Peter x Mariska: The Happiest Holidays [A Collection of Holiday Shots]

Christmas Dreaming

Hello everyone!

This little gem came to me out of nowhere. It's set in 2006, and it will highlight the first Christmas season without Mickey (he passed on in September 2006). Its emotional, believe me.

Enjoy xoxo

*****

Christmas Dreaming [OneShot]

2006

The babbling of the nearly six month old baby boy was probably the only thing keeping her head above water at the moment. With the distraction of work now behind her due to filming being on a break for the Christmas holiday, she had more time to sit and think. She tried to keep as busy as possible, but there wasn't much to be done - the Christmas shopping was done, the baby had a regular nap schedule, and even cuddles from her husband couldn't stop her mind from going into overdrive.

It had been just over three months since her father passed away, and this was going to be the first Christmas without him.

First her mother when she was three, and now her father was gone.

Memories of her father played on a loop. With her mother gone, her father had jumped right in and raised her and her brothers with the help of his third wife, whom was her amazing stepmother, the woman whom was still there now. She'd had so many holidays with her father; even after she moved to New York, she was always here at her actual home in Los Angeles for the holidays. They'd continued their long tradition of staying up late together on Christmas Eve, having Christmas cookies and wearing ugly Christmas sweaters and watching Miracle On 34th Street together. No matter how old she got, that was one of her favorite things about Christmas; just hanging with her dad.

If she had known that last Christmas would have been the last time that they would ever have their little tradition, she would have taken pictures of the whole night with him and framed them, just to remember.

She glanced at her son, whom was currently laying in his little bouncer, staring at the television while babbling away as if he knew what was going on, on the movie. She thought about the circle - as her son arrived, just a few months later, her father left. It was as if her father had stayed long enough just to see her biggest dream come true, and once he had done that and realized that she was alright, he just slipped on.

"Mariska, honey."

She looked up; her husband, Peter, was making his way over to her. She managed a small smile as he came around and sat beside her, though she instantly curled into his side and put her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her and rubbed her side, dropping a kiss to her forehead.

"You okay?"

She shook her head, allowing the tears to slip down her cheeks.

"I just miss him," she spoke softly, her voice no higher than a whisper; "I miss him so much."

"I know baby, I know," Peter rest his cheek on top of her head, holding her tight in his arms; "He's still with us, baby; he's especially living on in that little mush we've got."

Mariska glanced over at their son; he was still watching the television and babbling in baby language about God knows whatever. Mickey had looked this little boy in the eye; he had talked to him ever so quietly, instilled values into him with just a simple look in the eyes as he held him on the day he was born. Mickey Hargitay was living on in not only then but that their baby boy as well, and would always guide him and protect him.

But still, she wished he was physically here - just for one last Christmas.

The little boy's infectious giggle captured their attention, leading Mariska to snap out of her thoughts and stand up. She lifted the baby into her arms before returning to sit on the sofa. Little August curled up against her straight away, gripping her top as he relaxed in her arms. Peter wrapped his arm back around his wife and pulled her close while peering down at their little boy.