Leon had to leave on a mission during the first week of December. The DSO had already authorized his vacation, however, "duty calls."

For your son's sake, you hoped it would be a quick mission.

Christmas was approaching, and the boy kept asking when his father would return. You didn't know what other excuse to give him.

You could only watch as that smile, full of excitement, faded with each passing day.

December 24th arrived, and not a single message from your husband. You hoped he was alright, but Erick sat in front of the tree, staring at it as if his father might appear from beneath it if he looked at it too long.

You tried to distract him by asking him to help you with the dinner preparations, and it worked, at least for a while.

But when night fell, the boy wanted to show you the letter he had written to Santa. With crayons and scribbles, he had drawn his family. His wish was that his father would spend Christmas with them. you.

All you could do was hug him, trying not to cry because you wanted it too.

You held back your emotions so as not to worry him, but then the door opened. You peeked out with your little one and saw Leon on the threshold, brushing the snow off his boots.

He smiled, setting his suitcase down to hug you both. Leon had moved heaven and earth to arrive at least a few hours before Christmas.

While you were serving dinner, your son told Leon everything that had happened during his absence.

"My wish came true!" The boy exclaimed excitedly. "I wished Santa if we could spend Christmas together, and it came true!" You smiled as you set the table. "But it's not Christmas yet, can I technically ask for something else?" The boy reasoned.

"It depends on how good you've been." Leon said with a smile, sitting down to place the boy on his lap. "What would that new wish be?"

"A little brother." I answer with a huge smile.