"Christmas Time's a coming, Christmas Time's a coming…" Greg sang as he came into the break room.

"Give it up will ya Greg. You have been singin' that song for the last 3 hours. Enough already" Nick's voice broke through the din of Greg's singing.

"Ya know I think I will go sing in the lab." Greg hurried out the door swinging closed behind him.

Sara came blowing into the room just then, nearly knocking Greg off his feet.

" do you Know what pisses me off?" she groused.

"Do you mean besides everything?" I asked her.

"I cannot believe that the Christmas party is formal, and that we have to go and that we have to bring a date!"

"Well, Sar, look at the bright side"

"Which is?"

"I dunno, when I think of it I will let you know"

"Thanks" she said in disgust, leaving the room.

"Tessa, There was something I wanted to ask you.."

"Sure. Anything" I replied.

"Well, I was wondering if you would like to go to the Christmas party with me?"

I was totally not prepared for this question, but I pulled myself together.

"I would love to" I said

"Christmas Time's a coming, Christmas Time's a coming…"

"Tessa, Nick!" Catherine was waving to us from the other side of the ball room at the

Tangiers hotel.

"Heya Cath, Warrick." I greeted my friends. "Where's the rest of our little posse?"

Both Catherine and Warrick shrugged. "Greg and Sara were just here. Grissom hasn't shown up yet." Cath replied.

"I heard a rumor that you're singin for us all tonight." Warrick said.

I smiled "you heard right." I replied. "Infact, here comes my cue."

I saw Ecklie approach the podium. "And now folks I would like you all to welcome to the stage the newest member of our criminalistics team; Ms. Tessa Matthews, who's talents run deeper than crime scene investigation."

I could hear the applause and cheers from my friends and colleagues as I took the mic.

Thank you all." I said, feeling a little bit nervous. But as the music started I began to relax. I took a deep breath and gave it my all.

How do I,
Get through one night without you?
If I had to live without you,
What kind of life would that be?
Oh, I need...
I need you in my arms, need you to hold,
You're my world, my heart, my soul,
If you ever leave,
Baby you would take away everything good in my life,
And tell me now
How do I live without you?
I want to know,
How do I breathe without you?
If you ever go,
How do I ever, ever survive?
How do I, how do I, oh how do I live?
Without you,
There'd be no sun in my sky,
There would be no love in my life,
There'd be no world left for me.
And I,
Baby I don't know what I would do,
I'd be lost if I lost you,
If you ever leave,
Baby you would take away everything good in my life,
And tell me now,
How do I live without you?
I want to know,
How do I breathe without you?
If you ever go,
How do I ever, ever survive?
How do I, how do I, oh how do I live?
Please tell me baby,
How do I go on?
If you ever leave,
Baby you would take away everything,
I need you with me,
Baby don't you know that you're everything,
Good in my life?
And tell me now,
How do I live without you,
I want to know,
How do I breathe without you?
If you ever go,
How do I ever, ever survive?
How do I, how do I, oh how do I live?
How do I live without you?
How do I live without you baby?

As the song came to a close, the cheering an clapping became deafning.

Sara put two fingers in her mouth and let out a shrill whistle. Taking a quick bow i hurried off the stage. "Tessa, that was amazing!" Catherine exclaimed.

I smiled a little embarrassed. "Thanks Cath." I replied.

I excused my self and headed for the balcony to get some fresh air. The night was warm, apparently the desert doesnt get very cold in the winter. "Hey Tessa.What're you doin out here?" Nick came up behind me. "Just gettin some fresh air" I replied. "You did a really good job Tessa" I thanked him, and he dazzled me with one of his thousand- watt smiles. I swear to God when he smiled like that, it made my insides go mushy.

Suddenly, the music started back up. I recognized the song. Savage Garden's "I knew I Loved You"

"Would you like to dance Tessa?" He asked me. I nodded "Sure. I would love to."

As he pulled me close, my heart began hammering in my chest. I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, letting the music work it's magic.

Maybe it's intuition
But some things you just don't question
Like in your eyes
I see my future in an instant
And there it goes
I think I've found my best friend

I know that it might sound more than a little crazy
But I believe

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

There's just no rhyme or reason
Only this sense of completion
And in your eyes
I see the missing pieces
I'm searching for
I think I've found my best friend

I know that it might sound more than a little crazy
But I believe

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

A thousand angels dance around you
I am complete now that I've found you

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

As the music faded away, he made no move to pull away from me.

"Nick.." I began, but words failed me asI looked into his eyes. I wanted to say something but was afraid I would ruin the moment if i did. but no word were necessary, I knew that he felt the same way I did.

"Merry Christmas Tessa." he said softly as he kissed me.