Who: Nina, Audrey, Merlin, Gabe When: December 25th Where: Living room at Audrey and Merlin’s place What: Christmas stuff Rating/Warnings: Low/None Status: Complete
Audrey had been baking. The house was filled with delicious smells of home-made cooking. There was mulled wine, mulled cider, about a hundred different types of cookies, and the world’s most amazing Christmas Dinner. Audrey was a baker by trade, but she could make a mean roast. The dinner was complete with potatoes, rolls, vegetables… and a pineapple upside down cake for dessert. (Along with the cookies.)
Audrey and Ben were on the rug by the fire, playing with some toys. Ben wasn’t content to sit for long, though. He was nearly a year old, and all he wanted to do was get up and run around the house. Audrey had probably dropped a couple of pounds just chasing after him. It was good for everyone.
Merlin loved being at home with his family for Christmas, he had a good amount of time off thanks to Stark’s holiday policy and it was nice watching Ben explore everything. Running around after him was definitely becoming a mission but a rather fun one.
He had yet to destroy anything which Merlin thought was a bonus and so far there had been no magical accidents which was also a relief as in the dreams Merlin had shown magical abilities right from birth. Coming to sit by the fire as they waited for their friends to arrive Ben crawled over to him and Merlin picked him up to tickle him.
Nina had taken her potion ready for later, trusting that when the time came she’d feel the cramps and know to get herself home and locked away. It was so annoying that the full moon was Christmas Day but Audrey had been a love saying they would have dinner early so that Nina could be away before the moon rose without missing anything. It was strange but so far she hadn’t felt any of the normal things she did on a change day but perhaps it was just the excitement of the season. She looked over at Gabe as they left her place to head next door, “Are you sure you don’t want me to carry some of those?” she checked again, her boyfriend’s arms full of gifts.
Gabe was doing his best not to struggle with the plethora of gifts in his arms. He’d figured they were so close he could handle it. “I'm good,” he said from behind the stack of packages. He was glad to be able to spend Christmas Day with friends like this. Last year had been a bit...well awkward. He’d been turned into an alien tree creature (his Dream self) but had that not happened he'd have spent it alone. And coming from a big Latin family that was a terrible way to spend Christmas.
Arriving at the door he waited for Nina to ring or open the door.
Audrey heard Nina and Gabe approaching from her spot on the rug. She broke into a smile and climbed up from the floor. “They’re here! Christmas can start!” With a flourish, she drew her wand from her belt and started the music, brightened the lights, and lit the fire under the mulled cider. It would make the place smell even more amazing.
“Come in!” She called out, even before Nina could open the door all the way. Audrey was in love with Christmas, and in love with her family and friends. She moved over to give Nina a hug, then help Gabe with the presents in his arms. “Merry Christmas!”
Merlin laughed as Audrey set herself and the house into a whirl when their friends came through the door, it was going to be a lovely day he already knew that because they were all together. Ben started making noise so Merlin picked him up to go and greet Nina and Gabe too.
“Hey Aud” Nina said returning the hug, “Merry Christmas” she replied before hugging Merlin too and happily taking Ben when he was offered to her, “Have you had a good morning?” she asked them as Ben wrapped his little fingers around her necklace to better look at it.
He was grateful for the help and hugged Audrey with a “Merry Christmas” as soon as his arms were empty. He clapped Merlin in a bro hug before turning his attention to Ben. He tickled him while in Nina's arms and let him grab at his big hand. “Hey buddy,” he cooed. “Merry Christmas little guy.”
Audrey set things aside on the nearest table so they could all greet one another, then turned her attention back to Nina. “I’ve been cooking! Doesn’t it smell like it?” She grinned. “And a few last minute decorations, too.” Audrey had turned the house into a Christmas Card. It was all pine needles, glowing lights, pine cones, big, red bows and the like. The place looked pretty magical, if she didn’t say so herself.
“Merry Christmas, Gabe,” Audrey said, giving him a smile. “You want to bring the presents in here? We can put them under the tree.” She motioned toward the living room, where Santa had already brought things for Ben. There were boxes and stockings littered about.
Merlin simply smiled as he watched his wife with their friends, “Let me get drinks for everybody” he said, “I’ll bring through a selection” He excused himself to go and set out a tray in the kitchen for everybody to chose from, he put beers, juices and sodas on it and would offer tea or coffee if anybody would like it. But there was mulled cider for later on the go.
“It smells amazing. My mouth watered as soon as we stepped inside” Nina admitted, “And this place looks incredible, I knew you’d added more decorations” she grinned, the home looked incredible and very different to her modest decorations.
Gabe followed Audrey to the tree and arranged the packages before standing to really get a good look around; he had to admit he was pretty stunned. He whistled. “Man Audrey, I think you just made Macy’s look like KMart. This is incredible.” The entire atmosphere was pure Christmas, and he absolutely loved it - especially the smell of the pine. He took a few subtle deeper breaths just to really enjoy it. Gabe snagged an apple cider from the proffered tray when Merlin reappeared.
Audrey laughed, blushing deeply around her cheekbones. She shook her head. “I can’t help it. I love holidays. Time to get together with family and… it doesn’t even matter what we’re doing, so long as we’re together. Also, some of the best flavors come out this time of year.” She gave Gabe a bright smile, then turned to settle down on the sofa where Ben had pulled himself up and was reaching desperately for the remote on its cushions.
Merlin smiled too as he entered the room and made sure everybody had a drink, “Santa’s grotto right?” he said also moving to the sofa, “Ben loves the brightness of it all” which was why tinsel and lights hung everywhere.
Nina took a drink herself, feeling a little lightheaded from the potion she’d taken but happy to be with her friends. Settling on the other sofa with Gabe she snuggled into his side, “It really does feel magical which works with you two” she said with a chuckle.
“And here I thought you were just being retro,” Gabe smirked at Merlin.
He sipped his cider and leaned into Nina a little as she snuggled. He chuckled as he watched Ben continue to try to puzzle out how to get to the out of reach remote.
“Yeah.” he chimed in with Nina. “I think next year I'll hire you guys to do my place. It looks like Christmas threw up in my house. This is perfect.” He laughed. He’d gone a bit overboard now that he had been here a year and had friends - and Nina in particular - that would visit. Landscaping? He was a pro at. Decorating his own house? Not so much.
“So, what’d the little man get for Christmas?” Gabe could see things scattered about.
“Ooh, do you think I should put together a side business?” Audrey asked, perking up a bit, playfully. “I could visit other people’s houses and decorate them for the holiday. Maybe like… a seasonal interior decorator?” She beamed brightly. It was all in jest, of course. And she would absolutely come help Gabe at his house for free.
“So far he’s more interested in the remote and the boxes than he is in any of his new things.” Audrey grinned, reaching over to pull the hard-earned remote out of the toddler’s hands.
“Let’s keep that idea for another time” Merlin said with a smirk, they had enough on their hands between the bakery and it’s expansion, Merlin’s job, Ben and potentially another baby sometime soon.
“That’s how a lot of kids are, I remember my foster mum said one year she’d been tempted just to wrap up empty boxes because the kids would have just as much fun” she grinned, in that way they were kind of like puppies. At least for a couple of years.
Gabe grinned as a memory suddenly came to the surface. “Y'know...come to think of it, I remember Abuela doing just that, for the youngest kids. Literally empty boxes wrapped in paper. I remember being all confused at how the babies got nothing, thinking Santa forgot to put stuff in the boxes, ‘til Abuela said that was the whole point. Saved money that's for sure.” He laughed.
Audrey laughed, too. “I can’t believe we didn’t think of that!” She said, turning to Merlin, playfully accusing. “And you’re supposed to be the smart one,” she teased. “I don’t know if it’ll still work again next year.”
“I’m obviously not that smart” Merlin grinned, “It’s all an act” he added with a wink before sighing, “Ah well next one we’ll remember that trick”
Nina smiled at that, she knew Audrey had mentioned trying for another but she wasn’t sure how far along into that idea they were and it didn’t seem right to bring it up now. “Well it seems like you haven’t gone too overboard with presents, some people spend so much and half the time the kids don’t get to play with it all before they’ve outgrown it all”
“I wanted to make sure that we weren’t going to overwhelm him. And that I wouldn’t have to worry about how it was all going to fit in the nursery!” Audrey said with a laugh. “I think we did okay, though. Thanks, Nin.” She added, giving her friend a warm smile. “It’s been an incredible Christmas so far this year.”
“You did very well” Nina said with a nod, “I agree, it’s been a lovely Christmas this year” she couldn’t help leaning into Gabe just a little more as she said it, after all he was a large part of the reason her life was so good now.
Gabe smiled down at his beautiful girlfriend and kissed the top of her head. They were coming up on their one year anniversary which made this Christmas particularly special as it was their first together. Last year he’d spent it as a talking tree alien and was grateful that so far this year nothing crazy had happened to him, to either of them. Unless you counted all the weird sightings of Christmas characters roaming about, but being from New York he could wave that off as they reminded him of the costumed characters from Times Square.
Gabe’s stomach suddenly growled embarrassingly loud. “Aw geeze, sorry.” he grinned sheepishly. He hadn't eaten much since lunch; having slept in over at Nina’s they’d taken their time about opening presents, doing a skype call with Gabe’s family, and watching random Christmas movies.
Audrey broke into a laugh at the sound of Gabe’s stomach. She shook her head. “I run a bakery. It’s not the first time I’ve heard someone’s stomach growl!” She teased, then climbed up to her feet. “Merlin, can you get the salad from the kitchen while Nina and I settle Ben in his chair?”
“Of course” Merlin said with a nod before he moved to do as requested, bustling about the kitchen. It may not be his domain as much as his wife's but he knew his way around. Re-entering the lounge he placed the salad bowl on the table near Gabe when suddenly through the open doorway mistletoe flew in and hovered above him.
Gabe had been busy uncovering the food so it would be ready to serve and turned just in time to see Merlin placing the salad down. His brow furrowed for a moment as he saw the floating mistletoe and was about to ask what the deal was when he felt the most ridiculous compulsion to kiss...Merlin?! Before he even knew what was going on he grabbed the smaller man and pressed his lips to his friend’s.
Merlin should have been shocked but instead he returned the kiss, magic prickling along his skin before he pulled back and looked into Gabe’s confused face. “Ummm I’m not sure exactly what just happened” he said before being startled by laughter.
Nina couldn’t stop herself, the moment they’d kissed she’d nudged Audrey who had already been watching as well. When they both looked so shocked she had burst out laughing as the mistletoe which had hung over them flew off.
Oh man! If only Audrey had been fast enough to pull out her phone for a photograph! She was laughing, too, gripping Nina’s shoulder to keep herself upright. “What…??” She asked, nearly crying from the laughter. “What on Earth was that??”
Gabe was absolutely red with embarrassment and was as in open mouthed shock as Merlin. “I...I don’t kn- ” He nearly jumped a mile as the sound of their significant others burst into hysterical laughter. Gabe turned and saw Nina and Audrey practically doubled over. Even the baby looked amused.
“I dunno what the heck just happened,” Gabe threw up his hands. “I saw that floating mistletoe and thought it was you guys.”
“No, no. I definitely didn’t make any mistletoe float” Merlin said looking more perplexed than embarrassed as he moved towards the window to see if he could spot the mistletoe.
“Audrey did you make our men kiss?” Nina asked her trying to keep a straight face and failing miserably before she dissolved into giggles again.
Audrey hadn’t even seen the mistletoe. She glanced between Nina and the others, shaking her head. Though, unlike her best friend, she didn’t bother trying to hold the straight face. Her grin was splitting her cheeks, practically. “No. Why on Earth would I do that?” She realized how that must have looked and sounded with her horrible grin on. “Seriously, no. I don’t like mistletoe. It’s poisonous.” For most of the year, Audrey only kept plants around that one could eat.
Merlin sighed, “Sometimes I really dislike this place with all its goings on” he lamented moving to take his wife in his arms and kiss her instead.
Nina, still with a grin on her face, moved to Gabe leaning down to wrap her arms around his shoulders and kiss him too, “Let’s eat before anything else crazy happens” she suggested.