Ally just sat there, looking at the picture of the six of them, all cuddled up together on and around the couch. It was a good thing Larry learned how to work a camera timer. It helped them have more family pictures than they would have originally had. She started humming “chances are” and thought of the singing talents of Mr. Larry Paul. She loved it when he sang. His voice was always so melodic and his face lit up. However, there were some times when he wasn’t always so happy when he sang. She remembered their first Christmas together. Larry was one sad puppy because he couldn’t be by his son. Ally was bound and determined to get him into the holiday spirit though. She had brought him down to the bar below her law offices and sat him down at the piano, since he had said that music was always his companion.

“I am going to supply you with a theme song, I learned it in therapy,” Ally put her fingers on the keys and started thinking of a song.

“Hmm, okay,” Larry decided not to argue.

Ally started to sing, “Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat-.”

“The animal rights group already took that one,” Larry cut in, elbow on the piano, staring at her humorously.

“Oh,” Ally looked at Larry peculiarly, “okay, um, oh! How about this one, now I used to date a hockey player and he he loved it,” she started playing. “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth,” Ally didn’t get any further, the two started to laugh. “No, nah, stupid, okay. Oh, how about this,” Ally started to play ‘Jingle Bells’, “Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh-,”

Larry cut her off again, “No, not with all the dashing through the snow and and jingle bells, that’s what I’d do with Sam,” Larry looked down.

“You never told me his name,” Ally said after a pause.

Larry kept his head down for a beat and then lifted it up and said with a sigh, “Sam.”

“Hey! How ‘bout we go to Detroit, for Christmas,” Ally suggested.

“Well his mother takes him to her parents house, they live in Canada, but you’re so sweet to offer,” he nudged her lightly.

“When you told Elaine that you sit at your piano when you feel empty what do you play?” Ally asked after another pause.

“‘New York, New York,’ ‘Shout’,” Larry responded.

“Hmm, I have to pee,” Ally countered, changing the subject in the most weirdest way.

“God that is so romantic,” Larry joked.

“But when I get back, you’re gonna play me something,” Ally concluded as she walked away.

Larry sat there for a moment in his solitude and then pulled the microphone attached to the piano towards him. “Thank you all for coming,” he spoke into the mic in a booming voice, “Good to be in Boston,” Larry stopped and just stared at the piano. “Here’s a little something.”

It’s coming on Christmas they’re cuttin’ down trees

They’re puttin’ up reindeer and singin’ songs of joy and peace

Oh, I wish I had a river, I could skate away on

But it don’t snow here, it stays pretty green

And I’m gonna, make a lot of money then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on

Ally walked back in slowly, softly, Larry didn’t see her and she watched him as he continued singing painfully.

Oh I wish I had a river

I made my baby cry

Larry kept playing the piano, but stopped singing, his voice aching with hurt, his eyes clamped tightly shut. Ally just watched him, feeling absolutely helpless.

Ally and Renee walked into their apartment to find Larry standing in front of the lit up Christmas tree. “I lied,” he started. “I only wanted to be alone most of the night.”

“Hey,” Ally said.

“Well, I’m gonna go to bed, unless you need me,” Renee looked at Ally coyly.

“I can make due,” Ally came back, not looking at Renee.

“Night night Larry,” Renee said as she walked out of the room.

“Night Renee,” he responded, his gaze still on Ally.

“So how long have you been here?” Ally asked as soon as Renee was gone.

“Uh, hour or so,” Larry said after a thought. “I’ve been singing Christmas carols.”

“Oh right,” Ally said insipidly.

“No, I have.” Larry noticed the look on Ally’s face, implying she didn’t believe him. “I’ve made a comeback.”

“Hmm,” Ally walked towards him and they shared a short hello kiss. “Sing me one?” she asked as they parted. “And not the one you played before,” she added, not wanting to hear pain coming from him again.

"You pick it."

“Okay, um, little drummer boy,” Ally suggested.

“Heyyyy,” Larry cut her off. “That’s peppy.”

“Okay, um,” Ally thought for a moment. “White Christmas.”

“That one I know,” Larry positioned his hands over the keys on the piano and started playing. “How does it start?” Larry teased Ally.

“Uh, with a dream,” she smiled back at him.

“Right,” he smiled as his soulful voice began to fill the air.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas

Just like the ones I used to know

Where the treetops glisten

And children listen to hear...

Larry’s voice faded as the memories became too strong for him to continue. Ally decided to join him.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas

Larry’s voice blended softly with Ally’s.

With every Christmas card I write

May your days be merry and bright

And may all your Christmases be white

Larry finished the song and leaned over to kiss Ally as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Tears were glistening in Ally’s eyes as she remembered the pain in Larry voice and then a smile came across her face when she thought about the sweet love they made afterwards. It amazed her that she could remember all of it as clearly as she did. It seemed like yesterday; only it was twenty some odd years ago.

His voice though, Larry’s voice was incredible; he probably had her favorite voice in the world. Ally turned the page with the pictures of that time Sam came home from college with Katie and saw a picture of her and Larry with Sting. Her thirty-first birthday...she thought he had been totally careless and not cared that it was her big day. “Sting actually sang to me,” she smiled.

Ally and the rest of her friends were giving a standing ovation at the bar to a Barbara Streisand impersonator who happened to be a recent client for their firm, but she was distracted. Her mind was thinking of where the hell her boyfriend was. Larry had cancelled lunch on her because of some case he claimed to have that couldn’t wait and she was disappointed to say the least.

Her eyes scanned the room in its entirety, anxiety stretched across her brow.

“I’m sure he’ll be here any second Ally,” Mark offered soothing words.

“Yeah, yeah he wouldn’t wanna miss my birthday,” Ally said almost too bitterly, whipping her head around to face the rest of the group, playing with the collar of her shirt. “You know look, it’s a it’s getting late so...” Renee cut her off.

“You can’t leave yet.

“I’m tired Renee,” Ally replied, weak.

“He’ll be here. It’s only 10:30, he’ll be here,” Renee insisted. Ally sighed and sat down, somewhat defeated.

After a minute or less, she stood up again. “Well uh thank you all again, it was it was a it was a great birthday,” Ally continued to play with the collar of her shirt.

Elaine attempted to make Ally stay this time. “Can’t you stay for one more drink? I’ll sing again.” Elaine jumped at the chance for getting up in the spotlight again.

“NO,” Ally shot down that idea immediately. “Please, I, I really just wanna go. Can you, can you all just let me go?” All of a sudden the lights went off and Ally whipped her head up at the ceiling and was looking in every corner she could find within the bar. “Oh, okay, what the hell is this? It gets dark?” The lights slowly dimmed back on and Ally’s eyes were diverted to the stage where a figure was standing on a dark stage. When the spotlight shone brightly, Larry was revealed standing at the microphone.

Every breath you take, every move you make

Every bond you make, every step you take

I’ll be watching you

Ally couldn’t breathe as she stared at Larry, not blinking once.

Every single day, every word you say

Ally looked down shyly and took her seat again.

Every game you play every night you stay

I’ll be watching you

Larry stepped away from the microphone and another figure stepped up.

Oh can’t you see, you belong to me

The whole bar erupted with applause at the sight of superstar singing British sensation Sting. As soon as Ally’s eyes were laid upon him, a grin was glued to her face and she couldn’t stop smiling.

How my poor heart aches

Ally put her head in her hands, unable to contain her surprise.

Even John was excited at this moment for Ally and preceded to join in the applause.

With every step you take

Every move you make, every vow you break

Every smile you fake, every claim you stake

I’ll be watching you

Sting shoved Larry offstage and he approached Ally. “Hey birthday girl, you wanna,” Larry kissed Ally on the cheek, “dance?”

Ally’s head was bent down, “I don’t know, it makes me feel easy,” she was still uneasy about how the whole day had turned up.

“Well, I did bring Sting,” Larry cracked.

Ally smiled and looked up at him, grabbing his hand and the happy smiling couple made their way to the dance floor.

I look around but it’s you I can’t replace

I feel so cold and I long for your embrace

I keep crying baby, baby please

Larry looked over to the stage at Sting who was motioning for him to come on stage. The two of them then proceeded to sing.

I’ll be watching you

Every breath you take every move you make every bond you break every step you take

I’ll be watching you

Every single day every word you say every game you play every night you stay

Ally couldn’t believe what she was watching. It was like a dream come true, all in the past couple of minutes.

I’ll be watching you

Every breath you take ever move you make (ooooo) every game you play

I’ll be watching you

Larry and Ally were on the streets of Boston after leaving the bar that same night. “Alright, so you made a slight comeback.”

“Thank God,” Larry said aloud.

“Sting actually sang to me,” Ally stopped to boast in that thought for a minute.

Larry was a bit taken back. “So did I. Did you even notice?”

“Oh! You sang?” Ally teased Larry, then stopped and turned around, extremely close to his face. “I noticed.”

“I’m sorry I missed most of your birthday,” Larry apologized.

Ally stared at him for a few seconds and then started walking again. “Well you halfway made up for it.”

“Halfway you think? A third of the way at best,” Larry joked.

Ally spun around again. “Oh, oh big talker tonight?”

“That’s right,” Larry was smiling. Ally was still all smiles, despite the sarcasm. Larry brushed a piece of hair off of Ally’s cheek. “I love you Ally McBeal. Happy birthday.”

“Hmm...” Ally moaned slightly, moving in to kiss him, clutching his head between her hands, running her fingers through his hair. They danced on the sidewalk slowly as they kissed.

The love they made that night...it was the last they would make for a while. But it was sweet, oh so sweet. The perfect birthday present, she got her man, a superstar serenade, what more could a girl ask for.

Ally turned the page and saw a picture of her standing next to a snowman dressed up like her Larry. She remembered the day they took that apart..........

Kiss today goodbye

The sweetness and the sorrow

Wish me luck the same to you

But I can’t regret what I did for love

What I did for love

Ally was walking aimlessly down the street, her mind jumbled with thoughts of the past few days’ events. Therapists, telling her to leave Larry, visions of Larry when it was really someone else, all she was doing was missing him more.

Look my eyes are dry

The gift was ours to borrow

It’s as if we always knew

Ally took her keys out and unlocked her apartment door, locking it back up behind her as she entered.

And I won’t forget what I did for love

What I did for love

She took off her shoulder briefcase, put it down on the floor. When she reached for a scratch on her neck and saw the snowman Larry had made for her when he left for Detroit in the middle of her living room, illuminated by the bright sunlight, she froze.

“You stuck me in a freezer?”

Ally held her breath before whipping around to see Larry leaning against a white column, arms crossed, and head cocked to the side, looking sexy as hell. She gasped, not knowing what else to do. Tears flooded Ally’s eyes as she attempted to speak. “Well um, well what, what are, um, are you, are you are you back?”

“I’m, back,” Larry responded simply. Ally gasped again and shook her head in disbelief. “Look, I’m not much better at hellos than I are goodbyes,” Larry added quickly, hoping to make this reunion more of what he was hoping for.

“How long?” Ally got out coherently.

“What?”

“Well, how, I mean is,” Ally stuttered as Larry moved closer to her. “Is this a visit you know or or how how long are you back for?” Ally gestured nervously with both her hands, using big motions.

Larry stopped walking and looked at his watch. “Oh, well does, uh,” he looked up, “does forever work for you?” Larry paused. “I was, hopin’ to move in,” he added, almost under his breath. Ally was having a hard time dealing with this whole situation. It was real, she wanted to believe it was real...she bent her head down, shaking it, rubbing the bridge of her nose with her fingers. “Are you thinking about it?” Larry asked after it seemed a minute had passed by.

“Uh, no, Larry, Larry,” Ally motioned like she was pushing him away.

“I promise I won’t shave my legs in the tub,” Larry cracked.

“Hmm, no,” Ally looked up, still playing with her hands, “uh uh, uh uh, I’m I’m, well I just won’t be able to take you leaving again,” Ally finally made eye contact with Larry.

“Which works out well cause I don’t plan to,” Larry moved just a tad bit closer to Ally. “I told you before, I’m only at the beginning of loving you.” Before Ally could say anything else, he cut her off with a kiss, engulfing her in his arms.

For once in my life I have someone who needs me

Someone I’ve needed so long

For once unafraid, I can go where life leads me

Somehow I know, I’ll be strong

For once I can touch, hey, what my heart used to dream of

Long before I knew

Someone warm like you would make my dreams come true

Oh yeah yeah

For once in my life I won’t let sorrow hurt me

Not like it’s hurt me before

For once I have something that I know won’t desert me

I’m not alone anymore

For once I can say this is mine you can’t take it

As long as I know I have love I can make it

For once in my life I have someone who needs me

For Ally, this was one of the best moments her and Larry have ever shared. The moment was perfect. He wanted to stay forever. Ally looked up and around the house. “And he did,” she said softly, closing that album and grabbing the Christmas one.