Richie pulled to car to a stop outside of a large, brick building. He took a deep breath and looked up at the five-story building through the windshield of the T-Bird. His eyes scanned the front then swept to the side yard where the playground was. There were no children on it, but all the dorm room lights were on. They would all be getting ready for their songs and plays. He scanned the grounds. Everything was just how he left it three months and three days ago when he walked out those doors to the T- Bird with nothing but a small suitcase of clothes and a backpack with a few personal belongings.

"Are you okay?" Duncan asked quietly from the back seat.

"Yeah. I- I'm fine." He wasn't sure why he was stuttering or why his palms were so sweaty. Somehow he had gotten very nervous.

"Any time you're ready, Rich," Duncan prompted after a minute.

"Huh?"

"You have to unlock the doors and get out so we can too."

"Oh, sorry." Richie got out and pushed the seat forward so Duncan, followed by Tessa could crawl out of the back seat. Genevieve got out on the other side to let Jean out. "Okay, let's go." Richie led the way.

He opened the main doors and started off down the hall. It was all still the same, except some of the children's artwork had been changed. The floors were still the same ugly brown tiles. The walls were painted cream with bulletin boards down one end of the hall and pictures down the other. He stopped and looked at a familiar face smiling at him from its frame on the wall. There he was puffed up to his full three feet two and a half inches, in his red trap door footie pajamas, holding onto a stuffed bear dressed similarly, grinning without his four front teeth, blonde curls sticking out in every direction, and looking every bit the innocent angel he was well known not to be.

"Is that you?" Tessa asked softly, but Richie jumped none the less; he had forgotten anyone was with him.

"Yeah. I was six.my first Christmas here right after I sang in the pageant."

"Duncan, look at this. Richie at six!"

Duncan, Jean and Genevieve came over. "You have no teeth," Duncan commented.

"You're adorable," Genevieve cooed.

"Nice bear," Jean added.

"I happened to love that bear," Richie defended.

"That doesn't tell us what happened to your teeth," Duncan prompted.

"I fell off the monkey bars. I didn't have those teeth for almost a whole year. I thought they would never grow in."

"Richard Ryan!" a shrill voice interrupted their conversation. "What are you doing out here? You're supposed to be getting ready!" A very formidable looking nun stalked over to him and grabbed him by the ear.

"OW!"

"Richard, please," she snapped before turning to the others. "I'm sorry. He's really not supposed to be out here. The auditorium is just around that corner. And please stay for the refreshments after. The children spent all day decorating the cookies."

"But."

"Richard," she warned. "I hope he wasn't bothering you."

"No, not at all. As a matter of fact." Duncan started.

"I'm glad to hear that. I'm sorry to rush off like this but the children are quiet a handful this time of year and I really shouldn't be away any longer." She smiled politely and started off down the hall with Richie in toe, still holding firmly onto his ear."

"But, Sister.. OW!" Richie complained as he was toted down the hall. "Mac!"

"See you around, Rich!" Duncan called after him with a wave.

"Duncan!" Tessa laughed. "We have to help him."

"We have to save him a seat," Duncan corrected. "He wanted to see his friends. This way he can."

The nun dragged Richie up two flights of stairs, down the hall and around the corner.

"But, Sister Francis!"

"I'll have none of your excuses, Richard. You know perfectly well that you are supposed to be getting ready for your little song. Father Henry is allowing you do perform it this year despite everyone's better judgment. So I suggest you stop causing trouble and for once behave."

"But, Sister Francis, you don't understand!"

"You're right I don't. I don't understand why you are so difficult all the time and what's worse is you have poor little Michael imitating your every move."

"Sister Francis."

"Richard, we will talk later. Now, I have other children to help right now. Please remember to get back stage and help Sister Katherine organize the children."

Richie was at a loss of what to say, so he opted for the easy way out. "Yes, ma'am." He stood in the hall and watched the flustered nun walk away. Finally he turned and opened the door to the older boy's rec room. Since the older children were spread out among the younger dorms to help keep order, they had their own room to hang out in.

Two other boys jerked around as soon as they heard the door to their sanctuary open.

"Richie!" Jason greeted in surprise. "What are you doing here, man?"

"Came to catch the show." They enthusiastically exchanged slugs in the shoulder.

"Uh-oh, looks like Sister Francis got a hold of you," Matthew laughed turning Richie's face to get a better look at his still red ear.

"Man, she's lost it," Richie laughed. "I was down stairs minding my own business and she just grabs me and starts yelling at me for not getting ready. Won't listen to me long enough to remind her I don't live here anymore. So I thought I'd drop in and say hi while I was here."

"I got 'em!" a third teen announced barging into the room with an armload of clothes. "Richie!?"

"Eric! Sup man?"

"What are you doin. Sister Francis?"

"Gotta ask?" Richie grinned. "What's with the clothes?"

"They're for tonight," Jason grinned proudly.

"Uh-oh. that's what she meant by Father Henry caved. I can't believe you guys!"

"Come off it, Ryan. It was your idea," Eric reminded him.

"I was joking. So you raid the dress up clothes?"

The boys fell silent for a second. "Wish we had thought of that.we begged the girls," Matthew mumbled.

"That's sad. Look, I'd love to hang, but I got people to see. Where's Michael?"

"Infirmary."

"What's wrong with him?"

"Cold or something. Just wanted him to get some rest. He's not contagious."

"Poor kid. I'm going to go rescue him. See you ladies later."

Richie checked the hall before making his way to the fourth floor where the nuns slept and where the infirmary was. He cracked the door open and looked in. The room reminded Richie of a military hospital in old movies. In the middle bed on the left, a small blonde haired boy was propped up on some pillows listening to a story being read by novice named Meredith. He slipped in quietly and stood by the door listening to the story. He shifted his weight and bumped into a shelf of medicine bottles. Michael and Meredith looked up.

"Richie!" Michael yelled excitedly.

"Hey, squirt," Richie crossed the room in a few quick strides and sat on the edge of the bed. "What's with the private party?"

"I'm sick."

"Dude, that sucks. You can't perform tonight?"

"No. I can't sing."

"Maybe you can watch, what do you think Meredith? Can he sit with me?"

Meredith sat back in her chair. "If you can get Father Henry's permission, he can."

"Okay!" Richie jumped up. "I'll be back in a minute, you get ready."

He dashed off down the hall and poked his head into all the rooms. "Richard!" Sister Francis snapped as he looked into a room of screaming children dressed as angels.

"I'm looking for Father Henry."

"In the nursery."

"Thanks."

Richie made his way to the nursery. "Father Henry?" he whispered. The babies were asleep.

The priest looked up. "Richard, what are you doing here?" he smiled.

"Came to see the show. Can Michael sit with me?"

"Let's go in the hall." He gestured to the novice in the room that he was leaving. "How are you doing, Richard?"

"I'm good. I came to see the kids. Ca."

"You aren't struggling are you?"

"No. I got a job; nice place to live. you should actually meet the people that I moved in with. They're really nice."

"I'd like that. Where are you working?"

"An antique store. Look, I really wanna chat and all, but I'd also love to get Michael down to the show before it starts; everyone wants to meet him. So can he? I mean, it's just, like, a cold, right? He's not gonna get anyone else sick."

"I think it'd be a great idea. He hasn't been the same since you left."

"Really?"

"He's a bit depressed. He doesn't understand why you left."

"Are you serious?"

"I've tried to explain it to him. Do you think you can talk to him?"

"Sure I will."

"You'd better go get him. Just make sure he's dressed warmly."

"Will do. Thanks, Father." Richie went back to the infirmary and relayed the news. Michael put on a robe over his pajamas and put on his slippers before climbing onto Richie's back. They made their way, rather noisily, down to the auditorium. It took Richie a minute to find the group. He went down the aisle with Michael on his back. There was only one seat saved so Michael sat on Richie's lap.

"Hey, guys. This is Michael Beal. Michael this is Duncan MacLeod and Tessa Noel; I live with them. And this is Maman and Papa, Tessa's parents. They came all the way from France to be here for Christmas."

"It's nice to meet you, Michael. We've heard a lot about you," Duncan said kindly.

"You are even more handsome than the picture I saw," Tessa told him.

Richie whispered something in Michael's ear. "Hi," he said softly. He turned his big blue eyes on Jean and Genevieve. Richie whispered something else. "Bonjur."

"Hello, chou chou," Genevieve smiled at him. Richie grinned over Michael's head.

"I have heard a lot about you," Jean added.

"Did they adopt you?" Michael asked Richie.

Richie paused for a second. "Yeah," he answered. "Kinda."

Michael was about to say something but just then a small procession of children started up the center aisle singing. Tessa, who was sitting to Richie's immediate left, was getting lost in the music when she noticed Richie and Michael singing along under their breath.

"Light one candle in the night/ Light one candle of faith/ Faith that can heal a world in need/ Faith that can conquer hate and greed/ Faith in a child who will come to lead/ Light one candle of faith."

After procession there was an introduction by Father Henry to the show. Then the acts started. A group of five-year-olds dressed in sheets and wings sang Angels We Have Heard On High. Then the six-year-olds sang Up On The House Top. Then a small group of seven and eight year olds preformed a skit they wrote themselves about the elves who work for Santa. The late elementary aged kids became a little more creative in their parts. Some formed small bands and played their own music. Some recited poems and bible versus. The junior high kids sang songs with choreography, told original stories, and put on little skits. The next one was the show stopper: Matthew, Jason, and Eric. All three dressed in some of the girl's Sunday dresses. If that wasn't enough, they brought down the house with an a cappella rendition of Santa Baby.

"I'm happy I turned eighteen when I did," Richie whispered to Michael. "How'd you like to see me up there doing that?"

"I think it'd be funny," Michael told him.

"Traitor."

Tessa leaned over to Duncan. "Look at them; they're adorable together." Richie and Michael were whispering and giggling with each other. "We can't separate them."

"Tess, what are you thinking?"

"Duncan, he's adorable."

"We'll talk later. Just enjoy the show."

Once all the acts were done, there were refreshments in the gym. Richie and Michael stuck together while Richie said hi to old friends. Pretty soon there was a small group of children that was following him around tugging on his jeans and firing questions at him. Finally, they all had him cornered and he was forced to tell them jokes and stories as some kids his age listened in as well.

"He looks very popular," Genevieve commented to Tessa as they watched.

"Excuse me," Father Henry interrupted. "Are you here with Richard Ryan?"

"Yes," Tessa answered somewhat hesitantly.

"He's not in trouble. I just wanted to introduce myself and thank you. I'm Father Henry; I run the orphanage. As much as I enjoy my work and being with the children, I know he can make it a little trying at times. But I do see a change in him. Some of it may be from growing up, but some must be from you."

Tessa smiled. "I'm Tessa Noel, and he's not trying at all. He's a very sweet boy." Just then Duncan and Jean came over with cookies and punch.

"You can't be talking about Richie," Duncan smiled.

"As a matter of fact we are. This is Father Henry, he runs the orphanage."

"Oh, it's nice to meet you, Father; I'm Duncan MacLeod"

"MacLeod and Noel." Father Henry started to put it all together. "He broke into your store, didn't he?"

"Yes, he did," Tessa answered. That was one question she was sick of hearing.

"That's very kind of you to let him work off his debt to you."

"He paid that off a long time ago; he's on payroll now. Our only employee as a matter of fact," Duncan answered. "We consider it a family business."

"He is a very hard worker," Father Henry agreed, happy to see the couple jump to the boy's defense. "And he seems very happy were he is. I'm glad it all worked out. I supposed I should go mingle some more. It was nice meeting you all."

The priest went and the four turned their attention to Richie and the small group in the corner. Some seemed to have lost interest in him and gone but he still had over a dozen kids around him.

"Duncan, I want one," Tessa pouted as they approached to see what was going on.

"We'll talk later."

"Please, Richie?" a little girl was begging.

"You always do it!" a boy added in.

"Ebrwy yeawr!" a third piped up.

"How can you remember?" an older girl scoffed at him.

"Hey, be nice," Richie reminded her.

"So you gonna do it or not?"

"Fine, fine, but you guys have to help, deal?"

"Deal," the kids answered as one.

Richie took a deep breath and, luckily, didn't notice the adults not too far way. "Christmas toys all over the place/Little Richie wears a funny smile on his face/ Richie has a secret/ And the secret he must share/ He wants to tell somebody/ So he tells his teddy bear."

"Ba dum bum bum!" the kids chimed in.

"I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus/ Underneath the mistletoe last night/ She didn't see me creep down the stairs to have a peak/ She thought that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep/ Then I saw mommy tickle Santa Claus/ Underneath his beard so snowy white/ What a laugh it would have been/ If daddy had only seem/ Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night."

The kids started up a second verse but cut off by a simple cry of "Santa's here!" from across the room. The all got up and ran to the man in the red suit, Michael trailing behind because he waited to get Richie's approval first.

"That was cute," Duncan commented softly as they watched the kids crowd around Santa.

"That's my song," Richie explained. "I always do it for the show."

"Ho ho ho!" Santa laughed. "Who's been good this year?"

"Me! Me! Me!" the kids screamed bouncing up and down.

"That's Father Jacob from St. Paul's down the street. He does this every year."

"The kids get their presents now?" Jean asked.

"They get a small one now, and. okay. see each dorm room has its own tree so Christmas morning the big gifts are there and then the stockings are at you chair when you come down for breakfast. Christmas is a lot of fun here. Especially when you get older and you're in charge of the kids when they open their presents."

"Richie! Richie! Look at what I got!" Michael came running over clutching a pair of hot wheel cars.

Richie scooped him up as he ran over and took a good look at the cars. "Very cool. You can put them with your others."

"Can we have races again?" Michael asked. "We can see who can get down the hall the fastest. Maybe you'll get one in your stocking, but if you don't.you can borrow," he compared the two cars. "This one." He thrust the red one under Richie's nose.

"Michael. I'm not going to be here. I have to go home tonight."

"But.but you're here again."

"Just for tonight, Squirt. I came to see everybody. I have to go home."

"How come?"

"Remember before the show? I told you they adopted me. That means I live with them now."

"You said kinda. That's what you said when you moved the first time, but you came back."

"That was different. I was younger then. I'm too old to live here."

"I don't want you to go!" Michael threw his arms around Richie's neck. "You said you were my brother!"

"Michael." Duncan, Tessa, Jean and Genevieve could see Richie's heart being torn to pieces at the comment. "I said you were like my brother. We have different parents. But. God, Michael. Look, Squirt, I wanna stay, really I do.but I can't. Do you understand?"

"How come you have to go?"

"I don't have a choice. But maybe we can work something out and I can come see you sometimes. Would you like that?"

"It's not the same."

"I know. But, hey, it's better than nothing, isn't it?"

"I guess."

"You guess? That's it?" He started to tickle the boy until he was in hysterics and curled into a little ball.

All was forgiven and Richie challenged Michael to a race, which he deliberately let Michael win. They had just set up for a rematch when Meredith came saying it was time for Michael to take his medicine and get back to bed. Before Michael was led away, Richie gave him a business card so he could call plus a hug and hair ruffle.

"Richard?"

Richie jumped. "Sister Francis! Man, what'd I do this time?"

"I just want to apologize for earlier. I didn't realize, even when you tried to tell me." The stern women stumbled over the words.

"No big," Richie shrugged it off. "You were busy and just assumed I was causing trouble."

"And I feel I should tell you; there is a couple interested in Michael."

"What? Michael.my Michael? Michael Beal, My Michael?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"Richard, you know very well I can't tell you."

"C'mon, Sister."

"I'm sorry. I just felt you should know." With that she turned and walked away.

"Richie." Tessa said softly from a few feet away. "Are you okay?" She had heard the whole thing.

"I'm fine," he answered after a short pause. "I'm happy. This is really big. And he deserves it. I'm happy for him."

"Do you want to go home?"

"Yes."

The drive home was quiet. Richie was in no mood to talk and everyone respected that. Even Genevieve left him alone. When they got to the loft, Richie quietly excused himself to Duncan and Tessa's room. Tessa went after him.

"Are you really okay?" she asked.

"I will be in a minute."

"You don't sound it."

"That's just because I'm a little in shock right now."

"Because of Michael?"

"I don't get it, Tess. I know this is a big deal. but I can't make myself be happy."

"You will be. Just give it time."

"What really gets me is I don't think he knows."

"He didn't seem to."

"What if he doesn't like them?"

"I'm sure he will."

"What if they're mean?"

"What if they live down the street?"

"What if they live in El Paso?"

Tessa smiled. "I bet they live here. And I bet they will need a babysitter eventually. And I bet you would love to do it."

"I didn't think about that." Richie perked up a bit.

"See? Everything will be fine.chou chou," she ruffled his hair and he pulled away with a smile.

"That's mon brave, thank you very much."

"Better?"

"Yeah, but I can I just have a minute?"

"Take all the time you need."

An hour and forty-five minutes later, Richie came out dressed for bed.

"What's all this?" he asked looking at the counter of fresh baked cookies.

"These are for you, mon brave," Genevieve told him. "You are too sad for Christmas."

"And what better way to cheer you up than pumping you full of sugar?" Duncan teased.

"Maman made those just for you," Jean added. "But you will share with your Papa, non?"

Richie looked at the cookies, practically oozing with chocolate, then back to Jean. "You can have one. a small one."

"Tres bon."

Richie slid onto a bar stool at the counter and helped himself to the biggest cookie he could find. Tessa gave him a tall glass of milk, which he usually protested. But with cookies it was a must. The five ate cookies until there was no more dough left and no flour to make more. Duncan was right, getting pumped full of sugar was just what he needed. He was loud and hyper for an hour then a second later was crashed on the couch completely unconscious.

"Your mother put him in a sugar coma," Duncan teased Tessa as they settled into bed.

"But it got his mind off things for a while."

"True. Small and broody the two words that describe him the best."

"Now who does that remind me of?"

"You're not talking about me are you?" Duncan laughed, rolling on top of her. "I may be broody, but I am not small." He kissed the nape of her neck.

She giggled. "Duncan, my parents!"

"Richie never hears us."

Needless to say Duncan and Tessa were the last to sleep that night.