It was Christmas Eve in Hazzard, not a very festive time for the first time in a very long while, it was the first one without Jesse and Bo, Luke and Daisy missed him terribly. Daisy missed Jesse so much that she accepted Enos' invitation to spend the holiday in California with him. Bo and Luke were making somewhat of an effort to celebrate the holiday, feeling that Jesse wouldn't want them to completely miss out on the time of year that had meant so much to them as a family. But even though they had the tree up and decorated, as well as other decorations throughout the house, neither of them were really in the Christmas spirit.
Luke was sitting in the living room, staring at the fire in the fireplace when Bo came down the hall from the room they still shared, neither of them had felt comfortable moving into Jesse's room, even though Daisy tried to convince them that was what their uncle would want.
"Hey, Bo." Luke said, barely glancing at his younger cousin.
"Hey, Luke."
"You okay?" Luke asked, turning his attention to Bo.
"Yeah, as okay as I can be." Bo said softly.
"Yeah, same here." Luke went back to staring into the fire as Bo took a seat on the couch. "Listen, I know we usually exchange presents Christmas morning, but would you mind if I gave you your's now?" Luke asked a few minutes later, watching his cousin nervously.
"No, I guess not." Bo answered, a feeling of apprehension racing through him as he realized he would have to give Luke his as well.
"Good." Luke said as he stood up and took a box from under the tree. "It's not much, but I think you'll like it."
"I'm sure I will." Bo said, trying to smile reassuringly as he took the gift from Luke. Carefully he unwrapped the green and gold paper and opened the box. He stared in shock at the hand-carved and hand-painted model of the first car to ever win the Indy 500. "Luke, it's beautiful...thank you." he said, looking up at his older cousin.
"I'm glad you like it." Luke said, smiling his first genuine smile in a very long time.
Bo sat his car carefully on the table next to the couch, took a deep breath and stood. Walking over to the tree he took a tube wrapped in gold foil wrapping paper and held it out to his cousin, his heart hammering in his chest. "This is for you." he said, his hands shaking as he handed the parcel to Luke.
"I'm sure I'll love it."
'I wish I was that sure...' Bo thought, watching Luke painstakingly open the present.
Luke unrolled the parchment paper and gasped as he read the words of the song. "Bo, this is beautiful."
"I..I wrote it for you." Bo said, his voice soft, unsure.
Luke made sure Bo was looking at him before he spoke again. "Would you sing it for me?"
"Yes." Bo said, his fear slowly melting as a soft smile played over his face. He took his guitar from the corner and sat back down on the sofa, while Luke sat next to him, each turned to face the other. Bo began to sing in his clear perfect voice a song of love untold, of friendship unending. "I'm sorry, Luke, I couldn't hide anymore." Bo whispered when the song ended, misinterpreting the tears in Luke's eyes. "I'll be out of your hair tomorrow." he finished, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Luke reached over and caressed Bo's tear-stained cheek. "You don't have to be out of my hair tomorrow. In fact I'd be glad if you were never out of my sight again." he said softly.
"You mean that?" Bo asked a hint of nervousness back in his voice.
"Yes, Bo, I do. I never knew what to say or how to say it, but I love you."
"I love..." Bo's declaration was cut short by a loud crack coming from the direction of the barn. Bo put his guitar aside and the two men raced outside watching as a section of the barn collapsed. They ran to the barn and began pulling animals out of the section that was still standing.
On their last trip out of the barn Bo was running alongside Luke with a baby lamb in his arms when he tripped over a fallen beam, flying headfirst into the side of the farm pickup, knocking himself unconscious. Luke heard the thud and turned to see Bo lying on the ground, unmoving.
"Bo!" Luke screamed, dropping his own lamb and running to Bo's side. "Don't you dare do this to me! I love you! Damn it Wake up!" Luke sobbed, his heart clenching in fear as he pulled Bo into his arms. "Hang on, Bo, I'm gonna get you to the hospital." Luke said, picking up the younger man. "I just found you, I ain't gonna lose you now." he cried as he carefully settled Bo into the General. Once they were both inside Luke settled Bo's head on his leg, holding Bo with one hand and driving with the other. He prayed the entire way to Tri-County General.
Never in his life had Luke Duke been so scared, not when he was surrounded by bombs in 'Nam, or when they got into seemingly impossible situations when they were younger. The closest to this fear Luke had known was when Bo drove for that carnival of thrills. "Hang on, little cousin, just hang on. I love you so much, Bo." Luke sobbed as he came to a screeching halt at the emergency entrance to the hospital. He carefully pulled Bo out of the car and carried him inside, cradling him like one would a baby.
"What happened?" A nurse asked as Luke came through the door.
"He hit his head, he's been unconscious for fifteen minutes...please don't let him die..."
"We'll take good care of him, Mr..."
"Duke, his name's Bo." Luke answered as he laid Bo down on the gurney the nurse indicated.
"Okay, Mr. Duke, you'll need to go to the desk and do some paperwork."
"Okay." Luke answered, clearly terrified at leaving Bo. "I love you." he whispered as he gave Bo's hand one last squeeze before heading to the nurses station.
"Can I help you?" The nurse behind the counter asked as Luke walked up.
"I need to fill out something, I just brought my cousin in." Luke answered in a shaky voice.
"Okay, just fill out these forms." The nurse said, handing Luke a clipboard full of papers.
Luke took the clipboard and the pen the nurse handed him and started writing, shaking so bad that he dropped the pen a couple of times.
"Here, let me help." The nurse offered when she saw that Luke was having so much trouble. Once the forms were completed and Luke had signed them as carefully as he could the nurse directed him to a waiting area.

"Mr. Duke?" The doctor said, coming into the waiting area.
"Yes?" Luke said, standing and moving toward the doctor. He felt like his head was in a fog, he could barely move, barely breathe. The twenty minutes he had waited after filling out the admission papers had seemed like the longest of his life. "How is he?"
"He's awake and asking for you."
"Is he gonna be okay?"
"Yes, but I want to keep him overnight and run a few tests." The doctor reassured Luke. "I'll take you to him."
"Thank you." Luke said, following the doctor down the hall.
"He might be asleep again," the doctor warned, "but don't worry, it's perfectly normal in cases such as this."
"Thank you." Luke said again as the doctor showed him into Bo's room. Luke walked over to the bed and picked up Bo's hand, holding it between both of his own.
"Luke?" Bo whispered.
"Yeah, it's me, how're ya feeling, darlin'?"
"Like Maudine kicked me."
"I know, you'll be fine though." Luke said, softly caressing Bo's cheek with the back of one hand.
"What happened?"
"I'm not sure, do you remember anything?"
"We were in the living room, I was just about to tell you I love you." Bo said, smiling at Luke "Then we heard a crack and ran outside, the barn was collapsing, we ran in and got as many of the animals out as we could, but as I was running out the world started to spin. I tried to steer clear of something and tripped. That's all I can remember, until I woke up here."
"Near as I can tell when you tripped you banged your head on the side of the truck."
"Did I dent it?" Bo asked, attempting a joke.
"I don't know and I don't really care, you are much more important than the truck." Luke said, bringing Bo's hand up to brush a kiss against his knuckles. "I love you, Bo."
"I love you, Luke."
Luke heard the door start to squeak open and he trued to go back to the caring cousin way he had always acted toward Bo, but he couldn't hide the obvious love in his eyes.
"Mr. Duke, I'm afraid your friend is going to have to leave now." the doctor said to Bo. "you need your rest."
"When can I go home?" Bo asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon, if I am satisfied with the results of your tests."
"Tests on Christmas?" Bo asked in surprise.
"Yes, Mr. Duke, I'm sorry, but it has to be that way."
"Bo, don't argue, you'll be home tomorrow afternoon." Luke said, squeezing Bo's hand.
"Okay." Bo said glumly.
"I'll leave you to say goodnight." The doctor said, heading for the door. "Only five more minutes please." he said to Luke.
"Okay...and thank you, doctor." Luke answered as the doctor left them alone.
"I don't want to stay here alone." Bo said.
"I know you don't, but since you're okay I don't think they'll let me stay."
"I know."
"Listen, darling, I'll be here first thing in the morning, we'll have you out of here as soon as the doctor let's you leave..okay?"
"Yeah." Bo said, nodding.
"You get some sleep., and remember I love you." Luke said, caressing Bo's cheek with the tip of his finger.
"I love you too." Bo said, squeezing Luke's hand, which he still hadn't let go of.
"Sleep well." Luke said, as he bent and kissed Bo's forehead.
"You too, my love." Bo whispered, watching Luke leave.

Instead of going straight home Luke went to the cemetery and knelt by Jesse's grave, tears streaking his cheeks as he looked at the headstone with his uncle's name on it. "Somehow, Uncle Jesse, I know you know what happened tonight. I have loved him for so long, but his happiness was always so important to me that I couldn't risk telling him. When he sang that song and I realized he felt the same way, my heart soared. I hope you don't hate either of us because of the love we share. We all miss you so much. It's not the same without you here. I love you, Uncle Jesse, please don't hate me." Luke swiped at the tears rolling down his cheeks, as he bent his head in reverence. As he knelt there he felt and incredible sense of peace filling him and he felt like everything was going to be fine. "I love you." he said again as he rose and headed back to the General.

At home Luke went to bed, but he couldn't find rest. He tossed and turned, missing the small sounds that Bo made in his sleep. He went into the living room, intending to read for a while to try and make himself sleepier, but instead of grabbing a book off the shelf he grabbed one of the photo albums sitting there. He took a seat on the sofa and began to flip through the books, remembering all the good times from when he, Bo and Daisy were children. There were pictures of them swimming and having picnics, as well as pictures from when they got older and started racing.
He spent most of the night on the sofa, lost in thought. Around 5 o'clock he finally fell asleep, still on the sofa.

Luke jerked awake at the sound of the phone. He grabbed the receiver, his heart pounding at the thought that something had happened to Bo. Glancing at the clock he groaned, it was 9 o'clock and he had overslept. "Hello?" he said into the phone, his voice shaking.
"Luke, hi!"
"Oh, hi, Daisy."
"You okay, sugar?"
"Yes."
"Liar, you miss him, probably even more than Bo and I do."
"Yeah, I do, though I wouldn't say more, just differently."
"I know."
"How's California...and Enos?"
"Both are great. I hope I didn't call too early, I figured you and Bo were out partying half the night." Daisy said, the smile on her face evident.
"I wish we had been...more than I can say."
"What's the matter, Luke, you two didn't have a fight, did ya?" she asked, knowing that they didn't often fight, but that when they did it tore them both to pieces.
"No, we didn't...Daisy, Bo's in the hospital."
"Oh my God!" Daisy screamed. "What happened? Is he okay? Why didn't you call!?"
"Something happened to the barn last night, part of it collapsed. As we were getting the animals out he fell and hit his head. I got him to the hospital and they kept him overnight."
"Why didn't you call? I could have flown home this morning."
"Daisy, the doctor says he's gonna be fine, and it's a holiday, you'd have been lucky to get a flight the day after tomorrow. And I didn't call because I didn't want to worry you."
"You didn't want to WORRY me!!!" She screamed.
"Daisy, calm down, he's gonna be fine, there was no need to drag you home."
"I'll catch the next flight."
"Daisy, please, stay there, enjoy yourself. You deserve it."
"But if Bo's in bed you're gonna need help taking care of him."
"Daisy, haven't I taken care of him his entire life?"
"Yeah."
"Then stay, have fun. Daisy, I need to get to the hospital. I'll call you if I need you to come home, okay?"
"Okay...take care, and Merry Christmas."
"You too. Love ya cousin. Merry Christmas to you and Enos too."
"Thank you. Tell Bo we love him."
"I will, and don't even think of cutting your visit short, okay?"
"Yes cousin, just don't wear yourself out."
"I won't."
"Love ya cousin."
"Love you too."
"Bye."
"Bye." Luke said, hanging up the phone.

Luke was just heading out the door after his shower when the phone rang again. He almost ignored it, but ended up answering in case it was the hospital calling about Bo. "Hello." he said, his heart pounding in fear.
"Hey Lukas Dukas."
"Hey, Cooter." Luke said with a relieved sigh.
"Just wanted to wish ya a Merry Christmas and see if I could stop over later."
"Well, Cooter, I don't know when we'll be home...I had to take Bo to the hospital last night. He hit his head, but he's gonna be fine..I just don't know when he's gonna be home."
"I'm sure he'll be fine, especially with you taking care of him."
"Yeah, he will be....Cooter, I finally told him."
"That's great." Cooter said with a smile in his voice.
"He told me first, we did presents last night and...he...he wrote me a song...he wrote me a song.." Luke repeated in awe.
"Well, buddy, it's about time." Cooter said.
"Yeah, it is."
"I assume you're headed to the hospital, so I'll let ya get going. Tell Bo I said hey."
"I will, thanks Cooter."
"Anytime, buddy. Catch ya on the flipside."
"Yeah, catch ya later." Luke said, hanging up the phone.

When Luke got to Bo's room, his heart beat double time again when he saw that Bo was not there. "Can you tell me where Bo Duke is?" Luke asked, running up to the nurses station.
"And you are?" The nurse asked him coolly.
"Luke Duke."
"Oh, thank goodness you're here. He said you'd show up soon...actually he said you were late." the nurse said with a smile.
"That's Bo." Luke said with an answering smile. "Can you tell me where he is?"
"He's downstairs having an EEG, he'll be in his room shortly."
"Thanks." Luke said, heading in the direction of the lobby.

Fifteen minutes later Luke was sitting in Bo's room, nervously flipping through the magazine he'd bought in the gift shop, when Bo was wheeled in by a nurse.
"Luke Duke, where were you?" Bo asked from the door. "You're late."
"I was trying to keep your cousin in California." Luke answered as he stood to help Bo back into the bed.
"Daisy called? How are she and Enos?"
"Good as far as I can tell, she was angry that I hadn't called.' Luke said, sitting on the side of Bo's bed after he got Bo settled.
"Oh, well, she'll get over it."
"Yeah, she will. Have they been taking good care of you?" Luke asked, looking worriedly at Bo.
"Yeah."
"You been flirtin' with all the nurses? Luke asked.
"Nope, the only person I want to flirt with is right here." Bo said, picking up Luke's hand.
"I'm glad to hear that."
"I'm glad to say it. Do you know how many years I've waited?"
"Couldn't possibly been more than I have."
"Since you left for the Marines."
"Guess we're about even then." Luke said, smiling at his younger lover.
"I love you, Luke."
"I love you."
"Did you tell Daisy?"
"No, I didn't know what to say, but I did tell Uncle Jesse."
"You did?"
"Yeah, I had an overwhelming urge to stop on the way home and when I told him such a sense of peace came over me...I can't even explain it."
"You don't have to, I think I felt it myself."
"That doesn't surprise me as much as I think it should."
"It doesn't surprise me at all, Luke. We're closer than two people have right to be."
"You are part of me, Beauregard, whether you know it or not."
"I do know it, and you're part of me, Lukas." Bo said, just as the door opened.
"Mr. Duke, I have the results of your tests." The doctor said as he came in. "Could we speak alone please?"
"Anything you need to say can be said in front of Luke." Bo said, squeezing Luke's hand.
The doctor nodded and looked at both men. "I have good news and bad. The good news is that you are going to be just fine."
"And the bad?" Bo asked nervously.
"The bad news is that it appears that the blow to your head has made a condition known as epilepsy manifest itself."
"Epilepsy? Ain't that the one that causes people to throw fits?" Bo asked, his whole body shaking in fear. Luke moved closer and put an arm around Bo's shoulder, holding him tightly.
"Not exactly." The doctor said in answer to Bo's question. "It does cause seizures, but based on your EEG you've only had mild ones, what we call petit mal, they might seem like you're just staring off into space for a bit. And Epilepsy is something that is fairly easily controlled with medication."
"But I'm going to be all right?"
"You'll be fine. the nurse will bring in a prescription. I want you to take one tablet every morning and every night and I'll need to see you back here in two weeks for a check-up."
"Okay, thank you, doctor." Bo said, fear still evident in his voice.
"You're welcome. And you're all set as soon as the nurse brings in the medication. Have a Merry Christmas."
"Thanks." Bo said, as the doctor turned around and left.
"Hey, Bo, you okay?" Luke asked as his always talkative cousin sat in silence.
"Yeah, fine." Bo said, climbing out of bed and getting dressed.

On the drive home the silence got to be too much for Luke so he pulled the General to a stop at the side of the road and turned to Bo. "Okay I know that this is upsetting you, if you don't want to talk about it, I understand, but when you're ready I'm here." Luke said softly.
"I can't do this to you, Luke." Bo said, looking at the love of his life with tears in his dark blue eyes.
"Can't do what?" Luke asked, putting a hand on Bo's shoulder.
Bo wanted to pull away, but found he couldn't. "I can't stick you with someone who's sick.'
Luke moved closer to Bo and, putting a finger to Bo's chin, turned the younger man's face toward him. "Beauregard Duke, I love you. You are not "sticking" me with anything. You are gonna take your medicine and be fine. And I am going to continue loving you. If you want to leave I won't stop you, but I will continue loving you. Do you understand me? I...will...love...you...forever."
Bo couldn't help smiling at Luke's words. "I don't want to leave, I just don't want you to spend the rest of your life feeling like you have to take care of me."
"Bo, whether you have Epilepsy or not I'd still spend my life taking care of you, it's one of my ways of showing that I love you. Just like I know you'll take care of me."
"You're right, I will." Bo said as Luke leaned in and brushed his lips with a soft kiss. Bo deepened the kiss, one hand weaving into Luke's hair.
When the kiss broke Bo sighed. "My God, I'm nearly forty years old and I think that's my first kiss."
Luke smiled. "Mine too, darling." he whispered, caressing Bo's cheek. "You ready to go home, I think I still have time to cook the turkey."
"Yeah, I'm ready, let's go, love."
Luke slid over, put the car in gear and reached for Bo's hand. Bo took Luke's hand and began to hum his favorite Christmas carol, 'Silent Night', Luke joined in and they sang carols all the way home.


"What's Cooter doing here?" Bo asked as they pulled into the yard.
"I'm not sure, let's go find out." Luke said, climbing out and waiting for Bo. As Bo met him at the front of the car Luke took his love's hand. Bo nodded nervously toward the house, indicating Cooter's presence. "It's okay," Luke reassured him "he knows."
"You told him?" Bo asked in shock.
"Yeah, he knew a long time ago how I felt about you."
"Wow." Bo said in awe.
"Come on, let's go, it's Christmas, and we're together and there's a piece of mistletoe with your name on it in the living room."
Bo laughed softly. "That's funny, I'm sure I saw your name on it."
"Nope, it definitely said 'Bo'." Luke said, squeezing Bo's hand as he opened the door, sending the luscious smell of roasting turkey wafting out of the house.
"Merry Christmas." Cooter said, coming out of the living room.
"Merry Christmas." They both answered.
"What on Earth...?" Luke asked.
"Just call me Santa Cooter. I figured neither one of you would feel much like cooking, so I decided to start it for you myself. The turkey has about two hours left. The vegetables are all ready to cook. I brought a pumpkin pie with me and there's fresh rolls warming next to the fireplace. And now I'll leave you two alone." Cooter said, heading for the door.
"Cooter, don't leave, please." Bo said, watching their friend.
"You're as much a part of this family as we are. Besides, you've been here cooking and if I know you you'll go home to a hamburger. You should have been invited to dinner weeks ago." Luke said, berating himself that he had been so wrapped in grief that he had forgotten their friend.
"It's okay, besides I have Rosco joining me for hamburgers." Cooter said with a smile.
Luke walked over, picked up the phone and handed it to Cooter. "Invite him."
"You two should be alone."
"Cooter, Luke's right, you're family." Bo prodded.
"You sure?"
"Yes, Cooter, we're sure, besides, Daisy is in L.A. for another week and we'll never eat all this food, even with Bo's appetite." Luke said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Hey!" Bo protested.
"Just kidding " Luke said, looking at Bo with love-filled eyes.
"You better be."
"I am." Luke said, smiling at Bo, then he turned to Cooter. "Want me to call him, Cooter?"
"If you want."
"Fine, I will." Luke said, dialling the police station, knowing that not even the holiday would keep Rosco away from there. "Merry Christmas, Rosco." Luke said as soon as the sheriff answered the phone.
"Luke Duke?" Rosco said in surprise "Well, Merry Christmas to you."
"Cooter just told us that you were joining him for hamburgers later."
"Yeah, I am."
"Well, forget it, get out here, we have a fifteen pound turkey with all the trimmings, and you are both eating with us."
"When?" Rosco asked, his smile evident.
"Dinner will be in about two hours."
"Okay, thanks, Luke."
"You're welcome, Rosco, see you in a bit." Luke hung up the phone and turned back to Cooter and Bo. "Well that's settled." he said with a smile.
"You don't take 'no' for an answer, do you?" Cooter asked his friend, though he was grinning as he spoke.
"No, never has, never will." Bo answered for Luke.
"Ha ha, funny Bo." Luke said, giving Bo an appraising look. "Shouldn't you be sitting down?"
"Yes, dear." Bo said sarcastically, but smiling anyway. "So what are we gonna do while the turkey cooks?" he asked as he went to sit on the couch.
"Well, first off, I have something I want to show both of you." Luke said, grabbing the photo album he had spent the previous night staring at off the shelf and sitting down next to Bo. Then he looked over at Cooter, who was still standing across the room. "Come on and sit down, Cooter, I don't bite."
"Aw, dang." Bo said, earning himself a dirty look from Luke. Cooter sat down on the opposite side of Luke and grinned at his young friend.
"Remember this?" Luke asked, opening the book to a particularly special picture.
"I'll never forget it, the first race General ever won." Bo said, his voice hushed.
"Yeah, I remember that one, we all worked around the clock to get him ready." Cooter said.
Luke put a loving arm around Bo. "I was so proud of you that day." he said softly.
"I was proud of you, Luke, if not for you we wouldn't have finished him in time."
Cooter was flipping pages in the book, which was being ignored. "How the heck have you two been so blind for so long?" he asked his friends.
"What do you mean, Cooter?" Luke asked in confusion.
"Look at all these pictures." Cooter answered, leafing through the book. "The way you've acted toward each other from the beginning..."
"You're absolutely right, Cooter, I should have told Bo I loved him long ago."
"I should have told you, Luke." Bo countered.
"We should have both seen it a lot sooner." Luke said.
Bo had slipped his arm around Luke when his love sat down, and now he tightened it. "We have now, that's what's important."
"You're right, it is." Luke said, kissing Bo's lips softly. Cooter took that opportunity to go into the kitchen and check the food.
"I love you, Luke." Bo whispered as the kiss broke.
"I love you too, Beauregard...oops, sorry." Luke smiled, knowing how Bo hated his name.
"It's okay." Bo said, kissing Luke again, "If I'd minded I would have stopped you when you called me that this morning." he finished with a smile.
Cooter rejoined them a few minutes later and they spent a pleasant hour going through photo albums, revisiting old memories, and old feelings.
Luke didn't close the album until they heard a car in the yard. "Sounds like Rosco's here."
"Yeah and for once we ain't headed out the back way." Bo said, laughing.
Rosco knocked on the door. "Come on in, Rosco." Luke called.
Rosco stepped in, packages in his arms and Toodles at his heels. "Merry Christmas, where can I put these?"
"Here, let me help." Bo offered, standing and taking the packages out of Rosco's hands, laying them under the tree.
"They're nothing much, just trinkets." Rosco said apologetically.
"You shouldn't have done anything." Luke said, heading to the kitchen with Cooter. "Your friendship is enough."
"I...ah...wanted to..." Rosco started getting teary-eyed. "You're the closest thing to family I got."
With Cooter and Luke in the kitchen Bo didn't know what to say, finally he said, "Thanks, Rosco." his voice hesitant.
Luke chose that moment to poke his head back into the living room. "Dinner's ready, grab the rolls, will ya, Bo?"
"Sure, Luke." Bo said smiling at his true love.

When they had put all the food out and sat down to eat, Luke held out his hands to Bo on one side and Cooter on the other, signaling that they should all join hands to say grace. "Thank You, for the company of family and good friends. Thank You for the food we are about to receive and for all our blessings. Please watch over all those that cannot be with us on this day as well as those that have gone before. Amen."
"Amen." They all chorused, dropping hands.
"Let's eat." Luke said, picking up the bowl of mashed potatoes and digging in. "Everything looks delicious, Cooter."
"Yeah, it does, thank you, Cooter." Bo said, smiling at their friend.
"Aw, it was nothing." Cooter said, blushing.
Dinner was lively, everyone talking and laughing, and earning dirty looks from Rosco as they fed treats to Toodles under the table, even though Rosco was doing it himself.
After dinner they went back into the living room to exchange gifts. Rosco had gotten Bo a book about famous race drivers, and put a bookmark on the page about Bo. For Luke he had gotten a model fire engine, beautifully crafted and hand painted. And for Cooter he had gotten a book that detailed the history of the automobile.
Bo and Luke had gotten Rosco a small statue that had "Hazzard's Greatest Sheriff" engraved on it. They gave Toodles a supply of dog chew toys, which she loved. They gave Cooter an antique sign for the garage, knowing that he had started collecting automobile memorabilia a few years before.
Then Cooter handed Bo and Luke matching leather cases, when they opened them they were shocked to find matching antique swords.
"Oh sure, give them weapons." Rosco teased when he saw Bo and Luke's gifts from Cooter.
"You'll get yours, Rosco." Cooter said, handing Rosco a box.
Rosco carefully unwrapped the paper, revealing a solid oak box. When he opened it he was stunned to see an antique pearl handled revolver. "Thank you, Cooter, it's beautiful" he said, lifting the firearm from the box and testing the weight.
"You're welcome." Cooter said, then he called Toodles. When the dog came to him he reached down and petted her, "I didn't forget ya girl." he reached around the back of the couch and picked up an antique candy jar filled with treats for her.
All in all it was a better Christmas than any of them had been anticipating.

"Go sit down, Bo, I can finish out here." Luke said as he and Bo did dishes after Rosco and Cooter left.
"I ain't an invalid, Luke." Bo protested.
"I know. Sorry, guess I'm just worried about ya."
"I know." Bo said, with a smile for Luke.
"Go on, there's only a little bit left to do."
"Okay." Bo relented, wandering into the living room, but instead of sitting down he stood in the doorway and gazed around his home...their home.
Luke finished dishes and walked up behind Bo, slipping his arms around Bo's waist. "I love you." he whispered in Bo's ear.
Bo turned in Luke's embrace. "I love you, too." he said, brushing his lips over Luke's. then he glanced up. "Told ya the mistletoe said 'Luke'."
"What?" Luke asked, his voice sounding far off.
"You're under the mistletoe." Bo said, tilting Luke's chin up with a finger to brush a lingering kiss against Luke's lips.
Luke parted his lips, inviting Bo to deepen it, which Bo was glad to do, his hands tangling into Luke's hair, holding him close. They were lost in each other and their love and were startled when the phone rang.
Bo groaned but reached behind him for the receiver, his other hand still tangled into Luke's hair, his eyes never leaving Luke's as he answered the phone. "Duke residence."
"Bo!" Daisy screamed.
"Hi, Daisy."
"You feeling okay, cousin?"
"I was...you have a lousy sense of timing." Bo said without malice.
"Oops, sorry, I didn't think you'd have girls there on Christmas." Daisy apologized, hearing for the first time the breathless quality in Bo's voice.
"We didn't." 'Can I tell her?' he mouthed to Luke, who nodded.
"So what were you doing?" Daisy asked.
"I had just caught Luke under the mistletoe when the phone rang."
"Luke?" Daisy asked in surprise.
"Yeah, Luke. I've been in love with him for so long...I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't love him." Bo said, speaking to Daisy, but his eyes were locked on Luke.
"Who...when did this happen?"
"Last night, when we opened our presents to each other."
"And Luke feels the same way?"
"Ask him yourself." Bo said, handing the phone to Luke, "it's your cousin." he needlessly said to the older man.
Luke smiled at Bo as he took the phone. "Hey Daisy."
"Hi, sugar. Why didn't you tell me this morning?"
"Well, to be honest, I didn't know how you'd react." Luke answered nervously.
"I'm thrilled! A little shocked, but thrilled." Daisy said, obviously smiling as she spoke.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I've always thought you should be together, I just never said anything, I didn't think you'd appreciate it."
"Well, it's happened." Luke said, his smile widening.
"That's great. How's Bo doing?" Daisy asked, concerned.
"You heard him. He's fine, we'll tell you all about it when you get home." Luke said, anxious to get off the phone.
"But he's gonna be okay?"
"Yes."
"How's it going with you two?"
"Let's just say I was finding out one of the reasons that all the women couldn't keep their hands off him, until the phone rang." Luke said, grinning at his love.
"I'll let ya go then, sugar. Take care, don't do anything I wouldn't." Daisy said with a laugh.
"I promise I won't. Love ya cousin."
"You too, sugar, give Bo a kiss for me."
"Will do."
"Bye."
"Bye, Daisy." Luke said, replacing the receiver, then leaning in to brush a chaste kiss against Bo's lips. "That's from Daisy." he said softly, wrapping both arms back around Bo and leaning in, catching Bo's lips in a possessive kiss, his hands stroking over Bo's back and into his silky blonde hair. When they both needed air Luke pulled back a little. "And that was from me." he whispered, his voice husky.
"I like that one a whole lot better." Bo said, his voice hoarse.
"So do I."
"So what now?"
"What do you mean?" Luke asked.
"I mean, it's nearing bedtime and I'm getting tired of sleeping alone."
"So am I, though we're always together so we're never really alone."
"True..." Bo said, hoping Luke wasn't rejecting him.
"But I want to lie in your arms tonight." Luke said softly.
"I want to hold you as we sleep."
Luke took Bo's hand. "Let's go to bed."
"I'm right behind you." Bo said, as Luke led him down the hall to their room.

They lay in each other's embrace that night and for many nights after. They still missed their uncle, all of them did, but they knew that not only did they always have each other, but deep in their hearts they knew that their uncle approved of their relationship.