A/N: Here's the next story! I had fully anticipated it to be another fluffy one but I didn't quite get it done in time. Expect that tomorrow. This is angsty, just so you know. Oh, and in my excitement to post yesterday, I forgot to mention: Each oneshot is inspired by a song. Today's is 'I'll Be Home for Christmas' which I think is the saddest Christmas song I know.

And a big shout out to everyone who reviewed. It definitely brightened my day! And Happy Birthday to A2b!

I'll Be Home for Christmas

The lights on the tree twinkled, creating shadows on the walls. The brightly wrapped presents were under the tree, some better decorated then others. A lopsided gingerbread house stood on one table, the by-product of an afternoon of fun.

Mistletoe hung in several places and the room smelled of cinnamon and cloves. And not only this room, but the whole house. There were handmade decorations on the tree, lights around the window, and the smell of baking in the kitchen...

It was two days before Christmas after all.

There had been a lot of preparation for this year's Christmas, as it was different than the others. The occupants of this house had each celebrated Christmas in the past, but never together, never like this. There was a man, a woman and a young boy. There was a baby as well, but that was not known to any of them yet.

The woman didn't like Christmas too much, but was getting into to the spirit of things, cajoled by her partner and his son. Now that she was part of a family, his family to be exact, she could see the magic of it. Of course, he had to hang up mistletoe everywhere to prove his point.

The first Christmas they had spent together was stuck inside the lab, dealing with a supposed virus that quarantined them. The second she spent in a conjugal trailer with her imprisoned father and brother while he and his son waved from outside with a Christmas tree just for them.

Last Christmas they didn't spend the day together, although he did show up a few days earlier, bearing a tree just for her. That's when she kissed him.

And then there was this Christmas, their first Christmas together.

Yet, the room was empty. Where Christmas cheer was supposed to be, there seemed to be nothing.

And if you listened closely, you could hear the sound of faint sobbing from the other room. This is where the woman was, lying on the bed, her body silently shaking as her fingers gripped the sheets as if they were her lifeline. Her face was pressed into the mattress, her tears choking her.

Beside her lay a photo, one of her with the man and little boy, smiling for the camera. The glass was cracked and it tipped precariously off the edge of the bed.

The window along the wall revealed the light snow that was dusting the world outside. Outside it was Christmas. Shoppers bought their last minute Christmas gifts, trees were being decorated and there was a general feeling of merriment in the air.

The woman continued to shake, no longer aware of Christmas, of anything really except the ache in her heart that threatened to swallow her whole.

She eventually drifts off to sleep, not waking until hours later, when the house is dark except for the twinkling lights.

Those are the first to go as she moves from room to room, pulling everything down. The gingerbread house is shoved in the garbage can, the decorations pulled down and finally, she is in front of the tree, tears in her eyes as she packs away the gifts for the boy.

Her hand rests on one she didn't notice before. It's addressed to her, not Parker and it's from him. Her hand shakes as she holds the gift, unable to pack it away like the others. She is fifteen again and refusing to open presents until her parents return.

But this time she knows, whether she opens it or not, he's not coming back. The finality of the thought shakes her.

The woman reaches for the bow and slowly undoes it, tears slipping down her cheeks as she does so. The card says 'Love Seeley' and she traces his handwriting. Her eyes close and she is imagining them on Christmas morning, their first Christmas together, opening presents and drinking eggnog.

And as she opens the present, a smile reaches her lips.

"Merry Christmas Booth."

A/N: So? Are you all still with me? Still willing to press the review button after all that angst?