December 1972
"You have any plans?" Roy asked Chet at the Dayroom table. It was the morning of Christmas Eve and it was the first holiday of the newly assembled Station 51. Everyone casually sipped on coffee or ate oatmeal Johnny made, waiting for their relief.
"I'm going to my brothers," Chet said with a fond smile, "His daughter turned three this year, so she'll be a sight to see tomorrow."
"I didn't know you had a niece, Kelly," Mike commented, looking up from his steaming mug, the crew of several months were still getting to know each other.
"That's cause she's her soft spot and he can't lose his reputation," Marco allowed, elbowing his friend in jest. Chet scowled, but couldn't hold it for long and smiled, showing it was the truth.
Gage chuckled, pleased Chet was getting a ribbing for once.
"What about you, Gage?" Chet asked, hoping to distract everyone with a new topic. The usually talkative man was quiet, but it was morning. John Gage was not a morning person.
"Oh, nothin' much," Johnny supplied, being vague.
"You should come over for dinner," Roy offered, "Chris and Jenny would love it." Roy had already talked with Joann about asking him, it seemed appropriate, "Especially since Jenny's started calling you 'Uncle Johnny'."
The men on A shift smiled, but no one wisely commented, knowing they would have Roy DeSoto to answer too.
Gage blushed and looked down at his bowl, pleased with his honorary title. He didn't have the heart to tell Roy he already picked up overtime for someone. It was his own Christmas tradition of sorts. Giving another vague answer, "Maybe, I'll see if I can."
Roy blinked in surprise, expecting the normally enthusiastic reply he was used to. "Okay," he said, smiling to show he wasn't upset.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Johnny hadn't called, but Roy had, multiple times, with no answer. He tried not to worry, Johnny didn't say he would call and hadn't promised he could come, but Roy worried nonetheless. It was nearing eight pm. It was past the point the kids could see Johnny, but Roy wanted to know if his partner was okay. From what Roy gathered, Johnny didn't have the best upbringing, so his concern was his partner's mental health. Leaving his upstairs bedroom, he descended into the den, listening to giggling coming from his children playing. Joann handed him a glass of wine, "Still nothing?"
"Not a peep," he spoke softly.
"Maybe he just picked up overtime," she suggested.
Roy inclined his head, accepting the possibility. "He should know he's welcome here."
December 1973
"Hey," Roy said, getting John's attention before the man drove off in his Rover. It was a week before Christmas, and the lucky A shift men thankfully didn't have to work it again.
John closed the hatchback after throwing his duffel bag in, "What's up?" John asked, casually leaning against the back of his rover.
"What are you doing for Christmas?"
John noted the changes from last year regarding the question. It was asked earlier for one, and the presumed offer to come to the DeSoto house wasn't made in front of the whole shift. "Nothing yet," he replied.
"Come over," Roy invited. Johnny had indeed picked up overtime last year, and Roy wanted to step in before his partner did it again. Johnny's reasoning had been selfless, taking overtime slots for family men, but Johnny had a family, Roy selfishly wanted him there. "We can make up the guest bedroom and you can stay over Christmas Eve."
Johnny hadn't picked up overtime. Truthfully, he hadn't even looked at the available spots yet, anticipating this conversation. He was hoping it would happen, and at the same time not. "If it's not a hassle," he trailed off, wondering how Christmas went at the DeSoto household.
"Jo reminded me to ask you this morning," Roy told him, hoping that involving her would pull a 'Yes' out of Johnny.
"I guess I'll need to get on Christmas shopping then," Johnny answered, smiling.
"Well okay," Roy smiled, glad he could bring the news back home.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Johnny was nervous walking up to the DeSoto's cape cod house. He only planned to stay for a night, but had several bags. The boxed and wrapped presents took up the most space.
"Here," a voice sounded, "Let me help you." Joann had suddenly appeared in his line of vision, taking a bag from his grasp before it fell to the ground.
He uttered his thanks, then "I think I know how Santa feels." Joann chuckled, leading them inside.
It was a surprise to no one that Joann was a good cook, but John wouldn't have doubted the credibility if she suddenly proclaimed her relation to Julia Child based on the smells. Gingerbread, cinnamon, cranberries, and cookies permeated the air. Decorations lined the walls and hallways. Snow globes and reindeer were scattered around the books and displays. Cut out paper snowflakes hung from the ceiling.
"It smells and looks great in here," Johnny breathed.
"The kids and I had fun decorating," she said, smiling fondly. "Jenny colored the snowflakes." On closer inspection, the snowflakes had unmistakable toddler scribbles of light blue, light pink, and pale yellow.
"Did I take a wrong turn and end up at the North Pole?" he asked.
"Do I hear my partner in crime?" Roy's voice bounded from the basement. He was carrying a box, which he quickly deposited on the ground. "And it's too warm to be the North Pole," Roy clapped his partner's shoulder.
"You sure pally?" Johnny asked, spying the Santa hat on Roy's head. Roy remembered what he was wearing and shrugged.
Emerging from the spare room, "I put your presents in here for now, we'll put them under the tree when the kids go to bed," the ever practical Joann instructed. John nodded, unsure what traditions and rules he needed to follow. A timer beeped, causing Johnny to jump. "Oh shit," Joann cursed under her breath. Johnny's eyebrows rose. "The gingerbread men," Joann huffed as she ran towards the kitchen.
"Bit of advice," Roy said, smirking at his wife and Johnny's reaction, "Don't get in Joann's way, she's very serious about her cookies." Johnny nodded sagely, he hadn't heard her curse before.
Quickly depositing his bag in the spare room, John returned to find Roy winding up a snowglobe. He put it back down and it twinkled out 'Let it Snow' at them. "What's in the box?" John asked.
"Oh, right," Roy said, obviously distracted by the jingle. He picked up the box he left sitting in the middle of the hallway floor.
"And where's Jenny and Chris?"
"At a friend's," Roy explained, "It's a yearly exchange. They take the kids for the morning, and Jo gives 'em cookies." Opening the box, he pulled out a plate and cup. On it respectively was 'Cookies for Santa' and 'Milk for Santa.'
Roy carried the box into the kitchen and put it on a kitchen chair, as the table was covered in flour, cookie cutters, the cookies themselves, and various cooking supplies. Johnny followed, looking in awe at the conveyor belt production line Joann had set up.
"If you're wondering about the box, it's because one year…"
Roy's voice faded as Johnny thought. John was not new to Christmas. Growing up in multiple homes, he had seen different versions on how to celebrate it and rules for him to follow. As a foster, it didn't often include him. Not having any real positive memories of the holiday, he always picked up overtime so that other families could make memories. All that being said, Johnny wondered how the DeSoto's celebrated, what their traditions were, and hoped that he could be there without making them change anything.
"So that's why we hide the box till the last minute," Roy finished. He looked up, expecting to see mirth in John's face at his story. Instead, he saw contemplation. "You okay?" he quietly asked. He didn't want to assume what Christmas was like for John, but he imagined it wasn't something often celebrated, based on Johnny's awe at the decorations and general hesitant body language.
"Sorry," John shook himself, "What were you saying?"
"Here," Roy said with a sad smile, "Put this under the tree," Roy passed him the plate and cup, "Kids'll fill it before going to bed."
Nodding, Johnny carried them to the den, where he saw the tree for the first time. It sparkled with tinsel and ornaments. Hanging on the shelf next to the tree, their impromptu mantel, he saw the typical stockings. What caught his eye was that there were five of them. Looking closer at the fifth, he saw his name embroidered on the top. Something he was completely unprepared for.
Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he turned. "We figured you should have one too, junior.
You're stuck with us now," Roy smiled.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
It was late Christmas night and Roy and Joann had convinced John to stay one more night. They were all curled up in the den sipping various drinks and listening to the radio, taking the day in. The Christmas tree was casting faint shadows along the walls, the lights twinkling when hitting an ornament. When the song ended, "We saved something for you," Joann said, handing Roy her wine glass and uncurling from the couch. Opening a drawer in the coffee table, she handed him a small box tied with a ribbon. Johnny took the box, feeling guilty he didn't have anything special for them. He didn't know if the adults gifting each other at night was something they normally did.
"We don't normally have gifts left over from morning, but we figured this might be more special," Roy added, practically reading John's mind.
"Right," Johnny awkwardly said, wondering what on earth could be in this little box that would warrant such a response from the two. Untying the bow, he opened it. In it, was a key.
"It's our house key," Roy explained. "It's high time you had one."
Johnny was normally a man of many words. He was great at deflecting, changing the subject, and excelled in small talk. So he was genuinely surprised when a simple metal key made him speechless. "Thank you," he managed to get out. He truly believed this was the best Christmas gift he had ever received. Sharing a knowing look with Roy, he nodded, letting his eyes do the talking. If this is what Christmas was supposed to feel like, he could get used to it.
"Merry Christmas, Johnny," Joann said with a smile.
December 1974
Roy tiptoed through his front door, his work duffel slung over his shoulder. It was early in the morning, but Roy wasn't risking waking the excited Jenny with the garage door. Shutting and locking the door, he dropped his duffel at the basement steps and turned the hot water on for coffee. Surprised Joann wasn't awake already, he pre-heated the oven and put in the french toast casserole she premade yesterday.
Carefully walking up the steps, he stuck his head in Jenny's room, smiling at his daughter. Normally, he'd kiss her forehead, but she would probably wake up. Checking Chris' room next, he grinned at the Christmas Book on the floor next to his bed. Latching the door, he finally went to his room. Joann was still asleep, under the covers. Deciding to let her sleep, he took a shower, then slid into his Christmas pajamas and put his Santa hat on, not caring how cheesy it all looked. He did wake Joann then, with a kiss on her forehead. "Merry Christmas, Jo."
She blinked, "What time is it?" she asked, turning to look at her clock. Her eyes widened, "The french toast," she muttered, starting to rip her covers off.
"I already started it, and coffee."
She smiled then, relaxed, "Merry Christmas, Roy," she returned. Seeing what he was wearing, "I like your pajamas," she smirked.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEE
"When can we open presents?" Jenny asked from her seat at the table.
"When we finish," Roy promised, happily crunching on bacon. Chris wisely remained silent. The radio quietly played in the background as the family ate breakfast, talking over it.
"How did Santa know to get here a day late?" Jenny asked, followed with, "And how does he fly with his reindeer?" She asked another question leaving no time for answers. Chris waited patiently and hopeful for answers while the parents smirked.
Joann purposefully took a bite, leaving the free mouthed Roy to answer. "Well, Jenny," Roy started, "He knew I was working, Santa's magic like that."
Any type of calm that existed over the table stopped at a key turning in the lock. The door opened and Johnny came through, his arms full.
"UNCLE JOHNNY!" came the screams from both children. They abandoned their seats at the table and ran down the hall. Successfully putting down the bags in time, Johnny caught the two running at him.
"Merry Christmas!" he said, spinning them around. Still carrying them, he walked back to the table. "Merry Christmas!" he said to the parents, depositing Jenny and Chris back at their seats.
"Merry Christmas, Johnny!" Joann, who hadn't seen the paramedic a couple of hours ago, greeted. "There's hot coffee and casserole on the stove."
Jenny launched right back into her questions, talking on top of her mother, "Daddy said that Santa is magic," she aimed her questions at Johnny this time, "Did he wait to give you Christmas too?"
"How does he get into our house? We don't have a fireplace." Chris, not to be outdone by his sister, asked.
"He did wait," Johnny answered Jenny, helping himself to a cup of coffee and a plate. "And Magic," he told Chris while leaning against the counter, shoveling his food down.
Jenny talked non stop while the adults shared amused looks.
Roy stopped all conversations with, "I'm done, Jo? What about you?" This was the cue the children were waiting for. If Joann was done, they were ready for presents.
"Almost," she drawled out, smiling as her children held their breath. She slowly got her last forkful from her plate and ate it. When she swallowed, "Done," she declared.
"Presents!" Jenny squealed, running for the den, Chris on her heels.
"I should add mine to the collection," Johnny said, putting his empty plate in the sink.
Joann stopped him with a hug, "Merry Christmas, Johnny." Johnny returned the hug with a smile.
"I got you something," Roy said to Johnny, holding the item behind his back.
"Come on guys!" Jenny shouted impatiently. Joann rolled her eyes and joined the kids in the den.
Roy handed it over. Johnny looked at it, amused, and immediately put it on. "We both can't be Santa," Roy said seriously, looking at the elf hat Johnny had on his head, complete with pointed ears.
Hands full with various presents, Johnny walked down to the den. This year, he wasn't surprised to see a stocking with his name on it, filled and leaning against the floor. Sitting on the couch, looking at Jenny and Chris both opening presents, Joann and Roy watching, he smiled. He was always welcome there, and that thought filled his heart.