Roach shifted the phone from his left ear to his right.

" Are you coming home for Christmas, Gary?" His father asked. Roach didn't answer for a few seconds for many reasons. The main two were he wasn't coming home, and he hadn't been called Gary in over a year. He sighed.

" No dad, im not. Well, I cant."

" And why not?"

Roach had to think on his feet. The truth was he had a choice of going home for the holiday, but he didn't want to. If he went home it would be him and his dad eating pizza and remembering mom. It wouldn't be Christmas without mom. Roaches dad knew that as well as him.

" Im on duty while others head home on holiday, sorry dad."

Silence.

" Dad?"

" Huh, oh, listen Gary I have to go. Merry Christmas."

" Right dad, bye."

Roach hung up the phone. He suddenly remembered why he never called his dad, he had become a complete sad sack since mom died. Roach had never really liked Christmas anyways. He would just do what he always did this time of year, lay in his bed and sleep it out. Or, so Roach thought. Little did he know he would feel a sense of family here more than anywhere else he had ever spent Christmas.

Captain MacTavish walked into the communications room to find Ghost typing away on a computer. Why was he always in here?

" Ghost! Are you going home for Christmas?" Ghost looked up, his face masked as usual.

" Christmas? Bloody hell, its that time of year again already?"

MacTavish nodded. Christmas was only a week away. Meat and Royce had already gone home. The only ones left were Worm and Roach. Ghost stopped typing and looked up at his captain.

" No, im not, what about you."

" Nope, why aren't you going?" As soon as the words left the captains mouth, he regretted it. He knew exactly why Ghost wasn't going home. Ghost sighed and switched off the computer.

" It would remind me to much of my family. And besides, it would be better to spend Christmas with you and Roach than by myself.. Why aren't you going home?'

MacTavish shrugged.

" The only family I really have is my sister, and we aren't exactly close. Besides, I couldn't leave you and Roach by yourselves, you guys would just get into trouble."

He could see through Ghosts sun glasses that his eyes were smiling.

" Excuse me, sir?"

Both men turned to the door to find Roach, he didn't look very happy. MacTavish smiled.

" Roach! Come on in mate, Ghost and I were just bullshitting."

Roach sadly shook his head.

" No thank you sir, I was just wondering if there is anything else you need me to do today."

MacTavish raised an eyebrow.

" No Roach, its fine."

" Then im going to bed."

When Roach left MacTavish looked at his watch, It was only six thirty. He turned to Ghost.

" You think he's going be okay?"

Ghost shrugged and pulled off his mask.

" Im not sure, but I know one thing. We are going to make this one kick ass Christmas for the little bugger."

His captain grinned.