Nick sighed as he felt the cold bed next to him. It has been three months since Jeff left for the army. Three months without his husband, and sadly still another three to go, and it was Christmas tomorrow.
"Papa." He heard a tiny voice say from the door. Nick rolled over to look at the little girl, Jenny. He smiled at the blonde hair child lovingly. The little girl toddled into the room, hazel eyes wide.
"What is it sweetheart?" He asked, smiling softly. He was so glad they ended up with Jeff being her biological father. It was something to remind Nick of Jeff, not that he could ever forget.
"I miss daddy." The little girl said, tears filling her eyes. Nick groaned, how was he supposed to not cry now? He patted the bed, and the little girl climbed in bed with him. He shivered when he felt her
cold toes. He frowned her toes shouldn't be that cold if she was just coming from bed.
"Jenny, why are your toes so cold?" He asked.
"I went to go see if daddy was home yet." She said.
"Oh, baby girl." Nick said snuggling into the top of her head. "You know it's not time for daddy to come home yet."
"I know." She said quietly.
"Let's go back to sleep." Nick said gently, "We can make Christmas cookies before you go see Grandma Sterling."
"Okay papa." She said snuggling, sleepily into Nick's chest.

The rest of the day passed without incident. They made cookies. Then Nick had to give Jenny a bath before they left to go visit Jeff's mom. Nick left her there while he did the Christmas shopping. He then
picked up Jenny and they went home. They had supper and went to bed. Well, Jenny went to bed. Nick stayed up to wrap presents. He finally went to bed at about midnight, praying that Jenny would sleep past five.

Jeff snuck into the house at about four in the morning. He snuck quietly into Jenny's room, knowing the little girl would wake soon. He, being the goofball he is, stuck a red bow in his bright blonde hair, before sitting to watch the little girl sleep. He had been sitting there for about ten minutes, and was starting to get antsy. That was one thing about Jeff that never changed, he couldn't sit still. Ten more minutes later, Jenny's eyes fluttered open. She sat up in bed, and rubbed her eyes. Her eyes widened and she gasped when she saw Jeff sitting on her floor.
"Daddy!?" She asked, shocked.
"That's me." Jeff said adorably. Jenny climbed out of bed and ran to Jeff, hugging him.
"Does papa know your here?" She asked.
"No. I want to surprise him. I want you to go wake papa up, take him downstairs then tell him that he has a surprise in his room." Jeff said. The little girl nodded, and ran from the room.

Nick was awoken by a little girl jumping on him. "Jenny." He grumbled, "sweetheart, it's to early."
"Come on papa, get up you need to come downstairs!" She said, excitedly. Nick groaned, but let himself be dragged downstairs. When they reached the living room, Jenny started pushing Nick back towards the stairs.
"You have a surprise upstairs, papa, go."
Nick turned and gave his daughter a look. She waved at him to go. So he headed upstairs, and walked into his room. He gasped when he saw what was sitting in the bed. He ran and tackled Jeff in a hug,
knocking him over. Jeff chuckled. "So someone's happy to see me."
"I missed you so much." Nick said, buried into Jeff's neck. "Is this my surprise?"
"No, I have one more surprise." Jeff said. "I've left the army. They gave me honorable discharge. I'm never leaving again."
"So your home?" Nick asked, happily.
"Home to stay." Jeff said.