Disclaimer: I don't own any thing pertaining to Third Watch, please, don't sue.
A/N: Sorry this took so long to post, I just haven't had much time lately, I'll try posting more often again, again, very sorry. Please R&R!
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"You thinking about that girl?" Bosco asked in to the surrounding darkness.
"How'd you know I was awake"
"You keep moving" he stated, smiling, not that she could see him.
"Sorry"
"Never answered my question" he pointed out.
"It's a miracle Boz. Honestly. They had her tested and retested and there's nothing. The results from before were right, what could have happened in those twelve hours that second stage cancer just.. disappears"
"Alien abduction" he suggested, kidding.
She elbowed him, "Seriously"
"I think" he paused, moving closer, "That you should stop thinking about it and just accept it. It's a miracle, you can't scientifically explain them"
Faith breathed deep, snuggling closer to the one she loved, "Merry Christmas" she whispered, looking at the digital alarm clock.
"Merry Christmas"
"We're gonna be sorry in the morning" Faith remarked.
"About what?"
"That we're not asleep, the kids'll be up by six"
Bosco groaned, "Can we lock the door?"
"Then they'll just open the presents"
"But we won't have to move"
"And you won't get my famous Christmas Breakfast, I only make peach pancakes once a year"
"Peach pancakes huh? Screw sleep, wake me up when they get you up"
Faith snorted, "You think I'll have to wake you up Boz? They'll get you up, trust me"
"Hey, who picked up those Christmas presents anyways?"
"Which ones?"
"The ones for the party at the station tomorrow"
"I think Davis and Sully went to pick them up from the store today"
"Where'd all the ones under our tree come from?"
Faith smiled, "Santa, where else?"
"Do the kids still believe in it?"
"Emily found out when she was seven, I think Charlie still believes, so we still play along"
"I remember when I found out, I was heartbroken. Mikey found out before me, and ruined it"
"How old were you?"
"Five, six maybe"
"Poor baby" she grinned.
"Yeah, poor me" he whispered in to the darkness. He snuggled up to Faith, who put her arm around him, and fell into a dreamless sleep.
Bosco felt the ground shaking beneath him. Scratch that, the boat platform. He looked out on to the ocean, getting a face full of cold water, the storm kept whipping at his face, the waves rocking the boat like a rollercoaster. And he could hear cries of help. With a sudden lurch he was thrown from the ship and out in to the cold sea, his blanket of warmth being taken away, and suddenly he couldn't breath.
Faith was cracking up by the time Bosco shot up in bed, panting. He looked around him, eyes wild for a moment, then seemed to calm down. The kids finally jumped off the bed, from which Faith had already vacated, and went off yelling about presents.
"That's a record time" Faith remarked, still smiling.
"Huh?" he asked, a layer of cold sweat covering his forehead.
"You okay?" she asked, sitting down on the bed beside him.
"Yeah.. weird dream that's all"
"Earthquake?" she laughed.
"Uh, I was on a ship actually" he grinned, more or less kicking the covers from his feet.
"I told you they'd wake you up" she remarked.
"Time is it?"
"Just after six"
Bosco blinked, then looked out the window, "It gets light this early?" he asked, amazed.
Faith snorted, "Yeah Boz, it does in the winter"
"Oh" he finally said, slipping on sweatpants and his NYPD sweatshirt.
"What time is that uh... the party at the station?"
"Start round four or so, Sully's gonna meet us there, I think he managed to drag Davis and his mom too" Faith said, pushing back her uncombed hair.
"Oh" he replied, a nervous sense of excitement filling his stomach. He smiled to himself. They'll like it, he knew they would.
"Mom, come oonnn" Charlie whined from the bedroom door.
"Yeah mooom, come on, we want presents" Bosco imitated, ruffling Charlie's hair as he struggled to get away.
"I don't know which one of you is worse" Faith said, heading in to the kitchen.
"me" Bosco replied, coming up behind her and resting his head on her shoulder, he tickled her sides, "definitely me".
"Is it ready yet?" Emily's voice rang through the apartment.
"No, Em, not yet, how about you and Charlie go get all the stockings and bring them in to the kitchen, you can open them in here"
"Okay!"
She was back in roughly two seconds, holding all four stockings in her hands, she gave Chalie his, who started through it immediately, then gave Faith and Bosco theirs, proceeding to dump hers on to the table.
"I got a stocking.." Bosco countered.
Faith looked at him blankly, "Yea Boz, you got a stocking" she finally laughed, "You have presents too, maybe Santa left you a lump of coal" she grinned.
Bosco smiled. He'd never had a real 'Christmas' before. Sure, he'd had a couple during his dysfunctional childhood, but it always erupted in to yelling and screaming, or they'd never had money to afford gifts and stockings. And lately well... Christmas had been spent drinking JD or working overtime.
"You can empty it, you know" Faith whispered, kissing him on the cheek. "Merry Christmas" she whispered.
Bosco leaned towards her as she pulled away, kissing her on her soft lips, "Merry Christmas" he replied. They stood there for a moment, unaware that they had an audience, just smiling at eachother.
"Mom?" Charlie's voice finally broke through the silence.
Faith looked at Charlie, "What is it sweetie?"
"Are you and Bosco gonna get married?" he asked.
Faith choked, and Bosco froze. They didn't say anything.
"Well are you? Cause that would be cool, that would mean both my parents would catch bad guys, wait till I tell the guys at school!" he grinned, excited.
"Whoa, buddy, whoa, your mother and I are in a comfortable relationship right now. We're not going to get married right away, okay bud? But someday maybe we will"
"Soon?" he persisted.
Faith finally laughed, "Charlie, there's no hurry" she stepped in.
Charlie again became distracted by the contents of his stocking, and Bosco and Faith shared a look, something between amusement and suggestion. Emily left the kitchen, leaving her stocking on the table. A door slammed before they'd noticed she had left.
Faith swallowed, "Can you watch the pancakes?" she asked, without waiting for an answer.
Bosco stared at the frying pan. "Charlie, you know how this works?" Bosco asked, staring at the frying liquid with canned peaches in them.
"Nope, but mom flips them with a.. one of those things"
"A spatula?"
"Yeah, she flips them to cook the other side" he stated, shoving piece after piece of bubble gum in to his mouth.
"Em honey" Faith knocked on the bedroom door.
"What?" Emily demanded from inside.
Faith withdrew her hand from the handle, "Can I come in?"
"Fine" came the reply.
Faith opened the door, stepping inside to see Emily facedown on her bed.
"Are you okay?" Faith asked, closing the door behind her and sitting beside her daughter.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well.. you left the kitchen.. I thought maybe you might be upset about something" she countered.
"Well I am" Emily muttered
"You want to talk about it?"
"I don't want you to get married again" Emily stated, sitting up and staring Faith in the eye.
Faith was taken aback for a moment, "Why not?" she finally asked.
"Because" Emily stared, defiant.
"Because why, Em?"
"You know"
"I dont sweetie" Faith reached and pushed Emily's hair behind her ear.
"Because then you won't spend time with us again" she stated.
Faith somewhat relaxed, knowing that it wasn't Bosco Emily had a problem with. "You know honey, it's not because I was married I didn't get much time with you guys... it's my job too"
"Then quit"
Faith sighed, "Emily, some day you'll know what I'm talking about... but I can't just quit okay. It's my job, I love doing it.."
"More than me and Charlie"
"No.. no, never" Faith sighed.
"Then quit"
"Emily... I... every time I'm on shift I think of you and Charlie, it's a big part of why I keep working. We need money for bills.. for presents even and for clothes. And every bad person we catch.. it's less of a chance that you or Charlie will get hurt some day"
"Sam's mom thinks you're a bad mom" Emily whispered.
Faith swallowed, taking the blow. "Did she give a reason?"
"She thinks that your job is too dangerous, and that you don't care about me or Charlie because any day you could die, and then we would get in Foster care"
Faith reeled for a moment, anger pushing itself out towards Sam's mom, then some understanding.
"You know, Em, I can't promise that something won't happen to me-"
"Like last month" she input.
"Like last month, I can't guarantee it, but I will always have someone ready to take care of you guys okay. Always, and if there's any chance that I can live, I will do everything I can to stay alive, just because of you guys.. because I will see you go off to your prom, and I'll see you graduate, and Charlie. I'll always make time for you guys, I promise I won't ever forget about you, either of you. If you want me there badly, you tell me and I'll talk to Lieu to get the time off"
"promise you won't forget about us?"
Faith laughed, "I promise Em, not ever will I forget about you guys, not ever, you're my babies"
"I'm not a baby" she wrinkled her nose.
"I like to think you are" she smiled.
"mom" Emily said.
"Yes?"
"I think Bosco can't cook"
Faith shot up, the scent of burnt pancakes hitting her nose. "Oh Boz" she sighed, smiling.
"Do you love him mom?"
Faith turned, looking at her daughter. "What do you mean?"
"Do you love him, more than daddy?"
"I love him very very much"
"Can I be the flower girl?" Emily asked, popping off the bed.
Faith laughed, letting out a held breath, "some day sweetie, yes you can be the flower girl"
Faith snorted with laughter when she saw Bosco staring at the frying pan in his hand. Some how pancake mix had gotten on his face, and everywhere else. There was a black smoking lump in the frying pan, that looked like it had been flipped so that it folded in half. She covered her mouth, hiding her smile when Bosco looked up, innocence in his eyes.
She took the frying pan from his hands and placed it in the sink, running water.
"I didn't want to.. I don't know how to.." he began.
She stared at him, then began laughing. He looked so hurt that Faith immediately stopped, hugging him. "It's okay Boz, I didn't know you didn't know how to.." she didn't finish, because she saw Charlie and Emily snickering at the mess. She couldn't help but let out a few snickers, attempting to hold them in. Bosco began shaking with laughter too, and Faith back away, waving her hand in front of her face.
"You did a number" Faith smiled, prodding the charcoal lump in the frying pan. She stuck the spatula in to the middle.
"Oh my god, Boz, how did you.."
"What?" Bosco asked, leaning over he shoulder.
Emily and Charlie peered over the counter in to the sink.
"How'd you manage that?" Faith finally asked him.
"Uhh.. talent" he suggested.
Faith snorted and Emily cracked up. The inside of the charcoal ball was still uncooked and seeping in to the frying pan.
"I think maybe we'll just have some toast" Faith finally said. "You think you can handle it?" she teased Bosco.
"Well.. I dunno.. all those buttons and levers on the toaster and all..."
A/N: Sorry this took so long to post, I just haven't had much time lately, I'll try posting more often again, again, very sorry. Please R&R!
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"You thinking about that girl?" Bosco asked in to the surrounding darkness.
"How'd you know I was awake"
"You keep moving" he stated, smiling, not that she could see him.
"Sorry"
"Never answered my question" he pointed out.
"It's a miracle Boz. Honestly. They had her tested and retested and there's nothing. The results from before were right, what could have happened in those twelve hours that second stage cancer just.. disappears"
"Alien abduction" he suggested, kidding.
She elbowed him, "Seriously"
"I think" he paused, moving closer, "That you should stop thinking about it and just accept it. It's a miracle, you can't scientifically explain them"
Faith breathed deep, snuggling closer to the one she loved, "Merry Christmas" she whispered, looking at the digital alarm clock.
"Merry Christmas"
"We're gonna be sorry in the morning" Faith remarked.
"About what?"
"That we're not asleep, the kids'll be up by six"
Bosco groaned, "Can we lock the door?"
"Then they'll just open the presents"
"But we won't have to move"
"And you won't get my famous Christmas Breakfast, I only make peach pancakes once a year"
"Peach pancakes huh? Screw sleep, wake me up when they get you up"
Faith snorted, "You think I'll have to wake you up Boz? They'll get you up, trust me"
"Hey, who picked up those Christmas presents anyways?"
"Which ones?"
"The ones for the party at the station tomorrow"
"I think Davis and Sully went to pick them up from the store today"
"Where'd all the ones under our tree come from?"
Faith smiled, "Santa, where else?"
"Do the kids still believe in it?"
"Emily found out when she was seven, I think Charlie still believes, so we still play along"
"I remember when I found out, I was heartbroken. Mikey found out before me, and ruined it"
"How old were you?"
"Five, six maybe"
"Poor baby" she grinned.
"Yeah, poor me" he whispered in to the darkness. He snuggled up to Faith, who put her arm around him, and fell into a dreamless sleep.
Bosco felt the ground shaking beneath him. Scratch that, the boat platform. He looked out on to the ocean, getting a face full of cold water, the storm kept whipping at his face, the waves rocking the boat like a rollercoaster. And he could hear cries of help. With a sudden lurch he was thrown from the ship and out in to the cold sea, his blanket of warmth being taken away, and suddenly he couldn't breath.
Faith was cracking up by the time Bosco shot up in bed, panting. He looked around him, eyes wild for a moment, then seemed to calm down. The kids finally jumped off the bed, from which Faith had already vacated, and went off yelling about presents.
"That's a record time" Faith remarked, still smiling.
"Huh?" he asked, a layer of cold sweat covering his forehead.
"You okay?" she asked, sitting down on the bed beside him.
"Yeah.. weird dream that's all"
"Earthquake?" she laughed.
"Uh, I was on a ship actually" he grinned, more or less kicking the covers from his feet.
"I told you they'd wake you up" she remarked.
"Time is it?"
"Just after six"
Bosco blinked, then looked out the window, "It gets light this early?" he asked, amazed.
Faith snorted, "Yeah Boz, it does in the winter"
"Oh" he finally said, slipping on sweatpants and his NYPD sweatshirt.
"What time is that uh... the party at the station?"
"Start round four or so, Sully's gonna meet us there, I think he managed to drag Davis and his mom too" Faith said, pushing back her uncombed hair.
"Oh" he replied, a nervous sense of excitement filling his stomach. He smiled to himself. They'll like it, he knew they would.
"Mom, come oonnn" Charlie whined from the bedroom door.
"Yeah mooom, come on, we want presents" Bosco imitated, ruffling Charlie's hair as he struggled to get away.
"I don't know which one of you is worse" Faith said, heading in to the kitchen.
"me" Bosco replied, coming up behind her and resting his head on her shoulder, he tickled her sides, "definitely me".
"Is it ready yet?" Emily's voice rang through the apartment.
"No, Em, not yet, how about you and Charlie go get all the stockings and bring them in to the kitchen, you can open them in here"
"Okay!"
She was back in roughly two seconds, holding all four stockings in her hands, she gave Chalie his, who started through it immediately, then gave Faith and Bosco theirs, proceeding to dump hers on to the table.
"I got a stocking.." Bosco countered.
Faith looked at him blankly, "Yea Boz, you got a stocking" she finally laughed, "You have presents too, maybe Santa left you a lump of coal" she grinned.
Bosco smiled. He'd never had a real 'Christmas' before. Sure, he'd had a couple during his dysfunctional childhood, but it always erupted in to yelling and screaming, or they'd never had money to afford gifts and stockings. And lately well... Christmas had been spent drinking JD or working overtime.
"You can empty it, you know" Faith whispered, kissing him on the cheek. "Merry Christmas" she whispered.
Bosco leaned towards her as she pulled away, kissing her on her soft lips, "Merry Christmas" he replied. They stood there for a moment, unaware that they had an audience, just smiling at eachother.
"Mom?" Charlie's voice finally broke through the silence.
Faith looked at Charlie, "What is it sweetie?"
"Are you and Bosco gonna get married?" he asked.
Faith choked, and Bosco froze. They didn't say anything.
"Well are you? Cause that would be cool, that would mean both my parents would catch bad guys, wait till I tell the guys at school!" he grinned, excited.
"Whoa, buddy, whoa, your mother and I are in a comfortable relationship right now. We're not going to get married right away, okay bud? But someday maybe we will"
"Soon?" he persisted.
Faith finally laughed, "Charlie, there's no hurry" she stepped in.
Charlie again became distracted by the contents of his stocking, and Bosco and Faith shared a look, something between amusement and suggestion. Emily left the kitchen, leaving her stocking on the table. A door slammed before they'd noticed she had left.
Faith swallowed, "Can you watch the pancakes?" she asked, without waiting for an answer.
Bosco stared at the frying pan. "Charlie, you know how this works?" Bosco asked, staring at the frying liquid with canned peaches in them.
"Nope, but mom flips them with a.. one of those things"
"A spatula?"
"Yeah, she flips them to cook the other side" he stated, shoving piece after piece of bubble gum in to his mouth.
"Em honey" Faith knocked on the bedroom door.
"What?" Emily demanded from inside.
Faith withdrew her hand from the handle, "Can I come in?"
"Fine" came the reply.
Faith opened the door, stepping inside to see Emily facedown on her bed.
"Are you okay?" Faith asked, closing the door behind her and sitting beside her daughter.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well.. you left the kitchen.. I thought maybe you might be upset about something" she countered.
"Well I am" Emily muttered
"You want to talk about it?"
"I don't want you to get married again" Emily stated, sitting up and staring Faith in the eye.
Faith was taken aback for a moment, "Why not?" she finally asked.
"Because" Emily stared, defiant.
"Because why, Em?"
"You know"
"I dont sweetie" Faith reached and pushed Emily's hair behind her ear.
"Because then you won't spend time with us again" she stated.
Faith somewhat relaxed, knowing that it wasn't Bosco Emily had a problem with. "You know honey, it's not because I was married I didn't get much time with you guys... it's my job too"
"Then quit"
Faith sighed, "Emily, some day you'll know what I'm talking about... but I can't just quit okay. It's my job, I love doing it.."
"More than me and Charlie"
"No.. no, never" Faith sighed.
"Then quit"
"Emily... I... every time I'm on shift I think of you and Charlie, it's a big part of why I keep working. We need money for bills.. for presents even and for clothes. And every bad person we catch.. it's less of a chance that you or Charlie will get hurt some day"
"Sam's mom thinks you're a bad mom" Emily whispered.
Faith swallowed, taking the blow. "Did she give a reason?"
"She thinks that your job is too dangerous, and that you don't care about me or Charlie because any day you could die, and then we would get in Foster care"
Faith reeled for a moment, anger pushing itself out towards Sam's mom, then some understanding.
"You know, Em, I can't promise that something won't happen to me-"
"Like last month" she input.
"Like last month, I can't guarantee it, but I will always have someone ready to take care of you guys okay. Always, and if there's any chance that I can live, I will do everything I can to stay alive, just because of you guys.. because I will see you go off to your prom, and I'll see you graduate, and Charlie. I'll always make time for you guys, I promise I won't ever forget about you, either of you. If you want me there badly, you tell me and I'll talk to Lieu to get the time off"
"promise you won't forget about us?"
Faith laughed, "I promise Em, not ever will I forget about you guys, not ever, you're my babies"
"I'm not a baby" she wrinkled her nose.
"I like to think you are" she smiled.
"mom" Emily said.
"Yes?"
"I think Bosco can't cook"
Faith shot up, the scent of burnt pancakes hitting her nose. "Oh Boz" she sighed, smiling.
"Do you love him mom?"
Faith turned, looking at her daughter. "What do you mean?"
"Do you love him, more than daddy?"
"I love him very very much"
"Can I be the flower girl?" Emily asked, popping off the bed.
Faith laughed, letting out a held breath, "some day sweetie, yes you can be the flower girl"
Faith snorted with laughter when she saw Bosco staring at the frying pan in his hand. Some how pancake mix had gotten on his face, and everywhere else. There was a black smoking lump in the frying pan, that looked like it had been flipped so that it folded in half. She covered her mouth, hiding her smile when Bosco looked up, innocence in his eyes.
She took the frying pan from his hands and placed it in the sink, running water.
"I didn't want to.. I don't know how to.." he began.
She stared at him, then began laughing. He looked so hurt that Faith immediately stopped, hugging him. "It's okay Boz, I didn't know you didn't know how to.." she didn't finish, because she saw Charlie and Emily snickering at the mess. She couldn't help but let out a few snickers, attempting to hold them in. Bosco began shaking with laughter too, and Faith back away, waving her hand in front of her face.
"You did a number" Faith smiled, prodding the charcoal lump in the frying pan. She stuck the spatula in to the middle.
"Oh my god, Boz, how did you.."
"What?" Bosco asked, leaning over he shoulder.
Emily and Charlie peered over the counter in to the sink.
"How'd you manage that?" Faith finally asked him.
"Uhh.. talent" he suggested.
Faith snorted and Emily cracked up. The inside of the charcoal ball was still uncooked and seeping in to the frying pan.
"I think maybe we'll just have some toast" Faith finally said. "You think you can handle it?" she teased Bosco.
"Well.. I dunno.. all those buttons and levers on the toaster and all..."