Drabble 76: Home for the Holidays
A/N: Merry Christmas! This drabble was requested a long time ago (way back in August), by Jmags-WriterofAwesomeness. I know it's up a little late (it is still Christmas), but here's this year's holiday drabble. I hope you like it!
"I need to review these… and plan that…" Coulson murmured as he sorted through a massive pile of papers on his desk.
"Sir?"
Coulson looked up to see Fitz and Simmons standing at his door. Fitz had knocked, while Simmons spoke. "What's up?" he asked.
"Sir, we were wondering when we could leave." Simmons said.
"To go home, for the holidays." Fitz said for clarification.
Coulson blinked and rubbed a hand over his eyes. It was the twenty-first of December, he realized. He had been waiting for this to come up, but he still didn't feel prepared enough. "About that." He said, placing his hands back on his desk. "I can't afford to send you guys home right now."
He said it as gently as he could, but he saw the hope fade from their eyes, the tight smiles appear on their faces that sent cracks through his heart. They wouldn't fight for the break they deserved. He knew it in a second, from those smiles. They were sad, maybe a bit disappointed in him, but they would obey his wishes without complaint. And he loved them for it.
"If I could spare you I would, but with resources so scarce right now…" his carefully planned speech died in his throat. He was the Grinch, and he knew it.
They had been talking about spending Christmas at home for weeks. He'd been reminded of elves, by how cheerfully they'd waited for the holiday season to start. Even his other team-members had been overheard talking about past Christmas's, and how they wanted to do certain traditions again. But Fitz-Simmons had especially been heard by the Director. They asked for so little, just a few days to go home, but it wasn't in the cards. At least, not this year.
"It's perfectly alright sir." Simmons said with that tight smile.
"We understand." Fitz said. "We're needed here."
Simmons looked at Fitz and nodded. "We'll get back to work." She said quickly, forced cheeriness in her tone. Then they walked out, closing the door behind them. Coulson sighed as soon as they were gone and laid his head in his hands. Why did he have to need them so badly now? A month ago they had been twiddling their thumbs, waiting for the next lead to follow. But now he was up against the clock, trying to locate every S.H.I.E.L.D. member he could to ensure their safety while also rebuilding his damaged team and keeping an eye on HYDRA.
Frankly, he felt it was fitting to be the Grinch. He was stressed in a way he rarely was this late in the season. He was staying in his office a lot as well.
So he decided to do something special, when he had a chance. He couldn't afford to send anyone home for Christmas, but he could relocate the team as a whole; at least for one or two nights. That might help abate the scientists' homesickness. And he knew just the place.
Simmons walked slowly back to the lab, allowing her shoulders to slump once they reached its closed quarters. "Looks like we'll be staying here for Christmas." She said.
"At least we'll get to see each other." Fitz said.
Simmons brightened a bit at that. "That's true."
"Though I do wish I could see my mother. Not for me as much as for her." Fitz said as he walked to his station.
"She does seem so much happier when you're around."
Fitz gave her a look. "Why wouldn't she be happier when I'm around? I'm her son!"
Simmons seemed to realize what she'd said and laughed. "You know what I meant."
He chuckled, but it died quickly. "Yeah, I know. It's not gonna be the same this year."
They went back to work, hearts slightly heavier than before.
"I have a surprise for you." Coulson said.
Fitz looked at Simmons, questioning whether she knew what this could be about, but she seemed as lost as he was. Coulson had called everyone into ops on the 23rd, two days after he had told Fitz-Simmons they couldn't go home for the holidays.
"I know you're all disappointed about not going home for Christmas." He said. "So I want to make it up to you. I can't send you home, but I can give you a little break, and a place to celebrate."
"Are we having a Christmas party?" Skye asked.
"Yes."
She blinked, apparently shocked at his frank answer. "Really?"
He grinned. "I have a cabin in the woods, and I'm going to move us there for Christmas, if you guys want to."
"No work?" Skye asked.
"Not a drop."
"All of us?" Bobbi asked.
"One for all and all for one." Coulson assured.
"And we can decorate and have a family Christmas?" Simmons asked.
Now Coulson smiled. "That's a requirement."
She looked at Fitz, bouncing onto her toes. He smiled back and chuckled at the warm feeling that rose inside him. Maybe they wouldn't get a traditional Christmas at home, but they would get the next best thing.
They left for the cabin the next morning and got there by about noon.
"It's so…" Skye started to say.
"Rustic?" Coulson offered, smiling at his cabin. "Charming?"
"Small." She said.
"Good things come in small packages." He said.
She looked at him carefully. "If you use that logic for our presents…"
"He's right." May said.
Skye nodded. "I know. I'm just thinking that all of us in these quarters might spark some tensions."
"Then it'll be a good teambuilding exercise." Bobbi said.
"Let's go inside!" Simmons cried.
She and Fitz ran forward, up the stone path to the cabin. Skye was right in saying it was small, but it was by no means tiny. It was almost average, though the team was used to grander spaces at the Playground. It was made of dark wood, with a little stone chimney on the roof. The only thing missing was snow, but Coulson assured them it was coming.
"There's always snow for Christmas." He said. "You'll see."
Now Simmons and Fitz raced up the path and pulled open the door to the cabin. Inside was an open room with a couch and arm-chairs facing a fireplace, and a kitchen setting on the other side with a square table for eating. Beyond the open room were three doors, all open. Two of them led to bedrooms. The other had a bathroom behind it, with a toilet, sink, and small shower.
"I know what you're thinking." Coulson said as he caught up to them. "The bathroom doesn't fit. But there's no way I'm using an outhouse."
Fitz chuckled, and Skye said "thank God."
"It's brilliant, sir." Simmons said.
"I do see your point, though." He said to Skye as he looked around. "I forgot how many people we have."
Everyone was standing in the cabin now, and it was a bit crowded. Fitz and Simmons were the farthest in, followed by Coulson and Skye. Behind them was May, and Hunter and Bobbi. Mack stood at the very back.
"Haven't been in a cabin in a long time." He said.
"We should get a fire going." Simmons said.
"It's not cold." Hunter said.
"It's cold enough." Coulson said, fixing him with a look.
"Why don't we all go and cut down our own Christmas tree the old fashioned way?" Hunter asked.
"I've never done that." Skye said, her voice rising. Everyone looked at her, and her tone lowered as she looked ahead. "I had a fake tree whenever we actually decorated."
"Alright." Coulson said. "Let's get settled in. Boys in one room, girls in the other."
They found out there were two twin beds in each room. Skye nodded, her lips pursed slightly. "This I'm kind of used to."
May looked at the beds and walked forward, crouching down by the one on the right. She pulled something out from under it and then stood up, wiping her hands off on her pants. "There's a trundle bed." she said. She looked at the other bed, which had no base and went right to the ground. Not only could there not be another bed, the room couldn't fit another one. After pulling out the small trundle bed, the floor was completely covered. The bed would have to be stepped on to cross to the others.
"Coulson, we're one short." Skye said.
"In here too." Hunter called.
They walked out and saw him pulling out a kettle and filling it with water. "I know. The couch pulls out into another bed. Two people can take that."
"Draw straws?" Skye asked. "The couch might be better than the bed, or ten times worse."
"I'll take it." Simmons said. She was nervous to be in a room with the other girls. They were all friends, but… she couldn't help it.
After she said that, she saw Hunter and Fitz emerge from their room. Fitz was smiling, eyebrows raised.
"Stupid game anyway." Hunter said.
Bobbi laughed. "You got the couch, I'm guessing?"
Simmons's eyebrows raised now. She hadn't thought about it, but of course someone else would be with her on the couch. Maybe she should go back to drawing straws. The only boy she was comfortable sleeping near was…
"I'll take the couch." Fitz said.
Simmons looked up, shocked, and knew he had seen her reaction. She smiled at him gratefully, and he nodded.
"I thought Coulson said no boys and girls sleeping together." Skye teased.
Her cheeks heated up. "We're not sleeping –."
"It's not like that -." Fitz started.
"We're only sharing a bed." They said together.
"It's Fitz-Simmons." Coulson said. "Case closed. Now, who's going out to get the tree, and who's staying to make decorations?"
Skye had been nervous about being in such close quarters, but to Simmons it was wonderful. She'd never had the loud, bustling Christmases others knew all about. And she knew Fitz hadn't either. So being able to experience one, with her teammates, made her feel good. It made up for not being home.
Hunter and Mack had tried to drag Fitz out to get a tree, as they claimed it was a man's job. Simmons helped convince them to let him stay and make decorations. May went in his place, and Skye followed along, to see how it went.
Coulson made popcorn and brought out an old box of decorations ("don't tell the others we had these; they might think we made some"), and Bobbi flitted around, adding a touch of greenery here, a dash of ribbon there. By the time the others got back with the tree and it was decorated, the little cabin looked like something out of a Christmas movie. But maybe a little less perfect.
Though to Fitz-Simmons it was close enough. It was about five o'clock when they realized something. "We don't have anything to make for a dinner."
May looked up from the base of the tree, where she was adjusting the skirt. "Do we really need a fancy dinner?"
"No, but do we even have a basic one?"
Coulson walked over to the cupboard and brought out a package of popcorn and a can of peas. "The stocks are a bit low." He said.
"Can we just get take-out or something?" Hunter asked.
"We do have the plane." Bobbi said. "It wouldn't take long to go get some things."
Skye grinned and jumped up. "Who's up for Chinese?"
"I'll come!" Simmons said.
"And I'll fly." Bobbi said. "We'll be back later."
"Can I come?" Hunter asked.
Bobbi looked at him and smirked. "Sorry, girls only."
Skye's face showed delight at that, and then they walked out of the cabin. "It's still not snowing." Simmons said.
"Don't worry about it." Bobbi said. "It probably will soon."
They flew to the nearest open convenience store and bought a small turkey, a bag of potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, and a bag of apples. And a carton of milk and a plate of cookies, and a few more holiday necessities. As they walked up to the register to pay, they passed a stack of alcoholic drinks.
"It is Christmas." Skye said. "A few beers would probably be welcome."
"Are you kidding?" Bobbi asked. "We'd be heroes. Hunter never goes long without a beer." She seemed to realize that that could sound bad. "In a healthy enough way."
"Two cases of beer, coming up." Skye said, picking the twelve-packs up. They paid for everything and went back to the plane, and then Bobbi claimed to forget something and went back in. When she came out she had a wreath in her hands, and a string of lights. "We kind of forgot about more decorations." She said.
"They're perfect." Simmons said.
They walked back into the cabin a few minutes later (with take-out) and Skye entered last, holding up the beer.
"They're perfect." Hunter said, standing immediately to take one. He threw one to Mack and took one for himself, then sat back down on a chair. Simmons was pleased to see they had a fire going.
After dinner had been set out and eaten, and beers drank with it, May brought out the playing cards. "It's time." She said, a smile playing at her lips.
"What are we playing?" Hunter asked. "Strip poker? High stakes blackjack?"
"War?" Fitz asked.
Hunter stared at him. "You can't be serious." He studied him for a moment and then sighed. "We're playing with children." He muttered to Bobbi.
"We're not children." Fitz said. "Just because we don't like dirty games doesn't mean -."
"What adult doesn't?" Hunter asked.
"Respectable ones." Simmons said. "Let's just play poker. No stripping involved." She said, fixing Hunter with a look. "We can have fun playing the normal way."
They decided to play it tame, at least according to Hunter's standards. Fitz could tell not everyone was having a blast, but he was having a good enough time. The warmth from the fire and the inner heat from a combination of laughter and beer (not that he had a horrible amount) left him feeling content and slightly drowsy. The group was sharing stories of old holiday mishaps and adventures. Before they knew it the clock was racing towards midnight. The stories slowed, the people relaxed and began to tire, and the world outside became black as December 24th started to draw to a close. It was about quarter of midnight when Coulson said he was retiring for the night. That was the start of the end of the night, as everyone slowly went to their beds.
Simmons changed into bedclothes and went over to the couch to pull it out. Fitz started to help her a moment later, dressed in his most comfortable flannel shirt and bottoms.
There was a rosy hue to his cheeks as he adjusted and made the bed, and she smiled at how his curly hair was stuck up from running his hands through it in their card games. She still felt warm inside, and it was only partly because of alcohol. It was also because of the mood in the room, the people gathered in the cabin and the events that had taken place. It was also because of the boy getting into bed across from her, who looked remarkably like an elf at the moment.
They climbed into the bed and lay next to each other in the darkness, as they had done many times before. There were low murmurs from the two rooms, but otherwise the cabin was silent. The tree lights cast a faint illumination on the open room, and the fire crackled softly, reduced to a safe size but still burning bright. There was no snow, but it wasn't Christmas yet. There was still time. And she suddenly realized she didn't need it. She didn't even need the dinner she had pressed to buy, that she had to prepare tomorrow. She had everything she needed, right next to her.
The clock struck twelve, and Simmons was surprised to see Fitz suddenly move closer to her, his weight shifting as he brought his face to hers… and kissed her cheek, quickly and lightly. "Merry Christmas, Jemma." He whispered.
She smiled and kissed him on the lips, soft and gentle. "Merry Christmas, Fitz." She whispered back. The warmth that had been inside her now spread all the way to her fingertips, casting away all chill and cold. Fitz turned on his back to lay beside her again, and a moment later, he placed his hand in between them, palm up. "I care about you." He said, his voice the faintest of whispers. "I have since the day we met."
"I care about you too. I just never admit it to myself." She said. The warmth inside her led her to be completely honest. She did care about Fitz. He was like her other half. She just hadn't been able to admit how much she cared before, hiding behind friendship. Maybe this didn't mean anything, but at least things were more in the open now. And more was all that was needed.
It was all too easy to lay her hand on top of his, and definitely all too right as she saw him smile once she'd done it. She fell asleep with her hand like that, with a peace she hadn't known possible, that seemed to emanate from her hand, and a sense of affection that was just starting to truly kindle… for truly the first time that season, she was glad she wasn't home for Christmas.