A/N: In response to Jackie's challenge—takes place around the time of Mac's accident in the season 10 episode "The Four Percent Solution." That was one of the only redeeming episodes of that wretched year. I didn't intend to write about that time, but when I sat down in front of my computer (OK, it was my phone), this came out.

I'd Like You For Christmas

"I'd Like You For Christmas" by Julie London

Chapter One: Dream Trees

Everything hurts. Everything. My body, my soul, my everything. There are people all around me, manhandling me, turning me this way and that, and now they're sliding me onto a hard board. It gets worse when they put on an equally hard collar. I can't move now and while I know that's the point, it's making me panic. Through it all I know I'm mumbling something, something that sounds like "Harm," and I know I keep slipping in and out of consciousness; every time I fade out, I go back to my impromptu session with Dr. McCool. That was a turning point for me, or at least it was for a while. No, no, it helped. I'm sleeping better than I was before, and I know what I want, or more accurately who I want. Sadly, I have no idea how to go about getting him. Besides, I'm fairly certain he already has someone else.

The hard part is, I can't even hate her. She's smart, she's lovely, and she's nice. Truly nice. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Alicia Montes. Her only flaw is that she has Harm.

I'm jostled a bit as they lift me onto the gurney, and again when they lift it up. I hear myself cry out in pain, and the flashing lights all around me cause my eyes and head to hurt too. I want to turn away, but I can't, of course. There's the collar around my neck, padding strapped around my head, and several straps and belts holding me to that horrible board and the gurney. I can't move anything, not even my arms, and I'm really starting to panic now. I think I'm talking to the people around me, but they don't seem to hear, so to keep myself calm, I repeat his name. "Harm, Harm, Harm…"

Eventually I'm unconscious again, and this time I drift into an entirely new world…

"Here." My husband hands me the last ornament from the storage container he kindly brought down from the attic this morning. I would have done it, but he'd insisted he do it, and no amount of "I'm a marine" was going to change his mind. The man thinks I'm an invalid and has since the moment he found out I was pregnant. As it is, he's made me stick to hanging ornaments on the middle parts of the tree because apparently reaching and bending are now beyond my capabilities. He's such a man sometimes. An overbearing, protective, chivalrous man, and honestly, I'm loving every minute of it. I act all irritated sometimes because if I didn't, he'd worry even more.

"Okay, Mommy," Harm says as he starts unpacking the nativity scene his grandmother gave us. "Time for you to sit down and put your feet up."

I roll my eyes, but I do what he tells me to. I'm due in mid-January and to my chagrin, I have been getting more tired as the weeks progress. I'm still marine strong, though!

Once Harm has finished decking the halls, he sits down beside me, handing me the hot chocolate he just made. I didn't notice him doing that; I suppose I must have dozed off again.

"You okay, Mrs. Claus?" he asks as he puts his arm around me.

I immediately scowl. "Are you calling me that because I'm fat?"

"No!" He pales a little as his eyes go wide.

"If you have a problem with my size, you shouldn't have gotten me pregnant! And I wouldn't be so big if you hadn't done it to me twice!"

"Mac, Mac…I didn't mean to…and—and it was still just once. It's not my fault you turned out to be so fertile!

"Well, you said twins run in your family!"

"You know that's not how it works, Mac."

"Oh, so now I'm fat and stupid?!"

Harm takes his arm from around my shoulders, frantically shaking his head before holding up his hands, palms forward, to ward off my wrath.

Poor guy. It's time to let him off the hook. I burst out laughing.

"You're so easy, Harm!"

"Hey!" He's all indignant now, and it's so cute.

"Oh, Harm. I was just messing with you."

He snorts.

"Come on, Harm."

He's obviously pouting, but I know how to fix that.

"Oh, Harm…I'm sorry."

"Humph," he grunts.

"Haaarm," I say in a sultry voice as I start stroking his crooked right ear. He nuzzles into my hand. "I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?" My lips form a pout when he doesn't say anything, but as I take my hand away, he springs into action.

"Put that back," he growls as he grabs my hand. He pulls it back to his ear and I continue my ministrations. He moans a little; he can't resist it when I touch him there.

"Sooo, you forgive me?" I ask as I brush my thumb over his lips.

"Oh, yeah, baby," he says as he lifts me onto his lap. I'm about to kiss him when he grunts.

"What?"

"Nothing…Mrs. Claus." And then we're both laughing.

Later we're back on the couch in front of the fire admiring our tree.

"You know, Mac. You haven't told me what you want for Christmas yet."

Typical. Harm always waits until the last minute to shop. Of course, in my case there's no need for him to buy anything, because what do you get for the girl who has everything?

"Mac?" His arm is around me and he strokes his fingers up and down my shoulder.

"I don't need anything."

"Yeah, but this is about what you want."

"I already have that too."

"Maaac," he groans in frustration.

"Harm, honey. I've got you and the babies. That's all I've ever wanted."

Harm thinks on that for a while as I snuggle into him.

"I get it, Mac. You three are all I've ever wanted, for Christmas, New Year's…"

"And Easter too?"

"And Easter too."

I wake up as we race down the road. I know I'm crying now, crying for him, and crying for the beautiful world I left behind.

Oh, Harm…

I'm sorry.

We could have had something beautiful, but I ruined everything.

End Chapter 1