A/N: After getting inspired by the creation of an advent calendar in real life, I challenged myself to write a series of short, unrelated scenes between 500 and 1000 words each, all Christmas themed and featuring all the different SWAT characters.

Part of the challenge I threw myself is to write and post my Christmas Bites without obsessing too much about craving perfection. Hopefully, this will help me out of the posting block that held me hostage in the last few months.

As I'm trying to relieve myself from stress and not to stress myself more, this won't strictly be an advent calendar, though I will try posting as often as I can.
Let's just see what I can do, hoping you'll enjoy it.

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Santa's calling

S: Deacon and Annie deal with their children's desire to meet Santa.

Children's laughs and 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year' could be heard all the way down to the Kays's porch. Deacon adjusted the Christmas wreath on the door; new homemade decorations popped up every time he set foot home from work.

December had just started, but Annie was already strained. No wonder since she had to deal with homeschooling and nursing all day long—though she was doing a spectacular job. One more reason, Deacon thought, to try making this Christmas special.

"David," Annie said that night as they settled for bed. "The kids have been twitchy for a while now. They want to go to the mall and talk to Father Christmas in person."

They both were true believers; for them, Christmas was all about Jesus being born and God spreading peace and joy, but how could they deny their children to believe in Santa Claus too? Especially this year.

"I tried explaining to them that this year just the letters would do," Annie continued, "that Saint Nick would hear them anyway, just like God does when we pray, but they are stubborn." She smirked. "Just like their father."

"Oh, it's my fault now?" Deacon kissed his wife on the forehead. "Okay, I'll come up to something. Promise." He tried to smile back at her, deciding Annie's deep sigh meant she was relieved and not even more concerned.

After a night of troubled sleep, Deacon used every break from work to try solving his problem, unconsciously drawing his teammates's attention. Unfortunately, none of them had a solution. Not until Luca video-called from Germany. That man had the biggest heart Deacon had ever seen.

When the shift was finally over, the smell of freshly baked cookies welcomed him home.

Annie's overworked voice came from the kitchen. "Matthew, honey, can you please keep an eye on your brother?"

"Daddy!" Samuel came running, followed by his older brother. Deacon hugged them and, as soon as they set him free, advanced toward the kitchen.

Annie smiled at him from under a layer of flour. "You came home just in time," she said, taking out a cookie sheet from the oven.

Deacon looked around at the messy kitchen. "I'll help you clean in a minute."

She chuckled softly. "Didn't mean that. David, you seem tired. Why don't you just taste one of these?"

"I'll have one later." Deacon kissed his wife. "I just need to set something up," he whispered so that Lila—more icing on her lips than on the cookie she was trying to decorate—couldn't hear.

He moved to the living-room, feeling Annie's look on his back. The chaotic Christmas tree overlooked all his moves from the corner of the room. Never as this year, Deacon had missed being able to be home decorating it with his family. He shook the thought off and took the laptop from the online-learning station Annie had sat up for Matthew.

When he was ready, he voiced for the whole family to come over. "There is a special call for you!"

As soon as they crossed the corridor, Deacon's heart filled. Lila let out a shriek of joy while she gripped at the arm of the still stunned Matthew, hauling him forward. Samuel strolled right behind them, yelping "Santa! Santa!" and Deacon had to help him on a chair before he made some disaster.

"Oh, oh, oh," said the faked-deep voice from the screen. "Matthew, Lila, Samuel, and Victoria Kay, aren't you, my dear children?"

While the kids started bombing the laptop with questions, Deacon's attention moved to Annie, who was squinting at the man with the—fake—white beard on the screen. He relieved her from Victoria's weight, still trying to catch his wife's reaction.

"Luca?" she mouthed, incredulous. If even his wife had trouble recognizing their friend all dressed up as he was, it was safe to think his children would not do the math.

"Daddy," Lila called. "There really is snow where Santa lives."

"Of course, honey," Deacon nodded, amused. Luca had gone the extra mile, setting all in his rented home to feel like Santa's place. God had helped with the weather for sure, but the idea of putting the camera so it would frame the large window at Luca's back had been brilliant.

"So, kids," Santa/Luca said, "I've just been checking on my list, and, oh, look, it seems you're all in the good kids one." The children's faces brightened even more, and he continued, "Tell old Santa what your wishes are."

"I—" Lila looked back at her parents. "Can you give us some privacy?"

Deacon saw Luca holding up a laugh, then turned baffled to Annie, who was smiling too. "Of course. But do not take advantage of Santa's patience, alright? He has some more children wishes to take care of, understood?"

"Yes, dad," Matthew eagerly cut him off. "We'll be quick. Can you go now?"

What would they possibly want to ask to need a private moment with Santa Claus? Deacon wondered, a bit worried, while heading with Annie and little Victoria to the messy kitchen. However, they continually peaked in the living-room; the light on their children's faces was just too bright and heartwarming not to watch. Unfortunately, they couldn't hear their words, but Deacon just knew Luca would tell him everything he needed to know.

"I think the biggest present will go to Luca this year," Annie whispered, gripping at Deacon's arm.

Deacon couldn't take his eyes off the scene, his heart filling with Lila's high-pitched giggles, Matthew's broad smiles, and Samuel's twitching of impatience. "Maybe we can ask Santa to bring him back home soon."

Annie cracked a heartening smile. "Maybe God would help too."