Coming home from travel, just in time for Christmas, and ted has decorated your apartment, baked cookies, and all the other lovely Ted things -- just for you.
you wanted to let out a sob as the taxi pulled in front of the cobblestone side street, a mere hundred feet or so from your flat, from ted, from home. you weren't supposed to have been away for so long. what was supposed to be three day trip to the states to deal with a family emergency turned into a weeklong stay in kansas thanks to the many storms across the nation and shitty airlines.
going to your shared home state, ted was determined to come with you, he could see his family, see henry, and not have to be away with you. but with booking a ticket the day before a flight, you were lucky to even find a seat for yourself, plus he had important end-of-year meetings with the team's entire management team, you couldn't let him miss those for you.
you dreaded spending three days away from ted, so when that separation was extended by four days, including you missing out on christmas, your heart absolutely broke. your absence, even though out of your control, added to the dread you know ted was already feeling from henry not coming for the holidays. sure he would see henry in five months, and he was staying for the whole summer! but it wasn't the same. transcontinental parenting sucked sometimes, and this was one of those times, and you weren't even there to help it feel a little less sucky.
after a three-hour flight from KC to new york, a seven-hour flight from JFK to heathrow, and the thirty-minute drive from london to richmond, you were absolutely beat. you paid the taxi driver, wishing them a happy holidays before trudging to way to your flat, checking your phone to make sure you hadn't missed a text from ted. he still hadn't answered from when you let him know you had landed, not that you were surprised. it was 2:30 in the morning on boxing day, you begged ted not to wait up for you, insisting that he needed sleep after a day of celebrating with the team at the higgins' household per the tradition formed two years ago.
you carry your suitcase up the stairs, thankful that you only took a carry-on and not a checked bag, knowing the larger (and heavier) option likely would have resulted in waking up at least one neighbor. a small smile rests on your face when you notice a faint light coming from the crack under the door, ted left the entryway light on for you, of course he did, he was always thinking of you. but when you opened the door after undoing the lock, a small gasp leaves your lips when you take in the apartment. the entire living room was covered in lights, christmas lights strung along every wall and emitting a soft glow.
a vinyl of christmas classics played softly from the record player on your bookshelf, a barely-heard humming to the music made its way through the apartment. leaving your backpack and suitcase in the entryway and softly toeing off your shoes after hanging up your coat, you tiptoe to the kitchen, tears pooling in your eyes from what you see. there he is, the love of your life, in flannel pajama bottoms and a chiefs tee, his side profile on display as he stands at the counter next to the over, spooning cookie dough onto a baking sheet.
sensing your presence, ted looks up and turns to you, a smile growing on your face when he sees you, a glimmer in your eyes, "well hey there, darling." you look around the kitchen, seeing some decorated sugar cookies on the table next to some bare cookies and bowls of frosting, seemingly so you can decorate the rest together. apple and cinnamon fill the air, drawing your eyes to the stove where a pot of apple cider, your favorite, is cooking, homemade you presume. you turn your gaze back to ted, who has been looking at you this whole time, a loving look in his eyes, "wh-what is this?"
ted wipes cookie dough crumbs onto his apron before eliminating the space between the two of you. it is only when he places his hand on your cheek, wiping away a tear, that you realize you're crying, "merry christmas, sweetheart." you shake your head slightly, still a bit confused but also in denial that someone would ever want to do something like this for you, "but it's the 26th." ted swipes away one more tear before pointing at the wall you're standing next to, pointing at the daily rip-away calendar hanging there, the paper reading 25, "nope, you're normally always right honey, but not this time. see, right there, it says it's december 25th. christmas, not the 26th."
you turn your head to look over your shoulder, showing a tight smile as tears continue to run down your face as while you turn back to ted, "ted, you didn't need to do this, i'm late, you already celebrated..." ted shakes his head, holding your head in between his hands as he takes a step closer, placing his face right in front of yours so you are forced to look into your eyes, "i was around people celebrating the holidays, not even all of them were celebrating. but that was them, and i was happy to be with them. but my girl wasn't there, you weren't there, so no, i haven't already celebrated. nothing important happens without you."
ted's lips meet yours in a sweet kiss, both of you tasting some salt from the tears that had run down to your lips. though neither of you are bothered, you are simply happy to be reunited after a week apart. you concede, too enamored with ted and in awe of his loving act to argue with him anymore. you pull away slightly, running your tongue across your lips to capture your tears as ted rests his forehead against yours. "merry christmas, teddy," you whisper, a soft smile on ted's face in response, "merry christmas, sweetheart."