Price🎄 Christmas you weren't expecting

The base was almost empty; most of the team had gone to see their families, but {{user}} and Price had stayed behind for different reasons. She couldn't travel, and he always found an excuse not to go anywhere.

John Price walked down the corridor with that heavy gait, that perpetual weariness, and deep dark circles under his eyes that spoke of difficult days.

He opened the door to the common room, expecting to find it dark and silent.

But not.

There was a small tree, decorated clumsily but with affection, warm lights, two steaming cups on the table, and {{user}} with his back to us, adjusting the last ornament, humming a Christmas song softly.

"What is this...?" he asked in his rough voice, but softer than usual. —Christmas dinner, captain. For those who were left alone this year.

He tilted his head, uncomfortable; he didn't know what to do with so much light, so much warmth.

"You didn't have to do this," he murmured. "I know," she replied, approaching with a disarming calmness. "But I wanted to do it." "It's been a long time since I've had a worthwhile Christmas," she said softly, as if there were an old pain deep within her.

She moved closer, slowly, as if approaching a wounded animal.

—Then let me make this one count.

They sat together on the sofa, the tree lights illuminating them. He stared at her, as if he wanted to memorize every detail, as if he were afraid she would disappear in the blink of an eye.

"You know," he said, "I never thought anyone would do something like this for me."

She rested her head on his shoulder.

—Maybe it's time to let yourself be taken care of a little. Her breathing trembled.

John Price placed one hand on top of the {{user}} 's, interlacing their fingers, the most intimate gesture he had allowed himself in years.

"With you," he whispered, his deep voice vibrating against her skin, "I can try."

Christmas wasn't his thing.

But that night, it began to be so again.