Christmas Eve 1945

Andrew made it through 2 hymns before the church felt too warm, so full of joy he didn't seem capable of feeling anymore that it was cloying.

He took a deep breath, fiddled with his collar, rubbed at his knee and finally gave up and leaned over to Dad whispering; "back in a minute" before sliding out of the pew and walking quietly to the back of the church.

He could feel Dad's eyes on him but he didn't follow and Andrew breathed a sigh of relief. He just needed some air and maybe a smoke. He was fine. He repeated the mantra too himself as he put on his leather flying jacket and slipped outside.

It was cold and Andrew welcomed the way the air bit his lungs, he shrugged deeper into his jacket, noticing as he did so that his hands had steadied since he'd put it on. He snorted a humorless laugh at how his body still forced itself into battle-readiness at the faintest possibility that he might fly, never mind that he hadn't flown an op in over 7 months.

He reached for a cigarette but before he could fumble the packet out of his pocket he noticed a young woman approaching the church carrying a fussing baby. He forced a smile and started back towards the steps, "May I get the door for you?"

"Oh no thank you, I don't want to disturb the service and Teddy won't stop fussing." She looked exhausted and Andrew frowned.

"I…you're going to think this awfully forward of me, but may I walk him for you?" The young woman blinked at him in surprise and Andrew held out his hand, "I'm not sure if we've met, I'm Andrew Foyle."

Shifting the baby she took it, "Lucy Downs and this young rascal is Ted. You're DCS Foyle's son then?"

Andrew took a sharp breath, caught off guard by the surge of relief at once again being recognized for who his father was as opposed to the rank on his sleeve. "That's right. Do you know the Reids?"

Mrs. Downs nodded, "Yes, Mrs. Reid has been wonderful, my own Mum's up in Newcastle and my Ed being deployed…"

She trailed off awkwardly and Andrew wondered where Mr. Downs was now but pushed down the urge to ask and said instead, "Well I've known their daughters since they were even younger than Ted, so I do actually have some experience with babies; I promise I won't drop him."

Mrs. Downs laughed, "I never thought you would but surely you'd rather be in the service than out here in the cold?"

Andrew felt his face go wooden but forced himself to take a deep breath, "I found it a little too warm, I'm going to be out here for a bit regardless and I really would be more than happy to take a turn around the church with Ted."

Mrs. Downs studied him for a moment, her eyes narrowing and Andrew wondered if ability to see through half-truths was a skill women acquired as soon as they became mothers. Whatever she may have read in his expression caused her face to soften and after glancing from her son to the church and back to him she nodded. "If you're certain?"

Andrew grinned, "Positive." She smiled back and carefully extracted the well-swaddled baby from where he was tucked inside her coat. Andrew unzipped his own jacket and soon had little Teddy settled securely against his chest.

"We'll just take a few turns, I won't leave the churchyard and just call if you want me."

Mrs. Downs smiled, "I will, I'll be sitting in the last pew on the right so come and get me as soon as you've had enough."

Andrew nodded and watched her make her way inside before glancing back at the baby who was staring up at him slightly suspiciously, as if trying to decide if he were happy with this new arrangement. "Hello there, I realize we haven't been properly introduced, I'm Andrew and I gather you're Ted."

The baby gave an unhappy mewl and Andrew rubbed his back soothingly as he began to walk slowly around the side of the church, "I know I'm not as lovely as your Mum but she needs a bit of a rest."

As he paced, keeping up the one-sided conversation Andrew lost track of time and it surprised him when he heard the strains of carols, which marked the end of the service, coming through the door. He glanced down at little Ted, who was still fighting sleep and began to hum along with "Away in A Manger" letting the noise travel through his chest.

Two carols later Ted was asleep and as strains of "Oh Holy Night" cut through the cold night air, Andrew looked down at the infant sleeping peacefully and trustingly in his arms and realized that his actions had helped to create a world where babies like Ted could sleep without fear of air raids or the threat of invasion.

The knowledge warmed him to the core and as the choir sang in celebration of the birth of the Christ child, Andrew stood in the cold churchyard holding a perfectly ordinary little boy who had unknowingly given him back something Andrew had feared he had lost forever, the gift of joy.

When he found his father, after returning Ted to his mother, Dad gave him a long and searching look and Andrew watched as his shoulders relaxed and his eyes warmed at whatever he found. They said goodnight to the Reids and their other friends and walked home, neither speaking until they had hung their coats.

"Tea?"

Andrew nodded but before his father could step away he pulled him into a hug, "Happy Christmas Dad and…thanks"

There was so much more he wanted to say but he didn't know how to frame it into words and he wasn't sure he could have forced it passed the lump in his throat even if he had known what to say.

Thankfully Dad not only spoke in silences but also understood them; he patted Andrew warmly on the back a few times and murmured, "Happy Christmas Andrew…I'm so very glad you're home son."