A/N: Happy Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy WHATEVER! This is a story written specifically for , for the Lost Secret Santa Fic Exchange, and stars my two favourite characters, Ben and Alex.
Alex Linus loved Christmas. Not because of the gifts, or the wonderful food, but because she gets to spend it with her father. Any other 15 year old girl would take this for granted, but young Alex loves having the chance for it to be just her, and her father. No one to interrupt them.
On Christmas, Ben Linus was no where to be found. Alex assumed he was probably doing some last minute work, but was surprised to find that her father brought their fellow Island inhabitant Juliet Burke over.
"Alex, I invited Juliet to eat dinner with us tonight. I hope you don't mind." He said, his hand on Juliet's back. Alex felt a pang of sorrow smack her in the chest.
"N-no. I-I don't mind." She stuttered, trying to keep herself from sounding upset about this sudden change in their Christmas routine. Nodding to Juliet and her father, Alex turned on her heel, and strode to her bedroom, closing the door quietly behind her to make sure that her father did not think that she was angry or upset.
Around 2:30 (or what Alex guessed was 2:30, as she was waiting for Richard to get her a new alarm clock), Juliet slid into Alex's room, kneeled down to her bed, and whispered in Alex's ear,
"I'm going to leave."
Alex looked over to Juliet, and gave her a quizzical look. "Why? My father invited you for dinner."
"And It is quite obvious you were hurt by this. I know what it's like to want to spend Christmas with just you an your family. For a long time it was just me and my sister."
"I love having dinner with my dad. It's the only time we actually sit down and have a good meal together."
"Then I'll leave, and give the excuse that you and him need a nice dinner together, as Father and Daughter."
Alex smiled and hugged Juliet just before she left the bedroom.
"It's a shame Juliet didn't want to stay. But I'm glad that you don't mind, Alex." Ben said as the two served themselves turkey dinner.
"I like spending time with you dad. It's like, the only time we do." Alex said, sitting next to her father at the table.
"I know I've been busy this year, but I promise that next year, I will try and be there for you more."
"I appreciate it, dad." Alex smiled, taking a bite of the macaroni salad they had made the night before.
The supper went by fast, and the two talked about the year that had passed. They thought about the future that would come, and the memories that would be formed through out the years.
Alex always knew why she loved Christmas.
It's because she loves her father.
The End