Leaning against the large window sill, Lucy looked out onto the picturesque canvas of the California coastline. It had been a pleasant day, particularly for the time of year, and sail boats were making their way back to port before the sun sank lower on the horizon. There were already dark orange and purple hues stretching across the sky. Evening was falling fast and with it, a buzz of excitement for what the next day would bring. In the streets below, Lucy could see the bustling crowds, people laden with packages, scuttling along in their last-minute, anxious attempts to complete their Christmas shopping.

Lucy was anxious for another reason.

Stealing a glance behind her, Wyatt was resting comfortably, which should have set her heart and mind at ease…but it didn't.

When they had been called in during the wee hours of Christmas Eve morning to chase Flynn to December 25, 1776, she was, just as Wyatt and Rufus had been, upset at the prospect of missing out on the Christmas celebrations they had been planning for weeks. Things at Mason were getting tense, there were new government agents attempting to take over the operational aspect of the missions and Lucy…well, she had just been hit with the biggest bombshell of her life.

Her biological father, Benjamin Cahill, was Rittenhouse.

He was not the father she knew and loved as a child. No, this man was almost a stranger to her. A pediatric surgeon and by all accounts, an upstanding citizen and leader of the community who was loved and respected far and wide. But to Rufus, he would always be the "creepy ass white guy who threatened his family." At their clandestine briefing with Agent Christopher,Rufus had said, Flynn may be a murdering psychopath and time-traveling terrorist, but at least he owns up to that title instead of pretending to be Mr. Rogers like Lucy's dad.

And Lucy was inclined to agree…even if it was beyond humiliating.

Wyatt, however, did not take kindly to Rufus' remarks. Even more protective of her now than he had been in month's past, Wyatt reminded Rufus that as far as Lucy was concerned, Ben Cahill was nother father and therefore had nothing to do with her. To associate her with the actions of a man she hardly knew was a "dick move" and he was not going to put up with it.

Rufus, terrified of an ass-kicking of epic proportions, had profusely apologized, but for Lucy it didn't matter…what had Rufus said that wasn't true? Benjamin Cahill was her father and now she was faced with the realization that her placement on the team had been engineered by him to stop Garcia Flynn…who had only stolen the time machine and begun this madness because of her directives in that damn journal he claimed shewrote.

It didn't matter which way this cookie crumbled…Lucy and her family were the reason they were all suffering and had had their lives turned upside down.

Given all of this, she was doing her best to remain cheerful, but it was difficult under the circumstances. After everything she had been through in the past few weeks, Wyatt's injury had been a bridge too far. Sitting across from him in that LifeBoat as he slipped in an out of consciousness had made her feel helpless and terribly alone. He had been her rock, her source of support and strength through all of this and while his prognosis was excellent and the doctor's assured her that he was on track for making a full and rapid recovery, Lucy could not shake the horrible feeling that came with the fact that she could have lost him.

"How's he doing?"

Rufus' head had popped into Wyatt's hospital room causing Lucy to leap about a foot in the air.

"You scared me." She breathed out as she clutched her chest. Rufus offered her an apologetic smile and shuffled into the room handing her a cup of coffee, a granola bar and a black bag that she promptly set in her purse. "Thanks." Lucy said with a smile as she took the, from him. "He seems to be doing better since the surgery. I expect he should be waking up anytime now."

"Guess it wasa little worse than the last time he got shot in the gut then, huh?" Rufus quipped as he raised his eyebrows. Lucy let out a derisive laugh and shot Rufus a sardonic look before pulling out a vial from her pocket and shaking it at him. Rufus narrowed his eyes, "What's that?" he asked.

"This," Lucy said in a tone of pointed annoyance "is a musket ball."

Rufus took a sip of his own coffee and shrugged his shoulders, "I'm not getting your point. They pulled one of out of my leg after Boston, pretty standard for the 18thcentury."

"My point is, Rufus." Lucy explained with a meaningful glare, "Flynn didn't shoot Wyatt. Hamilton's men did…or maybe even Hamilton himself."

"I told you he was an asshole." Wyatt murmured sleepily from the bed.

"Hey, there he is!" Rufus exclaimed as Lucy rushed over to his side, the relief at seeing Wyatt awake and talking evident on her features as she situated herself at his bedside caressing his face with her hand.

"How are you feeling?" she whispered as her eyes darted back and forth across his face, searching earnestly for any sign of discomfort.

"Better now that you're here." he said with a small grin. He weakly lifted his hand to grasp the one she had gently settled on his cheek. Turning his head slightly, he lifted it from his face and pressed a kiss to her palm. "This wasn't exactly how I planned on us spending our first Christmas together." he murmured apologetically as Lucy offered him a sad smile before she pressed a kissed to his cheek.

He felt awful. Not only had he wanted to make this Christmas special for Lucy because it was technically their first Christmas together, but after everything she had been through with the revelation about her father, he figured she deserved a distraction. It hadn't been easy for her anyway, what with Amy still gone and her mother completely oblivious to the fact that she had had another daughter once upon a timeline. But this latest development was almost cruel and Wyatt was hoping that by going above and beyond his usual Christmas celebration of Die Hard and a glass of egg nog, the two of them could focus on creating new traditions together, rather than the myriad of problems that seemed to constantly land on their doorstep.

Thanks to this bullet wound, that plan had officially gone out the window.

"You can thank Flynn for that." Rufus murmured under his breath.

"Or Hamilton." Lucy reminded him as she shook the musket ball at him once more. "Seeing as he's the reason Wyatt is in the hospital."

"You've got no proof it was him." Rufus maintained. "Besides, he saved all of our asses. You should be thanking him instead of throwing all that shade."

"Shade? What? Rufus, Wyatt was obviously struck by friendly fire." Lucy huffed out in annoyance, "You can't blame Flynn for the musket ball when Flynn didn't even have a musket."

"No, but I can blame him for dragging our asses out into the 18thcentury to begin with." Rufus countered, "Damn man had to jump on Christmas Eve like a true Grinch…"

"It's still Christmas Eve, Rufus." Lucy observed, "You haven't missed it."

"No," Rufus agreed reluctantly, "I haven't…but…well, the party is not going to be the same without you two."

She offered him a grateful smile, "Thank you, Rufus…but we'll be okay. There's no need for you to forgo your plans just because we won't be there. You should go and have a good time with Jiya."

"She's gonna text me when she's finished doing some church service thing with her folks." Rufus sighed as he opened a small bag he had laying on his lap, "Until then, the least I can do is keep you two company." he grinned at them as he unwrapped a turkey sandwich and took a hearty bite.

Wyatt groaned slightly as he shifted in the bed, attempting to sit more upright. "Do you need anything?" Lucy asked as she brushed the hair off of Wyatt's forehead.

"Sure, discharge papers." Wyatt grunted as he leaned forward to readjust his pillow that had fallen from its perch near his head to his lower back.

Lucy placed a concerned hand on his shoulder, "Wyatt, no…you need to lay back down, you just got out of surgery."

"And I feel fine, Lucy." Wyatt moaned. "I'm not spending Christmas Eve stuck in a damn hospital bed. Where the hell am I, anyway?"

"UCSF Medical" Lucy responded as she straightened his bed sheets, "the musket ball was wedged too deeply for Mason's small medical facility, so they transferred you here."

"I bet that prompted a lot of awkward questions." Wyatt murmured as he nodded towards the vial.

"Don't worry…I told them you were part of a reenactor's club." Lucy said with a smile.

"That's supposed to make me feel better?" Wyatt with a raised eyebrow.

Well, if you think about it," Rufus quipped as he took another bite out of his sandwich, "we are kind of reenactors."

"It's not reenacting if you're actually there, Rufus." Wyatt huffed out as he fluffed his pillow with a grimace, "And do you have to eat that thing in front of me?"

"I'm starving." Rufus complained defensively.

"Yeah, well so am I." Wyatt spat out as he searched for the call button. "Don't I get a meal or something in this joint?"

"Wyatt, you just had surgery." Lucy admonished.

"Yeah…so all the more reason for me to get something to eat." Wyatt maintained as he continued to look for the call button, "Where the hell is that thing?"

Lucy reached over his head and pulled down the large gray remote, but instead of pressing the button for the nurse's station, she flipped on the TV with one hand while pulling his bedside tray over with the other. On it, lay a package of saltines and large mug of clear liquid.

"You get crackers and ginger ale for the first few hours after surgery," she said without even looking back at his expression, "I've already asked."

"You have got to be kidding me." Wyatt complained as he looked at the sad repast spread before him.

"Not kidding." Lucy said with an apologetic grin as she nudged the tray closer to him. "Now, eat your crackers."

Despite trying to convince Lucy, the nurses, or even the doctors that he was just fine, not one of them would budge on what was deemed appropriate for him to eat after surgery. Even appealing to their sense of Christmas spirit would not change their minds and so, after countless failed attempts to sway the opinions of his judge and jury, and nearly as many unsuccessful bids to snag a corner of Rufus' sandwich, Wyatt begrudgingly nibbled on his crackers while Lucy offered him sips of ginger ale.

While it wasn't exactly a party, Rufus definitely brought some much-needed joy to the cold and sterile hospital room. Lucy, though attempting to keep her spirits up, had been beside herself with worry all day and the effects of those anxiety-filled hours were clearly still evident from the lines that furrowed her brow and the way she concerned herself over every beep of Wyatt's bedside machines.

"Lucy, just relax." Wyatt breathed out as they sat around his bed playing poker. "You're going to let Rufus win again if you don't get your head in the game." he warned as he perused his hand.

"Sorry." Lucy muttered as she shook her head in an attempt to focus. She frowned as she looked at her card while Rufus let out a barking laugh.

"No need to apologize, Lucy." he said with a wide grin as he rearranged his cards, "I don't mind one bit."

Wyatt's blood pressure machine beeped again and Lucy threw down her cards in exasperation. "What's wrong? Why does it keep doing that?" she asked

"Probably because I took the cuff off," Wyatt muttered absent-mindedly as he determined his wager. "I hate that damn thing…it's throwing off my concentration."

"Wyatt! You need to keep that on!" she remonstrated as she leaned over his lap to reach across him in search of the discarded cuff.

"Lucy…it'll be okay." Wyatt said gently as he moved her back to her perch next to him. "If they want my blood pressure, they can come in here and take it." He smirked at her as she glared at him reprovingly, "Besides, you leaning over my lap like that isn't exactly keeping my heart rate at a slow and steady pace, ma'am."

"At ease there, soldier." Lucy muttered as she flushed slightly and turned her attention back to her cards, "we've got company."

"Oh, don't stop on my account" Rufus quipped unconcernedly, "The more you talk, the more I win…besides, I'm immune to it now…doesn't bother me one bit."

"Is that a fact?" Wyatt asked with eyebrows raised. "Sounds like a challenge to me. What do you think, Lucy? Should we test that out?"

"No." Lucy replied with a sidelong glance. She was doing her best to look put out, but the barest hint of a smile graced her lips as she continued, "I'm pretty sure that would qualify as not having our heads in the game, sweetheart."

"It all depends on what game you're playing, baby doll." Wyatt remarked with a devilish grin.

They played a few more rounds of poker with Wyatt shamelessly flirting with Lucy in an attempt to get Rufus to crack under the awkward pressure, but much to Wyatt's dissatisfaction, he didn't seem the least bit bothered. In fact, instead of bemoaning his third wheel status, Rufus hummed Christmas carols under his breath as he raked in even more winnings. He left them about an hour later, considerably richer…and much more at ease seeing his two best friends happier and healthier than they were a few hours before.

Alone once more, Lucy nestled up to Wyatt's uninjured side, prompting him to wrap his arm firmly around her waist and pull her in for a searing kiss. She giggled against his lips as she murmured, "I thought we were trying to keep your heart rate down?"

"Cuff is still off," Wyatt muttered back as he planted kisses on her jawline, "no one needs to know."

"Wyatt…" Lucy groaned.

"I promise. I won't tell if you won't, ma'am…" he offered as moved away from her jaw and kissed her neck.

"Wyatt Logan" Lucy gritted out, "You are in the hospital."

"Exactly. So, in the unlikely event that something bad does happen, I'm already here!"

She rolled her eyes and hit him the chest playfully as she scooted up to sitting, just as Wyatt's nurse came back in the room with his pain medicine. After chiding him for taking off his cuff, something that made Lucy's "I told you so" glare appear full force, Wyatt off-handedly remarked to the nurse that he felt like he could get up and walk around for a little bit…"in fact," he said with a mischievous glance towards Lucy, "I feel like I could go for a nice long jog…for like 20 minutes or so."

"No strenuous activities." The nurse muttered as she wrote in his chart, causing Lucy to bite back a laugh and shoot Wyatt another "I told you so" look.

He rolled his eyes as the nurse walked out of the room and turned on the television with a sigh. Lucy nestled up next to him once more and planted a consoling kiss to his cheek, "How about a movie? Although," she said as she took the remote from him and flipped through the channels, "It doesn't look like Die Hard is on right now. How about A Christmas Story?"

"I don't know if that's medically permissible, Lucy…what with that leg lamp and everything." Wyatt muttered sardonically. Lucy smacked his chest again as she flipped through more channels, finally settling on one of the classics. "Oh White Christmas." she said with a voice of longing. "Amy and I used to sing the Sisters song together every year."

Wyatt really didn't care what they watched, he was just all too happy to be spending time with Lucy…but he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for making her miss out on something she had been looking forward to for weeks…particularly since now she was holed up in a hospital room watching a movie that reminded her of happier times with her sister. "Lucy," Wyatt urged as she nestled in closer to him, "you know…you could go to that party at Mason. I don't mind."

"No." Lucy said with a determined shake of her head. "I don't want to go without you." Wyatt gave her a withering look, but Lucy maintained, "I wouldn't enjoy myself. What with everything that's been going on over there the past few weeks, and my dad…" she shook her head, "No, I'd rather be here with you." She pressed another kiss to his cheek before adding, "Besides, someone's got to be here to keep you in line."

"You don't need to worry about me, Lucy." Wyatt replied. "I'm okay…I made it through the surgery. I'm not even in any pain."

"That's because you're loaded up with Vicodin." Lucy said with a snort. "It doesn't matter, Wyatt. You're not getting rid of me that easily."

Relenting in his attempt to get Lucy to spend a decent Christmas Eve away from the dreary and depressing hospital room, Wyatt threw his arm around Lucy's waist as she nestled herself more thoroughly into his side. Though a hospital isn't exactly the cheeriest spot to spend Christmas, Wyatt took in the scene around him and decided that while it wasn't the Christmas he imagined they'd share…at least they were together.

They lay there, side by side in the bed for quite some time, while the hospital staff made efforts to bring a festive air to the normally stark rooms by drawing a Christmas tree on the dry erase board hanging on the far wall. As the night wore on, some cheerful volunteers passed through the rooms donned in Santa hats, handing out candy canes and caroling as they went along. It wasn't rockin' around the Christmas tree by any means, but it was something, anyway.

Lucy, whom Wyatt suspected from her deep breathing had fallen asleep, was curled up next to him with her arm draped over his torso while White Christmas gave way to It's a Wonderful Life, on the television before him.

He had never really watched that movie before tonight, hell, he had never been a huge fan of classic movies (except for Bond, of course). Tonight, however, with the remote just out of his reach and feeling far too content to move with Lucy draped over his chest, he was more or less forced to actually watch George Bailey get screwed over time and time again, only to realize at the end of the film that none of that mattered...because he was surrounded by people who needed him and loved him.

It resonated with Wyatt deeply.

Instinctively he pulled Lucy a little closer as he remembered her words to him at the Alamo…speaking to him across the void of 180+ years. I don't want anybody else. I trust you. You are the one that I trust. Rufus needs you. I need you. Okay? That had been the lifeline he didn't even know he needed, the angel pulling him out of a raging, ice cold river that was threatening to drown him. They needed him, but just like George Bailey discovered in his journey of self-reflection, he needed them too.

Merry Christmas, Bedford Falls!

"I just love this movie." Lucy yawned as she slowly lifted her head from Wyatt's shoulder and stretched out her neck. She groaned as she rubbed at her aching muscles "How long was I asleep?"

"I'm not sure." Wyatt returned with a smirk, "I think you zoned out somewhere around the pool scene."

"Oh no." Lucy groaned as she looked at him apologetically, "I'm so sorry, Wyatt."

"I didn't mind." Wyatt said with a soft smile.

He didn't. After spending so many Christmas Eve's alone after Jessica's death and fearing that he would never have Lucy back in his life again, he couldn't help but feel pretty damn lucky to be anywhere in the world…or in time for that matter, with Lucy Preston.

Yawning once more and checking her watch, she let out a small gasp as she exclaimed, "And it's officially Christmas Day." She pressed a kiss to Wyatt's cheek and whispered, "Merry Christmas, Wyatt."

Wyatt caressed her cheek with his hand before bending down to kiss her gently, his heart filled to the brim with gratitude, "Merry Christmas, Lucy." he murmured against her lips.

With a devilish gleam in her eye, Lucy swung her legs off the bed and tiptoed over to her bag, pulling out a black insulated bag Rufus had brought her earlier, "I have something for you." she said with a wide grin.

"Lucy…" Wyatt groaned as he took the bag from her, "that's not fair. Your stuff is all back at the apartment."

"This is not your Christmas gift, so relax." she smiled as she nudged his arm, "But believe me, you're going to want to open that now."

He eyed her suspiciously as he slowly unzipped the top and lifted open the flap, "Oh my God," he said with a chuckle as his eyes lit up in delight, "Is this? It is!" Wyatt beamed as he pulled out a large sandwich, "A Molinari Italian Combo?" He handed Lucy the bag and she pulled out a sandwich of her own.

"I had Rufus stop by there while you were in surgery." Lucy said with a triumphant smile. "When they told me you wouldn't be able to have anything but saltines, I kind of had to scrap the plans I made for a romantic dinner for two in your hospital room. You can thank Rufus for coming up with this idea. He loves their sandwiches too."

Wyatt made to unwrap the sub, but paused as he gave Lucy a questioning glance, "Are you actually giving me permission to eat something other than stale crackers?"

She pointed to her watch, "It's been five hours and since you ate your crackers and had no trouble, I think you've earned yourself a little reward."

Not giving her an opportunity to change her mind, Wyatt took a bite of his sandwich and groaned, "That is the best thing I've ever tasted." He leaned his head back and closed her eyes, "Have I told you how much I love you, lately?" he murmured.

"Do you love me more than you love that sandwich?" Lucy asked as she sank back down beside him with a teasing grin, "because I can leave you two alone, if you'd like."

"Well, it isa pretty good sandwich…" Wyatt replied with a smirk as he wrapped his arm around Lucy who smacked his chest playfully.

Lucy giggled as she nestled back next to Wyatt as they ate what they both considered to be a well-deserved meal. It may have not been the way they had planned to spend their evening, but neither one of them could complain about anything just now. In this moment, they were both happy, (somewhat) healthy and well-fed…and given where they had been just a few hours prior, that was all they needed.

Feeling content, they both settled themselves underneath the covers, Wyatt lying on his uninjured side to give Lucy enough room so that she could be comfortable. It had been a harrowing day, and they both wanted nothing more than a good night's sleep. Still plagued by dark thoughts, however, Lucy lay awake thinking, until finally she lifted her head slightly and observed solemnly, "I'm glad you're okay…I…I don't know how I would be able to go on with…"

"Shhhh….Lucy, it's okay." Wyatt whispered as he tucked her closer to his chest. "I'm not going anywhere, ma'am."

She clenched his hand in hers, so grateful for him…for them. "Do you ever think about where we'd be if you hadn't wound up in that other timeline?" Lucy murmured sleepily after a long while.

"Sometimes." Wyatt admitted softly. "But to tell the truth, Lucy…I don't want to think about where we'd be." I was a stubborn ass and you…"

"I was stubborn too." Lucy conceded with a grin.

"I don't know if I'd call you stubborn…" Wyatt muttered with a smile in his voice.

"You should…because I was." Lucy said with a sigh. "Engaged to a man I didn't even know…" she shook her head ruefully, before confessing with a grimace, "Oh…that reminds me…he's coming tomorrow."

"What?" Wyatt spat out as he bolted upright on his elbow, utter disdain written all over his face. "Why?" he demanded.

Lucy sighed heavily, "Why do you think? My mother." She threw up her hands in exasperation as she mimicked her mother's voice, "Noah's family has been coming to our house for Christmas for years, I see no reason to stop that tradition now, just because you two had a little fight." She gave Wyatt a sardonic look, "I should just call her and cancel."

"No, Lucy." Wyatt urged, "It's your mother…it's Christmas. That assho…" he began but at Lucy's reproving glare, he corrected himself, "Noah...isn't going to be the only one at your mother's house tomorrow, right?"

"Right, it's going to be a huge party, just like every year." she said with a nod, "which means, I don't have to go." She wrapped her arms around him again, "I'd much rather stay here with you."

"That's a nice sentiment, Lucy" Wyatt replied dryly, "but look at this place…it's not exactly the North Pole."

"You have a tree…" Lucy attempted as she pointed to the sad drawing on his dry erase board, but Wyatt merely shook his head at her.

"I want you to go and have a good time tomorrow…you already missed one Christmas party because of me, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let you miss another." Lucy made to argue with him, but Wyatt was determined, "I will have the nurses drag you out of here, Lucy…don't think that I won't." He pointed to his blood pressure cuff, "All I have to do is tell them you're trying to tempt me into engaging in strenuous activities. Pretty sure they'd take my side, ma'am."

"Ha ha," Lucy deadpanned as she rolled her eyes at him and settled back under the covers. "Wyatt, you act like I should care about this Christmas party…I don't. I reallydon't."

"Lucy," Wyatt moaned, "you said yourself just last week that you were looking forward to this thing." She rolled her eyes and frowned as Wyatt continued, "So, go…and if that…jacka…" Lucy turned her head to glare at him, "Noah gives you any problems," Wyatt continued as he curled up next to her draping an arm over her torso and planting a kiss on her cheek, "you can tell me all about it and I'll kick his ass when I get out of here."

"Are you sure? Because really, Wyatt…I don't mind. I can cancel." Lucy appealed, "It's just a bunch of my mother's friends…I just go because...well, for my mom."

"Of course, I'm sure, Lucy." Wyatt said as he planted kiss to her shoulder. "Besides, if you didn't go, you'd never hear the end of it."

Lucy thought about how her mother would react if she skipped out on her Christmas party. In the timeline when Amy was still around and Henry Wallace was her father, Christmas dinner was the event of the year in the Preston household. The family would gather for a formal meal in the early afternoon, but in the evening, her mother's colleagues would filter in and out of their home for drinks, hors d'oeurves, desserts, games and what Lucy and Amy deemed "shop talk". With no Amy or Henry Wallace in the picture, the former tradition had apparently been done away with. She imagined that if she had married Noah, as her mother had wished, they would have had a family dinner as she was used to. There was no question in her mind about that. Lucy also knew for a fact that her mother greatly disliked Wyatt…and well, he had ruined her party at Stanford so she did have somewhat of an excuse…but her mother had also never made an effort to get to know him either. Wyatt was right, she had told him she was looking forward to the party. Since Christmas was the time to bring people together, that would be the perfect opportunity for Carol Preston to see Wyatt for the good man he was…and not the party-crashing, fiancé stealing, jerk she believed him to be.

When her invitation for Christmas "dinner" arrived, however, Lucy noted that it was merely an invitation to the evening party… and she was allowed "a guest."

According to Carol Preston, it seemed, Wyatt wasn't even worth mentioning by name, let alone a dinner. That had almost made Lucy refuse to go right then and there. To be so callous and unwelcoming to Wyatt…at Christmas? It made her blood boil. She had hoped, however, that once her mother had met Wyatt and actually talked to him, she would change her mind and approve of him as much, if not more, than she approved of Noah.

Now, however, it seemed that Lucy wasn't going to have that chance.

It had been the only reason she had agreed to go this year, the only thing she held out the slightest bit of hope for. To have her mother accept her relationship with Wyatt was the only thing she really wanted for Christmas…well, there was something else she wouldn't say no to if she were being completely honest…but without Wyatt there…what was the point?

"She's your mother, Lucy." Wyatt's voice growled low in her ear. "It's Christmas."

"Fine." Lucy relented with a heavy sigh. "I'll go.