„Sorry guys it's really time for me to go to bed." Greg rose. "Otherwise I'll sleep too long and miss the family dinner."

"That means no presents from mummy to Greggy."

"Shut up, Sara. I'll see you later." He left the kitchen.

"Ladies, shall we take the spirit of Christmas a little bit further with some Christmas Carols?"

"What?" Sara asked shocked.

"You know, piano, Christmas songs, singing, some cookies, sitting together."

"I like the piano part." Sofia said. "Don't need the singing stuff."

"There's no way I gonna sing Christmas songs."

"Spoilsport." Keith smirked.

"Bite me."

"I might do that later. So we'll have some piano songs and no singing? That's fine with me too." He got up.

"Are you really gonna play Christmas songs on the piano?" Sofia asked.

"Sure." He opened the door to his music room. The women were surprised he had decorated this room with Christmas stuff, even a little Christmas tree was in here.

"You've your own Christmas." Sofia said.

"Well, I spend a lot of time in here, I'd like to have it nice and cozy. Have a seat on the couch, ladies."

"He's so smooth." Sofia sighed and pulled Sara, who was still staring at the Christmas decoration towards the couch.

"I think you're fine with the classics?"

"The classics, the new pop songs, everything that's Christmas."

"Sara?"

"You know 'Grandma got run over by a reindeer'?"

"Why am I not surprised you ask for that? I won't ask you again." He smiled and started to play 'Silent night'.

"Do you really hate Christmas that much?" Sofia asked when they sat down.

"I don't hate it I just don't see anything special in it. I don't mind that everybody is getting crazy because of it as long as they don't force me to do stupid Christmas things."

"What stupid Christmas things?"

"Listen to annoying toys that sing for a million times the same song on and on and on again. They're placed everywhere that's like an assault. A physical assault to my ears and makes me aggressive."

"But Keith playing Christmas songs on the piano is alright?"

"Yes."

"Because it's Keith?" Sofia smirked.

"Because he plays one song and then another. He's not repeating one song all the time."

"So he gets credit for the variety not for being him."

"It doesn't look right seeing him on a piano, he's more the guitar man…drums…"

"I know what you mean. Looks like under the smooth hard rock is a soft spot. And I think, you hit this spot."

"Maybe." Sara smiled.

"Good taste."

"Yeah, I made worse decisions."

"I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about him. He has a good taste."

"Does he? Why?"

"He chose you, can't imagine there was a better choice."

"What about you?"

"As I told you before, I'm not available. Relationships hurt me too much, I think I prefer friendships. I especially like ours, Sara. I never thought we can be friends and I was never so happy to be wrong. I'm not sure if I owe you my life, I probably do in a strange way, you got me out of Brad's hands, made me think about my life, got him in jail for a few hours so that I could get my stuff, brought me here and got me back…"

"Sofia, you made the decision to leave him. I never took your hand and pulled you away. You said you want your life back."

"After you told me very clear and brutally honest what I had and what I was facing if I don't change anything. I think I needed that, together with his words in hospital…they hurt more than any physical assault. I…was down and he…kept kicking me, spitting at me, blaming me instead of taking care of me…he…humiliated me and…"

"Sofia, stop it." Sara took Sofia in her arms. "Stop thinking of him. He's not worth it. Stop punishing yourself, don't go there. He's past, if you keep on living in the past he'll keep on having power over you, he'll still be in control of your life, will be a part of your life. Don't give this power to him."

"I try but…I think there's a reason why the department wants me to see a shrink."

"Of course they want you checked after all this."

"Yeah, it's more than a check. I had a check already in hospital, their shrink saw me once a week and he and the department want me to go on with these meetings. First once a week, than every two weeks. I've no idea for how long, I don't know why I'm supposed to do that, but I know if I say no, they won't let me back in the job."

"Me telling you they're right would sound ridiculous." Sara smiled. She had tried to fight back her sessions with a shrink for a long time, had only taken them because otherwise she'd had lost her job. If she told Sofia it was good thing to do, it would be…well not wrong, but she wasn't in a position to tell the blonde to go or not to go to a shrink.

"Life can suck pretty much, can't it?"

"Ladies, I don't want to listen to words like this on Christmas day." Neither Sara nor Sofia had noticed that Keith had stopped playing the piano. He was with three mugs in front of them.

"Your coffee smells strange." Sofia said.

"That's because it's not coffee, it's mulled wine."

"It is what?"

"Try it." He handed a mug to both of them.

"Red wine?"

"Basically yes. With some spices, a Christmas wine."

"Where do you get things like that?"

"That's my secret. Try it."

"I've to work later." Sara sighed.

"I know. We'll send you to bed around two and when you're awake again around seven, there won't be any alcohol in your system."

"Are you planning my sleep time?" She raised an eyebrow. Maybe they needed a serious talk about their young relationship.

"No, I'm just remembering your sleep times from the last time you had a night off and tried not to loose your rhythm too much."

"Got your ass out of the tight spot in the last second."

"Usually people have their head there…if you're talking about a loop."

"Aren't you supposed to play Christmas songs?"

"You wanna sit on my lap while I'm playing?"

"No."

"Sure about that?"

"Very sure."

"Pity. A Santa Clause needs an angel next to him…Sofia?"

"No way. That's Sara's job and if she doesn't want to do it, you'll have to be alone."

"All you want is sitting here with my girlfriend."

"Yes I do."

"If she's hitting on you, Honey, tell me. I'll kick her out the house,"

"You touch her and I'll kick your ass, ace."

"Ouch." Keith grinned.

"Yes, it will be painful for you."

"I'm happy you know that I dislike brutalizing women in any kind."

"What's about brutalizing men?"

"I've always been a fan of a good fight, fair with fist, no additives, only your own body. If both parties want to fight. You should have enough guts to pick on somebody your own size or – if you like challenges – somebody bigger. Can be a lot of fun."

"If I ever get a call from a cop they arrested you in a pub fight or street fight, consider yourself as single."

"I'm too old to do things like that anymore." He kissed Sara's hand and went back to the piano.

"Too old for street fights? He's…a little bit younger than you."

"You're not making yourself popular, Sofia." Sara smiled.

"How many years?"

"Years? Months."

"Yeah, sure. You checked him?"

"That's illegal."

"Want me to do it."

"I don't want you to do anything illegal."

"Alright." She grinned for a second and became serious again. "Can you take me with you to the lab tonight?"

"Why? You're off duty for the next weeks."

"Stop rubbing salt in my wound. I want to say 'Merry Christmas' to them, wanna thank them for being there and doing everything for me. I had so many visitors, so I thought I could visit them tonight, bring a few cookies along and go home later."

"I can't drive you home."

"I'll take a cab."

"Okay, if you want, no problem."

"Thanks. That means I won't drink any more of this stuff too."

"It's…not my cup of tea."

"I like it, but I think, this stuff hits straight in your head. I feel dizzy and could fall asleep right away."

"It was no good idea to drink it with all your medicine."

"Come on, it's Christmas, I want some fun."

"Isn't the lovely music enough fun?"

"Don't be sarcastic to me."

Sara smirked. When the blonde started to whine Sara would be even more sarcastic.

Sofia could smell fresh roasted beef. The smell came out of the kitchen and reached her room through the open door. Her experiment with Kitty and Luna was finished. Both didn't try to hurt each other, but a real friendship wasn't it either. Thinking she could go on with this project the next day, she walked down in the kitchen. Keith was cooking, the roast beef was out of the pan and in the oven.

"Smells good."

"Thanks." He smiled, turned and offered her a spoon full of the gravy. "Try it."

"Mhmmm. Mushroom, garlic and red wine?"

"I'm proud of you, you've got a really good tongue. I'm thinking to add some herbs, what do you think?"

"I think, you owe me something."

"Do I? Like what?"

"You promised me something when I was in hospital. You might have thought I didn't hear you or I'd forget that but I didn't. I want to see you in your hot, sexy and short Santa Clause costume."

"Oh." He started laughing. "Actually I wanted to give everybody their presents that way, somehow I forgot that. Must have been distracted this morning."

"Or the whole night. Getting laid is no reason not to keep your promise."

"Alright. You take care of the food and I'll change. I can be a cooking Santa Clause."

"Uhm, taking care of the food?"

"Just whisk it so that nothing will burn." The handed her the eggbeater and left.

Speechless for a moment Sofia started to whisk the gravy. Then she reached in her pocket and got her cell phone out. Sara's Christmas gift to her, a new cell phone with a new number. A new freedom.

"Why do you call me when you're downstairs?" Sara's voice was slightly tired.

"There's something here you don't want to miss."

"Like what?"

"Hot, sexy and short."

"What?"

"That's all you get for a hint. Come down, fast. Trust me."

"This is better good." Sara ended the call.

Sofia grinned. This would be good as far as her imagination went. A loud beep got her attention. The eggs. Keith had forgotten to mention the eggs he was cooking. She pulled the cable off the outlet and let cold water run over them.

"Seeing you cooking isn't hot, sexy and short."

"Oh, you're really fast."

"What is it, Sofia? You stole ten minutes of my sleep."

"Remember when I was in hospital?"

"I'd prefer not to remember that, I didn't like that."

"Neither did I but Keith promised something, he told me and you told me too and I reminded him of that promise. Hot, sexy and short."

"Santa Clause."

"Exactly. I sent him upstairs to dress up and I thought you would enjoy that too when he's in the kitchen, cooking as a hot and sexy Santa Clause in a short costume."

"Only I am allowed to see him that way."

"He promised me if I make it back home for Christmas I'll see him this way. Are you spoiling my fun?"

"My boyfriend shouldn't be your fun."

"I didn't know you're that territorial."

"I am. But I made an exclusion for you." Sara got her finger in the gravy. "Tastes good."

"Dipping your finger in my gravy means you weren't a good girl!" They turned and started laughing. Keith was standing there in a short red short, a short red and white coat, a Santa Clause hat and a jute bag.

"Damn, he is sexy." Sara said, letting her eyes run up and down Keith's body. "That was worth missing ten minutes of sleep."

"He shaved his legs, very sexy. I don't like guys in shorts and a forest on their legs. You can see the muscles better this way. Really nice."
"I think I've to slap you, you're drooling." Sara bopped Sofia's side friendly.

"So, who of you girls want to sit on my lap?"

"She's cooking." Sara grinned and got to Keith before Sofia could.

"Mean! I called you and now you use my friendship against me."

"Cry me a river. In love and war…well, you know the rest."

"Bitch."

"Girls, girls, language please, don't fight, there's enough Santa Clause for all of you." Keith kissed Sara. "Wanna dress up and be my angel? I've got something nice, white and short upstairs for you."

"No, I don't want to."

"Maybe later when we're alone. No need to make Sofia jealous with my girlfriend. Here's some candy for you." He got a candy cane out of the bag and gave it to Sara.

"Thanks. I think?" She looked at the candy cane. She wasn't into that stuff but if you got it from such a sexy Santa Claus…

"And now to you, my lovely little helper. How is the dinner?"

"I got the eggs in cold water, the gravy stopped cooking and I think chives and parsley are perfect for the potatoes later."

"Sounds good to me. I can see you were a good girl."

"Always, Santa." She grinned.

"I will believe you that. Let's see what Santa has for you."

"A kiss maybe?"

"You want to be kissed by Santa?"

"That's my dream since I'm a little girl."

"Oh well, Santa makes wishes come true, that's my job." He got Sofia in his arms and kissed her softly on the lips. "Merry Christmas."

"I got kissed by Santa Claus." Sofia sighed and placed herself in Keith's arms.

"I'm not quite sure if I'll kick you or him first." Sara said.

"She's so sexy when she's jealous. Let me give you your present, Sofia. One, Sara won't hate us for." He got an envelope out of his bag.

"What is it? What is it?"

"Look and you'll see."

She torn the envelope and got two tickets out. "Michael Rock."

"I couldn't get him under the Christmas tree, wearing nothing but a ribbon, but I do got two tickets for his show in February in Vegas. VIP of course, you'll have a seat on stage, can meet him backstage and have dinner and the after show party with him."

"Wow…I think I fell in love with you right now."

"That's alright. I'll be on that stage too, you can cheer for me."

"I'll see Michael, I'll meet him, have dinner with him…Sara, do you want to join me?"

"Are you sure you want to share Santa and Michael with me?"

"Santa is yours anyway, all I wanted was this kiss. Lovely lips by the way. And Michael… Well, you can help me to get his heart."

"I assume my boyfriend gets me in anyway, take the ticket for Greg, he won't cheer for Michael but he'll enjoy the music. We can have a house night out."

"Perfect idea."

"And if the three of you get two or three nights off, we can see Michael on stage in San Francisco, New York or wherever you want to see him." Keith said. "We'll have tickets to every show if we want."

"I'm not sure if I get holiday when I'm finally working again but I can use me two free days a week for that. With the help of our supervisors we all three should get two free nights. San Francisco would be great, a perfect place for music." Sofia smiled. That was a great gift. And she had thought Keith had given her all her gifts in the morning already. He had hold back the best for last.