All I want for Christmas ….

"What do you mean, you won't be home?"

The Arendelle Navy had a rotating schedule, one week out at sea, one week in port, and once every three months one of the larger ships was out for two or three weeks as a not so subtle reminder to any neighboring countries that might have expansionist ideas. Yule was the exception to this schedule. At Yuletide only one ship patrolled the nearby waters, the rest were docked so that their crews might spend the holiday with their families.

The queen had been only vaguely aware of these facts, until recently. She was, of course, the ultimate authority in the Navy's chain of command, but barring an attack from the Southern Isles or the need to commission a new ship, she left the day to day duties to her Admiral. But now that Carolina was away when her ship was at sea, Elsa found her awareness of her Navy's scheduling had grown much keener.

An awareness that had suddenly come into even sharper focus.

"What do you mean, you won't be home for Yule," Elsa repeated her hands settling on her hips in a way that usually meant trouble for whomever she was speaking to.

"One ship stays on patrol at all times, someone has to man it," Carolina answered nervously.

"Well, let someone man it who isn't you!"

"It's my duty. I'm at the bottom of the totem pole as far as officers."

Now Elsa arms moved to cross her chest, and her eyebrow arched with incredulity."I'm not so ignorant of naval rank and policy to actually believe that."

Fitz looked like she was going to argue that point, but Elsa continued on in her next breath, "I am your Lord High Admiral, you know. Someone you would think the Navy would be concerned about making happy!" Elsa had a long string of titles to go with 'Queen,' this title in particular being one she thought should allow her to make one tiny personnel change once a year.

"Well ..." Fitz shuffled her boots on the well polished floor of Elsa's study before straightening her back and taking a deep breath. "I feel like I should be at the bottom of the totem pole."

Elsa was not convinced. "You are going to miss Christmas dinner."

"Well …"

"Anna has a present for you, so does Kristoff. And Olaf … Olaf has been planning this day, well pretty much since last Christmas finished."

"Yes, but ..."

"You are going to miss MY Christmas Address."

Maybe it was her petulant expression, or the faint slap of her slipper coming down on the floor, but Fitz couldn't resist reaching out and gently stroking Elsa's cheek.

"And for that I am truly sorry."

Elsa leaned into the caress, closed her eyes, and let out a tiny huff of air.

"Captain Lund has command of the Adgar. I will be First Officer, for him … on a frigate, no less. He is one of the … skeptics about me, this is an opportunity to … and they … they asked for volunteers," Fitz added.

Elsa opened her eyes, and found herself yet again taking the measure of the woman in front of her. She couldn't deny that Fitz's attention to duty, as well as her ambition, was part of her attractiveness, although less so when it interfered with her plans. "And that's always going to be you, isn't it," Elsa said with a doleful sigh.

Fitz nodded, yes.

That wasn't an unexpected revelation. One did not become a captain by turning down opportunities to shine. "I guess I'd better not start any wars, then."

Fitz's only reply was to move her hand behind Elsa's head and gently pull her close for a kiss.

When she emerged, it took Elsa a moment before she shook off her dazed smile. "If you're determined then," she whispered. "I guess I'd better give you your gift now."

"You got me a present?" Fitz's eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands together with a glee that reminded Elsa of her sister.

"Of course I got you a present," Elsa chuckled. "But I'm going to need a moment, the plan was for this to be unveiled on Yule."

The queen walked the short distance to the door and disappeared behind it while, Fitz made herself comfortable on the settee across the room. Then after a bit, Fitz got up and walked across the room to glance at the record books lined up in the breakfront behind Elsa's desk. Later, she wandered around the room, several times, looked out and admired the view, and finally sat down again wondering if she should summon a footman for some supper, or at least a drink to tide her over until dinner.

At last Elsa returned and immediately dragged Fitz up the stairs toward their living quarters. When they reached the sitting room, Fitz stammered, "This would no doubt be a lovely gift. But shouldn't we … well, I'm dressed for dinner, and your sister will expect ..."

Elsa shook her head. Fitz was also a little predictable, at least about some things. "No, that's not your gift. Come here – honestly." She pushed the door open, and then pushed Fitz through.

Fitz looked around. She knew this was their room, but it was so very different. Thick tapestries covered the once bare stone walls. Plush rugs covered the floor in two layers, one plain the other colorful blocks with the crocus motif and an elaborate rose vine running between them. New, heavier draping hung from the canopy of the bed. Even the fireplace looked redone with a bright cheerful fire that Elsa had instructed the staff needed to be properly maintained even if she forgot to mention it.

"I thought, well -I never really decorated appropriately for an Arendelle winter. It wasn't something I had to worry about. But you ..."

"You did all of this for me?"

"I can't have you freezing on me. Even if it wasn't my fault, people would talk." Elsa gave Fitz a small half smile.

"It was getting a little chilly in here." Fitz shivered with the thought. Avalonian winters were milder than what Arendelle had offered so far, and she had spent much of her career in the Caribbean.

"Well, if Anna is anyone to go by, it will get a lot colder before it gets warmer."

"Then I shall have to think of things to keep us warmer …."

Elsa sighed. "You are incorrigible."

"Which you love."

"Which I love."

They leaned into each other, Fitz basking in the warmth of the fire, Elsa basking in the warmth of Fitz, until Fitz started with an "Oh!"

"I have something for you."

"You didn't have to ..."

Fitz shrugged and looked down at her feet. "It's not much. It's hard, you know, to get something for you that you don't already have – and when one hasn't been paid yet." She restrained herself from commenting on the lackadaisical attitude the Arendelle treasury seemed to have toward paying officers, which she found especially annoying in light of the fact they weren't allowed to seize anything from the ships they encountered.

"Really anything is more than I -" Elsa was saying as she watched Fitz duck into their closet and then emerge with a small package wrapped in colorful paper more or less covered in tape. "Did Olaf help wrap?"

"No."

"It's lovely." Elsa tugged unsuccessfully at two corners before finding one that gave way. She fished out a packet wrapped in tissue paper, opened that, and said, "Handkerchiefs."

"They're monogrammed, well with your name on them."

Elsa pushed the thought of the small mound of monogrammed handkerchiefs sitting in her drawer out of her mind, and remembered 'it was the thought that counts.' "I see that. They're lovely."

"I know you probably have some already."

Elsa's mouth opened, but she really didn't know how to answer that one.

"But I … well …" Fitz again shuffled shyly and said in in fits and starts, "I wanted you to have these so that you might give me one … to carry as your token … you know … to … inspired me."

Now Elsa found herself dumbfounded – and blinking back a tear. Truly, it was the thought that counted. "Of course … of course. I would want that, would love you to ….." She threw herself into Fitz's arms. "That's so sweet. I love you, so much."

"Not as much as I love you."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

The ship's bells rang at midnight. The rum had already been broken out, and the crew were singing carols. Fitz extended her glass when the captain's steward brought by a much more refined, and tasty, bottle of wine. And once they had been topped off she was surprised when Captain Lund turned to her and said, "If you would give us the first toast, Commander."

"But sir, isn't that the Captain's place?" Fitz was still coming to terms with the differences between Avalon and Arendelle as far as courtesy and tradition.

"Usually," Lund answered. "But I think this one belongs to you." He had been one of the most adamantly against allowing Fitzwilliam to join their Navy; however, he had been impressed by the young woman's skill and drive, not to mention the fact that she had already shown her willingness to climb into the rigging in the midst of a freezing, rainy gale, not at all what he had expect from a former Captain from the world's foremost Navy.

"Thank you, sir," Fitzwilliam replied. Then after running her free hand across the handkerchief she had pinned into her sleeve, she held her glass high.

"Attend the First Officer!" The bos'un yelled, and suddenly the raucous caroling was replaced by silence.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Fitz began, "To the Queen, our Lord High Admiral. Long may she reign!"

A/N: The author wishes each of you a Merry Christmas, too. PS This version beta'ed by grrlgeek72, perfectionist extraordinaire.