December 24th, 2023. Seven o’clock in the evening. It was Christmas Eve, and New Clark City was alive with a festive spirit, despite the ongoing turmoil. Bright Christmas lights adorned every building, casting a warm glow over the streets. In the Blackwatch camp, the mood was surprisingly jubilant, with members trying to make the best of the situation.

In the streets, children were singing Christmas carols, their voices filling the air with classic holiday tunes. The surrounding atmosphere was one of warmth and community as families and soldiers alike joined in the celebrations. People were busy preparing their Christmas meals, with the aromas of roasting meats and baking sweets wafting through the camp.

At various food stations, volunteers from Blackwatch and the local community were distributing hot meals and drinks to everyone, ensuring that no one was left out of the festivities. Laughter and chatter could be heard everywhere, creating a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos of their current world.

Richard, walking through the camp, observed the celebrations with a sense of satisfaction. It was a reminder that, in the midst of their fight against Lin Feng, they were also fighting to preserve these moments of joy and togetherness.

Sara, accompanying Richard, smiled at the sight of children excitedly opening their presents. "This is what Christmas is about," she said, her eyes reflecting the festive lights.

Meanwhile, at the command center, Graves and a few others remained on duty, monitoring the situation and ensuring the security of the camp. They were ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice, but for now, they allowed themselves a brief respite to enjoy the holiday spirit.

"This is how I remembered it," Richard commented wistfully. "I thought this would be impossible after everything that happened. But here we are, celebrating Christmas."

Sara nodded, her hand finding his. "It shows that even in the darkest times, we can find light. It’s important to remember that."

As they continued to walk, they came across a group of children singing Christmas carols to one of the stalls. One of the children seemed to have noticed them and gleefully walked towards them.

"Merry Christmas, sir!" a young girl exclaimed, her eyes bright with excitement. She looked up at Richard and Sara with a wide smile.

"Merry Christmas," Richard replied warmly. "So, how many candies have you gotten?"

"Lots!" the young girl replied, holding up a small bag full of candies. "But we’re not just singing for candies.

"Okay, how about this? You sing a song in front of us, and then we give you a lot of treats. Deal?" Richard proposed.

The young girl’s eyes widened in delight at Richard’s proposal. She quickly nodded, her enthusiasm apparent.

"Deal!" she exclaimed, and without wasting a moment, she joined her friends, who were still singing carols. They sang a joyful rendition of "Jingle Bells," their voices filled with innocence and merriment. Richard and Sara clapped along with the performance, their hearts warmed by the children’s joyful spirit.

Once the song concluded, the children turned to Richard and Sara, expectant smiles on their faces. Richard reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of candies, handing them to the young singers.

"Here you go," he said with a grin, passing out the treats to each of them.

The children thanked Richard and Sara, their faces lighting up as they received their rewards. The group of friends then scampered off to continue spreading their holiday cheer to others in the camp.

"It was kind of fulfilling," Richard said as he glanced at Sara.

"Well, it’s about time to head now to your little sister, she must be waiting," Sara said.

Richard nodded in agreement. "You’re right, Sara. Let’s not keep Lisa waiting any longer."

Together, Richard and Sara made their way to where Lisa was. Lisa was lining up to buy the famous Christmas food that should be served on Christmas, and that is Christmas ham.

When Richard neared the store, he saw a long line, Blackwatch soldiers and civilians alike, eagerly waiting to get their portions of the succulent Christmas ham. The aroma was irresistible, and it was clear that this special treat was something everyone was looking forward to on this festive evening.

Lisa was patiently waiting her turn in the line, chatting with the people around her. When she noticed Richard and Sara approaching, her face lit up with excitement.

"Richard! Sara! You made it!" Lisa exclaimed, her voice barely containing her enthusiasm. "I hope you’re hungry because this Christmas ham is going to be amazing."

Meanwhile, the Blackwatch soldiers who were present inside the store performed a salute while the civilians behaved themselves stiffly.

"Come on guys, it’s Christmas, don’t be so serious," Richard said with a playful grin, addressing the soldiers who were saluting.

They chuckled and relaxed, understanding that this was a moment to enjoy and unwind, even for a brief moment.

Lisa’s turn finally arrived, and she placed the order for the Christmas ham. The chef behind the counter expertly carved out generous portions, the ham glistening with its delicious glaze, and then placed them inside a plastic.

Lisa paid the price and then walked back to her brother.

"Okay, we have the ham, let’s go?"

Richard nodded and exited the store. As they stepped outside the store with the freshly acquired Christmas ham, Sara reached for her radio and called for one of the Blackwatch vehicles. It didn’t take long before they heard the familiar rumble of an Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) approaching.

The JLTV pulled up beside them, and the soldiers inside opened the rear door. They carefully stowed the Christmas ham inside, ensuring it was secured for the ride back to their camp.

With everything in place, Sara and Lisa climbed into the JLTV, while Richard asked the soldier if he could drive the JLTV back to the command center. The soldier nodded and gave Richard a thumbs-up, indicating that he could take the wheel.

With Richard in the driver’s seat and Sara and Lisa comfortably seated in the back, they set off on the short journey back to the Blackwatch.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the command center. Inside, Mark already prepared a private room for them to celebrate and wait for Christmas.

As soon as they entered that private room, they were cold beers, and a karaoke setup waiting for them. The room had been decorated with some makeshift Christmas decorations, including colorful streamers and a small Christmas tree with twinkling lights.

"Looks like Mark went all out to make it feel like home," Richard commented with a grin as he looked around the room.

Sara laughed and said, "Well, it’s not every day we get to celebrate Christmas like this. Might as well make it special."

"This is the Christmas I know."

***

Meanwhile, in China.

"Celebrating Christmas huh? Well let me ruin your celebration by midnight," Lin Feng muttered under his breath.