A/N: 20-Davids keep going down memory lane. Now it's Deacon's turn sharing with his friends.

Deacon's worst and best

Christmas is a significant time for my family and me. You all know how my faith is important to me and how it is for Annie too. We're trying to raise our children so that they can feel the true spirit of the Holiday. We want them to understand that asking for gifts and opening boxes is not all. We want them to feel the joy of donating with all your heart and spreading peace—I admit, though, that Annie is a lot more focused than me in doing that. I thank God every day I have her at my side.

We're also trying to give the kids something real and meaningful. You probably don't know exactly where I come from—it's not easy for me to talk about it—but my parents, well, they taught me to have faith and raised me with all the Christian values. I'm sincerely grateful for that, but despite their efforts, they were not always the first-hand example they ought to be.

They didn't have a happy marriage; more than a few times, I thought the only reason they didn't separate was because the Church wouldn't approve a divorce. It was just arguments and continually teasing each other. Nothing really major or physical—alright, maybe my dad had slept in the spare room a few times, but he'd never lift and hand on my mom or me. However, growing up, I often felt like they were just putting up a big act to the benefit of everyone and no one really. As if God couldn't see what was happening between them.

My worst Christmas experience had been the year I turned eighteen when I moved out from home and came back for the holidays. The coldness I felt coming back… it was like once I left them alone, they had no one to fake it for, and their relationship just went down a deeper hole. They didn't try anymore; they just openly disrespect each other and take offense at every little thing. I'm not saying they didn't care entirely, but there was nothing to it anymore.

This is why I value my family time even more, especially at this time of the year. I want my children to have more; to feel all the love we are capable of; to believe that God is great and fair; to keep their hearts full of hope.

Some of you might remember how I pushed myself to go the extra mile for Matthew's first Christmas. Back then, Annie was pregnant with Lila—very pregnant, as you may remember, my little girl was born the next January.

My beautiful wife usually did all the work in the house—you know how it works with this job—but that year, she was just exhausted. With an exploding belly and a barely one-year-old baby, what could I expect? And so I had to ask her mother to come to the rescue.

Don't get me wrong, I love my mother-in-law, and I appreciate all the things she's done for us over the years, but having to rely on her to give my family what they deserved was hard to swallow. On top of that, we were on call on Christmas Day, and I had to skip the function and Christmas lunch with all Annie's relatives. Oh, are you starting to see why this is one of my favorite Christmas memories?

But that wasn't the reason. I missed Annie and Matthew every minute of the day, and Buck saw that. As soon as we were back at the HQ, he ordered me to drop everything and go home—Hondo, Luca, I think I still need to thank you for taking up my chores and let me leave that early.

Thanks to you, guys, and thanks to Buck, I managed to reach Annie and the baby and spend the most magical and quiet Christmas evening in my whole life. Just laying on the couch watching a late run of 'Miracle on the 34th street', cuddling with Annie while little Matthew snoozed in his cradle just next to the Christmas tree, was beyond unique. I could feel Lila kicking inside Annie's belly, and I could savor drinking a hot cocoa—rum-flavored cocoa. That simple moment made me realize I had everything I could ever wish for.

Of course, I've felt like that every new Christmas, especially every year touched by a new baby joining our family. That's why I always try to make their first one special, even if they would not possibly remember it.

That's why I always try to make the little things count. You never know what will turn out as the most kind gift from God.