We have New Year's plans tomorrow, so I thought I'd try and get this next chapter up tonight as I may not get to it tomorrow. It's a bit short, but hope you enjoy! Happy New Year!

Sam immediately restarted his truck and pulled out into traffic. "Sarah?" "Sarah, calm down. Wait…you told me not to come until 4 o'clock." Sam wasn't sure what was wrong, but he knew that he didn't want Sarah upset at Christmas, or any time for that matter. "I can come right now. I'm already on my way. Is everything ok? "

"No, everything is not ok. Tommy is making breakfast, I'm trying to get a turkey ready all by myself and Andy is in her bedroom crying because the man she loves left her on Christmas."

Missing the obvious, Sam yelled "Wait…back up. That son of a bitch left her on Christmas." Maybe he saw me leaving this morning. Shit! "What kind of an idiot leaves a girl like McNally on Christmas? Boy she sure knows how to pick 'em."

"Sam, are you driving?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah, I told you; I'm on my way right now." Sam assured her as he passed another intersection.

"Stop! Pull over right now!" Sarah screamed at him.

Sam was getting scared now. "OK! OK! I've pulled over, but I don't understand why you want me to stop?"

"I want you to take down your visor and look in the mirror." She ordered.

"What?" Has she totally lost it? I don't have time to just sit here – I need to get to St. Catherines.

"You heard me." Sarah commanded. "Take down the visor and look in the mirror."

Exasperated, Sam sighed. "OK, now what?"

"Are you looking in the mirror?" She inquired.

"Ye-es!" He drew out.

"Good - because there's your answer!" Sarah pointed out.

"My answer? I don't even know the question." What is she talking about?

"You asked what kind of an idiot leaves a girl like McNally on Christmas." Sarah explained. "Well…you did, you idiot. Now get your ass over here so I can help you save Christmas and what's left of your chance with Andy."

"Sarah, what are you talking about? I was with Andy last night; she invited me for supper, but we're not together. She has a boyfriend. It's been the talk of the division for almost a month now. I wanted to ask her out, but someone else beat me to it." Sam explained sadly. "She even told me this morning that she was planning the best Christmas surprise ever for 'her man'. That's when I knew it was time to leave."

"So, let me get this straight." Sarah exhaled loudly. "You went to Andy's last night for supper."

"Yes."

"Andy you talked about plans for today?" Sarah asked.

"Yes. I told you that already." Sam was starting to lose what little patience he had left.

"You said she told you about the plans this morning." Sarah clarified. "Does that mean that you stayed over and you were in her bed when she told you?"

Sam really didn't want to get into this with his sister but quietly began. "Yes, but it just sort of happened. I hadn't planned on staying the night, but one thing just led to another. One minute we were talking and laughing like we always do and the next thing I knew we were kissing and she was leading me to her bedroom. It really just happened, Sarah. And even though I know she's been seeing someone I guess I was still kind of hoping. But then early this morning she said she had a Christmas surprise for 'her man' and I thought it would be best if I just left and didn't make things more complicated than they needed to be." He laid his head on the steering wheel as he finished.

"Sam, enough!" Sarah was still angry, but she was also trying not to laugh. Men are so dense sometimes. "When a woman cooks you a nice dinner on Christmas Eve, invites you into her bed, and says she has big plans for 'her man' that day…she means you."

"But. " He stuttered.

"No, Sam, enough. The only butt I want to talk about is yours getting back to this apartment in the next 10 minutes." Sarah commanded. "If you don't get back here soon, you might as well kiss your chances with Andy goodbye." She added.

Sam jerked his head up from the steering wheel as comprehension finally dawned on him. "Sarah? What do you mean back here? Are you at Andy's?"

"Of course." She stated, as if it should have been obvious to him.

"What do you mean, of course?" Sam was shocked. "Sarah you haven't left St. Catherines in over 20 years."

"That's your Christmas surprise, you idiot." Now Sarah was starting to lose her patience. "Please, Sam, just get back here as fast you can. I'll get the turkey ready to go in the oven and do my best to convince Andy to come out so we can explain everything. Please, just get back here."

Sam had been heading in the opposite direction, thinking he should be on his way to St. Catherines, so he whipped an illegal U-turn, internally daring anyone to stop him, and started heading back to Andy's to try and make sense of everything his sister had just said – Sarah was at Andy's? But she never came to the city. Sam was the "man" Andy wanted to surprise on Christmas? But she had obviously been spending time with someone else all those nights and weekends.

This was definitely the weirdest Christmas ever.

Sam got to Andy's in record time and Sarah buzzed him in as soon as he identified himself over the intercom. He got up to the door and Sarah already had it open. She was shaking her head at him and trying to hold back a smile. He was shaking his head too, but only because he couldn't believe she was actually in Toronto – and at Andy's of all places.

Sam walked in as Tommy poked his head out of the kitchen and announced, "Breakfast will be ready in 15." Then he looked pointedly at Sam and said "glad you could make it Sam." He chuckled and returned to the kitchen.

Sam couldn't help but chuckle too. He gave his sister a big hug, but as much as he wanted to find out how in the world she ended up here, he knew he had more pressing matters. He looked around; "Where is she," he asked worriedly.

"She just got out of the shower and she's in her room changing. I have talked to her and she knows that it was just a misunderstanding. Don't worry too much; I'm pretty sure you still have a shot." Sarah encouraged. But being Sam's sister, she wasn't letting him get off that easy, "I thought I saw a little bit of hope left in her eyes but it was pretty hard to see past all the red and puffyness."

Sam was embarrassed. Like I don't feel bad enough. "Do you think it's ok if I go talk to her before breakfast?" He asked.

"I don't think you really have a choice." Sarah confirmed as she rolled her eyes.

Sam knocked tentatively at the door. "It's ok Sarah, I told you I would come out." Andy reassured quietly.

"It's not Sarah; it's me. Are you decent?" Without waiting for an answer, Sam peeked in. I've seen it all anyway. He grinned to himself before he shook those thoughts away. He needed to be on his best behavior right now.

His eyes widened. Andy looked amazing – he had seen most of her outfits so he was pretty sure this one was new – likely bought especially for the "best Christmas ever." Now he just had to make sure that he hadn't ruined everything.

He walked towards Andy, looking down and reaching for her hands. "I guess I owe you an apology," he said as he looked up at her with a shy smile.

A small smile played on her lips as she composed herself to answer. She was calm and quiet and to be honest, a bit stunned; "I can't believe you thought there was someone else. How much more obvious did I need to be? I was doing everything I could think of and you still wouldn't do more than kiss me on the cheek or let me hold your arm. I brought you baking, I made you supper, and we had drinks together almost every night." Then she laughed lightly as she shook her head. "You are so lucky I'm so persistent because there was no way you were getting away from me last night! And then just when I thought I had you right where I wanted you – I wake up and you're gone."

Andy started to tear up a little, and Sam lightly squeezed her hands in encouragement as she continued. "I was a mess when Sarah got here. Good thing she's seen me cry before or she might have headed straight back home. But she is so amazing Sam, she always knows just what to say." She looked down and quietly added, "She's a lot like you." That brought a smile back to Sam's face. "She sat me down and told me not to worry and that she would fix everything – that must have been when she called you. I still can't believe you thought there was someone else."

Sam felt like an idiot, but what was done was done and Andy didn't seem angry so he wasn't going to waste any more time worrying about it. He was actually 'with' her and he could definitely think of better things to do. He pulled her in close, brought out the dimples, and lowered his voice, "however can I make it up to you McNally".

Andy smiled as she blushed; she loved the way he said her name and those dimples got her every time. "Oh I'm sure we can think of something."

As they leaned in closer for a kiss, Sarah appeared in the doorway to let them know that breakfast was ready. When she saw how things were going, her dimples made an appearance too. "Take your time," she said quietly, and she backed out as they started to kiss. But they weren't alone for long as Tommy popped his head in, "OK, OK…time's up…I'm hungry and I've waited as long as I can. Let's eat!" he said gruffly. But he was smiling as he walked away.

Sam kissed Andy once more quickly and grabbed her hand as they headed to the kitchen. Things were definitely looking up.

Breakfast was Tommy's specialty and he did not disappoint. He had prepared an amazing feast: bacon, eggs, hash browns, waffles, the works. They all dished up and had barely sat down, when Sam announced "OK, we better get started because I have a lot to catch up on. Who's first?"