Monday, Hereford, 0900 hours…

Melissa grabbed a mug from the cabinet and started making her green tea. It was Christmas Eve, and Soap hadn't returned yet. But Commander MacMillan did confirm that the 22nd was due back today, before 1000 hours. Melissa felt anxious, like a little kid who wished they could take a peek at their presents. While the kettle was boiling, she looked at the tree. It was decked out in traditional red and white, with lights blinking around the branches. She did a pretty good job. Presents from her family and Soap's sat at the bottom, creating the perfect picture. The kettle finished boiling and she made her tea before sitting on the couch, allowing the mug to warm her hands. She had been up since six am because she was so excited, but the doze was starting to set in so she made anything to keep her awake. After finishing the tea, Melissa still felt sleepy, so she walked back into the kitchen to grab the chocolate she had been eating over the week. She broke off a few cubes and popped them into her mouth before going into the laundry to get the throw blanket she had been washing out of the dryer. She heaved the large blanket into her arms and walked out back to the living room, reminding herself to get more chocolate. She exited the hallway and froze at what she saw.

Soap was standing in the living room, having just come through the front door. He looked a little tired and worn, but happy to be home, smiling when he saw her. He dropped the large bag that was over his shoulder and she threw the blanket on the floor, grinning wildly before running up and jumping on him. Soap caught her with ease, holding one thigh that was locked around his waist with his hand and wrapping his free arm around her torso to support her, burying his face in her neck and inhaling her sweet scent. Melissa stroked the back of his neck, over his revolver tattoo, with her other arm holding his body. She thought he smelt like mud and tobacco, but couldn't care less. He was home. Soap gently set her down and kissed her immediately, pulling her small body against him. She tasted like the chocolate she had been eating earlier, and he was instantly addicted. Melissa moaned in appreciation, holding him as tightly as she could manage. Soap pulled away for air and hugged her again, tucking her head under his chin. She was warm, and he needed as much body heat as he could get. It was freezing outside.

"Welcome home." She said, pressing her body closer, wanting to get all of him.

"It's great to be home." He replied, his voice tired and weary.

Hereford town, 1200 hours…

"Now that's more like it." Soap waved to the bartender for another glass after downing his scotch on the rocks. Melissa had taken him to the bar to celebrate his homecoming and Soap couldn't complain. After being bogged down in a sand pit by bloodthirsty Russians a drink with his beautiful girlfriend was like heaven. It was snowing lightly outside and the streets were decked out in Christmas decorations, with various wreaths and banners hanging from the lamp posts. Melissa was rugged up to the nines. A white beanie sat on her head and she was wearing a blue sweater and jeans, no doubt with several layers of thermals underneath. Her thick padded snow jacket was slung over the chair.

"Easy cowboy, I'm not carrying you if you're drunk." She teased. Soap snorted.

"Last time I checked it's always been the other way around, not usually in drunk circumstances." He said suggestively and Melissa's cheeks went a light shade of red.

"Soap! There you are." Soap and Melissa turned to see Price escorting Trish into the bar. The older man was wearing his warm gear, dressed down from his army fatigues in jeans. Trish was wearing similar clothes to Melissa, shrugging off her heavy padded jacket. Price helped her out of it before taking the seat on Soap's other side while Trish sat with Melissa. It only seemed like a few seconds before a beer materialised before Price. "Merry Christmas." He toasted, holding up his glass. Soap knocked on it with his scotch.

"You too old man."

Soap and Melissa's house, 2200 hours…

Soap walked back into the bedroom after checking all the doors and windows were properly locked. He saw the light from the bathroom glowing under the door and wondered what his girlfriend was doing. She had been in there for thirty minutes. But he heard movement, so she hadn't hit her head and was lying unconscious on the floor. He had turned to walk to bed when he heard the door open, but turned back and did a double take. Melissa was wearing lacy black underwear lingerie. She was standing there with a sultry smile on her face, looking like the cat that got the cream. Soap thought that his prayers had been answered and finally regained enough wits to smirk. He had missed Melissa everyday and she was all he thought about in Credenhill, about how much he wanted to hold her in his arms again. Someone must have been listening after all.

"Someone looks pleased." She said, leaning against the door frame. Soap could hardly believe it. He guessed that's what one month away from your significant other would do to you. Melissa slowly walked up and slid her arms around his neck and stood on her toes so she could kiss him, Soap meeting her halfway. Soap instantly felt the spark he had been missing for the past month and wrapped his powerful arms around her torso, not allowing her any room to escape. Soap kissed her as long as the air in his lungs allowed, but reluctantly parted when the need for air was dire. He felt breathless. Here he was in a stable relationship with a beautiful woman that he didn't deserve, who went out of her way to surprise him tonight. Most men didn't have this luxury, and when he was younger Soap definitely thought he would never find it. But here it was, standing in front of him and enclosed in his arms.

"I love you." he said, looking into her eyes. Melissa smiled a genuine, happy smile.

"I love you too." She replied and he kissed her again, their tongues battling for dominance, Soap's hands running over Melissa's smooth skin and making her shiver. Soap parted ways again.

"You tired?"

"No." she replied, raising a brow.

"Good, because I don't plan wasting our time together sleeping." He smirked, crushing her lips with his once more before pushing her to the bed.