Hey everyone! Sorry this took me so long to update! I gotta cite some stuff. First off, I don't own Have Yourself A Merry Christmas lyrics, I don't own anything that Nintendo owns, which includes their logo, games, mascot, I don't anything by Swarovski, I don't own Vicoprofen, and finally I don't own SVU. The only thing I own is Amy Munch. Enjoy!


The next morning, Amy woke up at the sound of her alarm. Today would be colder than yesterday. The high would only be ten degrees and a snow storm was expected to come late in the afternoon. She moaned in her pillow.

"Oh no."

Munch was already up in his robe on and sitting on the couch when Amy opened the door. It was a little cold in the apartment. Munch was looking longfully at the phone.

"Hey," she said, rubbing her arms, "Why is so chilly in here? Now I wished I stayed in bed. Today's going to get to the ten degree mark."

"I know," said Munch, "I just turned up the heat now. It'll take a few minutes to warm up."

Amy sat down next to him. He took the throw blanket and wrapped it around her.

"Here, wear this until does. You're starting to shake a little bit. I probably would too. Right now the temp is negative fifteen outside," he said as he wrapped it around her.

"Thanks," Amy said.

"Here, I'll make us some coffee. That'll warm you up," said Munch.

But Amy was not paying attention to him. She was looking from the coffee table, to the entertainment center, to the kitchen, and finally her eyes rested upon a tree that stood up in the corner, decorated. Her eyes were very big and her mouth was open in shock. She started to make weird sounds.

"About time you notice," said Munch, not looking up, but he was smiling to himself.

"Those boxes though…you said they were annulment papers!" Amy finally managed to say.

"Well, I lied," said Munch smugly, setting the cups on the tray as soon as he filled them with coffee.

Amy burst into laughter and then smiled at him.

"You didn't have to do this," she said.

"After yesterday, I thought I should. I mean, we're going to celebrate Christmas, right? And I was going to give you something on Christmas Day, but I then I thought, 'Why the hell not? Let's go all out.' I just hope it's good enough for you. Most of the stuff was yours from your parents. I hope you don't mind," said Munch as he set down the mugs of coffee.

"No, I don't. I love it all. Thank you so much!"

And she hugged Munch.

Munch blushed a little, but he returned the hug. He smiled and closed his eyes.

"Hey, usually Leena and some old academy friends of my mine usually go to Podley's on Christmas Eve for a drink. You think, if you do have anything tonight, I can drop you off and have the person you are hanging out with take you home?" Amy asked, looking up at him.

"You read my mind," said Munch.

"You were looking at the phone earlier," Amy said, now sitting up and grabbing her mug.

"I hadn't called Emily about the dance yet," said Munch, grimacing.

"Why not?" Amy asked confused.

"I don't know what to say to her! I feel like I'm high school again," he said frustrated.

Amy raised one eyebrow.

"Just ask her!"

Munch looked at her.

"Oh, I can imagine how that will go. 'Hi, Emily. It's me, John. My squad and I are going to a dance that the brass is hosting. Would you like to come with me? Okay, fine. Bye.' Such an interesting conversation, Amy."

"You're making a big deal of a small thing. Maybe you had something else in mind."

"Well, we hadn't had dinner in a while…"

"Good luck trying to find place if you want to take her out tonight. It's Christmas Eve, every place in this city is bound to be packed."

"I know that."

"For God sakes, just call her! Ask her if she wants to go out to eat and then ask her if she wants to spend the day with the squad tomorrow because of the dance. Sheesh! This is not a big deal!" exclaimed Amy, throwing her hands up in the air and muttering a few things in Spanish.

"Fine," Munch said, rolling his eyes.

He picked up the phone and began to dial her number. He heard three rings before she answered it.

"Hello?" said Emily into her phone.

Munch froze on the spot. Amy stepped on his foot.

"Hi, Emily," said Munch trying to camouflage his pain.

"John! It's good to hear you! How are you? Do I need to come with you to an appointment or something?" Emily asked.

"No, ummm, this is just an offer I thought you might like," said Munch, now finally starting to gain confidence.

"An offer?"

"Well, it's Christmas Eve and we hadn't been out in a while…"

Amy made hand gestures that urged him to keep going with the conversation.

"Would you like to go out and eat with me?" he asked Emily.

"Sure, I would love to!" said Emily excited.

"Well, you pick the place. Where do you want to go?"

"I'd figure that little diner we always eat at, if it's open."

"It should be I think. It's next to a precinct."

"Well then, that's great. What do you want to do? Meet there?"

"Ummm…well, they're calling for snow…"

"I'll drive you there!" hissed Amy.

Munch gave Amy look that pretty much said "Do you know how shameful it is to have your niece drop you off at your date?"

"Well, Amy's going to be dropping me off. She's going to hangout with some friends tonight. Could we meet at your place?"

"Okay then, that's fine. I'll take you home then. So, I'll see you around…say…seven o'clock?"

"Sounds great. Oh…and I have another question."

"What?"

"Are you doing anything tomorrow?"

"Not…really. Why are you asking?"

Munch felt himself tense up.

"Well…there's this…dance being hosted by the department and…ummm…I was wondering…do you have a ball gown or fancy dress?"

Amy put her hand to her head and resisted the urge to sigh. Munch glared at her.

"Well, yes I have a fancy dress."

"Do you want to go out with me on Christmas with my squad and dance?" he asked.

Silence over the other end of the phone. Munch grew nervous.

"Sure," said Emily, finally, "I would love to go."

"Okay, then. Well, I'll see you tonight at seven."

"Okay, bye John. Have a good day."

"You too."

And Emily hung up.

Munch sat there with the phone still up to his ear. Amy cocked her head to one side.

"You can hang up now," she said.

Munch put the phone down.

"I DON'T BELIEVE THIS!" he yelled.

"Believe what?" asked Amy.

"All of this! What we've been through, the squad, this dance…what does it all mean!"

"I didn't know you were a philosopher in your spare time, Uncle John. Just don't quit your day job. Right now, we need to be getting ready for work if we want to arrive on time. Remember, we're picking up Fin."

"Oh, yeah," said Munch and he got up from the couch to take a shower while Amy cleaned up their mugs.


One Police Plaza

Thursday, December 24th, 2005

Cragen walked into the One Police Plaza building in full uniform. His presence had been requested by the Deputy Commissioner earlier that morning before the squad came in. He walked down the hall to the Deputy Commissioner's office.

"Um, excuse me," said Cragen to the secretary as he took off his hat, "The Commissioner called me this morning. He said it was an urgent meeting."

"Ahhh…yes, he is expecting you. Please sit down. I do believe he is finishing a phone call."

Cragen sat down with his hat in between his arm and waited for fifteen minutes before the Deputy Commissioner called him in.

"Ah, Captain Cragen," said the Commissioner, "Please do sit down. May I take your hat and coat?"

"Sure, thank you," said Cragen as he took off his coat and gave both that and his hat to the Commissioner. The Commissioner hung them up on the coat rack.

"So, what do you need to see me about?" asked Cragen.

"I just wanted to let you know that your precinct will be going under renovations as of January," he said.

"Well…that's great," said Cragen, surprised, "Um, where will our squad be going for that time?"

"The 2-7 offered accommodations for your squad. As of the January 5, 2006, your squad is to be reporting for work there. The renovations will be completed some time in the first week of February. It seems your precinct really needed the tune up."

"Oh yes," said Cragen as his mind wander off to the other day when the Computer Crimes section of the building had experienced technical difficulties with the phone lines and his squad had run into difficulties as well with the booking database system.

"Also, I figured you would want to know ahead of time that I'm requiring all CID units, such as Homicide and SVU, to go under psych evaluations," said the Commissioner, "I feel that we need to interview the detectives. There have been a few events in some of these units that have been brought to my attention and I think they need to be addressed."

"But sir," said Cragen, "My squad went under an evaluation during the Eugene Hoff Cult investigation. And, they were…"

He paused. Cragen wanted use the word "Guinea Pigs," but decided against it.

"…Evaluated by a psychologist six years ago. All of them were cleared and fit for duty, even though some needed some time off or they needed to be transferred," he finished.

"I know, but if we're going to do this to these certain units, then I best feel that all CID units get evaluated. Besides, you have a new addition to your squad and the Eugene Hoff Cult psych evaluations that you are talking about were just build-up tensions from what your squad saw in that apartment row house," said the Commissioner.

"Well, when are they going to happen?"

"I thought about scheduling them some time in February, like the second or third week for your unit. I'm only doing this for the safety of the public. It is important that we maintain good public relations…"

The Commissioner's voice was muffled by the commotion in Cragen's head. He could not believe what the Commissioner was saying. In less than two months, his squad would once again be at the mercy of shrink! To hell with public relations, anyone in the lower ranks could have told him that his squad was being shrinked again, but for the Commissioner to call him to his office and tell this to him in person? So now everything made sense. The high-school like dance…it was just an event, a ploy thrown by the department, not only to make look good in the eyes of the public, but it also was a farewell party to any detectives that the Commissioner saw unfit for duty. And worst of all, Cragen could not do a damn thing about it.

"YOU!" Cragen finally manage to say.

The Commissioner stopped talking.

"You…you…you little…you little back-stabbing rat! No, you're even worse than the God-forsaken rats at IA. This is all about what happened last month! You're not going to interview all the CID units, you're just going to interview mine! Why? Is it because I have 'problem children? You're not doing this to look good in the eyes of the public, this dance that you're throwing. Someone gave you money for this. Why…why are you following their orders to single-out my unit?"

The Commissioner gave Cragen a confused look.

"Are you suggesting that I am involved in a conspiracy to single-out your unit and get your one or some of your detectives fired?" asked the Commissioner, whose temper began to rise.

"Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I'm so glad you caught on so quickly. This dance ordeal you're doing for my squad? It's a bunch of bull and if we were not required to go to this event out of the fear of getting screwed by you, we would have told you to shove the offer up your mouth because we have better times together in my squad room. But it seems like we're going to get screwed later on by you in February. So the question now is, do we still tell you to shove this dance ordeal up your mouth or do we go to this dance, which is basically saying to my squad who has been loyal to you 'Thank you for serving the NYPD, now take your pension and hand over your service weapon and badge' and have a 'good' time?"

"Captain Cragen…" began Commissioner, angrily.

"I know Hammond has pushing you to do this! He suspects that one of my detectives went out and found Detective John Munch, but since we had two of his suspects he had been pursuing for a long time, Detective John Munch was basically an exchange for them with while he had the power to reincarnate my detective! Well, let me tell you something. My squad made no contact with Munch whatsoever!"

"Captain Cragen," said the Commissioner a little louder.

"I gave them an order not to find him! The suspect we found, well I wasn't going to let a sexual motivated homicide remain open! So yeah, maybe that was my fault, telling them to finish Detective John Munch's case, but they went no further! We got the perp before Hammond did, and now Hammond's sore about losing Detective John Munch because he wanted to make our lives miserable again like he did with ADA Alexandra Cabot! It was his fault for letting Detective John Munch go! I told you all this in my report about the Ramos case and how it went down! Why are you bringing this up…"

"CAPTAIN CRAGEN!" yelled the Commissioner.

Cragen realized he was shouting and stopped.

"Yes, I received your report about the Ramos case and yes, I know what happened between you and the government. But this, in no way, is pushed by them. You are to have your detectives evaluated by the second – third week of February, no excuses. That's an order from your superior. In fact, I'll be a little nice since it's Christmas Eve. I'll let you choose the psychologist of your choice. How's that? Now, if you don't mind, I have to call the other Captains about this so if you will excuse me, I have work to do!" snarled the Commissioner.

Cragen eyed the Commissioner angrily before he took and his coat and hat. He saluted him on the way out and slammed the door shut. He walked in silence back to his car in the parking garage.

"SON OF A BITCH!" He roared once he got inside and Cragen slammed the steering wheel.


SVU Squad Room

Cragen walked out from the elevators and toward the squad room doors when he stopped. From the frosted glass, he could make out everyone was there and having a good time. Stabler seemed to mocking someone's waltzing, which happened to be Fin's because he threw a paper wad and said "Idiot."

Cragen's anger flared up again, but now it turned into sorrow. It was wrong what the departmental dogs were making him do. At least he could choose a psychologist which he had no trouble in that. He would call in Huang, but knowing Huang, he was a professional. He would not only have to send a report him, but to the Commissioner as well.

Cragen knew each one of his detectives had demons. Some he was more worried about than others, as they were ticking time bombs if tossed in a situation like this. He needed to do something. The Commissioner said nothing about warning his detectives about the evaluations, nor did he say anything about them facing their demons before the evaluations as well.

Cragen walked into the squad room. The squad stopped fooling around at once.

"Before you carry on with your idiocies, I have bad news and good news," Cragen said.

"Let me guess the good news. You saved money by…" began Stabler.

"No, not that kind of good news, Elliot. The Commissioner called me to his office this morning. Coming in January, the 1-6 precinct will be experiencing renovations and we will be relocating to the 2-7 for work until the first week in February."

"Yes," said everyone.

"And you guys are going to be shrinked again in the second or third week of February."

"WHAT!" shouted everyone.

"I know, I know, I was just as shocked as you guys are now," said Cragen.

"Damn…" began Munch, but he could not finish his sentence.

Amy bowed down her head.

"It's because of me, isn't it, Cap'n?" she said quietly.

Cragen walked toward her and put his hand on her shoulder. He did not know what to say.

"I don't know if it was because of you and the fiasco of last month. But I do know that these scumbags are throwing this dance as a farewell party because they want to fire one or some of you guys," he said, now turning and facing at everyone, "And I, for one, will not let them go on a fishing expedition in my station house."

He paused.

"All I know is this. They're going to go through with it and Huang will be your shrink. I know you guys have inner demons, which means either you get them sorted out now, or risk having no job on the force."

He felt the squad squirm and shift their weight uncomfortably.

"I know how you all feel right now. It isn't fair to you guys. I tried everything I could to convince him not go with it. The truth of the matter is…"

Cragen felt himself tensing up.

"I just don't want to lose any of you guys to the departmental thickheads up on high," he whispered.

The squad remained silent. Cragen looked away from them.

"You know what? Do whatever the hell you want today. And if we do get a call, I'll be the one to take it. God knows I need some fresh air now. Screw of all this."

And Cragen went to his office and shut the door. The squad exchange glances.

"Did he just say indirectly that he thinks of us as family?" asked Benson.

"Yeah…he did…unless I heard otherwise," said Stabler.

"He did. Otherwise, he would not have spent the past five years spending Christmas with us and dragging me out of my apartment," said Munch.

Amy raised an eyebrow at Munch.

"Long story," whispered Fin in her ear, "Trust me, you don't want to know."

Amy shook her head.

"So now what do we do?" she asked.

"We follow his orders," said Stabler, "Do whatever the hell we want."

So the squad put on their coats and left the squad room while Cragen stayed in his office. His mood was miserable. He laid his head down on his desk.


Strawberry Diner

1049 Lexington Ave

Upper East Side

"I don't get it," said Amy, poking her food that she had ordered.

The squad took Cragen's orders to heart. Stabler left early to spend time with his kids (his wife would have them on Christmas) and Benson decided to stay with Munch, Fin, and Amy since she had nothing else to do. They ended up going for lunch at the Strawberry Diner.

"Get what?" asked Munch with a mouth full of food.

"Cragen," she replied.

"Well, it was the Commissioner's fault he got him into that mood," said Fin, "Man, if that would have been me, I would have been on him so fast. What's he shrinking us for!"

"Because of me," said Amy and her mood darken.

"Hey, if it's because of you then we'll stand by you if you go down with this shrinking ordeal," said Benson, patting her on the back, "It was not your fault. You just listened to your heart. There's nothing wrong with that."

"Yeah there is. What if someone gets removed because of me? You saw Cragen back there, he won't take it. I wouldn't be surprised if he took up the bottle again because I caused for one of his detectives to get fired."

"You don't know that," replied Benson.

"You know, I'm not supporting you Amy, but ever since we got that letter…" began Munch.

"Oh Jesus, John! Give it up already!" said Fin, frustrated.

"What?" asked Amy.

"Your uncle started ranting about this whole dance ordeal yesterday when you were not around. He thinks the NYPD got a donation from some one or some group to host this dance," said Benson, rolling her eyes.

"Well," said Munch, "Part of it was I was pist off and I needed to rant about something. But now looking at it, what are the reasons that they are throwing this event and making a huge ordeal about it, hmm? Doesn't it strike anyone odd that the NYPD has enough money to throw to such an event? They've been renovating precincts, adding new people to the force, promoting people, demoting people…all that takes money."

"John, as much as I would love to know what's going on, I would rather focus on getting through today and maybe cheering up the Captain, so that way he is in good spirits for tomorrow," said Benson.

"And as much as I know that you are my partner, if you don't stop ranting about this, you're going to be wearing your plate of food soon," added Fin, angrily.

Amy said nothing. She really wanted her uncle to keep ranting so she would not be forced to talk. She suddenly did not feel hungry and looked out the window. Fin noticed.

"You going to eat that?" he asked.

Amy shrugged and Benson stepped on Fin's foot.

"Ow!"

"Why don't we go outside and look at the shops, Fin?" said Benson, giving him a look.

"Well, let me pay for everything. I guess we'll see you guys back at the house," said Fin.

Munch shrugged.

"Maybe not. I haven't really decided yet and I don't know about her," he said.

Benson understood and dragged Fin out of the diner.

"You need to stop beating yourself up over last month's ordeal. You did what you thought was right," whispered Munch.

Amy looked at him.

"But I didn't know that the Commissioner was going to take it this far. Cragen took a lot of heat for me. I should've taken all of it."

"Cragen did what he thought was right. Deep down, I know Cragen wanted to go looking for me. It was not fair what they did to me, to you, to all of us. We knew that. Birds of a feather stick together, no matter what happens," said Munch pointing her fork at her.

Amy smiled briefly, but it disappeared as soon as it appeared.

"Didn't you hear Cragen? They're going on a fishing expedition Uncle John…"

"I heard him loud and clear," said Munch waving his hand, "I'm not deaf, only when Fin's around though."

"He thinks of us as family. I'll never forgive myself if I break this family," said Amy.

"After what Fin told about last month, I'm surprised that you guys held together. They didn't fall apart because of you."

Munch looked at her.

"Look, it seems we both got some inner demons to fight. Next month, why don't we go somewhere, a vacation perhaps? Just you and me," said Munch.

"Where?" said Amy.

"You pick the place. I'll drive or fly if it's too far from here. Money is no factor. Remember I have a pension, you know."

"Baltimore," said Amy quietly.

"What was that?" asked Munch.

"Baltimore. Can we go to Baltimore? Can you show me where you and Dad grew up?"

"I'll do more than that. I'll show my old stomping grounds, what I did in my spare time…" said Munch, thinking of all the places he could show her.

"I know what you did in your spare time," said Amy, snickering.

"No, not that," said Munch, shaking his head and rolling his eyes, "This is funny."

"What?"

"I said I would never set foot in that city again, but you want to go. I'll make an exception for you because, from what I'm gathering, you never got the chance to see where Isaac grew up?" wondered Munch.

"Well if that's the case…" began Amy, now feeling guilty.

Munch gave her his signature look over the glasses as she began to second guess her answer. Amy nodded to answer Munch's question.

"Well then, it's settled. I'll sweet talk Cragen tomorrow, if he's in the mood. Why don't we go around the city and look at stuff?"

"You want to walk around the city in this weather?" asked Amy perplexed.

"Well I would like to go Rockefeller Center, but I don't want to walk," said Munch, rolling his eyes.

"Oh," said Amy, "Sorry. But why Rockefeller Center?"

"What else do we have to do? Cragen specifically said do whatever the hell you want now," Munch replied.

"You could be preparing for your date tonight."

"Munchkin!" hissed Munch.

Amy laughed.

"I believe we will never forget those orders he gave us," she said, shaking her head and grinning.

"Of course not. They will be as famous as Lt. Commander Vernon Geberth quote from the 80s," said Munch.

"'Remember, we work for God,'" said Amy, "But I think that applies to all units when you look at it."

Munch let out a short laugh.


Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Let your heart be light.

From now on,

our troubles will be out of sight.


SVU Squad Room

Benson and Fin returned to the squad room to find Cragen re-reading a file. They brought in some donuts and milk. Cragen put his file down.

"Guys…" He began.

"Shut up. We're not going let you spend your day being miserable in your office, and that's that," said Fin.

"Besides, we brought donuts and milk. Do you know how hard it is to find donuts and milk on Christmas Eve when every precinct in this city has ransacked every donut place and corner gas station?" said Benson jokingly.

Cragen smiled and shook his head. He pushed all his worries aside and looked at the box of donuts.

"Any of them happen to be the jelly-filled or cream-filled kind?" he asked, smilingly.

Benson and Fin grinned.


Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Make the Yule-tide gay,

From now on,

our troubles will be miles away.


Rockefeller Center

Munch got out of the car and looked around. It had started to snow. Amy got out. Munch extended his hand. Amy looked at it, then at him. After a moment's hesitation, she took it. Munch brought her close and wrapped his arm around her and they began walking around the square looking at the tree. He brushed the snow out of her hair. She had only been wearing ear muffs and a scarf along with her trench coat.

"You really need a hat, you know that?" he said.

"I know. I've been meaning to get one, like the one you're wearing now," said Amy.

"Don't be silly! Fedoras are for men!" exclaimed Munch.

"What about Carmen Sandiego? She wore a fedora," objected Amy.

"That woman who traveled the world stealing priceless artifacts?"

"Yeah, her. She was like James Bond, only she educated kids about the world around them."

"How can you admire someone who stole priceless artifacts on a game show which would later on become a cartoon?"

"I don't. I had always admired you. It wouldn't have matter if my parents had died or not, I would have been a detective just like you."

Munch stopped walking.

"You're kidding, right?"

"No."

Munch brought Amy closer to him.

"Geez, Munchkin. Why didn't you ever tell your parents?"

"They thought I could be something else better than a cop. But I always held on to that dream. It helped me get through life, a lot."

Munch looked up at the tree that stood in the center of Rockefeller.

"You're welcome then. I'm glad that I at least did something good in your life for once," he said.

"What do you mean 'for once?' You've done a lot of good things in my life, especially this past year," said Amy.

Munch looked down at her and smiled to himself. He mind wander back Isaac's apartment and that Christmas back in 1985. It had been snowing like now and he had been carrying Amy around his back. His brother told him to stop it, that he would be a bad influence, but he kept doing it up until her bed time.

He was not bad influence on her then and he certainly was not going to be one now.

"If only you could see her now, Isaac. You would be so proud of her, whether you wanted her to become a cop or not," he thought to himself.

Munch brushed the snow off her Amy's hair. Amy, who had been watching the ice skaters down below, looked up at him. He put his hat on her head.

"My turn to get the snow in the hair," he said.

The hat slid down Amy's head. It was a little too big for her. Munch laughed and Amy laughed too.

"She kinda looks good in a Fedora," thought Munch.


Here were are as in olden days,

happy golden days of yore.

Faithful friends who are dear to us

gather near to us once more.


The New Yorker Office Main Building

10036 Four Times Square

Emily Smith sat in her office, looking out the window as the snow fell to the bustling people below. A lot had happen in the past year, especially that last half. She met Munch on the street by accidentally running into him. It was only when she got to her office when she recognized the name from an old article she had read many years ago in the newspaper. To make things even more coincidental, she was thinking about her divorce with her husband when she ran into him and how he would mention later on, he was a quadruple divorcee.

Yes, she said she would break it after a few drinks, maybe one dinner or lunch. After all, he was a quadruple divorcee! That was pretty much a dead giveaway that he did not know how to treat women. That was not until she heard the full story of why they all left. Work or another man as had been in the last one's case.

Then she heard the stories of his current work. A couple times she had volunteered to help, to get Munch in touch with reporters she knew well, but he rejected the offer saying his boss would shoot him.

His life seemed stable. He had found his niece and his partner was the referee in case the fights between him and her got out of hand, but that was normal with family members. And Amy was a sweet girl. She had met Amy a few times and she seemed level-headed (Munch said it was just an act she was putting on while she was around). She also cared for Munch as this past month she had demonstrated with his physical therapy sessions.

So why did she keep going out with him? Did she felt sorry for Munch? Did she admire what he did at his age? Did she admired how he was trying to right a wrong that he committed ten years ago everyday as he said to her last time when they were driving to his station house?

She did not know. Yet, he made her laugh and would take her any where she wanted to go. Andrew had never been that way, but John Munch was different. Sure, yet unsure of himself and loyal to those he held dear in his heart.

She smiled to herself and suddenly remembered she had a four o'clock dead line with her article she was proof reading. She began to work on it again, but her mind did not entirely give up on the thoughts of John Munch.


Through the years we all will be together

If the Fates allow

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.

And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.


Elliot Stabler's Residence

Maureen, who had been watching her younger siblings, saw her father walk through the door.

"Dad! What are you doing home early?" she asked surprised.

"Cragen let me off early. How's everything?" asked Stabler as he planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Food's doing almost done and doing fine and so are my brother and sisters. They're dying to open the presents," she replied.

"Good, good. Well, we'll let wait a little longer on the presents. Let's eat, then open the presents," said Stabler, smilingly.

"Dad, they're not going to be happy with that."

"I know. Speaking of your siblings, where are they?"

"Backyard. Snowball fight," said Maureen.

"Oh. How many more minutes on the food?"

"Fifteen."

"Okay, I distract the kids while you make sure the house does not burn down," he said as he took off his trench coat and put on his winter one and hat.

"Very funny, Dad," said Maureen, raising an eyebrow.

"You don't mind, do you?"

"Yeah, I do mind committing suicide with my siblings when it comes to snowball fights, so I'll stay in and watch the food."

"Thanks Maureen."

"No problem, Dad."

And Stabler ran out into the back yard to play with his kids in their snow ball fight while Maureen watched them from the window.


And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
Munch's Apt.

Munch was in his room getting ready for the night ahead while Amy was getting ready to go to Podley's. Munch however was having trouble deciding on a tie with his suit he had laid out on the bed.

"Blue, black, red…I have a green one?" wondered Munch aloud as he came across a green tie in his drawer.

Munch gave up and went back to his closet to see what else he had to wear.

Amy walked out of her room and looked out the window. The snow had not let up since noon and it was still falling the same, slow pace. Already, four inches of snow had accumulated and it showed no sign of stopping, which worried Amy.

"Man, the roads are going to be killer tomorrow. They say they got the trucks out, but it looks like it's not doing a damn thing at all," she said, "They've already said that they might close the bridges."

"They always say that," said Munch, "Usually they toss enough sand or salt and the bridges are okay. Do you realize how many traffic jams there will be if they closed the bridges?"

Amy looked away from the window and looked at her uncle who was standing in the door frame.

"Nice," said Amy, "I see you got the black section of the color wheel covered."

Munch was wearing an all-black Calvin Kline suit with a black short-sleeved dress shirt. He did not look bad in it. In fact, he looked pretty damn sexy, but Amy was not going to pass up the opportunity of poking fun at him for not wearing more color.

"What?" said Munch, slightly offended, "This is nice!"

"We need to update your wardrobe, specifically with more color," she said looking at him.

"I have do have color! It's all in the ties."

"You're not wearing any ties, Uncle John."

"Well, what about your wardrobe? All it has is jeans, hoodies, and t-shirts besides your five-days-a-week work clothes," protested Munch, "And what's with the Nintendo logo on that one?"

Munch pointed to Amy's hoodie which was red with the Nintendo logo on the front.

"I like Nintendo and it was on special," said Amy.

Munch shook his head and looked up at the ceiling.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"Five thirty. Why?"

"Hold on a second."

Amy gave her uncle a peculiar look as Munch went into his room.

"You like Nintendo, right?" he asked from his room.

"Yeah, why do you think I play the one upstairs in the crib all the time during lunch hour?"

Munch rummaged through his closet.

"Found it," he muttered.

He pulled out two bags and went to the living room. Amy was craning her neck to see what her uncle was doing, when she suddenly became disinterested in what he was doing.

"I don't know if your parents did the open one gift before Christmas, but would you settle for two?" asked Munch hesitantly.

Amy's mouth slightly dropped.

"No, I don't mind. What are you, insane? Of course I would open some presents before Christmas in heartbeat!" exclaimed Amy.

Munch handed her the bags and shook his head. He covered his ears as she opened the first bag.

"AHHHHHH! A Gamecube bundle! Mario Kart Double Dash with two controllers! A 1039 memory card and…"

Amy opened the second bag.

"MARIO DDR! AND ANOTHER DANCE PAD!"

She waved the box back and forth in a dancing motion.

"I'd take it you like?" asked Munch.

"Yes, yes, yes!" said Amy and jumped in his arms, "Thank you so much."

"Hey, hey, hey! Careful with the shoulder. I just did my exercises an hour ago," he said as he tried to balance himself.

"Oh. Sorry," said Amy blushing, "How did you know?"

"Fin kept getting sore when you kept beating him on the games upstairs in the crib. I eventually took the hint from him that I needed to get you one so he could play with someone else besides you," said Munch, grinning slyly.

"How did you get all of this…"

"Pension and setting money aside since early October. I just manage to buy the stuff when Emily took me to one of my sessions for the first time."

Amy smiled and blushed again.

"I'm going to give you two of your gifts early too," she said.

"Amy…" began Munch.

"It's only fair!"

"You don't…"

But Amy did not listen to him. She went to her room and went to her closet. She found two of his gifts. She picked them up and went back to the living room.

"Amy…you don't have to do this!" protested Munch.

"And I'm the one that drives the car and can make you fashionably late for your date. I insist," she said.

Munch sighed, gave her his signature look over the glasses, and took the both of his parcels. He opened the first box.

"Hey, I've been needing one of these!" he exclaimed.

It was a black robe, pretty similar to an old one he had for winter. It was flannel and black with a simple design.

"Mine went missing last week when I put it in the…hey! Have you been in my closet again?" Munch asked.

"Well, I need some darks to wash and when I saw that and how old it was, well…okay, okay I went into your closet," admitted Amy somewhat embarrassed.

"Uh huh…right. What else have you done behind my back?" asked Munch with a sly grin.

"Ummm…nothing! I swear it! Can you just open your second present, please?" said Amy, growing more embarrassed by the minute.

Munch opened his second gift which turned out to be a pair of jeans.

"Jeans?" asked Munch skeptically.

"I got them in the darkest denim I could find," said Amy turning into a very bright red enough to rival her hoodie, "I knew you didn't have any…"

Munch shook his head.

"I've been meaning to find some anyway. One less trip to the store for me. Thanks and you can breathe now," he added, seeing how Amy was tensing up.

Amy relaxed and let out her breath she had been holding.

"Let's go," said Munch, looking out the window, "This snow is coming down way too fast."


Emily Smith's Apt.

Munch sighed as Amy pulled up to Emily's apartment complex.

"This is so embarrassing," he muttered.

"Then get a car," said Amy.

Munch rolled his eyes.

"If only," he said, looking at her.

"Look," said Amy, "Just have a great time tonight. And don't get nervous and try to read her mind…"

Munch began to pantomime Amy.

"She's not a perp, you know. And stop doing that. You're looking like OD on one of your pills."

Munch held Emily's present in his hand.

"Awww…looky at the Johnny Munchy Wunchy having a sweet wittle present for his sweetheart," said Amy in a baby, mocking voice.

"Shut up," muttered Munch.

"Tell me what it is! Tell me what it is!"

Munch bobbed his head around for little while and then sighed.

"It's a…a…a little pin I found. It has her favorite flower on it, made of gold and swarovski crystals. I thought she could wear it to the dance…"

Amy grinned.

"You're a sweet old man, do you know that?" she said, jokingly.

"Munchkin!" exclaimed Munch.

He gave Amy a look before he got out of the car.

"What time will you be home tonight?" she asked.

"I don't know. Ten, eleven o'clock? Don't wait up if I'm not home around then, okay?" said Munch smiling.

"Don't worry, I won't. I'll probably be in bed and tell Tom not to buzz you in."

"Amy!"

"I'm joking."

"Well, don't get drunk."

Amy let out a laugh, waved, and droved off. Munch shook his head and waved briefly. He ought to have known better. Amy could not drink because her stomach could not take alcohol. Munch looked at his watch and realized he was forty-five minutes early. He began to wonder what to do. He checked his wallet and a few minutes called a taxi.

"Taxi!" he shouted and a yellow cab pulled over.

"Where to, mac?" asked the cab driver.

"The nearest hat store that contains fedoras," said Munch.

"You sure man? This snow is coming down like crazy. The nearest one from here is about five blocks," said the cab driver doubtfully.

"Please, it's for someone special. I'll double the total cost if you can get me there and back here in thirty minutes," pleaded Munch.

"Okay then, mac," said the cab driver, shaking his head.


Munch now walked inside Emily's apartment complex thirty minutes later, with a hat box in hand, and went to the elevator. He hit the number seven as the doors closed. A few minutes later, he walked out onto the hallway and went to apartment 7B.

Emily was still in her bath robe and just finishing drying her hair when Munch knocked. She nearly dropped the hair dryer.

"Not now!" she cried and she looked at her watch. Ten till seven.

"Stupid four o'clock deadline!" she growled to herself, but she stopped what she was doing and went to answer the door.

"Who is it?" she said through the door.

"It's me," said Munch, "I'm sorry I'm early. The snow was coming down and…"

Munch stopped because he heard unlocking sounds. Emily opened the door and Munch looked away and nearly dropped the hat box.

"Oh! Sorry, I didn't know. Maybe I should have called…"

"John! It's okay! It's not like I'm naked," said Emily, trying to hold back her laugh.

Munch opened one eye.

"You sure?" he asked, slyly.

Emily did a mock frown.

"Does it look like it?" she asked and she opened the door for him to come in.

Munch walked in and Emily shut the door.

"What's in the box?" she asked as she walked past him.

Munch began to feel nervous when Emily walked past him.

"Uhh…last minute gift for Amy," said Munch, "It's a hat."

"A hat?"

"She needed one for the winter so I got her one. I came about forty-five minutes early because the snow was coming down hard and, well…"

"John, you are something else," said Emily, shaking her head and smilingly, "You're niece is very lucky to have you as an uncle. Take off your hat and coat, you're probably sweating in it."

"Amy would probably say otherwise after all the times I've been tormenting her. What do I do with this hat box?" Munch asked.

"Just set it there near your stuff. What time you want to be home tonight?"

"Well, I told Amy eleven."

"Okay, then. Let me get ready. You can watch TV if you want or read the paper."

Emily went to her room and Munch found the remote and turned on the TV. The TV came on to show the local news channel.

"Good evening everyone. This has just come in. Anyone on the roads right now, must get to where they are going. The roads right now are closed until further notice. Apparently the police and fire departments have been busy the last few hours to help people get their cars unstuck from the unusually fast piling snow. Until further notice, people are to remain indoors. This snow storm has been one of the worst in New York City's history…" said the news reporter.

"You're kidding!" said Munch, "How the hell am I suppose to get home and go to this dance tomorrow!"

Emily stuck her head out.

"They closed the roads?" she asked.

"Until further notice," grumbled Munch.

Munch's cell phone then rang. It was Amy.

"Uncle John!" Amy said over the phone.

"Amy! Did you hear?" asked Munch.

"Yeah, I did. Podley turned up the TV. What are we going to do?" she asked.

"I don't know. 'Further notice' to the traffic department of New York City means whenever they feel like it," he replied.

"Oooo! Damn it! This is going to be great! What if the roads aren't cleared till morning? What are we going to do? And your medication is at home! You need to take something before you go to bed tonight!" exclaimed Amy.

"Calm down. We'll worry about getting to the house on time tomorrow morning. As for my medication, well I manage," Munch said.

"You'll be stiff in the morning! Remember what happened last time!" she cried.

"Amy, it's been a month. I think I should be okay. I've been doing fine lately…"

"Yesterday, you didn't."

"Munchkin, Emily is watching me. I'm in good hands."

"But what about tonight? What are we going to do tonight?"

Munch sighed. That he did not have an answer for.

"Amy…"

"You can't stay at her place! That would be rude, impolite! It would not seem right to even begin with!"

Munch shook his head and looked at Emily.

"You guys are trying to figure out how to get home?" Emily asked.

Munch covered the phone.

"She doesn't like the idea of me staying here without my medication. I take this pain reliever at night. It helps me sleep. I have a tendency to sleep on my bad arm," he whispered.

"Hey! Uncle John! What are you doing! What's going on?" shouted Amy from the phone.

Emily smirked.

"What?" said Munch.

"Let me talk to her."

"Okay," said Munch, "You're death wish."

"Amy," said Emily into the phone.

"Hi Emily! How are you?" asked Amy.

"I'm fine, dear. Listen, it's okay if he stays the night."

"But I don't want him to impose on your hospitality! It's okay, I'll drive the roads."

"You will do no such thing. It's dangerous and I don't feel your Uncle John would like it knowing you were trying to pick him and you had an accident," said Emily, sternly.

"But he needs that pain reliever for the night! He'll wake up stiff!" cried Amy.

"Amy, honey, don't get upset. What does he need to take? Try to think of the name," said Emily, soothingly.

"Well, he needs to take it with food and it was something new. He got it last week. It was a short-term medication and it begins with a 'V.' Ummm…it would be…Vicoprofen! Yeah, Vicoprofen! I remember it now because he can't take any form of ibuprofen with it!"

"Okay, relax. Does he need this tonight?"

"Yes, or his arm will be sore in the morning."

Emily slapped her head.

"I have a bottle of that. I went with him to pick up one, remember? Remember how I told you I lost it?"

"Yeah?"

"I had put it in my purse and completely forgot about!"

Amy let out a sigh of relief.

"So, he'll be okay at your place?" she asked.

"It's fine. I got a spare bed. He'll be okay," said Emily serenely.

"Okay, thank you so much. I'll try to be there first thing in the morning around eight, okay?"

"Okay, see you tomorrow. Now go and enjoy yourself."

"I will."

And Amy hung up.

"We'll that worked," said Emily.

"You lied to her?" asked Munch, bewildered.

"Somewhat. I actually have some Vicoprofen from earlier this year. I fell and broke my arm. I don't think it has expired," said Emily as she went to check her medicine cabinet, "Yup, I was right. You can take this tonight."

"So you never told her about how I accidentally lost my temper and through it out the car window?" asked Munch, embarrassingly.

"John, I'm not the type that rats out people," Emily said, coolly.

"And what about the spare bed? You only have a two-bedroom apartment," wondered Munch aloud.

Emily poked her head out her bedroom door.

"Munch, did you think you were going to sleep on the couch with that bad arm of yours?"

Munch's mouth slightly dropped.

"You're not serious…" he could not even finish the sentence.

"What? We've been dating for a pretty long time now and didn't you say your partner suspects you sleeping with me?" asked Emily, grinning.

"Sleep with you? As in…" Munch said, looking over his glasses.

Emily shrugged.

"Depends how you interpret it, but you need to eat first and take your medication…oh!"

Munch had got up and pulled Emily towards him into a kiss. Emily began to smile and laugh.

"I guess we'll have dinner later?" she asked once they broke apart.

"What do you mean dinner? I thought we were having it now," said Munch.

Emily laughed as Munch pulled her into the bed room and closed the door.


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