It's been a long time since I've written a new story for Night Court. I've been rewatching it recently and after watching 'Where There's a Will There's a Tony' and 'A Guy Named Phantom', I'm realizing even more than ever how much I desperately want to fix the ninth season of the show. I keep asking myself how Harry and Christine went from their argument in Central Park to wanting to remain just friends with little to no conversation around it (aside from the writers having to undo the build-up they'd done for the initial series finale). That, and how things change so drastically in the ultimate finale. It's never sat well, so here's my attempt to play around with the plot lines.

"So you're saying you don't want to be friends anymore?"

"No, I don't!"

"Well good! Neither do I—"

In one swift motion, Christine was in his arms. Harry clung to her, not realizing just how much he'd wanted to kiss her these last few weeks. His grip only loosened when she kissed him back, both sinking into their embrace.

Gone was the memory of Tony and the mugger. Gone was the anxiety Harry had been feeling about Christine reconciling with her ex-husband. And gone was Christine's animosity towards Harry for trailing her all night. She hadn't realized how much she'd wanted this kiss, either. What surprised her more was her reluctance to pull back.

"Harry…" she whispered, her forehead resting against his cheek. She wanted to say something more, but words weren't coming to her.

"I'm sorry, Christine," he eventually said. "About everything."

Before she could respond, Harry pushed her away. She started to question the force of it until she heard footsteps coming up behind her.

"Guy's been picked up," Tony said, placing a hand on Christine's shoulder. "You sure you're okay, Harry? You look a mess."

Harry looked down at his shredded tie and jacket. "Yeah. I'm okay. My ego took a worse beating."

"I don't suppose you want to explain."

"Not particularly."

"Come on," Tony said, "we'll take you home."

"No," he said too quickly, "no, it's all right. I've interrupted enough."

"Don't be crazy. You've been mugged twice in one night. What were you thinking hiding in the bushes?"

Shooting a nervous glance in Christine's direction, Harry replied, "It's… a long story. I'd rather just forget about it."

Picking up on the unusually quiet Christine's tension as well, Tony looked between the two of them. "Is there something goin' on with you two I should know about?"

While there was really no reason to lie to Tony, after his recent attempts to win her back, it felt funny to mention anything about her relationship with Harry — especially when she wasn't sure if there was something to tell him about at all.

Harry spoke first. "I just came by to… Christine and I had tickets to Cats tonight." He went to look at his watch only to remember it had been stolen. "Silly me, I thought we could still make it."

"Oh… Harry, I completely forgot."

"Don't worry about it."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "You followed us all night because of a Broadway musical?"

Scrunching his nose, Harry answered, "I love the theatre."

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not buying it, but whatever you say."

"I appreciate the offer," Harry said with a slight shake of his head, "but really, I'm not far from here. There's nothing left to take, anyhow."

"Well, just be careful. All right? And I don't just mean looking out for muggers. I've arrested guys for doing what you did tonight. And I'm sure you've arraigned some of them."

"Noted," he said meekly. Then with his eyes darting to Christine's, he tipped his head. "I'll see you Monday?"

"Sure," she said.

Picking up his discarded hat, Harry gave a half-hearted wave as he walked off. Once he was out of sight, Christine's shoulders dropped with relief.

"Nothing, Sullivan?"

With an awkward shrug, she replied, "He's been going through a tough time since Margaret left him. I was, too… you know. Harry's never been the most predictable person to begin with."

"You kissed him."

"What makes you say that?"

Tony brought his thumb to her the side of her mouth. "Your lipstick is smudged."

In a panic, she wiped at her mouth. "Oh…"

"Besides," he said with a hint of a smile, "I could hear you yelling at him. You don't forgive and forget that quickly. I know that better than anyone."

Christine sighed. "Are you mad?"

"Nah. We agreed to move on. I just suppose I should've figured it out sooner."

Squeezing his hand, she said, "Harry has nothing to do with us not getting back together. It was just the heat of the moment, I swear. Not that there was heat! What I mean is—"

"Sullivan, Sullivan. You don't have to explain."

"I don't want you to think—"

"I don't think anything. You and Harry are good friends. It makes sense. I don't love the idea of you being with someone else, but if I had to choose one guy to take my place with Charlie, I think it would be him."

"First off, no one can take your place with Charlie. You're his father. And second, you're jumping the gun here. It was one kiss. It doesn't necessarily mean anything."

"Well, if it ever does, just know you have my blessing."

Christine had to smile. "Thank you, Tony."

He wrapped his arm around her as they began walking. "And maybe someday you'll both tell me the real reason he was hiding out in the bushes."

"Not a chance," she teased.