Secret Santa Fic for Lynx – A Very Merry Christmas
Jan 1, 2013 0:00:01 GMT -5
Post by Cuppy * on Jan 1, 2013 0:00:01 GMT -5
This Christmas Eve was much different than any other. In a small town in Vermont, families stayed inside as much as possible, trying to fight the cold weather that threatened them but more importantly to soak in the warm feeling that filled people when they spent the holidays with family. That warm feeling of love as they ate, drank, and laughed together.
“Daaaaaads!” Lily called, impatiently from the front door. The young girl had been the first ready to leave. Morgan chuckled, shaking his head. “I believe your daughter is anxious to leave.” He said in jest as he handed Jake his jacket.
“Really?” Questioned Jake. “Because I’m fairly certain if she were my daughter, she’d be dragging her feet as much as I am. Why do we do this every year again?”
Morgan sighed, still patient after answering this same question for many years. “You know it’s never bad as you think it will be. You always laugh and have fun. So try not to be so mopey.” He chided lightly, giving his husband a small kiss.
After hearing their daughter bellow again, the two men emerged from their bedroom, went down the stairs, and met their daughter by the door. “You, missy, need a jacket.” Jake said, taking the young girl’s jacket that Morgan was handing him. She whined, unwilling to wrinkle her pretty dress before getting there, but her both men insisted. And when they pointed the sooner she put it on, the sooner they’d reach their destination, she no longer tried to fight it instead pulling it on quickly.
When they arrived to the large home only minutes away from their own, Lily practically squealed in excitement, jumping from the car only just after stopping. She didn’t wait until her fathers joined her on the porch to ring the bell. But by the time they reached her, the girl’s face was pressed to the window, searching the inside for movement. “They’re coming!” She informed the men. And from inside, they heard a man squeal much like their thirteen year old daughter, ‘They’re here!”
When the door opened, a familiar scene unfolded. It began with Lily charging into the large house, yelling “Uncle Brendan!” to which Bren responded with, “Princess Lily!”. When she’d been smaller, Brendan would scoop the girl into his arms and spin her around. But she was no longer a small child and he was forty with weaker knees and graying hair. Instead, both settled for a hug that had both of them squeezing the other.
Of course, the little girl quickly moved onto the other adults, ‘Hi Vin! Hi Fifi! Hi Sammy!’ then to the little boy, and finally ending with the smallest edition of the Hart children, four year old Hillary. Her distraction freed Brendan to greet and hug Jake and Morgan.
‘Hellos’ were exchanged among the adults (and those who simply looked like adults). While you might be thinking it would be awkward for members of MSAD to have to be together, the two had long ago moved past the initial awkwardness of when they first started having these dinners together. And if anything, the experience brought them closer together.
Jake, after saying ‘hi’ to Vin, quietly questioned as to how Brendan managed to, not only get him to wear a tie, but to keep it on the entire evening. But the obscene smirk on Bren’s face told Jake he really didn’t want to know.
At the first lull in the happy chatter, Brendan suggested they all sing Christmas carols together. And, like every year, he was greeted with a chorus of groans. You see, the first year their Christmas Eve dinners began, eight years ago, Bren had somehow managed to get everybody to agree trying it. It had been a disaster though. Starting with nobody being on key and ending with Vincent bribing Sammy to pants Bren mid-Silent Night. Morgan and Jake had both lunged to cover their new daughter’s eyes, but the damage had been done. And it took a lot of begging on Bren’s part, and promises of better behavior, to get the three to return the next year. The memories of that first experience weren’t enough to stop Brendan from pouting every year after when he was denied though.
When dinner rolled around, the topic mostly centered around Sammy. Twenty-two and almost done with school was an exciting time.
“So, Sammy, only one semester left of college. Are you excited?” Jake questioned.
“Um… Kinda, yeah. I mean, I’ll miss my friends, but I’m ready to be done with school, ya’ know?”
Without being prompted, Vincent and Brendan interjected almost at the same time with the same thing, “We’re ready to have him home with us.” Both of them were waiting for the minute their playmate would move back in with them, where he belonged (in their opinion).
Sammy chuckled, but looked down at his plate, looking a bit apprehensive. As if the thought of returning to his home weren’t entirely unappealing, but after living away from his parents, brothers, and sister gave him a taste of something he liked. Probably privacy and quiet.
Fifi chuckled at the two men she loved and laid a reassuring hand on Sammy’s shoulder. “What Vin and Bren mean is that if Sammy decides to come home, we’d be incredibly happy. But we’ll be just as happy if he decides to move to Austria.” She explained, pulling their oldest son into a one armed hug as they stayed in their seats.
Jake noticed the relieved smile on Sammy’s face, that his mother was willing and ready to set the boys straight. Jake was sure that, and because they were uncommonly close in age for a mother and son, was the reason for their close relationship.
“Screw that!” Vincent bellowed. “I don’ want Sammeh livin’ in Australia! Thass forever an’ a day ‘way!”
“I believe she actually said Austria.” Morgan offered, wondering which of them had misheard her.
“… You mean those aren’ da same place?”
Sammy, Jake, and even Lily were unable to fight erupting in laughter. Morgan hoped the younger man was kidding, but past experiences told him probably not. Fifi sighed and shook her head, while Brendan facepalmed at his husband. “No, babe, Austria and Australia are not the same place.”
“I thought it was like… a nickname.”
This time, everybody laughed ‘til there sides ached. “A nickname for a country? Seriously?”
As their tradition called, after dinner meant it was time to decorate the Christmas tree. As per every year before, Damien called dibs on Morgan to help him put the tinsel on the tree. And to reach the top of the tree, Morgan had to lift the small boy onto his shoulders. The closeness between Damien and Morgan had begun almost immediately after the young boy was born. The reason as to why Damien preferred Morgan over Jake? It was adorably unexplainable. That’s just how it had always been, since the boy had been small, always being soothed by the blonde’s presence.
Sammy, Fifi, and Jake were in charge of putting ornaments on the tree and laughing at Vincent. Vin was with Brendan on the couch, stringing popcorn together, and kept stabbing his own fingers with the needle.
“Ouch! Damn it!” Vin hissed and pouted.
“Vin. Swearing. Stop it.” Bren reprimanded before pulling the younger man’s fingers to him and giving them a quick kiss.
And Hillary and Dylan? Nobody trusted them to actually be near the tree. So in the middle of the room, the two small children were have a fight with leftover tinsel. And Lily was attempting to make sure that, not only did nobody get hurt, but also that Dylan ended up more covered in tinsel.
With the tree decorated, that meant it was time to arrange cookie on a plate to leave in the family room for Santa. It was an event that Vincent often did with the children. He simply was as excited as they were to make the plate. Jake often teased it was because Vincent truly believed in Santa, much like the children did. Brendan was too afraid to ask his husband if that were true though. But it left the four adults in the family room, Brendan and Fifi nuzzled close on one of the couches and Jake and Morgan much the same on the other.
All smiling, they watched as the children (Vin included) fussed over the cookies. Sammy helped Lily, Damien, and Dylan to sit on the counter while Vin held Hillary on his hip. Each wanted to put their own favorites, because they were each sure that Santa would like his or her favorite the most. Surprisingly enough, it was Vincent who came to the conclusion that they should each put just one of their favorites on the plate. Then Santa would have his choice of cookie. Sam carried the plate, untrusting of anybody else to not break the plate or eat the cookies before making it to the living room.
And finally, what they always saved for last, were presents. It seemed appropriately timed as Hillary, Damien, and Dylan were all rubbing their eyes and yawning. The adults watched as the kids open the presents excitedly from their uncles, smiling excitedly and hugging enthusiastically and thanking them repeatedly. It had become a bit of a battle between Jake and Brendan, a battle that nobody else even tried to be a part of.
Brendan always tried to get Lily the most extravagant present he could find. Whereas Jake attempted to get the most annoying and noisy presents for the children he could find. However, with Bren as a father, it wasn’t often they received toys he didn’t like playing with too. This year though, with Dylan getting a drum set and Damien a guitar, Jake was sure he won. And he was right, Jake did in fact win. However, through the grace of god (who, for all intents and purposes, is actually Morgan), the adults (Sammy included) also received earplugs.
While the James had opened their presents, Lily, Jake, and Morgan had sat and watched, pleased smiles on their faces at the excitement of the Hart-Verax-James family. Then, it was their turn.
“Ok. So, Lily’s present isn’t down here. And I’d really like her to go first.” Brendan exclaimed, an excited smile on his face.
Jake groaned audibly. And Morgan was already a bit apprehensive about what this could possibly be. Brendan never asked when it came to presents. Lily’s fathers and uncle had nearly gotten her the same present one year. A pony for Christmas when she was six. It was pure coincidence that Bren had discovered what they were giving her and decided on something else. “I swear, Bren… I might have to hit you.” Jake grumbled as they all followed Brendan who was racing up the stairs to the second floor.
“No, you won’t. Because I’m awesome.” Bren hollered back as he raced down the hall, Lily right on his heels. The pair stopped outside the guest room. And despite the young girl’s begging, he made her wait until the rest had caught up with them.
Brendan took note of Jake’s glower and simply smiled widely in response. “Alright. Ready?” “Yeeeees!” Lily hollered with a giggle. Brendan swung the door open to the redone guest bedroom. While the walls had been pale blue with black accents and a bedspread with a white a black pattern, it was now a darker tan. “Lily, welcome to your second bedroom.”
With a squeal of excitement, she charged into her new room to explore.
Morgan, shaking his head at Brendan’s unnecessary but generous gift, followed his daughter. But Jake stared at his friend in confusion. “You broke our tradition. I mean, yeah, this is extravagant but… It doesn’t really annoy me. And she doesn’t spend the night all that often. Does she?”
“Oh no. No, she doesn’t. But she will be.” Brendan moved out of the way from the door so his own children could run in there too, showing Lily different things about her room. Like fact that they’d each drawn her a picture of the five of them and were framed and put on her desk. Fifi and Vincent had stayed out in the hall, standing to the side so as to not tip off Jake to their mischievous smiles.
“Brendan, I’ve told you before, you’re not allowed to kidnap my daughter.”
Chuckling, the younger man shook his head. “Shut up and wait. Hey Morgan?” Morgan came back, but stood in the doorframe so he could watch the kids. “So, the room is a combined present from my dad and I.”
“You really shouldn’t have. It’s too much.” Morgan said, shaking his head.
“Oh no, it wasn’t. I mean, my dad built the frame, the desk, and the nightstand. And I painted. The mattress used to be Sammy’s. Then it was just knickknacky things and a bedspread. But that’s not the point. The point is, your presents is from Fifi and Vin.”
Both of them stepped closer to the group then, Fifi handing Jake an envelope. “Here. You both really deserve it.”
Taking it, Jake moved closer to Morgan and opened it. There was a card, saying they loved them and appreciated them and signed by everybody, even Hillary. The gift? Was a prepaid beach vacation for two.
There had been an attempt to refuse the present, saying that it was too much this time and they couldn’t possibly accept the gift. But there was a refusal of their refusal. “You guys deserve it.” “You’ve done so much for us.” “And we’re kinda jerks. Hopin’ dis makes up for et.”
Morgan, Jake, and Lily had ended up staying longer than they had before. Long enough the Hillary, Damien, and Dylan had already been put to bed. And Lily was beginning to fall asleep. After hugs and goodbyes and half-attempted pleas from a sleeping girl to stay.
While the ride home was short, Jake was sure he would have fallen asleep during it. But no. “I’m so tired. I feel like we were there forever.”
“Oh come on now, it wasn’t that bad and you know it. And they were very generous.”
After a yawn, Jake nodded. “They were. Too generous. Still though. There’s seven of them. It’s a lot. Still kinda wondering why we go every year.”
Morgan simply smiled and said, “Because they’re family.”
“Daaaaaads!” Lily called, impatiently from the front door. The young girl had been the first ready to leave. Morgan chuckled, shaking his head. “I believe your daughter is anxious to leave.” He said in jest as he handed Jake his jacket.
“Really?” Questioned Jake. “Because I’m fairly certain if she were my daughter, she’d be dragging her feet as much as I am. Why do we do this every year again?”
Morgan sighed, still patient after answering this same question for many years. “You know it’s never bad as you think it will be. You always laugh and have fun. So try not to be so mopey.” He chided lightly, giving his husband a small kiss.
After hearing their daughter bellow again, the two men emerged from their bedroom, went down the stairs, and met their daughter by the door. “You, missy, need a jacket.” Jake said, taking the young girl’s jacket that Morgan was handing him. She whined, unwilling to wrinkle her pretty dress before getting there, but her both men insisted. And when they pointed the sooner she put it on, the sooner they’d reach their destination, she no longer tried to fight it instead pulling it on quickly.
When they arrived to the large home only minutes away from their own, Lily practically squealed in excitement, jumping from the car only just after stopping. She didn’t wait until her fathers joined her on the porch to ring the bell. But by the time they reached her, the girl’s face was pressed to the window, searching the inside for movement. “They’re coming!” She informed the men. And from inside, they heard a man squeal much like their thirteen year old daughter, ‘They’re here!”
When the door opened, a familiar scene unfolded. It began with Lily charging into the large house, yelling “Uncle Brendan!” to which Bren responded with, “Princess Lily!”. When she’d been smaller, Brendan would scoop the girl into his arms and spin her around. But she was no longer a small child and he was forty with weaker knees and graying hair. Instead, both settled for a hug that had both of them squeezing the other.
Of course, the little girl quickly moved onto the other adults, ‘Hi Vin! Hi Fifi! Hi Sammy!’ then to the little boy, and finally ending with the smallest edition of the Hart children, four year old Hillary. Her distraction freed Brendan to greet and hug Jake and Morgan.
‘Hellos’ were exchanged among the adults (and those who simply looked like adults). While you might be thinking it would be awkward for members of MSAD to have to be together, the two had long ago moved past the initial awkwardness of when they first started having these dinners together. And if anything, the experience brought them closer together.
Jake, after saying ‘hi’ to Vin, quietly questioned as to how Brendan managed to, not only get him to wear a tie, but to keep it on the entire evening. But the obscene smirk on Bren’s face told Jake he really didn’t want to know.
At the first lull in the happy chatter, Brendan suggested they all sing Christmas carols together. And, like every year, he was greeted with a chorus of groans. You see, the first year their Christmas Eve dinners began, eight years ago, Bren had somehow managed to get everybody to agree trying it. It had been a disaster though. Starting with nobody being on key and ending with Vincent bribing Sammy to pants Bren mid-Silent Night. Morgan and Jake had both lunged to cover their new daughter’s eyes, but the damage had been done. And it took a lot of begging on Bren’s part, and promises of better behavior, to get the three to return the next year. The memories of that first experience weren’t enough to stop Brendan from pouting every year after when he was denied though.
When dinner rolled around, the topic mostly centered around Sammy. Twenty-two and almost done with school was an exciting time.
“So, Sammy, only one semester left of college. Are you excited?” Jake questioned.
“Um… Kinda, yeah. I mean, I’ll miss my friends, but I’m ready to be done with school, ya’ know?”
Without being prompted, Vincent and Brendan interjected almost at the same time with the same thing, “We’re ready to have him home with us.” Both of them were waiting for the minute their playmate would move back in with them, where he belonged (in their opinion).
Sammy chuckled, but looked down at his plate, looking a bit apprehensive. As if the thought of returning to his home weren’t entirely unappealing, but after living away from his parents, brothers, and sister gave him a taste of something he liked. Probably privacy and quiet.
Fifi chuckled at the two men she loved and laid a reassuring hand on Sammy’s shoulder. “What Vin and Bren mean is that if Sammy decides to come home, we’d be incredibly happy. But we’ll be just as happy if he decides to move to Austria.” She explained, pulling their oldest son into a one armed hug as they stayed in their seats.
Jake noticed the relieved smile on Sammy’s face, that his mother was willing and ready to set the boys straight. Jake was sure that, and because they were uncommonly close in age for a mother and son, was the reason for their close relationship.
“Screw that!” Vincent bellowed. “I don’ want Sammeh livin’ in Australia! Thass forever an’ a day ‘way!”
“I believe she actually said Austria.” Morgan offered, wondering which of them had misheard her.
“… You mean those aren’ da same place?”
Sammy, Jake, and even Lily were unable to fight erupting in laughter. Morgan hoped the younger man was kidding, but past experiences told him probably not. Fifi sighed and shook her head, while Brendan facepalmed at his husband. “No, babe, Austria and Australia are not the same place.”
“I thought it was like… a nickname.”
This time, everybody laughed ‘til there sides ached. “A nickname for a country? Seriously?”
As their tradition called, after dinner meant it was time to decorate the Christmas tree. As per every year before, Damien called dibs on Morgan to help him put the tinsel on the tree. And to reach the top of the tree, Morgan had to lift the small boy onto his shoulders. The closeness between Damien and Morgan had begun almost immediately after the young boy was born. The reason as to why Damien preferred Morgan over Jake? It was adorably unexplainable. That’s just how it had always been, since the boy had been small, always being soothed by the blonde’s presence.
Sammy, Fifi, and Jake were in charge of putting ornaments on the tree and laughing at Vincent. Vin was with Brendan on the couch, stringing popcorn together, and kept stabbing his own fingers with the needle.
“Ouch! Damn it!” Vin hissed and pouted.
“Vin. Swearing. Stop it.” Bren reprimanded before pulling the younger man’s fingers to him and giving them a quick kiss.
And Hillary and Dylan? Nobody trusted them to actually be near the tree. So in the middle of the room, the two small children were have a fight with leftover tinsel. And Lily was attempting to make sure that, not only did nobody get hurt, but also that Dylan ended up more covered in tinsel.
With the tree decorated, that meant it was time to arrange cookie on a plate to leave in the family room for Santa. It was an event that Vincent often did with the children. He simply was as excited as they were to make the plate. Jake often teased it was because Vincent truly believed in Santa, much like the children did. Brendan was too afraid to ask his husband if that were true though. But it left the four adults in the family room, Brendan and Fifi nuzzled close on one of the couches and Jake and Morgan much the same on the other.
All smiling, they watched as the children (Vin included) fussed over the cookies. Sammy helped Lily, Damien, and Dylan to sit on the counter while Vin held Hillary on his hip. Each wanted to put their own favorites, because they were each sure that Santa would like his or her favorite the most. Surprisingly enough, it was Vincent who came to the conclusion that they should each put just one of their favorites on the plate. Then Santa would have his choice of cookie. Sam carried the plate, untrusting of anybody else to not break the plate or eat the cookies before making it to the living room.
And finally, what they always saved for last, were presents. It seemed appropriately timed as Hillary, Damien, and Dylan were all rubbing their eyes and yawning. The adults watched as the kids open the presents excitedly from their uncles, smiling excitedly and hugging enthusiastically and thanking them repeatedly. It had become a bit of a battle between Jake and Brendan, a battle that nobody else even tried to be a part of.
Brendan always tried to get Lily the most extravagant present he could find. Whereas Jake attempted to get the most annoying and noisy presents for the children he could find. However, with Bren as a father, it wasn’t often they received toys he didn’t like playing with too. This year though, with Dylan getting a drum set and Damien a guitar, Jake was sure he won. And he was right, Jake did in fact win. However, through the grace of god (who, for all intents and purposes, is actually Morgan), the adults (Sammy included) also received earplugs.
While the James had opened their presents, Lily, Jake, and Morgan had sat and watched, pleased smiles on their faces at the excitement of the Hart-Verax-James family. Then, it was their turn.
“Ok. So, Lily’s present isn’t down here. And I’d really like her to go first.” Brendan exclaimed, an excited smile on his face.
Jake groaned audibly. And Morgan was already a bit apprehensive about what this could possibly be. Brendan never asked when it came to presents. Lily’s fathers and uncle had nearly gotten her the same present one year. A pony for Christmas when she was six. It was pure coincidence that Bren had discovered what they were giving her and decided on something else. “I swear, Bren… I might have to hit you.” Jake grumbled as they all followed Brendan who was racing up the stairs to the second floor.
“No, you won’t. Because I’m awesome.” Bren hollered back as he raced down the hall, Lily right on his heels. The pair stopped outside the guest room. And despite the young girl’s begging, he made her wait until the rest had caught up with them.
Brendan took note of Jake’s glower and simply smiled widely in response. “Alright. Ready?” “Yeeeees!” Lily hollered with a giggle. Brendan swung the door open to the redone guest bedroom. While the walls had been pale blue with black accents and a bedspread with a white a black pattern, it was now a darker tan. “Lily, welcome to your second bedroom.”
With a squeal of excitement, she charged into her new room to explore.
Morgan, shaking his head at Brendan’s unnecessary but generous gift, followed his daughter. But Jake stared at his friend in confusion. “You broke our tradition. I mean, yeah, this is extravagant but… It doesn’t really annoy me. And she doesn’t spend the night all that often. Does she?”
“Oh no. No, she doesn’t. But she will be.” Brendan moved out of the way from the door so his own children could run in there too, showing Lily different things about her room. Like fact that they’d each drawn her a picture of the five of them and were framed and put on her desk. Fifi and Vincent had stayed out in the hall, standing to the side so as to not tip off Jake to their mischievous smiles.
“Brendan, I’ve told you before, you’re not allowed to kidnap my daughter.”
Chuckling, the younger man shook his head. “Shut up and wait. Hey Morgan?” Morgan came back, but stood in the doorframe so he could watch the kids. “So, the room is a combined present from my dad and I.”
“You really shouldn’t have. It’s too much.” Morgan said, shaking his head.
“Oh no, it wasn’t. I mean, my dad built the frame, the desk, and the nightstand. And I painted. The mattress used to be Sammy’s. Then it was just knickknacky things and a bedspread. But that’s not the point. The point is, your presents is from Fifi and Vin.”
Both of them stepped closer to the group then, Fifi handing Jake an envelope. “Here. You both really deserve it.”
Taking it, Jake moved closer to Morgan and opened it. There was a card, saying they loved them and appreciated them and signed by everybody, even Hillary. The gift? Was a prepaid beach vacation for two.
There had been an attempt to refuse the present, saying that it was too much this time and they couldn’t possibly accept the gift. But there was a refusal of their refusal. “You guys deserve it.” “You’ve done so much for us.” “And we’re kinda jerks. Hopin’ dis makes up for et.”
Morgan, Jake, and Lily had ended up staying longer than they had before. Long enough the Hillary, Damien, and Dylan had already been put to bed. And Lily was beginning to fall asleep. After hugs and goodbyes and half-attempted pleas from a sleeping girl to stay.
While the ride home was short, Jake was sure he would have fallen asleep during it. But no. “I’m so tired. I feel like we were there forever.”
“Oh come on now, it wasn’t that bad and you know it. And they were very generous.”
After a yawn, Jake nodded. “They were. Too generous. Still though. There’s seven of them. It’s a lot. Still kinda wondering why we go every year.”
Morgan simply smiled and said, “Because they’re family.”
