Authors' Notes: This is the last chapter, but I'm going to make a small epilogue to tie things up and if you haven't check out the New Year's Eve story Drowsy posted then go do it now.

And on with the show. :)

Murdock knew all the words to every song, and was singing along, either quiet or extremely loud, almost operatic in nature when it came to the more ridiculous.

Even Hannibal found it difficult to keep his normally stoic expression firmly in place.

Face was snickering and outright laughing at times, but they were all careful with the decorations.

So this was what it was like to have Christmas with a family… not that her Father hadn't tried, but in the end she usually spent the eve and day alone. Charissa didn't hold it against the man who had raised her however, because she understood he had done it so she was comfortable. But now she understood what she had missed and it was nice, wonderful actually. She laughed at Murdock, even managed to sing a line or two with him to her own favorites.

Even B.A. didn't get annoyed at the zany captain for once, he too chuckled and amused at his outrageous singing tactics and even joined in himself a few times mostly off key and odd sounding, "Forgot how much I miss Christmas at home." He stated almost misty eyed as he worked on getting the stockings to stay over the small fireplace his Mother had.

"It's pretty good with a family like this." Murdock nodded, gently adjusting one of the strings of lights so that a paper decoration wasn't too close. LED bulbs these days didn't get too hot, he had a feeling that if they pushed it, they were toast. "Folks that really do care."

"Family is what you make it," Face argued, mind ticking back to years in the orphanage. Good people there, too. "Family's whoever you feel safe with."

"Why Face," Hannibal mused, "I didn't know you could be so deep."

The conman shot him a half-hearted glare.

The Sergeant gave a nod, "Well put y'all." He grinned a bit, the training in Georgia had had an effect on his vocabulary, "And it is good to spend it with family."

"Agreed." Charissa spoke up, as she knelt down to put some ornaments on the bottom branches of the tree, "We should make a habit of this."

"I'd love to have you all every year." Mrs. Baracus had returned from the kitchen with yet another tray, this one had eggnog on it and a special warm drink just for Face, which she gave to him, "You drink this, it will knock you flat but you'll feel much better in the morning. Drink up kids then it's time for bed or Santa won't come." The older woman teased lightly.

"Santa?" Murdock gasped. "I never wrote a letter this year!" his hands flew to the sides of his face in shock and horror. "I completely forgot!"

"Murdock, Santa is magic." Hannibal placed a reassuring hand on the pilot's shoulder. "Besides. I'm sure you can write one next year."

Face took the drink and sat before he took a drink, pleased at the taste and the warmth spreading through him. "Mmm. Perfect mix. Perfect balance."

"Of course it is." Mrs. Baracus chuckled and gave his cheek a gentle pat.

B.A. shook his head, "Not like you've been a good boy," He teased Murdock, "So it's a good thin' you didn't write no letter."

The eggnog was rich and creamy, Charissa enjoyed it, "You are quite the cook, Mrs. Baracus."

"Thank you sweetheart, I'm sure you do fine yourself."

Charissa about choked on her drink, "Not even. I can barely toast bread without burning it."

Murdock was glaring daggers at B.A. "I've been good!" he huffed. "Better'n SOME folks who just want to pick on poor ol' Murdock."

Hannibal helped himself to another cookie with his drink, relaxing again and finally allowing himself to glance around the room. Framed photos, interesting times and a glimse into B.A.'s past which he hadn't really seen. Tucking a few images away into his mind for later contemplation, he found the seargent's mother again and nodded. "Very nicely done, thank you again."

"You be nice Bosco Albert." His Mother chided him as she shook her head, "Murdock is a nice boy, helpful."

"Sorry Momma, can't resist and sure he's nice enough but you don't hafta deal with him all the time." B.A. gave mocking daggers back at Murdock and even growled a little at him before laughing.

"Your middle name is Albert?" Charissa hid her amusement; it just didn't seem to fit, "So that could also explain the B.A."

"No. It does not. B.A. stands for Bad Attitude." He stated matter-of-factly.

"If you say so." Sosa said with a small snicker.

Face and Murdock exchanged looks, refrained from laughing, and Hannibal had to excuse himself at that point.

"Are we just...sleeping on couches?" Face finally inquired, feeling more sleepy than he wanted to admit.

Bosco rolled his eyes at the amusement everyone was having at his expense, nothing new but he'd get them back somehow. He finished a few odds and ends of decorating, still remembering where and how his Mother liked things.

"No. Well some of you will have to, but I do have the spare bedroom and Scooter has his bedroom and it's just the way he left it when he went off to the army." She stated the last almost wistfully. She turned her attention to both Face and Charissa, "You two can take the spare bedroom, no fooling Mama Baracus. I know you two are together." She said knowingly.

A flush crept across Charissa's cheeks, not because she was embarrassed but because she didn't think it was obvious. She and Face never really acted like they were together, did they? Her eyes slid towards Face with a small shrug, "Okay…"

"Don't mind my Momma, she thinks she knows everything. But I've mentioned you two in my letters a few times. She's not as mysterious as she tries to be." He chuckled only to feel sharp pinch at his arm.

"Don't you be ruining my fun." His Mother chided him yet again for probably not the last time during their stay.

"Funny," Face said as they left the main room for the spare, "I figured she'd want to split us up since she knew we were together." he pointed out, amused.

Hannibal turned down the lights as Murdock made a nest for himself in blankets on the other couch. "You can leave the tree-lights on." he said quietly. "I kinda like that. A little bit of light."

"Certainly." the colonel raised an eyebrow as he flicked the others off, leaving the soft glow of whites and multicolors in the corner near the window. Through the frosted darkness, snow had begun to fall silently.

"'Night."

"I'm trusting you to behave yourselves." B.A. Mother called after them as they headed down the hall, before she headed to her own room.

"Oh trust me, we will. We can." Charissa said the last part in confirmation to the others, she and Face could behave and plus the man needed his rest.

Following close behind them was B.A. himself headed for his room. He came up behind the two of them with his hands on their shoulders and gave them a nice firm squeeze, "And I'll know if you don't seeing as I'm right next door." He grinned and let them go, "Good night."

"For the last time, I am too tired!" Face sighed and gave Charissa a weary glance. "Not tonight, darling, I have a headache," he complained, before letting himself flop onto the bed. He stripped out of the outer clothing and climbed underneath the sheets. It was surprisingly warm and comfy.

It was going to be a never ending joke it seemed and one they'd have to deal with constantly, Charissa was fairly used to it, but she doubted Face would ever be. She removed her jeans and kept the plain white under shirt she had put on beneath her clothes and slid into the bed which was very comfortable and smelled as warm as it felt. She snuggled down into the covers more until the only thing above them was her head before she turned and as usual curled against Face without a word, she was tired too.

The second B.A. hit his old familiar pillows he was out as well, snoring loudly as he slept. It was good to be home, he needed to visit more often and on purpose. He wondered what the morning would bring, he also wondered how long they had before Lynch figured out where they were.

Hopefully we'll be starting on our next big story soon for the first story of the year!

Anyhow as stated above, a small epilogue will be added soon. Hope you've enjoyed our holiday stories.