A/N: It's been a while, and it's definitely not close to Christmas anymore, but I'm trying to finish up my fanfics before school starts, so yay you get an update.

"Hi Jemma." His voice was garbled, distorted, but it was him.

"Fitz!" She could hear Daisy snicker as she left the room. It was a mystery to the rest of the team, why Fitz called her by her first name, and she continued to call him Fitz. She didn't expect them to know why he hated the name Leo. And she didn't want them to know, either. After all, he hadn't told her about it for years. It was only after they had officially started a romantic relationship that he had revealed his secret. For now, it was something between the two of them, one tiny portion of their relationship that wasn't aired in front of their colleagues. Their friends.

"Leo." Her hand cradled around his neck as she kissed him.

"No, wait." He protested, and she drew back. "I don't mind if you kiss me, just don't call me Leo."

"Why not?" Jemma asked, cuddling against him. "I'll stop, but can you tell me why?"

"It makes me feel like I'm in trouble." He admitted. "You call me Leo when you're annoyed with me, or you think I'm being pigheaded. And-"

Jemma was laughing. Her laugh was beautiful. "And what, Fitz?"

"It's what my dad called me."

She stopped laughing. His dad was the topic they didn't discuss, not now, maybe not ever. "I'm sorry, Fitz, I didn't know. It's not a bad name. I can say it, and it wouldn't sound bad at all." She whispered his name into his ear, and kissed his cheek.

"Yeah?" Fitz said, "It's not so bad like that."

"Jemma? You still there?"

"Of course, Fitz." Jemma said, coming back to reality in an instant. "What?"

"I'm going to be home for Christmas, Jemma." Fitz said. She could tell by his voice that he was smiling. "It'll be faster than expected, and I'll be home on Christmas Eve."

"Oh, Fitz." She laughed into the phone, "You'll be home?"

"I'll be home."

"Let me talk to Bobbi." Jemma said.

"Oh, really? I just- Bobbi? You don't believe me, do you?"

"Do you fly a quin-jet?" Jemma fired back. "Now get her on the line, Fitz."

A few moments later, Bobbi was reassuring Simmons. "He'll be home for Christmas, I promise, if I have to steal a helicopter, I will get Fitz back to you for Christmas."

"Thank you, Bobbi. And-"

"Yes, I can put him back on the line." Bobbi said. "I'll see you in 24 hours." The line went static, and there was a thud, like the device had been dropped.

Jemma held onto the phone like a lifeline as she heard Bobbi yelling orders. She could hear gunshots. An explosion. Static.