A/N — inspired by MKS57's story "Missile Toad". xoxo — tmtcltb

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Sasha knocked on the door, shivering slightly in the chill and thankful that she had managed to find a long, wool coat. Kara had not gotten the White Christmas that she was hoping for, but Sasha was pretty sure that St. Louis was about to start the new year off with some snow. She was just about to knock again when the door swung open to reveal Ashley Chandler.

"Hi!" Ashley said, her voice a tad too bright, and Sasha wondered whether that was from nerves or disapproval. She and Tom had now gone on three official dates with Tom, and Sasha had seen all three Chandlers at the numerous holiday parties thrown by the crew. Still, tonight was the first time Sasha was spending the evening at their house.

Just the four of them.

"Happy New Year." Sasha held up a paper bag. "I come bearing gifts."

Ashley's eyes lit up, and then a suspicious look covered her face. "Is it tomatoes?"

Sasha blinked at her. "No. Do you have something against tomatoes?"

"Danny keeps trying to pawn them off on us," Ashley explained, smile returning. "Come on in. Dad and Sam are in the living room trying to get the television working."

Sasha followed Ashley down the hallway. "I heard that you made the winter soccer team."

"I did!" Ashely responded, almost bouncing as she walked. "Thank goodness Kat was around to tell me all of the tricks because the competition was stiff!"

As Ashley launched into a long explanation of the try-out process, Sasha let the words roll over her. A minute later they were in a small den with a cozy fire and two large sectional couches that took up most of the space. Tom sat on the floor in front of the old tube style television that was currently displaying a screen of static, fiddling with the rabbit ears. Sam had apparently lost interest in helping and was flipping through a comic book.

Tom glanced up, a lock of his silver hair falling over his forehead, giving him an almost boyish look. He really needed to get it cut but Sasha secretly liked the slightly scruffy look. Tom stood, crossing the space to lean down and brush a kiss across Sasha's lips. "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year," Sasha replied, lifting a hand to touch his cheek before turning her attention to Sam. "I found the VR headset."

"You did?" Sam asked, jumping up and dropping his comic book on the couch. "Sweet! Carlton has one that he let me use when we were coming back from Greece. What games do you have?"

"Actually, I'm not sure," Sasha replied, handing the headset to Sam. She had gotten the headset from Kara, who said there was nothing inappropriate, but also hadn't explained what the headset did contain. "Why don't you take a look and let me know?"

With Sam occupied, Sasha nodded towards the television. "What's going on there?"

Tom chuckled. "It's been a long time since I attempted to make rabbit ears. Apparently, it is not like riding a bike."

"Why don't we watch a movie instead?" Sasha suggested. She smiled, dropping her voice. "I brought Die Hard."

Tom's eyes darkened, apparently recalling the first time Sasha came over with Die Hard. "You know, I'm not sure that I have ever seen the end of that movie."

"Dad always sleeps through movies," Ashley noted as she picked up Sasha's bag, flipping through the small stack of DVDs. She stopped, pulling out a small, wrapped box. "What's this?"

"Oh, that's a gift for your father," Sasha replied.

Sam made a face. "Is it something gross? Like a poem?"

Laughing, Sasha retrieved the box and handed it to Tom. "Nope."

Tom bounced it in his hand, an eyebrow raised at Sasha but she merely smiled, giving away nothing. Tom ripped off the paper and pulled a small, plastic toad with a toy missile strapped to its back out of the box. Tom frowned slightly, looking at Sasha. "A frog with a missile?"

"A toad," Sasha corrected. "It's a missile toad."

Sam started laughing. "A missile toad. Get it, Dad? Mistletoe, missile toad?"

"Don't set this one on fire," Ashley added before she turned back to the movies.

Tom crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back, catching Sasha's eye. "I suppose you think that's funny."

"And you don't?" Sasha replied, allowing her smile to break free.

Tom looked from Sasha to the toad and then back. Grinning, he lifted the toad over his head, tying it to the light fixture. "Does this mean you have to give me a kiss?"

Leaning up, Sasha pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Sure does."