"To be honest, Adem," Phil said, "there's a lot more to it than that."

"Here it comes," Leslie chuckled. "And I thought Tayden would share this part with us."

"Christmas is a purely arbitrary day," the telepath said. "But it's a day designated by the church-"

"-To co-opt pre-existing pagan festivals," Grimm finished for him, entering the room and cracking open a Heineken.

Phil shook his head. "-To celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas. The Christ Mass of the church year."

"Someone has a religious side we didn't know about," Brianna said mockingly from the next room. "You a closet Catholic?"

Phil shook his head. "I'm no saint, that's for sure. I met a preacher once, though, and he helped me get going in a better direction than I was headed in." He tried not to remember what had happened that same day - the manhunt, the fight, the chase, and most of all losing Gabriela the first time. "Since then, I've been trying - at least as much as I know how - to do what God wants me to. I figure it's the least I can do, considering how many times I've been bailed out by what could only have been divine intervention."

Leslie smiled at him. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you?"

Phil grinned back. "Is somebody curious?"

Grimm held up a hand. "Hey! You two wanna get it on, get a room! You're killin' the holiday ambience - and if I hear any mushy talk I'm gonna lose my beer here. That means ass will be kicked."

Adem eyed the avatar of Death curiously. "You appear to be somewhat affected by your consumption of alcohol."

"Yeah, dude," Michael 'the Luchadore' replied. "You're sloshed."

"Just gettin' started," the undead biker replied. "When you're fuckin' Death, you can get piss drunk whenever you want without worrying about your liver or being able to drive and shit like that." He shrugged. "Makes the holidays that much more cheerful - for me, anyway." He took another swig of his Heineken. "Workin' on Number Nine for today."

"Getting back to what I was saying," Smith interjected, "Christmas isn't just a time for getting things or even giving things..."

"Like buying your girlfriend pink underwear or something?" Michael asked.

"Scarlet," Leslie murmured when nobody was looking. "Tyrrhian scarlet."

"What was that?" the Luchadore asked as his, Grimm's, and Brianna's heads all snapped in the ex-bounty hunter's direction.

Adem merely looked on, vaguely confused, while Phil Smith stared at the ground, his face rapidly approaching the shade of a lobster.

Leslie looked around nervously. "Ummm... nothing." She turned to Phil. "Keep going. The true meaning of Christmas...?"

"I think it's time for a new conversation," the telepath muttered.