~~I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
And although it's a long road back
I promise you~~

His eyes were unwavering from the two tickets that he held in his hands. Everything in them stood for a future, a future with or without her in his life. It all depended on these two tickets, and what they would bring.

Each year he knew he disappointed her by not showing up at her door, but tonight was going to be different he vowed. He just had to get through this shift, and he would be free to go to her and celebrate the holiday.

It is a long road to take to reach their future by reaching back into their past. A past he had meant to rectify for years, but never had the courage to change it, but something about this year told him he needed to do it now or never.

If it was her face looking solemnly as she realized he worked tonight, or his polite answer to her asking to come to her home for Christmas and the sadness he saw there, he didn't know what told him all hope would end.

He checked his watch once again hoping it would be time to leave, but no it was only five min. after the last time he checked. Would the time ever come? How come he couldn't wait for a few hours when he had been waiting for almost 20 years?

His pager went off letting him know he had some work to do before he could go home to the arms where the only home he had ever found lay.

~~I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please, have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree~~

"Gil, go home."

Gil turned to find Brass staring at him from across his office. He couldn't help letting a smile waver on his face as he realized he could finally go home.

"Thanks Brass, and see you in a week." Just as he was about to walk out, he turned back and said, "Merry Christmas."

He turned around so quickly he never noticed the stunned cop's face, but he was too busy to care.

`This year you can count on me, Cath,' he pleaded in his head that it would all work out. He didn't need anything more than her this year for Christmas. Her present lay in his pocket. He was going to give her a real Christmas this year. One that would give her all she ever wanted.

A white Christmas she had as a child growing up in Montana. There would be no warm welcome homes from her folks, but it was their meeting place, and it was a special place in his heart. A special place that he hoped she shared. This time it would be a different ending for both.

~~Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams~~

He sat in his SUV outside her home hoping for signs of life inside, but it was quiet this early morning. There was one little sign, and that was a candle that sat in a front window. It was slowly dying before him, but it gleamed out for him, beckoning him to come inside.

`What if she doesn't want you there? Maybe it was too late?' He could tell he was getting cold feet once more, but that candle was still beckoning to him. His heart was pained as he sat there. He knew he would suffer pain from leaving now, but the pain could be much greater if he went in and found that he was not welcome.

His door opened without him realizing that he had moved to open it. His head had decided arguing was doing no good, and moved without letting him know. Then he stopped in front of her door. Once again the cold feet hit him.

His hand moved to knock on the door. At first it was quietly so not to disturb her if he changed his mind and ran. Then when his first attempts failed he knocked louder. He had to see her it seemed to knock.

He listened for any sounds inside, but none were coming. It was too late, he decided, and started to walk away.

~~I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams~~

Warm air swooshed through the door just as he reached the bottom step. He turned to find Cath standing in the doorway.

"I wasn't sure if it was a dream that I heard someone knocking," Cath said with a smile on her face.

"I've come home, Cath."

She opened her arms wide for him, and he stepped in those arms willingly, and they held on to each other. Each gathering hope for the future they could have together.

Slowly they let go of each other, and Gil moved to shut the door and go inside. "Go get dressed and pack your bags."

"I can't leave Lindsey on Christmas."

"You won't. We're going to spend Christmas together, and then she's staying with your mom until we get back from Montana."

"We're supposed to work this week. How did you arrange this?"

"It's been a long time in planning, but we're going. We do have this week off. Now go get ready. Lindsey is waiting."

Cath stood still stunned before him, but she managed before leaving the room a thank you. Her only answer was a smile, and she knew things would be all right this time.

End of Part 2/4