CHAPTER TEN
Ace ducked into the plane, his broad shoulders just clearing the overhead compartments as he moved down the narrow aisle. The team was scattered throughout the aircraft. He didn’t know who had helped Derek pull the strings to get them all on this flight at the last minute, but he wasn’t about to complain.
His focus was singular: getting home to Alex. Time was ticking, and their baby wasn’t waiting for anyone.
The plane was a seven-thirty-seven, with three seats on either side. Ace found his seat about halfway back, an aisle seat, much to his relief. He could stretch his legs at least a little, and after the nonstop pace they’d been keeping, even a smidge of comfort was welcome.
As he stowed his bag overhead and settled into his seat, his eyes caught the gaze of the elderly woman sitting by the window. Her warm smile and kind eyes seemed to light up the space, and though Ace usually preferred to keep to himself, he found himself nodding politely.
“Good evening,” she said, her voice soft and melodic.
“Evening, ma’am,” Ace replied.
She turned back to her word search book, the edges of her mouth still curled into a gentle smile. Ace adjusted his seatbelt, glancing around as the other passengers filed in. When the flight attendants closed the door and announced that boarding was complete, he exhaled in relief. The middle seat next to him was empty.
The woman beside him flipped through her book, pencil in hand, circling words with a contented hum. Ace leaned back as the plane taxied, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.
When the flight attendants came by with the drink cart, Ace ordered a ginger ale. The woman ordered coffee, and when the flight attendant handed Ace the cup to pass down, he did so carefully.
“Thank you, young man,” she said, her warm smile returning.
Ace felt a tug in his chest at her kind expression, and before he could stop himself, he asked, “Are you heading to Richmond or connecting somewhere else?”
“Oh, I’m going to Richmond,” she replied, her eyes lighting up. “Visiting my granddaughter for Christmas. She just moved there for work, and I haven’t seen her new place yet.”
“That’s nice,” Ace said, nodding.
The woman tilted her head slightly. “And what about you? Are you headed home or just passing through?”
“Home,” Ace answered, a small smile tugging at his lips. “My wife’s in labor with our first child. I’m trying to make it back in time.”
The woman gasped, her hands flying to her chest. “Oh, how wonderful! A Christmas baby! You must be so excited.”
“I am,” Ace admitted, his voice soft.
She beamed. “I can tell just from this little chat that you’re going to make a wonderful father. Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“We wanted it to be a surprise,” Ace said, a faint grin breaking through.
The woman chuckled. “Oh, surprises are the best. My late husband always said that life’s greatest joys are the ones you don’t see coming.”
They were quiet for a bit, but then the woman turned toward him again.
“I don’t mean to pry, but are you in the military?” she asked, her tone gentle but direct.
“I am,” Ace said, nodding. “Navy.”
She smiled knowingly. “I thought so. My husband served in the Navy, too. He used to say it takes a special kind of person to be a sailor. Something about you just reminds me of him.”
Ace found himself leaning in slightly as she began to share stories of her husband’s deployments, their life together, and the challenges they faced.
In turn, she asked about Alex, and Ace told her about his wife’s resilience and the charity work she did. He even found himself mentioning Alex’s cooking, which earned a delighted laugh from the woman.
“You’re a lucky man,” she said softly.
“I know,” Ace replied, his voice just as quiet.
They talked for most of the flight, an unusual occurrence for Ace, who usually avoided small talk. There was something about her—a calmness that made him feel grounded.
As the plane descended into Richmond, snowflakes swirled past the windows. Ace’s jaw tightened at the sight. Snow could mean delays, and delays were the last thing he needed.
The woman noticed his worry and patted his arm. “Don’t fret, dear. They are only calling for a dusting. You’ll make it.”
Ace forced a smile as the plane taxied to the gate. Passengers soon began gathering their belongings, and the woman turned to Ace with a small gift bag in her hands.
“What’s this?” he asked, surprised by the gift.
“This is for your baby,” she said, pressing it into his hands before he could protest.
“Ma’am, you don’t have to—”
“Nonsense,” she interrupted, her smile soft but firm. “It’s Christmas. You just promise me you’ll be the wonderful father I know you will be.”
Before Ace could say anything more, she disappeared into the crowd, leaving him holding the little bag.
He opened it cautiously, his breath catching as he pulled out a pair of tiny, crocheted baby Santa booties. For a moment, he simply stared at them, the weight of everything he was rushing home to sinking in.
“Hey!” Frost’s voice jolted him back to reality.
Ace looked up and saw the team waiting near the front of the plane. He shoved the booties gently back into the bag and hurried to join them, his heart a little lighter and his resolve stronger than ever. He couldn’t help the small smile that pulled his lips.
After collecting their gear from baggage claim, they made their way to the rental car counter.
As he approached the desk, the woman working behind the counter smiled.
“Hi, how can I help you?”
“I have a reservation for a van.”
“Sure. I just need your name.”
“Marcus Chambers,” he said, producing his driver’s license.
The woman tapped the keys on her computer. Her eyebrows scrunched together.
She looked up, and just from the guilty expression on her face, Ace knew she was about to give him some bad news.
“I’m so sorry, sir, but it seems the van you reserved was mistakenly given to another party.”
Ace stared at her, his patience getting thinner by the second. “Mistakenly? How does that even happen?”
“I understand, but it was an error on our end,” she said, glancing nervously at his scowl.
Ace sucked in a sharp breath, fighting to keep his voice level. Losing his temper wouldn’t help, and it wasn’t like it was her fault. But the thought of being so close to Alex, yet still too far, was a weight pressing against his chest.
“I need a vehicle. Anything,” he said.
Behind him, Irish and Stitch exchanged a glance. Irish nudged Stitch, and they quietly stepped away.
“We’ll be right back,” Irish said, but Ace barely heard him, too focused on the problem at hand.
The woman at the counter tapped on her keyboard. “I’ll see what I can do, but I can’t make any promises.”
Ace gritted his teeth and pulled out his phone, dialing Derek. The hospital line rang twice before Derek picked up.
“I’m assuming since you are calling that you made it to Richmond.”
“We did. How’s Alex?”
“She’s hanging in there. The doctor just came by to check on her, and she was dilated to a six. The doctor thinks she is going to have the baby soon.”
“Shit!” Ace cursed, knowing he still had an hour and forty-five-minute drive. Well, that was if he could find a damn vehicle.
“Hang a minute, I have someone here who wants to say hi.”
“Ace?” Alex’s voice echoed through the phone. Her voice sounded tired but laced with frustration.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said softly, smiling despite the chaos.
“Where are you?” she asked, and he could hear her trying to hold it together.
“I’m in Richmond. Our plane just landed.” He kept the rental car disaster to himself.
“I’m holding on for you,” she said, her voice trembling slightly before a sharp hiss cut through.
His chest tightened. “Alex?”
“Contraction,” she panted. “I’m fine. Just hurry, okay? I love you.”
“I love you too. Hang in there,” he said, his voice breaking.
The line shuffled again as Derek came back on. “What is your ETA?”
“Well, that depends on when I get a vehicle,” Ace admitted.
“What do you mean when you get a vehicle? I reserved a van for you.”
“I know you did, but the rental car company mistakenly gave it to someone else. And being that it is Christmas Eve. They don’t have anything else. The guys are checking some of the other rental car agencies.”
“You better figure this out fast, Ace. She’s not going to be able to hold that baby in much longer.”
“I know. I’m working on it,” Ace replied, his tone grim.
Derek sighed. “Once you guys figure out something, call me back so I know.”
“Will do.”
Hanging up, Ace felt the weight of the situation pressing harder. His fists clenched as he fought off the helplessness gnawing at him.
Moments later, Irish and Stitch reappeared, both looking slightly sheepish but wearing nervous grins.
“We’ve got a ride,” Irish said, his voice too chipper for Ace’s liking.
Ace narrowed his eyes. “What kind of ride?”
“Just grab your gear and follow us,” Stitch said, clearly suppressing a laugh.
Suspicion prickled at the back of Ace’s neck, but he had no choice. He gestured for the rest of the team to follow as they headed outside to the lot where all the vehicles were parked.
What met them made Ace stop in his tracks.
A box truck and a van were parked side by side, and surrounding them were five little people dressed as elves—pointed ears, green and red outfits, and all.
Ace turned to Irish, his expression demanding an explanation.
“What the hell is this?” he asked, his voice low and incredulous.
One of the elves, a man barely taller than Ace’s waist, stepped forward. “Name’s Sparky,” he said, holding out a hand.
Ace stared at the hand, then at Sparky, then back at Irish.
“Shake his hand, Ace,” Irish said, his grin widening.
Biting back a groan, Ace extended his hand, engulfing Sparky’s smaller one.
Sparky grinned. “Your friends here said you were in a pickle and that you needed a ride. We’re heading toward Norfolk. We have a delivery of toys for a children’s center. We have room for you and your buddies, but we have to make our stop first.”
“Seriously?” Ace asked, his voice flat.
“Seriously,” Sparky said.
Before Ace could respond, another elf, a petite blonde with glitter in her hair, bounced over. “I’m Twinkles! Can I meet your baby when it’s born? I love babies!”
Ace pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t have time for this.”
“It’s this or wait for the rental people to figure out their mess,” Irish said.
Potter leaned over, whispering in Ace’s ear. “I think we’re being kidnapped by elves.”
Ace sighed. “Fine. What choice do I have? Let’s go.”
The team piled into the van with three of the elves. Twinkles and Skippy hopped into the back with the team while Ace slid into the front passenger seat. He watched with a mix of horror and fascination as Sparky climbed up in the driver’s seat but then adjusted a gadget to reach the pedals.
He didn’t have time even to think before Sparky started up the van and put it in gear. As they pulled out of the parking lot with the box truck following them, Sparky played with the radio. Moments later Jingle Bell Rock blared from the speakers.
Ace shook his head, but a reluctant laugh escaped. No matter how ridiculous this was, he’d do whatever it took to get to Alex, even if it meant hitching a ride with a few festive misfits.
For the past hour, Ace sat in the passenger seat of the van, his arms crossed, his brow furrowed, and his gaze fixed on Sparky, the elf behind the wheel. The cheerful man hummed along to the Christmas carols echoing from the back, completely oblivious to Ace’s incredulous stare.
Sparky was happy— too happy. His grin hadn’t faltered once, and his pointed elf ears twitched ever so slightly every time he bobbed his head to the beat. Ace tried not to look, but his curiosity got the better of him.
“How do you even…” Ace muttered under his breath, then shook his head.
Sparky glanced over. “You say something, big guy?”
Ace hesitated, then gestured vaguely toward Sparky’s head. “Your ears… are they real?”
Sparky winked. “Christmas magic, my friend.”
Ace grunted, deciding he really didn’t want to know. He glanced over his shoulder to the back of the van, where the chaos was reaching a fever pitch.
Twinkles and Skippy had somehow coerced the team into a non-stop Christmas carol marathon. Dino was fully invested, singing with a dramatic flair that rivaled a Broadway star. Irish, despite his usual sarcasm, had leaned into the absurdity, harmonizing with surprising talent. Stitch was slightly off-key but enthusiastic, and even Skittles had joined in, providing a beat with his hands on the seat in front of him. Diego had somehow fallen asleep. Lucky him.
Potter and Frost, however, remained stoically silent, their arms crossed and his face a stony mask of defiance.
“Come on, big guys!” Twinkles leaned forward, sticking her head between the two brooding SEALs. Her glittery hair bounced every time she moved her head. “You’ve got the voice of an angel, I can tell!”
Potter raised an eyebrow, unmoved. Frost just rolled his eyes. The site almost made Ace laugh out loud.
Twinkles narrowed her eyes, her voice dropping into a mock snarl. “You better sing, or I’ll tell Santa you’ve been naughty.”
Even the others started giving them shit and telling them to sing.
Ace smirked as both Potter and Frost let out a low, rumbling sigh before joining the chorus to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer . The back of the van erupted into cheers.
“I hate all of you,” Potter grumbled, but there was the faintest twitch of a smile at the corner of his lips.
Ace turned back to the front, groaning in relief as the Children's Center came into view. “Finally,” he muttered.
Sparky pulled into the lot and parked the van as the box truck followed suit. The team piled out, grateful for the chance to stretch their legs.
The next half hour was a whirlwind of activity. Presents of all shapes and sizes were hauled from the box truck and carried into the center. Ace moved with urgency. His focus split between helping and checking his watch. Every tick of the second hand felt like a punch to the gut. Alex was so close. He couldn’t afford any more delays.
“Almost done!” Twinkles chirped as she hefted a small box.
Ace barely managed a tight smile as he followed her inside with an armful of gifts. When the last present was finally unloaded, he turned to the team. “Let’s go!”
Everyone rushed back to their seats, the elves hopping into their respective vehicles. Ace practically dove into the passenger seat, pulling out his phone to call Derek.
“Derek,” Ace said, breathless, as the line connected.
“How’s it going? Are you close?”
“We are about fifteen to twenty minutes out,” Ace said, his voice laced with determination.
Derek exhaled. “Good. She’s doing the best she can, but it’s not going to be much longer. Everyone is here at the hospital.”
“I’ll be there,” Ace said, punching the hospital address into Sparky’s GPS.
“How’d you manage to get a ride?” Derek asked.
Ace hesitated, glancing at Sparky, who gave him a thumbs-up and a cheery grin. “It’s… a long story. I’ll explain when I get there.”
Derek let out a low chuckle. “Judging from the tone of your voice, I can’t wait to hear about it. See you soon.”
Ace ended the call and turned to Sparky. “The hospital is in the GPS. Step on it.”
“You got it, boss!” Sparky said, slamming the pedal to the floor with surprising gusto.
As the van pulled out of the lot, Ace allowed himself a moment of hope. He was so close.
In the back, Twinkles started singing Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.
“Not again,” Potter groaned.
Ace shook his head, a small grin tugging at his lips. No matter how absurd this journey was, he’d do whatever it took to get to Alex—even if it meant being serenaded by elves all the way to the hospital.
Five minutes later, Ace’s jaw tightened as Sparky steered the sputtering van to the side of the road and threw it into park.
The elf frantically turned the key in the ignition. The van gave another weak sputter before falling silent for good.
“What happened?” Ace barked, panic bubbling in his chest. They were only seven miles away. Seven miles!
“I don’t know! It just died!”
The team exchanged glances before filing out of the van. Ace followed, running a hand through his hair as the cold night air nipped at his skin.
“Pop the hood,” Irish called out, already reaching for the latch.
The team crowded around, each of them peering into the engine like a group of mechanics on a deadline. The elves stood off to the side, Sparky looking particularly guilty as Twinkles and Skippy exchanged worried glances.
“Anything?” Ace asked, pacing behind them. His heart was racing. Alex needed him.
“Everything looks fine,” Stitch muttered, wiping his hands on his jeans.
“Battery’s good,” Dino added. “Belts are tight.”
Irish straightened up, rubbing his chin. “I don’t think it’s mechanical.”
There was a moment of silence before Twinkles raised her hand like a schoolgirl. “Um, Sparky… did you check the gas gauge?”
Sparky blinked at her, confused. “No. Why would I? It’s a rental. Rentals are always filled up.”
Skippy snorted, shaking his head. “Sparky, the agent literally told you this van had just been returned and hadn’t been filled yet.”
Ace froze, his fists clenching as the realization hit. He turned and looked at Sparky. “Are you saying that we’re out of gas?”
Sparky’s sheepish expression was all the confirmation Ace needed. He let out a sharp exhale and turned away, muttering a string of curse words to himself.
“Since we are not too far, we could call one of our wives to come and get us. You told us that Derek said everyone was at the hospital.”
Ace leaned against the van. “Unless we get a Christmas miracle, I don’t see any other choice we have.”
Suddenly, as if summoned by fate, the distant hum of a diesel engine grew louder. A truck pulling a flatbed trailer with a massive, glittering sleigh came into view, flanked by twinkling lights. Ace squinted as the vehicle slowed and pulled over next to them.
The driver’s side window rolled down, revealing a beaming Santa Claus in full festive attire, complete with a red velvet suit and white beard. Mrs. Claus, equally decked out in holiday cheer, leaned over, her round glasses perched on her nose.
“Need a hand, folks?” Santa’s voice boomed jovially.
Ace stepped forward, equal parts relieved and incredulous. “Uh… yeah. Our van ran out of gas. I’m trying to get to the hospital. My wife’s in labor.”
Mrs. Claus gasped, clapping her hands together. “Oh, you poor dear! Santa, we have to help them!”
Santa grinned, stroking his beard. “Good thing we’re heading home from the Christmas parade. Hop on the sleigh, and we’ll get you there!”
Ace stared at the sleigh, then at Santa. “You’re serious?”
“Dead serious,” Santa replied, thumping the steering wheel. “Now hurry up, no time to waste!”
Irish and Stitch exchanged stunned looks before shrugging and grabbing their gear. “You heard the man,” Irish said. “Saddle up!”
The next few minutes were a whirlwind of chaotic hilarity. The team climbed onto the flatbed trailer, and Twinkles immediately began rearranging the seating like a bossy event planner, ensuring everyone had space. In the end, everyone fit, with the three elves sitting on Irish, Skittles, and Diego’s laps.
As Ace settled in, his long legs crammed awkwardly against the side of the sleigh, he looked around and just shook his head. If only someone could get a picture of this.
As if on cue, the sliding window in the back of the opened, and Mrs. Claus poked her head out. “You all look cute. I need a picture.” Sure as shit, she pulled her phone out and started snapping pictures.
Potter leaned over. His face was uncharacteristically amused. “You do realize that the team is never going to let this go.”
Ace snorted, shaking his head. “At least nobody will forget it.”
As the truck pulled back onto the road, Ace sent a text to Derek telling him they should be there in about five minutes.
As they drove through the streets of Norfolk, the sleigh rocked slightly as it picked up speed. Sparky and Twinkles led the group in yet another round of Christmas carols, their voices echoing into the crisp night air, which gained the attention of many people. Ace didn’t even have the energy to protest.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the hospital came into view. The truck pulled into the front drive, the sleigh coming to a halt in a flurry of sparkling tinsel.
The first person Ace’s eyes landed on was Derek, standing just outside the hospital entrance. His father-in-law and commander, who was normally the picture of stoic authority, stood frozen in place, his mouth hanging wide open in sheer disbelief.
Derek blinked a few times, his mouth opening and closing as if trying to form words.
Ace was the first person off the truck, his boots hitting the pavement with a thud. He turned to thank Santa, but the jolly man waved him off with a hearty laugh.
“Go meet your baby, son!”
Grinning, Ace took off running toward the entrance but stopped when he got to Derek.
“Do I even want to know?” Derek questioned, though Ace could see the laughter in his eyes.
Ace grinned, “Priority transport, courtesy of the North Pole. Don’t worry, Santa has top clearance,” he joked.
Derek chuckled. “Come on, let’s get you inside before that baby comes.”