It was christmas, and it was as hard as it used to be -- in fact, Emmeline had decided to decorate her and Benjy’s flat with lights. Lights everywhere and the mistletoes everywhere as well. In the years they’d been together, he’d manage to turn her into someone sentimental, which helped balance out the weight of the world she’d put on her own shoulders.
It had been a long few months since newer, younger, more inexperienced & naive members of the Order had joined and every year, the first few months of transition had been exhausting. Sometimes, she admired them -- most of the times she wanted them to see the world for what it was.
The world was unforgiving, it was ruthless & they couldn’t break down. If they broke down after every horror, what would become of them?? They’d not be an Order, they’d be chaos -- though, with how desperate the Order was getting, The Chaos would’ve been a better name for them. Benjy and Emmeline, while they loved each other, they both fought & ran themselves ragged like they’d had a death wish. Maybe each of them did, deep down, but Emmeline was determined to live, to stay alive, even if it was just to be there for Benjy. Justice, it meant everything to her, it was what propelled her to be an Auror, it was what propelled her to become who she was -- but Benjy had been her heart. He’d been what kept her not surviving, but alive. Emme would never have the words or the actions to thank him for that. He’d taught her more about love through their hardships together, and she hoped that she knew how much she loved him.
Hearing him come through the door, a smile curled on her lips as she tried to look over her shoulder at him while placing more decorations over their bedroom door.
“Benj, love, I need your help. They won’t stick. Duct tape isn’t working.”
