A/N: If you're reading this, its probably the 24th, and I'm so very sorry. It's 4 minutes to midnight here as I type. Again, greatest apologies, but I was out all day. Enjoy!

Chapter 23: Believe

Ezekiel and Melody were walking through the crowded streets of Manhattan, laughing. They'd just finished lunch at a pizza parlor, an afternoon which Ezekiel was unsure he could consider a date.

In what seemed like no time at all, they arrived at Melody's apartment.

"Thanks for lunch" she said.

"Not a problem" Ezekiel replied. Despite the silence that now hung between them, no one moved to walk away.

"I just wanted to let you know" Melody said suddenly. "In light of it being Christmas and all, that I've never really had a friend like you. I hope that's not too weird"

"No!" Ezekiel replied, keeping his cool composure, despite how he was panicking on the inside. "I uh, I get it" he mumbled. "I mean, up until I got to my new job, you were the only real friend I ever had"

She looked at him with an expression he couldn't read, but that he hoped was not pity. He'd thought about it so much since they'd reunited: how much she meant to him. When he was just an orphan, all alone, she was there for him. She was someone who'd cared for him, and someone who he'd cared for in return. When they were friends, he had someone to look out for him. It was she who'd convinced him that he needed to run away.

He became aware of Melody again, still looking at him. Then, ever so slowly, she was leaning in, and he found that he was too. This was the moment: he was going to kiss her. Suddenly, his phone beeped. They both stopped. He laughed apologetically, took out his phone, and growled.

Clippings Book

"Oh bloody hell not now!" he exclaimed.

"What?" Melody asked, seeming hurt.

"No, it's not you it's, I, my job needs me" Ezekiel hesitated, knowing how wrong what he was about to say was, but knowing he couldn't just leave her. "Do you want to come with me?"

"Okay!" Melody smiled.

Just then, Ezekiel's eyes fell on the man racing down the street towards them: Moriarity.

"Mels, uh, we have to go, now. Like, we need to run"

"What?"

"Listen, you trust me right? You know I would never lie to you?"

"Of, of course. Ezekiel you're scaring me."

"Mel" He looked her right in the eye. "Magic is real"

"Excuse me?"

"Magic is real, that guy down the street there has it, and he wants to kill me."

"This really isn't funny Jones" Melody snapped. Ezekiel cringed as she used his last name, something she'd only ever done when she was mad at him.

"Look I know you don't believe me. But just try" he pleaded. Melody met him with a stone cold stare. "Remember when we first met, and you admitted to me that you still believed in Santa, because you liked the idea of believing in good will and magic? Find that girl Mel, and latch on tight"

"I…" Melody stuttered.

"Look there's no time to talk about this. He's getting closer. Run!" At that, Ezekiel grabbed Melody's hand and dragged her along with them as he began to sprint away from the scene.

Melody followed him, not sure why. Her feet pounded the pavement as she grew out of breath, more confused than she ever had been.

"Where are we going?" she shouted. Ezekiel didn't answer her. He was yelling desperately into his phone.

"Jenkins! I need a door now!"

Before Melody could figure out what was happening, Ezekiel had turned them into an alley, and dragged her through what looked like the door to an abandoned warehouse. She breathed deeply once they were finally inside, stopping.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS…" she began, but immediately grew speechless as she noticed their surroundings. They were in a giant library, surrounded by books everywhere.

"Melody" Ezekiel said "Welcome to the Library. This is where I work"

There was something about the air here, something, well, magical, and it wasn't because of the plethora of Christmas decorations. Melody let out a small giggle. She didn't understand, but she was starting to believe the craziness Ezekiel had told her.

"We preserve magic" he said. "And by the way, Santa Claus, he's real. I've met him"

Ezekiel smiled, watching Melody take in the magic. He remembered his first time here, what it felt like. Thinking of her experiencing that filled him with warmth. He heard voices growing louder and cringed. He was about to be in a lot of trouble.

"It's Christmas Eve Eve, Eve!" Flynn exclaimed, trailing Colonel Baird, who was shaking her head and laughing. The couple froze when their eyes fell on the scene in the doorway.

"Jones" Baird chided, using her tone that always meant trouble. "What is she doing here?"

Ezekiel turned and placed his hands on `Melody's shoulders, asking her to stay put for the time being. He jogged over to Eve and Flynn, who were staring at him with their arms crossed. He'd never seen Flynn look angry like that.

"Look, when the clippings book called me I was about to kiss Mel at her apartment door. I couldn't just leave her!" he explained.

"Jones you could have compromised the entire Library!" Flynn shouted. "And all so you could finish your date?!"

"No! I saw Moriarity walking down the street. She'd have been in huge danger if I hadn't taken her with me!"

"She might be in more danger now" Eve explained. She looked at him for a moment, staring at his pleading expression. "She can stay for now. But any consequences of this are yours to deal with"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Now go get her, and let's figure all this out"

Later that evening, everyone had returned to the Library, completing the mission which had started all the chaos. Melody was grinning from ear to ear, staring at Ezekiel. Everyone else had left, leaving them alone.

"That was amazing!" she exclaimed. "And you do this every day?"

"Well, not every day" Ezekiel chuckled. "Just, twice before Friday" Melody laughed, and then she was looking at him again. He didn't recognize it, too frazzled to focus.

"By the way" she said. "We never did get to finish before."

"Huh?"

All in an instant, Melody had rushed to Ezekiel and laid her lips on his. He was taken back at first, but soon his eyes closed, as he finally expressed the things he'd been feeling for a longer time than he'd ever admitted to himself.

Slowly, her arms moved to wrap around his neck, and his fell gently around her waist. They finally separated, and smiled at each other, a whole new kind of look filling their eyes.

"Thank you" she whispered. "For letting me believe again"

A/N: So I know that wasn't really Christmasey, but I needed some plot development. Hope you enjoyed. Only 2 stories left, and an exciting one tomorrow. See you then with "Christmas Eve with You"