A/N: Okay, here we go--Christmas!
"We had better go," I whispered to Hawkeye. It was midnight and we were still in the mess tent.
"This place stays open all night," said Hawkeye.
We were standing up and dancing to no music.
"I just realized something," I said. "It's Christmas Eve."
"It is," Hawkeye said. "I'd forgotten about it too. Of course, here every day is the Fourth of July."
"I know."
We were quiet for a few more minutes. Finally I spoke.
"This is my first Christmas away from home," I said. "And..." I paused. "I'm not homesick."
"For the first time, neither am I," Hawkeye replied.
I got to my tent at about two and slept until eight. When I woke up, something was different.
There was a Christmas tree in my room.
"What in the world?" I asked, laughing.
"Merry Christmas!" came two familiar voices.
Margaret and Hawkeye burst in.
"How did you find one?" I asked as I got up and pulled my black and gold robe on.
"Klinger," said Hawkeye. "That nose must have sonar on it. He found this beauty in three hours."
"Merry Christmas, Jac," Margaret added. "Let's hope it's a peaceful one."
"And now, if you'll change into some clothes, we'll go for a little stroll to the mess tent," said Hawkeye.
"Give me five minutes. Major Houlihan, permission to wear civillian clothes!" I said in a military tone.
Margaret opened her coat to reveal a red turtleneck. "Go ahead. It's Christmas."
They exited the tent as I rummaged through my clothing box, finally settling on a dark green V-neck sweater. I grabbed my coat and red-and-black plaid scarf, and walked out into the winter wonderland.
"We've got a white Christmas!" I exclaimed. "I never thought I'd say this, but Korea looks beautiful!"
We were all optimistic that morning, even Charles. Father Mulchay was busily rehearsing his sermon for the Christmas Eve service.
"You get our little Christmas present?" Klinger asked me as I sat down.
"It's beautiful," I said. "Real?"
"Fake, but pine-scented."
Colonel Potter joined us, and then B.J.
"You were out pretty late last night," B.J. said to Hawkeye.
"Sorry, Mommy," Hawkeye said.
"That's enough, you two," said Colonel Potter. He looked to Hawkeye and then to me curiously, but said nothing.
"So," I said, changing the subject, "the eggs are good this morning, aren't they?"
That caused some confused silence, which was what I had hoped for.
After breakfast, Klinger pulled me aside. "We're having a Christmas party in your tent tonight, Captain."
"Go ahead," I said. "After all, I'm the one with the tree."
After the church service, Klinger, B.J., Margaret, Father Mulchay, Charles, Colonel Potter, Hawkeye, and I went back to my tent. We'd drawn names before lunch and I had to give something to Margaret. Her gift was a bottle of perfume I'd bought in Seoul but hadn't used.
"Courtesy of Peg, sugar cookies," B.J. said as he opened a tin.
"Mmm, food," mumbled Hawkeye as he crammed three in his mouth.
"Take it easy," said B.J.
"Take some before Motor-Mouth eats them all," Margaret advised us.
"All right, down to business," Colonel Potter announced. "Who wants to go first?"
"I will," volunteered Father Mulchay. "Colonel, Merry Christmas." He handed him a package.
The Colonel tore the paper off. "Thanks, Padre. Seabiscuit. You can never have too many horse photos."
"I'll go next," Margaret said. She tossed Charles a package.
"My," said Charles as he opened it. "This is quite nice. I've always loved Robert Frost. The poetic meter is-"
"We know, Charles," said Margaret. "Have a cookie."
Before long, Hawkeye was the only one who hadn't given a gift.
"Well, Hawkeye?" asked Colonel Potter.
Hawkeye came over to me, and I stood up. He extracted a small box out of his pocket.
"You certainly went all out, didn't you, Pierce?" said Charles dryly.
Ignoring him, Hawkeye handed the box to me.
I took the paper off.
"This isn't what I think it is," I said as I gazed at the small black box.
"Open it," Hawkeye instructed.
I did, and inside was a sapphire ring.
"You didn't," I whispered.
"I did," he responded.
"What is it?" B.J. asked.
"A ring," I said.
There was a collective gasp.
"Jaclyn," began Hawkeye, "I love you."
"I love you too," I told him.
In front of everyone, he dipped me and we kissed.
A/N: No, this is not going to get all romantically sickening. (Even if it seems that way now.) Fate will intervene.