AN: This is not going to make sense if you haven't read Every End is a Beginning, I'm afraid, though it might also make sense if you've read Just Another Patriotic Guy, now that I think about it…Anyway, for those who have read Every End is a Beginning, it is set the Christmas after it ends.

MACGYVER'S RESIDENCE

LA

'…And that's another failure.'

Riley and Bozer exchanged disappointed looks as their fourth carefully-concocted plan failed. Mac, their co-conspirator (who'd only come on-board a couple of hours ago, and was far less dedicated to the cause than they were, since he was mostly revenge-motivated, after all), raised an eyebrow, absent-mindedly toying with a paperclip in his hands, which was taking the shape of a sprig of mistletoe.

'You know, Patricia's the best spy in the business, and Jack's an extremely competent covert operative, despite appearances, so…' Mac looked up at the ceiling as he did some quick mental calculations. '…the probability of us succeeding is less than 10%.' Bozer and Riley both crossed their arms and glared daggers at him, and Mac put up his hands in supplication. 'Don't shoot the messenger; probability is just probability. It's nothing personal!'

Bozer and Riley exchanged a glance, then both nodded decisively, and Riley pointed firmly at Mac.

'Time to start Plan E. Get into position, Mac.'

Bozer was already moving to get into his position for Plan E, and with a rather wry smile and a little, long-suffering shake of his head, Mac started moving too.

Meanwhile, Riley surveyed the scene in front of her.

She and Bozer (probably with Mac's help, and maybe Beth's too) were going to get Jack and Patricia caught under the mistletoe eventually.

It was really just a matter of how many attempts (and how many Christmases) it would take.

(She was not going to give up.)

AN: The kids are trying to get Mom and Dad together! How adorable, right? ;)

Tomorrow's ficlet: He missed not being alone for Christmas. He missed being with family for Christmas.

Any guesses as to who is feeling lonely at Christmas-time?