A/N: After the prologue, the first member of the family we see, preparing for Christmas, is Chuck and Sarah's firstborn, Maire. If you remember, this is pronounced "Moy-ra". Apart from a short section where it shifts to Sarah's POV, this is all Maire's POV.

Thanks to those of you that left reviews; much appreciated.

This was the first chapter I showed MyNameIsJeffNImLost, my beta, before he suggested the prologue. He not only found British words and phrase, but also a number of other problems, so thanks to him for helping me straighten them out. Of course, any mistakes you find are all my fault.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck or the lyrics I have used, but recommend you listen to the song; I'll provide a link to a YouTube video of the song in my post about this chapter to the Chuck Fanfiction group on Facebook. Of course, watching the show is a must.

After You, Christmess
Maire

You're a bum
You're a punk
You're an old slut on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
You scumbag, you maggot
You cheap lousy *
Happy Christmas your ass
I pray God it's our last

The boys of the NYPD choir
Still singing Galway Bay
And the bells are ringing out
For Christmas day

I could have been someone
Well so could anyone
You took my dreams from me
When I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can't make it all alone
I've built my dreams around you

The boys of the NYPD choir
Still singing Galway Bay
And the bells are ringing out
For Christmas day

"Fairytale of New York"
The Pogues

Maire sits on the bus to get to Miami Beach. Mom was right, she should never have gone out with Craig. She hates him right now.

She'd hated him at his house. She'd hated him as she stormed out. She'd hated him as she walked to the bus stop. She'd definitely hated him as she stood waiting and now, sitting on the bus fuming, she still hates him.

Why, oh, why hadn't she listened to her mom? Or her dad, for that matter. Neither had thought Craig was good enough for her. Of course, as her friend Becky had pointed out, parents, particularly dads, always thought that, so she had ignored them. Now she's regretting it.

She'd thought he was interested in her because she was athletic, like him. She was in the school's volleyball team, but also played soccer when she could and loved running. He was in the football team. She'd believed they were a match made in heaven and thought he felt the same.

She should have realized she was wrong when he never wanted to talk about her games, or come to watch them. In fact, he rarely wanted to talk about anything other than his games.

Being paraded around as his girlfriend had seemed fine at the start. After all, she'd been happy to be with the best-looking boy in her year, but, of course, being boyfriend and girlfriend should have been more than just how they looked.

As she reflects on it, part of the problem is that he's not very bright, so she never saw him around others in her classes, just when playing sports, which didn't show what type of person he really is. Another is him only wanting to hang out with his buddies. That had seemed okay at the start, especially how he was showing her off and she was getting lots of compliments, but then it started to bother her. They never talked to her, but some, when Craig wasn't watching, would check out her legs or her rear. That she didn't like.

The problems really started, however, when she wanted him to come with her and her friends to go dancing. He'd flat refused and told her dancing was for losers. That really pissed her off. Her mom and dad danced together whenever they could and she didn't like the implication of Craig's comment.

The final straw was when she invited him to come to her parents for dinner on Christmas Day. Her mom had said it was okay and she knew her dad always liked large gatherings; that's assuming he got home in time, of course.

Maire knew Craig's parents were away and he'd be on his own, so just assumed he'd would come to hers, or he wouldn't eat.

Craig had refused. "Why would I want to be with your parents?"

That had shocked her. Before she could reply he told her, "I'll be gaming with my best friend during the day, then drinking and gaming more into the evening." He tried to grab her, but she side stepped angrily. "I won't ignore you, babe. You could come over for sex when they've gone. The house is free, after all."

She has no intention of having sex. She is only fourteen for god's sake, and him only a year older, but it isn't just that. He only thought he'd see her for that!

This had really put their relationship into perspective and they'd had a massive fight.

So, she is now heading home having split up with him. Alone at Christmas!

That isn't really true. She'll have her family, who she loves very much, just no boyfriend.

She could have avoided this if she'd listened to her mom. Of course, knowing her mom's teenage years, Maire didn't believe her, thinking 'What does someone who never had a boyfriend until in her twenties know about dating teenage boys?'

So, she'd asked Molly, who is seven years older, about boys. Surely she'd have better advice. That was another false assumption. Molly, although beautiful and outgoing, is always more cautious than most and spends a long time vetting potential suitors - so much so that many just gave up.

Molly had had boyfriends at school, but not many because of her nature. So, her telling Maire to be very cautious and make absolutely sure a boy was suitable marrying potential didn't feel like good advice!

Molly's current boyfriend is really nice, and seems the perfect match for her, but he had the patience of a saint compared to most boys Maire's age.

Thinking of being with Craig, she realizes now that she was little more than arm candy, not a real girlfriend.

Their fight had brought out the worst in both of them, hurling abuse at each other. It reminded her of that crazy Christmas song she'd laughed at when her dad played it, 'Fairytale of New York'. Dad could always find unusual songs. She could even imagine she and Craig using some of the insults from it.

"You scumbag, you maggot"

Unlike the man in the song, well, the pair of them really, she will make it alone, away from him and will not be building any dreams around them being together.

It's actually a relief to be away from him. Now she can go home and, over the holiday break, just enjoy being with people that like being with her.

She certainly won't tell her mom and dad why they spit up. Both of her parents are fiercely protective of their children, Mom frighteningly so. Best neither know the details, just that she is no longer with Craig.

Will she ever find someone who could love her for who she is?

She knows her mom and dad are really awful role models. They are so much in love with each other that, sometimes, it feels cloying, but she would never begrudge them that. They'd not had it easy, really until she'd been born. Then they'd had to devote their time and energy into raising kids.

She sits back and ponders the hardships faced by Chuck and Sarah Bartowski, or at least what she knows. They hadn't told her much about their time working for the government, but what they had told her made her so proud of them.

If they could find love through all that, then she shouldn't have anywhere near that much difficulty.

Maybe they were good role models, after all.

As she sits on the bus, she focuses on what would be happening this Christmas.

Her wonderful aunt, Molly, would be joining them, as would Granny Emma. Maire so rarely saw either of them, especially now Molly was at Harvard. She knows Granny Emma will be all over Maire, her sisters and brother, showering them with love, at least when she wasn't doing that with her eldest daughter.

Granny Mary might be there, quietly observing everyone and occasionally speaking words of wisdom.

Of course, her little brother, Liam would be there, still enjoying everything about Christmas and definitely believing in Santa. Her younger sister, Kathryn, at eight-years-old, is at that age she may not, although she may try to hold onto that belief.

She knows her sister, Gwen, loves her, but sometimes that is less obvious, as Gwen's so jealous of her older sister. This Christmas, Maire will go out of her way to be with, and love, her sister..

Hopefully, Dad will get home from his trip abroad. If he doesn't, that will really upset Mom and Maire knows all of them would have to comfort her. Not that Sarah Bartowski will show any emotion at all, but they all know how much Dad's absence will really affect her.

If everything works out well, they'll have a wonderful Christmas together and, probably, her not having a boyfriend there, will actually work out better.

Maire tries to avoid her mom when she gets home. She doesn't want to talk about Craig with her. Mom might get mad, maybe even do something to him. Not only that, she is already stressed with the love of her life, Maire's dad, not being here. Best for Maire to sneak in and up the stairs to her room.

She makes it two steps up the stairs before hearing, "So… Craig?"

Really it was stupid to think she could evade the master spy, who sees everything, knows everything. Maire isn't going to talk about him, though, so just mumbles, "Hi, Mom."

Sarah Bartowski opens her arms and Maire feels the pull. She doesn't rush, but she gets into that embrace pretty fast. It is impossible to stop the tears.

= ! =

Sarah holds her daughter, her hand on the sobbing fourteen-year-old's head as she leans into her mom's chest. Sarah doesn't say a word. She doesn't need to. Comfort is what her daughter needs.

After a few minutes, Maire pulls away slightly. "He's not coming on Christmas Day, Mom."

Sarah just nods and kisses Maire's forehead. "I know, Kiddo."

Sarah's heart goes out to her firstborn. She pulls Maire back into her arms. If she could make all the pain go away, she'd do it in an instant. Sarah Walker in her twenties would've had no hesitation in punishing the boy, but she is different now.

Her sister-in-law, Ellie, tells her that this sort of pain is part of growing up as a normal teenager. Sarah just has to be here for her daughter. Chuck would definitely have been better at this than her, but he's not here. She knows her kids' heartaches will all be hard for her, and Chuck as well, but they have to help them through them.

Her eldest pulls away completely. "I don't want to talk about it, Mom, but I don't have a boyfriend anymore." Sarah just nods. She gives her daughter a look that expresses how she feels, a look full of love. Then she reaches forward to brush Maire's hair off of her face and kisses her forehead again.

Maire obviously appreciates what Sarah is doing. "Thanks, Mom."

Sarah whispers in Maire's ear. "Go add change. How about a hot chocolate and some Christmas movies with Kathryn and Liam?"

Maire smiles. "I'd love that, Mom."

Sarah smiles back. "Scoot. I'll get it ready."

As her daughter walks away, she heads into the kitchen, determined to be the best mom possible.

= ! =

Climbing the stairs, Maire watches her mom walk to the kitchen. Her mom isn't a talker, but she gives her children everything they need, like just now for herself. God, I love my mom so much!

This Christmas will be a good one; her mom will make it so, but everyone else will too. She has a wonderful family and she isn't alone at all.

A/N: So, Maire is now home, but not 'home alone.'

The crazy Christmas song from The Pogues is one of my favorites, although some of the words are offensive, so be careful there. Do check it out if you haven't heard it before.

Next chapter will be about Sarah's sister, Molly.

I'd appreciate a review if you can spare the time.