"Teuta, I couldn't impose on you and your family." Limbo said for what must have been the fifteenth time. "I can stand to stay alone for two days. You all did it just last year, in fact."

"Limbo, stop it." Teuta hissed, looking at her friend in frustration. "I already told my parents you were coming home with me for the holidays, please do not make a big deal out of this."

"I can just stay here. The guys might need me." He argues.

"They'll be fine, Limbo," Teuta said, pinning him with a look. "You need a holiday, it's Christmas, and if you aren't going to travel with your parents and Valerie, then you're coming with me."

"But…"

"I'm not arguing with you on this issue any longer, Limbo, so do ourselves a favour and drop it." Teuta huffed. "Go pack your things. We take the five o'clock flight to LA."

"Fine. You're the boss." Limbo said.

He exited the room, only to reappear and hug Teuta tightly.

"Thank you." He whispered, kissing her cheek before dashing from the room.

She certainly did not know what she thought when she invited Limbo home with her. Bringing a WASP into her, admittedly, unorthodox family situation seemed, to a first exam, a hare-brained idea. When he had said that there would not be a party at the Fitzgeralds' for the first time in history, as his parents were getting on years and so elected for an escapade into St. Bart's, Limbo had announced that he was going to stay in the city alone.

Usually, he would have company for the holiday, as their friend group was the classic sort of ragtag, outcasts with little in the way of kin and blood. The last year, however, has been revolutionary: Scarecrow discovered his father was alive after all and Shu rekindled his relationship with his foster brother. Helvetica decided that, despite his shortcomings, Professor Orsted was his father after all and stuck next to him. Teuta, herself, after the painful revelation about Adam's role in her brother's murder, thought it wise to go and enjoy the company of her parents while she could.

Limbo, who once was the only one to have a strong family bond, now was one of many. Since Mozu worked overtime on holidays, he would be spending Christmas all by himself for the first time in his life. Teuta, being the caring person that she was, felt sorry for him and invited him home with her. The crooked lawyer was her friend, and she did not want him to be alone for the holiday, regardless of his successive assurances that he would be just fine either way.

She could only hope that she did not make a huge mistake in inviting him home with her.


Looking back, perhaps this was a stupid thing to be concerned about. Limbo could charm a dead body, and her mother was conscientious enough to not let the party run too rambunctious, lest they scare away their guest of honour.

"So, he's cute." The older woman said, sitting with her daughter on the sofa. She clinked her glass of wine against Teuta's. "He's that hotshot lawyer from the magazines, right? I didn't know you were so close."

Teuta sipped her wine.

"Yes, obviously. What gave it away? The fact I brought him over or how I spend every call home gushing about them?" She giggled.

"You're so self-aware! I am blessed as a parent!" The woman kissed the daughter's head sloppily. "When you said you were bringing a guest home, though, I didn't think you meant a boy."

"Mother!" Teuta hissed. "I'm nearly twenty-five years old. I didn't think it would matter either way."

She shook her head before muttering under her breath, "He's a man, not a boy."

"He's cute." The older one repeated, smilingly knowingly.

"Mother!" Teuta hissed once more.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm just stating the obvious."

"We're not together, we're just friends." Teuta explained. "I just had this conversation with Dad. He's a friend from work and a former roommate. I just didn't want him to be alone."

"Well, your Aunt Mary thinks he's charming and refined." The older woman giggled, pointing to the corner where Teuta's aunt was indeed chatting with Limbo.

The poor man was smiling politely, but they both knew that he was not interested in the conversation at hand.

Teuta stood. "I'm actually going to save him from Aunt Mary."

She made her way towards Limbo, missing the knowing look her mother sent her.

"Limbo, there you are." Teuta said, approaching the pair.

"Hello, Teuta. Lovely family you have." He commented with ease.

"That I do. Hello, Aunt Mary. How are you?" She kissed her aunt's cheek. "Limbo, I need you to help me in the kitchen."

"Sure thing," Limbo answered with a nod. "Nice talking to you."

He smiled at the older woman before following Teuta into the kitchen.

"What did you need?" He asked, fully prepared to be of use.

"Help to finish this bottle of wine." She announced cheekily, grinning at Limbo.

The black-haired man laughed heartily.

"Unexpected, but alright. Pour me some." He graciously accepted a glass.

"I hope my family isn't too unbearable." Teuta said as she refilled her glass.

"No, everyone has been quite nice, but I think they all conclude I'm your boyfriend." Limbo looked at her, a light pink on his cheeks.

"I know," Teuta said softly, blushing as well. "You're the first person I've ever brought home for Christmas. Well, other than Adam, when he first arrived in America."

"Really?" Limbo asked in surprise.

"Of course." Teuta answered. "All my other boyfriends were never serious enough even to consider bringing them home. Not that I dated all that much, either."

"I'm flattered to be your first, then." Limbo said, smirking at her. He stepped closer to Teuta. "Though, I can't help but wonder what it would be like."

"What?" Teuta asked, her throat suddenly dry.

She looked up at Limbo with wide eyes as he leant in closer.

"Being your boyfriend." He whispered to her ear.

Teuta's tongue darted out and wet her lips. "I…"

Limbo looked up, smirking when he saw a piece of mistletoe hanging above them in mid-air.

"Someone could see!" The journalist hissed.

"I'll take my chances." The advocate answered with a smirk.

Gently cupping her cheek, he leant in and pressed a tender kiss on her lips. Pulling away, Teuta's heart raced.

"I want to know what it'd be like, too." She whispered, looking at him nervously.

"What?" Limbo asked.

"Y'know what I mean." She countered coyly.

"Say it." He grinned mischievously.

"If you were my boyfriend," Teuta answered softly.

"Let's find out." He took her hand and led her back to the living room.

The two of them somehow found themselves under the mistletoe three more times that night, during which they both realised they quite liked what it felt like as a couple.

Teuta's mother watched them from the corner of her eye the rest of that evening, happy that her daughter had finally met a man that she could love, even if she had not realised it yet.