The next couple of days proved to be a little trying for Sydney. She had to explain to Arlen why she came home without her car, as well as who had gotten here there. When she mentioned Nathan's name, her best friend grinned ear to her and tried, unsuccessfully, to convince her that Nathan was very much "White Knight" material. Sydney laughed it off, letting him know that she and Nathan were simply friends who were looking out for one another. Arlen accepted her words and eventually dropped the subject.

Sydney didn't have to answer any more questions about Nathan due to Arlen – and everyone else she was close to – preparing for Christmas Eve. Arlen had decided against throwing a big Christmas Eve party at home like every other year; instead he had the brilliant idea to make Christmas Eve a special night at "Just Be" for those who didn't have anywhere else to go or family to be with. A gourmet buffet was prepared and a band was booked, but anyone who wanted to was more than welcome to perform as well – as long as their act was Christmas themed. The wait staff was not required to work, but almost everyone volunteered for the cause.

When the evening arrived, the line outside nearly wrapped around the building. "Arlen, you should be so proud," Sydney said sweetly. "You've given them all a place to," she rolled her eyes, knowing how corny she was going to sound, "…be."

The line was comprised of the mixture that always seemed to be inside the gracious doors of "Just Be." Young and old, all races…and tonight, all without a place where they felt they belonged - but they did belong there. Tears fell from Arlen's eyes as he realized that he had accomplished something good and selfless this holiday. Sydney hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek. She whispered a soft "Merry Christmas" into his ear and they went inside, opening the venue for all those who were waiting in the cold.

From the moment everyone was inside, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The food was delicious, the eggnog creamy, and the band, as well as those who got onstage, were received with the utmost enthusiasm.

Jess and his girlfriend, Brynn, had kicked off the performances with a cute version of "Baby It's Cold Outside." (It had taken Arlen quite a bit of convincing to get his nephew to do so.) After a set from the band, a little boy and his mother, whose husband was overseas, took the stage. She played piano and he did his very best on his trumpet. Their rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" was far from perfect, but received almost thunderous applause. There were many performers like that, simply anxious to share what they could.

A half an hour later, Sydney and a few of the wait staff got onstage; Sydney feeling slightly ridiculous that she let Arlen talk her into wearing a rather skimpy, very cliché Mrs. Claus getup. However, after she finished up "Santa Baby" in her best "Betty Boopish" voice, the laughter around her forced her to cast away her embarrassment and simply bask in all that Arlen had done that night.

Upon stepping off the stage, she saw David and Arlen, their fingers entwined down at their sides. She watched them for a moment, her heart only full of warmth for them. It had taken her a while to fully get over her former fiancé's choice in life, but seeing how happy they were together made her forget almost all of her past pain. It took a minute before Sydney realized that they were under a sprig of mistletoe – the blasted plant that caused her some embarrassment a few short days ago. She watched as Arlen smiled at David and blushed as she realized what was coming. As their faces drew closer for a chaste kiss, Sydney heard the soft, measured notes of the piano on stage filling the room. She didn't think much of it, at first, other than it being a beautiful, almost sad sound. …then a voice filled the room.

"It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees…They're putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace…Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on…"

Forcing her eyes from the most innocent kiss she'd ever seen David give, she turned around, more than curious to see just whose voice was coming from the speakers in the near silent room. Her eyes widened when she saw Nathan alone at the piano. For some reason, she was convinced she was hearing, as well as seeing things. Firstly, she couldn't understand why Nathan was there and secondly, she couldn't believe he was on stage. His voice was heartbreaking and she found herself unable to move as she listened to his words.

"She tried hard to help me, you know, she put me at ease…and she loved me so naughty, made me weak in the knees…Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on…" He looked up for a moment and saw Sydney staring at him. "I'm so hard to handle, I'm selfish and I'm sad. Now I've gone and lost the best baby that I ever had…I wish I had a river I could skate away on…"

She had no idea if he was simply singing a song or if there was more to it than that, but at the moment, it didn't matter. She was seeing a side of a friend that she had no clue was there…as were a few of his students sprinkled throughout the room…as was Arlen.

When he finished, he forced a smile at the applause and exited through the back of the stage, rather than using the stairs off the front of it. Snapping herself out of her bewilderment, Sydney made her way to the hallway he had to go through – still very much in the Mrs. Claus outfit Arlen had chosen for her.

Her heels clicking on the tile, she made her way toward Nathan whose back was facing her. She saw that his hands were near his face, but couldn't tell exactly what they were doing. "Nathan, that was beautiful."

The man turned, his red eyes a telltale sign of what his hands had been wiping away. As a fresh tear fell, he did his best to try and cover it up. "Uh, thank you."

Sydney frowned. "What's wrong?" She took his hand, which was nothing too unusual over the last week, but the act more meaningful than she could have known.

"It's a pathetic story," he replied, the tone in his voice breaking Sydney's heart. "Not warm Christmas cheer sort of stuff."

"We're on a two-way street, you know? You told me I could come to you and the same thing goes for…"

Nathan broke away from Sydney. "I shouldn't be here, I…"

Sydney took his hand back and began to walk; Nathan forced to follow her. "Come on." She led him into the back of the venue, to Arlen's office where they could speak privately. They sat on a plush couch and Nathan was a little uncomfortable with the entire situation.

"Look, I appreciate the concern and everything, really, but I'm fine, I promise."

Her eyes knowing, Sydney disagreed. "What brought you here tonight?" The question was simple enough, but strangely threatening to the man before her.

"Susan's at Charlie's and I was alone," Nathan answered, avoiding her eyes. "You had mentioned that Arlen was keeping the place open tonight, so I came."

"That's a wonderful version to tell your daughter, but how about the grownup truth, hm?"

Nathan sighed, too tired to argue with her. "My daughter is at Charlie's tonight…she's spending Christmas Eve at a mansion where there's a huge party and not... It's fine, you know? They've been dating for a little while and he's a good enough kid when he wants to be, but I found myself alone and kind of fucking miserable." He exhaled in a sort of labored chuckle. "It was just me…so I started to feel slightly pathetic and drove to the liquor store, which was closed, then to the bar, which was not…" He saw the worried look on Sydney's face. "I ordered a scotch and stared at it for twenty minutes. I'm not even sure I blinked." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I brought the glass up to my lips, then I thought about you."

"You did?" Sydney's voice was just above a whisper.

"Yeah, about how you said 'Just Be' would be open tonight, yadda yadda, Christmas party, and before I knew it I was up at the piano."

"Oh…well, I'm glad you chose that over a drink and, really, the song was beautiful. I didn't know you played…or sang and…"

"I really did think about you," he interrupted. "You aren't the best at hiding things either." Sydney blushed, understanding that he picked up on her disappointment. "If circumstances were different, I wouldn't have had a second thought about…" He swallowed.

"About what?"

Nathan smiled, but there was sadness in the expression. "Making good on the mistletoe the other night. Thing is, I can't do it because you still have so much pain in your eyes." Nathan shifted his body so that he was completely facing Sydney. "I'd feel like I was either taking advantage of you or being the runner up and I'm honestly not sure which would be worse." Sydney looked away, but he placed the back of his hand on her cheek and made her turn back. "I couldn't have asked for a better person to share the hallway with and I think that there's a reason you wound up there. Maybe we're supposed to help each other through some things." He smiled. "You helped me from making a huge mistake tonight…"

"…and you helped the drunk sub leave a party full of coworkers." Sydney stood up and left the room, Nathan quickly following.

"Hey." She didn't turn. "Hey!" He grabbed her shoulder. She stopped, but didn't look anywhere other than the floor. "Why are you getting so weird on me?"

"In case you haven't noticed, I don't deal with rejection very well."

"What rejection?" He was genuinely confused.

"You're lonely, Nathan, I'm lonely…but I get the feeling that if I stripped in front of you right now and splayed my legs, nothing would happen here."

Without hesitation, he answered, "You're absolutely right. My pants wouldn't be very comfortable, but I certainly wouldn't just…What did he do to you?" He asked, referring to John. He wanted to touch her, to comfort her, but feared temptation. "I don't think that you're the sort of woman who just jumps into bed…" Nathan then really thought for a moment. "Do you even like me that way?"

Sydney went crimson…no, a shade darker. She hadn't even thought of that. She was so concerned with being alone she hadn't realized just how she was acting and who she was acting that way towards. She was suddenly over aware of how she was dressed and she looked for something to cover up with. John certainly had broken something inside of her, as she was now fully conscious to the fact that she hadn't been acting right for a while.

"Oh, God…Nathan…I'm so sorry. I don't know what's gotten into me. I'm acting like a…"

Nathan put his hands on her bare arms and stopped her from fluttering about the hallway. "Shh…Syd, you're heartbroken and lonely and it doesn't help that it's Christmas." He brought her body closer to his and held her, breathing in her shampoo and understanding her far better than she could have known. "You didn't answer my question."

Sydney's mind raced. Nathan had watched out for her well being since she started at the high school and had lunched with her every day. He helped her home on her most vulnerable night and had never been anything more than a gentleman. He protected her at the Christmas party and… He looked amazing in that t-shirt…his eyes crinkle in the sweetest way when he smiles…when his hair's out of place it's adorable and his voice just…Uh oh…no…no…no… "You're right, it's just all a bit much right now," she lied. "I'm really sorry and I need to get back…"

"Not letting you go that easily."

"You're not?"

"Hm mm." He smiled at her. "You avoided answering again."

"Uh…" There was no use in denying that something was certainly happening to her. "Maybe a little."

"Good enough for me." When his hands left her skin, her heart felt lighter. "Out of curiosity, is that outfit a rental?"

"No, Arlen made it."

"Very nice to know." He winked at her and that was that. Nathan left to rejoin the party and Sydney soon followed him, her mind a mess of confusion.

***Joni Mitchell – River (As performed by Robert Downey Jr.)***