AN: Hi Guys! So I promised Adii1201 & Jessi323 that I would write a Christmas Story. I had intended it on being all fluff. I actually wrote the ending first. Then I had to like backtrack into how they got to it...so it's starting out sad :(. But it gets better! And it is loosely based on the measley :20s preview for the winter finale. Also a few flashbacks...hope you like it - please leave comments; I LOVE reading them :) Again since I wrote this based on the preview, i'm going to try and post it all before Sunday.

Christmas Magic

December 10, 2015.

"I'm sorry for delaying our tree trip." Elizabeth apologized to her children. Christmas was always a very special time in the McCord house. They had set traditions and she felt extremely guilty for delaying their trip to the tree lot this year in order to travel to Switzerland with President Dalton to meet with Maria Ostrev.

"It's okay babe, you'll be back and we'll go on Sunday. It will be fine." Henry promised her, kissing her lips. "Be safe. I love you."

"Love you too." She said, kissing him and her children goodbye as she lugged her suitcase out the door.

On the ride; she looked out the window, keeping her thoughts to herself. It was a difficult day for her. She was saddened even more that Henry didn't say anything about it before she left. It was like he forgot. She wasn't sure what hurt more - his ignorance, or the anniversary itself.

****Christmas Magic******

December 10, 1983

William & Elizabeth McCord sat silently in their living room; in shock from the news. Their parents had died in a car crash just 15 days before Christmas. Some drunk driver coming home from a holiday party. They had all gone home for the holidays; they'd been back in the states a week tops in between her father's military assignments.

Her mom and dad had told them they were going out to dinner and shopping with their friends. But they never made it home.

They were placed in the custody of their aunt and uncle, per their parents will. Their aunt and uncle, whom they didn't see much of living abroad came to pick them up, two teenagers; her age 14, her brother age 16, alone and scared. They each packed a suitcase. Before they left for their new home, Elizabeth ran over to their Christmas tree, which they just decorated the night before and pulled the gifts she had placed under it for her parents. She had hoped it was wrong, hoped they were alive, and she would make sure to have their gifts ready when they came to get her at her aunt and uncles.

Will yelled at her for it. But she insisted. Her aunt said that was a good idea and let her be.

Her aunt and uncle had three children of their own, so it was a busy household to move into. Her aunt's housekeeper had set up rooms for them. To their credit, her aunt tried to get her to participate in the family activities, cookie making, and sledding. But she wasn't in the mood.

****Christmas Magic******

December 24, 1983

Everyone had gone to bed. But Elizabeth stayed up lying awake in her new bed, glancing out the large window watching the snow fall. Unable to sleep, she decided to try one last thing. Everything she had ever been told or seen on TV pointed to the possibility of a miracle happening on Christmas. And she sure could use one.

She reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen. Christmas was always special to her, so she figured if she had any shot, it was now.

Dear Santa,

I know I stopped believing in you long ago. Anyway, I'm writing to you, since there are still young children in this house that believe in you, still. So I'm hoping when you come by tonight you will see this letter and could maybe find it in your heart to do me a favor.

I know I'm asking a lot but, I'm sort of desperate. If there's any way you can bring my parents back, I'd sure appreciate it. But I'm guessing you can't do that, so I'm asking for the next best thing.

When they left that night to go out to dinner, I can't remember if I told them I loved them or not or if I did some 'whatever' goodbye like my brother. But I left the gifts I got for them under the tree. They aren't much, but I really just want them to have a Merry Christmas, wherever they are. They work so hard, and I know I complained a lot; that they paid more attention to my brother than me, but I'd give anything to have them back. Even if they never paid me any attention again. But most importantly, I just want them to know that I love them and I miss them. So if you could take the gifts when you come by and somehow get them to them, I'd be forever grateful.

Thank You,

Elizabeth

Wiping her tears, she neatly folded the letter and tiptoed downstairs and left it next to the plate of cookies and milk. Returning to bed, she closed her eyes and prayed for a Christmas miracle.

****Christmas Magic******

December 25, 1983

On Christmas morning when she awoke and went downstairs with her cousins, they darted to the tree, tearing open their gifts. But Elizabeth noticed the unopened letter and the presents she left still under the tree and she officially lost hope. Lost hope that it was some terrible mistake and her parents were out there somewhere - kidnapped or lost, just waiting to be rescued. But most of all she lost hope in Christmas and in miracles.

She faked a smile at the gifts her aunt and uncle bought her in hopes of making her day brighter. They were wonderful presents and she most definitely appreciated their kindness, but it wasn't the same. After all the gifts had been opened, she took her letter and her unopened gifts and retreated to her room.

****Christmas Magic******

December 12, 2015

She was on her way home, again aimlessly staring out air force one. Luckily the President had the good sense to pick up on her sour mood and let her be. They made progress with Russia, successfully avoided war. But at the cost of Dimitri's life. She told Henry when she went there she would try her best to not take advantage of his actions if at all possible. But when Maria called them on it, they didn't have a choice. She hoped Henry would understand.

She hated the divide their jobs were causing, hated how distant Henry was, hated how their issues had come to a head a few weeks ago admidt the cyber attack on Russia. But she followed his lead, taking on the prison risk again. She hoped her actions told him how much she still trusted him and loved him and that she still believed him over everyone. And things had gotten better, until he still didn't hear back from Dimitri.

She understood his worry over the boy. But she didn't like how he seemed to trump his own family. He'd not only been distant with her, he'd been that way with the kids too. And she didn't like it.

Henry never behaved like that, especially around the holidays.

Still upset that he hadn't offered his usual kind words to her on the morning she left, she was more than shocked to find him in her office upon her return.

"Hi." She said quietly, her voice tired. She leaned in to kiss him, but he barley kissed her back. His face was angry, upset.

"Elizabeth. What happened in Switzerland? I heard from my handler that Dimitri was dead." He scowled, his breathing heavy.

Why did he have to confront her right away? She was planning to tell him when she arrived home. "I'm sorry, Henry." She said softly, truly apologetic.

"You said you weren't going to…."he trailed off, looking away

"I tried."

"You tried?"

"Henry. I'm sorry. Maria confronted us, we had to think of the greater good. Henry, we didn't do it to hurt you. Believe me I tried to….you can ask Nadine…I…"

Henry sank into the chair in front of her desk, lost for words.

"Are you really blaming me for this?" she whispered, tears forming in her eyes, her emotions getting the better of her. Emotions over his ignorance of December 10, his attitude as of late, and her sense that he didn't believe her when she said she did try to save Dimitri. It made her wonder who her husband had become in the last 6 months.

"Elizabeth…."

"You are! How could you –"

"I'm not. I'm just. I don't know."

"Henry, look at me." She pleaded and he did. "Henry I swear I tried, I never wanted it to get this far. I listened to you about your intel! I tried to get the President to back off before going to the UN…but no one listened to us and you were right. Dimitri was right. What he did helped me figure out the air force one attack, and you promoted me just enough to to question Ukraine. Henry he died for a Nobel cause; he helped save us from World War Three."

"I know….I know. I do. It's just…"

"Henry you did your best." She told him. "And so did I."

He nodded and left. "We can talk later. I just need some space…"

She was left dumfounded at her desk. When she arrived home the children swarmed her with Christmas cheer, waving a plate of cookies they'd made in her face, telling her how excited they were for the tree tomorrow.

"Me too…" she said, hugging them. "But I'm really tired from the trip, I'm going to go up to bed."

When she arrived upstairs Henry was already in bed reading. She approached cautiously, not sure of his mood. She crossed the room slowly, planting a gentle kiss on his check. "You okay?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

It was the final straw. She had had it. She threw her shoes across the room and placed her hands on her hips. "Damn it Henry!" she spat. "I get that you are upset about Dimitri. You have been for weeks, and I'm sorry I couldn't save him. But you have no right to behave like this to me and the kids." She paused taking a deep breath and continued. "What is the date today Henry?"

"Saturday."

"No, the actual date."

"It's the 12th" he said, wondering what she was getting at.

"And what was the day I left?"

"Thursday….the 10th." He said, pausing as it hit him, letting the guilt wash over him. "The 10th….oh baby, I'm so sorry….I-" He couldn't believe he forgot the most awful day of her life. She was mostly okay, but he always had a small gesture to brighten her day: flowers, candy, a sweet card or a quiet dinner. It was all she needed; just a little acknowledgement; a small token to let her know she was thought of, loved - an invitation to talk if she needed.

She held up her hand. "Henry, don't you see? It's okay for you to be upset about Dimitri, and I sympathize, believe me I do. But Henry, I'm your wife, and we have three wonderful kids. And we're slipping away from you because you're so consumed with whatever this spy nonsense is. You're blaming me for Dimitri's' death and it's not fair. I've been trying my best, but it's like you don't care that we're slipping away, and you aren't even trying to…..i've never known you to ever forget December 10th. Ever. I just….I don't know what to do anymore….." she sobbed, turning for the bathroom to change into her pajamas.

Henry sighed. She was absolutely right. When did he let his student, his asset become more important than his wife and children? He heard her sobs quietly through the door and knocked. He pulled her into his arms and she resisted. "Baby please. I'm sorry. I wish I could tell you how sorry I am. I don't blame you….I don't. I don't have an excuse…..but I…baby please." He begged as she pulled away and slipped under the covers.

She wanted to be comforted by his embrace. But she couldn't. She had to let him think long and hard about what he did. He slipped into bed beside her, even though her back was to him, he placed his hand on his shoulder. "Baby, I promise. I'll fix it. I love you."

Rolling back to his back he wiped his own tears. Who did he think he was, having the right to comfort her after what he did? He deserved every second of lying awake the gut-wrenching sound of her occasional hiccup as she cried herself to sleep. What he did was unforgivable, not only his recent behavior, but forgetting the day of her parent's death – a day he always tried to make special to not remind her of it. He had to make this right, and he would if it was the last thing he ever did.

"Henry, just get it together by tomorrow okay." She whispered. "I won't let you ruin tomorrow for the kids."

As she sobbed herself to sleep, she felt herself drifting into that unhappy place in which she spent 5 lonely Christmases, devoid of hope, devoid of spirit. She hadn't been to that place since she met Henry, and it scared her that she was on her way there now, after 27 Christmases. She wondered what had happened to them. They were in dire need of a Christmas miracle. She was able to pull one out for the greater good, but she didn't think she had the strength or energy to fight for one for herself and Henry. The past few months had taken all of her fight to hold their bond together.