December 25, 2014


Shaw stepped into the subway station, surprised by the fairy lights someone had strewn everywhere. She had a few bags with her; Chinese takeout and the presents for the fugitives. Fusco had agreed to take on Gen for the holidays; he'd been added to her guardian list when they had to go underground. There was a Christmas tree down here, and John looked sheepish when she glared at him. Root was currently trimming the tree, underneath which was a small pile of packages. Shaw handed Bear a package that looked like a bone and he carted it off carefully to his dog bed under Finch's desk.

"Ah, Miss Shaw. Now you're here the festivities can truly begin," Finch said, and Shaw rolled her eyes, putting down the takeaway on the subway bench. She walked over to the tree and put her presents under it, avoiding looking at Root's long torso as she stretched up with tinsel, careful to avoid looking at that little gap between her shirt and her pants where a small expanse of pale skin was exposed.

"Merry Christmas, Shaw," Root said breathily, reaching for more tinsel.

"Tis the season, whatever that means," Shaw said, shoving her empty hands in her coat pockets.

She went into the subway car and looked over the consoles. No more yellow lights, which was nice. Shaw looked over to the terminal, saw something out of place.

"Root, what's this?" Shaw asked, holding up a teddy bear. Behind her, the screen blinked angrily.

"Shaw, don't mess with that," Root said, hurrying over to replace the fluffy teddy bear. "It prevents the OOC error."

"How can a... never mind," Shaw sighed. "System health?"

"Pretty good, since you switched out those consoles for me." Root slid her hand onto Shaw's elbow.

"Food's getting cold," Reese yelled, and Root pulled Shaw to the subway door by the hand. She paused at the doors, stepped closer to Root.

"Look up, Shaw," Root breathed close to Shaw's ear. Shaw did, and noticed the sprig of mistletoe in the doorway. She looked back to Root, who was still very close, but she was holding back, waiting for Shaw's reaction.

"Oh for Christmas' sake," Shaw said hurriedly, grasping Root's shoulders firmly, but leaning in slowly and uncertainly. Root didn't move in, her lower lip caught between her teeth as she watched Shaw's indecision. Root's hands moved; one to Shaw's waist and the other to the back of Shaw's neck. Her eye contact remained encouraging, and Shaw eventually pressed her lips against Root's under the mistletoe, lit by fairy lights of the subway station and the green lights of the consoles in the subway car. Root's mouth opened under the gentle pressure of Shaw's lips and Shaw pressed closer, moved her hands down to the lapels of Root's jacket, feeling how soft Root was beneath her knuckles. Root sighed in encouragement, the hand on Shaw's neck moving to cup her cheek, the other dropping to Shaw's hip. Shaw had always imagined their first kiss to be a frenzied affair, with both of them battling for dominance, more like wrestling, a feral match of strength. But it would have been... uncivilized... unprofessional... wrong, here in the subway, now, with Root's hands warming her under her coat, the taste of strawberries in Root's mouth, the heartbeat that had sped up beneath Shaw's palms where they had found themselves on Root's chest, thumping as hard as Shaw's. Shaw slid her hands down to Root's waist, slid her arms around her as she slowly pulled away from the siren call of Root's mouth. Root followed her as she pulled away, drew her into another kiss. Shaw pulled away again, and Root pushed Shaw's hair back from her face.

"Merry Christmas," Root breathed, and Shaw's mouth caught the words, inhaled them, held them in her lungs which directed them through her circulatory system. She pressed forward with a quick peck, then strode away into the subway.


December 25, 2015


Shaw was vaguely aware of tinsel whenever they bought her out of a simulation. She had started hating being out of the simulations; every time she woke up she had the fresh memory of a gunshot to her head, and faded memories of the way Root had touched her, now that she had the chance. She was ashamed of her need, ashamed that Team Samaritan knew her weakness, ashamed that she went so willingly to Root each time; at the time it was fine, but when she woke she knew she'd exposed not just herself but Root yet again to the entire Samaritan team. And God, the boring conversations her captors tried to hold with her.

The more time she spent in a simulation, the more time she spent with Root. Even if she wasn't real. In the moments between, at least the tinsel reminded her of that Christmas in the place she had been the year before, with the team, with Root actually, actually kissing her - and actually, actually meaning it.

Root threw Gen's duffle inside the door, Bear nosing his way past her to Gen, tail wagging as he tried not to leap up on the girl, whimpering with impatience. Gen shut the door behind her and dropped to the ground, wrestling with Bear. Root smiled faintly at the laughter from Gen, carrying the bag to the spare room of the apartment she'd taken. This winter was darker than usual; no Shaw, no Machine in her ear. But Fusco had asked her to take Gen for the next week and Root was almost looking forward to the company. While she prefered to be alone, no one liked to be alone for Christmas.

"What's this?" Gen asked, fingering a tulle bag of nuts on the mantle.

"I made it for Shaw, for the winter solstice. I was hoping to have found her by now." Root sighed and Gen went to her, eyes large as she looked up at the adult she was becoming more familiar with.

"You miss her," Gen said. She hugged her temporary guardian. "I do too."

"Good thing we've got each other, then," Root said, trying not to cry in front of a child.


December 25, 2016


Shaw wasn't known for her enthusiasm but even for her, she was unusually lackluster.

"We're going to the Fusco's this year?"

"Yeah, he's got Lee. You guys will have fun." Shaw looked up suddenly. "You do like hanging out with him, don't you? I'm not forcing you into something uncomfortable?"

"Nah, we're good. He sucks at Mario Kart though." Shaw looked relieved, looked away.

"I know you miss her," Gen started.

"Don't," Shaw said gently. "I do, but I don't want to talk about it. Her. Not now."

"If you do..." Gen offered.

"Thanks kid," Shaw reached across the couch and dragged Gen into a hug. "You're a winner. Now go open your presents."


December 25, 2017


Gen woke up and thought that she didn't even need any presents this year. But still, she'd seen the stash under the tree last night, all shiny and enticing. It was well past dawn; a perfectly acceptable time to wake up the rest of the house. She bounced into Shaw's - no, Shaw and Root's - room and sat carefully on the bed, careful not to jostle Sam. Calling her aunty seemed a bit... weird now, since she didn't call Shaw aunty and they were, from the way they were once again tangled together, romantically involved.

Gen tried not to wriggle with excitement but Bear joined her on the bed and between the two of them they woke up the adults of the house, who blinked awake blearily.

"Merry Christmas!" Gen squeaked, while Bear tried to lick every square inch of anyone he could reach, picking up on Gen's excitement.

"Coffee," groaned Shaw, burying her head in Root's neck. Root stroked her hair and sat up, flinching. Gen reached for the pill bottle and handed it to Root, following it with the water on the bedstand. Root took them thankfully.

"I'll get the coffee," Root said.

"Um, no, that's ok," Shaw said, sitting up. "I'll get it."

"I can teach Sam how to make it?" Gen offered.

"Deal," Shaw said, lying back down. Gen helped Root up and in the kitchen, here she showed Root the best way to make the coffee.


December 25, 2018


Gen woke up, groaned, and rolled over. She could hear Christmas music from the kitchen, Root singing along. She could also smell coffee though, so se got up reluctantly, went to the kitchen, patting Bear on her way through.

"Hey kiddo," Root said cheerfully, putting a plate of pancakes in front of Gen.

"I'm too old to be called that," Gen groused and Root laughed, but not unkindly.

"I know, but you don't start college until the fall, so I have to call you that while I still can."

"Shaw still asleep?" Gen asked.

"Yeah; her mission last night went south pretty fast."

"Injuries?" Gen asked.

"Few bruises, nothing major."

"Good." Root looked at Gen.

"She loves you, you know," Root said suddenly. "She just... doesn't know... can't express..."

"I know," Gen said.

"I love you too," Root said, looking down shyly at her own pancakes.

"I know," Gen said absently, halfway through a pancake. She looked up after a moment. "I love you too." Root smiled and the vulnerability showed Gen that Root hadn't said it to her either. "I love both my superspy gay moms."

Shaw snorted behind her, and Gen turned. A bruise was forming on Shaw's cheek. "Right back at you, nerds," Shaw said, coming up behind Gen and kissing her temple, wrapping her arms around Gen from behind.

"God Shaw, you're so embarrassing," Gen said, squirming, but not hard enough to escape. When Shaw released her, Gen kissed her cheek. "Merry Christmas."

"Who is here that you're embarrassed to be hugged by your superspy mom in front of?" Shaw asked, moving on to Root, holding her for a moment before kissing her softly.

"Bear," Gen said obstinately.

"She's a proper little teenager, isn't she?" Shaw asked Root. Gen rolled her eyes.

"She gets that from you," Root said, and Shaw laughed, digging Root's fork into Gen's pancakes and stealing a mouthful. "And he's part of the family."

"We're not a family. We're a symphony," Root said, and Shaw smiled at her in that goofy way she did sometimes.

"Whatever," Gen said, but she was smiling as she said it.


December 2019


"We need you to come home," Shaw said on the video call. "Something bad is going down. We can't stop it, and I'd feel better if you guys were back here when it comes."

"But we only just got to Italy," Gen complained.

"You've been all over Europe all winter, young lady. This is for your own good. Put Harold or Grace on, please?"

Gen disappeared.

"I've seen the discrepancies too," Finch said. "We're already booked to come home. Don't worry so much, Shaw, we will keep her safe."

"I know. I trust you. I don't like what I'm seeing, though. Even Root is worried, and you know her sources."

"Meet us at the airport. We'll be there... 2 am tomorrow."

"Make sure she sleeps on the flight."

"I never pictured you as a helicopter mom," Grace said, coming behind Finch on the feed, hand on his shoulder. He smiled up at her.

"Yeah, well, we don't normally see this sort of thing."

"True," Finch said. "Worry not, Ms. Shaw. We will return your ward to your care soon."


December 25, 2020


Zoom was for idiots, was Root's opinion. All the unencrypted data. That's why she had created her own secure video application, which she had remotely installed on Gen's laptop. She dialed, and Gen answered.

"Hey kiddo," Root said. Gen rolled her eyes.

"Sam, I'm 16. I thought you were going to stop calling me that when I started college."

"You'll always be my kiddo," Root said, grinning. Gen grinned back, mock annoyance gone. "Did you get all your presents?"

"Yeah, I told Shaw they came in yesterday. Cutting it close, you guys."

"Well, the postal system..." Root started.

"Yeah, I know. Did you get yours?"

"Yes, thank you, sweetie." Someone came up behind Gen, and Root looked surprised.

"Oh, Tasha is here too," Gen said, smiling at her suitemate.

"Hi Tasha. You should have told me she was staying over Christmas, I would have sent more."

"Sam, you sent an entire turkey. We'll be fine. Thank you, by the way." Shaw threw herself on the couch next to Root.

"She didn't want to send an entire turkey but I told her your appetite takes after mine and she agreed," Shaw said proudly. She made herself comfortable, torso over Root's lap so she could see the screen. "Oh, hey Tash."

"Hi Ms. Shaw," Tash said. "Thanks for the board games."

"You're welcome. Your parents calling?"

"Yeah, they're East coast so it'll be a bit later. I was just grabbing a drink; I'll let you guys catch up."

"Merry Christmas Tash," Shaw called.

Shaw and Root caught up with what Gen had been doing at M.I.T.; she was in winter courses and the university wasn't online enough for Gen to come home yet and study remotely.

"We love you," said Root.

"Really? Both of you?" Teased Gen, and Shaw rolled her eyes. Root put her arm around Shaw's waist and held her.

"Of course we do." Gen could see Root's arm tighten on Shaw. "I love you Gen," Shaw said finally, and Gen knew Shaw never said anything she didn't mean.

"I know," said Gen softly. "I knew from the moment you hugged me. It's nice to hear it though."


"Your moms seem nice," Tash said later as they ate turkey together. Gen considered telling her that they weren't her moms, they were her guardians - adoption would raise more eyebrows in government departments, and they could update the guardianship papers much more easily - but she didn't.

"Yeah, they're great," Gen said finally.

"Did you ever wish you were adopted by, like, a more... conventional couple?" Tash asked.

Gen knew she meant 'straight', but instead, she thought back, to covert missions, to moving houses in the middle of the night, of Shaw coming home with knife wounds, of Shaw always standing between her and danger, of Uncle Finch teaching her to build her own computer from scratch, of her Uncle Fusco and cousin Lee playing Mario Kart, of a former assassin coming home injured to the person who was the closest thing Gen had to a mother and becoming like another one to her, of Bear sleeping on her bed, of Shaw's rare but wholesome laughter, of coffee and museums and the overwhelming sense of having being loved so much by such an extended family that she had been taking video calls all day and still had a group call tonight...

"Not even for a moment," Gen said.


Notes:

This chapter is way longer than I intended but still doesn't have everything I wanted in it. I feel like there's enough for another chapter but I like the ending too much.

I may revisit this in the next few days for an edit; this has all been written on the go.

Let me know if you want another chapter and I'll see what I can do.

'Tis the Season, whatever that means', is something Faith says in season 3, episode 10 of Buffy:
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