Chestnut haired gleamed in the bright December sunlight, made brighter by the thick blanket of snow covering the frozen ground. As ATF Team 7's undercover specialist exited his sparkling Jaguar, a smile played across his sensuous lips. He felt good. Surprisingly at peace.

Tucking the portfolio of reports beneath his arm, he straightened the lapels of his elegant wool overcoat and made his way to their leader's front door. Glancing at the Christmas lights carefully strung, and the wreath on the door, his smile softened, his eyes taking on a twinkle as he recalled the weekend spent decorating. It had been an all day event and an all-team endeavor.

Decorating for Christmas was new to him. Feeling part of a family was new to him. Liking the invisible chains that bound him to that makeshift family was not only new, but a little frightening. Still and all, life was good, and was about to be better. It always was when he could bask in the presence of Chris Larabee.

Finger poised over the bell, he paused. His brow wrinkled in concentration and concern as he listened to the raised voice coming from within.

"I've got your number you fat, green little fucker! Take that! And that!"

Concern turning to abject curiosity, the Southerner carefully manipulated around the house, slipping up to the side of the French doors that opened into the den. Glancing in covertly, he caught his tough-as-nails leader shooting a suction-cupped dart at his 48" inch flat screen TV, trying with all his might to put one right between the eyes of "The Grinch" (who was presently attempting to steal Christmas).

Brightly shining eyes and tousled blonde hair beckoned to Ezra like a flame drawing an unresisting moth. His smile grew wider as his heart warmed with the pleasure of seeing Chris play, his countenance clear of the usual heavy weight of responsibility his position required.

"Leave little Cindy Loo Who alone, ya beast!" his clear voice rang out as he released another dart, quickly reloading and firing again.

"Damn!" the usually taciturn Larabee exclaimed. "I'm sorry little dog guy."

Another volley of darts were deployed by the two-fisted shooter and a shout of triumph filled the air. "Got ya!" Playfully maniacal laughter followed shortly behind.

Ezra shook his head, chuckling softly as he began to form an idea. Butterflies teased his stomach as he contemplated actually carrying out the plan. 'I'm an undercover agent, for gawd sakes," he chided himself silently. 'I can do this.'

Returning to the front door, he removed his black leather gloves and pulled his favored hinged cuffs from the case at the small of his back. He pounded on the door with his bare fist, listening to the solid sound echo through the entryway.

"Mr. Larabee!" he shouted authoritatively. "Open the door, sir! I know you are in there!"

The door jerked open and the first thing Ezra noticed was the telltale blush of embarrassment on Chris' cheeks. The second was the scowl on his face.

"Ezra!? What the hel..."

Using what small element of surprise he had, Ezra pushed through the door, taking Larabee with him. Grabbing hold of his friend in a power-steering grip, he forced him -- firmly but carefully -- face first against the wall. Grabbing a wrist, he was able to secure it before the blonde shook off his surprised inertia and tried to extricate himself from the other agent's control.

Though smaller, the undercover master was deceptively strong and he wrestled the other arm into place, clicking the second cuff closed with the click-whir of metal against metal.

Larabee suddenly became very, very still. Taking a deep breath, he hissed between clenched teeth in a low, deadly voice.

"Standish, you'd better have God's own reason for this."

Ezra smiled to himself, suddenly feeling amazingly bold. Stepping up behind his boss, resolutely tamping down the trickle of unease that threatened to become a flood, he pressed against Chris, whispering in his ear hotly.

"Mr. Larabee, it is my duty to advise you that you are under arrest for the murder of The Grinch, and for manslaughter of that poor, unfortunate antler dawg. You have the right to remain silent, if you give up that right, anything you say can and will most likely cause me to be held against you. If you so desire to be held but cannot afford, emotionally, to admit it, I will be appointed to make it happen anyway. Do you understand these rights as I have explained them to you?"

As the words filtered beyond the haze of shock and anger rolling through the blonde's mind another kind of amazement took its place. He swallowed deeply, relaxing slightly as he began to truly feel the Southerner's body against his.

"Ezra?" The husky whisper emerged as both a question and a exhale of hope.

Ezra, still unsure and, therefore, still playing out his role, pushed closer against Chris, his mouth even closer to the red flushed ear before him. Nuzzling his lips against the tender skin just beneath, he allowed all the heat and desire he had kept contained for months to color his words.

"Yes, Chris. It's Ezra. But you never answered my question. Do you understand your rights?"

Chris swallowed once more and barely nodded, closing his eyes and concentrating on the heat spreading from the center of his belly outward to his limbs. For an instant, he remembered the "charges" against him and felt a moment of embarrassment over being caught playing Grinch assassin. Almost immediately afterwards the overwhelming weight of what was about to occur pushed aside all other thought. He groaned softly as he felt the teeth of the beautiful man behind him tug carefully at the juncture of shoulder and neck.

"E..Ezra," he paused to clear his throat, beginning again. "Ezra, turn me loose. Let me turn around."

The Southerner laid his head against the broad shoulder of his friend and leader for a single instant, sure that the end of his game was at hand. Carefully unlocking the cuffs, he released his captive, brushing his thumbs over the skin reddened slightly by the cold steel.

Chris took another deep breath and turned, leaning back against the wall in an unintentionally sexy slouch. Ezra's breath drew in with a gasp as he saw the fire burning in the green eyes of his secret obsession. He fought panic as he tried to determine if it was anger or passion lighting the flame. He lowered his eyes, his mind quickly searching for a way to escape.

"I guess we're both tired of fightin' it, huh Ez?" Chris said softly.

Ezra's shocked gaze snapped to Larabee's and his mouth opened slightly in surprise.

"Bo..both of us?"

Chris raised his hand, lightly caressing the man's smooth cheek as Ezra licked his own lips nervously. Dropping his eyes to the luscious mouth, the blonde nodded and brushed a thumb over the moist flesh.

"Yes, Ezra. Both of us. I want you, too. Always have. Just didn't know for sure if you rode that fence."

Moving forward slowly, Chris stroked his lips against Ezra's once; twice. He pulled back, his finger raising Ezra's chin. He tore his gaze from the Southerner's mouth and looked into his eyes.

"So, Agent Standish. I reckon I give up my rights." His lip quirked up in a small smile and he dropped his hand, clearly waiting for the remarkable man before him to resume the lead.

Ezra smiled astutely and reached for Chris' hands, taking both in his hands and locking their fingers together. Raising his soon-to-be lover's hands over his head and capturing them against the wall, he stepped full against him and caught his mouth in a kiss.

Chris' mouth opened to Ezra, allowing him inside with a sigh. Ezra growled softly from deep within his throat, yet kept the kiss a gentle exploration. Chris emitted a low, encouraging sound and Ezra moved closer still, relaxing his weight against the lean, hard body until their hearts beat as one and their cocks betrayed their excitement to the other.

Long moments later, Ezra pulled his mouth from Larabee's, breathing deeply. Slowly pulling away, he stepped back and held out a hand to the passion-flushed blonde.

Chris took it and smiled almost shyly at the green-eyed Southerner, astonished at how right it all felt.

Ezra led the way to the bedroom, smiling slightly as they passed the living room and the strains of "Frosty the Snowman" followed behind them. Chris chuckled with embarrassment and murmured under his breath.

Ezra stopped and turned, pulling the sexy leader against him. "What, Love?" he asked quietly, nipping lightly across Chris' jaw.

Chris shook his head slightly, his chagrinned smile muffled against Ezra's cheek. "I said, it's Christmas cartoon day."

Ezra laughed softly against his ear. "I like this side of you, Chris. I like to see you smile."

Turning around again, releasing all contact but the hand he had been holding, he continued into the bedroom. Stepping across the threshold he paused and looked back at Chris over his shoulder, his green eyes smoldering beneath lowered lashes.

"Last chance to plead the fifth."

Chris locked eyes with the beautiful Southerner, saying silently all he could not voice. Ezra nodded his head once, slowly, and dropped Larabee's hand. Turning, he reached for Chris' shirt and began unbuttoning it as his mouth caressed the collarbone it revealed.

Chris sighed with pent up tension, threading his fingers through the red-hued chestnut silk that masqueraded as Ezra's hair. He pressed the Southerner closer to him and closed his eyes, absorbing the peaceful excitement of the moment.

Clothes melted away and Ezra settled Chris onto the bed tenderly. Laying beside the passion flushed body, the soft-spoken agent caressed the bold leader with his southern drawl as his lips played havoc with the blonde's senses.

"You are so beautiful, Chris. I have not been able to take my eyes off of you since we met. I have waited for this moment for far too long."

Working Chris into a fever pitch of excitement, Ezra eased himself between the older man's legs, pulling his hips high onto his own thighs. After careful preparation, the Southerner pushed carefully into his new lover, watching the leader become the follower as he -- the undercover master and lost sheep of the Team -- set the pace and led the way.

Green eyes locked with green eyes and Ezra dropped the shutters that had hidden his feelings for Chris for as long as he could remember. Smiling softly and leaning down to kiss the flushed lips, Ezra whispered his secret carefully, his words sending Chris over the edge as the Southerner covered his mouth to drink his cry of completion.

"I love you, too, Ez." Chris answered softly a few moments later, his voice husky with the afterglow. "God, why did we wait so long?"

"Hush, Mr. Larabee." Ezra said softly. "The past is the past. And we have forever into the future."

Chris nodded and swallowed the lump gathering in his throat. Burying his face in the green-eyed tempter's shoulder, he said a prayer of thanks that he was no longer alone. Ezra cradled Chris against him, slipping into contented sleep.

All but one of the Team glanced at each other in puzzlement as they heard a burst of laughter emit from Larabee's office. Buck got up, a smile and a furrowed brow revealing his curiosity. Looking in on Chris, his bewilderment only grew as he saw his best friend and Team leader laughing helplessly, a life-sized stuffed Grinch with a suction-cupped dart between its eyes sitting in his leather executive chair.

Ezra smiled to himself, eyes sparkling, and remained focused on his report. What a Christmas it was going to be.