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On The Fourth Day of Christmas.... Operation: Mistletoe   One week before Christmas:   Matthew pulled himself into a sitting position on the bed and crossed his arms; letting out a sigh. Starr rolled her eyes and walked over and sat down beside him on her bed, "What's your problem? Bo Buchanan is your dad, your real dad, and you're all upset. I don't get you, why aren't you happy?"   Matthew sighs, "I am happy that Bo's my dad and you know at first I just wanted a new dad. I never thought that Bo would end up being my real dad. I never thought that my other dad wasn't really the one that made me with my mom, but now that I know that I don't want my dad to live in one house and my mom to live in another house. I want us to live together," he pauses for a moment, "I want us to be a real family."   "But your dad is with that Gabrielle lady."   "I know he is but my dad's always so sad when he's with her. When he's with my mom he laughs and he smiles. When he comes over our house he has fun. Whenever I go over his house we don't have as much fun because he always seems so sad because she's sad. I just want my dad to be happy and when he's with my mom and when he's with me he's happy."   Starr pushed herself further back onto the bed leaning against the headboard next to Matthew. She reached for the remote next to the bed. They sat in silence for a little while, staring at nothing in particular, as Starr flipped through the channels. Suddenly the screen stopped moving, "That's it!"   Matthew looked at her like she was crazy, "What's it? What are you talking about?"   She pointed the remote at the TV, "That."   "It's just a dumb Christmas music commercial."   Starr sighed, "I know that stupid, look at what they're doing."   Matthew shrugs, "They're kissing. I don't get what the big deal is."   "All of those people in that commercial were kissing under the mistletoe. It's some stupid holiday tradtion that old people use as an excuse to kiss each other, but we can use that to get your parents to kiss, and once they kiss then they can start falling in love again. My mom told me that when you kiss the one you're supposed to be with forever you'll know after just one kiss. She said it was that way with my dad."   "Kissing is gross."   "Yeah I know but not to adults.", she pauses for a moment. "We need a plan and we need someone to help us. Someone who knows all about your parents."   Matthew quickly stood up and grabbed his backpack, "I know someone who'll help us!"   "Who?"   "My Granpa."   "Asa?"   "Yeah, I heard him talking to my Granma Renee when I was exploring his house. I heard him telling her that my mom and my dad belong together and that if they weren't so stubborn we all would still be a family. He'll help us I just know it." He ran towards her door and then stopped and turned back around, "Well, you comin' or not?"   Starr grabbed her jacket off her desk chair, "Yeah I'm comin."   They quietly crept down the stairs. Hedy was in the kitchen with Jack so the coast was clear. They tiptoed through the penthouse and jumped into the elevator. They quickly walked through the lobby and out onto the street. Starr pulled out her cell phone. Matthew put his backpack on and turned around when he noticed she wasn't following him. "Who are you calling?", he sighs.   "I'm calling for a cab."   "What for? It's not that far, we can walk, you know."   "It's too cold to walk."   Matthew rolled his eyes and grabbed her arm, "Let's go. I'm not waiting for a cab."   Matthew and Starr took off down the street; darting in an out of the crowd of shoppers. They ducked behind a tree when Matthew saw his father drive down the street towards the station. They cut through the park and finally, twenty minutes later, they were standing in front of the mansion. Matthew rang the doorbell and they waited until they heard the doorknob turn. Nigel opened the door and smiled as he looked down at the two children, blowing on their hands trying to stay warm, "Mr. Matthew and Miss Starr, to what do we owe the honor of your visit today?"   Starr squared her shoulders as they walked into the foyer, as Nigel helped them off with their coats, "Take us to..."   Matthew stepped in front of her, but not before placing his hand over her mouth, "I need to see my Granpa, please."   "I'm so sorry, Mr. Buchanan is out of town on business."   Matthew's shoulders slumped for a moment, "Well is my Granma here?" he asked excitedly.   "Mrs. Buchanan is indeed here. Why don't you and your companion," he scowls at Starr who just rolls her eyes and crosses her arms in front of her chest, "wait in the library and I will go inform Mrs. Buchanan that you're here."   "Thank you Nigel."   Starr stomped past Matthew and plopped down on the couch in the library. Matthew sat in one of the wingback chairs; placing his backpack beside him on the floor.   Renee walked in a few minutes later, "Matthew my darling what a pleasant surprise." She looked over at Starr, "Starr nice to see you also," she quickly turned her attention back to Matthew, "So what can I do for you?"   "I need your help but you have to keep it a secret."   "And who might I ask are we keeping this secret from?"   "My mom and dad."   "Hmmm....well I don't usually condone keeping secrets, especially from people who love us..."   Matthew jumps in, "But this is for love." Renee looked at him as he continued, "it's about my parents and me. I want us to be a family, a real family. I know they're not married anymore but..."   "Matthew, darling," she pats the couch next to her, "come, sit down here with me." Matthew walks over and sits down beside her. She puts her arm around him and pulls him close, kissing the top of his head before continuing, "it's understandable that you would want your parents together, every child wants their parents to be happy...."   "Thats all I want, Granma, and when they're together, when we're all together, they're happy. I know they could love each other again."   Renee looked down at the rings that Asa had once again placed on her hand just a few weeks before. If they had found love again, surely Bo and Nora, two people who have never truly fallen out of love with each other, could find love again. She looked up at Matthew, his huge brown eyes silently pleading with her, "Okay...I'll help you." Matthew jumped into her lap and threw his arms around her neck, "Thank you, Granma. Thank you so much."   Renee held him tight, she looked over at Starr and winked, "So what do the two of you have in mind?"   Matthew looked over at Starr and then back up at Renee, "They need to kiss under the green stuff they show on TV."   Renee laughs, "You mean the mistletoe?"   "Yeah, older people like all that kissing stuff and so I figure my mom and dad would like that kind of stuff too."   Renee smiled down at her grandson and pulled him close, "Well Matthew I'll tell you one thing, when your mom and dad were together they sure did a lot of kissing so I think you're on the right track." She pauses for a moment; thinking. "I tell you what. Your Granpa and I were thinking about having a Christmas Eve party and of course your mother and father are invited to it. Now we have a week until Christmas Day so that gives us six days to plan the perfect party and the perfect way to get your mom and dad under the mistletoe. So what do you say, you ready for Operation Mistletoe?", she asks placing her hand out palm down, in front of her.   Matthew lays his hand on top of Renee's, "Ready."   Starr stands up and lays her hand on top of Matthew's, which still lies on top of Renee's, "Ready."   "Okay, now that that is settled I think it's time you call your mother, young man and let her know that you're here and not over at Starr's anymore. Same goes for you, Starr."   Matthew grimaced, "Oh...yeah. I bet she's gonna be pretty mad at me."   "Yeah, she just might be." she stands up and takes his hand, "Let's go."   The three of them walk over to the phone. Before Matthew dials he looks up at Renee and smiles, "You know, Granma, even if my mom grounds me it'll be worth it, since it's all for love."   Renee laughs and lays her hand on his cheek, "Yes, it's all for love."   Nora and Matthew walk into the house an hour later. She closes the door and places her briefcase and purse on the bench. Matthew hung his coat up on the coat hanger; glancing once up at his mother. She was mad that much he knew but like he had told his Granma in the end whatever he had to endure he would for the sake of love. Nora took off her coat and hung it up next to Matthew's. She look down at him sitting on the bench where she had dropped her belongings. She reached out her hand and he took it; walking into the living room with her. They sat side by side on the couch, "Okay mister are you ready yet to tell me why you were at Granpa and Granma's and not at Starr's like you were supposed to be?"   Matthew looked up at his mother and then down at his hands that he had folded in his lap, "I can't. It's a secret."   "You know how I feel about secrets Matthew."   "I know, but this is a good secret I promise. I just can't tell you, that's all."   "Well then if that's all you've got to say about it you can go on up to your room and wait until dinner's ready. No TV and no video or computer games for a week." Matthew nods and starts to walk upstairs, "no computer at all, you understand, no talking to Starr either. And if you decide you want to tell me about your secret and are ready to fess up about sneaking out of the penthouse and walking to Asa's then maybe, just maybe we'll renegotiate, okay?"   "Okay," Matthew says quietly knowing he wasn't going to spill the beans about their plan.   "I love you Matty."   "I love you too, mom."   They ate dinner together in silence. Shortly after dinner Matthew returned to his room to read while Nora worked on some plea agreements in her office. She walked out of her office twice, both times stopping at the bottom of the stairs, just looking up them, but never making her way upstairs. Something was going on with Matthew that she knew for sure. She walked back into her office and picked up the phone, deciding to call Bo and ask him if he had any idea what was up, "Bo, it's Nora."   "Hey, Nora, what's up?"   "You know what...never mind. I'm...I'm sorry to bother you. I'll just talk to you tomorrow at the station."   "No, Nora, please tell me. What's going on?"   She hesitated for a moment, then continued, "It's Matthew...."   He sat up straight behind his desk, "What's wrong with him? Is he sick...hurt?"   Nora smiles despite her concern, "No it's nothing like that. Bo, actually if you don't mind. Do you think maybe you could stop by here and talk to Matthew. He and Starr took off today and left the penthouse and walked to Asa's by themselves. He refuses to tell me why, all he'll say is that it's a secret and he can't tell me, yet. You don't happen to know what this secret is do you?"   "No, I'm sorry, I don't." he glances down at his watch. Gabrielle was expecting him at home tonight but he could be late. This was about his son after all, he was sure she wouldn't mind, "Listen, Nora. I'm gonna head over there now. Don't tell Matthew I'm coming, okay."   "Okay. See you in a few minutes."   Nora walked over and sat down on the couch; resting her head back on the couch. She thought back over her and Renee's conversation when she had gone to pick up Matthew. Renee certainly did not seem too concerned, maybe it was really nothing. Just kids stuff, but still Matthew knew she hated secrets. Secrets hurt...she knew that all too well. She was brought out of her thoughts by the soft knocks on her front door. She walked over to the door and they smiled at each other through the window as she opened it, "Hi."   Bo walked through the door removing his jacket, "Hi" he said as he hung his jacket up beside theirs, "So is he upstairs?"   "Yeah. He's working on some of his Christmas vacation reading that his teacher sent home."   He reached out and squeezed her hand before making his way up the stairs, two at a time. He walked down towards Matthew's room and pushed the door open the rest of the way, "Hey there champ." Matthew looked up and closed the book he was reading; lying it on the bed next to him. Bo walked closer to the bed and pointed to the end of Matthew's bed, "Do you mind if I sit?"   Matthew moved the book and sat up straight, tucking his legs tight against his chest, "Mom's pretty mad, huh?"   "Umm....well mad is probably pushing it. I think she's more worried about you keeping a secret that's all."   Matthew moved closer to his father and looked him square in the eyes, "It's not a bad secret, dad. I promise. It's about Christmas is all."   "Hmm...Christmas you say," Matthew nods vigorously, "Well I'm going to take your word on that one, son. Still you shouldn't have taken off like that. It's dangerous for you and Starr to be walking to Asa's alone, so you're definitely busted on that count, but I'll go down and talk to your mom and see if we can't get you a reprieve on your sentence."   Bo leans in and kisses Matthew's forehead before standing up and walking towards the door, "Dad?"   "Yeah, champ?"   "Can you come back up and say goodnight before you leave...you know after you're done talking to mom?"   "You bet. I'll be back up in a few."   Bo walked downstairs and walked into her office. She was leaning against the bookshelf behind her desk, looking through one of her law books, her glasses perched low on her nose. She reached down and scratched her leg just under the hem of her skirt offering him a little more of a view of her long legs. A sudden heat rose up the back of his neck. She turned and caught him staring, "Bo..."   The sound of her voice snapped him out of the trance he was in. He fought to find his voice, "Um....I...I spoke with Matthew. He assured me that this secret he's keeping is not a bad secret or a hurtful secret," she looked at him, not buying it, "He says it about Christmas."   "Christmas?"   Bo shrugged, "That's what he said and I really think we ought to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one..."   "But Bo he could've been hurt or worse..."   He raises his hand, "I know and I did not give him right in sneaking off like that but I did tell him I'd plead his case and maybe get you to give him a small reprieve on his sentence."   Nora smiled as she looked deep into his eyes, "Fine...he's just banned from the TV and the games for tonight, for sneaking out...I'll let the other stuff go."   Bo smiled and turned to head back upstairs. He took a few steps and then turned back around, "Wanna help me tuck him in?"   She took her glasses off and threw them down on the desk, "I'd love to."   Bo opened Matthew's door and stood off to the side while she walked in; following her over to his bed. She leaned down and kissed an already asleep Matthew; Bo did the same. Bo picked up his book and placed it on his nightstand. Neither one of them noticed the letter addressed to the North Pole that fell onto the floor.   TBC...on the 6th day of Christma!