"Tell me that the night is long, tell me that the moon is glowing. Fill my glass, I'll sing a song and will start the music flowing."

In which a potential future for half-siblings Nolan Price and Sylvie Brett is examined. What better time than to view it than at Christmas? I missed my favorite fanon siblings, so have three of my favorite fanon relationships having Christmas together.

With Cosgrove no longer on the L&O roster (I'm still salty about this), I have no clue what the future looks like, but I picture this to be taking place about five years from "Trouble Don't." Griffin would be in his senior year of college with Ben and Lily in their first.

***

Some winter garments she had had in Chicago had not made the move to Austin with her. As she leaned on the porch railing and watched the children frolic in the snow, Sylvie was glad she had kept her favorite gloves and scarf.

Despite the late hour and the moon hanging high in the dark sky, all of the kids were still high on energy. It wasn't often they could spend all their time together, and the Cosgrove-Price household had room for all of them when they wanted a sleepover. Griffin, Ben, and Lily were outnumbered by the younger children, none of them in the double digits, but they were still all smiles and laughs as they took advantage of the snow and taught their family members how to make a snowman. Ben and Amelia were patching up the snow while Griffin directed Andy and Shay to place the coal buttons in a line, and Christina handed a carrot to Lily as she helped Julia finish the snowman's face.

Sylvie recognized the person who leaned on the railing next to her before he even spoke. "I will never get tired of watching them together."

"I know," Sylvie smiled happily, shuffling and leaning her head on her brother's shoulder. "They're all so close. I can't believe it."

Nolan chuckled. "Family isn't just blood."

Sylvie nodded, seeing the happiness on Andy and Shay's faces as Griffin high-fived them after their work. "It really isn't."

"The drinks are almost finished," Nolan told her, tugging his coat tighter around him and watching with a smile as Lily helped Julia adjust the snowman's hat. "Then we get to dig into those cookies Sam has been baking."

"I love it out here, but warm drinks and cookies sound amazing right now," Sylvie nodded, watching in concern when she noticed Shay shiver. "Then we just need to see how long the sugar rushes will last."

Nolan snorted. "Knowing Lily, she'll burn out while she's burning out her cousin."

"Yeah, the boys will do the same thing," Sylvie agreed.

Julia wriggled in Lily's arms, and Lily placed her on the ground so she could shuffle her way to Ben and Amelia. "I have no idea how you're doing this," Nolan admitted. "You took the Dardens, then Scott was killed in an accident and you took Amelia, then you adopted Julia . . . and now you have Andy and Shay."

"We have our ups and downs," Sylvie smiled. "We're lucky both boys decided to stay close to home for college. After she moved in with us, Amelia practically attached herself to Ben's hip. We finally had an idea of what we were doing by the time we adopted Julia." She smiled wryly. "And then I found out I could have twins with different fathers."

"The looks on their faces!" Nolan laughed loudly, making Sylvie blush. "I don't know who was more surprised!"

"Pretty sure that was still Owen," Sylvie bit her lip to stifle her giggles. "TK and Buck had a good laugh over his expression."

"Well, if you ask me, if I hadn't been told, I would have no idea who their fathers are," Nolan told her. "Your hair, their eyes."

"Matt and Kelly made it clear they would raise any child like it was theirs," Sylvie told him, unable to keep a wide smile off her face. "They just each got one on the first try."

Nolan grinned in return. "You have an entire fire and paramedic crew, in other words."

Sylvie burst out laughing. "With the rate we're going right now with the Dardens, that might end up happening."

"So they're both still looking at the fire academy?" Nolan asked.

"They are," Sylvie nodded with a laugh. "We have another budding ladder and squad pair. Owen says he'll handle the paperwork to get them into the academy himself. Izzy and Evie are still on the bubble of figuring out what they want to do."

Nolan shook his head. "Those boys," he said fondly.

That was all he really needed to say, too. The Dardens had gone through so much after their mother moved them around the country. Stability in Austin had been all they needed to flourish. "And Lily?" Sylvie asked, watching her step-niece supervise Julia and Christina run around the yard. "Do you know what she's decided yet?"

"She's shown interest in all three," Nolan shrugged. "Owen, Olivia, and Jack all say she has the makings of either profession. It'll be up to her."

Sylvie snickered. "But Frank will blame me, Matt, and Kelly if she ends up going the paramedic route."

"Oh, he absolutely will," Nolan agreed cheerfully, grinning widely at Sylvie's groan. "He knew Lily would be interested in the fire department after that week in Austin."

"So we may have another version of me, Matt, and Kelly soon," Sylvie concluded.

"That's a little scary to think of."

The half-siblings fell into silence as they watched the children engage in a snowball fight, Lily squealing and attempting to protect her braided hairstyle with sprigs of holly tucked into it. "Have you and Frank thought any more about my offer?" Sylvie finally asked.

Nolan blew out his breath slowly, reaching out with one hand to cover Sylvie's. "We've discussed it," he answered. "After your preeclampsia with the twins . . . "

"I know," Sylvie squeezed his hand. "Just know the offer is still on the table. I haven't changed my mind."

Nolan smiled and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. "What the hell happened in my past life to get you as my sister?" he asked.

Sylvie snuggled into Nolan's chest with a beam. "Something pretty awesome."

Nolan laughed in agreement, then the door to the house opened behind them. "Hey, guys," Jalen poked his head outside. "We're ready in here."

"Oh, perfect timing," Sylvie smiled, clapping her hands together. "Let's head inside, everyone!"

"Coming!" Griffin called in return.

Lily bounded back towards the house with a wide grin, her cheeks flushed with cold and delight. "That was so much fun," she gushed.

"You look like you had fun," Jalen chuckled, crouching down to the ground. "Did you have fun, princess?"

"Yeah!" Christina nodded eagerly, her pigtails bobbing with her as she jumped into her father's open arms.

"Oh, that's good," Jalen grinned, standing and bringing Christina with him, settling his giggling daughter on his hip. "Let's see what your mama made, huh?"

Christina cheered in agreement, and Lily helped Ben usher Amelia, Julia, Andy, and Shay into the house. Griffin stopped to join Sylvie, his eyes bright. "I'm so glad we were able to come to New York this year," he told her.

"Me, too," Sylvie agreed as they headed into the house.

"It was worth it just to see how surprised the airport workers were when they saw us," Matt grinned, bending down and hugging Shay when she ran towards him. "Hey, sweetheart!"

"You kiddos look like you need some warming up," Kelly noted as he helped Andy remove his coat.

"Well," Sam walked into the room with a platter of cookies in her hands, "I think I have something that can fix that!"

Ben's expression brightened. "Are those your snickerdoodles?" he asked eagerly.

"And sugar cookies," Sam confirmed, setting the platter on the coffee table. "And chocolate chip."

The kids all pounced at once, and Jalen snorted. "There aren't gonna be any left for us, hon."

"That's why I hid a plate in the cupboard just in case," Sam smiled, patting his shoulder knowingly as the youngest kids sat together on the floor.

Jalen chuckled and kissed Sam's cheek. "You read my mind."

"And it's why the spiked cider is in a pitcher the kids can't reach," Frank quipped with a smirk as he followed behind Sam, extending a mug to Nolan.

Nolan laughed and accepted the glass from his husband. "You're such a cop."

"And yet you never seem to complain when I'm saving your ass," Frank countered.

"For which I am always grateful," Sylvie grinned at him.

"What is it that Stabler calls them?" Jalen asked Sam with a wink.

"Oh, the doom and the danger magnets," Sam grinned innocently.

"Pretty accurate, if you ask me," Kelly smirked at Sylvie.

Matt sighed. "Let's not encourage them to compete against each other, please."

"Yeah, no," Frank shook his head in agreement. "I like my husband right where he is, alive and well, thank you."

"We like our girl that way, too," Matt nodded.

"Maybe that should be our collective New Year's Resolutions," Sam mused as they arranged themselves on the furniture, watching Griffin, Ben, and Lily put their heads together to choose a movie before the younger kids had to head to bed. "Avoid almost dying as much as possible."

Kelly laughed. "I like that idea."

Sylvie cradled her mug of wassail in her hands, then she noticed the glances Nolan and Frank exchanged. She knew that look from years of sharing it with Matt and Kelly. "What is it?" she asked.

"There's another idea that's been floated our way," Nolan answered. "One we wanted to wait and share until we knew it was legit."

Matt frowned. "When you say we . . . "

"The four of us," Jalen answered, gesturing between himself, Sam, Frank, and Nolan. "From down in Austin."

Kelly's eyes widened. "Job offers?"

"We've made it pretty clear around the department that we're a package deal," Frank smirked. "And Austin clearly knows it."

"One of the precincts in 126's jurisdiction is looking for a new homicide team," Sam smiled widely. "And the Travis County EADA is moving in the spring."

Sylvie looked at Nolan with raw hope in her eyes. "You're moving to Austin?" she asked.

"I take it you wouldn't be against it if we looked into that possibility?" Nolan grinned.

"But your jobs here," Matt looked around at their family. "You've put so much work into being the best team here. You're sure?"

"We are sure," Frank nodded as he looked at Nolan. "Lily's already attending college in your area, and honestly . . . being close to the family sounds better and better every day."

"And it wouldn't be the same without them," Jalen added. "The partnerships we have make the job. Since it's a package deal and they're considering it, so are we."

"We're sure," Nolan smiled.

"Yes!" Sylvie whooped, tackling Nolan in excitement. "That is the best Christmas gift ever!"

Nolan fell off the couch and onto the ground with a thud, but he just laughed and let Sylvie hug him. "Merry Christmas!"

"Oh!" Lily exclaimed suddenly. "I love this song!"

The familiar introduction to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" poured from the speakers, and Frank chuckled. "We could never turn the music to anything else when we decorated the house while she was growing up."

"Come on!" Sylvie tugged Nolan to his feet.

Nolan rolled his eyes in mock exasperation, but he allowed Sylvie to pull him into a dance. "That's also the most I've seen him smile in the past month or so," Frank said quietly.

"These jobs take a toll on us," Matt nodded in understanding. "We take our happiness where we can get it."

"And moving to Austin will do that." Frank pointed to Lily, who had bounded to Griffin and Ben, urging them to dance with her. "Lily's right at home down there. I think we were bound to follow her there eventually. And we'll be back with family. It's a win-win scenario to me."

"Well," Kelly held up his mug. "We'll be delighted to have you there."

"I'll drink to that," Jalen lifted his drink in agreement.

Frank smiled and clinked his mug against Matt and Kelly's. "Cheers, guys."

Matt gladly downed his drink, watching with a smile as Nolan playfully dipped Sylvie, the blonde's gleeful laughter almost drowning out the music. "Cheers to family."

***

In all seriousness, whenever "The First Responders Files" ends, it'll likely be with me handing out HEAs to everyone and relocating them to Austin XD One big happy first responders family. How nice does that sound?

To all who celebrate, Merry Christmas! If you don't, whatever holiday you celebrate, I hope it is a joyous one!

graphic by marvelity