It was the last week before the Christmas holidays when Fitz finally gathered the courage to make amends.

After his last lesson of the day, Fitz headed straight to Jemma and Skye's room, having spent a few weeks writing apologetic letters for them both. He nervously knocked on the door, and tried to decide which of the two girls he'd rather see open it and have to deal with first. He couldn't.

When the door eventually swung open it was Skye, whose face dropped the moment she locked eyes with Fitz.

"I have something to say." Fitz said quietly. Skye remained unfazed.

"If it's not an apology you can go." Skye said.

"It is."

"…I'm listening."

Fitz took a deep breath and pulled out the two letters from his jacket, folding out the one labelled 'Skye'. Skye looked at the paper confusedly. Fitz noticed this.

"I, um…I wrote a letter for you. And for Jemma. I'm not good with on the spot sort of speeches. I've rewritten it about ten times in the past few weeks." Fitz mumbled, filled with a glimmer of hope when Skye smirked.

"It looks long." Skye commented with a smile.

"Oh, uh, it is. So, um…'Dear Skye'…wait, you're not reading it, I didn't need to say that. Sorry. I'll start again. 'I firstly want to apologise for my crappy behaviour the other week; it was uncalled for and I honestly didn't mean-"

"Oh shut it Fitz, I ain't gonna listen to you ramble for god knows how long. You're a dweeb, but you're my dweeb." Skye chuckled, wrapping her arms around him. Smiling, Fitz hugged her back.

"I'm so sorry." Fitz said.

"I forgive you. And I'm sorry too; I won't get involved unless you ask me to, and I know you have plenty of reasons to snap at people. I can't believe you don't do it more often." Skye added, maintaining the hug. At that moment, Jemma walked out of the bathroom and saw the two hugging. She didn't know why, but for a moment she wished she was in Skye's place, but soon let that thought disappear. Fitz and Skye broke apart and noticed Jemma standing there, her arms folded. Skye soon noticed that the others were both staring at her intently.

"Oh, I imagine I must suddenly need to go to the bathroom, huh?" Skye smirked as she walked into the other room and closed the door, leaving Fitz and Jemma alone.

"…Hi." Fitz eventually said.

"Hello." Jemma returned.

"I, um…I wrote you something." Fitz said sheepishly, holding out Jemma's letter. Hesitantly she walked over to it, grabbed out from Fitz's hand and started to read it. All five pages of it.

"I know it's long; I'm prone to rambling. Basically it says I'm so sorry and I'm an idiot and I shouldn't have taken it personally because it's your life and your relationship and you would've told me eventually. I just felt like you not telling me meant I didn't matter." Fitz said. Jemma stopped reading and out the letter on her desk.

"…You do matter. You're the person who matters the most." Jemma said.

"What about Alfie?"

"Alfie is wonderful, but he doesn't like Doctor Who like we do." Jemma said and Fitz chuckled.

"I am so sorry, Jemma." Fitz said again.

"Come here." Jemma said, opening her arms. Fitz smiled and hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry too. If I'm being honest, I don't truly know why I didn't tell you. I'm still working it out myself." Jemma admitted.

"So, we're okay?" Fitz asked. Jemma nodded.

"Of course we're okay. And I promise I'll read the letter in full later on."

"Good. Ready for the Christmas concert tomorrow?" Fitz asked, trying to start a normal conversation again. Jemma's face dropped and she sighed.

"My song's ready, but…"

"…Oh crap, the piano lessons-"

"-Have been non-existent in recent weeks for obvious reasons, yes. I tried to practice, but I don't know…I just, I feel much more confident when you're there. I couldn't risk asking a teacher to help in case they blabbed to another teacher who could then blab to May." Jemma said, her voice filled with worry.

"It'll be okay. You know it, and on the day you'll deliver." Fitz said.

"I just…I don't think I can, Fitz. All the confidence I've built up is fading away." Jemma said, now sounding scared.

"Okay, let's just rehearse right now!" Fitz suggested.

"I can't; I have to go to a singing rehearsal with Coulson for tomorrow. There won't be any time left." Jemma said.

"Jemma, I promise you, you'll be fine. It'll all work out." Fitz said. Jemma smiled, but Fitz knew it was faked.

"Um, guys? Can I come out now?" Skye shouted from the other room.

…

The day of the Christmas concert had arrived on the penultimate day of the semester. The theatre was decorated in whites and blues and silvers and looked magical with decorations galore. While there was still thirty minutes until the concert started, Maria Hill was already letting excited students in to sit down; everyone was eager for the show to start. Fitz, Skye, Grant and Callum all arrived and got settled. They minute they did, Mr Coulson appeared out of nowhere in a fluster.

"Hey guys, just wondering something…where's Jemma?" He asked. Everyone's faces dropped.

"S-She's not backstage?" Skye said, worried.

"She was, but no one's seen her for about twenty minutes. She seemed uncharacteristically nervous." Coulson commented. Skye looked to Fitz, who was equally gobsmacked and worried.

"Oh, crap." Callum commented.

"Uh, don't worry. We'll find her, Mr Coulson." Fitz said, standing up and gesturing for Skye to follow him as he walked out. Skye kissed Grant and hurried after Fitz.

After five minutes of desperately running, Skye spotted Jemma sat on the side of the large fountain that stood at the edge of the campus. Skye pointed her out to Fitz. She was ready to perform, hair, make-up and dress all working together effortlessly to bring out her beauty.

"You talk to her." Skye said.

"Oh, I'm not good at that sort of thing."

"I think you're better than you think you are. You two are, like, psychically linked. You speak to her soul. See you in there." Skye said, returning to the theatre as Fitz slowly approached Jemma, stopping just before her.

"You look lovely." Fitz said, causing Jemma to look up and see him. She smiled but gave no verbal response.

"…You can do this, Jemma."

"I don't know how, Fitz."

There was a short silence as Fitz tried to muster up something to say.

"I believe in aliens." Fitz said. Jemma looked at him.

"What?"

"I believe we're not alone in the universe. I believe Doctor Who is the greatest TV show in the whole world."

Fitz then started singing an Abba song, one he knew Jemma liked.

"I believe in angels, something good in everything I see."

She laughed at that, like he knew she would.

"But, do you know what I believe in more than all of those things combined?" Fitz asked.

"What?"

"I believe in you. I've told you time and time again there is nothing you can't do, and I've never meant anything more. I believe in the girl whose face I smashed in with a door on the day we met." Fitz said, making Jemma giggle again.

"I believe in the girl who held me close as I relived the darkest day of my life and reminded me my world hadn't ended. I believe in Melinda May's golden girl. When people call you that they aren't teasing you, they're celebrating you and how talented you are. They believe in Jemma Simmons, and so do I."

Fitz's words caused Jemma's eyes to fill with tears, touched by what her friend had said. Her arms automatically wrapped around him as she pulled him close with a smile.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"Don't thank me yet," Fitz replied, "You could still blow it."

Jemma playfully hit Fitz as he laughed before standing up.

"It's funny; I've known you for just under three months and I can barely remember my life without you in it." Jemma said with a smile.

"Me neither, though I don't want to remember." Fitz added.

"…I'm so glad I met you." Jemma said softly and filled with meaning, taking Fitz's hand.

"The pleasure has been all mine." Fitz replied. The two smiled at each other for a surprisingly long while. Fitz took in the beauty of the girl in front of him while Jemma tried not to get lost in Fitz's blue eyes.

Jemma was the first to lean in, and Fitz followed suit. Music suddenly blazing from the theatre made them snap back into reality and take a step away from one another.

"We should, um-"

"-Get back, yeah."

And with that, they rushed back to the theatre, not speaking of what almost happened between them.

…

The time for Jemma's piano recital quickly arrived, and she nervously took to the stage to see Melinda May, Coulson, Alfie and her friends in the audience smiling at her. Her eyes found Fitz's once more, and realising that he was there made her relax. With a deep breath, she began to play.

And she did so to perfection.

Her performance ended with a huge applause, and seeing a grin on Melinda May's face told Jemma she had done very well. She smiled and waved at Alfie before grinning at Fitz, who gave her two thumbs up, clearly over the moon with how it went.

After another five performances, Jemma returned to the stage to close the showcase with her song. All grew silent as the music began, Fitz eager to hear her sing again; her voice was like a drug he couldn't get enough off. She sang softly and melodically, moving some of the audience to tears but capturing the attention of every single person in the room.

"I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
And although I know it's a long way back
I promise you

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

Oh, Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
Oh, I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my

Dreams, dreams, dreams
In my dreams."

As the song finished the room erupted with applause, cheers and clapping as Jemma took a bow and walked off, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Minutes later, as staff as students were walking out, Fitz told the others to make their way back to their rooms; he wanted to wait and congratulate Jemma. Eventually he saw her go to leave, and with a smile he started walking up to her, but just before he could reach her Jemma found herself swept up in Alfie's arms, making her smile. As Fitz stood there, all her could see was how happy Jemma appeared to be with Alfie. That's all he ever wanted for her.

With a sad smile, he turned and walked out without saying a word.

…

Grant and Callum sat in The Boiler Room bar in the middle of town, each with a beer in their hand.

"What a perfect way to celebrate the concert's success." Grant chuckled.

"Praise." Callum added. At that moment, a group of four men walked in, all laughing together. Grant and Callum turned to face them as they sat down at a table directly behind them, seeing Alfie amongst them. They turned back to their drinks and carried on discussing their Christmas plans and the final day of the semester when the laughter of Alfie and his friends grew.

"Man, your girl killed it tonight, Alf!" One of the boys said.

"I know, she's pretty good, huh?" Alfie commented.

"Yeah, you got all kinda of lucky with that one. Who the hell even dared you to ask her out anyway?"

"Old Mikey here." Alfie laughed, patting the back of the boy sat directly next to him, who looked down.

"I only dared you to do it because I thought she'd say no! I thought she and that Scottish guy were a thing!"

"Yeah, I heard they're like psychically linked!"

"Well, they're not," Alfie said smugly, "and not only did I get all of your money, I now hopefully will be getting quite a bit of something else."

As Alfie's suggestive comment made the others boys laugh, Grant and Callum looked at each other having overheard the conversation and shared a look of shock. Grant looked ready to turn around and thump each and every single guy sat at the table, but a firm grasp on his arm from Callum stopped him.

"They're not worth it." Callum whispered. Grant sighed and turned back to the bar, looking at Callum again.

"What are we gonna do about this?" He asked. Callum shrugged.

…

It was late at night, and Jemma and Fitz were again sat at the fountain, Jemma resting her head on Fitz's shoulder.

"Thank you for everything. Tonight would've been an embarrassment without you." Jemma said softly.

"My pleasure. I should be the one thanking you. After everything that happened with Jamie, I swore to myself I wouldn't get close to anyone again. But then I met you and I just couldn't help it." Fitz said, looking at Jemma with her puppy dog eyes.

"You will get past it, Fitz. Blimey, I can't believe in about six months we'll all go our separate ways. Me, you, Skye…everyone. Moving on to pastures new." Jemma said sadly.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Fitz said and Jemma smiled.

"Okay."

"I thought you'd be out celebrating with Alfie." Fitz commented.

"No, I let him have some freedom with his friends tonight. Him coming to watch was more than enough." Jemma said with a grin. Fitz noticed this, wishing she smiled at him like that.

"Alfie…he, uh, he does make you happy?"

"…He's lovely."

While Jemma hadn't directly answered his question, he took it as a yes and looked down at the floor.

"Good. As long as you're happy."

"Aw, don't worry Fitz, your perfect girl is out there somewhere." Jemma said, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it tight. Even in the darkness, Fitz could've sworn Jemma was blushing. He looked deep into her eyes.

"…Maybe." He whispered.

"Are you sure you won't come home with me? I hate thinking of you all alone here for two weeks." Jemma said.

"No, I couldn't do that. I can't interrupt a family holiday. Where are you going again?" Fitz asked.

"Tahiti. I've heard its lovely; Mr Coulson says it's a magical place."

"Well, I hope you have a great time. Honestly, I'll be fine." Fitz said with a reassuring smile.

"Okay. I gave you your present to unwrap on Christmas Day, didn't I?"

"Yes, Jemma, and I gave you yours."

"Just making sure, Leopold." Jemma giggled. Fitz laughed with her for a moment.

"Well, I better get packing. I leave right after my lesson tomorrow." Jemma said.

"Okay. Well, in case I don't see you-"

"-Have a great Christmas, Fitz. I'll be back just before New Year." Jemma said, kissing Fitz on the cheek and getting up.

"You too, Jemma." Fitz smiled, waving as Jemma walked off. He couldn't put into words how much he was going to miss her. He used to be one to love being alone, but why be alone when you can be with Jemma Simmons?

…

Fitz got back from his last lesson to find the campus practically empty, just like his room. Upon entering, he saw a piece of paper on his desk and four different styles of handwriting on it.

'Have an amazing Christmas, Fitz. I'll be thinking of you the whole time! The extra gift on your pillow is from me; the café had one left and I had to get it for you. Be safe! Love Jemma.'

'Have a good one, bud. See you real soon! Grant.'

'HAPPY CHRISTMAS ANGELINA BALLERINA! Missing you already! Love, Skye! P.S. Someone took a bite out of Jemma's gift for you. It wasn't me, I swear.'

'Skye again, its Christmas so I'll admit it; I did take the bite out of it. I regret nothing x'

'Sorry I missed you mate! Have a great Xmas, I put your present in your drawer. See you when I get back! Cal.'

Fitz chuckled as he fondly read over the messages and moved to his pillow, where he saw what was certainly a prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella sandwich with a hint of pesto aioli, albeit with a bite taken out of it. He picked up the sandwich and smiled as the delicious smell filled his nostrils. He looked over to the photo of him and Jamie on the wall and raised the sandwich in the air.

"Merry Christmas, buddy. Miss you."

And with that, he took his first bite to celebrate the start of the Christmas holidays. He knew he'd get by on his own for a week or so; he'd still call and text his friends after all. For the first time in a while, Fitz was content with his life, and the only way was up.

Little did he know, on New Year's Day everything would change and he'd fall further than ever before.