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Disclaimer: The FX characters belong to Rysher Entertainment and Hallmark Television. This story was written for fun and I am making no profit.
Complete
Episode Spoilers: Post Red Storm
Content: Holiday situation
Rating: Pre-Teen
Feedback is much appreciated. You can send comments and suggestions to me at dancing_kokopelli2003@yahoo.com
This FX Christmas story takes place between other stories, though, I'm not exactly sure where it fits in.

Rollie Tyler was worried. Christmas eve was fast approaching and the picture he was working on in Savannah, Georgia was running into overtime. He had told Angie he would be home for Christmas...but now he wasn't so sure. As it was even if they shut down at 6:00 p.m. on December 24^th, as it was expected, Rollie would have to drive all night non stop to get home in time for breakfast on Christmas day, barring any bad weather. Angie was back home in New York, seven months pregnant with their second child. She had wanted to come but Rollie didn't see the point in uprooting both her and Aidan, now two-years old, considering Rollie was only supposed to be away for a few days. Rollie had agreed to come on short notice to help out a friend. The previous FX team was unreliable and cutting corners. The second unit director was a friend of Rollie's and he suggested Tyler FX for the final scene, a car chase where the car flips over. There were no computer graphics involved, just good old-fashioned explosives and stunt work, so Rollie and Angie agreed that she and Aidan would stay in New York. But with production delays and an unexpected injury to the star's shoulder...those few days turned into three weeks and now it was almost Christmas. Rollie was very depressed and anxious to get home.

"Angie," Rollie pleaded over the phone.

He was sitting in a dingy motel room with the TV on in the background after having had a late dinner from one of the fast food restaurants near the motel. It wasn't his dinner of choice but that seemed to be par for the course on this shoot. Rollie had asked Angie what she and Aidan were watching and she told him they were watching The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Rollie had turned the station to same one they were watching. The show had ended and it was now some sappy holiday TV special.

"No Rollie!" Angie grumbled.

"Sweetie, it can't be helped. By the looks of things I won't get out of here till six o'clock on Christmas Eve. It will be too late to get the tree by then. Please, just get Frank or Leo to get a tree for you...." Rollie's voice broke off. He had really wanted to be there for this.

Angie sighed. "This is not the way it was supposed to be Rollie. You were supposed to be here. You, Aidan, and I were supposed to go and pick out a tree!" Angie sniffled as she rubbed her hands over her belly.

"I know. I'm sorry." Rollie replied, disappointment evident in his heart.

"No," Angie sighed. "I'm sorry. I know you can't help it. I wish you had let Aidan and me come along though. At least we'd be together." Angie was quiet for a second. "I'm not trying to make things harder for you Rollie. I just miss you. We both do."

"I know," Rollie sighed. "I miss you too. I miss giving my little Tyler cruncher his bath and getting soaked to boot. I promise you I will be there even if it means driving all night. But you need to stop putting off getting a tree, Ange. I know I won't make it back in time for that so you need to take care of that. Please? Do it for Aidan." Rollie pleaded. He knew how disappointed Angie was about this. This was something they were supposed to do as a family.

"Aidan doesn't even know it's Christmas." Angie grumbled. "All he knows is that it's snowing outside and that he misses his father."

"That'll change come Christmas morning. It won't take him long to realize how much fun it is ripping open the pretty packages especially when he realizes some of that booty is his." Rollie smiled "Next year, we'll have a devil of a time keeping him from ripping open the presents."

"Just like his daddy," Angie smirked.

"Ha ha!" Rollie's thoughts returned to his request. "Angie...about the tree?"

"Oh, all right!" Angie clicked her tongue in exasperation. "I'll call Frank or Leo tomorrow." Angie promised.

"Thank you." Rollie smiled, feeling that at least he had accomplished that much. Angie had put off getting a tree in the hopes he would be back and they could do it together. "So, how's the little one?"

"Aidan's fast asleep." Angie smiled, as she looked over at her mop haired son asleep on the couch. She would have to carry him upstairs to bed. "It's too bad you called so late...."

"I meant the other little one." Rollie smiled, as a picture of Angie pregnant with their second child formed in his mind.

Angie ran her hand over her belly. "She's restless. Kicking me even as we speak, wanting to hear her daddy's voice and missing you just like her mommy does."

Rollie smiled. Angie was convinced this baby was a girl. Rollie had no reason to doubt her. She had been right about Aidan. "I miss you too, Angel." Rollie groaned as he plopped down onto the bed. "Two days. Then, I will be home. I promise."

"You better."

"I will."

"I love you."

"I treasure you."

As promised, Angie called Leo with a request to help her get a Christmas tree. Leo said he would enlist Frank's expertise as well. Leo promised to stop by after work to pick up Aidan and then, Frank, and Aidan would all go out and pick up a great Christmas tree for the Tyler's. The only thing Leo asked was that Angie have steaming hot mugs of hot chocolate waiting for the intrepid tree hunters when they returned.

Once the tree was brought in, all 8 feet of it, Angie invited Frank and Leo to dinner and to help decorate the tree. Frank begged off saying that he had to go home. Leo thanked Angie for the invite but said he and Colleen were going out to dinner.

"When do you expect Rollie back?" Leo asked as he was helping Angie bring down the boxes of Christmas decorations. Frank had already left.

"Not until early Christmas morning, I'm afraid." Angie sighed, as she started unwrapping the decorations. "And he'll have to drive all night to get here. He's going to be so tired. Rollie will have an early morning call, be up all day, pack up the equipment, and then drive all night?" Angie shuddered at the thought. "Part of me wishes he wouldn't do that but I know it would do no use to tell Rollie that. I want him here as much as he wants to be here."

"Yeah, tough break him being so far away so close to Christmas. You still planning on going to the Gatti's tomorrow night?" Leo asked as he donned his coat.

"Yep. Aidan and I wouldn't miss it." Angie smiled. Angie was grateful to the Gatti's for the invitation. It would take her mind off Rollie not being home on Christmas Eve.

"Well, I'll see you there. If you need anymore help let me know."

"Thanks Leo." Angie thanked Leo and then a thought occurred to her. "Hey, listen, I hadn't planned on a big dinner on Christmas day or anything but if you and Colleen would like to join us for dinner, I know Rollie would love it. We were invited to the Gatti's for dinner that day too but I'm sure Rollie's going to be too tired to want to go anywhere." Angie noted Leo's hesitation. "I'm sorry. I realize the invitation is kind of late. You already have plans?"

Leo hesitated for a second. "No. Well, sort of. Colleen and I were going to drive up to the Adirondacks for a few days—"

"Don't worry about it." Angie assured Leo. "I should have realized you would have plans. I just...I've been putting off planning anything with Rollie away. That's why I didn't accept the Gatti's invitation to join them for dinner on Christmas day. I don't like making plans without Rollie. It feels weird, him not being here."

"Say no more." Leo smiled. "I understand. I'll talk to Colleen and we'll see if we can't leave after dinner or the next morning."

"No, you don't have to change your plans." Angie insisted. "It's okay, really. Go. Have a romantic getaway with Colleen. Rollie and I will have a nice quiet dinner with Aidan. Actually, you know, the more I think about it, the more I'm sure Rollie would want a quiet evening. He's going to be so tired from his trip."

"You're sure?" Leo asked.

"Yes, I am. I'm sure Rollie's going to be too tired." Angie walked Leo to the door. "Thanks again for the tree. It's beautiful." Angie remarked as she looked back at the balsam fir and shrugged her shoulders. "At least I got that taken care of. Rollie will be so happy."

It was now Christmas Eve day and Rollie was heading towards his FX van after conferring with the Second Unit director about the upcoming car roll scene. Rollie was making the last minute adjustments to the cannon underneath the vehicle and outfitting the switch inside the car. Everything was moving along great and Rollie was actually hoping to wrap the scene earlier than planned. In a few more hours it would be Christmas Eve and Rollie, and the rest of the crew, hoped to be on their way to their respective homes.

As Rollie rounded the corner he was met by a half dozen glum faced grips, stunt persons, and actors.

"Hey guys, why you all looking so glum?" Rollie smiled. "We're almost done." Rollie rubbed his hands together.

"That's what you think." One cautioned.

"Optimist!" Another charged.

"What did we do to deserve this lump of coal?" Another demanded.

Rollie's brow furrowed. "What's going on?"

"The last two shots we did, well our Grinch director just ordered a re-shoot. A mic was in the shot of one and the lighting was too dark on the other." Barry, the stunt double for the star, explained. "We'll never get out of here!"

"Now I have to call my wife and kids and disappoint them on Christmas Eve." One grumbled.

"My boyfriend and I were going to go to Stowe for a skiing holiday. I guess that's out." Another grumbled. "There's always after the holidays I guess."

"I have opened presents on Christmas Eve at my grandparents house since I was a kid. Not this year I guess!" Another lamented.

Soon, everyone at the table was mumbling and grumbling. This was not how anyone wanted to spend Christmas.

"Bloody hell!" Rollie mumbled to himself. He had worked his butt off trying to make sure that everything was set to go on his end, and technically it was. Once the car scene was filmed, Rollie was free to leave but...what about the others? What about their holiday?

"Look, everyone. What if we all pitched in?" Rollie suggested.

"What?" one of the grips asked.

"What if we all pitched in— I know, I know union rules and whatever. Well...screw union rules. Technically my job is done with the next shot but I am willing to stay and make sure everyone gets to leave here at 6:00 p.m. and no later." Rollie looked them in the eyes. "What do you say? We all pitch in, get the scenes ready, make sure everyone's on their mark, help each other pack up their equipment, and we all get out of here so we can go home to our families?"

"You'd do that?" Cathy from wardrobe asked. "But you could leave after the next shot."

"I know." Rollie agreed. "So how about it?"

Everyone in the small group exchanged looks. Soon, smiles replaced scowls and they were nodding their heads. "Let's do it!"

The crew and the actors all pitched in and worked together like a well-oiled machine. Once a scene was finished, the crew worked their butts off to prepare for the next scene. Everyone pitched in, including the wardrobe personnel and the make-up people. Finally, at 4:00 the last scene was finished. But before everyone dispersed, they pitched in and helped each other pack up their equipment and so that no one would be left behind struggling to complete the task. Rollie had listened to the weather forecast. The rain that was called for had already begun to fall, but that was nothing compared with what the travelers would face heading back to New York. 15 to 20 inches of snow were forecast and Rollie and the others wanted to make it home before it was all on the ground.

"Good job everyone!" The director called, as if the idea was his. "Now, please, go home and have a Merry Christmas. Those of you still on call, I'll see you back here January 3^rd."

Actors and crew quietly came over to Rollie and thanked him for inspiring them to help each other out. They knew, even if the director didn't, that the reason they were all going home in time to be with their families for the holidays was because of Rollie Tyler. Rollie insisted someone else would have come up with the solution sooner or later but they weren't so sure.

Those of the cast and crew who didn't have to go back to their hotels to settle their bill or pick up their luggage would now be heading out. Some of them who were going back to New York were going to be forming a caravan as they accompanied each other on the long trip back.

Rollie headed for his FX van as everyone else headed for their vehicles too.

"Mr. Tyler?"

Rollie turned to see an older man addressing him. "Yes?"

"I'm...I'm sorry to bother you Mr. Tyler but my name is Michael and I was wondering if I could trouble you?"

Rollie looked at his watch impatiently.

"Please Mr. Tyler." The gray haired man insisted.

"All right. What is it?" Rollie reluctantly acquiesced.

"I was talking with Bill Cruckshank, the head key grip, and he suggested I talk to you. Mr. Tyler, could I trouble you for a ride?"

Rollie considered it for a moment. "Sure. I'll be happy to. Where in New York do you live?"

"Oh, I don't live in New York City. I live just outside of Charlotte—"

"Charlotte?" Rollie sputtered. "As in North Carolina?"

"Um...yes, I'm afraid. I know it's a long ways out of your way—"

"Yeah, a few hours worth." Rollie groaned.

Michael noted the disappointment on Rollie's face. "I'm sorry. I know it's too much to ask. I've been asking around all day and everyone else either is full or they aren't willing to give me a ride so far off their track. Don't worry about it. I'll find another way." Michael started to back away.

"No. No, it's just a little out of my way. I can jump onto the highway later." Rollie sighed. "Besides, I could use the company. I've got a pretty long drive ahead. Get your gear and be here in 15 minutes."

"Thank you Mr. Tyler!" Michael smiled broadly as he turned and jaunted off to get his gear.

"You've got someone to go home to I gather?" Michael asked as Rollie maneuvered the van down the road as he waved goodbye to the caravan heading in the other direction.

"Yeah, my wife and my kid and we've got another cruncher coming along in a couple of months." Rollie smiled. "Angie, that's my wife, she's in the biz. She's my partner and normally she would be here with me, working her magic with the computer stuff but I figured this gig was just for a few days so I didn't want to uproot everybody. It's Aidan's second Christmas. He's still not quite sure what it's all about but I have a feeling that's not going to last long." Rollie had a far off look on his face. He turned his attention to Michael. "What about you? What are your plans?"

"I love the holidays." Michael smiled. "I don't have family to share it with but I do all right. I usually spend it with people who are like me, on their own and with no family."

"How do you manage that?" Rollie asked.

"I spend time at the local mission. I help out when I can and the holidays are time that it actually helps me by giving me someplace to be." Michael explained.

"Sounds like you're where you want to be." Rollie smiled.

"Yes." He looked at Rollie. "We should all be where we want to be at Christmas. That's what the holidays are all about."

"You got that right. For a while there, it didn't look like any of us would be home for Christmas." Rollie sighed, as he worried about the road conditions and the long drive back. If it weren't so important for him to be home right now Rollie would pull over and ride out the storm at a motel.

Michael smiled a knowing smile because he knew that Rollie had sacrificed his chance to get home earlier just so others could go home as well. Michael offered to take over driving for Rollie so that he could get some rest and Rollie gratefully accepted.

"Merry Christmas Angie and you too Aidan" Frank greeted Angie and her son Aidan as he opened the door. "Still no Rollie, eh?"

"Ixnay on the ollie-ay." Angie grimaced at Frank as she put Aidan down and started taking his coat and boots off. "Please Frank? Someone...." She indicated Aidan, "gets a little upset every time a certain someone's name is brought up."

"Daddy." Aidan grabbed Angie's cheeks and squeezed. "Daddy."

"Soon Aidan, soon." Angie kissed her son on the nose. "Come on, let's go look at Uncle Frank and Aunt Sarah's tree. Oh— Frank, can you do me a favor and get the gifts out of the SUV?"

"Sure Angie." Frank put on his coat and opened the door. "Hey, it looks like we're going to have a white Christmas."

"Yeah," Angie sighed. "And you know who is going to be driving right into it." Angie rubbed her burgeoning belly.

"Don't worry Angie," Sarah squeezed Angie's shoulders. "I'm sure he'll be okay."

For a few hours Angie forgot about worrying about Rollie and his long trip back in bad weather. She laughed as Aidan took a shine to the Gatti's oldest daughter and followed her everywhere. The girls didn't mind since they still considered Aidan a baby and the Gatti's youngest was now five.

Leo and Colleen showed up and Mira showed up as well, sans a date. Lucinda had left earlier that morning to go back home for the holidays with her family. Soon, everyone was stuffed on Sarah's wonderful cooking and they gathered in the Gatti's warm and inviting living room for some dessert and drinks. Leo and Frank were laughing about some perp's antics while Mira, Angie, Colleen, and Sarah were talking and watching the kids. Sarah turned the TV on because she wanted to know what was happening with the weather.

It turned out the main story was the weather as the winter storm was causing havoc with holiday travel. Flights were being cancelled, roads were being blocked, and a travel advisory was being issued for people to stay home if they didn't have to be on the roads.

The next story was also weather related as the news followed the storm's path and the havoc it was wreaking with travelers. The next news story was about a 15-car pile-up in Georgia caused by heavy rains and wind, as well as a possible drunk driver.

"Oh my god!" Angie stood up, as she rubbed her belly.

"Angie, I'm sure Rollie's okay...." Mira assured Angie.

"Daddy!" Aidan heard his daddy's name and came running over to his mommy. "Daddy home? Daddy home!"

Angie looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "Aidan...Daddy will be home soon, okay?" Angie's voice cracked with worry. "It's time to go home, Aidan. Say good night to everybody." Angie said as she stood and gathered Aidan's coat and boots.

"Angie, maybe you shouldn't leave just yet. We don't know anything and the it's been snowing pretty steadily since you arrived." Sarah suggested.

"I can't stay," Angie replied. "I have to get home in case...." She looked down at her rambunctious son as he resisted every effort to get dressed, "you know who tries to reach me. Besides, I don't want to risk traveling later. Aidan stop it! We have to go home now."

"No! Don't want to!" Aidan cried. "Want to tay!"

"But you're upset," Mira pointed out as she spoke above Aidan's tantrum. "Why don't you stay for a little while and maybe the storm will let up?"

"Besides, you know who might try to reach you on your cell phone. I'm sure you have that with you." Sarah pointed out.

"I do." Angie pulled the phone out of her coat pocket and hit automatic dial for Rollie's cell phone. A message came on and said the customer was out of service. "He doesn't seem to have it on...." Angie sighed. She returned her attention to a still upset Aidan and finished dressing him. "I'll keep trying but I really want to be home in case...when he gets home. I don't want to be stuck somewhere when I really would rather be home. Aidan and I need to wait for Santa at our home, don't we Aidan?" Angie kissed her son on the cheek. He was still upset and struggled against Angie. "Could you hold him while I get dressed?" Angie asked Sarah.

"Sure." Sarah smiled, knowing if she were in Angie's shoes she'd be doing the same thing. She turned to her husband Frank. "Honey, can you help Angie to the car with her things?"

"Can do." Frank smiled. "And don't worry, Leo and I are already trying to find out if he's among the injured. If we hear anything we'll let you know."

"Thanks Frank." Angie smiled hopefully. "Merry Christmas everyone."

"Merry Christmas Angie!" They called after her.

Frank and Sarah, Leo and Colleen, and Mira all watched Angie and Aidan drive off into the dark, blustery night. Aidan was still crying in the back seat as Angie drove off. Her friends worried about her but they also worried about Rollie. Leo, Frank, and Mira all started making phone calls just as they promised Angie they would do and hoping their friend wasn't among those injured...or worse.

Angie was a bundle of nerves as she left the Gatti's house. Aidan was still crying in the back seat and she worried about Rollie. Why hadn't he called if he had left Savannah? Why didn't he have his cell phone on? Please don't let him be in that pile-up, Angie begged.

Aidan had calmed down after a while and was now drifting off to sleep. Angie's thoughts were preoccupied with Rollie and hoping, praying, that he wasn't hurt. Angie glanced back at her son, now drifting off to sleep. When she looked back at the road Angie suddenly screamed.

"Angie!" Rollie awoke gasping her name.

"You okay?" Michael looked across at Rollie who had awakened suddenly from his slumber.

"I...I had a dream, I think." Rollie answered as he reached for his cell phone. He pressed the automatic dial for his home phone. "Damn it!"

"What's wrong?" Michael asked.

"My phone's dead. I forgot to recharge the battery before I left," Rollie answered as he plugged the phone into the lighter. Rollie rubbed his face. "How much longer till Charlotte."

"We're about a half hour away," Michael answered. "Your dream, was it about your wife? I heard you call out her name."

"Yeah." Rollie confirmed. "I don't remember it now but I just felt...that Angie was in some sort of danger."

Michael could see that Rollie was really worried. "You'll be home soon and you'll be with your family soon enough. Angie will be fine."

There was something in his tone that made Rollie wonder. Michael was so sure and it made Rollie believe him and relax a little.

"Ooh," Angie moaned as she moved her head upright. She felt the bump that was already forming on her forehead. "Ouch!" Angie suddenly became aware of Aidan's screams. She turned to see Aidan in his car seat screaming for his mommy. Angie undid her seatbelt and reached back to touch her son and to make sure he wasn't hurt. "Shhh, Aidan. It's all right. Mommy's right here, sweetie." Angie voice was soothing but Aidan was still crying. "Shhh Aidan, please?" Angie jumped when there was a knock at the window. Angie lowered the window to see a cop standing there.

"Are you hurt?" The cop asked.

"No. We're fine. It's just a bump." Angie answered she fingered her bruise, grateful the airbag hadn't deployed. The cop looked towards the back seat and her crying son. "He's just scared." Angie assured the cop.

"Well, you're packed pretty tightly in the snow bank. Some witnesses said you swerved to avoid a truck that ran a red light. I've got a tow truck coming to push you out of there. He should be here— here he is." The cop said.

"Thank you officer." Angie smiled gratefully to the cop.

The tow truck and the cop got Angie out of the snow bank and soon she was back on the road towards her home. She knew it was too early for Rollie to have arrived but she hoped to have some news from Leo and the others on the pile-up outside Savannah.

Aidan was still upset and refused to go to sleep. Angie figured he was picking up on her nerves. Angie struggled to put Aidan in his pajamas and she changed as well. She sat with Aidan in the rocking chair trying to sooth his nerves while silently she prayed to hear word from Leo or Rollie himself. Aidan sniffled and lower lip quivered but his crying was easing.

An hour after Angie arrived home Leo called to say that Rollie's name wasn't among those injured in the pile-up.  He did confirm that some of the injured were from the film crew who had been traveling in a caravan of vehicles back to New York. There was only one death, that of the drunk driver who had caused the accident. Angie was sad at the news but grateful that Rollie hadn't been among those injured. Still, she wondered where her husband was and why she couldn't reach him.

Michael pulled over at his stop in Charlotte, North Carolina; St. Michael's Church. Rollie noticed the name and smiled.

"Ah, the name wouldn't have anything to do with your affinity for the place now would it?" Rollie teased.

"A little," Michael smiled. "Thank you for the ride. Take it easy on your trip back. I understand New York is getting hit with a lot of snow. Don't let that wife of yours worry more than she already has."

"I will." Rollie promised and then he thought of something. "How do you know Angie's worried?"

"Just a guess." Michael smiled. "Plus, you've been worrying about her. It figures she would be doing the same about you. Take care, Rollie. You'll be home for Christmas."

"Yeah, thanks Michael." Rollie re-entered the van. He turned to wave to Michael...but there was no one there. Rollie looked around, confused. "Where did he get off to?" Rollie wondered aloud.

It was after 2:00 a.m. and Aidan was still fussing. He started crying every time Angie tried to put him to bed and she was now thoroughly tired. The baby in her belly was also giving her a hard time, kicking up a storm, and she now had a headache from the bump on her head. To top it off she still hadn't heard from Rollie and every time she called she got the out of service message.

"Aidan, you have to sleep!" Angie almost cried. "I have to sleep." She sighed in exasperation as she rubbed her belly. "Will none of my kids let me sleep, is that it?"

Angie tiredly picked up Aidan and headed for her room. "You want to sleep with mommy tonight, honey?"

Aidan nodded tiredly as his small hands wrapped around Angie's neck.

"Okay sweetie. We'll keep each other company huh?" Angie kissed the nape of Aidan's neck.

Aidan fell fast asleep with his mommy's hand resting on his belly. Angie curled up, as best she could at seven months pregnant, and watched her son sleep. Angie wanted to sleep too but her thoughts turned to worry about Rollie and where he was and whether he would be home tomorrow morning. Before she had come upstairs, Angie had taken another look outside. Visibility was poor. Angie could see the big flakes as the danced in the cold night air, illuminated by the streetlights. It had been hours since Angie had heard any vehicles outside. Most people were smart and staying home or wherever they were. Angie wished she hadn't pressured Rollie so much to come home. Now, for all she knew he was out in this weather on his way home to her and Aidan.

"Daddy...." Angie said in the quiet night air, "please keep Rollie safe." Soon, exhaustion claimed Angie too.

The snow continued to come down hard. At night it was difficult to drive in because the headlights made it look like hyperspace. The wind was causing drifts and the snowplows had a hard time removing the snow. No sooner would they pass then the road was covered again. The only good thing was that there wasn't much traffic at this time of the day. Despite his nap, Rollie was still tired and he struggled to remain alert as he maneuvered his van through the highway and the city streets.

Rollie heaved a grateful sigh as the familiar outline of his and Angie's home approached. It was now 8:00 a.m. Despite the detour, Rollie had made good time.

Rollie entered his home and the first thing he saw was the huge Christmas tree. It had presents Angie and he had picked out for Aidan and, he was sure, Angie's gift for him. Rollie reached into the bag he had brought with him from the van and pulled out a few more gifts and placed them under the tree.

The house was quiet. Rollie figured Aidan was still to young too young to get excited about Christmas and was probably still sleeping. Rollie was surprised Angie wasn't awake yet and then he remembered his dream from earlier this last night. Rollie tiptoed up the stairs and saw that Aidan was not in his room. He smiled as he knew where he would find him and sure enough that was where he was. Rollie approached the bed silently. Aidan was curled up on his side with his small hand by his face. When Aidan slept like that Rollie was so reminded of his beautiful wife, who now slept beside their son on her side too.

Rollie removed his shoes and stripped down to his boxers and t-shirt. He spooned himself around Angie, placing his hand around her belly and sighed contentedly.

Angie stirred suddenly, awakened by the cold feel of the body next to her. She turned carefully, not wanting to wake Aidan, and faced Rollie. "Rollie, you made it!" She whispered excitedly and then tears started streaming down her face. "I was so worried—"

"Hey, shhh." Rollie replied softly. "Come on, we don't want to wake Aidan." Rollie pulled her out of the bed.

Angie threw her arms around Rollie. "I was so scared. We were at Frank's and we heard there was a terrible accident, 15 vehicles in a pile up on the interstate, I couldn't reach you— why didn't you call?"

Rollie tried to take everything she had just listed in. "Um...my cell phone was dead. My fault. I didn't recharge it. Then, when it was recharged it was too late to call you. As for the pile-up, I didn't know about that. Why would you assume I was in it?"

"Because it was outside Savannah on the highway. It was on the news. The highway was closed for several hours." Angie explained.

"I took a different route. I gave a crew member a ride home." Rollie explained. He fingered Angie's bump on her forehead. "What happened here?" he asked with his own worry tingeing his voice.

"A slight accident— don't worry, the SUV is fine." Angie said, ignoring Rollie's grimace. "We weren't seriously hurt. I just hit my head on the window, that's all." Angie quickly explained and then she hugged her husband. "I'm so glad you're home."

Rollie held her tight, remembering his dream from earlier. "I don't care about the SUV. I care about you and Aidan."

Angie reached up and caressed Rollie's hair. "You look tired, Rollie."

"I am, a bit." Rollie admitted.

"You should get some rest—"

Just then Aidan stirred, awakened by the voices. He sat up and saw his daddy standing with his mum. "Daddy!" Aidan cried out, jumping off the bed and running to him. "Daddy home!"

A big smile crossed over Rollie's face as he stooped to pick up Aidan. "Good morning, tiger!"

Angie bit her lip as she tried to keep from smiling at the picture in front of her. "Aidan, daddy needs to sleep."

"No! Wanna tay wit daddy!" Aidan got a determined look on his face.

Angie rubbed her belly in circles. She was in no mood for this at the moment. Rollie caught her look.

"It's okay. He can stay with me for a while." Rollie touched Angie's protruding belly. Rollie's eyes widened when he felt the baby kick.

"She's been like that all night." Angie giggled at Rollie's surprised expression. "Are you sure?"

"Yep. I missed my little man." Rollie cradled Aidan and pretended to be an animal gnawing at him.

"Okay, but I think your making a mistake. You need to rest." Angie started for the bedroom doorway.

"A couple of hours sleep and I'll be good as new." Rollie promised.

"Yeah, well call down if you want your little man out of your hair." Angie said with a wave of her hand as she headed for the stairs.

Rollie and Aidan played for a little while on the bed but slowly Rollie's eyes began to get heavier and heavier. Soon, he was struggling to keep awake. Finally, Aidan was playing with the cars on the bed alone as sleep pulled Rollie into slumber. He didn't even stir as Aidan slid off the bed and padded his way to the doorway.

Aidan took the stairs on his butt as his mum and dad taught him. He marveled at all the pretty packages under the beautiful tree downstairs and he grew excited. Angie caught sight of him as he reached the bottom of the stairs and ran for the tree. Angie ran to catch up to him because she knew how indiscriminate he could be. He would rip open all the packages whether they were for him or not.

Angie scooped up Aidan and started planting kisses on his cheeks. "Hey little man how about you open one package and then we wait for Daddy before opening the rest, okay?"

"'kay!"

Rollie came down a few hours later as the smells emanating from the kitchen roused him from his sleep. He looked at his watch. He had slept for just over four hours. He took a quick shower and headed downstairs and was surprised to see Leo and Colleen, Mira, and the whole Gatti crew there.

"Merry Christmas everyone!" Rollie greeted the guests as he went up behind Angie and wrapped his arms around her. "Afternoon, Angel. I didn't know we were having Christmas dinner here. I thought we were going to the Gatti's?"

"We were but then I cancelled a few days ago. I figured you would be too tired to go out." Angie explained. "I didn't realize how tired I would be too. And after last night, I guess everyone decided to come and make sure you got home okay too. The Gatti's brought most of their dinner too, so all I'm cooking is the turkey."

"Well, it smells good." Rollie whispered in Angie's ear, sending a shiver down her spine. Angie giggled. "What?" Rollie asked, perplexed.

"Nothing. It's just...well, I just remember all the things you used to say to me that sent shivers down my spine and now you tell me the turkey smells good and you make me weak knee'd." Angie's hands rested on Rollie's over her belly. "Such is the life of ol' married's I guess."

"Perish the thought!" Rollie admonished her. "I'll whisper some things in your ears later that will knock your socks off!"

"Promises, promises." Angie teased.

Rollie swatted Angie on the behind as he went to join the guests. Rollie explained to the guests about his trip and why he wasn't part of the caravan heading home. He was glad to hear no one from the film crew was seriously injured, although, obviously this wasn't how they wanted to spend their Christmas; in the hospital and away from family. Rollie told them of his hitchhiker and said that if it hadn't been for him in all likelihood he would have been in the pile-up too. He was grateful for that, even though it had taken him off his planned route. In the end, it had probably saved him both time and injury or worse.

The Tyler's, the Gatti's, Leo and Colleen, and Mira all stuffed themselves full of turkey and all the trimmings. Then, they retired to the living area to share in eggnog, hot chocolate, dessert, and open presents.

It was during a quiet time in the festivities that Leo and Rollie went outside to check the condition of the SUV. Rollie wanted to inspect it himself. He was relieved, more for Angie and Aidan's sake than anything else, that there wasn't any real damage. After they finished the inspection and went inside, Leo told Rollie that he had asked Kent Brockman, the film's production manager, about Michael. He even gave him Rollie's description of Michael but Leo informed Rollie that Kent never heard of Michael and, in fact, there was no Michael listed on the crew list.

"Well, maybe he's a drifter then? Or he goes by his second name." Rollie surmised. "He wasn't dangerous Leo. If he was, he could have done something when he took over driving and I slept. There was something though...."

"What?"

"Dunno," Rollie answered as his thoughts drifted back to how quickly Michael had disappeared, how certain he seemed that Angie was okay, and how certain he was that Rollie would make it home for Christmas. "I can't put my finger on it. But he wasn't dangerous."

"Well, like you said, if you hadn't taken that detour you would have been in that pile-up and lying in a hospital bed in Georgia." Leo pointed out. "Whoever this guy was he kept you safe."

"Yeah." Rollie agreed as his eyes sought Angie's across the room. Suddenly he reached into his coat pocket and felt something. He pulled it out. "Excuse me Leo."

Rollie headed towards Angie who was standing at the window looking at the snow falling gently to the ground unlike the storm of last night. Rollie came up behind her and turned her around. He held up a sprig of mistletoe in his fingers above their heads.

"What's this?" Angie laughed. "Where did you get that?" She asked because she hadn't put any mistletoe anywhere in the house.

"It was in my pocket. Don't ask me how it got there." Rollie explained.

"Oh really?" Angie smiled. "Going around kissing strange women, are we?" She teased.

"Only one strange woman." Rollie pulled her close.

"Hey!" Angie swatted Rollie on his chest.

Rollie glanced outside and, for a moment, he thought he saw Michael standing across the street. Michael tipped his fedora to Rollie and smiled. Rollie smiled too and when he blinked...Michael was gone.

Angie noted his strange look. "What are you looking at?" Angie asked.

"Nothing." Rollie replied, somewhat distractedly. Suddenly he turned his attention back to Angie. "Just shut up and kiss me!" Rollie's lips came down on Angie's. As their kiss broke the couple looked down to see Aidan standing beside them. Rollie reached down and scooped him up in his arms. His other arm snaked around Angie's waist. "Merry Christmas Angel."

Angie's arm encircled Rollie's waist. "Merry Christmas Rollie."

Happy Holidays!