No place like home

At the LAPD police station, it was well past time to call it quits and head back to her house, but Athena couldn't quite get herself to leave. She wanted to see Harry, who was back at the house with May, most likely sitting down to dinner, but she knew she wasn't going to get to go home because there was still more Christmas shopping to get done. All she really needed were the finish touches of Harry's and Bobby's presents.

Originally, Athena was going to get Bobby a tie, just to be safe, but then she felt it was too much of a cliché. After walking around Macy's for a good hour, she finally saw a beautiful silver plated watch. It was a bit pricey, but it was worth it for Bobby. She took it home and wrapped it herself, but she wanted something else to go along with it. Something that only her and Bobby would understand.

Harry's was simpler. Athena had already decided that Harry can have tickets to a soccer game of his choice and they'd take off for the day and see it, eating at Harry's restaurant of choice. That was only a part of it though, along with a new soccer ball, a new comforter, and shoes. The final touch was a bracelet she saw at Kays that Athena wanted her son to keep forever.

Athena jumped as there was a knock on her office door. She looked up to see her husband Bobby grinning at her with a humorous smile. "Sorry, did I scare you?"

She sent him a playful grin. "I know I should be used to it by now, but sometimes you don't realize how stealthy you are Bobby Nash." Athena stood and headed for the door, turning the light off along the way.

When Bobby didn't immediately step into place behind her, she glanced back at him. "You coming?" Athena asked, pulling her bag onto her shoulder. "You're not going back to firehouse 118 for another long night, are you?"

There was a short stand off as fire Captain Bobby Nash of the 118 contemplated going back to the 118 to work in his office or listening to his wife, LAPD sergeant Athena Grant, complain about how he needed to go home and get some real rest. Arguing with Athena was pointless because by the time she got one of us fired, you already knew you lost.

No, I haven't spent time with you in days," Bobby finally agreed, making Athena beam in return.

Mac and cheese was fine and all, but it got a little old when it was the only thing your sister could make. Harry grudgingly ate the mac and cheese with very little complaint, and then retired to the couch to watch Christmas shows with his sister. It was going on seven, and his mom still wasn't home yet.

When did Mom say she'd be home?" Harry asked, his worry evident in his voice.

She went Christmas shopping, remember? Don't worry so much, you're already turning into Mom," May teased, giving her brother a small smile. She knew that most kids would have rolled their eyes at her comment and said something about how they are nothing like their mother, but she also knew that when Harry was told to be like Athena, Harry quite enjoyed it.

Can I run down the street to get some coco?" Harry asked, widening his big brown eyes and clasping his hands together for effect. "Please? I'll bring you some back!"

May shrugged and handed her brother a few dollars. "Sure, but come right back. Mom doesn't like you going out alone when it's dark."

This time Harry rolled his eyes. "It's just down on the end of the street…"

I know, but you know how Mom gets."

Of course he did. Athena loved her kids more than anything else in the world, but sometimes she could be a little over protective. Still, Harry gladly took the money and ran to the door, pulling his coat and gloves on along the way.

As he pushed open the door of the house, Harry rolled his eyes. This city was never truly dark, in fact it was even brighter than Miami at night. His mother just worried too much.

Harry pushed open the door and headed out, carrying the couple dollars for coco in his gloved hand. Snow was already falling and gathering quickly on the sidewalk that crunched beneath her feet with every step.

The streets and walkways weren't nearly as busy as they normally were, but it was past rush hour and a lot of people didn't like getting out in the snow. As he neared the coffee shop, he could hear someone else's shoes crunching the snow right behind him. Harry nervously picked up his pace and tried to put distance between himself and the other footsteps, but they also quickened. The coffee shop was still about a hundred feet away. Harry's long legs leaped into a sprint, but his effort was in vain.

A hand flew over his mouth as an arm wrapped around his flailing body. He was being dragged back into the alley between a grocery store and the coffee shop. A black bag flew over his head, freeing his mouth.

HELP!"

So, what do you want for Christmas?" Bobby asked his wife Athena as he walked with her to the department store.

Athena seemed to be in deep thought about this question before she gave him a sideways glance and replied, "A music box."

Bobby seemed to be taken back by this unusual request. "Music box?"

Insistently, she nodded. "A music box that plays 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' when you open it. My gram's used to have one and she'd always let me open it and sing along with the chiming. It made me remember that there's no place like home."

Bobby smiled and caught Athena's hand as they walked. She thought nothing of it as they continued down the sidewalk hand in hand. Bobby was such a good husband to her and their family, he even helped choose the bracelet Athena finally bought for Harry as well as May’s present she bought much earlier. She would have stopped and got Bobby’s present as well but she decided to push it off for at least one more day.

When Athena shivered against the cold wind, Bobby only brought her close to him and continued their conversation about Christmas and the music box. Together they drove down the icy streets of Los Angeles toward their home.

May sat on the couch, watching Miracle on 34th Street for the second time already that day. She wasn't sure how much time had passed but she was beginning to realize Harry had been gone for a while now.

Grudgingly she stood up and peeked out the window that overlooked the street. She couldn't see her dark haired brother carrying their two cups of coco anywhere. Growling under her breath she pulled on her coat and headed out the door.

She had never been a fan of the cold and she didn't appreciate having to go out in the snow to see what was holding her brother up. As she made it to the coffee shop on the corner she was greeted by the woman who seemed to always be working. She knew the woman pretty well, but unlike her mother and Harry she didn't care to hold detailed conversations with workers much less catch their name.

May approached the counter with her best smile on when she didn't immediately see Harry. "Hi, did Harry go to the bathroom or something? He told me she'd be right back."

The woman looked genuinely confused. "Harry? Harry hasn't been in here today. Your mother came in before work, but-"

May felt the color drain from her face. "He left like thirty minutes ago to come here. Are you sure he didn't come in here?"

The woman also gained the look of concern. "Positive, we've been really slow all night and your brother always likes to talk about soccer with me."

Panic filled her as she frantically pulled out her cell phone and dialed her mother's number.

Hey, sweetie, I'll be home in a little bit. Bobby and I are actually-"

Mom, I can't find Harry…" May spoke with fear etched into every inch of her voice.