DisclaimerI am not Anthony Zuiker, Ann Donahue or Carol Mendelsohn. All the characters of CSI: NY are not mine…I'm just borrowing them for a little bit. I promise that I will put them back, exactly the way I found them when I'm done….Oh, Cory Reid is mine and I will take credit for anything she does. :)

A/N: This is definitely a fluff chapter!!! Hope y'all enjoy!!! As always, please, please, please R&R!! My muse loves the attention!!!

Chapter 49.

Merry Christmas

Christmas morning dawned clear, bright and bitterly cold. Danny had mixed feelings about the day. He knew that this was the last New York Christmas that he would experience. He looked at the clock and figured that he could still call Cory.

They hadn't talked much over the past month; it was too painful for the both of them. He still wanted to surprise her by moving to Texas. He still was wondering why it was taking Mac so long to process his paperwork.

He smiled as he grabbed his phone and dialed her number.

"Reid."

"Buon Natale, bella!"

"Danny!! Joyeux Noelle, mon cherie! How are you doing?"

"I'm doing okay. I still miss you. What are your plans for Christmas?"

"You know, the usual. Cooking Christmas dinner, hanging out with my friends and family. Opening presents. By the way, I sent your present to Lindsay so that you would not open it early. I got my present in the mail about a week ago and I've managed not to open it yet!"

"You have more willpower than I do!"

"What are you doing for Christmas? Are you spending it with your family?"

"No. I went and saw Louie in the hospital. The doctors say that he should be out by the end of the year. I can't wait. Lindsay invited the whole team to go over to one of her friend's house, since her friend just moved here. Montana swears that we'll have fun!"

"Trust Lindsay. I've met some of her friends, they're pretty cool. Sweetie, I hate to let you go, but I've got to get the turkey into cook. I'll call you later, okay?"

"Okay. Ti amo! Ciao."

"Bye!" They both hung up there phones.

Cory was barely holding back her laughter at what the look was going to be on Danny's face when she opened the door. "I am so glad that I was able to blackmail Lindsay into keeping my secret! Since I've kept hers for so long!"

She had not lied to Danny. She was going to be spending Christmas with her friends and family, just not in Texas like he thought. She put on a CD compilation of different Christmas songs and began to sing along with them while she finished her preparations.

(Noon)

Cory had just checked the turkey and dressing when she heard the buzzer ring. "Yes?"

"It's Mac and Stella."

Cory buzzed them up and was holding the door open when they stepped out of the elevator.

Stella walked in. "Wow, this is amazing!"

Cory smiled. She loved her new apartment. "Thanks. Nicole is a real estate agent and she hooked me up with a friend of hers to find a place to live. Thus, this place!"

Cory turned to Mac. "Mac. Thank you so much for not letting Danny move. I so wanted to surprise him and…"

Mac saw the look on her face. "No problem. I didn't want to lose one of my best CSI's."

Cory was about to say something when her buzzer rang. She let in Hawkes and her friend Lydia from the bureau.

She smiled as she saw them walk in. She could see the sparks flying between them. She smiled as she got everyone drinks.

(Danny's POV)

Lindsay and Flack had picked up Danny around 11:45. Danny kept trying to ask Lindsay questions about her friend, but she was not giving him much information. When they got out of the cab, he noticed they were in a nice section of the Upper East side.

"What does your friend do, Montana?'

Lindsay tried to act nonchalant. "You know, her family is in the cattle business…" She pushed the buzzer at that point. "It's Lindsay! I'm coming up." She took out a key and let them into the building.

When they finally got up to the 14th floor, they go off the elevator. Lindsay let them to apartment number 1411 and walked in.

Danny saw everyone standing in the living room and holding drinks. He looked up in surprise and Lindsay practically dragged him into the kitchen. "Danny, I'd like you to meet my friend."

Danny looked up and felt his jaw drop. "Cory? What the hell are you doing here?"

Cory looked at Danny's expression. "I live here now. Is that okay with you?"

Danny was doing a credible expression of a landed fish, while he tried to put a coherent thought together. "Hell, yeah! Why?"

Cory shot Lindsay a look and she slipped out of the room. "I realized something, Danny. I love you. That's all that matters. You know the expression, 'Home is where the heart is'?" Danny nodded. "It's true. My heart is here with you in New York. I couldn't bear to be away from you."

Danny closed the space between them and kissed her passionately. "Bella. I understand. I just put in for a transfer to Dallas."

Cory smiled, sweetly. "I know. I also know that Mac purposely lost your paperwork when he found out that I was moving here. I can't imagine you anywhere but in New York. The city is as much a part of you as Texas is for me."

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes, Danny. I thought long and hard about it. I have a job here. I'm going to be the new supervisor in the dangerous organizations squad. I took over Travis's job. Agent Michaels has been trying to get me back here since I left. I have friends here and people that I consider to be my family here. It was a good decision."

"What about your horses?"

"Would you stop worrying? Sampson and Delilah are fine. I found a good stable outside of the city to board them in. I'll still be able to go riding, just no swimming as much as I like."

Danny finally relented. "I just can't believe it. This is the best Christmas present ever."

"Thank you, baby. Let's go back to the party. Lunch will be ready in about thirty minutes.

Thirty minutes later, Cory called everyone into the dining room. The table was set with her grandmother's china, a gift to her from her parents when they found out she was moving.

Flack looked at the table, which was loaded with food. "I've never seen so much food in my entire life."

Cory looked at the table. She had cooked a typical Christmas dinner. Turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, green bean casserole, fruit salad and candied yams. For desert she had pecan pie, chocolate pie and an apple pie. "Really? This is a typical Christmas dinner in Texas."

Lindsay nodded as Flack's eyes grew big. "How do you stay thin in Texas?"

Cory laughed. "It's pretty hard." She had put place cards down where everybody was to sit. Mac was at the head of the table, Stella at the foot. She had place the rest of them so that they sat across from their respective mates. She was hoping to set up Hawkes and Lydia.

Once everyone sat down, Cory looked at Mac. "Mac? Would you like to say grace and then carve the turkey?" Mac agreed and they began dinner.

(After dinner)

Everyone went into the living room for coffee. Cory had offered desert, but everyone was too full at that time. "Okay, guys. I have presents for you!!"

Cory went over to her tree which had many presents under it. Everyone else had brought their gifts, as well. She handed out the presents and when everyone had a pile in front of them, she pursed her lips. "Mac you start first."

Mac nodded and began to open his presents. Once he was done, he had a nice tie from Stella, a book about Asian weaponry from Hawkes, some accessories for his bass guitar from Flack and Lindsay, a joke book from Danny, and Cory had given him a book about Texas.

Stella went next. She had gotten spa packages from Lindsay and Cory, a nice pair of earrings from Danny and Flack, a gift certificate from Hawkes and a gorgeous necklace from Mac.

They let Lydia go next and she got spa packages from all the women. Cory laughed at that. "Maybe all us girls should have a spa day!"

Hawkes went next. Flack and Lindsay had gotten him a really nice chess set, Danny had gotten him some books on crime lab equipment, Mac and Stella had gotten him some lessons so that he could learn to so facial reconstructions by hand and Cory had gotten him the game Operation.

Flack was next. Lindsay had gotten him a gun cleaning set, Stella a tie, Mac, Danny and Hawkes had gotten him season tickets to the New York Rangers and Cory had gotten him a book on guns.

Lindsay began to open her presents with enthusiasm. Cory and Stella had gotten her spa packages, Danny and Mac had gotten her gift certificates to a video store, Hawkes got her a gift package full of things having to do with Montana, and Flack had gotten her a necklace.

Danny urged Cory to go next. From Mac and Stella she had gotten spa packages, Hawkes gave her a guidebook to New York, Lydia had given her a membership to a gun shooting club, Flack and Lindsay had gotten her a nice sheepskin jacket to go riding in and Danny gave her a diamond heart pendant necklace.

Finally it was Danny's turn. Mac, Stella, Hawkes, Lindsay and Flack had gotten him season tickets to the Yankees and Cory gave him boots and a Stetson.

Danny looked at her. "Boots? A cowboy hat?"

Cory smirked. "It's called a Stetson, Messer. Since I'm going to live up here, if it's the last thing I do, I will turn you into a rider!"

The rest of the group laughed. Cory asked if anyone was ready for desert. Everyone was and they quickly demolished the pies.

(After the party)

Danny stayed and help Cory clean up after everyone left. He looked at her. "Have I told you recently how much I love you?"

Cory smiled as she washed the china. "Nope. Probably as much as I love you. So you're really happy that I'm here?"

"Yes, bella. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the gift you gave me."

"Do you know how hard it is to get someone's boot size without them knowing? That was an experience. By the way, those are hand-tailored boots. Made especially for you from Justin Boots. I hope they fit okay. If not, there is a store here where we can get them sized properly."

"I'm just astounded by you being here! Although, if it's alright with you, I'll wait for the riding lessons. It's to cold now!"

"I know. I'll still be riding, but I'll wait to introduce you to the whole experience. By the way, I have one more present for you that I couldn't give to you in front of the others."

Danny eyes lit up. "Really? What is it?"

Cory smirked. "You'll just have to wait until we get everything cleaned and organized."

Danny began to clean in earnest. Finally, after about an hour, they were done. "So where is my present?"

Cory sauntered back to her room. "I'll just go get it. Just sit on the couch and I'll be right back."

She was back in a few minutes. She stayed out of Danny's sight and told him to close his eyes. Danny complied with her. Cory walked behind him and put a blindfold on him.

"What are you doing?"

"Making sure that you don't peek." Once the blindfold was secure, she walked around the room, lighting candles and turning off the lights. She turned on some romantic music and then stood in front of the fireplace. "Okay, you can take off the blindfold."

Danny quickly stripped the blindfold from his eyes and had to let them adjust to the darkness. When he looked at the fireplace, he saw Cory silhouetted against the fire. She had a bow on top of her head.

"Are you going to unwrap your present or not?"

Danny groaned in his desire and slowly walked over to her. "This is the best Christmas ever!" Those were the last coherent words he uttered for a couple of hours.

A/N: Okay, guys...I thought I'd end this chapter so that all y'all minds would be in the gutter!

the little corinthian- How does your happy dance go? I'm glad you liked the decision...I had toyed with leaving that till the sequel, but I didn't want rotten fruits thrown at me or my muse! Feel free to babble anytime you want!

chili-peppers- Glad you liked Lindsay coming down on Danny. He just needed that! Ortiz may be sticking around for the sequel...I haven't decided yet. We do still need to find out about his suppliers! My DL story will not be updated quickly...Unlike this story, I don' t have any chapter's written in advance.

pnkrckprncss- Love your thinking pose:D As for gutter time...what do you think? My mind was so partying there the night I wrote this chapter! I'm glad I got you emotionally invested in hating Ortiz! I'm astounded that this story has had that effect on the people reading this! I honestly did not think the story would be this popular! (I'm blushing!) Yes, you did spell superbly right! Can't wait to read your review on Inflaming the Senses!

Updated on 7/15/07 to correct a translation problem...Many thanks to Pam who pointed it out to me!!!