''Twas the night before Christmas and all through the bunker everyone was stirring, including the toddler. It felt like Rittenhouse was trying to crush their holiday spirit this season as the team kept having to jump over and over again. Just as they would settle down from their mission and start to decorate the stupid alarm would start to blare and they would have to drop everything to go save history.
As a result everything was left to the very last minute. That didn't stop her though from going all out. It was now their third Christmas with their daughter and this year she almost seemed to get it. No longer was she an observer to the holiday traditions, but an active, and very vocal, participant. Everything her parents did she wanted to take part in too, and she wasn't afraid to let them know either.
The adults spent almost as much time corralling and pleasing the two year old as they did decorating the place. She was either in someone's arms helping hang a decoration or rearranging their hard work. It was only when she passed out on the couch, after much protest of course, did the adults finally get their living quarters looking like Christmas.
They hadn't been kidding when they talked about their terrible twos, and they were only a month in! It was lucky their daughter was cute though, or else her actions would have been a lot more annoying. No one was able to stop laughing or smiling as she ran and spun around the living room in a red dress and knee high black socks. Her now brown curls bouncing up and down behind her. It was hard to stay mad at her for long, even as she destroyed their hard work.
They did eventually finish at a reasonable hour and everyone got to relax and enjoy their hard work. After all their running around it was nice to finally break and enjoy the moment of being together. The toddler even got the message and was content sitting on a lap or playing with her toys on the floor.
Even bedtime went a lot smoother than it had the past few nights. The parents had let their daughter stay up later than usual, it was Christmas Eve after all. After setting out cookies and milk for Santa they went about their normal routine of getting her ready for bed, complete with an extra story.
They had just gotten her tucked in and her eyes fully closed when the alarm blared once again. The mother was quick to put the bright pink headphones on the toddler and pick her up all without waking her.
"Why?" She groaned as she looked at her partner, a worried look on her face.
"Let's just got see where they went this time." He commented and put a comforting hand on her back to lead their family back out into the living space.
"Couldn't they give us this one night off." She continued unable to control her anxiety or anger.
He looked just as upset as her, but was unable to find the words that would give her the comfort she so desired.
"Where did they jump to this time?" He asked once they were in the main room.
"London, December 18, 1843." Their friend read off from the monitor.
"That's the day before Charles's Dickerson's A Christmas Carol was released." She immediately replied.
"You think Rittenhouse is trying to stop that book from coming out?" He asked.
She shrugged her shoulders, "I guess. I mean Christmas as we know it is heavily influenced because of that book."
"Why would they want to destroy Christmas?" Their other friend asked.
"Because Rittenhouse is a real Scourge." She mumbled bitterly.
She wanted to use a stronger word, but she did not like to use that type of language around her daughter, even if she was asleep. Her language skills were really taking off and she was parroting whatever the adults said, both the good and the bad.
"So we go back in time, make sure they're able to publish this book and save Christmas. How appropriate."
Her partner could see how upset she still was and pulled her away from the group.
"You don't have to go Lucy." He told her once they were out of ear shot of their friends.
"Yes I do, I can't leave you without a historian. I don't even have any books on Dickens to help you out. You need me."
"We would figure it out. If you rather be here with Lydia than go to 1843 London everyone would understand."
"But then I would be worrying about you the entire time and if you can save Christmas." She let out a frustrated groan. "I can't believe Rittenhouse is making us save Christmas on Christmas Eve."
"I think I know someone who is getting a lump of coal in their stocking this year." He tried to joke, but it did nothing to ease her.
"Why did they have to do this tonight, out of all the other nights? This is one of the few days a year where we can make our lives resemble something normal." She continued unable to control her anger anymore. "I just want Lydia to have good memories to look back on when she is older and not just this dark bunker. I don't want them to ruin our Christmas because of their stupid agenda."
"We won't let that happen Lucy." He said pulling his family into his arms.
"How do you know?"
"Because everyone wants today to be special for Lydia. We will do everything in our power to stop Rittenhouse from whatever their evil plan is and save the day…again."
"I just don't want Lydia to wake up on Christmas morning and us not be there. I know she's only two, but…"
"I know and I promise you we will do everything in our power to make it back in time. She probably won't even notice that we are gone. She did tire herself out today pretty hard. Not to mention the major sugar crash from all the sweets everyone kept sneaking her."
She finally cracked a smile at that know all that he said was true.
"You promise we'll be back in time?" She asked looking up at him.
"I promise. We'll be in and out faster than you can say bah humbug."
She gave him a small nod and leaned up to give him a thankful kiss on the lips. No matter what the situation was or how trivial her feelings and fears were he always knew exactly what to stay to keep her calm and focused.
"Lydia." She whispered trying to wake the toddler up.
Their daughter whimpered and tried to ignore her mother.
"Come on bug, you gotta get up for a bit." He said and plucked his daughter out of her arms.
She opened her eyes blearily clearly unhappy with the wake up call. They hated having to do this, but they had vowed to always give their daughter a proper goodbye even if it meant disturbing her sleep schedule. It was better for everyone if she got to see her parents off, they had learned that one the hard way.
"Mommy and Daddy have to go baby." She whispered making sure to keep the two year old awake.
"No." She whined and buried her head into her father's neck.
"I'm afraid so bug. But we'll be back before Santa comes."
That managed to perk her up, "Santa!" She whispered in amazement.
"Yes Santa. Now be a good girl for Aunt Jiya and Dede okay?" She asked her daughter.
The toddler nodded her head in agreement. The father gave her a final squeeze and a kiss on her head before passing her back to her mother.
The pair walked back over to the main group.
"You two ready?" Their friend asked already inside of the Lifeboat.
"As ready as one can be on Christmas Eve." He commented.
She gave her daughter a final goodbye kiss before passing her over to her pseudo grandmother.
"Don't worry Lucy, we'll make sure she goes right back to sleep." Her boss said easily taking the child into her arms.
"I know." She replied, though made to motion of moving or removing her hand from her daughter's back.
"And if she doesn't, we'll just put on another Christmas movie and feed her more cookies so she'll be all wired when you come back." Her friend chimed and took the anxious mother's hands into her own before turning to the toddler. "Can you say bye Lydie?"
"Bye bye." Her daughter parroted, complete with a hand wave.
"Bye baby." Said said with a teary smile.
She gave one final look at the two women in charge of her baby. There was no one else she would trust to take care of her daughter and it comforted her knowing that everything at home was going to be fine. Before she could change her mind she gave the toddler one last kiss on the head and ran towards the lifeboat without a final glance.
"You ready?" Her partner asked helping her get buckled in.
"As ready as I'll ever be. Let's go save Christmas."