CJ fluffed her hair up a fraction as she walked up to Houstons front door. For a second she hesitated, she had a weird feeling that things were changing, bit couldn't explain how…just that there was a certain Christmas magic in the air this evening. She shook her head at the silly notion and rang the bell. Sure she had a key, but it didn't seem right to use it this time. Houston opened the door and she had to swallow quickly, she always liked him in a tux, but tonight he looked, amazing! "Hi!" he said brightly as he ushered her in, "I'm more than a little glad you made it! You look…amazing!"

She grinned and blushed a fraction as she saw the way his eyes travelled up and down her, she felt her mouth go dry as she saw his reactions, not what she was used to seeing from her friend! For a moment she panicked, had he done this to get her back for turning down his stupid clumsy advances yesterday? But as she looked closely at him, she saw…something different…she saw…no, it couldn't possibly be…but…she saw…love!

Houston took a steadying breath CJ was wearing a figure hugging black dress with silver details on the straps and bust, his eyes lingered longer there than perhaps they should…could he kid her he was admiring the stitch work if she caught him. Her hair was soft and silky and just crying out for him to bury his hands in…her make up was subtle, save for the flash of red lipstick…his eyes locked on her mouth and he wondered how they would feel if he kissed her for more than a brief second. His heart was thudding in anticipation, patience he told himself, as he placed his hand in the small of her back and guided her into his main room

Chris spotted them walk in and called out "CJ!" She made her way through the room as Houston went to get CJ a drink, and hugged her friend before stepping back to admire the dress. "Wow, you look gorgeous! Can you believe Houston organised this all by himself ?"

"You look pretty hot to Chris, and no…my head is spinning a little right now…something is different, Houston is…different!" CJ shrugged

"I know, tell me about it! He has given me the rest of this week off and doesn't want me to come back until 2nd January! Can you believe that?" Chris shook her head before adding, "and he is different…more like the Houston I first met when I came to work for you guys! It's funny, but when I first joined the company I was convinced you two were a couple, the way he watched you…the way you used to just hug or touch each other quickly…so subtle, but more what I am used to seeing in couples…was so surprised when you said you were just friends!"

Houston heard the last bit as he walked back over with the drinks, handing one to Chris before passing CJ hers. Automatically he wrapped his arm around CJs waist and raised his own glass to them both as he wished them "Happy Christmas" He took a small sip before confessing to CJ, "And I didn't organise this on my own…Chris came in to help…she sorted out the caterers and then came over to help me and Andy decorate…I hadn't even put up a tree until this morning!"

"Andy?" CJ looked at him

Houston smirked. "I'll explain later…but for now…care to dance?"

CJs eyebrows shot up as Houston took her glass from her hand and led her to the dance floor were he spun her around several times before falling in to time with the music. They danced together for most of the evening, laughing together, whispering silly comments, neither of them noticing or caring tat the rest of the guests were watching…all of them smiling happily. Especially Roy as he crossed over to ask Chris to dance with him. "Think they are clued in this time?" she asked as roy guided her around the floor

Roy just chuckled and winked at her.

Almost an hour later and Houston announced that the party was winding down but that anyone who wanted to join him and his family at church was more than welcome. CJ noticed him chewing his lip as they waited for people to collect their coats or leave. She walked over to him and rested her chin on his shoulder as she asked. "What's up?"

"Nuthin!" he mumbled, his eyes lighting up as he heard a knock on the door and saw Chris nod as she glanced out of the window. "Uh, Roy…could you get that for me, I just wanna grab a coat!"

Roy waved and headed to the door muttering to him self about the youth of today being soft. His eyes widened though as he saw who was standing on the doorstep.

"Merry Christmas dad!" Will said as he reached out to pull his dad into a hug, "it's good to be home!"

Roys eyes sparkled with tears as he hugged his son back. "Missed you son, good to have you back." As he broke from the hug he turned to look at Houston and mouthed "Thank you" before patting his son on the back and taking his case from him as the two walked back into Houstons main room.

CJ had been watching, she felt the tears prick at the back of her eyes. "That was special Houston…how did you find him?"

"He loves fixing things, figured he would get a job working in that kinda field…so I uh…I…"

"Ran his social security number to find who was paying his wages?"

"Ran his social security number to find who was paying his wages…yeah…" he grinned back at her, the two of them staring into each others eyes, he could feel himself being pulled towards her, felt his arms rest on her hips and pulling her closer. "CJ I…uh…"

"C'mon guys!" Chris called out, "time to head to Church!"

"Uh yeah…Church!" CJ stammered as she licked at her lips and pulled free of Houstons hold

After the Midnight Mass was over Chris decided to head straight home, and Will went back to his dads house with him…the guests that had travelled with Houston also said their goodnights, leaving Houston and CJ alone. He asked his driver to take them to CJs house, then clicked the button to slide up the privacy partition. "CJ, I uh…uhm…woah boy…"

"You ok?" she asked a smirk playing on her lips. He grinned back but then reached forward and took a sip of water from a nearby bottle. "Houston? What's going on? Why are you so…nervous?"

"Ah CJ…you know that film you like…When Harry Met Sally?"

"Uh huh!"

"Well, you know the bit when the two friends finally realise they love each other?"

Her eyes narrowed a fraction as she nodded.

He took another sip of water. "Well…call me Harry ok…?"

CJ shook her head at him and blinked

He rubbed at the dimple in his chin and reached for her hands. "Do you remember the bit at the end…when he tells her that when you find the one you want to spend forever with, you want forever to start right now?"

"Yeah, I remember that bit it's….oh…oh my….Houston?" her eyes went wide as he slid of the seat of the limo and dropped on to one knee, producing a small black velvet box from his jacket pocket and handing it to her he whispered. "I want forever with you CJ…I love you, have always loved you…WILL always love you. I need you CJ, you make me whole, you make me…a better man. You make me feel…alive. You…you know me CJ…I…I…oh dammit…I love you and I need you…marry me? Please?"

CJ was sure her eyes were popping out of her head. The first time she had nearly been proposed to was Carl…he had been killed before he had formally asked her, and she didn't know if she would have said yes. And Robert..? Well, she had wanted to say yes, caught up in the moment and their whirlwind romance, but her gut instinct had made her hesitate…and look how well that payed off. But here, now…her best friend on one knee in front of her, his brown eyes both hopeful and terrified at the same time…she ought to be laughing, ought to be teasing him…but no, the way he looked, the way he had asked…he meant it…and suddenly from nowhere CJs control snapped and she felt the tears flow down her cheeks as she whispered. I love you to Houston, and yes I'll marry you. Forever starts right now!"

Houston opened his eyes slowly and smiled as he recognised where he was. CJs bedroom was spacious, classy and welcoming…and even better, it was were he and CJ had spent there first night together! And with that thought he turned on his side and studied her as she slept. She had an innocent and peaceful look as she slept, though nothing about the last few hours had been innocent he though as he reached to gently push her hair back, She smiled softly and murmured a good morning before she stretched and rubbed at her eyes before looking straight at him, her smile widening. "So last night wasn't a dream huh?"

"Stuff dream are made off!" he grinned at her before leaning forward for a kiss. "Merry Christmas CJ" he whispered as he bent to kiss her again

"Merry Christmas to you to Houston" she whispered back as she warpped her arms around his neck and kissed him back

The party was in full swing as Houston walked out on the terrace to find her. She was standing by the wall, a glass in her hand, staring out into the darkness. "Hoping to see Santa fly by?" he asked as he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He started to nibble on her ear loving how she leaned back into him and tilted her head a fraction to give him more access. "Finally he turned her to face him, and after kissing her passionately asked, "party is in there, so whay are you out here alone?"

CJ grinned back at him. "It's Christmas Eve cowboy. Can you believe it has been a year since we first uh…uhm…got together?"

"And six months since we got married!" he reminded her as he glanced at heir left hands with the twin white gold bands

"You know, you never did explain to me why you suddenly sobered up and came after me. What snapped you back Houston, what brought you back to me?"

He shook his head a fraction. "Hard to explain, but guess you could say some old friends reminded me what was important in life, and top of that list…was you!"

She tilted her head and asked. "Which friends?"

He gave a small laugh and told her. "It doesn't matter. But come on back inside…it's Christmas Eve and everyone is here to celebrate with us!" As she nodded they wrapped their arms around each others waists and walked back inside, heading straight to the dance floor, smiling and chatting to all their friends as the music played.

An hour later and as Houston was catching up with the Pratchets and smiling at Timmys progress CJ walked over to him and asked if he would join her in her office. As he closed the door behind them she nodded at the clock and said. "Midnight, Happy Christmas cowboy…now cos you have been a good boy you get to open one present here…cos I can't wait a minute more!" She handed him a small square box and clamped her hands together excitedly as he opened it, laughing at the look on kissed his face as he gazed at the contents. He reached for her and kissed, laughing and crying at the same time, pulling her closely to him and rocking her as he whispred iver and over, "I love you CJ, oh I love you!"

Together they walked back out to the party…Houstons smile was brighter than he had ever seen it, and he felt ten feet tall. As he walked towards where Roy and Will were standing chatting to Chris he noticed four familiar faces standing outside on the patio. "Uh…CJ, can you gimme a minute…just need some air!"

"Sure honey, meet you over there…I'll be the one with the fruit juice!"

He chuckled as he watched her walk away, chuckling more as she put on an extra sway acknowledging that she knew where his eyes where! As he headed on to the patio his smile broadened. "Hey guys…Merry Christmas!"

Too Mean stepped forward and playfully punched his shoulder as he said. "So you finally got it right huh?"

Connie giggled as she came to stand next to him and added. "About time!"

"Here here!" Paul agreed as he to came to stand in front of Matt

"Absolutely!" came the voice Matt had been longing to hear

"Dad…thank you…for saving me…for making me see what I was missing…for giving me a future in every way!" Matt grinned as he handed his dad the gift box CJ had given him earlier, his heart bursting with pride and joy as he saw the look in his fathers eyes.

"All I ever wanted was for you to be happy" Bill Houston told him as he held the box to his heart. "And whenever I saw you and CJ together, that's when I saw you at your happiest…you two belong together…and this…this gift she has given you…son, I am so…proud…I love you"

Houston nodded and whispered. "Love you to dad!"

"Who you talking to cuz?" Will shouted from the doorway

Houston looked over his shoulder and grinned. "Just uh…saying Happy Christmas to my dad and some old friends!" he called back.

"Well get yourself back in here…you promised to make a toast remember!"

Houston glanced around at the now empty patio and nodded. "Sure…on my way!"

As he walked back in the music was lowered, he took the glass of champagne that CJ handed him and wrapped his arm around her as they turned to face his friends. "You know, this time last year I was reminded of what matters most in this world. It isn't how much money you have in your bank account or how successful you are… It's remembering the message that we were sent when God sent his only son to save us… that love is the strongest give we have been given and it is the strongest gift we can give. It's not just having friends and family that love you, it's feeling good about helping others and sharing love through the deeds we do , through keeping the spirit of Christmas in our hearts not just tonight, but all year. I count my blessing every day, especially when I look at my wife and my family…and all of my friends here with me tonight and those forever in my heart." He smiled as he pulled CJ closer to him and raised his glass to the friends in front of him. "So, a toast …Merry Christmas ..and God Bless Us"…gently he rested his hand on CJS tummy and whispered "Everyone!"