“Arya, UGH, NO!” Gendry cried.
This was the last time he’d agree to go shopping with his girlfriend. She was like a competitive Olympian, fighting off old ladies and cursing out annoying teenagers.
Christine and Erik had spent several Christmases together at the opera house as she grew up. But, last year was their first Christmas with their daughter Charlotte. Erik had built his little girl an amazing miracle to give her mobility back and over the past year she had excelled with them. She only used a cane for long distances but did not need her wheelchair anymore, using the custom braces exclusively.
Erik thought to himself, “How can I make this Christmas even better than the last?” He was making supper in the kitchen with his girls baking cookies and treats. Charlotte had been begging to help bake for days and Christine was feeling odd. “Erik my love, can you check the chicken one more time? It smells…off” she put her face in the apron she wore and backed away. “Perhaps it’s too much at the same time?” Lotte and Erik looked at one another quizzically. The kitchen had a pleasant aroma. Erik was making a cinnamon chicken with some vegetables. It did not smell bad to either of them. Erik turned down the stove and helped Christine sit, a hint of worry crossing his brow. “Are you feeling feverish, my angel?” he placed his wrist on her forehead. “A little warm. I think I may send for the doctor if this doesn’t go away. We can’t have anyone sick during my Angels favorite holiday.” He smiled and kissed her head.
“Come let's have you lay down in the living room for a while.”
“I can stay with her Papa!” Charlotte said stepping off her stool, using the counter as a counter balance she walked with them into the living room. Charlotte went to the piano to play softly and Erik settled Christine on the sofa, covering her in a plush blanket.
“You do not have to fuss so much Erik, I’ll be ok. Maybe I just did too much in the moment. I’ll let you know if it passes.” she brought his hand to her lips for a kiss. “Go finish supper I’m sure Lotte will be ravenous soon.” Erik smiled, kissed both girls, and went back to his work. Christine dozed on and off as Lotte continued to play lullabies and holiday hymns.
Erik platted supper, calling Lotte in to eat. “Erik my love, I’m going to our room. I think I just need to rest.”
“Do you need help getting there my love?”
“No, please stay and eat with Charlotte.”
Lotte looked at her father with worry. “Papa? Is mama going to be alright? She can’t get sick on Christmas.”
“I’m sure Mama just needs a little extra rest. I’ll call for the doctor in the morning.”
The pair finished their supper and cleaned up the mess of cookies to continue later. The next morning Christine woke in worse shape than she had been in before but paused during her morning routine and did the math counting back the days. She smiled for a moment and then suddenly wretched into the pot. Erik woke with a start and knocked on the door.
“Christine? Do you need help?”
“No - my love, I am alright. I just need a moment.” She rinsed her mouth and washed her face. “I promise I feel better now. Let's get Charlotte and go into town for a bit. We still have some shopping to do. And if I feel poorly, I’ll just go to the physician's office.”
Erik relented with a sigh, “I’m trusting you. Please be careful.”
With the trio bundled to go out into the New York cold, Charlotte wanted to get a breakfast patisserie and hot cocoa. So the bakery was their first stop. Christine had a whiff of overwhelming sweetness and became unsteady once more. Erik handed Lotte a small amount of coin to go get her desire while helping Christine in the direction of a bench.
“I’ll be right back ma petite. Christine, I’m not giving you an option. You need to see the physician now.”
“I can get there on my own, I just need a moment. Please go help Charlotte, the office is just around the corner.”
Erik hesitated but knew his wife was right. Lotte would need help. He left her with a kiss and sighed, finding Lotte with a pastry the size of her face and needing help with the hot cocoa. Christine took a few deep breaths, stood and made her way around the block to the doctors office.
Charlotte managed to wrap her little finger around her father and found very nice presents for her Mama. Christine was also keeping her own christmas secret as the physician confirmed her suspicion.
+++++++++++++++
A little over a week went by and Christine had done her best at hiding her illness. Erik was in a tirade, begging her to see the doctor again but she refused him. “Erik my love sit down you’re upsetting the baby.” She spoke softly. Lotte was sitting in the corner with her doll house. Erik continued to pace.
“The baby? Lotte is worried about you too that's why she’s up -” He looked at Lotte who was playing contently, but still listening she turned her head. “Mama, I'm a big girl! Not a baby.”
“Wait,” He looked back at Christine with tear-filled eyes, who also had her hand on her belly and looked down lovingly at her abdomen. He was on his knees embracing her in an instant. “My angel, is it true? You’re pregnant?” Christine nodded. “Mhmm, her hand went to his thinning hair. Yes my love. You’re going to get to be a father again. And Charlotte, you are going to be the best big sister, I just know it.” Lotte smiled and came over to join the moment. “Merry Christmas My Love.”
Connor hadn’t come to stay with Hank until right after Christmas 2038, and the lieutenant had immediately regretted that he couldn’t give Connor some holiday shit. Just something to welcome him to the home and to the family. He’d mentioned that and Connor said just having a home and a family was gift enough. He just said that kind of shit, completely sincere, and Hank resolved then and there that in 2039 he’d do better.
A year and two more murder-bots later, it seemed even more important to do something special.
“Okay, careful on the steps,” he called, going to open the door while the three androids untied the tree from the roof of his car. “I just salted ‘em this morning and it’s already fucking frozen again…”
“Yes, that’s how ice works,” Sixty said, pulling off the ropes while Nines and Connor pulled down the tree. “It melts in the sun, then refreezes when a shadow falls on it.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Hank muttered. “Easy, Sumo. Let ‘em in. …Hope it fits.”
“It should fit perfectly,” Connor assured him. “This is the largest tree that will fit in the living room.”
Sumo pressed closer to investigate and got underfoot as Connor and Nines got the tree situated in the corner. In the meantime, Hank turned to Sixty.
“C’mon, help me get all the decorations out of the garage.”
“Do you have a lot?” Sixty asked, strolling behind Hank.
“Way more than we’ll need. …Cole always got real excited, I couldn’t say no to him,” Hank muttered.
Sixty was silent, but when Hank stopped to open the door to the garage he clasped the older man’s shoulder.
“It’s – I’m fine, we’re still gonna get ‘em out, don’t worry about –“
Sixty pulled him into a brief, awkward hug, and it spoke to both their progress that he did, and that Hank didn’t stiffen at all. Hank flashed a faint smile and patted his back afterwards.
“Thanks, kid. I’m gonna get sentimental about this shit, but I’ll be okay.”
“I would hope so,” Sixty murmured, not quite looking at him. “But please… talk to us if you aren’t.”
“Yeah, I… yeah.” Hank turned and pulled the door open, then pointed out the dusty boxes of Christmas decorations. He and Sixty began hauling them inside, and Hank and Sumo were sneezing by the time they were all in the living room.
“Hank, the box labeled ‘Ornaments’ has garlands and tablecloths in it,” Connor said, frowning.
“Oh yeah, keep lookin’,” Hank said. “I started out good but then every year shit just got thrown into whatever box I grabbed.”
Connor glanced at Sixty and they rolled their eyes. Nines shrugged and opened another box. He held up a bundle of Christmas lights.
“…We might have to buy a new set of those. I always thought I was pretty careful to put ‘em away right, but they’re a pain in the ass to untangle and they ain’t that expensive.”
The three exchanged another look. “I’ll untangle them,” Sixty offered.
“You’re welcome to try, but it’s pretty much impossible. Not sure if they’ll even work after so long.”
Sixty’s eyes narrowed. “We’ll see about that.”
While he pulled armloads of lights out of two boxes, Hank helped the other two wrap garlands around railings and put up the little ceramic village that lit up.
“We don’t have to do it all today, we’ve got all month,” Hank said.
“We should do it soon though,” Connor said. “That way we’ll have longer to enjoy it.”
‘It changes the atmosphere of the house,’ Nines signed, pausing between placing red candles on windowsills.
“Can we decorate the tree, at least?” Connor asked.
“Sure, looks kinda silly just havin’ a tree in the house without anything on it.”
“I want to help with that too,” Sixty said, dropping the bundle of lights he’d been working on.
“We can go buy new lights next weekend,” Hank said sympathetically.
“No, I’m not giving up on them yet.”
Nines was opening boxes of ornaments. There were fragile shining balls in packages, and a whole box of loose mismatched ornaments. Sumo lay down and watched them start hanging ornaments all over. Hank hung them haphazardly while the androids all preconstructed and strategized the best place to hang each one.
“Do you think Sumo will bother the tree?” Sixty asked.
“Nah, he always gave it a sniff now and then left it alone,” Hank said, shaking his head. “And he’s older now, he ain’t gonna mess with it.”
“He would never cause any trouble,” Connor gushed, pausing to scratch his belly. The Saint Bernard rolled over on his back and whined, scratching with one hind leg.
“Not on purpose,” Sixty allowed.
When the tree was covered in ornaments, Connor pulled out a large glittering star from the bottom of the box. “This goes on top, right?”
“Yeah, you’re gonna need a stepstool.” Hank went to the kitchen to get it while he spoke. “The star’s kinda a big thing, so… I dunno, pick who puts it on this year, and then somebody else can do it the year after, and the third one the year after that, and we’ll rotate like that.”
When he came back in the room, unfolding the stepstool, the three androids were looking at him.
“So who’s gonna put it up this year?” he asked, offering the stool.
‘You should put it up,’ Nines signed.
“Nah, I’m too old and I’ve had plenty of Christmases. You three –“
“We discussed at length, and we all agree that you should put it up,” Sixty said forcefully. “…We’d just argue about it. We can do that next year. This year it’s yours.”
Connor nodded, holding the star out to him and smiling.
Hank paused, looking down at the star and then up at the three androids. “…Okay,” he muttered, and then cleared his throat against the sudden scratchiness. He put the stool down close to the tree, and Nines offered a hand to brace himself with as he stepped up. The three watched in silence as he carefully placed the star on top of the tree. Nines helped him down and he stood back.
“Good job, boys,” he murmured.
Connor wrapped an arm around him, and Nines did the same from the other side. Sixty squeezed his shoulder. They stood there admiring their work together.
Three messily-wrapped presents appeared under the tree the next morning, and each android stopped as they passed through the room.
“What’s that?” Connor asked.
“No scanning!” Hank snapped. “You’ve gotta wait for Christmas, don’t ruin the surprise!”
“Okay,” Connor murmured, glancing at the other two.
“Should we… put gifts there as well?” Sixty asked slowly.
“You don’t have to get any presents,” Hank said quickly. “Up to you. But if you’ve got any to give your brothers or something, they can go there too. You can use my wrapping paper stash.”
‘Gifts for you as well?’ signed Nines.
“I mean, you don’t need to get me anything –“
Nines cast the full force of his intimidating glare at Hank.
“…But if you want, yeah,” Hank said. “Just – it’s not an obligation, y’know?”
‘You never are,’ Nines signed casually and put a hand softly on Hank’s arm as he headed to the kitchen.
By the end of the week there were ten more gifts under the tree, all neatly-wrapped.
“…Someone got two?” Sixty asked, frowning. “Is that allowed?”
“You can get people more than one,” Hank said, nodding.
“Oh, um… actually… I got one for Sumo as well,” Connor said, a little embarrassed.
“Sure, I used to do that sometimes,” Hank said as the other two androids shared a wide-eyed look.
“Nines and I have to go to the pet store,” Sixty said abruptly, grabbing the taller android’s arm and pulling him towards the door.
“You don’t have to –“ Hank started.
“We’re going to!”
New presents appeared under the tree now and then, and two weeks into the month Sixty had finally untangled the bundles of Christmas lights. He carefully replaced a few of the tiny bulbs and untwisted the wiring inside until they were as good as new. Hank woke up late one Sunday morning to find all three androids outside stringing the lights all over the house.
“Pull that tighter, Nines,” Sixty called from the roof. “It looks crooked.”
Nines met Hank’s eyes through the window and smiled, rolling his eyes indulgently. He pulled the string of lights tighter. Hank huffed a laugh and shook his head. About twenty minutes later he trudged outside. There were multicolored lights bordering every window and door, and Connor was finishing outlining the roof in white lights.
“Looking good,” he called.
“I think we’re going to need to buy one more set to cover the house sufficiently,” Sixty said, frowning.
“We’ve been looking up some very impressive light displays,” Connor added. “I don’t remember the rest of the neighborhood putting quite that level of effort in last year…”
“If we’re going to base our performance on the lackluster work of our <i>neighbors</i>, why are we even bothering?” Sixty asked.
Nines came around to the front of the house, Sumo bounding after him. ‘It depends on the impression we want to make. I generally like a more maximalist approach, but in this case a simpler design could be both tasteful and attractive.’
“Hank gave me the lights, I want to do more than the minimum,” Sixty growled. “Anyway, this is Hank’s year so we can’t make it tasteful and attractive. We can do your basic idea next year.”
Nines shrugged and nodded, and Connor made eye contact with Hank and laughed silently.
“Hank, I was thinking I’d love to make something special for Christmas dinner, but I realize my culinary skills haven’t really improved much…”
“Aw, I wouldn’t say that.” Hank shook his head. “I can actually eat most of the stuff you make these days!”
‘There are a few androids at Jericho who have excellent cooking protocols,’ Nines suggested. ‘They enjoy cooking but rarely have anyone to cook for. I was thinking of asking if they would mind making you something.’
“…You know I don’t turn down good food, but I don’t wanna make them just… make me a Christmas dinner,” Hank muttered. He paused. “You could ask if they wanna come over for a while and… I dunno, spend some time? Not sure what we’ve got to offer, but they’d be welcome. …And not for the whole day. I wanna have some time with just you guys too.”
“Hank, you will have nothing but time with us,” Sixty assured him, sliding down the roof to land lightly next to him. “We can have visitors… maybe early on the 24th, then they can leave the food and we’ll have the rest of the day and the following day for… family.”
“That sounds perfect.” Hank patted Sixty’s shoulder. “Yeah, let ‘em know. Shit, invite any friends you want.” He paused. “Uh… the house ain’t huge though, so…”
“No, I wouldn’t invite every Jerry. We’ll coordinate to make sure it won’t be overcrowded,” Sixty assured him. “Let your coworkers know as well, if you want to.”
“We could make cookies!” Connor spoke up, grinning. “Those are easy and fun!” Nines nodded eagerly.
“Sure, yeah,” Hank agreed. “Nothing big.”
By noon on Christmas Eve, the house and yard were packed. Simon and Daniel had something in the oven that they were watching closely so they could take it out when the cookies were ready to go in. North and Josh were having a snowball fight with Gavin, Tina, and Chris. A whole swarm of Jerries was dodging the snowballs and playing with Sumo. Hank and Captain Fowler were sipping coffee in the living room when Markus came in.
“I’m sorry if this is too much, Sixty assured me there was plenty of space,” he murmured to Hank, looking around. “I might host something at my father’s house next year, and we’d love to have you come.”
“It’s a little tight, but we’ll manage.” Hank shrugged. “Nice to see you all, though. Everything going okay?”
“Slow. Frustrating. But that’s to be expected.” Markus smiled tiredly. “I appreciate the break.” He nodded to Captain Fowler. “Your help and cooperation along the way has been incredibly helpful, thank you.”
Fowler nodded back curtly. “Glad to hear it. Not here to talk about work, though.”
“That sounds good,” Markus said, raising his glass of thirium with a grin.
Once Daniel took the cake out of the oven and took it away to cool, Simon called the others into the kitchen to make cookies. The humans went first, rolling out their dough and pressing cookie cutters into it and decorating them. Once those went in the oven and they did a cursory clean-up, the androids did the same with thirium-based dough.
“It’s still toxic to humans, but we’ll be sure to clean every bit of it off your kitchen,” Simon assured Hank, who was watching the androids. Most of them were decorating their cookies with precise correctness.
“I ain’t worried about your cleaning, don’t worry!” He walked over to Ralph. The WR600’s reindeer had five antlers, twelve eyes, and a wild array of colored sugars sprinkled on top. “That’s fucking fantastic.”
Ralph jumped and cringed back a little, squeezing an icing tube and squirting it out on the table. He stared at Hank uncertainly.
“Sorry,” Hank said quickly, lowering his voice and stepping back, putting his hands out to show he didn’t mean any harm. “I mean it. I like what you did with it. Uh… creative. Best one I’ve seen today.”
Ralph glanced over at Daniel, who gave him a little nod and a smile. When he turned back to Hank, a huge grin spread over his face. “Th-thank you, thank you! One or two eyes is not enough, no, Ralph’s deer can see everything and has the best colors! M-much more… more powerful than the others!”
Over his shoulder, Daniel met Hank’s eyes and gave him a short nod as well. Hank flashed him a smile that he didn’t return, but Hank still counted it as a win.
When the cookies came out of the oven and everyone had time to eat a few and pack up the rest, Simon and Daniel started cleaning the kitchen.
“Don’t worry about cleaning up,” Hank told them as people started to start talking about leaving.
“No,” Sixty spoke up. “You’re doing it before you leave, no need to worry. Everyone who’s not a PL600.” He smiled thinly, and the guests all mumbled their assent with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
“We don’t mind –“ Simon began, but Nines put a hand on his shoulder and smiled slightly.
“Fine with me,” said Daniel. “They won’t clean as well as we would, though.”
“They’d better,” Sixty said flatly, casting a dark look over the crowd. The rest nodded hurriedly and got to work.
“That was so much fun!” Connor said as he closed the door behind the last guest. “…But it’s nice to have the house to ourselves.”
“Fuck yeah it is,” Hank sighed, flopping down on the couch.
‘You were enjoying yourself the whole time,’ Nines signed, smiling at him. ‘And everyone enjoyed your company.’
Hank snorted derisively, but he was smiling.
“Are you ready for dinner, or do you want to relax for a while?” Connor asked.
Hank cracked his neck. “I’d rather relax, but I’d just end up falling asleep on the couch.”
“You sleep so much,” complained Sixty. “I know you’re getting older, but is it really necessary?”
“Fuck, Sixty, lay off. What the fuck do you care?” Hank grumbled as Nines brought out a plate of food for him.
“Obviously because I’d rather spend time with you when you’re awake! We all would!” Sixty growled and rolled his eyes.
“…That’s true, but we’re happy when you get enough rest too,” Connor murmured.
“Well yes, I didn’t mean you shouldn’t take care of yourself,” Sixty muttered, irritated.
Hank sighed and patted the couch next to him. “…Okay. C’mon, I get it. Love you too, you know that. …You all gonna eat with me, or just watch like creeps?”
Nines brought in a plate of thirium cookies and pastries. Android food was still in early development, but baked goods had been replicated fairly easily. The three squeezed in around Hank, and a comfortable silence settled over them as they ate.
“Mm. Fucking amazing,” Hank sighed in satisfaction when he’d finished his dinner. He’d had mustard-glazed ham, green beans, cheesy potatoes, and a bread roll. Connor got up and exchanged the empty plate for one with a big piece of fruitcake on it. Hank eyed it.
“…Don’t think I’ve ever actually had fruitcake,” he said. “I remember all the cartoons when I was a kid said it was the worst thing ever, and hard as a rock.” He cautiously stuck a fork into it, broke off a bite-sized chunk, and put it in his mouth. They watched him closely. “…Mm.” He swallowed. “Shit. Fucking amazing.”
“Of course it is, did you think Daniel would choose something sub-par to make you?” Sixty scoffed. “Or that we’d give you something inedible?”
“Nah,” Hank chuckled. “It’s great. All of this. Thanks for doing all this.”
“Thank you for sharing your home and your life with us,” Connor murmured.
Hank blinked and rubbed his eyes quickly. “…Okay, we’re not gonna get all sappy right now.”
‘Later,’ Nines signed.
“Prob’ly. Um. Hey, you uh… you wanna open just one present tonight? Everybody pick a random one?”
“We’re supposed to open them tomorrow,” Sixty objected, but Nines and Connor were nodding and going for the tree.
“Won’t hurt to just get one tonight,” Hank said. “You don’t have to, though.”
“Oh, I’m going to,” Sixty muttered, eyeing the pile.
“Thought so. Grab me one while you’re there, just the first one you see.”
They gave Sumo his first gift first. The big dog ripped through the paper to reveal a big basted beef bone. He shook it happily, spattering drool everywhere, then walked off to chew on it in the corner.
“That’ll keep him busy for a long time.,” Hank said, smiling fondly.
“I thought he’d like it,” Connor said.
“…You next, Con. It was your present.”
“Okay.” Connor carefully opened his gift. It was a bright blue and orange sweater with a dwarf gourami stitched into the front.
“I thought it suited your style,” Sixty muttered.
“It’s perfect!” Connor grinned, turning it around to examine the whole thing before putting it on. “I love it, Sixty! Did you make it?”
“Of course not.” Sixty rolled his eyes. “But I had it made specifically for you.”
Connor was grinning from ear to ear, hugging himself and rubbing the sweater. “Your turn!”
Sixty opened his present with delicate precision. It was a fairly large box, but it was empty aside from a sheet of paper. He frowned slightly as he fished it out. “…A desk?”
‘It’s an antique rolltop desk,’ Nines signed excitedly. ‘You work at your desk a lot and it’s functional but not your style. This one has so many drawers and nooks, even a few secret compartments. The woodwork is very ornate. I was hoping it would arrive yesterday, but it was delayed. I’m sorry.’
“It’s beautiful,” Sixty murmured, and looked up with an open smile that made him look more like Connor briefly. “I can’t wait to see it! I honestly didn’t expect much from this gift-giving thing, but this is perfect and now I have something to look forward to later!”
“You wanna open another, since that one’s not here yet?” Hank offered.
“No.” Sixty frowned, holding the printed receipt close. “This is mine, and I’m completely satisfied with it. Nines, you’re next.”
The tallest android had chosen a long, flat gift. He opened it carefully and took out a set of floating shelves.
“I’ve got a few more sets in the closet, just easier to wrap one,” Hank muttered. “Figured you could display all the shit you like collecting.”
Nines’s face lit up and he turned to hug Hank tightly – a little too tight at first, but he quickly adjusted. Then he nudged at the present in Hank’s lap. Hank rubbed the youngest android’s hair fondly before picking it up.
“That one’s kind of from all of us,” Connor said, grinning.
“…Though mostly from Connor,” Sixty admitted.
‘We all contributed,’ Nines signed diplomatically, frowning at his middle brother.
Hank tore the paper and ripped the box open. He held up a button-down shirt covered in fish, dogs, and fast food on a galaxy background.
“We had to talk the artist into putting such a complicated design on it,” Sixty explained. “But we each had ideas and we all agreed that it should be something that was physically painful for your coworkers to look at.”
Hank snorted a laugh. “This is fucking amazing. …Seems pretty high-quality, too!”
‘We wanted it to hold up,’ Nines signed, smiling hopefully.
“So you like it?” Connor asked.
“It’s… shit, it’s the best fucking shirt I’ve ever seen! I’m gonna wear this all the time!” He looped one arm around Connor and the other around Nines. “C’mon, get in here Sixty.”
Sixty moved in to join the hug without even a grumble, and Hank squeezed them all.
“I’m not gonna get sappy on you,” Hank croaked, trying to keep his voice steady. “But this is already the best Christmas I’ve had in years. Even… nah, it’s… it’s not like it used to be, I dunno if it’s… as good, or… or better, it’s… it’s different. Ours. I love you kids.”
“And this was only our first one together,” Connor said, hugging the others tightly.
“Exactly, this was only practice,” Sixty said. “Next year we’ll perfect our techniques.”
Nines smiled and leaned into the other three.
“Dunno how you’d top this.” Hank chuckled and yawned. “…And just so you know, I’m sleeping in tomorrow.”
“Hank, we can’t open the rest of the presents without you!” Connor moaned.
“Nope!” Hank grinned. “…Don’t worry, I won’t sleep too late. I’m excited too.”
Nines nodded. ‘We’ll be quiet when we go out.’
“Where’re you going?” Hank frowned.
‘It’s going to snow more overnight. The whole yard will be full of snow.’
“You don’t have to get up that early to shovel, it can wait.”
“No, we’re going to make it all into a horde of snowmen,” Sixty said, grinning.
“Do you think the neighbors would mind if we used their snow too?” Connor asked.
“Nope. Just nobody who’s got kids, they might wanna use their own snow.”
“That’s fair,” Sixty agreed. “When they see our yard, they’ll all be jealous.”
“You bet they will,” Hank said, happier than he’d been in years.
only one week left and, of course, i correctly predicted what would be behind the door again -- it is, of course
the Hufflepuff banner! much the same as the three before, only now in a Sorry Excuse For A Hogwarts Student variety! you might catch this flag at the fridge late at night, taking extra-long-baths, and just failing at being an interesting character!
i kid, of course. there are plenty of respectable Hufflepuffs! or there are were two! and they are were pretty cool!
anyways, it fits in nicely with the rest of the banners at least!
Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin!
now we can get onto unique builds again i think! i’m expecting a minifig either tomorrow or the day after -- my money’s on Malfoy or Dumbledore
4/10 for being the shittiest house a repeat build x3 COMBOB
stay tuned for door 18 tomorrow!
door 1 / door 2 / door 3 / door 4 / door 5 / door 6 / door 7 / door 8 / door 9 / door 10 / door 11 / door 12 / door 13/ door 14 / door 15 / door 16
When he walked table there was no bag for the 17th. He looked over all the bags again and shook his head. May be it's hidden somewhere. Jumin shrugged and turned around to walk into the kitchen to get some breakfast, before he had to head off to work. His wife sat in one of the chairs, a bowl with cornflakes and milk in front of her. He poured himself a coffee and watched her. Mc yawned and stretched herself, barely noticing her other half. "If you're that tired you should have stayed in bed, my dear." He said and sat down at the other side of the table. His hand softly brushed a brown strand out of her face. "No, Jumin, we're always having breakfast together, i don't want to miss it. It's the best way to start your day anyway~" she whispered. Another yawn escaped her mouth, which made Jumin chuckle. "Well, this is your only day off this week, so please my dear, go to bed again, after all its 6 am, and you really should get some more rest." He took his last bite of the croissant and grabbed an apple for the way, when he stood up he kissed her forehead and offered her his hand. Mc took it and let him guide her into the bedroom again, where she crawled back under the blanket of their shared bed. "I love you, Jumin." "Hmm..I love you too, my dear. Noe go to sleep, see you later." Mc murmured something else but it was impossible to understand her.
Jumin took his keys and closed the door behind him. When he wanted to put it inside his pocket, he noticed something was different. The young CEO opened his hand again and looked closely at the key on the inside of it. There was a new key ring on it. It was hand crafted by Mc by the looks of it. There was a small white cat, a J and a M as small charms on a little leather band. Between the bigger "pearls" were smaller decent looking ones in silver. Another thing he noticed was a small card hanging down from it. "That's your new lucky charm, take good care of it. It shall bring you luck every day.☘️"
He shook his head again and brushed his thumb over the charms. It really meant a lot to him to have something made by Mc by his side. He really apreciated it. Inside the elevator he wondered how he deserved to have such an angel as his wife. Anyways he has to craft her one too someday, so she'd have something of him by her side as well.
You may have noticed I have not been around your sites as much, and I have been slower to reply. I want you to know I see you. I see your posts, your visits, and your comments, even when I am late getting back to you.
Thank you for continuing to show up. Your support means more than you know, especially while I have been balancing my health and a heavy stretch of writing.
Door 17 is coming…
