AN: Set pre-canon (like really, really pre-canon), and canon-compliant with Season 1 and Season 2 (so far). No knowledge of Every End is a Beginning required.
MACGYVER FAMILY RESIDENCE
MISSION CITY
CALIFORNIA
Mac grinned as he picked up the relatively large rectangular box, slightly-messily wrapped in festive wrapping paper, showing off the gap in his teeth (he'd lost his first tooth just two days ago, and was suitably proud at showing signs of growing up), and, walking past his grandfather, plonked the box on his dad's lap.
He really missed his mom. He missed her hugs and her smile and her apple pie and how she always smelt like home.
And it was Christmas.
She should be here, sitting with him under the Christmas tree and helping him sort through all the boxes and wrapping paper for the bits he wanted to keep to make something with, cooking and eating dinner with him and his dad and his grandfather.
But his grandfather (who was, in Mac's opinion, the wisest man ever) had said that everything happened for a reason, so there had to be a reason why he'd lost his mom.
And he still had his dad, and his grandfather, of course, so while that didn't make it okay that his mom was gone, he was okay.
As his dad opened Mac's present, Mac's expression turned more sheepish.
'I'm sorry for taking apart the toaster, Dad…' He'd just really, really wanted to know how it worked, and he'd gotten carried away. '…so I bought you a new one.'
He gestured to the box, which contained a brand-new toaster, which Mac had bought with his painstakingly saved-up pocket money, after asking his grandfather to take him to the appliances store so he could pick one out.
James MacGyver smiled and reached out and ruffled his son's hair.
'Thanks, Gus.' Mac grinned up at him, as James paused for a moment, and his voice and expression were serious, though fond, when he spoke again. 'Just make sure you ask for permission next time you take apart something that isn't yours, okay?'
Mac nodded solemnly, before his brow furrowed.
'But what if aliens invade and I have to make something to save the planet and there's no time and-'
James and Harry both chuckled, and Mac's grandfather reached out to ruffle Mac's hair too, which made Mac make a face.
(He mostly liked the feeling, liked the affection, but it made his hair stick up funny, which wasn't very comfortable.)
'Bud, if you're taking something apart to save the world or save a life, people will forgive you.'
James nodded in agreement, and set aside the toaster and reached out to grab another wrapped box.
'And here's my gift for you, Gus.'
Eagerly, Mac unwrapped the present, to reveal a children's chemistry set, which made his eyes widen and a big, big grin spread over his face.
That made his dad and his grandfather grin widely too, and the two of them exchanged a glance.
(If only Ellen was here to see this…)
Meanwhile, Mac had managed to tear his eyes and attention away from the chemistry set, and he got up off the floor and hugged his dad very, very tightly.
Harry Jackson simply smiled a little wider.
We miss you so much, Ellen.
I miss you so much.
But you can see your boy from up there, can't you? See who he's growing into?
He's gonna be a handful, but a good one, I reckon.
AN: Or, in which Harry Jackson may or may not have inadvertently started Mac's constant petty (mostly) theft/property damage…and voiceovers may or may not be hereditary. Also, I know that absolutely nowhere in canon have they established that Mac has any interest in toasters whatsoever (we know he loves airbags, paperclips, duct tape, his Swiss Army knife and DVD players, so I argue that a fondness for toasters is logical)…but I keep writing that he is obsessed with them and can't help it! (It started with me craving pancakes and walking through the kitchen and seeing our toaster about a year ago…and it snowballed.)
Tomorrow's ficlet: 'This, Riley, is my Ultimate Christmas Dessert! Guaranteed flavour explosion!'
What's in Bozer's Ultimate Christmas Dessert? Find out tomorrow!