The Malex Secret Santa 2022 exchange is wrapped. All gifts have been posted, and once again, our participants have created so many beautiful Malex presents!
15 Malex fics
2 pieces of Malex fanart
2 Malex gif set
1 Malex Mood Board
1 Malex playlist
We’d like to thank all our wonderful participants for taking part in the final edition of this exchange. We are so grateful to all of you for putting so much love and effort into creating gifts for your recipients.
Thank you for making December cosmic one more time! ✨
We’d also like to thank all our followers and readers for reblogging, liking, commenting, reccing, and leaving kudos. ❤️
✨💚👽💚✨👽💚✨
All fics can be found on AO3, please check out the
12 Days Of Malex 2022 Collection
And here’s the list of all gifts with links to Tumblr and AO3.
🎄Day 1
Fanart The Guerins enjoying a nice Christmas Eve by @slynella for @infallible-dreamers • Tumblr
🎄Day 2
Fic Traditions: Yours, Mine, and Ours @theatrehands for @secret-guilty-pleasure • Tumblr
🎄Day 3
Fic Just cut me down the middle and count my rings by @jule1122 for @winged-fool • Tumblr | AO3
🎄Day 4
Fic we're made up of a thousand scars by @bloggingbisexually for @dankmalexmemes • Tumblr | AO3
🎄Day 5
Fic in all the world, it's you I choose by @andrea-lyn for @pendragonsandbuckleys • Tumblr | AO3
🎄Day 6
Fanart The Crashdown double date by @momecat for @slynella • Tumblr | AO3
🎄Day 7
Gif set Sunshine and Roses by @pendragonsandbuckleys for @changingthingslikeleaves • Tumblr | AO3
🎄Day 8
Playlist Malex Secret Santa by @alixoxox for @angrycowboy • Tumblr | Spotify
🎄Day 9
Fic When Christmas Comes to Town by @alex-guerin for @moderngenius94 • Tumblr | AO3
Fic Where’s My Love? by @mander3-swish for @jule1122 • Tumblr | AO3
🎄Day 10
Fic You're the winter sun by @infallible-dreamers for @alixoxox • Tumblr | AO3
Fic Weekend Lover by @winged-fool for @mander3-swish • Tumblr | AO3
🎄Day 11
Fic i still like the way your name sounds by @bekkachaos for @momecat • Tumblr | AO3
Gif set Looking There, Loving Here by @angrycowboy for @theatrehands • Tumblr
🎄Day 12
Fic nothing starts without you (we become the stories we’ve always wanted) by @manesalex for @alex-guerin • Tumblr 1/2/3 | AO3
Fic the honeymooners by @moderngenius94 for @bekkachaos • Tumblr | AO3
Fic A New Beginning For Christmas by @secret-guilty-pleasure for @bloodspeckledraphael • Tumblr | AO3
Fic With Love Overflowing by @changingthingslikeleaves for @andrea-lyn • Tumblr | AO3
Fic boys will fall by by @dankmalexmemes for @manesalex • Tumblr | AO3
Mood Board boys will fall by @dankmalexmemes for @manesalex • Tumblr
Fic The Answer is Always "Okay." by @burntotears for @bloggingbisexually • Tumblr | AO3
Title: The Answer is Always "Okay."
Tags: AU - Canon Divergence, Teen Malex, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Jesse Manes' A+ Parenting, Aftermath of Abuse, Handprint Fic, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, First Kiss, Getting Together, Fluff, Getting to Know Each Other, No Toolshed Incident, Hopeful Ending
W/C: 6,079
Summary: After Alex's fight with Kyle at prom, he knows that there will be consequences at home. He runs into Michael in the toolshed, who's so out of sorts from his resulting injury that he accidentally heals him, revealing himself as an alien and connecting their emotions. The course of their future changes irrevocably. (Canon Divergent after Prom—No Toolshed Incident)
Happy Christmas @bloggingbisexually ! This is for the @malexsanta exchange. I subbed in at the last second, so I hope it's still enjoyable for you 💕
Thank you so much to my beta @im-the-punk-who for your amazing help making this story better and for brainstorming with me so I didn't get in over my head. You're the best!
“Alex, wait up!”
Alex could hear Liz’s hurried footsteps behind him and all he really wanted to do was run so that she couldn’t catch up in her high heels, but even now he couldn’t bring himself to be that much of a dick to her. He slowed and turned around, clutching at his face.
She gasped. “You’re bleeding!”
“That’ll happen when someone punches you,” he replied dryly.
“I’m so sorry, Alex, I had no idea–” she cut short at the intensity of his glare.
“Let’s be honest with each other, Liz. You knew. You wanted to focus on how he acted around you and turn a blind eye to what he was doing with his buddies, but you knew.” Not even Alex could say Kyle was all bad—four years ago Kyle had been his best friend, after all. There was a different person in there and he had a feeling that was the one Liz saw the most.
“Alex, I…” she trailed off, tears welling in the corners of her eyes. Strangely enough, Alex knew what she was feeling; he’d gone through the same amalgamation of emotions before high school when Kyle decided he was more of a liability than a friend.
“I’d really just like to be alone right now,” he said, glad to have an out of this conversation.
“But you’re hurt,” she protested weakly.
He chuckled derisively. “I’ve had worse than a few punches from Kyle Valenti.”
He had wanted to be Alex Guerin since he was seventeen, so he didn’t seem that rushed to him. And now Michael is his man, as Kyle is oft to call him, officially. This is all he can think about as he watches his husband try—and utterly fail—to ice skate.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Roswell New Mexico (TV 2019)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Michael Guerin/Alex Manes
Characters: Michael Guerin, Isabel Evans | Isobel Evans, Alex Manes
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Inspired by Hallmark Christmas Movies, Malex Secret Santa 2022, adventures in the mindscape, Humor, 12 Days of Malex 2022
Summary:
“We both agree that this is not the place we belong, right? Please say yes.”
Michael tossed his hat on the coffee table and dropped onto the couch. “If you mean that your dad’s been dead since CrashCon and some kind of crazy shit is going on, then yeah, I agree.”
nothing starts without you (we become the stories we’ve always wanted): chapter 3/3
When Alex’s former bandmate, Rosa Ortecho, asks him to write a song to help kickstart her solo career, Alex finds himself struggling to write anything at all. Until, that is, he meets Michael Guerin. Or, a loose Music and Lyrics AU. for @alex-guerin @malexsanta
Warnings for suggestive comments, references to past abuse, and references to addiction. Not Maria Deluca friendly.
***
“I love it!” Rosa responds immediately after hearing the part of the song that Michael and Alex have finished. She turns to Michael, “You’re sure you’re okay with me singing it? I mean, you’ll be getting royalties and everything for it, but I know that some writers can have an issue with someone else being the face of their material.”
Alex is so grateful Rosa understands without him having had to say anything about it. He had always been relieved to have her be the face of his songs, to be able to distance himself publicly from his own experiences, but he’s so glad she realizes that Michael may not feel the same way.
“No one wants to hear me sing,” Michael laughs. “As long as you’re crediting me, I’d love to get my work out there.”
“I think a lot of artists will be calling you up and asking you to write for them once this one gets out,” Rosa grins. “Thank you.”
Michael is about to speak when his phone rings. He quickly excuses himself.
And Alex really shouldn’t be surprised with how quickly Rosa takes advantage of the opening, like she’s been itching for the opportunity to interfere in his personal life. “He’s hot,” she says, elbowing Alex.
“I didn’t think he was your type,” Alex replies, being deliberately obtuse. He knows she can read his feelings all over his face. He may be able to hide them from Michael, but Rosa has known him since he was a child and has witnessed every crush he’s ever had.
nothing starts without you (we become the stories we’ve always wanted): chapter 2/3
When Alex’s former bandmate, Rosa Ortecho, asks him to write a song to help kickstart her solo career, Alex finds himself struggling to write anything at all. Until, that is, he meets Michael Guerin. Or, a loose Music and Lyrics AU. for @alex-guerin @malexsanta
Warnings for suggestive comments, references to past abuse, and references to addiction. Not Maria Deluca friendly.
***
Isobel is talking about her latest terrible date, but all Michael can think about is Alex Manes and that offer he had made.
It’s not a good idea, Michael knows that. It’s just that a part of him wants to take the opportunity to spend more time with Alex. To get to know this man who seems so very different from the guitarist he remembers Isobel having so much interest in a few years ago.
“And then she had the audacity to–” Isobel stops, turning her attention to him. “You know, usually you at least pretend to be interested in the horrors of dating in Roswell.”
“I’m sorry. I guess I’m just distracted. There’s this guy I’m working for and–”
Unsurprisingly, that’s all it takes to make Isobel focus all of her attention on him. “A guy? Please tell me he’s hot.”
“It’s not like that,” Michael objects instantly, well aware that he’s lying. He’s never seen anyone as gorgeous as Alex. He remembers thinking as much when his band had been a big deal years ago, even if their music wasn’t his type. And he’s somehow even hotter in person. But that isn’t a good idea. After all, there’s a good reason he’s been avoiding serious relationships for the past few years. And Michael is absolutely certain he’d never be able to just have something casual with someone like Alex.
They drive for hours, hands clasped and wide grins on their faces. A playlist consisting of both of their favorite songs fills the cabin of the truck, causing them to sing along on occasion. Every so often, Michael pulls Alex’s hand to his mouth, pressing gentle kisses to it. In response, Alex leans over just a bit to press his mouth to Michael’s shoulder. Whenever their eyes meet, they let out soft, happy laughter. Even though the wedding had actually happened, it was still hard to believe it was real. That they were married and nothing could tear them apart again.
As the stars and moon faded and the sky began to lighten, Michael pulled the truck into a parking lot. In front of the newlyweds was a good sized adobe building with trees and small plants along one side, leading to a nice red stoned seating area with a few cozy looking sets of tables and chairs. The doors and wooden fixtures were painted a bright blue that went well with the adobe the rest of the building was made of. “Here we are.” Michael smiles over at Alex. “The first step of our adventure.”
“First stop? There’s more?” Alex teased. “It looks nice, Michael. What’s it called?”
“It’s called Sanctuary Bed and Breakfast.” Michael gives Alex a sheepish smile.
Alex’s smile widened. “I like it. We could use a sanctuary.” He leans up to kiss Michael. “Let’s go in.”
They exit the truck, Michael reaching into the bed of the truck and grabbing their luggage. He walks to the front of the truck and nods towards the main entrance. “After you, soldier.”
With an eye roll, Alex leads the way up the path. He holds the door open for Michael, then follows him inside. The inside was spacious, with overstuffed couches and armchairs filling the space here and there. The doors were painted the same blue as the outside ones and the walls were a warm brown. The wood floors had brightly colored rugs placed haphazardly around. They could see part of the kitchen area, where patchwork stone tiles in pinks, greens, and browns covered the floor. The cabinets matched the blues, though the shelving was a deep red. Abstract art hung on the walls, with little plaques of information next to them. As Michael and Alex took it all in, an older lady with a kind smile entered the main room. “Hello, dears. I’m Mrs. Magana. How can I help you this fine morning?” She pauses when she sees them.
“G’morning, ma’am. We have a reservation under Guerin?” Michael smiles, glancing at Alex.
The woman tilted her head. “Guerin? Mm yes. A note was made that you would be arriving early in the day.” She heads over to a long table and types away at an ancient looking laptop. “There it is. Here for a honeymoon? My daughter didn’t mention that. Let me just…” She pauses, reaching up and grabbing a set of keys. “If you’ll just follow me.” She waves them towards the door she came in. “Breakfast is usually served between 6 am and 10 am. We cook to order, so you can join us here or call and we’ll bring it to you. We don’t really do lunch or dinner, but we do have a tea time at 2 and a night cap at 8. We do have a spa towards the back, it’s included in your package. The wifi is listed on a card in the room.” Mrs. Magana stops in front of a door. “This is your suite. It has a fireplace for cozy nights.” The older lady winks at them as she unlocks the door and hands Alex the keys. “You boys have fun, y’hear?” With one last smile, she heads back towards the front.
Michael and Alex shared a look, amused smiles on their faces. “Well, she was nice.” Alex turns the knob, the orchid design feeling odd against his palm, and pushes the door open. His mouth drops open slightly as he takes in the room. The walls were a warm reddish orange with a wood ceiling and floor. There was a bookshelf built into the wall beside a large fireplace. The bedding on the king sized bed was a deep purple. There was a large rug on the floor leading from the door to the bed. A small shelf was attached to the wall beside the bed on both sides. One held a box of tissues and a laptop, the other a phone and alarm clock.
“Michael, this is amazing.” He walks in and makes his way around the room, running his fingers along the walls and fireplace. He turns to face Michael, who had come in and closed the door. “How long will we be here?”
“Two weeks.” He responds, putting the bags down. “Though I think we got an upgrade.”
Alex walks over to wrap his arms around Michael’s neck and kisses him gently. “Always did like upgrades.”
Michael presses their foreheads together. “Always a perk.” He glances over at the bed. “What do you say to just passing out now and worrying about everything else later?”
In response, Alex slides his hands down to grip Michael’s and tugs him towards the bed. “That sounds great, honestly. I’m pretty tired.”
Making their way to the bed, the two men strip down and crawl into bed. Michael pulls Alex and presses a kiss to Alex’s temple as they settle into sleep. They woke up a few hours later, the sun pouring in through a window and brightening the room. Alex grins sleepily at Michael. “Hey there, handsome.”
Michael grins back. “Hello to you too.” He stretches, then leans over to kiss ALex. “Do you want to check out the tub? It’s gonna be a nice one. I made sure of it.”
Alex pretends to think it over. “Lead the way.”
Michael rises and tugs Alex up, then lifts him and carries him to the bathroom. The wall across from them was partly taken up by a window. In the corner under it sat a large sunken tub. It was surrounded by tiles. Michael sets Alex down on the tiles as he takes in the rest of the room. The walls were painted a blueish grey and the vanity sink was large. Beside the sink was a cubby filled with towels, soaps, lotions, and a variety pack of bath bombs. Alex smiles. “You were right. This is nice.”
Michael grins and kisses Alex again. As he does Alex hears the water start. Alex laughs into the kiss and tugs Michael closer. He kisses him slowly, pouring everything he was feeling into the kiss. “This really is wonderful. Thank you, Michael.”
Michael flushes and ducks his head. “Isobel did it. I just told her the things you like.”
Alex runs a hand over Michael’s hair. “Then you did it."
Michael rubs his nose and leans over to grab a couple bath bombs. He holds them up as a way to change the subject. “Sandalwood. Should be nice.” He opens them and tosses them into the water and they watch as they fizzle and turn the water a light brown. “It does smell nice.” Alex comments as the scent fills the air. The tub stops filling and Michael helps Alex in, then climbs in behind him. They relax and soak, exchanging soft kisses here and there, enjoying the quiet. “This is really nice,” Alex murmurs eventually, but the water is going cold. We could go search for food.”
Michael nods and rolls his shoulders before getting out. He grabs a towel and dries off quickly, then helps Alex back onto the tall lip of the tub. He drains the tub as he hands Alex a dry towel. “What are you thinking for food?”
“Not sure. Maybe we can ask for suggestions? The people who live here would know the place best.” Alex replies, wiping himself down.
“Very true.” He waves a hand and the door clicks open. “I’ll go pull some clothes out for us and send your leg in.”
As he lifted the towel to dry his hair, he snorted. “Thanks, babe.” As Michael left the bathroom, Alex scrubbed his hair then set the towel aside. When his prosthetic came floating in, he grabbed it and called a thanks. He pulled the sock on, then the prosthetic itself. Standing, he walks out of the bathroom to join Michael. Michael had a pair of blue jeans on, still open at the waist as he placed Alex’s clothes on the bed. Alex lets his eyes wander down his frame for a moment. Michael catches his eye and looks down, blushing. “Stop that. Get dressed.”
Laughing, Alex walks over to press a kiss to Michael’s shoulder. “Only because I’m hungry.” They dress quickly, Michael pulling on a pair of glasses. They were round, with a tortoiseshell pattern.
“Eyes a little sore?” Alex asks, opening the bedroom door.
Michael nods. “Wore the contacts too long yesterday.”
They made their way back to the front of the bed and breakfast. Music filtered throughout the building, soft and instrumental. When they reached the main room, they saw Mrs. Magana at the computer. A few people sat on some of the armchairs, chatting quietly. When Mrs. Magana sees them, she smiles and stands, waving them over. “Good morning, dears. Did you get in a good nap?”
“We did.” Michael grins. “We were going to go exploring, maybe get some food. We were hoping you would have a suggestion or two for us.”
Mrs. Magana nods. “Sure do. For lunches and dinners, I would suggest The Dairy Shack or Melting Pot. Both are very good. There’s a bar the youngins enjoy called Nightowl. And there’s this bakery that makes a wonderful array of treats called The Grateful Bread. All of them are on the main strip.”
Alex mouths “The Grateful Bread” to himself and chuckles. “Those sound great. Thank you.”
She reaches out to pat his cheek. “You’re very welcome dear. Now off you go. Enjoy yourselves and your honeymoon.”
“We will.” Michael nods at her, pulling Alex along by the hand. He looks over at him. “Do you want to drive or walk?”
Alex hums. “It looks nice out. Let’s walk. Take our time.”
Michael kisses him. “Anything you want.”
Alex grins at him, then looks out at the horizon as they leave the building. The sun was shining brightly and he had Michael by his side. Everything was going to be fine.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Roswell New Mexico (TV 2019)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Michael Guerin/Alex Manes
Characters: Michael Guerin, Alex Manes, Secondary original characters - Character
Additional Tags: musician au, Fluff, 12 Days of Malex, Malex Secret Santa 2022, Musician Alex, also a bit of an excuse to rant about the music industry, Boys In Love, Michael is not an alien in this, i never know how to tag, also author is very confused with punctuation sometimes
Summary:
Alex is on tour and bumps into Michael who doesn’t know who he is and who isn’t a fan of his music. He doesn’t tell him who he is as they try to work through long distance. Michael ends up finding out the truth and they meet again after Alex’s show
No angst as requested
Merry Malex Christmas @bloodspeckledraphael! I hope you’ll enjoy! @malexsecretsanta
nothing starts without you (we become the stories we’ve always wanted): chapter 1/3
When Alex’s former bandmate, Rosa Ortecho, asks him to write a song to help kickstart her solo career, Alex finds himself struggling to write anything at all. Until, that is, he meets Michael Guerin. Or, a loose Music and Lyrics AU. for @alex-guerin @malexsanta
Warnings for suggestive comments, references to past abuse, and references to addiction. Not Maria Deluca friendly.
***
“Can you get someone in soon to start making the changes?” Alex asks into his phone, looking around the cabin Jim Valenti left for him in his will. He hasn’t been here in at least a decade, but it’s his now and, while it’s almost exactly what he needs, it’s not exactly accessible.
“I’ve already scheduled someone to get started. He’ll be there the day after tomorrow. Is that soon enough for you?” Alex’s lawyer, Noah, asks.
“It’s perfect,” Alex laughs. “Kyle will be happy to be rid of me.” He’s joking. He knows that, for some reason, Kyle loves that he’s staying with him, loves the chance to catch up for so long. But, really, they both need their own space, if only so Alex can actually sleep in for once.
He’s barely hung up the phone when it rings again and he answers without looking, assuming it’s Noah again with something he’s forgotten.
“Hey, Alex,” Rosa’s voice surprises him.
It’s not that he’s avoiding her, not really. It’s just that, after everything fell apart, he’s surprised to hear from her. “Rosa,” he replies. “How are you?”
“Good. I’ve, um, I went through rehab. And I wanted to apologize. I’ve been sober for two years, actually.”
“That’s amazing.” He’s glad that something good could have come out of their band’s very painful public implosion.
“Yeah, and, like I said, I need to apologize. I said some truly awful things to you and I know you-”
“We were both struggling back then,” Alex brushes it away. “I forgave you long ago.”
Rosa is silent for a moment and then, “I’ve been working on some new music lately.”
Alex frowns. He can’t do this, not again. Not after what happened. “I’m glad. You’ve always been an amazing singer. But, if you’re calling about getting the band back together, I’m sorry, but I’m enjoying my privacy.”
“No, I know,” Rosa replies. “I just… I’m working on a new record and I need a ballad. I was wondering if you’d consider writing one for me.”
He shouldn’t be surprised at the request. He wrote most of their bigger hits, after all, even if Rosa was the face of it all. But he hasn’t written anything new since the band broke up and he’s not sure if he’s ready to go back to mining his trauma for music. He’s not sure if he even can write anything good again. “Can I think about it?”
“Of course,” Rosa answers quickly. “I mean, if you do write something, I’d love to play it at my concert on Saturday night, but– I can wait.”
“I’ll get back to you,” Alex promises. “And Rosa? I’m really glad you’re doing so well now.”
This is my gift for @alixoxox for the malex secret santa gift exchange (@malexsanta), who asked for a domestic fic. Here is a little winter morning shared by Michael and Alex.
Title is inspired by the song Matilda by Harry Styles particularly this lyric - You showed me a power that is strong enough to bring sun to the darkest days
I’ve always thought of Alex when I listen to this song.
Happy Holidays, hope your Hanukah this year is amazing!
Read on AO3
Michael woke up before Alex, although still an uncommon occurrence but no longer a rarity as Michael had once thought. It was his favourite part of being married, the days just to themselves, where there was no Deep Sky or covert alien emergencies. Mornings spent peppering kisses across the constellation of small freckles on Alex’s back or letting Alex play with his curls, his soft fingers massaging Michael’s scalp.
But Michael didn’t feel like he should wake him up this morning. It was only seven now, and they’d only retired to bed four hours ago after a night of drinking with Kyle and Isobel. Where Isobel teased her brother that when he wasn’t holding Alex dangerously low on his waist, he was staring at his ass. Kyle had grown uncomfortable with the glare in his direction when they two friends caught up, and had whispered as much in Alex’s ear, which only served to fuel a primal jealousy in Michael. He knew it was completely unfounded, but Alex was more than happy to show Michael how much, halfway dragging Michael to the bathroom. It ended with Maria ordering them home.
Followed inevitably by them tiring themselves out as soon as they walked into their own home.
They had finally fallen asleep, leaving them too tired to figure out where Alex’s shirt had gone. With Michael hugging him, his chest resting against Alex’s back and neither was all that bothered at the time by the cold.
So, he wanted Alex to get this much-deserved sleep.
He could tell now that Alex was definitely cold, from the tinge of red on Alex’s cheeks and his breath creating dew as it left his mouth. How could he not be freezing? So he hugs Alex tighter, letting his warmth radiate towards the airman and heat up wherever he could get his hands on. Alex simply sunk deeper into his hold.
The doorbell buzzed, Michael cursed as their perfect moment was disrupted by the real world. But it wasn’t the same as 7 years ago, when a disruption like this would have sent Alex into hiding, and Michael falling back on careless remarks to get any reaction in public out of him even if it was hurt.
Now the only thing that annoyed either of them was that one of them would inevitably have to leave their comfortable embrace. The doorbell buzzed a second time and the airman started to stir, scrunching his face, and trying to will his eyes open.
“Mmm…” Alex murmurs, making slow tired movements to get out of bed, but Michael holds him back by the waist.
“You stay in bed. I’ll get it my love.” Michael kisses his bare shoulder, and pulling his forearm out from under Alex, pushes himself up to get out of bed and away from his sleepy husband.
Alex whines further at the loss of his heat source. The Roswell winter chill is more evident without Michael. Michael chuckles and throws the duvet over him with a swift nod of his head. It was left unused on the floor and was still cool to touch. Alex shivers before he pulls it around himself and wraps up like a burrito.
“You cold there?”
Alex murmurs into the sheets what sounds like a sarcastic “No.”
Michael loves this version of Alex.
Alex, who usually seemed so perfect and put together, a captain and a genius hacker, was also the same person who was an overly affectionate, whiny, smart-aleck. A version that was purely reserved for his husband, he was downright adorable.
Michael found the lost shirt crumpled by their bedroom door and threw it on over his boxers to at least be partially dressed. Although if someone decided to come by this early, it was really on them if they had witnessed Michael half naked. Stopping in the lounge to switch the heat on, he takes his time getting to the door. If it was Isobel, she deserved to wait out in the cold.
By the time he got to the door, “Hello?” Michael cautiously held the door frame. A teenage kid he didn’t recognise stood outside, wrapped in a thick down jacket and scarf. He stares the cowboy up and down equally as confused as Michael, and then cautiously greets him in return.
“Hi, you must be Alex’s boyfriend?” The kid blushes at his own descriptor.
“Husband…” Michael loved saying it and was always prepared to deal with any reaction.
“Oh congratulations,” the stranger looked behind Michael into the home, but disappointed not to see Alex, “I’m Jackson, I live next door. My mum just wanted me to check with Alex whether he wanted us to clear the snow on your driveway with ours, like last year.”
“Oh.” Seemed plausible, with a fresh coat of white covering everything outside. Michael could do it without the shovel and the salt but he had never know neighbours to be this polite “Umm… sure.”
“Awesome! Tell Alex I’ll do an amazing job!” The kid excitedly trudges off down the driveway, odd but friendly enough. Michael wasn’t sure if he meant now or later. But figures it doesn’t matter anyway because they have nowhere to be.
“Did you know we have neighbors?” Michael made his way back to their bedroom, corners of his mouth lifting when he saw Alex snuggled up head to toe engulfed by duvet.
“Mmm-hmm.” Alex hummed muffled into the pillow, before rolling to face Michael. Squinting one eye, as he adjusts to the light and still finds his alien staring at him smiling from the doorway, “Usually the case when you live on a street with other houses on it.”
“Hey, you don’t really get neighbors when you’re living in a trailer in the middle of nowhere.” Michael smirks as he shoots back, “The best person to knock on my door is you. Even if you were coming to evict me.”
“I didn’t evict you.” Alex groans, laughter in his voice as he pushes himself up to on to his elbows, “I kindly asked you to relocate.”
“Baby, I would’ve done anything if you asked me to.”
Alex rolls his eyes, but can’t hide his involuntary reddening cheeks and Michael sneaks his way under the duvet, “Who was at the door anyway?”
The name forgotten, as soon as Alex slips his hand under his shirt again and rests on his stomach siphoning his warmth, “A kid offering to clear the driveway.” Alex nods knowing who it must have been, and Michael adds, “he seemed quite disappointed you weren’t answering the door though. Think he has a bit of a crush on you.”
Alex cocked a brow “Jackson, he doesn’t have a crush… he’s just been struggling a bit at school and I just gave him a little advice.” His lived experience of bullying and trauma being able to help someone else ended up being one of two things that Alex had taken away from his experience.“He’s a nice kid.”
Michael was always in awe of Alex. Admiring the way his husband hadn’t let his trauma drag him further into the dark, he remained the light in his own life and still had more to share with the world. With all their talk of the little family they were creating, that he would get the chance to raise kids with this man still floored him.
Alex shied away from his proud gaze. Burying his head in the alien’s chest.
“So who else do we have around us?”
“Well, Ms Hernandez and her son Jackson live on the left and the Davises on the right, and across the road is the Lees, they have a new…” Alex yawns widely, he brings his hand to cover his face but Michael’s own reaches first to turn as he kisses the open mouth, his laughter tremors in Alex’s mouth, “…baby.”
Michael grinning against his lips, “So does that make us the Guerins?”
“Yes,” Alex tugged at his own t-shirt to keeping his husband close and flicking Michael’s lip teasingly with his tongue.
Michael’s heart wrenched at the word sacrifice. He looked down to see their hands locked together and rubbed his thumb across Alex’s wedding band. This beautiful man. His husband.
Being with him was not a sacrifice.
for @theatrehands from their fic “Looking There, Loving Here” (for @malexsanta)
Michael and Alex have both held onto the photo of them as teenagers, standing in the desert with just their guitars, but neither knew the other did the same. As they move in together they both find the photos again and remember different moments from back then, the hopeful, the heartbreaking, and they realise that they could never quite let the other go, even through ten years apart.
title from younger, by Nightly (my beloved Malex song)
Summary: What if Michael and Alex have a collective nightmare where their lives look so very different without each other?
Notes: For @jule1122, Written for the @malexsanta Exchange 2022! Merry Christmas Jule!
Prompts: Future fic dealing with nightmares. Also borrowed some lyrics from a few of the songs left as prompts.
A/N: All mistakes are my own, and there’s probably a lot. Deepest apologies. Otherwise, hope you enjoy this discombobulated dreamscape nightmare of Michael and Alex finding their way back to each other.
Read on Ao3 or below.
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What if Michael and Alex didn’t get married? What if Alex didn’t attend their 10 year high school reunion? What if Michael had never stolen Alex’s guitar from the music room?
What if Michael and Alex have a collective nightmare where their lives look so very different without each other? Usually dreams like these are meant to teach us a lesson. But Alex and Michael have each other and pretty much more than either had ever dreamed their lives could be.
Maybe Alex escaped the clutches of his father and he and Liz and Rosa sought their dreams in California? Maybe Michael became a successful agricultural engineer? Even though on paper, they should be happy with these alternate realities, it wasn’t the same, not without each other.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Rating: General
Pairing: Michael Guerin/Alex Manes, Isobel Evans/Kyle Valenti
Summary: Michael had never really had much experience with Christmas, not in any good ways, at least – and he especially had never experienced a Christmas party. Still, Alex wanted to host Christmas at their house, their first as a married couple, and there was no way Michael was going to disappoint him. So of course, things don’t exactly go the way he’d hoped they would.
Happy Holidays to my giftee, Phoenix @moderngenius94 Hope you enjoy what I did with your prompt.
turnnoffyourmind
izzy806
andulkaphoto
gamechangershow
vaporwave
amandla
tangentwithtanner
ellievsbear
gummygunk
kianamaiart
