A nod to Tess Gerritsen and TNT: Thank you for creating these lovely characters that we love to play with at times.

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…...

Jane wakes suddenly from her sound sleep. She feels Maura grip her hand.

"Jane, I think I heard something and it didn't sound like Bass or Jo Friday." Maura whispers.

"Stay here, I'll check it out. If I yell, call for backup." Jane reaches in the nightstand drawer for her weapon. She slips out of bed and eases quietly down the stairs. Jane glances over her shoulder when she hears a stair creak. It's Maura.

Jane scowls as she points back to the bedroom.

Maura scowls back shaking her head no and points to the phone in her hand.

Jane holds her index finger to her lips. The silent fight is over and Maura is her backup.

The Christmas tree lights are still on, illuminating the living room in a soft glow and the man bent over their Christmas packages.

"FREEZE!" Jane yells at the man in the red suit.

The man turns, "Ho, ho…. Whoa!" He sees Jane's weapon pointed at him. He holds up his black-gloved hands, "Now, Janey, is this the way to greet Santa?"

"What kind of sick pervert are you? Dressing up as Santa, breaking into people's homes to steal their presents. Wait. How do you know my name?" Jane keeps her weapon trained on the suspect.

"Of course I know your name, Jane. And Maura's. Jane, you and Frankie and Tommy would always write letters to me." He leans to look around Jane at Maura, "And I do believe you had the butler sneak one or two letters to the mailbox for me." Jane looks back at Maura who is hesitantly nodding yes. "There were some years you Rizzoli kids had me worried, you would be on the Naughty list until at least Halloween, but by Thanksgiving you would be back on the Good list. Well, Tommy had a few rough years, but he's good now with little TJ."

Jane is wavering, confused. "How do you know all this? There's really no such person as Santa. Why are you at this house? There are no kids to deliver presents to."

Santa sighs. "I don't only delivery presents to children, Jane. I spread the spirit of Christmas joy. I had hoped that you still believed in me."

A noise came from outside. The weapon that Jane was slowly lowering came back up. "Do you have accomplices outside!?"

"I don't suppose you would believe that the sounds you hear are my reindeer, would you?"

Maura makes a disbelieving sound. "Sir, I can make a phone call to get you the help that you need with your delusion of being Santa. It is quite common during this time of year."

"Thank you for your kind offer, Maura, but if you two ladies can humor this old, delusional man for one more moment before you call the men in the white jackets. Please walk outside with me."

"Don't move, Santa!"

"Jane, I'm Santa, not Superman. I am not faster than a speeding bullet, so you can keep your gun pointed at me, but follow me, please, outside." Santa walks slowly to the front door, waiting for the ladies to follow.

Once outside, Jane and Maura turn when they hear a snort. Up on the rooftop, was a sleigh and reindeer. Jane's arm falls to her side as their mouths drop open. They turn to look at each other and then to the man. In unison, "Santa?"

Santa nods, grinning. "Let's get the two of you back inside, I don't want you to be sick for Christmas."

Maura is dazed. Her parents never encouraged the myth of Santa, but here he was, standing in her living room. "I don't understand."

Jane and Maura sit on the sofa while Santa sits in the recliner. "Let me try to explain as much as I can, in the short time I have. Busy night, ya know." Santa strokes his beard as he thinks of how to explain.

"There is a quote from a movie, "Seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing…."

Jane jumps and waves her arm as if she is in school. "Oh, that's from The Santa Clause!"

"Correct, Jane. We actually have many elves as writers in Hollywood to help spread the Christmas message. Why do you think Hallmark movies are so popular?"

Maura is nodding. Jane introduced the Hallmark channel to her last year and it became her guilty pleasure. She looks at Jane, "That makes sense." Jane is also nodding. Jane runs her hand through her sleep tousled curls. "But how does that explain how we see you now?"

Santa smiles. "It is the love that the two of you have for each other. The love that you spread to your family and friends. The effort you make to have everyone feel included. The care you show when you host a children's party at the hospital, dressing up like me when the original man is out sick. All of this shows that you believe in me, in the Christmas spirit. Now, I must be on my way and you two need to go back to bed!"

"Oh, no, Santa. I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight!" Maura's eyes are sparkling in excitement.

Santa begins to rummage through his sack. "Let's see what I have here. Mr. Sandman always gives me a small bag in case of situations like this. Ah, here it is." Santa pulls out his hand closed in a fist.

"Get comfortable on the couch."

Jane is confused. "Wait, what?"

"Like you were watching Hallmark movies and fell asleep." As he made that suggestion, he gently blew the sleeping sand at Jane and Maura. Jane stretches out on the couch and Maura cuddles on top of her. Santa spreads a light blanket on the two women. With a flick of his wrist, Santa lights the fireplace and turns the tv on to the Hallmark channel.

Santa looks fondly down at Jane and Maura and whispers, "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night."

Hey all. I hope you have enjoyed this little journey. Thank you for the reviews. I hope you all are enjoying whatever holiday you celebrate. My love to all of you. Spread the cheer. Love all