Remarkably, this Mishaps with Mistletoe chapter was not the first Fitzsimmons fic I wrote- I actually didn't even think about adding them to the list until my early-December evaluations of the ship lineup.

I wish that I would have the time/motivation/inspiration to get around to writing more Fitzsimmons fanfiction, because I think it would be fun. But for now, we've got this.

"Simmons."

Nothing.

"Simmons!"

Nothing. Or rather, the soft snick of a petri dish as it slid into place underneath a microscope. But other than that, nothing.

Fitz sighed.

"Jemma."

"What?!" Simmons snapped, automatically peeved, as she lifted her eye from the microscope to stare impatiently at Fitz.

Stare, and then really take him in. Fitz's hair was combed, he was holding a bundle of gift bags, and he was wearing a thick green and red sweater.

Simmons let out a groan, her head falling back. "Oh, bloody- Fitz, I'm so sorry, I completely forgot."

"It's been on the calendar for weeks, Jemma," Fitz complained, a disappointed pout crossing his face. He lifted the tissue-paper-stuffed bags. "We even got Yankee Swap gifts!"

Guilt settled in Simmons chest, but she really- it was just- "I'm so deep into this experiment now," she sighed, staring mournfully at her petri dish. "I can't just stop."

Fitz looked at her imploringly.

Jemma sighed again. "How about this: you go on without me, and I'll come by as soon as I can. And if I miss Yankee Swap, you can just play twice!" She pointed at him. "Just don't let anyone steal my gift."

Fitz smiled reluctantly and crossed the room in a few steps to press a quick kiss to her lips. "Promise you'll come as soon as you can."

"I promise," Simmons assured, giving him a pat on his sweatered chest, and then a light push. "Now go! You'll be late."

Bags rustling, Fitz gave her one last smile and left the lab.

Simmons turned back to her microscope, and promptly forgot everything else.

W / T \ Y

After two hours of hiding grumpily in the corner of the Agents of SHIELD Christmas Party as Daisy, then Mack, then Coulson tried to engage him in conversation, Fitz had to admit it to himself: Simmons wasn't going to show up.

He understood. Parties, even parties with friends, weren't either of their scene, and when science was calling it wasn't as if one could just say no. But to strand him to deal with all of this alone? When they could have been hiding in the corner together? It was impossible not to feel just a bit snubbed.

"Fitz, buddy, I love you, but you're bringing down the whole mood," Daisy accused as she approached him for the second time that evening, looking much less friendly this time around. "I get you're moping over Simmons ditching you, but-"

"I'm not moping about that," Fitz grumbled, squeezing the glass that held his spiked cider.

"So you admit that you're moping."

He gave her a look. "I'm moping because I didn't decide to join her."

"Ah." Daisy's lips quirked slightly and she leaned in to give him a nudge with her shoulder. "Then maybe, I don't know, go join her."

Fitz glanced down at the gift bags at his feet. "But-"

"The Yankee Swap had a twenty dollar limit, Fitz, you're not gonna be missing much," Daisy snorted. "I'll make sure your gifts get thrown in and you and Simmons can fight over whichever two presents people don't want."

"Great, thanks," Fitz said sarcastically. He handed his glass to Daisy. "Here, you have this, I'm done. But there is one thing I need…"

W / T \ Y

It was nearly ten pm when Simmons pulled herself away from her experiment and sat back, satisfied. It had been a highly productive evening, though she really could have used another set of hands. Strange that Fitz hadn't stopped by to-

Crap.

The events of earlier that evening rushed back into Simmons' highly-stimulated brain and the scientist groaned. Then she checked the time and groaned again. Fitz was going to be furious. Or worse- he'd be hurt or disappointed. She hated to let him down. But her work had just been so interesting and-

Simmons shook the excuses out of her head, beyond irritated at herself, and went to gather her things. SHIELD parties tended to drag pretty late into the night; if she was lucky she'd arrive and everything would still be in a full swing.

As Simmons was reaching for her purse, there was a knock. She glanced over her shoulder and then straightened in surprise at the sight of Fitz standing in the doorway.

"Fitz," she began immediately. "I'm so, so sorry-"

He waved her off, shrugging. "It's all right. I left early."

"How was the Yankee Swap?" Simmons asked awkwardly, unsure if everything was actually okay or if he was just playing it cool.

"They hadn't even started it yet," Fitz admitted. "Whole thing is probably gonna last a few more hours. Honestly, it was pretty boring without you."

Simmons opened her mouth to start apologizing again, but Fitz's grin shut her up. "That being said… I didn't want you to miss out entirely," he said, and turned to his shoulder bag.

Simmons frowned, tilting her head to one side as she tried to figure out what he was rooting around for. "Please tell me you didn't try to put a glass of spiked cider into your bag," she said, raising an eyebrow.

Fitz snorted. "No," he assured her. "But I did steal a bit of this."

With that, he pulled his hand from his bag with a flourish and revealed a small sprig of mistletoe.

Jemma laughed, shaking her head at his antics as Fitz approached her and held his hand high above them. "You made the right call not showing up," he said. "This is a lot better than the party. No creepy audience watching us kiss."

"You haven't even kissed me yet," Simmons protested.

Fitz grinned and leaned in to prove her wrong.

Author's Note: This is unrelated to both this chapter and the fandom itself but I go to Spider-Man NWH today and I'm scaredddd….