Author's Note: Well, I decided to resurrect this piece for the holidays. I hope that you enjoy the new chapter.

Fin looked down, and in to the eyes of the woman that he had been hoping to dance with since he found out about the party. When he had asked her dance, just moments ago, he expected her to decline his offer. When she had accepted, it had hit him like a ton of bricks.

"Fin?" came the voice of the woman. "Are you okay?"

Fin stared at Olivia, for a moment, before replying. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"The holidays are seeming to bring everyone down, this year," she said, with a sad smile.

"Well, call it a Christmas tradition," Fin replied, honestly. "I've never really been one for the holidays, much."

Olivia smiled, this time happily. "I never would have guessed." She looked over her left shoulder, and took a peek at the couples that were dancing. With a contented smile, she saw that Alex had pulled Cragen onto the dance floor, and the two were swaying together in a wonderful synchrony. A laugh was stifled on her own part, as Olivia saw that Huang was dancing with Michelle. I never would have thought him to be the type to dance, she thought, silently. She did not see Elliot anywhere, thinking that he probably went to the bar. He had mentioned wanting a drink.

"Whatcha' lookin' at?" Fin asked, quietly.

"Oh, nothing," Olivia sighed. "I am just glad to see everyone having a good time." She looked back up at her friend, and smiled. "It's nice to think that we can still have fun, despite what we do." She looked down, and bit her lip, quickly. Looking back up, she took in a slightly shaky breath. "It almost feels wrong, you know?"

Fin shook his head from side to side. "Ah, none of that, tonight, Olivia. You deserve to have fun, too." He looked into Olivia's eyes, and raised his eyebrows. "I mean it."

Olivia swallowed. "I'm sorry," she replied.

"No need to apologize. I know what you mean. It's tough to believe that you or anyone else can be having fun, when some innocent person could be out there, needing your help. But, you have to let that go, sometimes, Olivia." He smiled, sadly. "You can't control what happens in this world. In the same respect, you can't let the world control you."

Looking into Fin's eyes, Olivia nodded. "I know," she whispered. After a moment, she smirked, mischievously. "That was pretty deep, you know."

Fin laughed. "Yeah, I guess that it was."

"Thank you."

"No problem, Liv," he replied. Instinctively, Fin pulled Olivia closer, and continued to dance with her. The night was shaping up to be pretty good after all.

-o-o-

Elliot sat, hunched over his place at the bar, a beer in his left hand. He had been forced to leave the dance floor, partly due to the fact that he was getting a little bit tired, physically speaking, and partly because he had no one to dance with to the slower paced, rather romantic song. However, having craved a beer for a bit, he was perfectly content to head to the bar. Now, he was having a good time just sitting, drinking, and watching all of his friends dancing.

"Hey, Elliot," came a voice from behind him. He spun around, only to find Brian Cassidy standing before him.

"Hey, Brian," Elliot replied, with a small wave. "Take a seat."

Brian nodded. "Thanks." He sat down, and, before saying anything more to Elliot, called to the bartender, who stood a few feet away. He ordered a martini, and looked back at the man beside him. He tapped his fingers on the counter, a few times, before striking up a conversation. "So, how have you been?"

Elliot laughed. "In Hell," he replied, truthfully.

"How's that?" Brian asked, confused, and slightly concerned.

Setting his drink down on the counter, Elliot turned to his right at a ninety degree angle, and placed his hands over his thighs. "Well, it's not so bad as that. I'm just a bit upset." He hesitated.

Brian waited for Elliot to continue. When his former team mate said nothing more, he decided to inquire. "Why is that?"

"My daughter," Elliot continued, "called me tonight. She said that she has no way to get home, tomorrow." He sighed, heavily. "My baby girl won't be spending Christmas with me. It's the first time."

Shaking his head from side to side, Brian looked back at Elliot. "I'm sorry, man."

Elliot waved a dismissive hand. "Well, it was bound to happen. It's snowing all over this damned place. It's no surprise that she is 'practically snowed in'." He emphasized the last part, quoting his daughter's words, directly. "It just sucks, you know?"

Brian stayed silent, not knowing how to answer that particular question. He knew that it was meant to be rhetorical, as he had no idea how it felt to have his own child miss a Christmas holiday with him. Coming up with something hopeful, he raised his glass, and gave his reply. "Well, if not for tomorrow, then, maybe for New Years, huh?" He smiled.

Elliot smiled back. "Maybe." He raised his bottle, and clinked it against Brian's glass, a gesture of hope that everything would turn out well.

-o-o-

"Anybody know what time it is?" Fin asked, as the group of six returned to the table.

"Um… About nine-thirty," Alex said, looking at her watch. "At least, that's what I think it says."

Olivia laughed, as she watched Alex bring the watch closer to her face, and push it back, blinking furiously. "I think that you have been drinking a bit too much, Alex."

Alex pouted, slightly. "I have not. I am having trouble reading my watch because I do not have my glasses on, and the damned thing is so small, thank you very much." She laughed, lightly, before taking a seat at the table.

"Well, the night is only partly finished, yet," Cragen announced, as if it were a big declaration.

Michelle nodded. "I wanna' dance some more."

Brian groaned. "But, I'm tired!" he complained, with a little bit of laughter of his own. He and Elliot had returned to the table some time ago, and had been making random, sporadic conversation. "I just want to sit down."

"Fine by me," Michelle replied, mildly amused. "Anyone else up for it?" No one answered, which did not surprise her one bit. It was already a given that Olivia and Alex were going back to the floor, but, as far as the guys went, she was not sure. As it stood, at this very second, it appeared as thought the ladies would be out by themselves.

"I'll go," came a voice, and it was so surprising that everyone had to make sure that they heard him, properly.

"You?" Cragen asked, staring at George, intently.

George smiled. "Yes, me." He looked at Michelle. "Will I do?"

Michelle nodded. "Of course." With that, the two walked off, and headed toward the dance floor.

With a laugh, Olivia looked at Fin. "You wanna' go?"

"Sure," he replied, with a nod. The two soon disappeared into the throngs of people that were dancing.

With an amused sigh, Cragen rose from his place at the table, and headed toward Alex. "I guess that I will be your partner for this dance, Miss Cabot."

Alex laughed. "Well, thank you, very much," she replied. "I'm not sure that I will last for too much longer, though, so don't count on too much."

"Okay, then," Cragen replied, as he lead Alex away from the table.

Finally, with only Brian and Elliot left at the table with him, John felt a bit anxious. He was comforted by the fact that Brian was not the only individual left at the table with him, but, he did not understand why. It made no sense to him that he should feel this way, afraid to be left alone with his former partner.

Suddenly, and to John's horror, Elliot stood up. "Where are you going?" John asked, slightly panicked.

Elliot caught the hint of urgency in John's voice, and smirked. "To the bathroom," he replied. "Why? Do you want to go with me?" He laughed, and continued toward his destination.

John sat, slightly mortified, knowing that he was about to have to face Brian. He still did not understand why he was so afraid of this conversation. It was what he had wanted for the last four years.

Across the table, Brian was feeling the exact same way. Trying to break the proverbial ice, he cleared his throat, and looked over at John. It was now, or never.

"So, John, what's new with you?"