the same cruise though. I don't think there is a boat big enough to handle those three if their paths crossed!"

"Hey listen," Greg changed the topic back to Christmas. "My mom has asked me to extend a Christmas night dinner invitation to you and Sara. She's making a traditional dinner and it'll be over in plenty of time for your shift to start." Greg carried on, rambling. " Sara is visiting her mom and can't make it. But you are more than welcome to have a great dinner with the Sanders clan." Greg was a little nervous about extending the invite to Morgan after Sara declined. Without Sara there, it would feel more intimate, like bringing his girlfriend to dinner. His parents already suspected he had a crush on his co-worker. He was hesitant to see what they'd do when they met her.

Morgan paused, thinking it over. She would love to spend more time with Greg, but to do it with three family members around? Although if she ever admitted her feelings to Greg and they started to date, she'd have to face them eventually. What the hell? She thought, It's better than what I had planned.

"You know what, Greg? I'd like that. Sitting home and making a meal for one and not even being able to have a glass of wine on Christmas doesn't sound that fun. Count me in." She nodded her head affirmatively.

Christmas night was unseasonably warm in Las Vegas and Morgan found herself on Greg's front porch, perspiring a little. She was unsure if it was nerves or the weather. Cautiously knocking on his door, she waited anxiously for Greg to answer.

He came to the door quickly, greeting her with a big smile. "Hello and Merry Christmas." He said, stepping back and inviting her in. He thought about giving her a peck on the cheek, thinking that it may be one of the very few times he could get away with kissing her. Unfortunately, the moment passed and Morgan started talking.

"I brought some wine and some sugar cookies." She said, handing both to Greg. "I made the cookies myself this afternoon. I felt a little more festive than I'd anticipated. So I thought I'd do something Christmassy." She smiled up at Greg, causing his heart to flutter. " I'm glad I'm not spending the evening alone. Thanks again for inviting me."

"Come on in and I'll introduce you to everyone." Said Greg, taking the wine and cookies from her.

He walked her into the house and introduced Morgan to his mom and aunt, who were both busy in the kitchen, but bott stopped to warmly thank Morgan for coming.

"I'm really glad you were able to make it Morgan." Said his aunt Cindy, coming over to give Morgan a cup of apple cider. "I'm a "more the merrier" type of person. So welcome!"

Morgan thanked Cindy and Greg took Morgan to the living room, where Mr. Sanders was watching a football game. Greg made the introductions as Mr. Sanders invited her to sit down.

"So, you can tell me what my son's been up to then? I haven't heard anything interesting about him in a while. I swear he's hiding something." Mr. Sanders smiled at Greg. "Hey Greg, do you want to go get us a couple of beers? I need time alone to interrogate Morgan or whatever it is you do to suspects."

"Alright Dad, but go easy on Morgan." Morgan smiled at him, letting him know she'd be fine. Greg went back to the kitchen to grab two beers.

His Mom and Aunt were waiting for him. As soon as he saw the looks on their faces, he knew was in trouble.

"Greg, is that the Morgan that you are always talking about? She is beautiful." Whispered his mom as Greg opened the fridge.

"Yes, it is the Morgan and yes she is beautiful. Before we go any further, no we are not dating."

"Are you sure?" whispered his aunt, moving through the kitchen to stand beside her sister.

"I really hope I'd be the first one to know if I was dating a beautiful woman like her." Greg said, smiling. He popped the top off of the beers and headed back to the living room. Just like he feared, unbeknownst to Morgan she would now be under scrutiny from the elder women. They were going to look for any indication she was interested in Greg.

Thankfully everyone was on their best behaviour and dinner was a lively and laid back affair. Morgan felt at ease as soon as she sat down at the dinner table. Greg and Morgan told sanitized versions of their wackier cases to his family. Morgan was unaware that Greg's mother and aunt scrutinized every interaction between the two. They watched fascinated as the two interacted like they'd known each other for decades.

"Hey Morgan, can you pass me the-" Greg pointed vaguely near Morgan's plate.

"Sure." She interrupted, handing Greg the pepper shaker. Greg's Mother raised her eyebrows, silently asking Cindy, Did you catch that?

Feeling a bit bolder, Cindy decided to ask Morgan a personal question. "If you don't mind me asking, Morgan, do you have a significant other?"

Morgan smiled, used to the question. "I do not. I spend too much time at work. Greg's the closest thing I have to a boyfriend." Under the table, she patted Greg's knee, smiling at him.

The elder ladies heard the hope in her voice and noticed her reach over to Greg. Greg, however, took the statement with a less optimistic view. Great, I'm just a placeholder until she finds someone she really wants to be with. He looked down at his plate, missing the look Mrs. Sanders and Cindy exchanged. Greg's father just asked his wife to pass the potatoes, completely oblivious to the subtext being dissected non verbally by his wife and sister-in law.

After dinner the entire family cleaned up. Morgan enjoyed the banter between the family members. They teased each other with love and found the smallest things funny. She wished her family was as laid back as theirs.

As Morgan was carrying a dish into the kitchen, following Greg, they heard a loud ding.

"The coffee is brewing!" Announced Greg, casting a glance at his prized possession, a fancy futuristic looking coffee maker.

Morgan laughed, putting the dish on the kitchen island. "Your top of the line coffee maker is hilarious. It has has more buttons and settings than my television." She walked over to the coffee maker to inspect it closely. " I am assuming we're having your secret, top of the line coffee too, or do you switch to the store brand when company comes over?" She teased him as the three adults listened to the banter, wandering in and out of the kitchen, bringing in the last of the dishes from the dining room.

"Hey, you had the good stuff when you were over last week!" Greg turned to face Morgan and gave her a playful jab on the arm.

This caught the attention of Greg's father. He looked at his wife with a confused expression on his face. She walked into the dining room and moved close to her husband. He leaned over to whisper to his wife as she set a pie on the table. "Did I miss something? Are Greg and Morgan dating?"

"They are, I just don't think the two of them realize it yet. " She sighed as she took a peek to make sure the two were still out of earshot. "I wish Sara would have been able to come. She could have filled us in on how they interact at work."

He just shook his head, not understanding the answer at all.

After dessert, the five of them settled down to enjoy a cup of Greg's Blue Hawaiian coffee discussing the best sights of Las Vegas. The big discussion was over where to go for the best view of the midnight fireworks on the Las Vegas strip. It was something, despite being back in Vegas for a few years, Morgan had never seen.

Silence settled around the table as the five of them finished the last of the coffee. "I want to thank you for extending the invitation to have me over tonight. I'm really glad I came." Remarked Morgan, taking the last sip from her coffee mug.

Mrs. Sanders smiled at the younger woman. "I'm really glad you came as well. It's so nice to meet friends of Greg." She smiled, rising up from the table. "I'm thinking it's about time the 3 of us took an after dinner walk. It's such gorgeous weather, we really should be enjoying it. Greg, why don't you take Morgan out on your deck for one more coffee before she has to go to work?" She shrugged, as if trying to make an offhand suggestion.

Greg looked over at Morgan. She smiled in return. "I'd love one more cup of your coffee!" She elbowed Greg, laughing.

"Sure." He rose out of his chair, grabbing Morgans mug. He made his way into the kitchen, making Morgan's coffee just the way she liked it. The elder ladies shared a sly smile as they put the last of the dishes in Greg's dishwasher.

After seeing the others head out the front door for a walk, Greg took Morgan out the sliding patio door to his backyard. Right away, Morgan noticed the beautiful, sturdy wooden porch swing, hanging from the overhang.

"Wow! That is an amazing swing. I haven't seen one like that in ages. Can we sit on it?"

"Sure. The previous owners moved into a condo and asked if I would like it. It was easier to leave it up than to take it down." Greg led Morgan over to the swing and sat down, putting his arm over the back of the swing.

Morgan took a seat beside Greg, leaving a safe distance between the two. As much as she wanted to lean up against him and rest her head on his shoulder, she resisted.

"Thanks for thinking of me and inviting me over. I'm glad you did. This really beats staying home solo." Morgan smiled up at Greg, enjoying the smile he returned. Being out of the lab, in completely different circumstances, not just a quick breakfast or beer after shift, continued to prove to Morgan that her feelings for Greg were not just because they worked together. Tonight she realized that in all aspects, Greg was a great guy. Before she lost her nerve, she decided to see if he would be interested in dating her. Conversations about her feelings were not her strong suit, but she tried anyway.

"Can I be honest with you, Greg?" asked Morgan, tracing the pattern on the side of her coffee mug.

Greg removed his hand from behind her and stiffened up a bit. He'd expected that his Mom and Aunt had scared Morgan a little. They had been a little over the top with their hints and sly looks across the table. He figured at some time Morgan would make it clear to him that she wasn't interested in him romantically. Disappointment flooded his veins. As long as she never actually said anything, he could always hope.

"Uh, sure." Greg managed to reply.

"Are you dating anyone?" She asked.

Caught off guard by the second question, Greg replied with a simple, "No,"

"Have you ever dated anyone at the lab?"

"No. But when Sara first started working at the lab I asked her out." Greg smiled at the memory. It seemed like ages ago.

"Really?" Morgan laughed. "I take it she said no?"

"Yeah." Greg looked down at her and continued. "It's funny when I think back. Now, we're very close to each other and are basically family. She's like my sister. I'm sure it would never have worked out if we'd actually dated. I'm glad she said no."

Morgan smiled up at him. "I never knew that. I'll have to tease Sara about that sometime."

"What about you? Are you dating anyone?" Greg asked, before he lost his nerve.

"Nope. I just find I don't have much time. I've been out for the odd coffee date, but it seems my line of work scares people away. And if they don't scare away by the 2nd date, getting called to go to a crime scene in the middle of the second date seems to work."

"Ditto."

Morgan shifted on the swing, moving subtly closer. She put her arm around the back of the swing. Greg watched her arm move closer to him, his breath quickening. "Do you think that maybe one night the two of us could go out?"

Greg shifted closer to Morgan. Was she asking him out? Her eyes were still fixed on her coffee cup, afraid to look at Greg.

"Name the night and I'll be there." He said simply.

Morgan finally worked up the nerve to look at Greg in the eye. She found him looking down at her, soft smile on his lips. She couldn't help but return the smile. Neither moved. They were close enough that either one could close the gap and place a kiss. However, both were frozen, unafraid to make the next move.

Morgan broke away first. She moved to put her coffee cup on the small table beside the swing.

"Morgan." Greg said her name softly as she turned back to him. "Thank you for for having the nerve to do what I never could."

She gave a little laugh, shaking her head. "Merry Christmas, Greg."

The gap between the two of them closed as their lips met. It was better than Greg had imagined, and he'd imagined it a lot. He moved one hand to cup her face as he continued to enjoy the intimate moment. Morgan shifted her body closer, bringing one hand to run her fingers through the hair on the nape of his neck.

They sat on the porch swing, enjoying each other's company and discussing where they wanted to go for their first official date until it was time for Morgan to head to work.

After he'd seen Morgan to her car, Greg walked back through the house, stopping as he caught a glimpse of the porch swing, still swaying slightly. He grinned, remembering the last thirty minutes with Morgan on that swing. At that time, Greg did not know that one year later, he would be proposing to Morgan on Christmas night, on that very porch swing.