I've made some changes to chapter 1, hopefully adding some more substance to it. This is cross-posted at the GraveShift, this being day 1 of the Twelve Days of Christmas Challenge 2009. Enjoy!

VVVVV

"You want to crash the party? Really?" Catherine questioned, eyes bugging slightly, mildly surprised. "I've never known you to party. You're all, 'I'd rather be alone and miserable than spend time with anyone.'"

"Consider it an early New Year's resolution," he grinned, ushering her back into his office. "Though I'm not alone if you're with me, Cath, which you are most of the time."

"Still, it's not like we're partying."

"So it's a different kind of party," he shrugged.

She quirked an eyebrow at him. "Fine," she sighed lightly, studying him.

"What?" he asked.

"Can you honestly tell me you're not the least bit upset that while we've been working our asses off doing paperwork, the rest of the lab's been goofing off and getting schnockered?"

"Isn't that what the parents do, Cath, work their asses off?" he asked, rounding his desk and pushing the papers into a more orderly pile. He turned off the lamp and glanced up at her. "You know that's how they think of us--the parents. And they're the rambunctious kids who are always trying to slip things past us, even though they know deep inside we're going to find out anyway."

"Well, apparently, we didn't do a good job raising the Three Stooges out there," she told him, referring to Nick, Greg, and Hodges. "Wonder where they're taking Hodges?"

He shrugged. "My guess is that 'Santa Boozy' needed a break from all the holiday cheer."

Catherine laughed and shook her head. "That was really lame, Gil. Even for you."

"Oh, come on! That was one of my best one-liners."

"If by 'best,' you mean 'worst,' you're exactly right," she joked.

"You're just jealous because you didn't think of it," he smirked and joined her again.

After an exaggerated eye roll, she linked her arm through his and flashed a grin up at him. "You ready to crash this party?"

"After you, dear," he replied, his tone light.

As they left Gil's office in search of the party, Catherine couldn't help but wonder what had gotten into him. All she knew was that she liked it. A lot. And in that moment, as the 'parents' strolled down the hall arm-in-arm, she realized she was happier than she'd been in a very long time.

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Gil and Catherine stopped in their tracks as they entered one of the lab's giant processing rooms, surprised at how quickly--and apparently easily--it could be transformed from a place of work into a place of play. They gazed around, amazed by the sheer number of decorations. How everyone had managed to sneak the whole shebang past both of them, they would never know. Music blared from giant portable speakers, and many of their coworkers--inebriated, of course--flailed about in the corner of the room designated as the 'dance floor.'

Wendy and Mandy passed in front of them, arms linked, undoubtedly the only thing keeping each other upright.

"Whoa," Wendy slurred, noticing Gil and Catherine. "You're not s'pposed to be here. Thought you were celebratin' on your own!"

Mandy--forgetting her arm was connected with Wendy's--tried to elbow Wendy, but only succeeded in making both of them wobble even more. "Weren't s'pposed to tell 'em," Mandy said, holding her hand against the side of her mouth and nose in a whispering gesture, though it was the hand opposite from Gil and Catherine, allowing them to hear every word she said. And she was practically yelling anyway.

"Oops!" Wendy exclaimed as they looked at each other then burst into a fit of giggles before staggering away. "Hey! Where's Hodgie? Didn't getta finish my song!"

Gil and Catherine glanced at each other, eyebrows raised, matching amused smirks on their faces. Just how long had this party been going on?

"Well, let's get crashing!" Gil exclaimed, pulling her in the direction of the bar he'd spotted a few moments before. "Looks like we've got some catching up to do."

VVVVV

Thanks for reading!