*Doesn't Charlie make a cute elf? He kinda reminds me of the elf in cartoon classic of Rudolph who wanted to be a dentist . . . what was his name? Anyway, there's just one more chapter after this one. At the end of the chapter there's some sign language dialogue that takes place in [ ] - Marshall's been brushing up since the pilot episode, LOL.

"Oh, I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door."

A week passed and before the marshals knew it, it was the day of the party at the Andaluz. Mary kept sneaking little glances at Marshall throughout the day, wondering what was up with him. He jumped guiltily every time his phone rang, turning away from her to muffle his end of the conversation. He was glued to his computer but every time she walked by, he pressed a key to clear whatever it was he had been looking at or working on. She arched her eyebrows in a silent question but he would only say:

"It's Christmas, Mer."

She huffed in annoyance and returned to her desk and her surveillance. Their seven year partner anniversary had come and gone on Wednesday without even so much as a card – that was very unlike Marshall, Mary mused silently.

Across the room Marshall was trying not to grit his teeth every time he felt Mary's eyes on him. It had been a week since he'd kissed her in his kitchen and used the mistletoe as an excuse. Every time he felt her eyes on him, he just wanted to throw down his pen, cross the room and – he shut his eyes against the images that flooded his brain. He couldn't think about that – not now, and not here.

It had also been a week since he had called his contacts in Jersey and sent them looking for Nana's box. He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration; his childhood friend Sam, who happened to be a private detective, had found out that the box had been purchased by a Mrs. Olivia Stevens. Sam had called with the report on Tuesday – and Marshall hadn't heard anything else since. Marshall stared into space and twirled the pen on his fingers as he thought. Olivia Stevens – she didn't even have the right initials, so the box couldn't have been for herself. She must have bought it for someone else and that must be what was taking so long to find out. He groaned as he felt Mary's eyes on him again. He had told Brandi from the beginning that this was going to be a long shot – he just had had no idea at the time that his desire to find Nana's box for Mary would become as great as hers.

The outer office door buzzed and Charlie bustled into the room, dropping a parcel on Marshall's desk.

"This was waiting for you downstairs, so I thought I'd bring it up with me," the freshman inspector grinned in explanation.

Marshall nodded. "Thanks, Charlie." He glanced at the return address and smiled. Well, here's one package I was waiting for. I bet she thinks I forgot this year.

He slowly opened the parcel, feeling Mary's curiosity peaking with the crinkling of the brown paper. Chuckling, he glanced at her and said, "Haven't you ever heard the expression 'curiosity killed the cat'?"

She stuck her tongue out but then smirked as she said, "Yes, but 'satisfaction brought it back'."

Grinning, he shook a small box into his palm. "Touché."

She stood up and came around her desk, craning her neck to see what was in his palm. "What is that?"

He shook a finger at her as he slipped the item into his pocket. "Don't you like surprises, Mer?"

She looked at him in disbelief. "How long have we been partners? You know I hate surprises."

"But, Mer, it's Christmas!"

She let out a strangled scream. "So help me, string bean, if you keep saying that, I'm going to –"

Her threat was cut off by a roar from Stan's office. Their chief had shot to his feet and was yelling into the telephone, his face flushed and angry. Charlie's mouth fell open in surprise, and Mary reached for her coat.

"Is it too early to call it a day?" she asked her partner, who snickered.

Stan slammed the phone down and stared out onto the floor but none of the inspectors thought he was seeing them at that moment. After a few seconds, he sat down heavily at his desk and placed his head in his hands.

"Well, one of us should go check on him," Charlie said nervously.

"Good thinking, kid. Let us know how it goes," Mary said, as she sat down again and opened another file.

"Mary!" Marshall hissed. "He went last time – shouldn't one of us go?"

She glared at him. "Fine – you go."

He rolled his eyes but headed for Stan's office. "I have a better idea."

She looked up. "You do?"

He nodded. "Look who's here."

Charlie was just opening the outer office door for someone. "Good afternoon. May I assume I have the pleasure of addressing-"

"Eleanor!" Mary cried, her mouth falling open in shock.

Eleanor turned, her eyes coming to rest on her former sparring partner. "Hello, Mary. How have you been? I'm glad to see you've fully recovered from your injury."

Mary could only stand dumbfounded at the former office assistant turned FBI consultant. Marshall leaned over and gently closed her mouth. He crossed the room and kissed Eleanor's cheek.

"Eleanor, it's wonderful to see you! You look fabulous."

Eleanor smiled at him. "Thank you. It's great to be back." She looked him up and down. "You're looking awfully thin, Marshall. Isn't Mary taking care of you?" She turned her laser eyes back on Mary as he replied.

"It's been a difficult year, Eleanor."

"It has indeed – for all of us." She glanced towards Stan's office, where the chief was still sitting with his head buried in his hands. She drew a deep breath. "Wish me luck. Oh, and Mary? Don't even think of pushing that speaker button." Her boot heels clicked a familiar rhythm as she walked away.

Marshall laughed as Mary muttered, "How does she do that?"

"Come on, I'll show you how to be sneaky," he said as he took the file folder from her and held it up in front of their faces.

"I can't see anything!"

"Wait a minute." He slowly lowered the file until just their eyes peeked over the top.

"Can I join you?" Charlie asked eagerly.

Mary elbowed him in the stomach. "Get your own, kid. There's not room for three."

Mary and Marshall giggled like school kids as Charlie scrambled for his own file.

Inside the office, Stan was lost in his thoughts. He couldn't believe that the costume shop had rented out his Santa suit. Of course they claimed he had already picked it up earlier that day but they were just covering their asses. Now he didn't know how he would get himself psyched up for the party tonight.

He was so lost in his memories of last year's party with Eleanor as his Mrs. Claus that he didn't hear the knock on his door at first. He jumped as the knocking finally penetrated his senses.

"Come in," he barked.

"Hey, Chief. You ready to play Santa tonight at the party?" Eleanor asked.

He sighed and lifted his face from his hands. "I don't know how that's going to happen since the costume shop rented out my suit."

Eleanor stepped into the office, letting the door close behind her. "What are you talking about? I picked up your suit this morning, just like last year."

"You mean-" Stan rose to his feet as the shadows fell from his eyes and he realized it was Christmas 2010, not Christmas 2009. He rounded his desk, stopping a few feet from her. "Eleanor, what are you doing here?"

"I heard you were looking for a Mrs. Claus."

"So after nearly a year of not seeing each other, and seven months of no contact at all, here you are?" he asked incredulously. "Why don't I believe that?"

"I missed you. I missed us."

Her words added salt to his wounds. "I've missed you this whole year, Ellie! But I wasn't the one who walked away."

"I asked for time, Stan – I didn't want to end what we had! I loved you – I still love you." Tears were coursing down her cheeks.

"Then why-?"

"Then why didn't I come back sooner? Why did I break off contact with you?"

He nodded.

"I thought you had moved on. I thought you were in a relationship with Allison Pierce."

For a long moment, Stan just stared at her. Then he began to laugh, softly at first but soon the sound filled the room until he was clutching his sides.

"Stan, this isn't funny." Eleanor was tapping one foot in annoyance and the tears were drying on her face, forgotten for the moment.

The laughter died on his lips and he studied the woman before him. She was still as beautiful as ever – though a bit thinner and he could see that she hadn't been taking care of herself. Well, that was something he could fix. He stepped into her personal space and she looked at him warily.

"There was nothing personal between me and Allison Pierce," he said softly.

"Really?" she said, her voice full of hope and longing.

"Really."

She sagged against him then, her hands coming up to rest against his chest while his cupped her face.

"I dressed up to impress her – and to try and move on because I didn't think you were coming back. The one and only dinner we had I talked about you the entire time. She claimed she had a headache before dessert even came and took a taxi back to her hotel from the restaurant."

Eleanor giggled. "My poor Stanley. She'll never know what she missed out on – what you've got hiding under that shirt of yours."

His heart soared with her words. "Why are you here, Ellie?" he repeated hoarsely.

"I told you, I heard you might be looking for a Mrs. Claus?"

"For the party tonight?" He searched her eyes questioningly.

"Yes," she said shakily. "And for the rest of our lives, if your offer is still open."

The words were barely out of her mouth before Stan's lips covered hers and she moaned in delight, running her hands up and twining them around his neck.

From outside the office, Mary, Marshall, and Charlie watched as Stan retrieved the diamond and ruby ring from his desk and slipped it on Eleanor's finger. Charlie jumped up and down in glee as the couple shared another passionate kiss.

"I knew it! I told you it would work!" Charlie cried as he went back to work.

Mary looked at Marshall behind the file folder. "What is it about this holiday? Does it cause temporary insanity or something?"

Due to their close proximity, Marshall could feel the warmth of Mary's breath against his lips whenever she spoke and it was driving him crazy. Unable to control himself any longer and since they were shielded by the manila folder, he closed the inches between them and gave her lips a quick peck.

"Or something," he agreed, taking the file from her fingertips and walking unsteadily away.

Marshall was shutting down his computer when his desk phone rang. Looking around for Mary, he snatched it up.

"This is Marshall."

"Hey, man. Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you."

"No, that's all right, I know that these things can't be rushed. Tell me you've got good news."

"The best – I've found MMS – and she has your girl's box."

Mary was just leaving for the night when picked up her jacket, revealing a card and small jewelry box underneath. Smiling, she sat back down and opened the card, resisting the overwhelming urge to open the box first. She read the cheesy greeting and then Marshall's simple message inside: "You thought I forgot this year, didn't you? Blame the mail service for the tardiness of your gift. Happy seventh anniversary, Mer. Year seven is copper."

The curiosity was killing her now. With trembling fingers, Mary snapped the lid back and stared at the oval copper pendant engraved with the initials 'MMS'. She was only dimly aware of her partner's footsteps as he approached her desk and crouched beside her chair.

"Do you like it?" he asked softly.

She nodded. "But I think you should get your money back on the engraving – they messed up my initials."

"They aren't supposed to be yours, Mer." He lifted the pendant by its black cord out of the box and put it around her neck. "Ever since you told me about your Christmas with Nana, I haven't been able to get it out of my head. I know how much she meant to you – how much her box meant to you. I wanted to give you something with her initials on it so you would still have a piece of her with you."

Mary leaned forward, the pendant swinging in the air between them. She searched his eyes for a moment before pressing her lips to his. When she pulled away a few moments later, her face felt warm and she noticed that Marshall looked stunned.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You're welcome."

The spell was broken as Stan emerged from his office to bellow, "You're still here, inspectors? Better get a move on if you're going to get home, change, and be at the Andaluz on time!" He rocked back and forth on his heels.

"We were just leaving, Stan," Marshall reassured him, as he helped Mary on with her coat.

"See you both there!" Stan turned back to his office, humming 'Jingle Bells' as he went.

"What a difference a day makes!" Mary shook her head at Stan's turn around in mood.

"What a difference a woman makes," Marshall corrected her, nodding towards Stan's office. On the other side of the glass, Eleanor was typing away on Stan's computer as their boss looked over her shoulder; he pointed to something on the screen, whispered in her ear and she slapped his shoulder, laughing.

"Can we go before I throw up?" Mary whined. "Not that they're going to be better behaved at the dinner. How long do you think we need to stay at this shindig before we can beat a strategic retreat?"

Marshall pushed the elevator button and shook his head. "Watch for my signal and we'll sneak out the back, ok?"

"Okay, just don't wait too long. Remember last year after the gifts were exchanged the payroll girls started a sing-a-long of the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' and I swear if I'd had my gun-"

"I know, you'd have shot someone. I promise, we'll be out of there long before any singing, all right?"

"Good." Mary played with the pendant around her neck and leaned against Marshall's shoulder as they rode down to the lobby. "So what are you doing this weekend?"

Marshall swallowed nervously. "Why?"

"Well, I was thinking if your shopping was done, you could help me decorate a little bit, but nothing like your house, string bean. I don't want my house looking like the Sears and Roebuck catalog! Then we could have a movie marathon or something."

"I wish I could, Mer, but I have to make a quick trip out of town this weekend."

She lifted her head and looked him in the eye. "Oh? Why?"

He couldn't resist. "It's Christmas, Mer."

"Marshall-" she growled.

He pecked her lips just before the doors opened and wondered when the hell he had gotten up the nerve to kiss her on a regular basis.

"No questions, Mer. You liked this surprise," he fingered the pendant hanging around her neck. "so trust me when I say that you'll like this one too. You do trust me, don't you?"

Her fingers brushed his on the pendant. "With my life," she said softly.

As soon as Peter's private plane reached a cruising altitude, the fasten seat belt sign went off and Brandi unbuckled hers.

"So, tell me about Marie Michelle Schwinn," she begged.

Marshall turned from the window to look at Brandi. "Again? We've already gone over this, Brandi."

"I know, I know. I'm just so excited we could find Nana's box after all this time. But what if this Marie doesn't have it? Or what if she does and won't give it back? Or what if-"

"Brandi, honey, take a deep breath and try to relax," Peter encouraged as he reached over and squeezed her hand.

She gave her fiancé a shaky smile and leaned back in her seat, trying to follow his instructions.

"Marshall, since Brandi was so excited she wasn't able to give me a very clear account, perhaps you could just hit the highlights again?" Peter suggested.

Marshall smiled and shrugged, knowing it was time to admit defeat.

"Marie Michelle Schwinn is about ten years older than Mary. She's been in Europe for several years, working as a nanny – which is where she was when her sister, Olivia, bought Nana's box for Marie's birthday."

"So, Marie's still in Europe?" Peter asked.

"No, she quit her job as a nanny after the accident that took her hearing."

Brandi gasped. "Marshall, you didn't tell me this part!"

The lean marshal squirmed. "I didn't want to upset you."

"Tell me now."

"She was on vacation with her boss' family in Israel. There was a bomb on their bus." He paused and met Peter's eyes. Understanding flew between the two men. He noticed that Peter gripped Brandi's hand tighter but neither of them said anything. "Marie sustained a serious concussion and permanently lost her hearing as a result of the blast."

Brandi sniffed. "What happened to the family she was working for – the children?"

"Marie threw herself in front of them – they're fine. Father also survived."

Brandi didn't ask about the mother; the answer was there in Marshall's eyes. She closed her own and snuggled up to Peter, wanting to block out the terrible images for awhile.

"That was five years ago," Marshall was continuing softly. "Marie came back to the States and moved in with her sister Olivia during her long rehab. She now works as a teacher's aide at a school for the deaf in San Francisco."

Peter decided to remain with the plane while Marshall and Brandi took a taxi to Marie's house. Sam was waiting for them outside. After greeting his friend and meeting Brandi, Sam briefed them on the lay of the land.

"Olivia's like a mama bear protecting its cub – you have much experience with that, man?" Sam asked.

Marshall grinned and glanced at Brandi out of the corner of his eye. "Oh, a bit," he drawled, but didn't elaborate.

"Well, she insists that her sister is still fragile and recovering even though Marie's accident was five years ago and the woman looks fit as a fiddle to me. I gave them a brief background of what happened – Olivia is incensed, but Marie is sympathetic. This is Marie's house but of course Olivia is here waiting for you two, so good luck."

Marshall cocked an eyebrow at his friend. "You don't want to come in?"

"Oh, no thanks, buddy boy. My job is done – just mail me my check." He tipped his hat and crept down the street, sticking to the shadows.

"What an odd person," Brandi mumbled.

"Sam has always read too many detective novels – he fancies himself as Sam Spade." Marshall turned toward the house and saw a curtain twitch as it fell back into place. He sighed and grabbed Brandi's elbow. "Come on, let's get this over with."

He rang the doorbell and instead of a chime, he saw the indoor lights blink. Because Marie couldn't hear a doorbell.

The door was yanked open and a thin, pale, pinched looking woman stood in the doorway. "Mrs. Olivia Stevens?" he asked.

"Yes," she stated, her eyes raking them both up and down.

"Hi, my name is Marshall Mann. I believe my friend Sam told you I'd be stopping by today?"

Olivia sniffed. "Oh yes, your 'friend' said someone would be coming by to spin us some yarn about my sister's antique box being stolen property."

"Olivia? Who is it?" Another woman appeared behind Olivia. She had some scarring on the left side of her face, but even so it was a softer, kinder one than her sister's.

[They have come about the box] Olivia signed to her sister.

[Let them in] Marie signed back.

[No, I don't trust them.]

Marie rolled her eyes. [You don't know them. What are their names?]

Brandi had watched the sisters' sign language with awe but confusion. Marshall had followed their conversation, looking for an opening. When Marie asked what their names were, he waved his hand in greeting and when their eyes fell on him, he signed, [Hi M-A-R-I-E my name is M-A-R-S-H-A-L-L.]

Marie laughed in delight while her sister made a disgusted noise in her throat.

Brandi tittered nervously. "Marshall, how am I going to talk to Marie?"

Before he could ask Marie this question, Marie answered, "Oh don't worry, I can read lips just fine, Miss?"

"Brandi."

Marie nodded. "Why don't you make some tea while I take our guests into the family room?" She didn't wait for Olivia's answer as she looped her arm through Brandi's and led her down the hall, leaving Marshall to follow.

By the time Olivia came in with the tea tray, Brandi had poured out the story of Mary's Christmas with Nana.

"So you see, Marie, our Nana gave my sister, Mary, that box as a Christmas present that year. It belonged to our great-great-grandmother, Mary Margaret Shannon, and my sister and I are named after her."

Olivia set a tea cup for Brandi down in front of her with a thud. "Your name isn't Mary or Margaret."

Brandi flushed. "I was christened 'Margaret' and when I was a teenager, I changed my name. Silly, huh?" she looked at Marie.

Marie had clapped a hand over her mouth in a vain attempt to smother the giggles that were escaping. "I changed my name too! My name was Constance – isn't that awful?"

Marie and Brandi giggled together like schoolgirls while Olivia continued to bang the tea items. Marshall looked on in amusement from his chair by the fireplace.

Once their giggles had died down, Olivia launched another grenade. "Do you have any proof that my sister's box is really yours? I mean, there must be lots of boxes that look like your Nana's."

Marie looked at Brandi with wide eyes. "Do you have any proof to offer me?"

"I do! My sister Mary carved our initials inside the box so we would always know the box was ours, in case it got lost or stolen. In the back right corner of Nana's box are the initials 'MES' with a little number two by the S."

Marie looked at Brandi for a long moment before she got up and crossed the room, lifting the lid of a roll top desk. Brandi cried out when she saw Nana's box resting serenely inside. Unable to wait, she crossed the room and stood by Marie's side as the older woman took the box out of the desk.

Marie sighed as she turned towards Brandi. "I always wondered about those initials inside the box. I could tell they had been made recently and by a child's hand. Did you know I had been a nanny before my accident?"

Brandi nodded, the tears slipping down her cheeks.

"Many of my children marked their most prized possessions with their initials, just like your sister did. I think I have something that belongs to her – and you." Marie opened the lid and Brandi's eyes fell on the initials: MES -2. With a sob, Brandi threw her arms around Marie's neck.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she cried. "Thank you for keeping it safe for us all these years."

"What is she saying?" Marie asked Marshall, who had come close when the box had come out into the open.

Not trusting his voice he signed Brandi's words of gratitude and Marie smiled, hugging Brandi back. Hearing a sniffle behind him, he turned to see Olivia wiping tears with a handkerchief.

"What? I'm not heartless, you know. I just didn't want my sister to be swindled by a pair of shysters!"

He chuckled and turned back to Brandi. "Brandi, why don't you sit down and drink some tea, visit for a bit before we head back to the airport?"

She nodded, sniffling as she headed back to the couch, the box cradled in her arms.

He jumped when he felt Marie touch his sleeve.

[You are crying] she signed.

Marshall reached up and felt his face, feeling the moisture for the first time. He shrugged and grinned sheepishly.

[You love her.]

[Who? B-R-A-N-D-I?] he signed in astonishment.

Marie shook her head. [No, her sister. M-A-R-Y?]

[Why do you say that?]

[You worked hard to find her box.]

Marshall shrugged again, not knowing what to say. He'd only known this woman for an hour and here she was grilling him on his love life.

[You love her] Marie signed again.

[Yes] he admitted.

The older woman smiled. [Don't lose her.]

YAY, Eleanor came home to Stan for Christmas. And Marshall got Nana's box back. How will Mary show her appreciation? Final chapter up tomorrow! Reviews are LOVE.