Red vs Blue Freelancer One Shots

Home for the Holidays

The lights were all dimmed in the rec room leaving the only light source to be the strands of lights wrapped around the Christmas tree that sat in the corner of the room. The team sat sprawled around the room basking in the faint glow and content silence. York sat on one end of the couch and North sat on the other with Carolina in between and his sister South perched on the sofa's arm. Washington had claimed a good portion of the rug that laid in the middle of the room and was stretched out across it. Maine had brought over a stool and sat in between the couch and the armchair where Wyoming was lounging. CT sat on the floor with her back resting on the couch and Maryland sat on the floor by the tree with her arms wrapped around her knees bringing them to her chest. The day had been one of the best ones on the ship. They had decorated cookies (only one was particularly vulgar) and then had exchanged presents with one another. They were mostly small things and inside jokes but it was an instance where it truly was the thought that counted. The Freelancers rarely had a chance just to relax so the group was soaking up every moment of down time they were given.

"This reminds me of home." North said and nudged South slightly and the two shared a smile.

"Yeah, we would decorate the tree and listen to Christmas music as we hung up the ornaments and every year we each would add a new one to the tree" South said with a nostalgic sigh and a smile.

"I like that idea." York said and enthusiastically rallied the group "Let's each make an ornament to put on our magnificent, albeit small and dusty, Christmas tree!" his smile lit up the room more than the tree.

So, the Freelancers got up and headed to the supply room that held papers and clips and tape and each person got to work creating their own special ornament.

After fifteen minutes of tireless cutting and taping and drawing, everyone met back in the rec room, ornaments in hand.

"Alright, I'll go first." York said as he strode to the tree. "This is my eye," he held up a hastily drawn eye on a piece of paper "I figured it would look good!" he started laughing "Get it? Look? It's an eye?!" he laughed as he walked back to his seat gaining smiles and chuckles all around.

Maine walked up next and hung a cut out snowflake on the tree that was actually impressive and turned on his heels and took back his seat without a word.

Wyoming came up and hung a cut out mustache on the tree and turned to the group, "I mustache you a question, does it look stupid?" everyone laughed and smiled as he returned to the armchair.

Maryland stood up next and placed a drawn lacrosse stick on the tree and smiled ruefully as she sat down again on the floor.

"Great minds think alike." North said as he passed by Maryland and hung his drawn-out hockey stick on the tree and patted her head earning a smile from the young girl.

South came next and placed a drawing of North and her onto the tree and elbowed her brother playfully when she sat back down.

Wash came up with an elaborately drawn out scene in what appeared to be a snow globe drawn on the paper. York made an impressed whistle and Wash hurriedly sat back down.

CT hung up a snowflake similar to Maines but hers was colored to match her armor color.

Carolina was last to stand up and she placed her ornament on the tree. It was a drawing of the tree that sat before them "You guys are my first real Christmas memory, thought I should memorialize it or something." She shrugged and sat back down.

Silence fell over the group again, but out of nowhere a small sweet sounding voice emerged.

"I'll be home for Christmas, you can count on me. Please have snow and mistletoe and presents by the tree." Maryland sang the tune; her voice was beautiful.

All eyes turned to Maryland on the floor as she smiled slightly.

"Christmas Eve will find me, in the love light gleams." York rose and walked over to her on the ground and kneeled by her, North came as well and sat on her other side. "I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams." She finished and a tear rolled down her cheek that was quickly wiped by York as he and North wrapped an arm around Maryland's small frame.

"Who knew she sang too. What can't you do Mare?" North chuckled along with the group and when silence fell this time it remained until the Freelancers had all fallen fast asleep.

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I hope you enjoyed the first Christmas fic! There will be at least one more maybe more! Happy holidays everyone!