Note: I'm as disappointed as everyone else that there won't be a Christmas episode this year, especially since there was so much potential for feelings after last year's episode with the 'Hetty being an absolute angel' ending!

Hopefully, this fic fills in the void.

Start of episode

'It came upon the Midnight clear' plays in the background

All is calm, all is bright at night. Until a shot rings through the silent night.

Opening credits roll

Somewhere in Syria

Hetty was walking through the military camp looking as stern as always, and wondering if her mission was going well.

She had been in Syria for a few months trying to clean up an unexpected mess that she had caused earlier in the year. So far, no one on her team knew where she was, which is what she wanted because she wanted to handle everything herself.

'Miss Lange? Corporal wants to talk to you.' A soldier said, walking up to her.

'Tell him that I already apologized to that prince, and I'm not apologizing again. It wasn't my fault that his servant ended up in my line of fire all those months ago!' Hetty sternly replied.

'Is she always this stern?' The soldier nervously thought. It's not that, just come with me and see what he has to say.'

Groans. 'Oh all right. This better be quick, because I have somewhere to be!'

Back in LA

Kensi and Deeks were trying to bring in the Christmas palm tree that they always put up in the office every year when Kilbride walked over.

'What in the Sam Hill is this?!' He grumbled.

'It's the office Christmas tree. We live in LA, so it's a Christmas palm tree. Pretty cool, right?' Deeks replied.

'I will never understand why Hetty allowed such buffoonery.'

'Actually sir, Hetty didn't like this tree at first, but she eventually decorated it, and the whole office. And it became a tradition. You do know what tradition is, right?' Kensi chimed in.

'I know what tradition is, and this is the most absurd thing I've ever heard of!'

'Before you say that we can't have this tree here, let me recall all the times some authority figure tried to make us get rid of the tree...'. Deeks butted in.

'Yeah yeah, I know. You'll disobey the order, as your Duchess of Manipulation trained you all to do. I know.' Kilbride snarled.

'What is it with this guy? Did he and Hetty date a long time ago and it ended badly?' Deeks whispered to Kensi.

'No Investigator Deeks, we didn't date. I just have very strong opinions on how Miss Henrietta Lange has trained this team.'

Before the conversation could get any more heated then it already was, Fatima blew an air horn to alert them all to OPS.

'Dear God, she's turning into Eric!' Deeks said.

Sam and Callen were already up in OPS, and after Kensi and Deeks and Kilbride entered, Fatima briefed them on the case, and Sallen and Densi went out into the field.

Out in the field, in the Hellcat

'So, got any big plans this Christmas?' Sam asked.

'Yeah, I'm boarding a plane tonight.' Callen replied.

'Ooh, going somewhere exotic with Anna this year?'

'No, she and Arkady are spending the holidays in Hawaii this year, they asked me to come, but I decided it wasn't worth it, especially if having to deal with Arkady in some kind of embarrassing rescue is in the cards.'

'You know, if you and Anna ever decide to take the next big step, you're going to have to deal with him year round, right?'

'Don't remind me.' Callen replied, chuckling.

'So, where are you heading?'

'Classified.'

Somewhere else in the field

'Does it seem like every male authority figure we've had has always been a Scrooge?' Deeks asked. 'I mean, Granger, Rogers, and now Kilbride. What is it with men in power and Christmas?'

'1 answer: Dateless. They never got dates for the holidays, and therefore, they can't stand Christmas!' Kensi replied.

'Can't tell if you're joking or not.'

'Half and half?'

'Still though, Why has Hetty been the only boss we've had that didn't hate Christmas?'

'You forget that we had Nell being In charge for a while?' Kensi asked.

'Huh? Oh yeah. Forgot about that. How do you think she and Eric are doing?'

'Probably planning some wicked party.'

Chuckles. 'I wouldn't put it past them.' Deeks finished, amused at the thought.

Sallen looks for evidence, starts looking for suspects.

Back in Syria

Hetty stormed back to her room, frustrated by what she had been told.

'Whoa, what's up?' Nate asked.

'SIGH. I've just been told that no one is going home for Christmas.' Hetty replied, annoyed.

'And that's much of a surprise how?'

'I wanted to go home! I know that wasn't likely to happen, but I wanted to go home! I'm tired of always being away from home around the holidays!'

'Maybe you wouldn't be in this situation if you would stop going on dangerous missions? (instantly regretting what he just said when he saw the dirty look she was giving him). Just saying.'

'I know what you mean. Sigh. Come on, we have work to do.'

Back in LA

The road to finding the culprit had evolved into Callen going undercover in a Santa suit.

'Smirk. You have got to be the skinniest Santa I've ever seen.' Sam teased.

'Laugh it up big guy, laugh it up!' Callen replied.

After a bit of difficulty, the culprit was caught, just in time for the office Christmas party!

'Come, all ye faithful' plays in the background

'Well! Someone's been busy cooking!' Deeks remarked when he saw the table of food.

'Glad you like it! Roundtree and I have been busy cooking.' Fatima replied, happy at the comment.

'Set off any smoke alarms?'

'Thankfully no!' Roundtree replied.

'Where's Kilbride?' Kensi asked.

'Not sure. He grabbed a couple of cookies and just took off somewhere.' Fatima replied.

'Eh well. Who really needs him?' Deeks finished.

Everyone was happy and laughing with each other while Christmas songs played in the background.

'Here you go, Kens.'

'What are these?' Kensi asked, then looked at them and saw that they were plane tickets to Tokyo. 'Are these for real?!'

'Yeah. Figured we'd surprise the Meerkats for the holidays.' Deeks replied.

'This is the best ever! Thank you very much!'

'You're very welcome!'

'I got a present for you. Look up.'

Deeks looked up and saw mistletoe, and they were right below it.

'Oh ho! Sneaky way to get me to kiss you, eh?!' he teased.

'Is it working?'

'You bet!' Then they full on kissed on the lips, happy to be married and happy to still be alive.

'So Sam, what are your plans for Christmas?' Roundtree asked.

'Oh, spending it with Katherine and Kam.' Sam replied.

'Is Katherine your girlfriend?'

'On and off again. I prefer not to bring up my dating life much.'

'Where did Callen go?'

'Said he had to hop a plane tonight. He wouldn't say where he was going though.'

Back in Syria

'You sure you don't want me to stay the night?' Nate asked.

'I'm sure. I'll see you tomorrow.' Hetty replied.

Nate left for the night.

Hetty dug out the whiskey, unhappy at the thought of another Christmas away from the people she loved so dearly.

'Hark! The Harold Angel Sings' plays in the background

Then she heard a knock at the door.

'Nate, I already said I don't want you staying over tonight!' Hetty said as she went to answer the door.

But when she answered the door, it wasn't Nate, it was Callen!

'Merry Christmas, Hetty!' He said, smiling.

She was almost too stunned to speak!

'Aren't you going to say anything?'

'Uhhh, yeah. Merry Christmas, Mr. Callen!' She finally said, slowly.

Then she let him in. Looks like it would be a very Merry Christmas after all!

'Joyful all ye nations rise! Join the triumph of the skies.

While angelic hosts proclaim: Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Hark! The Harold Angel sings: Glory to the Newborn King!'

Endnotes: Yeah. The ending of this was my dream ending for the episode itself! (We so deserved an ending like this!)

As you can guess, I took care to mention a lot of former team members, including bringing up Katherine, (Unamusingly, we don't even know if she and Sam are even still dating on the show!), and yes, I gave Densi a real reason to act like a romantic couple! Which we haven't seen in 2 years now.

Merry Christmas! May the very long 2nd half give us what we really want out of this Season. (Hetty coming back in 1 piece, Anything Densi related that doesn't involve the never ending 'trying to have a family' woes, and more!).