Author: Bridget Frawley (scarecro9@aol.com)

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters that are copyrighted by Warner Brothers and Shoot The Moon Productions. It is meant for enjoyment purposes. I retain the rights to the plot and not the characters
 
 
 

Timeline: Second Season, Christmas Eve

"Okay people," Billy Melrose, Agency Section Chief, sighed tiredly to three of his fellow agents. "that should just about wrap this one up. Time to get out of here." Glancing at the wall clock, he grimaced. "Make that past the time."

"Well," Amanda replied, following his gaze. "Looks like I may have just enough time to make my flight."

Lee gave her a concerned frown. "Last time I looked the roads were getting bad. Why don’t I drive you to the airport?"

"You'd better call them first.’ Billy suggested. "It's been snowing all day, and it's really coming down hard now."

"I'll do it," Francine volunteered, surprising everyone as she picked up the phone and dialed.

"They wouldn't cancel all the flights, would they?" Amanda asked apprehensively.

"They might if the weather was bad enough," Lee answered.

Francine hung up the phone slowly and shook her head. "Bad news."

"They canceled all the flights," Billy finished.

"Nothing's coming in or going out," she added. "I'm sorry."

"It's all right," Amanda said with false cheerfulness. She took a deep breath. "It can't be helped."

Lee gave her a sympathetic look. "Will you be okay?"

"Sure!" Amanda exclaimed, lying through her teeth. This would be the first Christmas she’d spent alone in her entire life. "I'll be fine. I'll find something to do." Suddenly she turned to face him as inspiration struck. "Do you have any plans? I could fix us a nice dinner — "

"I — have plans already," he answered awkwardly. "An old college friend came into town last night and…"

"It’s okay," she interrupted quickly, not wanting to hear any more.

"Amanda," Billy said, noticing the hurt look on her face, "You're welcome to spend Christmas with Jeannie and myself. She'd love to meet you."

"Oh, no, thank you, Mr. Melrose," she declined politely. "I'd love to another time, but, on second thought, I don't think I'd be very good company tonight."

"Well, you’re always welcome if you change your mind," Billy said, leaving the invitation open.

"I'll give you a call," she promised, forcing herself to smile brightly as she felt her resolve start to slip. "I'd better get going before the roads get too bad. Merry Christmas, everybody." She got to her feet quickly and bid a hasty retreat before she fell apart in front of everyone.

"Tough break." Francine stated after Amanda had gone. "Couldn’t we do something for her?"

"Like what?" Billy asked.

"Charter a plane or something?" she suggested.

"I already thought of that. It's too dangerous in this kind of weather."

"Billy's right," Lee sighed. "If the regular flights are having trouble than the smaller planes would never be able to make it." He turned to face Francine as her words registered with him. "Hey, I thought you didn't like Amanda," he said in surprise.

"Well," Francine explained defensively, "no one should be alone on Christmas Eve. You know how much her family means to her."

"I know," Lee admitted guiltily. After all, it was his fault she’d missed her plane.

Amanda was sitting in the living room staring at a photo album when the doorbell rang. She looked up in surprise at the unexpected sound. Unfolding herself from her couch and putting aside the photo album of past family Christmases she’d been forlornly looking through, she headed towards the door, wondering who on earth it could be on Christmas Eve.

Her face registered total surprise when she saw Lee standing on her doorstep, shopping bag in each hand. . "Hi," he muttered awkwardly, shifting from one foot to the other. Snow was swirling all around him.

"Hi," she replied, amazed that he was there at all.

"Can I come in?" He asked after a minute, seeing that she was at an unusual loss for words.

"I'm sorry," she stammered in embarrassment-and moved out of the way to let him enter. "I have a lot on my mind."

He entered the foyer and stamped his feet a few times to get the circulation going again as well as to knock the snow off his boots. "That's okay. I understand."

"What is all that?" She asked, looking at the bags curiously.

He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Well, since it’s my fault you missed your plane I figured I owed you one. "

"That's sweet, Lee, but you didn't have to do that," she said, touched.

"I know, but I wanted to. That is, if your invitation's still open."

"Sure!" she smiled, already feeling a little better now that he was here.

He gave her one of his heart melting smiles. "Good."

He followed her into the kitchen and put one bag on the top of the kitchen table, then proceeded to start emptying the second bag on top of the stove. "Chicken Kiev, string beans almondine, and scalloped potatoes. You hungry?"

"Not really," she confessed.

"Okay." He put it in the oven. "When you are we'll heat it all up. Everything’s already cooked. It'll only take about 20 minutes to warm up. Next," he withdrew a bottle of champagne from the bag on the table. "You want a drink?"

"I could use one," she admitted, getting out two glasses.

They went back into the living room and sat on the couch. He uncorked the bottle while Amanda held the glasses. He poured, then put the rest of the bottle on the table.

"I’m sorry I’m not very good company," she admitted, biting her lip. It hit again full force that her family was celebrating their biggest holiday without her. "It just — feels so strange having everyone so far away."

"Did you call them yet?" He asked curiously, taking a sip of champagne.

She nodded. "I tried. The phone lines are down with the storm."

He slipped an arm across her shoulders. "You can try again later, you know."

She finished her champagne in one gulp and poured another glass. "Like you said, it's just another day. Right?"

"Hey, it is for me. I don't have a family." He reminded her softly. He never liked to talk about his past history, but somehow talking to her was different. "Remember last Christmas Eve we spent with Ivan and Dimitri?*"

She nodded cautiously, not really seeing what one thing had to do with the other.

"Well, it was the first Christmas Eve that I really enjoyed in a long time."

"We had franks and beans," she reminded him dubiously.

"I don't mean the food. It was the Christmas spirit. You pulled everyone together. "

"No, I didn't, really," she disagreed, shaking her head.

"Amanda, who else could manage a truce between us and the Russians, and have us singing Christmas carols besides?" He pointed out.

"But I thought — " she broke off in confusion

"What was I going to say? Besides, I never really knew myself," he admitted. "It had been so long that I’d forgotten how much fun Christmas could be." He pulled a box out of his jacket pocket.

She looked at him in surprise. "What's this?" .

"You didn't think I would forget about you," he stated, raising his eyebrows. "Did you? Open it."

"Christmas isn't until tomorrow." She objected shyly.

"And I won't be here," he countered, smiling. "Go on. I want to see if you like it."

Her eyes widened at the box’s contents. It was a gold pendant in the shape of an A. "It's beautiful!"

"You sure you like it?" He asked uncertainly.

She nodded, not knowing what to say. She took it out of the box with trembling fingers but couldn't open the clasp.

"Need any help?" He offered. "It's kind of tricky."

"Please."

He put it around her neck and looked at it admiringly. "Hey, it looks nicer than I thought it would."

"Thank you." She smiled.

They drank another glass of champagne and she shivered.

"Cold?" he asked.

She nodded. "A little."

"I'll light a fire."

Three hours later they’d finished the champagne and were sitting in front of the fire, both feeling relaxed.

"This is very good champagne," she commented, slightly light-headed.

He gave her one of his most disarming, albeit slightly tipsy, grins. "Of course, we have to celebrate in style."

"Thank you for not letting me spend tonight alone," she said, face flushed.

"You're welcome," he said magnanimously, glad he’d come over after all.

She gave him a curious look and allowed a little "champagne" courage to emerge. "What happened to your plans?" .

"Plans can be changed." Lee tried to sound casual as he then asked, "You still seeing your boy-friend the weatherman?"

The question caught her by surprise. "Dean?"

"That's the one."

"No, he got tired of too many broken dates. He’s dating a librarian. Her schedule isn’t influenced by national security."

"Oh." He paused thoughtfully for a minute, staring at her intently.

She blushed at his scrutiny and asked self-consciously. "What is it?"

"Firelight becomes you," he whispered huskily.

She blushed even more furiously and stared at the ground. "Thank you. I'm sorry we didn't eat your dinner. That's the first time a man ever cooked for me before."

"Your husband never cooked for you?"

She laughed. "Joe used to burn toast."

"Well, as you know, I’m an accomplished chef. One day I have to make you a 7-course meal."

"You don't have to — " she broke off, suddenly not wanted to talk any further.

They stared at each other intensely. She held very still, not daring to breathe as he moved forward slowly, studying her features, especially her lips as if trying to decide what to do Then as quickly as it had begun, his eyes widened and he pulled back abruptly.

"What is it?" she asked anxiously, his abrupt departure leaving her confused and lost.

He got to his feet quickly, desperately needing some air. ‘It must be the champagne hitting me harder than usual.,’ She’s a housewife, for heaven’s sakes!'  Finally he was able to mumble. "Um, it’s getting late."

"Oh," she said, disappointed and relieved at the same time. ‘What’s wrong with me?’ She thought dizzily. She rose to her feet unsteadily and walked him to the door. "Thanks again for coming over," she said breathlessly, her heart racing wildly.

"Any time."

She opened the door and they both looked outside.

The wind and snow were reaching blizzard-like proportions.

"You can't go home in that," Amanda decided, the cold air clearing her clouded mind.

Grimacing at the scene in front of him, he sighed. "Don’t have much choice." .

"You'll have to spend the night here," she said firmly. "Besides, we’ve had too much to drink. You shouldn’t be driving anyway."

His eyebrows raised in surprise.

"You can stay in mother's room," she explained innocently. "I won't take no for an answer." She shut the door. "It's getting pretty late. I'm going to bed. You coming?"

"In a few minutes," he answered slowly, trying to make sense of this surprising turn of events.

"Okay," she replied over her shoulder. "It's the first door on the left."

"Amanda?" he called after her impulsively.

She turned back to face him. "Yes?"

"Uh, you said first door on the left?"

She smiled. "That's right. Merry Christmas, Lee."

"Merry Christmas." He smiled back, surprising even himself. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
 
 

* "The Long Christmas Eve" (original air date: December 19, 1983).
 

Back to: Bridget's Stories

Back to: IFF Film Library