Hey all, sorry it's been so long. I am in the process of a new job and moving. Add Christmas to the mix and I am going crazy. I didn't mean to leave you hanging. Hope you enjoy. Merry Christmas.

Present

Becca looked over as Savvy leaned against the window. "What's wrong honey?" She asked rubbing her sister's shoulders.

"I don't know." The preteen said shrugging the arm away from her. "I just have this feeling that something really bad is happening."

"I'm sure everything's okay." Becca said, trying to reassure the little girl.

"There's blood on the moon." She responded softly looking up at the sky.

"That's just an old superstition." Becca scoffed turning away.

Savvy tracked her with frightened eyes. "Can we at least call them and make sure they're all right?" She asked worriedly.

"Savvy come on. You'll interrupt their romantic evening." And maybe something else. She added to herself. "Give them at least one night kid free."

"Something's wrong." The little girl argued, her hands balling into fists.

Becca stared at her unsure how to respond. "Do you have any homework?" She asked finally.

1984

"He never comes out of his room." Laura told Steve as soon as he walked in the door of their small house

"He lost his parents a month ago and had to move to a brand new place." Steve said setting down his bags and gathering her into a hug.

"I don't think its good for him to be alone so much." She argued. "Will you talk to him at least?"

Steve sighed as he rolled his aching shoulders. "Of course I'll talk to him." He said when she glared at him.

"Now?" She asked raising her eyebrows.

"Can I take off my shoes first?" He asked exasperated.

After changing into more comfortable clothing he walked down the hall and knocked on a door. Not waiting for an answer he pushed it open and peaked inside. The small boy looked up from where he was sprawled across his bed.

"Hey John." Steve said greeting him. "How come you're up here all by yourself?" He asked leaning against the doorframe. The little boy shrugged and turned his head away.

"Well now, I can see how you don't like us and don't want to spend time with us. But Miss Laura now, she don't understand it at all and she's just heart broken." Steve drawled, watching for a reaction.

'I like Miss Laura." He protested, turning to glare at the big man in the doorway.

"You might and you might not. You've been through a lot in the last little bit and you're probably real confused on a lot of things. I know I was there once."

"You were?" The little boy asked dubiously.

"Yep" Steve replied coming over and sitting down on the bed. "My grandma died when I was a little older than you. Now granddaddy, he tried to make up for it and for a while there I hated him for it. See Grandma was a real good cook, best chocolate chip cookies in the world. Granddaddy now, he made cookies one day, hard as rocks." He explained.

John stared down at his hands. "Miss Laura does all the things mama used to do for me." He mumbled.

"And that makes you sad because you miss her. Its okay to miss her and to remember all the good stuff that she did for you." Steve said rubbing the youngster's back. "But I don't think she would have liked you like this. I bet she's real sad right now too."

"How can she be sad?" The little boy asked sitting up. He stared intently at the older man.

"She's up in heaven. She sits up there watching over you. But the little boy she's watching isn't her little boy. He doesn't yell and jump around or even smile anymore." Steve struggled to explain.

"So its okay for me to run wild?" John asked intently.

Steve winced at the wording of the question. "I think it would make her happy. As long as you follow the rules." He tacked on. He rubbed his hand over the blond hair. "It's okay to be sad sometimes but not all the time.

The two sat there for a few minutes. "So I heard Miss Laura wants you to go to the racetrack with her." He said breaking the silence. "Don't you think that'll be fun?" He asked poking him in the shoulder.

"Horses are dumb." John said sneering.

"Don't let Laura hear you say that." Steve replied laughing.

The little boy looked up at him with excitement shining in his eyes. "I think what you do is cool."

"Oh so you want to be body slammed is that it?" Steve asked lifting the giggling child over his head. Twisting he slammed him down on the soft bed.

"Do it again, do it again." John shouted jumping up and launching himself at the big man.

After several more wrestling moves were applied Steve collapsed on the bed, a victorious John sprawled over him. "Can I come to work with you?" he asked breathing heavily from laughing.

Before he could answer a female voice called out from the doorway. "What is going on here?" Laura asked observing the chaotic mess.

"Man talk." John answered importantly, getting up and pressing out his chest. "Can I have a cookie?" He asked rushing past her without waiting for an answer.

"Some talk." She said raising her eyebrows at her husband.

Two months later.

"Hi Steve." John said answering the ringing phone. He looked down the hall warily. "Can I go with you next time?" He whispered into the phone.

"I think I can arrange that, as long as you've been good." He said, thinking about it.

"Oh…" the little boy slumped into a chair. "When are you coming home?" He asked in a sullen voice.

"What happened?" Steve asked warily at the change in tone. "John?" He asked sternly when the silence stretched.

"Miss Laura's not being very nice." John finally answered.

Steve's lips twitched at the words. "What did she do?" He asked trying to keep the amusement out of his voice.

"She yelled at me and she said I couldn't come out of my room all day." The little boy whined.

"Why would she do something like that?" He asked gravely, anticipating the answer.

"Because she's mean." Came the petulant reply.

"Of course she is." Steve agreed. "I bet she says you're a very bad little boy."

"I'm not!" John argued, tears sounding in his voice. "I didn't mean to do it."

"Did you tell Miss Laura that?" The older man asked patiently.

"No"

"Don't you think it would be a good thing to apologize to her? If you do that she might not be mean anymore." Steve advised.

"Really?" The little boy asked doubtfully.

"Yea." He said laughing. "Why don't you let me talk to her first?"

"I'm not supposed to be out of my room remember." Came the whispered reply.

"Well then why don't you go back to your room and I'll call again." He whispered back.

The only answer he received was the ringing of the dial tone. Shaking his head he hit the end button and redialed the number.

"Have you had a bad day?" He asked his wife when the other line was picked up.

"Bad day? How about a bad week." She answered. "How did you know?"

"A little elf told me." He teased. "So what did the little elf do?" He asked.

"More like what didn't he do." She answered dryly. "He dumped oats all over the walkway, let the horses out of the pasture, and almost caught a bale of hay on fire."

"Sounds to me like he's getting tired of going to work with you." Steve said.

"He thinks my job is boring." She agreed laughing.

"So are you going to be mean to him all day?" He asked laughing with her.

"Of course not. I just needed some alone time. He could drive a saint crazy." She sighed. "Are you coming home soon?"

"I'll be there tomorrow. I'm bringing home a friend if that's okay?" He asked hesitantly.

"John will be happy. He's been dying to meet some of your friends." She glanced around the cluttered kitchen. "I need to get some cleaning done. Is anything wrong with you friend?"

"He and his wife are arguing. He thought he would give her a few days alone." Steve explained, glancing across the arena at his friend.

"Can't wait to meet him."

"Laura." Steve admonished. "He's a nice guy."

"I'm sure he is." She answered. Looking up she saw a small face peeping through the banister. "I better go. I think the little elf is coming to see me."

Steve said goodbye and closed his phone as he joined the rest of the group around the ring. "Everything's good to go." He informed his friend.

"Thanks man."

The next day.

Steve pulled the car up in front of his house. Turning he grinned at his friend. "Here we are."

"Nice digs man." The other man said, observing the large ranch style house.

Steve shrugged. "My wife has family money and I'm good at investing." He answered climbing out of the car. He turned as the front door burst open and a blond bundle of energy came rushing out.

"That would be John." Steve said dryly as the small boy came to a crashing halt. "John, this is Dallas Page. He works with me."

John's eyes opened wide. "Can you do all kinds of cool moves?" He asked excitedly.

"Hey little man. Why don't we let him get some rest before we put him back to work." Steve advised scooping up the wiggling child. Laura stood in the doorway smiling at the exchange.

"Guess what?' John said excitedly getting his attention. "I get to go to play football."

"That's great." He said. "We'll have to practice tonight." He raised his eyebrows at his wife.

"I had to do something to use up some of his energy." She smiled wryly. Turning she smiled at their guest. "Hello, I'm Laura Borden."

"Dallas Page." He answered holding out his hand. Inside his pocket his pager began going off. Grimacing in apology he pulled it out and read the number. "I'm sorry. It's my wife. Can I use your phone?"

"Sure. It's right down the hall on the right." Laura said directing him to the right room.

She turned back around to see Steve watching her. "He's nice." She admitted grinning up at him. "John go put up your toys. Steve needs to unwind." Grabbing her husband's hand she pulled him into the house. Walking down the hall they were stopped by a shell shocked Page.

"Man are you okay?" Steve asked concerned.

"That was Kimberly. She wanted to tell me why she's been so bitchy." He paused to take a deep breath. "She's pregnant."