Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis or any of its characters; I own Emily, Mac, 'Leeander', Rima, and Rita. I do not own Santa Claus, he owns himself, yes I believe in Santa. There's a tribute to the show Firefly in here too. Anyway just because I feel like adding it this Saturday's my birthday! Woohoo!

(A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed a special thanks to Parai () for helping me fix up the story a bit. It does make it a lot better, thanks Parai ()! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!)

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"The Athosians just arrived," I beamed to Mr. Woolsey as I pushed my way through the thick crowd that was mostly made of military, scientists, Marines, nurses, and a handful of families that had been given permission to visit Atlantis.

"Good," he smiled with a nod, "now we are just awaiting Todd and Emily."

I nodded, "want me to help my Aunt give out Christmas Cookies or Egg Nog?" I asked.

"Cookies yes, Eggnog you can't be around," Mr. Woolsey replied, "you're not 18 yet."

I nodded, so the Eggnog was the Alcohol-Eggnog...I made my way through the thick crowd again, "excuse me, excuse me, thank you, excuse me," I exclaimed over and over again. I made sure to keep a smile on my face, though my temper was rising and I was getting angrier that people wouldn't shut the heck up long enough to let me through.

It had only been a day since I used Colonel Sheppard's pencil in jar takes the bad thoughts away thing and it worked faster than I thought. I realized that I didn't love Leeander or even really like him - I liked the fact that he had been helping me on the Hive. So I guess in other words I had read one two many teen romances that all decided to jump out and make me think I was in love with a Wraith just because he helped me. I had made a decision two hours ago never to 'fall' for another stranger again; besides, I want to grow older, graduate from high school without being a parent, go to college, and well...Have fun and meet the right guy when it's time to meet him.

I smiled as I thought about Rima, she and Leeander would make a great couple. I think the only reason they even continue to refer to each other as 'brother' and 'sister' is because they're so used to it. But since they aren't related they'd make a great couple. I glanced up at the Mistletoe on the archway that led into the Control Room; I had begged Major Lorne to put it up there for almost the entire day, finally he got sick of the puppy-dog faces, the I-won't-leave-you-alone-'til-you-do's, and following him around a lot. Yeah, I'm what you'd call persistent.

As I passed the glass doors that led out to the balcony I glanced out and smiled at seeing the Star People, shining even brighter tonight. I glanced at my reflection, I was wearing my favorite embroidered bell bottoms that had 'jewels' on them, a long sleeve tie dye blouse that was loosely tucked into my pants, my sneakers, a brown fringed vest, and a tie dye bandana around my forehead.

"Woah! the 1970's returns!" Exclaimed Sergeant Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds.

I beamed, "Hi Sergeant Reynolds! Merry Christmas!"

"What's with the retro-clothing?" The Sergeant asked as he eyed me up and down; he's probably in his early 30's (that's my guess), and he looks like that Captain Reynolds on that show Firefly.

"It's my style," I replied, "I'm bringing Peace to this galaxy in my own way!"

"Well, you keep doing that....You know my name but I keep forgetting yours." He frowned.

"MacKenzie Jordan, but everyone calls me Mac," I smiled, we shook hands.

"Have we ever met before?" He asked, giving a small and embarrassed smile, "I...Uh...Meet a lot of people with this job."

"We were introduced 2 years ago, but I only see you around sometimes and I say hi and you say hi back."

"OK, thanks - oh wow, Dr. Rita Koughtza, you are smokin' tonight," he smiled to one of the doctors in Atlantis.

I went towards the cookie table where my Aunt was giving out cookies as fast as her hands could pass them out.

"Need some help?" I smiled.

"That would be great, thanks Mac," Aunt Tina smiles to me, "isn't it gorgeous?"

I looked up at the Christmas tree, it wouldn't be lit until Todd and Emily arrived, "it's beautiful," I smiled.

"I like to think that Angel up there is your mother's angel watching out over us," Aunt Tina smiled to me, "what about you?"

"I think she's mom's guardian angel and she watches over us and writes down whatever we say to mom to give to her in a letter," I replied.

"I never thought of that," Aunt Tina smiled before Todd and Emily walked in. I had to bite my lip as the two passed the cookie table and Todd caught sight of the Christmas Tree and let out a loud groan, I swore I heard him mumble, 'humans are such odd creatures..Worshipping trees once a year.'

A minute later 'Leeander' and Rima walked in, I had a feeling 'Leeander' was calling him that since he already admit he had went through my mind, he probably saw my favorite guy name is Leeander. He made his way over to the table with Rima.

"Mac," he nodded before staring at me uncomfortably until Rima jabbed her elbow into his side, "I wanted to apologize and see if we could have a...'Do Over' as humans seem to call it."

"No..." I replied, "I think it's me who needs to apologize. I uh...Jumped to conclusions about my feelings."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," I replied, "the 'feelings' I had, now I know, were just feelings of knowing that I was safe on that Hive because you were protecting me. Well, every woman wants a strong, handsome guy..or Wraith to save her and I uh jumped to conclusions, sorry about that."

Leeander nodded, "I too have....Jumped to conclusions. I think you are a strong human but..."

"No need to explain," I smiled.

Rima looked at me surprised, "Mac, are you sure?"

I nodded, when Rima started to look around I grabbed 'Leeander's' arm and whispered, "ask her out. She isn't your sister we both know that, and I can see an electric storm of sparks between the two of you."

"Sparks?" Leeander asked.

"Yeah...You know...You more than like her, you love her?"

Leeander suddenly looked uncomfortable but had a small smile on his face, yep I hit the nail right on the head.

"Ask her out, I mean ask her to be yours, you know. If you can't do it in words take her under that plant hanging from the entrance to the Control Room there. It's called a Mistletoe, when a man and woman stand under it they kiss." I smiled.

"In other words ask her symbolically instead of verbally," Leeander smiled.

"Yeah and you're name isn't Leeander is it?" I asked.

"No," replied 'Leeander,' "it is not. I asked Rima to call me this when you were on our Hive and around me because you humans are obsessed with names."

"But you do have a name?"

"Of course, but I will not give it to you," Leeander replied, "maybe after long years of friendship, perhaps, but not now."

"So do you want Colonel Sheppard to name you?"

"NO," Leeander replied, "he is thinking constantly of renaming me Larry. I do not wished to be called that...The name Larry seems to remind the Colonel of a...Cable Guy? I do not know what this is."

I laughed, "he's an Earth comedian," I replied, "Is Rima's name, really Rima?"

Leeander paused before nodding, "yes. Though When her...transformation to a Wraith is fully complete she shall be renamed."

"I can still call her Rima?"

Leeander nodded, "if she wishes it, yes."

Mr. Woolsey suddenly held a distress horn up in the air as he stood on a table, he honked the horn and everyone fell silent.

"Do not make that sound again, human! Or I shall feed upon you!" Shouted Todd as he rubbed his ears.

I looked around to make sure Leeander was ok, but didn't see him or Rima; I looked over to Mistletoe and smiled, he was explaining it to her. When she raised part of her forehead he turned around so his back was facing everyone else and bent his head. I beamed, I knew what was going on there.

"First of all I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas," Mr. Woolsey exclaimed, "I know that the Athosians and the Wraith now know what Christmas is-"

"Yes, a human holiday that worships trees," Todd replied.

"We do not worship trees, Todd, how many times have we been over this?" Emily asked.

"Emily, let him think what he wants too," Colonel Sheppard exclaimed, "if he wants to think we're a bunch of tree huggers, let him."

"If I may continue?" Mr. Woolsey asked as he put the horn down and clasped his hands in front of him. "Thank you," he exclaimed before going on, "I want everyone to know that his has been a long and hard year. I know that I have only been here for 4 months, and that I am still getting used to Atlantis and in turn you all are still getting used to me. I am trying and I am working my hardest to be a good leader." He paused, "now since all this is over after we light the tree-"

"You worship a tree then burn it? What sense does this make, Human?" Todd asked; this time I lost it and laughed at seeing his face. Todd looked more than confused, he was absolutely lost.

"No, no, there are little light bulbs on the tree that glow different colors...That's what light the tree means,"
Mr. Woolsey explained.

"Humans and their odd traditions," Todd sighed.

"Bah Humbug to you too!" I called over to Todd.

He turned and looked at me, "why does everyone say this to me?"

"Because you're the Wraith version of Ebenezer Scrooge!" Colonel Sheppard replied.

"Yes, I read the book," Todd grumbled, "I am nothing like that old human."

"ENOUGH!" Mr. Woolsey shouted, "this a night of happiness and celebration, not of bickering! So let the Christmas Carols begin, starting with Oh Christmas Tree," he exclaimed as he climbed off the table. I saw Todd roll his eyes and shake his head.

"Mac," Leeander said to me as he walked over with Rima, "I believe this human Christmas Tradition is where you give gifts."

"Yeah," I smiled, "I make gifts to give to people, I wasn't sure what to make you and Rima but you both have presents under the tree."

"Well...This is my gift to you," Leeander said as he handed me my mother's peace sign.

"Thank you!" I beamed as tears welled in my eyes, I had missed the pendant so much. Losing it had made me feel like I had lost a connection with mom, I put it back on and smiled.

Leeander and Rima walked off.

"Ready to go join the crowd?" Aunt Tina beamed to me.

"Sure am," I beamed, glad that Leeander's Christmas present from me to him was his pendant back. I stood next to my Aunt as she cuddled up close to Colonel Sheppard. I watched as the Colonel smiled and wrapped his arm around her, holding her close, he winked at me before the loud music started.

"Oh Christmas Tree, oh Christmas Tree," I started, we sang as loud as we could, happiness filled my heart and soon spread all over me. I love Christmas! When were on the last verse Major Lorne plugged the lights into an extension cord and the Christmas tree lit to life; the colored lights helped to light up the room and looked gorgeous. The angel on top of the tree seemed to be giving a larger smile than she had been before as the two small white lights in her hands lit to life as well. I hadn't realized I was crying until a tear fell into my mouth...But at least this time it wasn't a tear of fear, it was a tear of happiness.

I thought about my mom as we sang, I remember we always up the tree up after Thanksgiving and we would listen to Christmas Carols as we decorated the tree. I remember one year our Christmas star and broken, and my mom spent nearly 4 hours at the kitchen table carefully gluing it back together. It was a long and boring job to watch her, but now I know it must have been hard and longer for her than it was for me. But later on we both had a cup of hot chocolate in Santa Claus mugs.

"...And a Happy New Year!" We finished singing and froze; that's when we heard the noise. Everyone rushed to the windows of Atlantis and gaped, on the balcony sat a huge pile of gifts! We looked up and there flying right in front of us were 9 reindeer, and Santa in his sled. My eyes went huge as did everyone else's, I heard gasps, shrieks of happiness and people saying 'I told you he was real!'

"HO! HO! HO! Merry Christmas!" Santa shouted as he waved to us before flying into the night sky.

A moment later a transmission came in from Todd and Emily's Hive, Kenny stared at us looking rather...Disturbed, his eyes were wide and filled with disbelief his mouth hanging open.

"Commander...Queen....We just....Saw reindeer....That flew.....Into Space....With a.....Human dressed in red shouting HO HO HO...What should we do?" He asked.

"Nothing, he's Santa, Kenny," Emily called to the Wraith, "just leave him be he's good."

"Such an odd sight, humans cannot fly in sleds!" Kenny exclaimed in shocked disbelief before the transmission ended.

We all looked over just in time to see Todd drop down in a dead faint.

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It was nearing 2 A. M. and I was exhausted, many people had already opened one gift and then went to bed. Aunt Tina, Colonel Sheppard, Emily, Todd (well kinda awake, but still in shock), and myself were up with a handful of other people.

"That was the best Christmas Eve I've ever had," I beamed as I sucked on a candy cane.

Aunt Tina nodded, "yes it was perfect," she replied before she and Colonel Sheppard kissed - again.

"OK if you two get any sweeter, I'm gonna get cavities," I exclaimed as I raised an eyebrow.

"Well then you'll just have to get fillings, won't you?" Colonel Sheppard smirked to me.

"Did you see what John gave me, Mac?" Aunt Tina beamed as she held out a small pendant made of diamonds in form of a Celtic Cross. My eyes went huge, so they were extremely, extremely serious...Good.

"And this is what your Aunt gave me," Colonel Sheppard beamed as he showed me his new watch, it was a lot like his old one only it had more bells and whistles sort of speak. I had helped to pick it out.

"Yeah it's awesome!" I smiled, "Leeander gave me mom's peace sign back."

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I walked out onto the balcony and looked up at the Star People.

"Hi mom...Merry Christmas, I miss you so much. Christmas was great this year, really, really good. It's been the greatest since...You passed away. But I know you're still with me and I love you so much. I miss you. How are you up there?" I smiled and star gazed for a few minutes before I jumped at seeing a star suddenly give a bright twinkle; my eyes went even larger when I swear I saw my mother's face forming in the stars, she seemed to smile before vanishing. I stared in shock and fascination before bursting out into tears again, she was watching over me from the stars, just like she said she would one day long before she was shot.

"I love you, mommy," I whispered...I knew I hadn't said the word mommy in years, but...I just saw her again for Pete's sake! I gave a large smile, "thanks mom..." I whispered, I knew her showing me herself for a second had been her last Christmas gift to me....And it was the best gift I've ever gotten in my entire life.

The End