We Wish You a Merry Christmas ...
A Houston Knights/Touched By An Angel Crossover story.
By Starwinder

Part 4
Continued from Part 3

Houston Hobby Airport was crowded, even more so than would be usual for this time of year. It was Christmas morning and all flights had been canceled starting at six am.

A tall man with sandy hair cut in a short crew cut pushed his way through the crowd, carrying two bags.

His smaller companion, shorter with long, curly dark hair hung onto one arm with a hand and toted a small case in the other. Talking constantly, "We'd better hurry if we want to get a room, Jim. There won't be anything left in no time ..." he trailed off as the larger man froze, stopping dead still where he stood. "Oh, no! Not now, Jim! Don't do this to me. Come on ..."

Jim could still hear Blair's voice but the sights, sounds and scents around him were becoming overwhelming to his Sentinel senses. Almost directly in front of him a tiny, slender, gray haired lady was using the phone. She hung up turning to the loudly dressed man standing behind her, holding her purse "Joey doesn't answer at his place. I'll try Levon's. Let me get my address book, Ray." She reached for the purse.

The man gave her a long suffering look and exchanged a glance with the man beside him who was dressed in the full regalia of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A dog, at least part wolf, sat at his feet.

They all smelled of garlic, and the Mountie was watching over a pile of gaily wrapped presents. Jim could also smell leather and gun oil on the two men ... and pheromones. The smell of sexual arousal was overwhelming

On the next phone over a tall, man with a swimmer's build, was talking on the phone, "No, Scully. It doesn't look like we'll be back. I know we have that Senate hearing but believe it or not we're snowed in here. Skinner is trying to find us a flight but nothing is going out of here till the snow clears." Strangely he also smelled of gun oil and leather.

A second man joined the one on the phone. Jim's senses reeled, more gun oil and leather. "Is that Agent Scully, you're talking to Mulder?" He asked laying his hand on the other man's shoulder. The pheromone count soared.

Agent. That explained their guns. Jim realized as Skinner, reached over and took the phone from his companion. "Agent Scully, this is AD Skinner. We will be stuck here at least several hours. Tell the Director that I've made arrangements and we will be on the first flight to DC. We'll wait here at the airport."

Two men walking shoulder to shoulder, leaning together, passed between Jim and the bank of phones. One, tall with long black hair and wearing sunglasses was talking to the other, slenderer with medium brown hair. "We don't need to call, Peter. Levon said to come straight to the house. He wants to surprise Joey. Make up for Joey's Aunt and Uncle not making it down here." They moved on. More gun oil, leather and pheromones.

"Jim! Dammit! Jim!" Blair gave Jim a hard shake, "Snap out of it!"

Jim forced himself to focus on Blair, "I'm here, Chief." He whispered. "Something's wrong with my senses though. Everybody smells like sex ... sex, gun oil and leather.'

"Okay." Blair said soothingly. "Come on we'll get a room, somewhere quiet for you to rest. Figure it out there. Okay?"

"Okay." He let the smaller man guide him out of the terminal and into a cab.

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Something was ringing. Joe groaned and reached for the bedside table groping blindly. He found the alarm clock and felt for the shutoff button. It was already pressed in. He tossed the clock to the floor and kept groping. He knocked the receiver off the phone and the ringing stopped. He rolled over and used both hands to follow the cord to the receiver, all without opening his eyes.

"'ello." He mumbled. "Aunt Teresa ... nice of you to call. How's Uncle Mikey?" he asked sleepily. "When you left him?" His eyes opened, blinking against the light coming in the window, "Aunt Teresa, where are you?" He closed his eyes and snuggled back down, reaching out, searching for Levon's hand.

Levon opened his eyes, smiling at Joe and took the searching hand in his, holding it as he listened to Joe talk to his aunt.

"The airport?" Joe opened his eyes to smile back at Levon then suddenly he sat bolt upright in the bed, "Houston Hobby Airport! Aunt Teresa, did you say you were at Houston Hobby Airport?" He turned to Levon with a look of total dismay on his face. "Just stay there, Aunt Teresa, I'll come and get ... What? No! Really I can ... What? ... Aunt Teresa ... okay. I'll see you then."

He hung up the phone.

"She's here?" Levon asked.

"At the airport. She'll be here in an hour, Levon! We gotta ... " He tossed back the covers and climbed outta bed. "What're we gonna do?"

"Easy, Boy. An hour's plenty of time to hide the evidence ... if we work together."

Joe turned back to him, "I'm sorry, Levon. I planned to tell them about us when they came down but ..."

"But you'd rather tell her than have her find out." Levon came and put his arms around his lover, "It's all right Joe. I understand. I know how much you've worried about this." He turned Joe to face him. "You ain't got to tell her. I can't ... I would never ask you to risk losing your family over me. I love you too much. If you want we'll just pretend that we're just buddies."

Joe leaned against him. "It won't be that easy, Levon. Aunt Teresa has known me since I was born. Fooling her ain't easy. I don't think I've ever really fooled her about anything." He sighed. "Hell, she probably already knows."

"Then there ain't no need to panic is there?" Levon kissed him gently.

"You're right." He pulled away. "I better grab a shower and get breakfast started while you go see about Fooler."

At the mention of his horse, Lundy looked up and out the window for the first time that morning. He froze. "Joe," he began in a real quiet voice, "It might take your aunt more'n an hour to get here."

"Huh?"

"Seems we got some snow last night."

Joe turned and stared out the window, in disbelief. The ground between the house and the barn was covered with snow. It lay in drifts banked against the barn and the corral. He turned to look at Levon. "It snowed." He whispered. "It snowed ... and Aunt Teresa is coming. Levon, I got both my Christmas wishes. That guy ... the one in the Santa suit that Carol was with at Chicken's he asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I told him ... and he said he'd see what he could do. You don't suppose ... ." His eyes had gone wide with wonder.

'Ain't likely," Lundy started then seeing the disappointment flare in Joe's eyes he added, "But I reckon anything is possible."

Joe's smile flared bright and beautiful, turning into a grin. "Wait till I tell Carol that her boyfriend's really Santa!" He laughed, delighted at the idea.

An hour later, Joe was worriedly, running back and forth from the kitchen, dividing his time between getting the Christmas dinner started and checking the drive every two minutes looking for the cab that would bring his Aunt Teresa.

"Joe," Levon said in an exasperated voice, "Will you settle down." He rose from the couch and went to put his arms around Joe from behind. "Go on back to the kitchen and tend to your cookin'. I'll watch for Aunt Teresa. Okay?"

"Okay. I just ... "

"You're just nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. It's gonna be all right. You take care of dinner. I'll take care of Aunt Teresa."

"Sounds like a fair division of work to me." Joe chuckled. "Fact you probably got the harder job!" He headed back to the kitchen.

Lundy went and stood by the door, looking out at the snow. Snow. It almost never snowed in Houston, not like this anyway. Looked to be a good foot, foot and a half of it. He shook his head. [Boy wants snow and it snows. Never saw the like.] He smiled, touching the ring on his finger. His boy. His lover. His beautiful, passionate, and enthusiastic partner. His partner at work. His partner in life. He couldn't remember ever having felt so purely happy and contented. He looked down at the ring. It was really something different. He'd never seen one anything like it. Something suddenly occurred to him. He turned and walked into the kitchen.

Joe looked up, "Any sign of her."

"Not yet. Told you it'd take more than an hour." He hesitated. "Joe, tell me something."

"Sure. What'd you want to know?"

Levon held up his hand with the ring. "You had these custom made. Didn't you?"

Joe looked up and smiled, "Yeah. Why?"

"That'd take awhile. Lot longer than a couple of days or a week or so."

"Yeah. So?"

"So just when did you decide on this, on asking me to ..."

"To make it permanent?"

"Yes."

"Fourth of July weekend." He said it casually like it hadn't been any big deal. "That last morning we spent at the cabin. I woke up before you, with you all cuddled up against me and I just lay there for the longest time, thinking. About how good it felt just to wake up beside you. About how happy and contented and satisfied I felt. I knew that you'd wake up after a while and we'd make love ... or we wouldn't and it really didn't matter if we made love or not cause I loved you and I felt loved by you even when we didn't make love." He gave Levon a questioning look. "You understand?"

"Maybe. Go on."

"Well I got to thinking about the other times that I had felt like that and I realized that before I came to Houston and met you, before we became lovers, I had never really felt that way before. I had been happy and I had been content but I'd never been happy, content and satisfied all at one time. I just lay there with you and I knew that that was what I wanted. To be with you, for the rest of my life."

"You never said a word."

"I was scared. Didn't know if you felt the same. I had the rings made but I was waiting till I was sure you ... wanted me, you know for keeps."

Levon stepped closer, reaching out to take Joe in his arms, "Oh, Joe. We wasted so much time, dancing round each other." He hugged his lover close, "I wanted you for keeps the first time I ever saw you." He drew back enough to kiss Joe's cheek. "Thank God you finally asked me. I don't think I'd have ever had the courage to ask you."

Joe leaned into his arms and turned his head to claim Levon's mouth in a kiss just as footsteps come bouncing across the front porch.

"Joe! Levon!" Carol called out as she pushed open the front door and trotted through the livingroom. They were still in the embrace when she stepped into the kitchen, still dressed as Santa's helper. "Oh," She laughed then turned back to call to Nick, "I don't think we have to worry about their presents being separated!"

Joe was blushing furiously as he pulled out of Levon's arms. "You ever hear of knocking!"

Carol just laughed as Nick followed her into the kitchen carrying two balls of fluff. She pointed to the black one, "Night's yours, Joe ... and Day's," she pointed to the white one, "Levon's. Merry Christmas you two! I'd give them to you myself but I'm allergic to cats! Nick had been an angel bringing them for me."

"Angel?" Joe asked, taking in the Santa suit Nick still wore. "Looks like Santa to me." Joe went and took both kittens from Nick, cuddling them to his chest. Night immediately began kneading his claws in Joe's sweater, purring happily. Day mewed till Joe walked back to Levon and Levon reached out and took him, almost as if he knew that Joe was Night's human, not his and he was waiting for his human to take him.

"We brought food, a litter box and litter. Where do you want them?" Nick asked.

"Bathroom." Levon said. "I'll show you." He cuddled Day against his chest and reached for Night.

Joe reluctantly let the kitten go. Giving it a gentle stroke first, "Sorry, baby." He told it. "but I got lots to do. I'll play with you after dinner. Okay?"

Levon led Nick toward the master bedroom bath, leaving Joe to get back to his cooking. "They'll be better off in here. Everybody'll be using the other bathroom. We're expecting company. Joe's aunt called from the airport a while ago." He gave Nick a speculative look.

Nick ignored it. "That's nice. I'm glad he got his Christmas wishes." He gave Levon a smile, his blue eyes twinkling.

They settled the kittens in the bathroom then headed back to the kitchen.

Carol came to greet Nick with a kiss. "We've got to go guys." She informed them. "Nick and I are due at the children's ward at the hospital." She beamed at them. "Merry Christmas! We'll see you later!"

Levon walked them out. As they crossed the porch two men were getting out of a taxi in front of the house, carrying one small bag each and a bag of gifts.

Levon, quickly saying his good-byes to Carol and Nick, went to greet them. After a moment of quiet talk and hugging he led them into the house motioning for them to be quiet. They put their coats and things down on the couch then the three men moved silently across the living room. Signaling the other two to stay back Levon rejoined his lover in the kitchen.

"They gone?" Joe asked. Then laughed when Levon confirmed it, "Can you believe her? Naming our kittens, Night and Day! Jeez!"

"Reckon she thought it was appropriate." Levon deadpanned.

Joe turned to look at him and saw the two men standing behind him, "Kermit! Peter! What are you guys doing here?"

"Levon called, said your folks weren't going to make it. Asked if we could." Kermit replied.

"Yeah," Peter put in. "We can't stay long though. We only got the one day off."

"But you're gonna stay for dinner. Right?"

"Of course," Kermit said, "We didn't come all this way to pass up your cooking." Coming to give Joe a hug he added, "Anything I can help with?"

"Sure! Oh! Hey! Aunt Teresa's gonna make it after all! She should be here any minute!"

"Did I hear someone mention kittens?" Peter put in.

"Yeah. They're in the bathroom--" Levon broke off as footsteps crossed the porch, "I'd better get that." He cut back through the living room and threw open the door. He blinked. It was Joe's Aunt Teresa all right ... along with a thin, loudly dressed man with dark hair and ... a Mountie ... with a wolf.

"Teresa?" He asked hesitantly.

"Hello, Levon," Joe's aunt smiled at him.

"You gonna let us in or what?" The loudly dressed man demanded.

"Ray ..." The Mountie chided his companion as the man pushed past Levon.

"Hey! Joey! You in there?"

"Ray!" Joe's disbelieving voice came from the kitchen. Seconds later he was crossing the living room to give the man a huge hug. "Aunt Teresa didn't say you were with her!"

"I apologize for my friend's lack of manners." The Mountie began. "He's very enthusiastic about seeing his cousin again. May we come in?"

Joe pulled away from Ray to sweep his aunt into a gentle bear hug, "Aunt Teresa ... you didn't have to come. I know you wanna be with Uncle Mikey." He looked past her and saw the Mountie. His eyebrows rose. "Who's this?"

Aunt Teresa turned, "He's Ray's ... friend ... ."

"My friend, Bennie ... ."

"Constable Benton Fraiser. Royal Canadian Mounted Police." The Mountie took off his hat and held out his hand. Motioning toward the wolf he said, "This is Defenbaker."

"Keep him outta the bath room. We got kittens."

"Oh! He'd never ..."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just keep him outta there." Joe herded Teresa toward the kitchen. Leaving Ray, Levon and the Mountie to fend for themselves just as Peter came into the living room carrying the kittens.

"I found them ..." he trailed off looking from Levon to Ray to the Mountie to the wolf and back to Levon. His eyebrows rose.

"Ray. Bennie. Defenbaker." Levon pointed to each in turn. "Peter. Night and Day." He pointed to Peter and the kittens. "I'm Levon if anybody doesn't know."

Bennie moved to reach for one of the kittens. "The white one would be Day."

"The white one would be mine!" Levon said pointedly, grabbing the kitten from Peter before the Mountie could get it.

"Oh, well." Bennie looked around then sat on the edge of the couch Looking for a place to lay his hat, he spotted the hat Joe had given Levon the night before. It still lay on the coffee table. The lights were still blinking and the squeaky electronic version of 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' still played. "Nice hat."

"Was a gift." Levon snapped and grabbed it heading for the kitchen with the hat and Day who thought the hat was fascinating.

In the kitchen Kermit, Joe and Teresa were deep into a discussion of the relative merits of the traditional Italian Christmas meal versus the traditional American Christmas meal, with Joe loudly wondering if turkey meatballs would satisfy both traditions.

Levon dropped down at the kitchen table, setting the hat in front of him and putting Day down where he could explore it.

"Nice hat," Kermit said with a grin as he came and sat beside Levon.

Joe looked over, "I gave it to him. It was a gag of course. But hey! It'll make a great centerpiece for the table!" He said happily, coming to sit beside Levon and give him a kiss.

"Joe!" Levon pulled away in surprise, "Your aunt!" He added in a hoarse whisper.

"She knows. I told you she was hard to fool!" He grinned, "She asked me when I was gonna quit fooling around and admit I was serious about you!" He moved back in for another kiss.

Levon let him have it, then when he finally pulled back asked, "So, what'd you tell her?"

"Showed her my ring. Told her to add you to the family Rolodex." He grinned. "And ... "

"And she said she already did!" Joe laughed, leaning in for another kiss.

Levon let him have it then pulled back to say, "You keep that up, Boy and you're gonna have to take a break and go visit the bedroom with me."

Joe laughed.

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Levon sighed and leaned a shoulder against the porch support post and looked up at the clear night sky. It had been quite a day. He shook his head. By noon tomorrow the temperature would be in the high seventies. His eyes went to the ragged row of snowmen standing at the edge of the lawn. They'd be gone. So would the snow fort that he and Joe had built for the three way snowball fight with Ray and Bennie, and Kermit and Peter.

He heard the door open and someone cross the porch behind him. It was Joe, of course. It had to be, everyone else had left.

His lover came and stood close behind him, slipping his arms around him from behind, planting a kiss on his neck.

Joe looked up to the night sky. The stars were bright and clear. "Beautiful night."

"Yeah. Gonna be warm tomorrow." He jerked his head to indicate the snow. "It'll all be gone tomorrow."

"We'll have our memories." Joe kissed him again.

"And our pictures," Levon almost laughed. "Let us not forget our pictures." He did laugh then. "Tell me again who we were supposed to be fooling, about us."

"Everybody." Joe said in mock seriousness. "My family. The Lieutenant. The other cops at work."

"Yeah, right." Levon grinned. "Reckon that explains the five giant economy size boxes of condoms we got. And the five cameras. Huh?"

"My cousins have no shame."

"Makes you wonder what they want pictures of."

"You have a dirty mind."

"Reckon you'll have to wash it ... with the his and his bath sets the lieutenant sent us."

"Speaking of the bathroom, where are the kittens?"

"Where do you think?"

"Well, let me see," Joe began to feel around the front of Levon's jacket, finally slipping a hand inside. "Uh-huh. Thought so. You got at least one of them."

"One?"

"Both."

"'Course. They don't like to be apart."

"Kinda like us."

"'Xactly like us." Levon leaned back into Joe's arms.

"You happy?"

"Can't remember ever being happier. This house ain't ever seen a Christmas like this one. First couple of years me and Caroline was together we had our Christmas here but it was just me and her. After that we'd go home to Lombard for Christmas. Then the last few years ... "

"She was drinking."

"Yeah. Didn't have much of a Christmas during those years." He sighed, then chuckled. "I can't believe that you, Ray and Bennie went and got that huge tree from your place and brought it out here."

"You shoulda heard what Joe Bill said when I asked to borrow his truck!"

"But he let you have it ... and helped move the tree ... decorations and all."

"Hey! I wasn't gonna redo it! I decorated the thing one time!"

Levon laughed. "Let's go to bed, L'amante!"

"Ooohhh! You've been listening to Uncle Mikey present." Joe teased, referring to the fact the Uncle Mikey had sent Levon an audio book entitled 'Italian For Lovers: So You Want to Know What your Lover is Saying in Bed.'

"Uh-huh. Now I'll know what you're hollerin' when you forget how to speak English." Levon teased.

"Hummm. Guess I'll have to pick another language for what I don't want you to understand."

"Just how many languages do you know, Boy?" Levon demanded.

"That would be telling." Joe teased as he turned Levon around and started pushing him into the house.

The End