It was December in London, England. The holiday lights, the corner side choir groups dressed in the traditional old-fashioned outfits, the red buses... It was amazing... It was- well- romantic... They were officially here on a case, but... Sharing it together was just another thing they could add to the list of things that were uniquely Catherine and Gil's... The small yet elegantly simple hotel room had became their little piece of heaven as they cracked the case wide open with Scotland Yard's finest. Don't ask about why they had only one room for them... They were away from everyone else in their life, away from Las Vegas. After what Ecklie had recently put them through, though, they realized just how much they loved, needed and depended on each other. He'd never forget the image of her silhouetted against Big Ben and she would never forget the joy and wonder on his face as they looked at Shakespeare's desk. It took a trip to London to finally make them admit their love for each other... The old saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" sure applied.

Their deep passion for each other boiled over in the magic of this new, wonderful city and they made love all night in celebration. The weight of the world was off their shoulders and neither of them had ever been happier.

Catherine drew in a deep breath and stirred gently. She was pressed as close to him as she could get, her arm draped over his waist. He slept on his back, so she had easy access to snuggle into him. The sheets betrayed him and his bare chest was exposed. She smiled sleepily and nuzzled his cheek. The feel of his impeccably maintained, close shaven beard against her delicate, perfect pale skin was almost more than she could bare. She kissed his temple. She squeezed him tightly, anything to gently wake him. Finally, he drew in a heavy breath and smiled.

"Good morning, my dear," he said quietly, his tenor voice gruff and low.

"Good morning? Gil... Baby, it's 11 o'clock.," she giggled. She raised herself and settled on top of him, their bare bodies molding into each other perfectly. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her slender waist. He opened his eyes and they immediately met hers. They pressed their lips together in a deep, passionate kiss.

Once they managed to pull apart, she smirked. "What happens in London stays in London?"

He smirked back. "I believe that is VEGAS," he said softly, allowing his hand to caress her soft cheek and then drift into her silk-like reddish blonde, shoulder length mane. "What happens in London stays here,"- he placed his left hand over her heart and then his own- "and here" -he kissed her lips chastely- "and here" - he nudged her hips with his own. They shared a loving, but hungry look and she bent to claim to his mouth with her own, their desire raging again...

One Christmas in London
December air
Red buses, snow angels
Trafalgar Square
And now the two of us are walking there
Remember how it used to be?
You never told me how to love you
We never spoke of it at all
But Christmas Day, when you passed my way

We heard the bells of St. Paul...

All season and New Year's
They rang for me
That winter was more than a dream could be
And every morning what I woke to find
Would in the evening still be there

We never talked about forever
We were in love, and through it all!
Our hearts would sing every time they'd ring
The ancient bells of St. Paul...
I've searched for a thousand hours
Through the town and places we knew
Past grand old castles and gothic towers
Hoping they would lead me to you...

You never told me how to find you
I had to try first and fall
But on the strand, when you take my hand
We'll find the love we recall
And hear the bells of St. Paul

... They lay silent and entwined, allowing their bodies time to calm. She laid her head on his chest and he held her close. He stoked her back as she ran her hands up and down his arms.

"Think we should call and check up on them?'" he asked.

"I think we have a bunch of capable and trustworthy 'kids' who are more than ready to run the lab without 'mom and dad,'" she said proudly.

"Hand me the phone, please," he added after a beat, starting to move.

"OHHHHH no," Catherine giggled, gently keeping her body tightly against his, preventing him from going anywhere. "No way... You brought me and only me here with you on this case so we could be alone together, work together... This is OUR time. Like you said, they can manage."

He sighed. "You're right... We deserve this and they are perfectly capable..."

"I'm glad you agree..." she said softly.