The three grabbed mugs of apple cider and settled in front of the fire to chat. Diane stared at the flickering logs in the fireplace and sent up a little prayer of thanks with the smoke, through the chimney and out into the crisp night air. She watched Harry and Claire, both so animated and witty, and she felt warm, safe and happy. This was how she had always imagined �feeling right at home� should feel. Harry may have just rescued Christmas for her. She sipped her cider and smiled at Harry. He sent a warm smile back to her.

Later that evening, after a wonderful dinner and charming conversation, when they had returned to Diane�s apartment, she reached over and kissed Harry.

�Thank you, Harry. This is the best Christmas I have ever had. Ever.�

�You�re welcome,� he said, and he kissed her again, more passionately this time. He placed his hand on her face, pulling it more firmly toward him, feeling with his fingers the way the muscles of her face moved when they kissed.

Diane put her arm around Harry and pulled him close to her. She slid her hands inside his coat and pushed it back off his shoulders and down his arms. His arms freed, he put his hands on Diane�s coat and returned the favor. They embraced closer, breathing faster, feeling one another�s hearts beating rapidly.

�Stay. Please stay,� Diane gasped between kisses. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were full of energy and desire.

�Are you sure?� Harry pulled back to look more closely at her beautiful face, making sure she wasn�t just swept away by the moment, by the relief of finally having a good Christmas after all these years.

�Yes, absolutely,� she said, looking back into his hypnotic hazel eyes.

They resumed kissing passionately, exploring one another, and slowly waltzed into the bedroom, leaving a trail of clothes behind them. They had decided to open their presents a little early this year.