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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: Angst, Some mild language, Adult situations, Violence
Rating: R
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. It is the fifth in a series.

Angie growled at her husband of seven months, Rollie Tyler as she threw the box of equipment onto the floor of the FX van, then she turned and glared at her husband. They had just wrapped up filming on their latest movie project, a time travel murder mystery. The special effects were great and all in all it had been a great experience, that is, until Rollie informed Angie about Leo needing his help on another police matter.

"Rollie!"

"Angie," Rollie looked at her with his big, puppy-dog eyes. "This is Leo we're talking about here. Remember, a few months ago he came back from the dead."

"Yeah, and back to the same old, same old." Angie grumbled as she folded her arms around her.

"No, it's not the same old, same old," Rollie insisted. "Since our wedding he hasn't come to ask for our help once. But now he has," Rollie lifted Angie's chin but she was stubbornly refusing to look at her husband, "I can't just turn him down. Besides, all he is asking for is a little sound and video surveillance. Where's the harm in that?"

Angie glanced up at Rollie and melted. "But Rollie, it's two days to Christmas. We haven't even done any shopping and we don't even have a tree!" Angie pouted, stamping her foot on the ground.

"It will be over and done with tonight. That leaves us Christmas eve to shop." Rollie smiled at his wife. "Are you saying yes?"

"Christmas eve?" Angie growled because Rollie knew full well how traumatized she had been years ago when she left her Christmas shopping to the last minute and ended up shopping on Christmas eve.  Angie was jostled about in all the stores and the hottest toy of the year was literally yanked out of her hands. She swore never to do that again. Angie kicked at the snow with her boot.

"Well?" Rollie smiled as his hands rested on Angie's hips then. He took her bare hands in his and blew on them to warm them up. "What do you say, Mrs. Tyler?"

"Oh fine!" Angie pouted. "But you are going to make it up to me, buster."

"Great...but you know, you don't have to come along. I'm sure I can handle things—"

"Oh no you don't!" Angie yanked her hands away from Rollie. "We're a team, remember? Besides, somebody has to pull your butt out of the fire. It might as well be me."

"Really?" Rollie laughed. "I look forward to that."

Angie arms slowly wrapped around Rollie's neck and Angie looked up at him, her face softening. "It's just that...well, this is our first Christmas as husband and wife, Rollie. I wanted it to be something special," Angie said softly.

Rollie cradled Angie's face in his hands. "It will be. I know that we are having dinner at the Gatti's on Christmas day, but Christmas Eve is for us, Angela, I promise. This thing with Leo is only for tonight."

"Okay," Angie smiled weakly.

"Good. Now let's get home and pick up the stuff we need for tonight." Rollie said as he swatted Angie on her behind.

Rollie pulled the FX van up behind Detective Leo McCarthy's car. Leo exited the car, leaving Francis Gatti inside, and came around to the back of the van. "Hey, so glad you could finally make it." Leo smirked.

"Knock it off, Leo. Remember we do have day jobs." Rollie reminded his friend, good-naturedly. "Besides, we had to grab something to eat on the way. We came straight from the set and picked up Lucy-luce along the way."

"Great," Leo smiled as he entered the van. "This feels like old times," Leo said as he tried to notice Angie's eye rolling.

Rollie took a seat near Angie as he started working on his disguise. Lucinda, in character, was wearing a very short, metallic mini dress and big hoop earrings. Angie, meanwhile, was fitting Lucinda with a hidden mic and earpiece. 

Rollie was working on his wig. "So, Leo? Why don't you fill us all in on this operation? What exactly are we here for again, mate?"

Leo came to stand in front of Rollie as he continued to get ready. "Well, it's like I said. The perps are in that bar across the street. There are three of them, all belonging to the same smalltime gang. I call them the Dalton gang—"

"You're kidding?" Angie smirked.

"No, I'm not. They're three brothers named Dalton," Leo explained matter-of-factly. "Over the years they've been busted for everything from pyramid scams to stealing cars, TV's, and computers. They're strictly small time." Leo shook his finger. "But recently they've hit a streak of good luck. Three days ago the First National Bank of New York was held up and the thieves, three of them, caught on tape but masked, made off with $50,000 dollars. The doors and the windows of the bank were shattered but there was no trace of any incendiary device—"

"So how do you think they did it?" Rollie asked.

"Don't know," Leo admitted. "But about a month ago some top secret Army weaponry was supposedly stolen from an Army base in Jersey—"

"You think they stole it?" Rollie interrupted. "That doesn't sound like their style."

"No it doesn't," Leo agreed. "I think the real thieves somehow lost this stuff and the three amigos in there, came upon it. They're too stupid to think of the danger surrounding a hot item, which was probably meant for sale, and instead of sitting on it and keeping a low profile they used it to break into the bank. And you know, the thing is, whoever stole it is bound to be looking for it—"

"Especially after the robbery has been all over the news. Now you're hoping that the thieves will lead you to them?" Rollie surmised.

"Exactly!" Leo smiled, pleased that he and Rollie could still work the mojo.

"Okay, Lucinda's wired and ready to go." Angie announced.

"Except for one thing," Rollie informed her. He went over to one of the compartments and pulled something out. In fact, he pulled two things out. He went over to Lucinda and placed a necklace on her. "This has the camera, remember? We see what you see." Rollie then shocked Angie when he took off his wedding ring.

"Rollie?" Angie enquired.

"Sorry, luv. I don't want to lose it," Rollie explained as he placed another ring on his finger. "And this ring has a little camera in it as well. Two eyes are better than one, eh?" Rollie smiled.

Angie took Rollie's wedding ring from him and placed it in her pocket. "Well, we better make sure the signals are coming in strong before you go off." Angie announced as she turned towards her computer screen. Angie looked at the signals as well as the video feed from the two mini-cameras. "It's all good," Angie declared, a shiver suddenly going up and down her spine.

Rollie and Lucinda were about to exit the van when Angie called to Rollie to be careful. There was something in her voice that made Rollie turn around and he could see Angie masking the worry on her face. Rollie chewed on his lip as he suddenly became unnerved as well but he still insisted on telling Angie that he would be fine.

Lucinda had already entered the bar. Leo could see through the mini-cam that the suspects were all in the bar. Two of them were sitting at a table while one was sitting at the bar. Leo, who had stayed in the FX van with Angie, pointed them out to Lucinda as Rollie entered and took a seat in a quiet dark corner in the back where he could keep an eye on Lucinda and the suspects.

Lucinda sidled up to the bar and up to one of the suspects, a guy named Jimmy Dalton and before long, Lucinda had him eating out of the palm of her hand. Soon, she had joined all three brothers at their table and they were all flirting with her. It wasn't long before a combination of the beer, the testosterone, and Lucinda's egging them on got them to talking about their recent luck, including their recent bank robbery.

"That's it. We got them, don't we Leo?" Rollie whispered into his mic.

"Yeah, on the robbery but we need a little more." Leo thought of something else. "Lucinda? See if you can get them to talk about how they did the robbery."

Lucinda looked over at Rollie uncomfortably. They were already pawing her and they were only getting more uncontrollable with every beer they swilled but at the same time, she knew, their tongues were also getting loosened.

"Oh, come now boys. You expect me to believe that your sorry, albeit cute, selves, had anything to do with that wicked robbery?" Lucinda drawled in her southern accent. "Ahh just find that so hard to be-lieve!"

In the FX van, Angie shook her head. She didn't understand why Lucinda and Rollie usually affected southern accents in New York. Maybe because it was one of the most easily parodied, she thought.

"Believe it, sweet pea." Jimmy Dalton crowed, "and we got the money and the equipment to prove it."

"Keep them talking Lucinda," Rollie encouraged her through her earpiece.

"Equipment. Why, whateveh do ya'll mean?" Lucinda batted her eyelashes at them.

Meanwhile, Francis was parked in an unmarked car at the back entrance of the bar. He noticed a car pull up and immediately recognized one of the occupants. "Leo? I think Anthony Lapaglia just joined the party. He's not alone and they're armed." Francis informed the senior detective.

Angie looked up at Leo, a look of concern on her face. "Who is Anthony Lapaglia?" She asked, though she wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer.

Leo didn't have time to address Angie's concerns. "Thanks, Francis. Rollie we got trouble!" Leo shared a look of concern with Angie. "Get Lucinda and get the hell out of there!"

Francis was already calling for backup Leo was exiting the van and heading towards the bar, leaving Angie monitoring transmissions from the FX van.

Angie saw from Rollie's point of view, him heading towards Lucinda to get her out of there. Then she saw on camera two Lucinda's point of view and three men enter the bar, heading straight for Lucinda, Rollie, and the Dalton gang. Angie heard Rollie shout 'Lucinda, get down!' and then she heard loud popping sounds, which she knew were gunshots. "Rollie," Angie whispered.

Then, Angie heard yelling and through the yelling Angie could make out Rollie's distinctive accent. He was all right! Angie looked at the video feed from both cameras. Both views were skewed and providing a batman-like point of view of the inside of the bar. Angie could tell from the video feeds that Rollie hadn't reached Lucinda because the camera was providing two perspectives. Lucinda was still with the Dalton gang, although she had ducked under a table. Rollie, meanwhile, had taken cover but was now getting up and coming towards Lucinda and the Dalton gang.

Lucinda could see Rollie coming towards them as she was rising up from underneath the table. At the same time, Jimmy Dalton came out from underneath the table as well.

Angie could see from Lucinda's camera that while Rollie was coming towards Lucinda and the Dalton gang, three other men were coming from the other side of him as well.

It happened in an instant.

Rollie was coming towards Lucinda and the gang.

Jimmy Dalton rising up from underneath the table, weapon in hand.

Anthony Lapaglia and two henchmen were coming towards the Dalton gang, guns drawn.

"Rollie, get down!" Angie screamed over the headset.

Lucinda noticed the weapon in Dalton's hands and it was pointed at her friend as well as the bad guys. Without thinking, she shoved Dalton as he fired the weapon.

Anthony Lapaglia and his men went down as Jimmy Dalton used the top secret Army weapon against them. The force was so strong; their guns flew out of their hands. They were thrust backwards by a powerful wave of...nothing. No bullets flew out of the top-secret weapon, but the damage it leveled was impressive. Glass was shattered, windows and doors splintered into nothingness. The three men were thrust out onto the street, covered in broken glass and debris.

Rollie Tyler didn't have time to get out of the way. He heard his wife's warning but there was no time. In an instant, Rollie was thrown backwards and out onto the street. Rollie felt his life fading into the black.

"NO!" Angie screamed as she yanked off her headset and ran out of the van.

Angie reached the sidewalk where her husband lay, motionless and unconscious. Nearby lay the bodies of Anthony Lapaglia and his men in a similar state. The whole of the front entrance of the bar was ripped apart by the powerful blast. It looked as if a powerful bomb had gone off, but the damage was only contained to the area the weapon had been pointed.

Angie ran over to Rollie, who lay on his back. Angie bent down and took Rollie's hand in her own. "Rollie?" She looked him over as tears ran down her cheeks. She opened his jacket and inspected his chest and torso but could see no wounds. Angie went to caress Rollie's cheek when she noticed blood trickling out of his ears. "Oh God, no! Rollie, don't you do this to me. Please, Rollie...please wake up." Angie pleaded with her husband of seven months.

"Oh God, Rollie!" Lucinda cried as she stumbled out of the bar and made her way over to Angie and Rollie. "Angie." Lucinda cried as she placed her hand on Angie's shoulder.

"He's hurt, Lucinda," Angie whimpered as her cradled Rollie's head in her lap. Rollie still was unmoving and Angie felt so helpless. "Help him!" Angie cried out. "Somebody help my husband, please!"

The place was now swarming with police. Angie could hear the sirens of the approaching ambulance. She looked over at one of the other victims, one of the bad guys who had gone into the bar shooting, and he was being covered up with someone's jacket. He was dead. A shiver went down Angie's spine. "Rollie, please wake up. Please!" Angie cried quietly as she stroked his hair.

Leo came over with one of the Dalton brother's in custody. He had him by the collar and his belt as he was shoving him towards an awaiting squad car. He paused in front of Angie, Lucinda, and an unconscious Rollie Tyler. "Angie how is he?"

Leo was unprepared for Angie's wrath at that point. "He's unconscious. He hasn't opened his eyes once. Are you happy?" Angie spat at Leo. "How many times have I told you that this isn't his job, yet you keep dragging him in? If Rollie dies...." Angie's steely eyes bored into Leo's tearing ones, "it will be all your fault and I will never forgive you!"

Angie accompanied Rollie to the hospital in the ambulance. Lucinda followed her to the hospital about an hour later after being questioned by the police regarding the events that took place at the bar. Lucinda found Angie in the waiting room of the emergency area. It was now 2:30 a.m. Christmas Eve morning.

"Angie, any word?" Lucinda asked as she approached Angie, who had been pacing in the waiting area.

Angie looked up, startled out of her thoughts. She looked drawn, pale, and tired. "Nothing yet. They're still in there with him. They won't tell me anything, Lucinda." Angie started to cry. "Rollie can't die, Luce. He just can't!"

Lucinda reached up and stroked Angie's hair. "Oh honey." She cried. Lucinda didn't want to believe that her best friend could die either. What would the world be like without him in it?

Just then the doctor was approaching the waiting room. Angie tensed up. "Doctor?"

"Mrs. Tyler, sit down please."

"No. I don't want to sit down. You give it to me straight," Angie bit her lip. "Is Rollie....."

Lucinda's arms wrapped around Angie's shoulders.

"Your husband is stable...." The doctor began, "he's had some bruising of the ribs which will be quite painful for him for a few days but...." The doctor placed his hand on Angie's shoulder.

Angie felt herself start to shake. "What?"

"Your husband sustained a trauma to the head. He's still unconscious," the doctor paused again, "your husband is in a coma. There's no telling how long he will remain like that but I must say tell you that the longer he is in a coma the worse the prognosis is. I wish I had better news for you. We are going to move him up to a room in ICU in a few minutes. You may accompany him if you like."

Angie wiped fresh tears from her cheeks. "Thank you doctor."

The doctor turned, then paused as he was leaving. "There is one other thing to consider, Mrs. Tyler and I apologize for the timing but this is something you need to think about in Mr. Tyler's case."

Angie looked up at the doctor, confused and concerned at what he was talking about.

"Do you know your husband's wishes?"

"Wishes?" Angie asked.

"Yes. In the event that your husband remains in a coma...would your husband want to be kept alive through extraordinary measures? Does he have a DNR?" The doctor clarified to Angie.

"Umm," Angie started to cry. She couldn't bear the possibility, which seemed so real now, as she started to shake.

Lucinda's arms tightened around Angie's shoulders. "Doctor, that decision doesn't need to be taken now, does it? Rollie could still come out of the coma, right?"

"Yes. Yes, of course." The doctor agreed. "It's just that some patients already have their wishes known in such cases and we need to be aware of that. I'm sorry Mrs. Tyler, I didn't mean to cause you more anguish." The doctor turned and returned to the emergency ward.

Angie sunk down then, onto the couch. She started shaking as she was staring blankly straight ahead.

"Angie," Lucinda whispered.

"Rollie...Rollie wouldn't want to be kept alive by machines, Lucinda." Angie started to cry and she gripped Lucinda's hand tightly. "Oh my God, Luce. I don't know if I have the strength to let him go...."

Lucinda's chin rested on Angie's head as she pulled her towards her. "I know, sweetie. I know."

It was now 4:00 Christmas Eve morning. Lucinda stayed with Angie in the room with Rollie but after a while it was as if Lucinda wasn't even there. Angie focused on Rollie, barely speaking with Lucinda. She held Rollie's hand and stared up into his face, unnervingly still with the oxygen mask over it. Angie was watching Rollie's breathing intensely, never turning her eyes away.

It was 4:30 when Angie took a deep breath and sighed. She looked over at Luce who was barely keeping awake and looking uncomfortable in the folding chair.

"Lucinda, you should go home," Angie said quietly.

Lucinda stirred from her seat. "Angie, I don't want to leave you."

"It's okay, really." Angie smiled tiredly. "You're tired and there's nothing you can do here. Look, it's Christmas Eve. I know you probably have plans or things to do. Go home, Luce. I'll be okay." She smiled wanly as she held Rollie's hand under her chin, within her own.

"But I don't want to leave you alone," Lucinda protested.

"I'm not alone." Angie smiled. "I'm with Rollie."

Lucinda reluctantly left Angie at the hospital but only after going out to get her something to eat. She called Leo with an update on Rollie's condition. His voice sounded low but he thanked her for the update.

Leo showed up at the hospital around 7:00 a.m., having stayed up all night filing reports. He was off duty now as he apprehensively walked into Rollie's room. He saw a flash of anger in Angie's eyes but that didn't deter him from doing what he needed to do.

"Angie—"

"What are you doing here?" Angie snapped at Leo.

"I came to check on my friend Rollie...." Leo ignored Angie's tongue clicking, "and to let you know that the van was driven back to the loft. Here are your keys." Leo held out his hand with the keys in them.

"Put them on the table." Angie replied as she returned her attention to Rollie.

Leo did as he was told. He walked over to the bed and looked down on his friend. It pained him immensely to see Rollie lying there, not talking or laughing or planning, and with an oxygen mask on his face and a heart monitor beside the bed.

"Listen, Angie...." Leo began, "for what it's worth, I'm sorry—"

"Save it. I don't want to hear it." Angie left Rollie's side and moved to the window, looking out at the bright sunlight.

Leo came over closer to her but keeping a respectful distance. "I would do anything for Rollie."

"Just leave me alone." Angie cried.

"No. I won't leave you alone. Rollie wouldn't want me to," Leo replied as he came up behind Angie and placed his hands on her shoulders. Angie flinched at his touch, but then, just as quickly, she melted under it. Her knees gave out and Leo caught her.

"I can't lose him, Leo." Angie started sobbing. "I can't! What am I going to do?"

Leo held Angie as she sobbed uncontrollable letting out the fear, anger, and pain of the not knowing. "I know, kid. Neither can I." Leo whispered quietly.

Rollie watched as Angie broke down in sobs. He hated seeing his angel in pain and knowing that he had once again caused it was too much for him to endure. He had wanted to give her everything, to see her wonderful smile and to know that he had put it there. But, Rollie realized, he caused Angela more pain than he had ever intended. He couldn't help it. It was in his blood and he would never change. Rollie couldn't help but feel that Angela would be better off without him.

"You think she's better off without you?"

Rollie looked around. Angie and Leo seemed so far away now, covered in mist. "Who's there?" he asked.

"A friend," Replied the friendly female voice.

"Show yourself," Rollie demanded and when no one did, added, "please."

Then, through the mist, a Being came towards him. The features were indiscernible and whoever it was, he—she—it— seemed to be bathed in light.

Rollie gasped at the apparition. He looked back towards Angie and Leo and could see that he seemed to be floating above them. "Where...where am I?"

"'Tween."

"'Tween?" Rollie gasped.

"Between life and death."

"Life and death," Rollie whispered as realization struck him. "I'm dying aren't I?"

"Is that your wife?" the Being asked.

Rollie looked down at Angie. "Yes."

"She loves you very much."

"I love her too...but it's not enough. I've caused her so much pain," Rollie replied solemnly.

"You think she would be better off without you?"

"I don't want Angie to spend the rest of her life taking care of a vegetable. I don't want her tied to me like that. That's not the kind of life I want for her," Rollie replied as tears rolled down his cheeks. "I want her to be happy."

"What makes you think...." The Being started to ask.

"Let's get it over with then, eh?" Rollie smiled weakly as he realized what this Being was here to do. "I don't want to prolong this any longer than it needs to be. The sooner this is over with the sooner Angie can move on. I sometimes think it would be better if I had never come into her or my friends lives."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Very well." The Being came closer to Rollie and Rollie felt blinded by the light. Soon, his eyes adjusted to the light and he could make out a slight, wispy shape of the being.

"So, let's get on with it." Rollie said impatiently as he could still hear the echoes of Angie's cries.

"All right," the Being replied slowly, "but first...I would like to show you something. It may help you make up your mind."

"I told you I don't want to prolong this torture for my wife." Rollie argued.

"Humor me. Take my arm."

Rollie did as he was told, reluctantly. Suddenly he was standing among a crowd of mourners and a funeral was going on. "What's going on?" he whispered.

"There's no need to whisper. They can't hear us," the Being informed Rollie. "Listen."

There were many police in uniforms among the mourners, all decked out in their dress blues. Rollie spotted Francis and Sarah Gatti. Francis was crying. The flag draped over the casket was folded up and given to Colleen.

"Who dead?" Rollie asked worriedly. "Tell me!"

The Being didn't say anything and just indicated that Rollie should pay attention.

Frank picked up some dirt and threw it onto the lowered casket. "Goodbye Leo," Francis cried. "I'll never forget you buddy and I swear— I swear, Leo, Wolf won't get away with this. He will pay for murdering you."

"Wolf?" Rollie turned to the Being. "We stopped Wolf. I remember. Leo became entangled with Wolf when he assassinated a witness in a case Leo was working on. Leo devised a plan to smoke him out but then Wolf came after Leo and his friends, including Angie and me. But we stopped him. We set him up and we stopped him."

"You never came into Leo's life. You and he never met and you weren't there to stop Leo from being murdered by Wolf. Wolf gets away and continues to commit other assassinations because you, Leo, and Angie never stopped him." The Being informed Rollie.

"Wait a minute. I never said I wished that I was never born." Rollie grumbled.

"No. You didn't. But you said that your wife and your friends would be better off if you had never come into their lives."

"But—"

"Let's go. There's more."

They were in a desert now. It was crimson hot and the sand seemed to be glow with a reddish hue. Rollie smiled when the sun hit his face but he didn't feel the warmth of the sun as he recognized the place. Docker River, Australia, his mother's final resting place.

"Why did you bring me back here?" Rollie asked.

"You need to see this," was the only answer the Being offered.

They were in a small Outback Sheriff's building watching as an older man was being led out of jail in handcuffs. The older man looked scruffy and dirty. His clothes were dirty and tattered, and he sported a thick, tangled, graying beard.

"Dad? What's happened to him?" Rollie stammered. "He looks like hell."

"He's been through hell. He didn't have anyone after your mother died. Dingo felt all alone. He turned to booze and grifting. He's been in and out of jail, his health is failing, it's almost as if he has a death wish."

Rollie watched quietly as his father filled out the paperwork for his release. "I knew he was in bad shape after Mum...I didn't realize how badly he was hurting. He left me with Mangela and he took off. I didn't know what happened or where he went. Then one day he returned for me after almost three years. I always expected to see him again, I just didn't know when." Rollie cried at the picture of his father now.

They followed Dingo as he left the small police station and he walked down the street to a pub. Dingo ordered whiskey straight and sat at the bar. Time passed and Dingo got drunker and drunker before finally passing out. The pub owner dumped Dingo out in the back alleyway, throwing a pail of cold water upon him and stirring Dingo from his drunken stupor. But Dingo had nowhere else to go, and so he gathered up his tattered jacket around him in a futile effort to ward of the night chill and he promptly fell asleep again.

Rollie knelt in front of his father as he wiped tears from his own eyes. "What's going to happen to him?"

"His liver is failing. His kidney's are all but shot." The Being answered. "More than that, he wants to die. He has nothing to live for."

"That's not true," Rollie cried.

"He feels it is," the Being told Rollie. "And there is no one around to tell him otherwise."

Rollie watched his father sleep in a drunken stupor surrounded by garbage and rats. Rollie looked up at the Being. "I can't do this," Rollie sighed.

"One more."

Fear struck Rollie. Everything he had seen was bad. He knew the next one would be as well and he dreaded it. "Please, no more."

"You must see this one. This is the most important one."

"Is it Angie?" Rollie asked with trepidation.

"It is."

"Please tell me she's all right?" Rollie begged.

"See for yourself." The Being pointed for Rollie to look.

Rollie saw Angie sitting at a small kitchen table. This wasn't Angie's apartment or the loft. The place was dingy and poorly furnished. Angie was looking at a newspaper advertisement for enrollment to NYU's computer science program. She had dark circles under her eyes and was painfully thin. A man came into the room. He was stocky looking with big arms and three-day-old stubble. His hair was greasy and he had yellowing teeth and was beginning a beer belly. At one time, Rollie surmised, he had been handsome but the beer and whatever else he was doing was catching up with him. He seemed so huge next to Angie. Rollie suddenly felt very protective and jealous. Rollie was about to ask about him when the man spoke to Angie.

"Dinner ready?" he asked gruffly, with no warmth in his voice.

"Ten minutes," Angie answered softly, as she slipped the ad into her pocket.

"Ten? What the hell, woman? You know I have to be out of here by 5:30. What the hell do you do all day?" the man demanded.

"It will be ready soon. Have some salad." Angie's voice was soft, almost too soft.

"Salad? You know I hate that damn sissy stuff. Get me a beer." He ordered her, even though he was closer to the refrigerator than she was.

Angie stood up and went over to the fridge. It was then that Rollie noticed Angie's protruding belly. She looked to be about six months pregnant.

"Angie...she's pregnant?" Rollie gasped.

The Being just looked at Rollie. Angie got the man a beer and opened it for him. As she came over to him he reached up and pulled her into his lap. His hand went to Angie's breast as he started kneading it roughly. Angie cried out and pushed his hand away.

"Don't. It hurts," she cried.

"Don't? Don't? Woman, you had better learn that 'no' is not a part of your vocabulary," he said as he ripped open Angie's blouse and his hand went between Angie's legs. He lifted her up onto the table and spread her legs.

"Stop this! Stop this!" Rollie cried out. "He's hurting her!"

"No. No!" Angie cried out. "Stop it, you're hurting me!" Angie pushed the man off her.

The man was enraged. "What did you just say to me?"

Angie cowered. "Nothing. I...I didn't mean it."

The man pulled her off the table roughly by the arm. His fingers were digging deep into Angie's flesh leaving yellow, then blue marks.

"Ow!" Angie cried. "The baby!"

"Never mind the baby. That's your problem. I told you never to say no to me!" The man's fingers rolled into a fist and he hit Angie hard across the jaw.

Angie went flying across the room and against the kitchen counter and knocking the pot of food off the stove, the contents splattered all over the floor and the table. The man started towards her.

"Please, please don't!" Angie begged as she held her hands up ready to protect her face and her abdomen. "I'm sorry Please!"

"Now look at the mess you've caused!" the man railed as he slapped Angie again. "Get this place cleaned up. I'm going out to eat. Can't you do anything right? This place better be cleaned up before I get back tonight."

Angie slumped on the floor against the kitchen cabinets. She cried as she felt her face, the sting of the hit still fresh. "Daddy, I miss you! Why did you have to leave me all alone?" Angie wailed. Angie stood up suddenly and ran to the bathroom. She emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet as fresh tears flowed down her bruised cheeks. Angie threw water onto her face and stared into the mirror.

"Why? Why is this happening to Angie?" Rollie asked the Being. "Who is that son of a bitch?"

"That is Angie's husband—"

"Husband?" Rollie coughed. "No. No way. Angie would never marry a man like that. She's too strong a person."

"You're right. Angie would never, under the right circumstances, marry someone like that. But he wasn't like that when she met him. And Angie was young and alone—"

"Alone? What do you mean alone?" Rollie demanded.

"You weren't with her when Manny was killed. Angie was young. She ended up in foster care. She wanted to go to school and follow in her father's footsteps of doing FX for the movies. But, she had no money. She lost the loft and was bilked out her trust fund by greedy lawyers and accountants. She took a job waitressing, hoping to save enough money to go to NYU but then she met Sonny in her final year in high school—"

"Sonny? Wait a minute, I remember him. He knew Angie in high school. He was a jock with all these big plans of playing pro football. He had the hots for Angie but she was never really interested in him. I always wondered why. Now I'm glad." Rollie said as he looked at Angie through the mirror. Just now, it was as if Angie were staring straight at him and he felt the connection he had always felt with Angie and Rollie gasped.

Angie gasped as well and then she looked down at her belly and started to cry.

"Angie became pregnant with Sonny's child. They married and, soon after, he was injured in a bar fight which ended his pro football hopes. He blames that on Angie as well. She has been nothing but a punching bag for him." The Being explained.

"Why does she stay? Why does she put up with it?" Rollie asked as he bent to look into Angie's eyes, and again, he felt the connection.

"She's afraid of being alone. She wants to give her child a home. She feels she has nowhere else to turn. Take your pick." The Being explained.

"I can't stand this," Rollie proclaimed suddenly. "I can't stand seeing everyone I love hurt. Why are you showing me this?"

"You have an incredible chance. You can see what people lives would be like if you had never been born. Not that many people get that chance and you are getting it because you are 'tween. You are hovering and only you can decide what happens next." The Being informed Rollie.

"This isn't fair. I said I didn't want Angie to spend her life caring for a vegetable. I didn't want her tied to me in that state. That is not the same as not being born!" Rollie accused the Being angrily.

"You're very stubborn and you are right. It's not the same but it's been quite a journey for you. It's time for you to rest."

"Rest? Bloody hell!"

"You heard me. Close you eyes. A minute is like a lifetime here." The Being's voice was soft and commanding and pretty soon Rollie found that, try as he might, he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer.

Rollie sighed deeply. He felt the body warmth beside him and he felt a million times better. His body curled closer around her's and he heard her sigh in her sleep. Suddenly, Rollie awoke with an "Ooomph!" after he was hit in the groin area by a projected missile. Rollie's eyes jolted awake and he looked up into the eyes of a small, squealing child. Rollie looked at the young boy with surprise.

"Daddy wake!" the child screeched.

"Daddy—" Rollie stammered.

"Yeah and mommy too." Angie turned around to face her husband and child in bed with her. She smiled up at Rollie, who wore this funny, confused look on his face. Angie reached up and caressed Rollie's cheek. "Are you okay, sweetie? Is that bump on your head still bothering you?"

"Angie," Rollie gasped, so happy she wasn't with that pig Sonny now. "Yeah— no, I'm fine. And this little guy...." Rollie said as he pulled the child to him, "he's...."

"He's up far too early." Angie finished the sentence. "Aidan, what did Mommy tell you about jumping on Mommy and Daddy?"

"Not to," the boy pouted.

"That's right," Angie yawned.

"Aidan." Rollie whispered to himself. He looked now at his son with his curly brown hair, beautiful blue-green eyes. Angie's lips, and Rollie's nose...God! How he loved the creation he and Angie had made. Rollie pulled Aidan to him. "It's all right son, it's all right. Daddy really doesn't mind at all!" Rollie beamed over at Angie, who rolled her eyes at him.

There was a cackle coming out of the little pink and white monitor that sat on Angie's night table. Angie sat up, hugging the sheet around her, and then she reached for her robe at the end of the bed.  Rollie watched confusedly as Angie dressed in her robe and exited the room without another word.

"Well, that's a fine how do you do ain't it Aidan?" Rollie tickled his son as the boy squealed with laughter.

"Daddy top! Top it!" Aidan squealed excitedly.

Angie returned to the room and Rollie just about passed out. She was carrying another baby, this one much younger than the boy.

"Angie?" Rollie gasped.

Angie sat in the chair by the window as she opened her robe and began breastfeeding the baby.  She looked up at Rollie, who was pale and confused looking. "What? Rollie, are you all right?"

Rollie stopped playing with Aidan and grabbed his robe. He went over to Angie and knelt down in front of her. He was staring blankly straight ahead with his mouth open. Aidan was busy crawling on his back.

"Rollie, are you okay? Maybe you should lie down?" Angie suggested as she saw Rollie's blank stare. "Maybe we should have the doctor check your head out again. You don't seem to be yourself this morning," she suggested as she reached out and touched Rollie's cheek, stirring Rollie from his reverie.

"No, no, sweetie I'm fine." Rollie smiled as took in the view of Angie breastfeeding a newborn baby. "In fact, I've never been better." Rollie's hand caressed the baby's head, another full head of hair, as the baby hungrily suckled Angie's breast. Rollie was filled with such an incredible feeling.

"Really?" Angie eyed Rollie warily. "You could have fooled me." Angie looked down at the baby in her arms. "She's beautiful isn't she?" she smiled proudly as she caressed the baby's soft cheek.

"She is, just like her Mum," Rollie beamed at Angie and the realization that he also had a daughter. Rollie now realized he still didn't know his daughter's name. Aidan had stopped jumping on Rollie's back and was now playing with a toy tuck he had found under the bed. Rollie returned his attention to the two beauties in front of him and he fingered the stubble on his chin. "Angie um...don't get mad or anything, but um...what...what is our daughter's name?"

Angie gasped and slapped Rollie's shoulder. "Rollie Tyler, you are getting your head examined. How could you forget our daughter's name?"

"Angie please, just tell me," Rollie begged.

"No. You should know your daughter's name," Angie smiled teasingly, "at the very least you should remember where she was conceived."

"Conceived?" Rollie picked up the clue. "Are you saying that she was named for the place she was conceived?" Rollie started racking his brain. Manhattan...Queens? Brooklyn? New Jersey, London...Chelsea? Prague...bloody hell! "Help me out here, Angela!"

"Rollie, I am really getting concerned about you. You really haven't been yourself this morning." Angie's eyes showed concern. "Promise me we will go to the hospital and get you checked out, please?"

Rollie was about to dismiss Angie's concerns but he noted how worried Angie was and he also had to admit to himself that his behavior this morning must be strange, especially if he couldn't remember his own child's name. "Okay. I will get my head examined. I promise. Now please?"

Angie's eyes softened as she smiled. "Sydney. Our daughter's name is Sydney."

"Sydney?" Rollie beamed as he chewed on his lip. "That means that she was conceived—"

"In Sydney. You're catching on, Tyler." Angie grinned at him and then she glanced down at her daughter. "I knew it when it happened. I just knew. You treated me so awfully and I was so mad at you. I wasn't sure about us anymore. You were carrying around so much baggage, Rollie," Angie explained as she reached over and caressed Rollie's cheek, "But you were finally honest with me and that made all the difference in the world. When you returned to Sydney we made love like we hadn't in a long time and I just knew, Rollie. I knew we had made a baby and I wanted to name our child after the place where she was conceived. It's also a sort of homage to your birth country."

Rollie started to cry. "I love you, Angela Ramirez Tyler. Don't ever let me forget that."

Angie's brow furrowed at the strange request. "I won't. You know that I love you too, don't you Rollie? With all of my heart and my very soul?"

Rollie choked on his tears. "I do know that, Angel. I'll never forget that, I promise you." Rollie scooped up a squealing Aidan and bounced him on his knee as he watched Angie breastfeed Sydney. "I love our family, Angela. I'm the luckiest man alive!"

"Sonny boy? Time to wake up."

"Sonny boy. You've had your fun now it's time to return to the land of the living...."

"Mangela?" Rollie called out, though in reality it was little more than a whisper. Rollie's body hurt and when he opened his eyes, the light blinded them. He opened them again slowly and let his eyes adjust to the light. His throat felt dry and parched. Suddenly, he realized he felt pressure on his left arm. Rollie turned his head slightly and smiled. He recognized the blonde hair that lay draped over his arm. Rollie moved his fingers slightly, entwined with Angie's fingers but she still didn't move. He moved his fingers again, moving his arm as well. This time, Angie noticed and awoke with a start.

"Rollie?" Angie looked up at Rollie. "Oh my God! You're awake!" Angie cried.

Rollie tried to speak but coughed instead when the experience caused his throat to feel like sandpaper. Angie immediately filled a cup with ice water and brought the straw to his lips. Rollie drank the water gratefully.

"Where...where am I?" Rollie asked.

"You don't remember?" Angie asked worriedly.

Rollie racked his brain. "I remember...Leo...a case...gunfire...." Rollie licked his lips, "an...an explosion of some kind, it seemed to go right through me. I don't remember anything after that except...." Rollie's voice trailed off as he vaguely remembered other things as well, but they weren't real. It was like some kind of dream.

"Except what?" Angie asked, as she interrupted Rollie's thoughts.

"Um, I don't...I don't know," Rollie stammered.

Angie leaned over Rollie and smiled. She gently brushed the hair off his forehead and caressed his face. "I better go tell the doctors you're awake." But before she left, Angie bent down and kissed Rollie on the side of his mouth. "You were unconscious for 13 hours. God, Rollie, you had me so scared."

"I'm sorry, Angel."

"No, Rollie, don't be. You're here and that's all that matters now." Angie kissed Rollie, this time full on the mouth. Then, she pulled away with a wonderful smile on her face as she bounced out of the room to tell the doctors that Rollie was awake.

Angie returned to Rollie's room a short while later. Rollie had once again closed his eyes and Angie became concerned again.

"Rollie?"

Rollie opened one eye at her. "Yes?"

"Just checking," Angie said as she bit her lip and picked at the bed sheet as tears threatened to burst forth once again.

Rollie opened his arms for her. "Come here."

Angie sat down on the edge of the bed.

"No, I mean here," Rollie said as he opened his arms once again.

The doctor came in about half an hour later only to find Rollie in bed with Angie sitting right next to him. They were holding hands and cooing to each other as if they weren't in the hospital and Rollie hadn't been in a coma only a short while ago.

"So, I see you're getting the best kind of medicine," The doctor proclaimed as he entered the room. "I'm not sure I can do any better. How are you feeling Mr. Tyler?"

"I'm feeling fine, doc." Rollie smiled. "When can I go home?"

"Rollie?" Angie looked at her husband as she got off the bed.

"What? Angie, it's Christmas Eve." Rollie looked exasperated. Did Angie really expect him to stay in the hospital one more minute? Rollie looked at the doctor again and practically begged. "I don't want to be here on Christmas Eve, doc."

"But you just came out of a coma," Angie stammered. "You have to stay— he has to stay right, doctor?"

"Actually, we can't keep someone against their will...."

Rollie smiled broadly. "Great!"

"However," the doctor continued, "before I can release you in good conscious I have to examine you. If I don't detect any major problems you can go home."

"Are you sure," Angie asked again, somewhat worried.

"Mrs. Tyler, why don't you wait outside while I conduct the examination on your husband? You can come back once I'm finished."

"Be gone, Angela." Rollie pointed towards the door. "Let the doctor do his stuff."

Angie narrowed her eyes at Rollie in consternation. Rollie sure was acting like the old Rollie. "I guess I could call Leo and Lucinda and everyone," Angie mumbled. "But doc? Don't let Rollie steamroll over you either. If you think Rollie needs to stay another day or so, you tell him. Better yet, tell me!" Angie said as she left the room.

The doctor smiled as he turned his attention to his patient. "That wife of yours certainly seems protective of you."

"Yeah." Rollie smiled. "Lucky me."

The doctor invited Angie back into the room a short while later. Rollie was buttoning up his shirt and sitting up in bed. Angie knew what that meant. She looked at he doctor.

"Doctor?" she asked.

"Mr. Tyler can go home." The doctor smiled as he laid a reassuring hand on Angie's shoulder. "He still has some pain in his ribs and some bruising but there is nothing broken, which is a miracle. He'll feel sore for several days but there's nothing to indicate that he'll recover better here than at home."

"You're sure?" Angie asked worriedly.

"Angie." Rollie tugged on her arm. "Don't try and talk the doc into keeping me here."

Angie looked down at Rollie and he saw the fear in her eyes. "I just want to be sure, that's all."

"He is sure." Rollie assured her.

"Mr. Tyler can go home. But...." The doctor looked at Rollie for good measure, "if you experience any headaches, nausea, dizziness, slurred speech, or blurred vision I want to see you back here straight away. Do I make myself clear, Mr. Tyler?"

"As a bell, doc." Rollie assured the doctor.

"Don't worry, doc. I'm going to be keeping a close eye on Rollie." Angie smiled over at her husband and Rollie grabbed her hand. "Thank you doctor."

"Yeah thanks, doc," Rollie added. "And Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas Mr. and Mrs. Tyler," the doctor said with a bow as he left the room.

"So...you got your wish." Angie pressed against Rollie after the doctor had left.

"Not really, it was more insistence than a wish." Rollie looked at her. "What time is it, Ange?"

Angie looked at her watch. "It's almost six o'clock. Why?"

"Damn it. I thought we could get some shopping in but I guess the stores will be closed." Rollie took Angie's hand in his. "I'm sorry Angel, this is not how I hoped to spend our first Christmas together as husband and wife."

"It's fine. You came back to me and that's all the gift I need, really, Rollie." Angie kissed Rollie lightly on his cheek. "I'm afraid the Gatti girls won't be getting much from us this year though. I don't know what I was thinking in leaving things to the last minute."

"Hey, it's not like you had a choice. Neither one of us did," Rollie said as he started putting his jacket on. "The movie kept us pretty busy and I guess we both thought we would have all the time in the world. We can get the Gatti girls something later." Rollie's thoughts turned to his wife. He had wanted to get her something special but hadn't had time either. Now, he had nothing for her and no way to get anything before Christmas either.

Angie called a cab and they made their way down to the exit. "Rollie, I've been thinking—"

"Always dangerous." Rollie smirked.

"Ha ha, very funny." Angie refrained from pinching Rollie's arm but it wasn't easy. "Rollie, I'm going to call the Gatti's and tell them we won't be there tomorrow afternoon."

"What? Why?"

"Duh, Rollie!" Angie exclaimed, exasperated by the fact that Rollie apparently had no intention of taking it easy and thereby giving her a hard time.

Rollie paused before opening the door to the cab. "Angie. We are going to the Gatti's for Christmas dinner. I promise you that I will take it easy tonight," Rollie promised. "I will take it easy tomorrow until dinner time because bloody hell, I can't give you the Christmas I hoped to, but damn it, we will still have Christmas with the Gatti's and our friends!" Rollie leaned on the open car door. "Do I make myself clear?"

Angie looked up at Rollie and considered it. Then, she shook her head. "You're very stubborn, you know that?"

"Yeah." Rollie leaned into her. "Remind you of someone?"

"Nope. Not even a little bit." Angie smiled mischievously.

Angie helped Rollie into the loft. Her mouth dropped open as she helped him up the short flight of stairs from the landing for there in the loft by the staircase to their bedroom stood an 8-foot tall balsam fir Christmas tree.

"Where on earth did that come from?" Angie asked, wide eyed.

"I called Leo before the doctor called you back in. He owed me a huge favor," Rollie explained as he noticed the trail of fallen needles that Leo had left behind. "I see we need to clean up after him as well." Rollie grumbled.

"I'll do it," Angie offered, then she turned to Rollie with a huge smile on her face. "This is a beautiful tree, Rollie."

Angie cleaned up and then ran upstairs to get the decorations that were hidden away in the spare room. Rollie sat down on the couch. He could hear Angie rummaging around upstairs looking for the boxes amid the clutter of some of Angie's stuff that still hadn't been unpacked or found a place for since she officially moved out of her old apartment. Finally, after about 20 minutes, she emerged triumphant with the boxes of Christmas decorations. Rollie started to get up to help her with the boxes but Angie insisted that she was fine. As she did, she took a good look at him.

"Are you hungry? Do you want me to fix you something to eat?" Angie asked as Rollie gingerly sat down on the couch.

"Maybe later. Why don't we—" Rollie was interrupted by the phone ringing. "Blue, speaker phone."

"Hey, Rollie? You there? Pick up," Leo called out.

Angie sighed and went into the lounge leaving Rollie to have his conversation in peace. Rollie watched as she left and considered how he wanted this night to be. He made up his mind. His conversation with Leo, whatever it was about, would be short.

"I'm here Leo. What's up?" Rollie greeted his friend.

"I thought you might want an update on the case...."

Angie came out of the lounge with some tea for Rollie. She placed it on the table in front of him and then turned and went down the steps. She grabbed her coat.

"I thought I might drop by and...." Leo continued.

"Hold on, Leo." Rollie noticed Angie putting on her coat. "Angie? You going out?"

Angie looked sad as she looked at Rollie. "Yeah. I'm sorry, Rollie, but I really don't want to hear about the case—"

"Sweetie, you don't have to go out." Rollie returned his attention to the phone. "Leo, this can wait until tomorrow."

"Besides; we need a few things from the grocers. I thought I would head out before they close for the night." Angie continued as she looked down. "Don't cut your conversation short on my account. I know you want to know what happened."

"No, you're wrong." Rollie rose up off the couch and came over to her. "I don't need to know. Leo will be at the Gatti's tomorrow. We can talk then. I don't need to know tonight. Tonight is for us, remember?"

"I know, but...."

"No. No but's. Leo?" Rollie picked up the phone. "I'll talk to you tomorrow. I just got home and Angie and I have plans. Talk to you tomorrow." Rollie hung up the phone.

"But—" Leo started to say as he was cut off.

Rollie returned his attention to his wife. "You're still going out?"

"Yeah, well, we do need a few things from the store. I won't be long."

"Okay. Take the truck," Rollie said as he grabbed his scarf and wrapped it around Angie's neck. "Don't be long."

"I won't." Angie smiled. "You lie down and get some rest."

"Yeah, yeah, get outta here Nurse Ratchet." Rollie swatted Angie's behind.

Angie returned a short while later with two bags of groceries. She called out for Rollie but he was nowhere to be seen. He wasn't on the couch. She hoped he was upstairs getting some sleep but that thought was shattered as the door to the VR chamber opened. Rollie seemed surprised to see her.

"Oh! You're back." Rollie appeared flustered. "That was quick."

"I had to run through the store to get everything we needed because they were closing." Angie pulled out an item from the bag. "I got eggnog." She shook the carton in her hand. "And...a bottle of brandy." Angie smiled, pleased that Rollie hadn't tried to decorate the tree without her.

"Great. Perfect." Rollie smiled.

Angie's eyes narrowed at her husband. "What are you up to?"

"In due time." Rollie tried to hide his smile. "If your offer of cooking still stands, I am hungry now."

"You're up to something." Angie studied her husband of seven months.

"C'mon Ange, I'm starving. How's about some scrambled eggs or something?" Rollie feigned fainting as he held his stomach and winced suddenly in pain from the bruising around his ribs. That did the trick in arousing Angie's sympathies.

"All right, all right!" Angie caved in. "Lie down on the couch and I will fix something. If you're up to it, we can decorate our beautiful tree after."

"Thanks, luv, sounds like a plan." When Angie left the room, Rollie headed towards his computer and set to work.

Rollie was lying on the couch when Angie came out of the lounge with a tray full of food. Angie didn't know that Rollie had scampered over to the couch from his workstation when it sounded like she was finishing up in the lounge. Rollie sat up as Angie laid the tray on the table.

"Mmm, smells good." Rollie smiled at the fluffy mushroom omelet with Russian black bread and marmalade. 

Rollie and Angie finished eating their meal and Angie went over to unpack the decorations. "Now it feels like Christmas," Angie sighed.

Rollie and Angie started decorating the tree, with Angie going up the stairs to put the star on the top. Angie had to stand on a ladder to reach areas of the tree even Rollie couldn't reach but finally, it was finished.  The two of them stepped back to admire their handiwork. Rollie commanded Blue to dim the lights as he switched the lights on the tree on.

"It's beautiful," Angie declared with a huge smile.

Rollie sat back down on the couch, feeling a bit tired now. "How about some of that nog, Ange?"

"Okay. I'll get it." Angie went to the lounge to get the eggnog.

Rollie laced the eggnog with some of the brandy Angie had bought and it served to warm him all over. Angie felt the same way, all warm and tingly all over. Rollie watched as Angie finished up her eggnog. When she placed her glass on the table, Rollie grabbed her hand and pulled her up with him.

"Come with me," Rollie said as he led Angie up the stairs to the VR chamber.

"What's going on?" Angie asked and then her mouth opened in awe.

Rollie had turned the VR chamber into a winter wonderland. Rollie had cleared out his chairs and the scenery was of winter landscape with big flakes falling from the sky. It was more than just illusion. Rollie had rigged the VR chamber to drop instant potato flakes as fake snowflakes while a fan swirled the flakes around and also provided cooler air, adding to the atmosphere. Angie turned around in wonder, her eyes dancing as she took in the winter wonderland. Christmas music was piped in through the sound system as well, as the sound of The Christmas Song filling the air. Angie rubbed her arms suddenly as she felt a chill.

"It's a bit too real, eh?" Rollie smirked. Rollie went and got a jacket for both he and Angie.

"Rollie, this is wonderful," Angie said as she took in the scenery again. Trees were covered with snow, the sky was dark, and the snow was falling with big flakes covering Rollie and Angie's hair and clothes. "So, this is what you were doing when you were supposed to be taking it easy."

Rollie pulled Angie close as he looked into her eyes. He brushed some of the fake snow from her hair, as his lips came down slowly to her full lips. Angie moaned into Rollie's mouth, as she wanted to be with him so much. Rollie moved from her mouth down to her neck as Angie bent her head backwards to accommodate him. Rollie pushed Angie's jacket off her shoulders and his hands went to her breasts. Angie's body reacted to his touch as her hands went around Rollie's neck. Angie's knee came up between Rollie's legs causing Rollie to jerk slightly. Suddenly, Angie pulled away.

"Rollie." She panted. "You're supposed to be taking it easy."

"Bloody hell." Rollie panted. "Angie."

"Rollie, you have to take it easy. You need to rest. Remember, you promised." Angie reminded him.

"I did." Rollie agreed. "You're right, I did. I did." Rollie said with a trace amount of frustration tingeing his voice. He grabbed his PDA suddenly. "I've got something else to show you."

"What?" Angie looked up at Rollie with surprise.

"This." Rollie pressed some buttons on his PDA and the scenery in the VR chamber changed from snow-capped trees and falling snow to that of a warmly lit cabin with a roaring fire in the fireplace. Angie could actually feel some heat emanating from the fireplace.  "Wait here and I will be right back," Rollie said as he exited the VR chamber.

Rollie returned a few minutes later with the bottle of brandy and a couple of blankets. "Let's get comfy, eh?" Rollie smiled.

Rollie laid one blanket on the floor for them to lie on. Then, he poured the brandy into glasses.

"You are something else," Angie giggled as she took one of the glasses.

"C'mon Mrs. Tyler," Rollie took Angie's hand in his. "You are going to help me take it easy."

Rollie lay down on the blanket with Angie snuggled in his arms.  Rollie curved his body around Angie's as he nibbled on her ear. Angie's hips pressed into Rollie.

"Angie." Rollie growled. "You're not making this easy."

"Sorry." Angie giggled. "Habit."

They were quiet for a few minutes as Rollie continued to nibble on Angie's neck and ear. Angie stared into the VR fire.

"Thank you, Rollie."

"You're welcome." Rollie stopped what he was doing. "For what?"

Angie turned in Rollie's arms and looked up at him. "For waking up and coming back to me."

Rollie cupped Angie's face in his hands as his lips devoured hers.

"Rollie," Angie mumbled against his lips, "behave."

Rollie pulled away and looked into his wife's face. "You have got to be kidding me?"

"Nope." Angie patted Rollie's arm and turned on her side. "Nite nite."

Rollie's dreams were filled with false memories, nightmares of what never was: Leo being murdered, his father slowly drinking himself into oblivion, and Angie....

"Angie!" Rollie woke up with a start. Rollie slowly blinked as he looked around and memories, real memories, of last night cleared through the fog. Rollie was in the VR chamber. He was alone in their makeshift bed on the floor of a virtual reality cabin with a roaring fire in the fireplace. Angie was nowhere to be found.

Rollie stumbled out of the VR chamber and out onto the staircase. "Angie?" he called. "Angie?" he called again, this time more desperate.

Angie came running out of the lounge. She was covered in flour and had an apron on. "What? What is it?" Angie moved up the stairs towards Rollie, who was rubbing his eyes trying to get them to focus. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. I just...I woke up and you weren't there, that's all. I guess I got a little disoriented," Rollie explained. He ran his hands through his hair as he leaned on the railing.

Angie giggled and bit her lip.

"What's so funny?" Rollie asked.

"You." Angie laughed. "You look like the nutty professor right now, Rol. Nice do!" Angie giggled again at Rollie's disheveled hairdo. Angie laughed again when Rollie grumbled. "Take your shower and I'll fix you breakfast. You'll feel better once you have some coffee." Angie promised.

Rollie watched as Angie returned to the lounge. He heaved a sigh of relief that what he had been dreaming wasn't reality. He looked down at the Christmas tree and remembered last night and slow, relieved, smile came to his face. It wasn't the Christmas he would have planned in a million years but he was grateful for it all the same.

Rollie came down after his shower to find Angie still busy in the lounge. The table was completely covered with baking pans, rollers, cookie cutters, cookie tins, pie plates, and other ingredients. Angie smiled when she spotted Rollie in the doorway.

"Hungry?" she asked.

"Very," Rollie answered as he poured himself a coffee. "What's all this?" he asked, alluding to the array on the table.

"I have been busy since I got up. I'm making cookies and pies to take to the Gatti's. Oh— and I figured out a way out of our shopping dilemma. I don't know why I didn't think of it before," Angie said as she cleared as spot for Rollie to sit down to breakfast. She brought over a stack of pancakes and sausages that had been kept warm in the oven.

"So what is your solution?" Rollie asked as he took his seat. Rollie still felt a twinge of pain from the bruises around his ribs but it was a lot better than yesterday. As he looked around the kitchen he was amazed at how busy Angie had been but then again, he had slept until almost 10:30.

Angie sat down across from Rollie. "Easy. The Internet. I don't know why I didn't think of this before; it would have saved us so much heartache. I ordered presents for the Gatti girls, Sarah, Lucinda, and Mira. They won't have them today but they will get them in a day or so. Aren't I brilliant?"

"Indeed." Rollie complimented Angie as he hungrily dug into the pancakes.

"I leave you to get stuff for Frank and Leo," Angie said as she rose up and took a cookie sheet out of the oven.

Rollie ate and watched as Angie placed the cookies on a rack to cool and then placed more cut out cookies on the pan and into the oven. Angie wiped her forehead with her oven mitt and blew her long bangs up. Rollie could see she was working hard. Rollie finished eating and rose up from the table.

"I'll get busy with the online shopping bit," Rollie announced. "If you need any taste testing or anything like that you know where to find me."

"Sure do." Angie smirked.

It didn't take Rollie long to find something online for both Leo and Frank. Angie was busy in the kitchen for quite awhile. Rollie was still racking his brain in trying to figure out what to get his wife and then he thought of something. He returned to the Internet and completed his transaction. Rollie went upstairs to the bedroom and retrieved his guitar.

Rollie had been strumming a tune on his guitar, working out the lyrics, when Angie came upstairs. Rollie looked up as she came in. She looked flush from the heat of cooking. "All done?" he asked.

"Yep." Angie smiled tiredly as she collapsed onto the bed. "We have to get ready to go to the Gatti's. I'm going to take a shower...." Angie's eyebrow rose, "care to join me?"

"Tempting." Rollie licked his lips and smiled. "But I have some things to do. You go ahead. I'll meet you downstairs."

Rollie changed in preparation for the Gatti's. He wore the forest green Irish fisherman's sweater Angie had gotten him for his birthday. He took his guitar with him as he headed downstairs to wait for Angie. Rollie was working on lyrics to a song when strange memories kept popping into his head. But...Rollie realized they weren't memories because the things that he saw in his mind's eye hadn't really happened sort of like the way his nightmare of earlier hadn't really happened. But the more Rollie worked on the lyrics, the more the strange images popped into his head and it filled him with so much longing. Suddenly, the words to what he was working on started to flow. Rollie furiously wrote down the lyrics. He felt inspired.

Rollie's eyes followed the sound as Angie came down the stairs. Rollie wolf-whistled at the sight of his wife, who was wearing a cream colored sweater like Rollie's and a long black skirt. She looked absolutely stunning.

Rollie stood up and came over to his wife. His hands rested on Angie's hips as her arms draped around his neck. "You have no idea how much I want to stay home right now," Rollie growled into her ear.

Angie's smiled as her finger traced Rollie's jaw line. "Hold that thought. We can definitely pick up on this later." Angie winked at her husband. Angie pulled away and grabbed her coat. "By the way, I'm driving," She announced suddenly.

Rollie sighed heavily. "Right. So, I'm still an invalid." He grumbled.

"Well, we'll find out later now won't we?" Angie teased him.

Dinner at the Gatti's was a noisy, wonderful affair. The turkey was moist and there was so much food. Angie's desserts were very popular. After dinner, as everyone set about opening their presents, Rollie and Angie sheepishly explained that their presents would be arriving in a day or so. They needn't had worried. Sarah and Frank said that in light of what Rollie and Angie had been through that it was a reminder of what's really important in this world, family and friends.

"Hey, Rollie!" Francis called. He was standing in front of an upright piano. "I hear you play."

Rollie stole a glare at Angie. "Where'd you hear that?"

"Where else?" Francis asked, pointing to Angie who sunk behind Sarah. "C'mon! Help us out here. We got this thing for Lucy's lessons but she hasn't quite become Mozart yet. How about some music to liven up this party?"

"Go on!" Lucinda pushed Rollie gently. "How about something Christmassy?"

"Fine." Rollie sighed. "Any requests?"

"Frosty the snowman!!" Lucy called out, along with her sisters.

Rollie cringed. "Great."

Soon, the whole bunch of them was singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Winter Wonderland, The Christmas Song, Silver Bells, and other classics. After a while Rollie started playing some other tunes. Leo ambled his way over with a glass of wine in his hand.

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns why did you have to walk into mine?" Rollie smirked.

"Play it again, Sam." Leo smiled.

"Actually, you know, that line was never actually uttered in the film—"

"Whatever." Leo laughed. "Care to be updated now? Or do I run the chance of interrupting again?"

"It's your dime." Rollie answered as he continued to play the piano lightly.

"Well, I just wanted you to know how lucky you were." Leo began. "The other three guys who came in shooting, one arms dealer Anthony Lapaglia and his henchmen, were all hit full force by the same blast that hit you. We think what saved you are two things: one; Lucinda pushed the shooter, Jimmy Dalton as he was firing the stolen weapon and two; you jumped out of the way—"

Rollie stopped playing and looked up at Leo. "I don't remember jumping out of the way."

"Well you did. It must have been gut instinct but whatever it was saved you." Leo informed him.

"Saved me?" Rollie stared into Leo's eyes. "What happened to the other three guys?"

"Two of them are dead. The one closest to you is in serious critical condition. If he lives, he stands the real chance of being paralyzed for the rest of his life."

"Leo, what was that weapon?"

"All I know is that it didn't use bullets or explosives or anything like that...it used sound waves, Rollie. The Army, obviously, isn't saying anything more on the subject."

"And the weapon? The Dalton gang, what happened to them?" Rollie asked.

"The weapon was recovered and turned over to the Army. The Dalton gang are in custody and awaiting trial on several charges except the original theft of the secret weapons." Leo explained. "There is no evidence linking them to the theft because they didn't do it. Lapaglia stole it and we just have to work to establish that fact."

Rollie narrowed his eyes at Leo. "We?"

"Francis and me." Leo clarified. "You're out of the loop on this one pal. Angie would have my hide, not to mention the Captain."

"Yeah, well, if Angie didn't have your hide on this one I might bloody well right." Rollie shook his finger at him. Rollie looked over at Angie, who caught his glance and smiled. Suddenly pictures formed in Rollie's mind of him, Angie and children. "Leo, I can't keep risking my life. I have a wife now and someday I hope to have a family. I need to think about them."

"I know that Rollie. I would never ask you to risk your life, you know that." Leo assured his friend.

"I know." Rollie admitted. "I guess I'm the one that needs to think about that more."

Rollie and Angie left the party early. Rollie poured two glasses of Brandy and waited for Angie as she went upstairs to retrieve something. Rollie sat on the couch and picked up his guitar. He was still strumming softly on the guitar when Angie returned with small package wrapped in white tissue paper and red ribbon in her hands. She handed the package to Rollie.

Rollie looked over at Angie as she sat next to him. "What's this?"

"Well, as you know, I didn't get a chance to get you a Christmas present. I actually ordered you some skis on the Internet but I wanted to give you something tonight," Angie explained.

"Angie—"

"Remember the box your dad gave me before our wedding?" Angie continued. "Well, besides the family photographs, this was in there. I was hoping to do something special with it but anyway...go ahead, open it."

Rollie slowly tore at the tissue paper. Inside were several loose-leaf handwritten letters. The paper was yellowing and there were creases and stains on some of the letters but Rollie couldn't believe what he was holding.  They were letters written by his Mum and Dad. They were love letters and letters filled with ordinary things, like bills and home renovations, stuff that showed the love his parents shared but also that they were normal everyday human beings with problems and somehow that made it all the more special.

"I didn't read them." Angie continued as Rollie sifted through the letters. "When I realized what they were I put them aside. I think your dad meant them for you but maybe he was too shy. I wanted to do something— I don't know, like a scrapbook or an album or something like that but I just didn't have the time since the wedding." Angie wasn't sure if Rollie had heard a word she had said, he was so engrossed in what he was looking at. Angie decided to give Rollie some time to read the letters. She rose up off the couch.

Rollie caught her hand. "Angie? Where are you going?"

"Um, I thought you would like some privacy," Angie answered as Rollie stood up.

"These are great." Rollie looked at the letters in his hand. "These are really great. You have no idea." Rollie looked at Angie. "Or maybe you do. I'll um...I'll read these later though.. I have something for you as well."

Angie couldn't suppress her smile. "Really?"

"Yeah, what do you think? You're the only one who knows how to use the Internet?" Rollie teased her. "I um...the VR cabin and the fireplace, well it was great last night but I thought you and I deserved the real thing. So, I've booked a cabin for us in the Adirondacks over New Year's. We leave right after the wrap party."

Angie smiled broadly. "A fireplace?"

"Yeah, and a hot tub." Rollie waggled his eyebrows at Angie, who giggled.

"Great. Maybe you'll get to try out your new skis," Angie's lips twisted, "if they arrive in time."

"There's one more thing." Rollie took Angie's hand in his.

"Another present?" Angie smiled.

"Yeah. I wanted to give you something tonight as well," Rollie paused, "and since the cabin is not a thing, it's a place, I worked on something else."

"Rollie, you didn't have to. Honestly, you've already given me so much." Angie caressed Rollie's face.

Rollie looked down and his face became serious. "Angie. You and I were both scared by what happened. I didn't tell you but I...I felt myself slipping away...." Rollie decided not to go into everything he thought he saw. He was still unsure about it himself. "You kept me anchored. You brought me back. I um...I wrote a song for you." Rollie smiled sheepishly.

Angie bit her lip. "You wrote a song for me?"

"Yeah." Rollie's eyes met hers. "I did."

"Oh Rollie."

"Now sit down here," Rollie maneuvered Angie back to the couch and sat her down, "and I will serenade you, my dear." Rollie paused. "Uh, feel free to tell me it's awful if you like."

"I'm sure I won't need to do that." Angie shook her head and smiled. She waited anxiously to hear her song, butterflies now flying loose in her stomach.

Rollie cleared his throat as he nervously tuned his guitar. He didn't dare glance at Angie for fear the words would get caught in his throat. Slowly, he began playing the song, his voice soft and melodic.

I've seen angels on walls, angels dressed in white
Angels in my dreams and angels of bright light
But I never saw an angel until I saw you
It's you my lover that has made me feel brand new
'Cos I wouldn't have nothin' if I didn't have you
Baby we got something - something that is true
When I thought there was nothing left
You discovered there was more
When I thought there was no escape
You found another door
Whilst lost in love you carried my away
Nestled in your wing to live another day
`Cos I wouldn't have nothin` if I didn't have you
Baby we got something - something that is true
True...True
Baby we got something - something that is true
Baby I'm in lovin' with you
It's the angel in your eyes that gets me feelin' fine
It's that loving feeling, together forever in time
I'd live a thousand lifetimes to spend one with you
This must be it babe, please say I do
'Cos I wouldn't have nothin' if I didn't have you
Baby we got something - something that is true
Baby I'm in lovin' with you....

Rollie finished the song and put the guitar against the wall. He glanced at Angie and found that she was crying. "Was it that awful?" Rollie grimaced. Angie didn't answer and Rollie came over to her. "Angie?"

Angie flew into Rollie's arms. She buried her face in his chest as she continued to cry. Rollie rubbed his face against Angie's soft hair.

"I'm sorry, Angel. I'll get you something else—"

Angie looked up at Rollie, tears fresh in her eyes and her hand clasped near her chin. "Don't you dare! I love my song!"

"But I thought—"

"Rollie, no one has ever written me a song before." Angie sniffled. "It was beautiful. Thank you." Angie sniffled again.

"But Angie, you're crying. You can be honest with me." Rollie continued to believe his song idea was lame as he avoided her eyes.

Angie grabbed Rollie's chin and forced him to look at her. "Rollie, these are happy tears."

Rollie looked doubtful. "Happy tears?"

Angie nodded her head as she buried her head on Rollie's chest again, as tears once again began to flow. "Uh huh."

Rollie smiled as he hugged Angie tighter. "Women."

Angie looked up at Rollie and muttered. "Men."

Rollie and Angie went up to bed a short while later. Angie fell asleep in Rollie's arms but awoke a short while later to find Rollie standing by the window looking out. Angie propped herself up on her elbows.

"Rollie?"

"I couldn't sleep." Rollie's voice was soft as he continued to look out the window. "It's snowing." Rollie glanced at his watch. "11:30. Christmas snow," he said with a crooked smile.

Angie grabbed her robe and came over to Rollie by the window. "Are you all right?" she asked as she looked up at him.

"I'm fine." Rollie smiled softly at Angie.

Angie stood near Rollie and looked out at the softly falling snow blanketing the city, making it all fresh and new again. Rollie's arms encircled Angie's waist, her back against him, as he rested his chin on her shoulder. Rollie closed his eyes and memories— no, non-memories, flashed by in his mind's eye. Some of them were fading now but Rollie was desperate to hold onto one memory.

"You know," Rollie broke the silence, "one time when I was younger, one of my aunties who lived in Canada came for a visit. It was Christmas time and I remember her being homesick for her adopted country and missing the snow. I didn't understand the big deal. Then, she explained, that Christmas snow is unlike any other snow. She said it was magical and that if I ever found myself someplace where it snowed on Christmas day...." Rollie's hands made their way under Angie's robe and up and inside her cami pajama top. His warm hand rested on Angie's flat abdomen,  "that I should make a wish and someday that wish may come true." Rollie whispered into Angie's ear, sending shivers down her spine. Rollie closed his eyes and made a wish.

Angie's brow furrowed as she looked up at her husband. She waited until his eyes reopened before speaking. "Okay. Do I even want to know what kind of wish you are making with your hand on my belly?"

"Probably not." Rollie laughed throatily as he hugged her tighter. "Merry Christmas, Angel."

Angie turned in Rollie's arms and kissed him. "Merry Christmas, Rollie."

The End

True written by Cameron Daddo