Christmas Back Home
The lights were dimmed low as Lance sat on his bed looking at a picture he kept in his jacket of his family. He smiled at their faces and wondered what they were doing back home for Christmas since Pidge had told him that they had been in space for at least 4 months and it would be December now.
"I wonder if they're making my favorite hot chocolate and planning the annual trip out to the mountains?" He wondered aloud in his room as he imagined the chaos that normally follows one of their snowboarding trips.
His favorite thing about Christmas was going on their snowboarding trip because it was the one time of the year when the whole family was able to get together and bond. Since everyone had time consuming jobs outside of his younger siblings and cousins that were still in school, it was very difficult for everyone to get together.
"Momma is probably knitting everyone scarves this year since she got all that yarn for her birthday from me and Pops. I wonder what color she's making mine..." He mumbled as he gazed at the face of his Mother smiling next to his Father in his photo. "I miss you Momma."
Tears were starting to swell up in his eyes as memories of previous Christmases raced through his mind and the realization of not being with them during his favorite holiday made him start to choke with emotion. But he didn't want to cry. He didn't want to cry out of fear of everyone hearing him and he had to be strong for their sake. But the pain didn't hurt any less.
Lance wiped away his runaway tear rolling down his face and smiled at the photo with longing. "Merry Christmas everyone. I miss you guys so much and I hope you're catching some major air for me while I'm out here fighting a war. I'll be back home as soon as I can and I hope everyone is doing fine. I'm looking forward to telling you guys all about my whacky space adventures and introducing you all to my friends. I'm sorry I'm not there with you guys but I'll be with you in spirit. I love you all."
He placed his photo by his pillow and laid down on his back as he started to drift off into deep sleep. All the while dreaming about his family sitting around the Christmas tree exchanging presents and singing Christmas carols. He could practically smell the sugar cookies and the hot chocolate being passed out with whipped cream swirled on top. And most of all: he dreamt about his Mother looking at him with unconditional love as she wrapped his scarf around his neck with her soft smile on her face.
Christmas dreams soothed the Blue Paladin to sleep as one final tear rolled down his soft cheek out of longing for his family back home. This would be the first Christmas he wouldn't have any memories of at all.
