Fic Summary:
Skye "Phoenix" Mercer reflects on a Christmas dinner she'll never forget during a conversation with Ren "Joker" Amamiya.

Author's Notes (beginning):
"7. christmas dinner"

I went through a couple of different concepts for this prompt, but ultimately, I've landed on this angle of using the prompt as a jumping-off point to expand on Skye's backstory ahead of For Want of a Skull. It is connected to my upcoming fic For Want of a Skull & it's associated Multiversal Apartment Complex fic, but I've opted to keep the placement of the framing device ambiguous.

One-Shot Proper:

Present Day:

Leblanc Cafe
Yongen-Jaya, Tokyo

Skye Mercer, wearing a black leather jacket, white t-shirt and jeans, was sitting in Leblanc with Ren Amamiya, who was wearing a blazer, t-shirt and jeans. Ren had agreed to hear her out as she got something off her chest.

"Thanks for… hearing me out, Ren," Skye said.

"So what's this about?" Ren asked.

"I… was just thinking back to my time in the States. I… never had the luxury of being able to be raised by my parents. I spent most of my childhood being bounced from one foster home to another. I never spent more than a few months in each one," Skye began. Ren couldn't help but give her his undivided attention. Clearly, this was something very personal to her.

"As a result… I… haven't had many actual Christmases in my life. Usually, I ended up stuck in the orphanage as most families didn't want me… But there was one Christmas I won't forget…" Skye explained.

December 23, 2011:

Madison Square Garden
Manhattan, New York

This was something a young Skye couldn't believe was happening. Her foster parents at the time, the Millers, had managed to secure tickets to an actual NHL hockey game! It was against the Philidelphia Flyers, and Skye still vividly remembered the experience. There really wasn't anything quite like watching a hockey game in person.

Christmas Day, 2011:

Miller Apartment

Manhattan, New York

After weeks of waiting, it was Christmas Day. Skye had gotten a couple of gifts from her foster parents… a watch and a Katy Perry t-shirt. Not much, but considering how most years went for her, she'd take it.

But the highlight of Skye's day was the dinner.

Skye could scarcely remember the last time she'd had such a plentiful Christmas dinner. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes… she couldn't believe it.

Of course, they had to say their prayers first (bc, shock of all shocks, a couple that would adopt a child from a Christian orphanage is Christian), but once that was done, Skye was able to dig into one of the best meals she'd ever had.

Present Day:

Leblanc Cafe
Yongen-Jaya, Tokyo

"The Millers ultimately sent me back the following summer. They were pregnant with their own child and decided to focus on raising him. There would be a couple more foster homes over the next few years, but never again would I have a Christmas dinner that good," Skye concluded.

"Well… I'm just gonna have to try my best to change that one of these days then," Ren responded.

Skye simply smiled and went in for a hug. That spoke volumes as to how much Skye appreciated what Ren said. And he meant it. Skye deserves the world after the childhood she had and Ren was resolved to give it to her.

Author's Notes (End):

Yeah, I shoved a hockey segment in there! This one-shot felt a little too short, so I decided to indulge myself (although I'm primarily an Oilers fan rather than a Rangers fan (although inhabiting Skye's headspace for this fic, my Apartment Complex fic, For Want of a Skull & Into the Skye-Verse has made me adopt them as my Eastern Conference team)) with a little hockey love. Anyways, this was written as part of the Phantom Dumbasses Discord server's Christmas prompt challenge. Go check out that fic over on AO3. I highly recommend it.