Hi, everyone! I've been away from fanfiction for a little while, but after watching some reruns of JAG, I was inspired to try another 25 ficlet Christmas story this year. Since I'm not sure I'll be able to post every day, I decided to start early so that I'll be able to finish in time for Christmas.

There will be plenty of romantic fluff and also some fictional liberties, like dress whites at a Christmas Eve wedding (mostly because this is fanfiction and I can't imagine Harm getting married in anything but dress whites).

I hope you enjoy the story. Thank you all for reading, and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.


Winter coats


"Harriet!"

Bud Roberts called out to his wife as he walked in the front door, casually swinging two garment bags in each hand.

Harriet hurried down the stairs, her blonde hair tied back in a messy ponytail and both of her arms occupied by two sleepy children. "Bud, where have you been? You were supposed to be home half an hour ago!"

"I'm sorry," Bud apologized. "There was a long wait at the dry cleaners."

"Were there problems with my dress?"

"No, honey, your dress is fine." Bud held up one of the garment bags and partially unzipped it to offer proof to his wife. "Pale blue with the chiffon sleeves, perfectly pressed."

"And your dress whites?"

Bud raised the other garment bag with the opposite hand. "Got them right here."

He gave his wife a sheepish smile, and Harriet's heart immediately melted. Sometimes she didn't mean to take Bud's sweet nature for granted. "Oh, Bud, I'm sorry I snapped at you."

"It's okay, honey," Bud said, leaning in with the expectation to meet his wife for a kiss.

But before their lips could touch, Harriet's eyes widened and she let out a gasp. "Well, then what are we waiting for?" she exclaimed. "We have to leave right now if we want to get to the airport on time, and we haven't finished packing yet, and we still have to get the baby seats into the car, and I haven't even dressed or done my hair…oh, Bud, can you take one of the twins?"

Without waiting for an answer, Harriet handed the twin in her right arm to Bud, and he clumsily fumbled both garment bags with one hand and his youngest son with the other.

Their youngest daughter was still perched on Harriet's hip as she quickly pawed through the front closet. "I just want to grab the twins' winter coats in case it gets cold."

"Honey, we're going to southern California," Bud protested. "It doesn't get that cold, even in December."

"We're going to San Dee-O for Christmas, we're going to San Dee-O for Christmas."

Bud and Harriet's toddler son, Jimmy, sang cheerfully as he skipped down the hallway. His oldest brother, A.J., followed at a less enthusiastic pace, dragging a large duffle bag on the floor behind him.

"It's San Diego," A.J. informed him, emphasizing the syllables. "And we're not really going to San Diego; we're going to La Jolla, dummy."

"A.J., don't call your brother names," Harriet scolded.

Fortunately, Jimmy didn't miss a beat. "We're going to La Jolla for Christmas, we're going to La Jolla for Christmas," he chirped.

Suddenly, Jimmy came to an abrupt halt next to his mother and looked up at Harriet with wide, questioning eyes.

"Mommy, why are we going to La Jolla for Christmas?"

"Well, sweetheart," Harriet explained. "That's where your Uncle Harm and Aunt Mac are getting married."