Travis always made Christmas dinner at station 19. Everyone would help, chopping vegetables and washing dishes, but Travis was in charge. Vic would decorate. They always had one tree in the beanery and one tree outside. This year Vic had lined every hallway and stairwell with garlands and put vases full of ornaments on every table. Maya would organize secret Santa. Giving out the names, setting a price limit, making sure everyone had their presents under the tree before midnight on Christmas Eve. This year, everyone was working even harder to make Christmas perfect. Because even though nobody said it, they were all hoping Andy would come home. She had been gone nearly 3 months. At first they tried calling her. Leaving voicemails. But after a few weeks the sound of her voicemail was replaced with an automated message: this number is no longer in service. It was wierd. She was gone but she wasn't really gone.

"Where are you going?" Travis asked as Vic walked out the door of the fire station

"The dollar store. We need more decorations." Vic said closing the door behind her. Travis was on reception today. It was a slow shift, they had only had 2 calls. One was a woman who burnt a turkey and thought the house was burning down and the other was an old man who slipped on some ice. Now they were sitting around, preparing for their Christmas dinner that was only hours away. Jack was in his office, as he usually was. He didn't come out much. Ever since Andy left he was closed off.

Beep Beep Beep

A timer went off on Travis's phone.

"Dean, take over for me, the turkey needs to be taken out of the oven." Travis said waving Dean over to the reception. Dean walked over to reception and sat down at the chair.

"Fine but you owe me."

Upstairs, Maya was organizing the presents under the tree. As Travis walked over to the kitchen he signaled to the presents.

"Those look beautiful." he said.

"Ya they really do. I'm just organizing them so that..." Maya stopped talking as she picked up a green present tied with a gold sparky bow.

"What is it?" Travis asked.

"For Andy." Maya read "Merry Christmas, Love Vic."

Travis was silent. They all wanted Andy to come back but Vic... it seemed like Vic was always preparing for her arrival. She would wash Andy's turnout gear every week, making sure it was always spotless. She made sure Andy's favourite chips were always in the beanery. And everytime something happened on a call she would say: "I can't wait to tell Andy about that."

Travis went back to working on the dinner. Chopping the carrots and mashing the potatoes. Just after he got the cake in the oven, Vic walked through the door with 4 bags of decorations.

"You got Andy a present." Maya said taking two of the bags from her and putting them on the counter.

"Of course" Vic said "just in case. You wouldn't want her to come home and not have any presents."

Maya smiled

"Right, of course."

When it was finally dinner time, everyone gathered around the table. There were candles and garlands and ornaments placed decoratively in the center of the table. The food was arranged beautifully on platters. Dean had picked out the fanciest wines he could have. Vic plugged her phone into a speaker system and put on Christmas music. Everyone sat around the table eating in silence. Andy always loved Christmas. It was so wierd celebrating it without her.

"so," Vic broke the silence "I was thinking, when Andy gets back..."

"Vic stop." Jack interrupted quietly. Everyone turned to look at Jack.

"Stop what?" Vic asked dropping her silverware down in the table loudly.

"Stop planning for Andy's grand return because she's not going to return. She's not coming back." Jack said. His words were harsh but everyone knew they were true. "There is no need to keep her locker full or clean her turnout gear clean or mention her every five seconds because all you are doing is reminding Us that she is gone."

Everyone sat there staring at Jack and Vic silently. Suddenly Vic stood up and ran out of the room. Everyone quietly continued eating. It was hard to imagine life without Andy but Jack was right. She wasn't coming back

Madi POV

"Hey Andy, were having a big bonfire tonight, you should come." I said walking into her room.

"I'll just eat in my room." She said still staring at the TV in front of her.

"Andy..." I said quietly. She didn't respond. I walked over and sat next to her. I picked up the remote and turned the TV off.

"Hey I was..." Andy said pulling the remote out of my hands.

"What happened Andy? Why are you really here?"

"I told you... I wanted to see you." She responded

"Andy... I'm so happy you're here but... I know you. And I know you well enough to know that station 19 is your family and you would never abandon your family. You have been here 3 months. The Andy I know would not be able to stay away from her job or her friends for more than a couple weeks. What really happened."

Andy looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

"Everyone's gone." She said quietly.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"My dad got cancer. And then Ryan died. And then I fell in love with my captain. And then he made me captian and disappeared. And then Maya started dating Jack and then my dad died." She sobbed "they're all gone."

I wrapped my arms around her.

"You can stay here as long as you want Andy." I whispered