AU: Holly, Jolly (Sean)

[Joshua Bernstein]

Joshua Bernstein had been both surprised and elated when the final tally had come in. He had never expected to actually win the election. He hadn't even expected to win his party's nomination, despite throwing his hat into the ring. He had simply been fed up with the state of the country and the apparent inability of the entire government to get its act together and take care of its citizens.

The presidency thus far had been exhausting and difficult; there were always Important People who wanted his time and attention, and endless minor crises. Meetings with staff, press conferences, reaching across the aisle (which was not his forte) and, of course, there was living in the White House.

His home with Sean had been large, but nothing this ostentatious. And he and Sean hadn't had staff. But here there were people to cook for them, and people to drive for them, and people following them about making sure they were safe.

It was all a bit overwhelming, even for an extrovert such as himself.

But he had been aware of that before running.

The one detail he hadn't taken into account?

Christmas.

When he had first realized that despite being the first Jewish POTUS he was still expected to host a Christmas ceremony he had shut himself up in the bedroom he shared with Sean, sulking in a way that he would never want his political rivals to witness.

"Can you believe this?" He complained to Sean, laying across the bed with his head buried in his pillow. "Christmas?! I'm not even Christian!"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

One might consider Josh’s electoral victory nothing short of miraculous, given the demographic factors against him, in addition to his general lack of political experience (although, for the recent election seasons, this had been considered a plus factor). Josh was Jewish. Josh was gay. Josh had a history of binge drinking and bad decision making in his personal life. He had worked as a defense attorney, in addition to his civil rights focus which tended to rest poorly with huge swaths of the electorate. He was from New York, and his father had been a stockbroker, as well as an immigrant, a refugee from Nazi Germany. Moreover, he was unmarried despite being in a committed relationship with his male partner.

His bisexual partner, a psychiatrist, a telepath and memory manipulator and thus meta-human. Also from New York. An atheist and ex-Catholic, who also had a history of binge drinking although with better decision-making skills. And, did he mention he was another man, one with a string of ex-partners a mile long? (Although, to his credit, nearly all of his exes remained on good terms.)

Still, Sean had supported Josh’s candidacy, displaying friendliness and tact at all of his partner’s events, and serving as one of his campaign managers. Not his only manager since, when the younger man had stated that he was in it to win it, the telepath had insisted he hire professionals.

Then, by some baffling stroke of luck, Sean had been thrust into the role of First Gentleman. Not only First Gentleman, but the first First Gentleman in the history of the United States of America. An unprecedented twist of fate. Come that January, they had moved from Vermont, although they had not sold their house, as they would return to it four or eight years from now, as per their agreement. The telepath had been first to retire from Hammel, and his pension, in addition to all of their other funds and investments, had been placed in a blind trust until after Josh’s term ended.

Then he had been expected to play the diplomat, meeting with special interest groups, with politicians’ husbands and wives, and to make public appearances that focused on his designated special areas.

Past First Ladies had focused on nutrition, literacy, and drug addiction.

Sean, ambitious, concerned, and with far too much time on his hands, had opted to lobby for a complete overhaul of the mental health system, particularly with how it intersected with LGBT people and meta-humans suffering from side effects or military service.

The media called him “quirky.”

He tolerated all of the additional obligations, including the State suppers, the press conferences, and the frequent domestic and international travel. Then, of course, party planning – traditionally an area reserved for First Ladies – fell into his lap.

For the White House Christmas party.

Informing Josh of this had led to his partner’s present position, sulking on the bed with two Secret Service agents stationed outside of their bedroom door. He sat in bed beside Josh, glancing down at the other man as he spoke. “No, but a significant portion of the electorate is, and you represent all of them now.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Can't I delegate this to someone else?" Josh grumbled, then, realizing that burying his face in his pillow muffled his voice he rolled over onto his back. "There are plenty of Christians who would be glad to do this. What about Samuel?" He asked, naming his Vice President.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean didn’t move from his position beside his partner, although he craned his neck to stare down at the other man, once Josh rolled over to face him. Although the telepathy granted them the ability to have a conversation no matter where they were (within Sean’s range) or what they were doing, it remained frustrating to have a conversation directed at someone’s back, or with that person speaking into a pillow. Particularly since they were speaking aloud at the moment.

“And then every newspaper in the country will read: ‘First Jewish President Cancels Christmas.’”

For essentially their entire adult lives together, and certainly for the durations of both of their romantic relationship, Sean had played the role of confidant, and, more often, as the sole voice of reason, either because other people wouldn’t correct Josh, or they agreed with him for some reason (the man could be charming and engaging with his enthusiasm), or because they were alone when sharing these conversations. Now that Josh found himself in the political realm, the telepath had another role, reminding his partner about how the press would perceive anything he did or said.

It served as a check on the younger man’s natural impulsiveness.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh grimaced at Sean's comment. His partner had a point, as much as he disliked admitting it.

"I'm not canceling Christmas!l" Josh objected, pushing himself up on his elbows. "I simply think someone else could host it. Samuel would do a perfectly competent job."

But he knew that wouldn't matter. The press loved to distort and sensationalize, and as he and Sean were Firsts for a number of demographics (despite being white men) he knew they would be especially scrutinized.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean slowly lowered himself a bit, so that he and Josh were resting on roughly the same eye level. He thought that might be more comfortable for an adult discussion than with him leaning over his partner (and his decision to do that had no influence from the fact that his partner was now the most powerful man in the world).

“I know,” he replied. The telepath had not given the predicted headline because he believed it, or because he was incapable of nuance or unfamiliar with the other man’s opinions. He had stated it because he expected that is how Josh’s decision would be perceived by others. There remained a lot of antisemitism in this nation and the world around them, as well as plenty of homophobia. They couldn’t eschew basic expectations; a straight, Christian couple might be called “quirky” for doing it, but any such action by Josh would be interpreted as sinister and insulting.

“Besides, I have the plan it either way, and I’d rather get to play host with you at the end of it, rather than alongside Samuel.”

Planning fell within his purview as First Gentleman, and getting to host with Josh would make the situation far more tolerable. As it was, they wouldn’t get to invite friends or their former social circle; instead, this would be filled with other politicians, certain lobbyists, foreign dignitaries, and members of the press, with the occasional celebrity guest as filler. If Sean didn’t have Josh there beside him, then he would have nobody.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh offered Sean a grudging smile at that. "I suppose I would be jealous if you said you'd rather play host with Samuel."

This was, at least, a good reminder that as unhappy as he was about this duty he wouldn't be alone. He would have his best friend there with him for support. He was sure that he wouldn't have survived even campaigning without Sean's presence and encouragement; the amount of stress involved, the sheer enormity of the microaggressions (and straight up aggressions) he'd had to endure.

He knew that Sean had to endure them, as well, and he was grateful to the other man for tolerating this for his sake.

"But can you even imagine? Who really wants to spend Christmas with a bunch of lobbyists and politicians? All these family focused politicians spending the holidays trying to socialize with me instead of their families! Bah!"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Occasionally, during their banter, either Sean or Josh could joke about having an affair. More often than not, Josh was the one to make the joke, because they both knew that Sean wouldn’t get jealous or insecure about an offhand remark during banter. Less frequently, the telepath would make the joke, but doing so involved navigating his partner’s jealousy and insecurity. He had made great strides in their relationship over the past few years, but Sean never wanted to make him question his place with the telepath. And, given how upset his partner was at the moment, he chose not to try a joke about that.

Returning the other man’s smile with a reassuring one of his own, he said, “I didn’t come along for this ride to host parties with your Vice President.”

He liked Samuel fine, and he thought he had been a sturdy choice for the bottom half of the ticket. Still, if he didn’t love Josh as much as he did, if he wasn’t as supportive of his partner as he was, he never would have tolerated the campaign and the scrutiny of being thrust into public life.

In that way, he considered the fact that he was Josh’s First Gentleman the ultimate expression of his love, devotion, and support for his partner.

At the question, he shook his head in the negative quickly. “All I want is to invite James’s entire family over for Christmas here, to pay them back for hosting us so many times. But that only works if it’s just them and us.” As liberal and politically-minded as the Campbell clan were – and they gave Josh a run for his money – they were actually family-focused and wouldn’t want to spend Christmas with strangers.

“At least I get to control the menu.” Sean was crafty enough that he would include a few Jewish dishes in their menu, and the lobbyists and other politicians could cope with it.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Are you sure? I know you love parties. For all I know that's exactly why you agreed to support my bid," Josh teased, feeling a bit better now. He still wasn't exactly thrilled to be hosting a Christmas party, but nevertheless Sean had helped him overcome his sulking fit.

It was remarkable how well his partner was able to do that.

"We can do something with the Campbells," He added, sitting up further and running a hand through his hair. "In between all of the obligations."

He had duties and responsibilities, but he was confident he could find time for his friends.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean did enjoy parties, although not to the same extent that his more extroverted partner did; Josh hit his stride in large groups and found himself energized. The telepath inevitably found groups draining after spending too much time in them, but he had a high tolerance for group dynamics, he enjoyed other people, and he easily got into the party spirit with food and libations available. There would be live music, too, since he was familiar enough with the televised White House events from administrations past with no expectation of dancing.

They could do that.

Hearing the teasing in his partner’s tone, he felt relieved that Josh had managed to cheer a bit on the topic. “Now you’ve discovered my secret. I let you throw your hat into the ring entirely so I could host big events in the most famous house in the Western Hemisphere.”

Since Josh seemed more cheerful, the telepath shifted on the bed and slung his arm across his partner’s body.

“The press and the security details are an imposition,” he remarked with a sigh. The utter lack of privacy and the inability to engage in simple gatherings, or to take time for small detours...he regretted all of that most, even if he didn’t regret supporting his partner, or Josh’s success in the election as a whole.

“But maybe we can invite them down here when Congress is in session.” If they came to the White House, then they only had to pass a series of checkpoints. The Secret Service wouldn’t have to do sweeps of their house and upend their lives in the process.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"We should do that. And in eight years when I'm retired we can make it up to them."

Or four years, if the American populace revolted against him. He hoped to achieve enough of his goals that the citizenry would want to reelect him but there were enough powerful people who utterly opposed his every ambition, or less powerful people who felt threatened by a more egalitarian society.

But that was another four years yet.

And maybe he would only want one term after all.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

When Josh had decided he wanted to run for President, and Sean had agreed to support him, they had made a separate agreement: to be optimistic with one another. They wouldn’t live in denial, the way that the Romney campaign had refused to see the writing on the wall in 2012 (although both men remained grateful for the GOP’s inability to get their act together, as it ensured another term for the Democrats). They would be honest, but, all factors equal, they would be optimistic.

That was why they might think four years to themselves, but they always said eight years. Think about two terms, since, all factors equal, that was the goal.

“I’m sure they’ll appreciate that,” he murmured thoughtfully. James’s nervousness didn’t apply to flight, so, perhaps, they could take their friends up on Air Force One at some point. That would be the experience of a lifetime.

Shifting on the bed, he moved close enough that he could rest his head on the pillow beside his partner’s.

“At least the Easter egg hunt should be easier.” While Easter was also a Christian holiday, it was less “in your face” than Christmas, and, at least as far as the White House was concerned, participation involved providing an experience and treats for underprivileged children, a worthy goal as far as both of them were concerned.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Easter should be fun," Josh conceded. Sean always did well with children, and he knew that one of his partner's favorite aspects of holidays was giving candy to children.

This would essentially be like Halloween in that respect.

He had never even had a secular version of Easter with baskets and chocolate bunnies, but he would cope with this. As long as he didn't have to make any declarations about Our Risen Lord he could cope.

"I'll make Samuel dress up as the Easter bunny."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

For his own childhood, Easter had held a mixture of religious significance and secular celebration. Easter had been one of the holiest days in the Catholic calendar, in addition to Good Friday and the other days during Holy Week. His family had always attended midnight Mass, just as they did on Christmas, and the entire Neville clan would get together for a big Sunday brunch. All of the children were given a new pair of shoes on Holy Saturday so that they could wear them for midnight mass.

At the same time, despite the religious significance, both Sean and Kathleen were given Easter baskets filled with candy or small toys. There had always been an Easter egg hunt, and his mother decorated eggs with him and his sister, which they used as decoration and ate for breakfast on the Monday afterward.

Although an atheist for more than three decades, those were the memories he cherished most.

He chuckled at his partner’s suggestion. “I’m sure Samuel will appreciate that.”

That idea would surely get vetoed by the entire Cabinet, but it was worth a smile regardless.

“You and I have to read for the children for that.” Although he said “have to” he meant “get to.” He already had some ideas in mind.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Oh, do we?"

Josh had never been very good with children despite having several (now grown) nieces and nephews. However, he thought that he could read a book or three without much trouble, and he knew that Sean would do exceptionally well with this particular task.

He had always been well-suited to spending time with children.

"Do you think I can get away with reading The Carp in the Bathtub?"