Who: Elphaba, Luthien, Kate, Elsa, Glinda and Dior (NPC) What: Elphaba surprises Luthien with their new family for Christmas time Where: Elphaba and Lúthien’s house When: Boxing day Rating: Low Status:Complete
Elphaba checked at the front window again for probably the fourth time since Lúthien had left. She had managed to convince Lúthien to take Dior out to the park just down the road for an hour or so while she and her friends set up a glorious Christmas roast dinner to surprise her. Lúthien had been a little down lately, Elphaba thought it had something to do with Beren and Dior, but she hadn’t pressed the matter. So Elphaba had decided to show her that the new family they were making right here was there for her whenever she needed it.
Glinda had been instrumental in helping her organise everything. While Elphie had been concerned with keeping Lúthien from suspecting, Glinda had co-ordinated between all their friends to put together the magnificent meal laid out upon the dining room table. Coming back from the window, she told everyone that she had seen Lúthien and Dior on their way back at the end of the street. Rubbing her hands together, she cast an anxious look over everything and double-checked everything was how she wanted it.
“Is everything ready?” Elphaba asked Glinda as the tiny woman came to stand next to her.
“Everything is perfect” Glinda assured her friend, “Don’t worry, Luthien is going to love it all” Elphaba had worked so hard to make this perfect for her wife and Glinda had been more than happy to help. It would be good for them all she thought, it always made people feel better when they were surrounded by people who loved and cared for them.
It had taken Luthien some time to realize why she was in a funk. A depression, really. Beren wasn't around, and her wish to speak to him one more time hadn't come true. While she had no desire to rekindle a romance, Dior deserved to know his father, and Beren was one of the few people who could truly understand her fears about being immortal again.
In a way, it felt as though it were a gift that had been stolen from her. Luthien fully believed that this world was Arda reborn, and that she'd been brought back into the world to live again. But she didn't want to live forever, and she didn't want to be tied to the Earth. Beren might have some advice for that - and part of her wanted his approval for Elphaba, even though logically she knew she didn't need it.
Playing in the snow with her son rejuvenated her. They snow ball fought, and built a fortress only to have it completely bowled over by the giant hound, Huan. It was with a tuckered out Dior riding on the back of the big dog that Luthien guided back to their home. She hummed to herself a sad song.
Elphaba nodded to her best friend, feeling her heart beating fast in her chest at Lúthien’s impending arrival. “Kate? Elsa? Are you guys doing ok?” she looked into the kitchen where she’d set them the task of preparing the mulled wine.
“We’re good” Elsa called back, “Mulled wine and everything kitchen-wise is going well” She smiled as she looked over at Kate who was stirring said wine, “It’s so cute how Elphaba is worried about all this. Luthien is going to love it”
“Of course she’s a little worried. Her wife’s been acting really down.” The redhead took a taste of the wine and nodded her head. “Okay, that’s good.” She turned to her fiance and smirked. “I think this’ll do the trick though.” Kate wondered if it might actually be enough. As much as she hated to admit it, sometimes you needed professional help.
They didn’t have to wait much longer before Huan barreled through the door with a half-asleep Dior on his back. Luthien came in a moment later and shook off the snow. She smiled at Elphaba. “I’m sorry we took so long. Dior was making friends. We built a snow fortress.”
Elphaba smiled back and approached Lúthien just inside the front door. Calling Huan to her, she stroked his head and then picked Dior up from the hound’s back. “I’m glad you had fun, love,” she kissed her quickly and then stepped back so she could see the dining room with all their friends in. “I hope you didn’t tire yourself out though,” she smiled nervously, hitching the sleepy Dior higher on her hip.
“I am only a little tired,” Luthien said.
Dior wrapped his arms around Elphaba’s neck. “Mama walked on top of the snow.”
That brought another smile to Luthien’s lips, and when she looked up to see their friends water pricked at her eyes. “What is this?”
“Surprise!” Glinda said, bouncing a little on the spot, “Elphie thought it would be nice to surprise you for Christmas so here we are” she grinned before moving forward to embrace Luthien.
Elsa gave a little wave from where she stood with Kate, “We have mulled wine too” she said.
“You’ve just been so sad lately and I didn’t know what else to do, so I…” Elphaba indicated with a hand to their friends and the sumptuous feast they were about to have together. “I thought this might help. Remind you how loved you are by everyone here,” she shrugged nervously. “I hope that’s all right,” she said quietly.
“That’s perfectly fine.” She squeezed Elphie’s arm, then straightened to look at everyone else. “Thank you for coming. This means a great deal to me.”
“You’re welcome!” Kate started to pour out the wine, as though she was really eager to get to that part of the evening.
“Of course we’d come” Glinda said, “You’re such a wonderful friend Luthien, we all want to try and bring a little happiness to you”
"I really appreciate this." Luthien leaned in and kissed Elphaba again, letting out a little sigh. "Sometimes it's hard to realize how you are feeling until it affects those around you. I'm sorry."
Kate started handing out wine glasses. "That's one of the few things about being alone that I liked. You don't have to worry about hurting people."
“We just want you happy, my love,” Elphaba smiled, reaching out and taking Lúthien’s hand. “Now what say we sit down and have a lovely meal with our family?” she suggested, indicating the beautifully laid out table with their joined hands. She pressed a kiss to Dior’s forehead and smiled at the boy. “Are you hungry baby?” she asked him.
Glinda watched happily as Elphaba spoke to Luthien, they were so sweet together and she was glad her friends had found such happiness. “Yes come and sit. You’re going to love the food” she said ushering all of them to come and sit at the table.
“And what great feast have you prepared for me?” Luthien took in the table, and her friends. She felt really touched, and searched for the right words. She really only knew how to express in song, and while in her household it was always time for singing, she decided she needed to eat first.
“Luckily for you I had nothing to do with the roast,” Kate joked. “Or we’d all be dead.”
Elphaba looked at Lúthien carefully as the others were ushered to the table. Giving her a smile and then squeezing her hand, she pulled Lúthien over to the table and indicated she should sit down at the head of the table. “I’m sure a roast prepared by you would be delicious Kate. In fact, I think that’s our next family dinner,” she challenged with a smile as she teased the other woman. Sitting Dior in his chair next to Lúthien, she smiled as she watched everyone sitting down at the table. She had bought a beautifully festive table cloth of reds, greens and gold, tall candles with golden holders and festive wreaths wrapped around their bases. Crackers were piled along the centre of the table for people and seasonally appropriate napkins were set upon people’s plates. “Glinda? Would you mind helping me bring things through?” she asked, heading out to pick up the giant turkey she’d roasted for the occasion.
“My fiancee is wonderful in many ways but cooking isn’t a strength” Elsa said, leaning over to press a kiss to Kate’s lips with a smile, “But we can both order in like pros so you’re all always welcome”
Glinda smiled, “Women after my own heart” she said, “That’s my preferred way too” she winked before nodding and following her friend, “Of course Elphie” she agreed happily.
The redhead rolled her eyes, but smirked. “You really have a deathwish.” She slipped an arm around Elsa for a brief squeeze. “I’m a bit spoiled.”
Luthien itched to help out, but she got the impression she wouldn’t be allowed, so she simply sat and folded her hands on the table. “I am not sure how you managed all this without me noticing. I’m sorry. I’ve been distracted.”
“Thanks,” Elphaba smiled at her friend as they picked dished up and started to take them through. “Now, all I want you to do tonight is relax and enjoy yourself,” she told Lúthien as she brought in the turkey and placed it in the centre of the table. She hurried out of the room again to bring in the last dishes that hadn’t been brought through and then, once she was satisfied everything was sorted, she set about carving the turkey. “All right then everyone, I want to see those party hats on heads,” she grinned, referring to the ‘un-cracked’ crackers still on the table.