A/N: This story kills two birds with one stone. This is my holiday story, and the general theme will be 'The Twelve Days of Christmas', but it's another challenge story too. This will be written for 'The Butterfly Effect' challenge at The Reviews Lounge, Too. Long story short, everything will be connected in this story in ways you or even the characters might not expect.

A bit of set-up for the story is that it will a third season AU. It'll be very early 2032 right before seaQuest comes back to Earth.

Disclaimer: SeaQuest DSV and its characters are not my creation. They are the creation of Rockne S. O'Bannon as a 1990's television series. This work of fanfiction is for entertainment purposes only and is not for financial gain. I am just borrowing the characters for a bit and promise to return them unharmed and in their original condition, maybe just a bit happier.

Chapter 1

'Tis the gift to be simple.

Kristin frowned as she walked into the nurse's station. She was just finishing up an emergency room shift at New Cape Quest hospital where she'd been the head physician for close to ten years. Though she was tired, that wasn't the reason for her displeasure. It was the television in the lobby, which was turned to coverage about someone named Oliver Hudson who was hellbent on finding seaQuest, and she found some of the nurses were watching the screen with bated breath.

"It's so wonderful to see you're all hard at work," she muttered, though she tried to force a smile. It wasn't often they had the luxury of relaxing for a bit, and it was nearing midnight.

"Oh, come on, Doc; aren't you the least bit interested in this guy?" Maureen, one of the brunette nurses asked. "I thought for sure you'd be rooting for him, considering..."

Kristin shook her head. "I'm certainly not against him, but I'm also a realist, dear. They've combed every inch of the ocean depths and haven't found a single shred of evidence. If seaQuest were down there, I'd think they'd have found something by now."

A soft-spoken blonde, Laura, turned to look at her. "But those are your friends. Aren't you even the least bit hopeful?"

"And if it isn't in the ocean, then where did it go?" Maureen pressed. "Massive submarines are kind of hard to miss."

"Exactly my point," Kristin replied, turning to Laura. "And it isn't that I don't care. I'd give anything to see the crew alive and well, but when it's been this long... Well, there comes a point when one needs to face reality, and the reality is that the boat could have been seized by an enemy of the UEO. That seems like a plausible possibility, considering what's going on in Macronesia...and if that's the case, it's likely they're all dead."

"Do...do you really believe that?" Laura asked in shock.

She gave the younger woman a smile. "The way I see it there are only two likely outcomes: either my friends are still alive or they're dead. If they're alive, then there's a reason no one has seen or heard from them in a decade, and if you don't mind, I'd rather not think of them being locked away somewhere held against their will...and Lord knows what else." She shuddered at the thought. "And if they're dead, at least I know they're at peace, which is a far more comforting thought for me." She sighed. "Of course, a small part of my heart still hopes, but I know it probably won't be true."

After a moment of silence, Laura placed a hand on her shoulder. "I suppose I can understand that, but I do pray they find them all well and safe."

"Thank you for that," she replied. "But I think I'll leave you ladies be, since Dr. Chapman should be here to relieve me shortly. I just have a few things to finish up in my office, and then I'm off for the night."

"Goodnight, Doctor," they both said before turning back to the screen on the wall.

Kristin turned around and made her way to her office at the end of the hall and closed the door behind her. The truth was she didn't have anything to finish up at all, but she couldn't stand to hear about the seaQuest anymore. Yes, it had been ten years, and she'd spent countless hours mourning the loss of the entire crew. Eventually, the tears stopped and she had to move on with her life. SeaQuest was a distant memory for everyone, and she rather liked it that way...that was until Oliver Hudson made his mission public.

Damn that man! she thought bitterly. She was doing just fine until he came along. Didn't he know that by claiming he was going to find seaQuest, he was reopening a scabbed-over wound? Granted, it was a wound that would never be healed, but she'd been able to forget about it for this long. Having that scab pulled away was an extremely unpleasant feeling. She couldn't imagine anyone else liked the way it felt either.

Who the hell did he think he was, giving false hope to the world? And all this had to come up just before the holidays. In this day and age, false hope was a luxury they couldn't afford. The reality, she was sure, was that seaQuest was lost forever, and so were Nathan, Lucas...and the others. She wasn't going to allow herself to give into that false hope. She'd only be setting herself up for disappointment in the end.

Feelings of sadness and regret washed over her. There were so many things she'd wished had been different. If only she had a way to turn back time... Tears stung her eyes, and she nearly relinquished her fight against them when someone knocked at her door. Wiping them away, she silently scolded herself for even considering falling into her old ways and turned to see who it was.

A young, dark-haired man with black-framed glasses stuck his head in the door: Dr. Erik Chapman. "Maureen and Laura said you were in here. I just thought I'd let you know the cavalry's here, so you can go home and rest."

"Thank you, Erik. I hope it's quiet for you."

He smiled. "Thanks for that, Kristin, but now you've probably jinxed it." He waved a hand. "I'm just teasing, you know. Time goes by much faster when the ER is filled with bodies...as long as they all leave alive and well."

"Indeed. Well, you have a good night."

"You, too," he said.

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The moment she walked through her front door, she was relieved. All she wanted was to go to sleep and forget about the day. As she started up the stairs, however, the vid-phone rang. "Naturally," she muttered and turned around to go into the living room.

As she glanced at the caller ID, however, she recognized her daughter's number, and her heart skipped a beat as panic coursed through her veins. Cynthia would never call this late unless there was some sort of emergency. She immediately hit the view button. "Please, tell me nothing's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong, Mom," Cynthia replied.

She pinched the bridge of her nose. "I really am not in the mood for games. It's been a long day, and-" She paused. "Where's Adam? And Sophia?"

Adam was Cynthia's husband, and Sophia was their five-year-old daughter. They were the only family Kristin had left, and a few years after seaQuest's disappearance, Kristin had convinced Cynthia to move back to the States to be closer to her. After Cynthia and Adam married, they moved to New Cape Quest. They both worked with refugee children but left the fieldwork to others who didn't have families. They were only a twenty-minute drive away.

"They're fine, Mom; just fine," Cynthia said. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"You call me in the middle of the night, and you expect me to be calm?" She shook her head. "Why are you calling at such an odd hour anyway?"

Cynthia sighed. "I'd called you at the hospital earlier, but either you didn't get the message, or you forgot to return the call."

Kristin brought a hand to her mouth. "Oh...oh, darling, I am so sorry. I completely forgot. When the message came through, I was in the middle of-"

"It's all right; I understand. I called the hospital again just a short while ago, and they said you'd gone home. I thought about meeting you there, but I didn't want to give you a heart attack." She flashed her mother a smile.

"That's kind of you," she said with a light laugh. "Well, why are you calling then? We just spoke the night before last."

"I...I know, and knowing this was a late night for you, I'd usually just wait until the sun is out, but it's sort of an emergency."

Kristin's breath caught in her throat. "Emergency? I thought you said there was nothing wrong? Cynnie, please, stop playing games. Just be honest with me."

Cynthia bit her bottom lip and glanced over her left shoulder. Adam then stepped into the view of the screen. "Maybe it would be best if we spoke in person?" he offered.

"Oh, for bloody-" Kristin let out a sigh. "Don't speed, but get here as quickly as you can. I'll see you shortly."

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Less than thirty minutes later, Kristin's front door burst open as a little girl with curly red pigtails ran into her arms. "Grandma! I missed you!"

Kristin hugged her tightly. "I missed you too, darling, but I just saw you on Sunday. And you are up way past your bedtime."

"That's what we need to talk about," Cynthia said as she and Adam entered behind their daughter.

Before Kristin could ask what Cynthia meant, Sophia tugged on her hand. "Mommy and Daddy want to know if you'll take care of me. We're going to have a sleepover, Grandma!"

"You weren't supposed to say anything yet," Cynthia chided gently before turning to her husband. "Adam, why don't you take her upstairs?" She then knelt down and gave Sophia a hug. "Grandma and I need to talk by ourselves for a little while. You be good for Daddy, okay?"

Sophia nodded and took her father's hand as they went up the stairs.

Kristin then turned to her daughter with a raised brow. "What was that all about? If you need me to watch her for a few days, you know you never have to ask. Thankfully, tomorrow's my day off, but you also know that if I have to work, Bill and Janet are always willing to help me. I've told you that before."

The reason Kristin had chosen to live in New Cape Quest was the fact that the few friends she had left still resided there. Bill and Janet lived right next door, and Ben and Katie, who'd remarried a few years back, lived a few blocks away. She'd made a point to keep the people she cared about most as close to her as possible, not wanting to face another tragic loss.

She crossed her arms over her chest. "And why all the secrecy? You're...you're scaring me."

Cynthia sighed. "I'm sorry, Mommy, but this...this is a little different. We need you to take her for a week, at least."

"Is that all?" she asked with a smile. "If you and Adam wanted to steal away for a romantic getaway, why didn't you just say so? I know it's been a while since I had a significant other, but I do remember what it's like."

However, her daughter didn't offer an immediate reply. Instead, she lowered her gaze to the floor, nervously wringing her hands.

Kristin felt her stomach do a flip. She gently approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Cynnie, dear, just tell me what's wrong."

She took a deep breath. "I just don't want you to be angry. Promise me."

"You know I don't like when you do that," she replied with a shake of her head. "I can't possibly promise if I don't know what it is. Just spit it out; I'm sure it's not as bad as you think."

"Spit it out? All right." She took a breath. "Adam and I need to go out into the field."

Kristin's mouth fell open.

"It's just..." She motioned to the vid-screen. "You've seen the headlines, watched the news. Unless you're living under a rock, you know what Alexander Bourne does to those who resist him. People are dying. Children are dying, and all our aids are stretched as thin as could be. We've tried finding someone else, but there just isn't anyone. We don't have a choice."

"A choice?" Kristin blurted out. "Of course you have a choice! While I think it's commendable that you're being so selfless, I think you and Adam need to think about what you're doing! Think about your family! Think about Sophia!"

"We have thought about it."

Adam walked back into the living room and gave them both a sheepish look. "I didn't meant to eavesdrop, but it wasn't very hard. Sophia fell asleep in the guest room, and..." He turned to Kristin. "I promise, we've weighed all the pros and cons. We have to do this."

Kristin shook her head, lowering her voice to a more normal tone. "No, you don't have to do this. I am begging you not to do this."

Cynthia placed a hand on her mother's shoulder. "Mom, please. What if it were one of us over there? What if it were Sophia? I know you'd go the ends of the Earth if one of us were in that situation."

"Of course I would, but you're not. You're right here, and this is where you should stay."

Adam shook his head. "I never thought I'd hear you be so selfish."

"In this day and age, it's the selfish who survive," Kristin pointed out. "And I am not about to bury my daughter and son-in-law if-"

"Did I hear yelling?" Sophia wandered into the living room, rubbing her eyes and looking at the grown-ups, a confused look on her face.

Cynthia took her daughter's hand. "Daddy said you were asleep."

"I was for a little while, but then I heard yelling." Sophia approached her grandmother. "Don't be mad at Mommy and Daddy. I told them it was all right to go. It's just for a little while."

Kristin felt tears creep up. "I'm not mad at them, sweetie. I'm just very worried. I don't want anything bad to happen to them."

"They promised they'd be very careful," Sophia replied.

"I...I know."

"Why don't you give Grandma a hug and then Daddy can take you back upstairs?" Cynthia suggested. "Grandma and I need to talk for a little while longer."

Sophia did as her mother asked. "I love you, Grandma."

"Love you too, darling," Kristin told her through tears as she and Adam left the room.

"I know you're worried, but we are taking precautions," Cynthia explained. "We have some connections there; we'll be safe."

"Precautions aren't foolproof," she replied quietly. "I just... I don't want to lose you."

Cynthia hugged her tightly. "You won't. You just have to believe that. I...I know you're worried we'll end up just like them...but I can't let that stop us from making a difference."

She cried softly into her daughter's shoulder and held her tightly.

"Oh, Mom; I promise we'll call you as often as we can, and we'll be home before you know it. Are you okay with this? Please, tell me you're okay with this."

She gave a nod. "When...when are you leaving?" she asked through her tears.

Cynthia turned and glanced at the clock. "In about five hours."

She wiped some stray tears from her cheeks. "You must have known I wouldn't say no."

"That...and we had a back-up plan. Two, actually: Uncle Bill and Aunt Janet or Ben and Katie...but we didn't want to have to disturb them this late." She paused. "You sure you're going to be okay with this?"

"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" She shrugged. "I will be, and you know if the situation was a bit different, I'd never have such reservations against it."

The younger woman nodded. "I know, but it's been ten years. I don't think any of them would want you...or anyone else...to stop living their lives based on what ifs. They never did. I'll go tell Adam, and we'll bring in Sophia's things."

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Half an hour later, Kristin found herself alone once again. Well, alone plus her granddaughter fast asleep upstairs. She let out a heavy sigh as she ascended the stairs once again. At least she didn't need to go to the hospital tomorrow; not that it made much difference, because she doubted she'd get much sleep now that she had her family to worry about. Still, she at least wanted to lie down and try.

She stripped off her clothes and slipped into a nightgown when she heard Sophia's tiny voice in the doorway. "Grandma, can I sleep with you?"

Kristin smiled softly. "Of course, as long as you promise to sleep. It's very late."

She held up a hand. "I promise I'll be as quiet as a mouse."

Kristin laughed softly and helped her into bed. She climbed in next to her. After a few minutes of quiet, however, Sophia tapped on her shoulder. "Funny, I think I hear a mouse."

"No, Grandma, it's me, Sophia," she said through giggles.

"Yes, dear, what is it?"

"Are you still worried about Mommy and Daddy?"

She sighed. "Yes, but that's what grandmothers do; we worry about our families all the time."

Sophia sat up and gave her a quizzical look. "Even me?"

"Especially you. I just want you all to be happy and well-taken care of."

"I guess that makes sense," she replied, lying back down.

"Now can we go to sleep? You did promise."

She took a breath. "I know, but I never had a story tonight. Mommy and Daddy were so busy talking that they forgot. Could you tell me one?"

"Oh...all right. What would you like to hear? Cinderella? Snow White? The Frog Prince?"

"I've heard those too many times. I was hoping maybe you could tell me a new story."

"A new story?" Kristin repeated. "I'm not sure I know any others outside of the fairy tale books."

"I was hoping you could tell me about your friends."

Kristin sat up and looked at her. "My friends?"

Sophia nodded. "They were on the news, and Mommy told me about them. She told me that's why you get that sad look in your eyes all the time."

Kristin swallowed hard. "She...she did?"

Sophia put her hand over Kristin's. "When Bailey moved away, I missed her so much, but talking about the fun times we had helped me feel better. And Mommy helps me with the Internex so we can write letters to one another. So I thought that talking about them might help you." Her voice became very small. "I...I know you can't write them letters, but Mommy told me about that man that's trying to find them. He says he'll bring them home."

"Oh, sweetie, I don't-"

The little girl shook her head. "No, Grandma! You have to believe it. Like how Peter Pan asked everyone to believe in fairies to save Tinker Bell. Maybe if you clapped your hands..."

"This isn't a fairy tale, darling," she said with a sigh. "Believe me, if all I had to do was clap my hands, I'd have done it ages ago."

"So you won't tell me about that man in the picture?" She pointed to Kristin's dresser. "And the one in the hall of the boy and the dolphin?" She put her hands together. "Pleeease?"

Kristin sighed. "You're not going to give up, are you?"

She shook her head. "I can stick out my bottom lip if it'll help."

"That isn't necessary," Kristin said with a soft smile. "I will tell you one story about them, but then you have to go to sleep. It's late, and I'm getting sleepy."

"And then you'll tell me more tomorrow?" she asked hopefully.

"We'll see."

"Deal." She laid her head on Kristin's shoulder. "So who is that man in the photo? He looks like he was nice."

"He was indeed. His name was...is Nathan Bridger. He was the captain when I worked on the seaQuest, and we were...very good friends."

"Mommy told me you loved him like she loves Daddy. Is that true?"

She nodded. "But we parted ways after... Some things in both of our lives came up, and we lost touch. And it's just one of those things... You always mean to call up those old friends, but life gets in the way. You never think that..." She trailed off as tears threatened to fall.

Sophia placed a kiss to her cheek. "It's okay, Grandma. I'm sure he knows you loved him. And don't worry; no matter what happens, you'll always have me. I'll never leave you."