A/N: Sorry for the delay, the holidays were a bit crazy of course. This will be complete soon - just one more chapter after this one. :) The bunnies are protesting mightily, and need a respite.

Bells on Bobtails

"Hold up, buddy. This is going to cost me how much?"

Danny glared at Lindsay as he asked the sleigh driver about his fees. The cost of such an excursion was simply outrageous. She, however, was too busy to notice his tantrum – she had discovered the two Belgian mares hitched nearby and was stroking their velvety pink noses.

'Sleigh ride' was number seventeen on her list. As Christmas rapidly approached, the numbers were being crossed off one by one. Most had been fairly easy, Danny had to admit. Ten through thirteen had included, respectively: addressing Christmas cards, sneaking a sprig of mistletoe above the door of Mac's office, making eggnog (but not necessarily drinking it), and having their photo taken at the Rockefeller Christmas tree.

"It's worse than a damn taxi," Danny grumbled, forking over several choice bills to the driver. He whistled at Lindsay, who was still entranced by their equine guides. "Let's go, Montana. He's probably got a meter running on this thing," he complained as he hopped up into the sleigh, nearly twisting his ankle in the process.

Lindsay gave each horse one last pat, then took Danny's hand as he helped her up onto the cushioned seat next to him. It was much cozier than the wooden slabs she remembered sitting on as a child. Still, this experience was already unleashing a stream of memories. She could almost feel the warm thermos of hot cocoa in her grip, or smell the leather of the harnesses. Montana may have been over a thousand miles away; but tonight, Lindsay felt at home.

"Mmph," she muttered as she settled in beside Danny. "This is so exciting." It was bitterly cold tonight, so the heat generated from the contact of their bodies was not only pleasurable, but necessary. As she gazed up at him, she felt intensely grateful to have him in her life. Although he obviously was not excited for this venture, he was willing to sacrifice his urban preferences for her.

With a light flick of the driver's reins, they were off. The gold bells on the horses' harnesses tinkled with every clop of their hooves, like a band in perfect rhythm. As they gained speed, Lindsay tilted her head back to look at the stars, light snow stinging at her face as the heavens whizzed by.

"Danny, this is amazing!" she laughed. Her mitten-clad hand was clamped to his arm, and Danny couldn't help grinning as he watched her giddiness. Her hair blew in every direction, sparkling from the flurries which had settled there like flakes of glitter.

"You happy?" he asked.

Lindsay beamed, leaning against his shoulder. "I am. Are you?"

"If you are, I am. All I wanted was for you to have a happy Christmas."

She wriggled in a bit closer to him. "It worked," she whispered, wishing she had a video camera to record this moment to play over and over.

Wearing smiles of contentment, they settled into a comfortable silence and enjoyed their surroundings. Central Park was glistening in its wintered beauty: multi-colored lights were draped over the bare tree branches, and even though it was dark, everything seemed illuminated by the thin crust of snow covering the ground. Lots of people were out and about – bundled in hats and scarves and coats, some toting sleds, some in other sleighs, some just strolling along.

"I almost forget I'm in the city," Lindsay sighed dreamily. "It reminds me of when I was a kid back in Montana. My dad used to hitch up two of our geldings, and take my friends and I on a Christmas Eve sunset ride." Her voice trailed off suddenly, a note of sheer sadness lingering in the breath she took.

Danny put his arm around her, brushing her chin tenderly with his gloved finger. "Hey," he murmured, bringing her face towards his for a soft kiss. "None of that, now."

Lindsay's face brightened suddenly as, over his shoulder, she spotted what was a true landmark in their relationship.

"The Central Park Zoo!"

She dissolved into laughter as she pointed out the sign. Where they had first met… where it had all started. It occurred to Lindsay how knowing him had brought her thrills and joys not unlike the ones she was experiencing on this jaunt: exhilaration, comfort, and delicious bliss. Her Christmas list had somehow managed to bring them even closer, make this holiday much sweeter. Items fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen had truly deepened her feelings for him: they had gone ice skating, sung along with every Christmas song on the way to work, and burned candles in the window each night.

"You think the tiger's still there?" Lindsay inquired. "Our four-legged feline matchmaker."

"I'm sure he's still there, unless he ate someone else," Danny cracked. "We should go visit him, reintroduce ourselves."

The zoo was soon left in their icy dust as they trotted on along the route. They didn't talk much for the remainder of the ride, but instead just savored the scenery… and each other's company. The lights of countless, towering buildings seemed so remote, so unreachable, as if Danny and Lindsay existed merely in a snow globe paperweight on someone's desk. Tonight, it was their own little word.

And yet, far too quickly, the sleigh arrived back at its starting point, where a line of people stood waiting for their turn. The driver slowed the horses, then halted them with a tightening of the reins and a soft "whoa". Their nostrils flared and puffs of their breath escaped into the chilly air like cloudbursts.

"Oh, no! That's it? It's over?" Lindsay's look of sheer disappointment gave Danny an idea. He reached for his wallet, handing several bills across the seat to the driver. It was only money, after all. This experience had proven to be priceless.

"Keep going," he commanded.

As the harness bells began to jingle once again, Lindsay rewarded Danny with one kiss. Then two. Then three. Then four. Then…

Up next, the conclusion: Lights of Every Color