WISH YOU ALL AVERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hilary Tachibana snuggled into her nice warm bed and closed her eyes wearily. She always worked either Christmas or New Year but she was very glad to be finally home and warm. It was bitterly cold out tonight, the wind chill dropping the temperature even further although Hilary didn't mind, she loved the snow. Watching it drift lazily past her bedroom window, she nodded off to sleep.

The shrill ring of her phone jerked Hilary out of her dream, startled she grabbed it and flipped it open. An unknown number flashed across the screen. Hilary glanced over at her clock two am she thought annoyed as she answered the call.

"Hilary Tachibana," she muttered still half asleep hoping it was just someone ringing to wish her a happy New Year and not something that actually required her presence.

"Ms. Hilary Tachibana?" he identified himself "This is Officer Izuhara Toshi. I have a gentleman here who claims to be a friend of yours." Hilary closed her eyes and slowly counted to ten, knowing what was coming "He said his name is Tyson Granger."

"What has he done?" she groaned resignedly knowing she was going to have to get out of her warm bed and go out in that weather.

"Well he's not really done anything, Ms. Tachibana," she could hear a scuffle in the background, what sounded like someone singing a very bawdy ditty and the policeman came back on the phone. "Until now, Miss. When I asked his whereabouts, all he said he is walking to your place," Hilary glanced at the clock again, it was now two sixteen, What on earth was Granger doing walking to her apartment in the middle of a snow storm on New Years Day she couldn't help thinking.

"Walking to my place?" she asked sure she'd miss heard him.

"Yes, Hilary Tachibana that is what he said," by the tone in his voice it was clear that the cop was fast coming to the end of his patience with Tyson. "And he's very drunk, ma'am. I found him lying on a bench here in the park. And he's got no identification on him. He blurts out he's some World Beyblading Champion or something, but he's too buzzed for me to believe that. Your contact info is all that he gave us."

"Why is he walking to my place?" Hilary knew she was probably being slow but hell it was nearly half past two she had not gotten to bed until close to one.

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" the cop suggested and next thing Hilary had a shrill "Hil!" holler at her. Hilary glared at the phone and lifted it back to her ear.

"Tyson," she snapped annoyed trying to get his attention "What do you think your doing?"

"Walkin' to your place," He replied.

"Walking to my place?" She asked rolling her eyes in annoyance, "Why are you walking to my place at two twenty in the morning?" She asked thinking this night could not get any stranger.

"Cause I'm too drunk to drive," Tyson replied as if it was totally logical. Hilary could quite clearly hear the officer's laughter in the background. I am really going to kill him one day she grumbled, annoyed.

"That is not a reason Tyson," she flopped back on the bed exasperated.

"I wanted to see you," he cajoled "to wish you a Happy New Year," Hilary couldn't prevent the smile that spread across her face. She knew she should be annoyed with him but sometimes it was just so difficult. Julia was right, she did need some fun in her life and Tyson Granger provided plenty of that. "So come out and play with me, Hilary," he wheedled in his childish voice.

"Granger," she checked the clock "it's a quarter to three in the morning; I'm not coming out to play with you now." She told him firmly. "How did you even get out of the house and where did you find so much soju to drink?"

"Pleesseee" he begged sounding exactly like a bratty twelve year old redhead she often compared him to "Pretty pretty pleesseee with a cherry on top?" Hilary rolled her eyes at his begging and the very distinct laughter of the officers in the background. Granger's voice was muffled as he told them "My Hil doesn't love me any more?"

Resignedly Hilary swung her legs out of bed and stuffed her feet into her slippers. "Where are you Granger?" she demanded rather annoyed, flipping on the light and pulling out warm clothes.

"In the officer's car." He replied to more of their laughter. Glad you're having fun! Hilary thought peevishly as she pulled on her jeans and a roll-neck sweater.

"Where is the car parked Granger?" she demanded annoyed, he asked the officers and obviously held out the phone so she could hear their answer. She rolled her eyes at their childishness; honestly, they were just as bad.

Half an hour later Hilary turned the corner to find the patrol car was sitting at the curb about half way down the street. Finally, she thought as she trudged through the snow. So far, the snow had held off but she was doubtful as to how long that would last.

Hilary knocked on the driver's side window and flashed her ID at the cop. He grinned and rolled down the window.

"Miss Hilary Tachibana," he identified with a grin, "We really didn't think you'd come out to play at this time of the morning," desperately Hilary hoped she was not blushing, that statement just held far too much innuendo for her liking.

"Where is he?" she asked not wanting to go down that particular path. The officer pointed over his shoulder to Tyson sprawled fast asleep in the back seat. Hilary couldn't help the slight pique at that sight. I don't think so she thought as she yanked open the door and leant in.

"GRANGER!" she yelled and the two police officers could not contain their laughter when Tyson sat bolt upright and just about fell out of the car. Hilary managed to catch him and he looked up at his rescuer a huge smile crossed his face.

"Hilary!" he bellowed happily and launched himself at her. Only Hilary's quick thinking prevented them both ending up in the snow. "You came for me!" Hilary knew this would be all around the force by tomorrow, it if wasn't already.

One thing to be said for Tyson, he was a happy drunk. His nose and cheeks were red from the cold, snow flakes clung to his hair and eyelashes and there was wicked merriment twinkling in those auburn eyes.

"Come on Tyson," Hilary rolled her eyes, trying to keep them both on their feet, "Lets get you home" she slung Tyson's arm over her shoulders, tucked her arm under his jacket and got a grip on his jeans and tried to steer him in the right direction. Tyson was having none of it.

"Wait!" he slurred and spun them around in a circle "I gotta say goodbye."

Hilary somehow ended up crushed between the patrol car and Tyson. The officers inside were smirking at them in amusement. "I'll get them my signed merchandise sent right over," he muttered swaying on his feet, "Night boys," Hilary couldn't control her eye roll. Men! She couldn't help thinking annoyed.

The officers drove off to finish their patrol leaving Tyson and Hilary on the footpath. The snow was falling heavier now and Hilary desperately wanted to be home and warm again.

"Come on Tyson," she bit once again wrapping her arm around his waist, "Let's get home and warm." Tyson obligingly dropped his arm around her shoulder and let her lead him down the footpath. Granger was humming some tune that Hilary could not place but they were more or less headed in the right direction.

"How much have you had to drink?" Hilary asked starting to struggle under Tyson's weight.

"Only a couple," he replied somewhat defensively.

"A couple of what?" Hilary asked wondering what could be powerful enough to knock Tyson Granger on his backside with only 'a couple' of them.

"Bottles." He replied with a hiccup and Hilary couldn't quite hide her grin as that made much more sense. They had just got to the edge of the park when Tyson stopped nearly pulling Hilary over.

"What now?" she asked rather annoyed.

"Sit with me," Tyson enticed, dragging them to a small snow-covered bench, he chivalrously swept the snow from the seat. Hilary wasn't going to complain, Tyson was damn heavy.

They sat in easy silence for a few minutes. The park was very pretty, the moon glittering off the snow. This isn't such a bad way to see in the New Year Hilary couldn't help thinking, just before Tyson threw a snowball at her. She gasped at the unexpected cold and his laughter echoing through the park. She glared at him with narrowed eyes and leant down to grab a handful of snow. Tyson did the same, not in the slightest intimidated. Hilary couldn't remember the last time she had a snowball fight, certainly never as an adult.

"You are going to pay for that," she threatened and threw the snow at him, Tyson returned fire and within a few minutes they were both tossing snow at the other for all they were worth.

Hilary ducked behind a tree and tried to stifle her laughter as Tyson spun in circles, clutching a handful of snow, trying to find her. How on earth can he be this energetic when he can hardly stand up? She wondered as she carefully inched closer and threw the snowball at Tyson, catching him on his left ear. He bellowed at the sudden attack and tore after her. Belatedly Hilary decided she should not have worn her bright red coat as she stood out like a beacon.

She ran around another tree just as a snowball crashed into it, skidded on the ice, and ducked behind a snow-covered hedge, scooping handfuls of snow and packing them tightly. She could see Tyson's boots on the other side of the hedge, he had stopped and was facing away from her position, carefully she stood up and was just about to throw the snowball at him when he turned, looked quite startled and lobbed his first, catching Hilary square in the head. At his whoop of delight, she threw her snowball at him catching Tyson on the neck.

Hilary bolted down the path, she could hear Tyson close behind her threatening her with another snowball, Hilary honestly could not remember when she had had so much fun when her feet slid on the ice and she could feel herself falling.

"Gotcha," Tyson grabbed her around the waist and they both fell to the ground with a thump. Hilary ended up sprawled on top of Tyson as he still had his arm around her waist and his other hand cradling her head. Hilary looked up to thank him, a smile on her face, but when she looked into his eyes, her smile faded. The air cracked with their awareness of each other. Hilary could feel Tyson sprawled under her, effortlessly supporting her off the cold ground, the softness of his leather glove caressing her cheek and jaw. His auburn eyes were still hazy from his drinking but they were focused right now on her lips, self-consciously Hilary licked them and watched in fascination as Tyson's adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. Hilary knew she should get up, Tyson must have been cold laying there but she just didn't seem to be able to get her limbs to cooperate.

There had always been an attraction between them, Hilary wasn't blind she knew Tyson was ruggedly handsome as he had once called himself but she also knew he was a playboy but, to be honest, he'd not had a serious date since they'd met. Of course, there had been many dinners and the like but not an actual date.

"Happy New Year Hilary Tachibana," Tyson muttered and very gently pulled her closer, Hilary knew she could have quite easily broken his hold, but then his lips touched hers and there was no backing out. The one stupid thought that bounced into Hilary's head was that Tyson's lips were warm and could the man could kiss. He didn't try to deepen the kiss; he didn't do anything except cradle her face in his hands and kiss her, long drugging kisses that had her head spinning. She dragged her mouth from his and dragged in a lungful of air as Tyson nibbled on her neck and ear.

"Hil," he murmured in her ear and Hilary shuddered at his warm breath.

"Yes?" she replied shakily.

"Can I get up?" Tyson asked slightly embarrassed "My butt is freezing." at his grin Hilary couldn't help laughing and clambered off him, offering Tyson her hand to help him up. Eventually he got to his feet, a bit wobbly but he was standing.

"Come on," Hilary wrapped her arm around Tyson's waist again, "lets get home and out of these wet clothes." At his chuckle Hilary looked up "what?" she asked suspiciously.

"I thought you'd never ask!" Tyson replied cheerfully and jumped when Hilary smacked him. "Owwww" he complained and Hilary rolled her eyes at him.

"That did not hurt, come on I'm cold," walking a very crooked path they eventually made it back to Hilary's place.

Hilary dropped Tyson onto her sofa and flopped down beside him. What had been a half an hour walk to the patrol car had taken them well over an hour back and Hilary was exhausted. She glanced over at Tyson to see his eyes drifting shut. He looked so boyish with his hair messed up from their snow fight and obviously half asleep and as much as Hilary would have liked to have left him there she knew she couldn't.

"Come on Tyson," she took his hands and tried to pull him off the sofa "Up!" he opened one eye and looked up at her

"What?' he asked sleepily.

"Will you get up," Hilary tugged on his arms again, "You can't sleep there."

"Why not?" Hilary rolled her eyes at his stubbornness.

"Because you're six foot, that sofa is only four and a half," she tugged his arms again "You don't fit so will you damn well get up!" finally it got through Tyson's drunken head and he stagged to his feet and with Hilary's prodding into the bathroom. Shaking her head she left him there and went to get something for Tyson to sleep in.

Ten minutes later she walked back into her bedroom to find Tyson softly snoring fast asleep across the top of her bed. Thankfully he'd managed to get out of his wet clothes and into the sweat pants and top Hilary had given him. She's hung his jacket out to dry with hers and couldn't prevent her slight smile at the sight, Hilary was half tempted to take a picture but decided against it.

With a bit of pushing and prodding she managed to get Tyson under the covers and gave him a light kiss on the forehead "Happy New Year Tyson' she mumbled leaving him to sleep it off.

By the time Tyson surfaced the next morning Hilary had been to the small supermarket on the corner and brought breakfast provisions, the morning paper and a few trashy magazines. She had just finished her second cup of coffee and was half way through the paper. The sound of the toilet flushing alerted her that Tyson was awake. She looked up just as he walked, or rather stumbled, down the short hallway. He looked dreadful. Tyson's hair was all over the place and his jaw was covered with stubble. Miserable bloodshot auburn eyes blearily regarded Hilary none too happily.

"Coffee?" she asked and he just nodded "come on sit down before you fall down," Hilary led Tyson over to the table, pushed him into a chair and went to get him some coffee.

"Didn't Gramps gift you a kendo for emergencies like me?" he asked wrapping his hands around the coffee gratefully.

"Yes," Hilary replied slightly worried as to why he would ask that.

"Would you do the humane thing and put me out of my misery?" Tyson asked and winced at Hilary's bark of laughter.

"Ash much as happy it would make me, I don't think that's gonna solve anything, Tyson," she giggled, putting two painkillers on the table beside a glass of water "You won't get any sympathy from me, totally self inflicted." Tyson swallowed the tablets and hugged his coffee mug again.

"Do you want some breakfast, bacon and eggs maybe?" Hilary was sure Tyson's face changed colour as he weakly shook his head.

"No." he muttered miserably. "Just let my head kill me." Hilary knew she shouldn't feel sorry for him but his misery was just so painful to watch.

"Come on," she urged, taking his hand and gently pulling him to his feet, "a nice long hot shower will help." Tyson brightened at that suggestion.

"Don't suppose you have a spare razor I can borrow?" he asked as Hilary let him into the bathroom. Without a word she opened a drawer and handed him a bright pink disposable razor. The look on his face was one Hilary knew she would not forget in a hurry. Total disbelief.

"You didn't ask for specifics," she chuckled as she handed him two clean towels and closed the door.

Twenty minutes later Hilary was starting to think Tyson had been washed down the drain when she heard the bathroom door open and soft footsteps walking towards the living area. Before she could say a word Tyson walked in covered by a large blue bath towel and the other drying his hair. Clean-shaven and nearly naked it was not a sight Hilary would ever forget.

"Coffee," she spluttered knowing she had to get away from him. Hilary nearly jumped out of her skin when Tyson's arms snaked around her waist and he pulled her close to him, her heart thundered so loud she was sure he could her it.

"Thanks," was all he said as he dropped a kiss on her shoulder.

"Don't worry about it Tyson," Hilary said handing him the coffee and ducking under his arm, by his knowing grin Tyson knew exactly what he was doing.

"I still appreciate it," he sipped the coffee "but I'm sorry for pushing you out of your bed. An uncomfortable night's sleep would have served me right." He admitted.

"Yep it would have but its fine, come on get dressed and I'll take you home." She could tell something was going on in the his mind,

"How about I take you out to lunch to say thank you?" when Tyson Granger wanted something it was damn difficult to say no,

"I'd like that." Hilary found herself saying as she ducked in for her own shower. Started she jumped as Tyson knocked on the bathroom door,

"Yes" she called out breathlessly.

"Happy New Year Hilary" was all he mumbled and walked away whistling under his breath.