#ficmas2020

[echoghost1]

Fic-mas 2020 two-parter

Title: Seen In A Holy New Light

Summary: It was just another day for Danny Fenton until Paulina caught him doing something ghostly but mistook it for something more biblical.

AO3 link

Decided to make a separate work for this fic so it would be lost in the 2020 one-shot collection.

I was still posting one and two-shot fics from events altogether like I did on ff.net 😅

[sellyoursoulforagoodfic]

12 Days of Ficmas: Day 5

Naughty or Nice

Jason Todd x reader

Word Count: 281

“Come on. No one’s gonna notice if we swipe some of Brucie’s good stuff from the cabinet,” Jason was trying to prod you into going along with his plan.

You rolled your eyes. “See, now, that’s how you end up on Alfred’s naughty list and don’t get any presents this year.”

“Oh is that right?” he laughed. “I love Alfie, but how would he even know? We won’t drink the whole bottle, just a little to help deal with Bruce and Dickhead.”

While you could see the appeal--you didn’t want to be here, celebrating Christmas with the entire Bat family, any more than your boyfriend did--but you absolutely would not be crossing Alfred. “Then why do we even need to sneak at all?” you countered. “We can just ask, and he’ll probably say yes. Not like Bruce’s ever gonna drink it. He’s too much of a stiff.”

“But that takes all of the fun out of it,” he whined.

“Jason Peter Todd, are you just wanting to steal liquor from your beloved grandfather just because you’re bored?”

“No,” he denied instantly. “I’m wanting to steal liquor from my beloved grandfather just because I’m Crime Alley street rat that’s trapped in the bigass mansion with a bunch of guys in stupid costumes that somehow have something stuck up their asses but viciously deny being into pegging!” 

You raised an eyebrow. 

“. . . And I’m bored.”

Again you found yourself rolling your eyes. “Come on, big guy,” you said, grabbing his hand. “Let’s go ask Alfred if we can break into the good booze and get drunk on the balcony.”

“Goodie two-shoes,” Jason grumbled.

“You’ll thank me when you still have presents to open tomorrow.”

[wonderful-writer]

From Now Until Forever

Character/s: Hermione Granger x Fem!Reader, Fred Weasley (mentioned), George Weasley (mentioned), Bill and Fleur (mentioned), Harry and Ginny (mentioned), etc.

Summary: Christmas at the Burrow was always your favourite time of year, but this year would make it your favourite until the end of time

Prompts: Christmas Proposal scenario, #15 “I thought we agreed not to do Christmas presents” 

Warnings: FLUFF

Word count: 1,048

Note: This is for @idont-knowrn​’s 500 follower celebration!! Congrats on 500, Emma!

Christmas had always been your favourite time of year, even before you went to Hogwarts and your family practically tripled in size. Before then, it was just you and your parents, and then you met Ron, Harry, and Hermione, and in turn, the rest of the Weasley family had adopted you as their own.

Your relationship with Hermione had always been different. When it came to Ron and Harry, it was always fist bumps and short hugs, but with Hermione, your touch had always lingered a little longer and there was always a small spark when you touched her. It bothered you for years until Ginny, who had practically become your sister, mentioned it in passing. It kept you up for weeks thinking about it, until you realised why everything was different.

You were in love with Hermione Granger.

Of course, she had also been having the same crisis, although she caught onto it much quicker than you had. It took the both of you years to say something about it, and even then it had to be brought on by Fred and George locking you in a broom closet. Since then, you had been in a relationship, and survived a war and everything that came after.

It had been 3 years since the war, and you and Hermione had gotten a flat in London, finished your last year at Hogwarts, and both got jobs at the Ministry of Magic, working in the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. By now you had been together for nearly five years, and since things were a little tight this Christmas since getting a new flat closer to the Weasley’s, you both decided not to get presents for each other.

Of course, you didn’t listen to the little rule, and got Hermione a gift anyway. You couldn’t help but get her one, you always loved seeing her face light up when she opened them. Normally you would have gotten her a book that she’d been talking about for ages, but this year would be a little different.

Which led you to here, on Christmas morning, at the Burrow with about 20 people crammed into the living room. Bill and Fleur had brought their newborn, Victoire, with them, and you had gotten the pleasure of holding her while they opened their gifts. Harry and Ginny had also brought along Teddy, who was having a wonderful time changing his hair colour 14 times a minute.

As everyone opened presents, you looked around at your large and wonderful family, a beaming smile on your face until it was yours and Hermione’s turn to open the gifts that others had gotten you. As usual, you had gotten a sweater with your initial on it from Molly and Arthur, along with plenty of things for you both to fill your apartment with.

But, when it came to the end of your gifts, you pulled out a small box from behind your back and handed it to Hermione, who’s face contorted into shock. “I thought we agreed not to do Christmas presents.”

You smiled at her flushed face and placed the box in her hand. “I know, but I saw this in the shop window and knew you needed to have it.”

Her mouth upturned in a smile as she pulled the little gold necklace from its place in the box. On a chain, a small golden broom rested, something that reminded you of the day you confessed how much you loved her. She laughed and you gently took it from her hand, watching her move her hair out of the way so you could attach it to her neck.

“It’s beautiful,” She whispered, turning back to face you. “I love it.”

You leaned in and pressed a loving kiss to her cheek and she took your hand, pulling you from the couch and into the middle of the wrapping paper filled room. Everyone had now moved to the edges and eagerly watched on, making you nervous.

“I’m glad that you broke the ‘no presents’ rule, because it makes it so much easier to do this.” You looked around in confusion and watched as Hermione’s eyes flashed with nervousness and you continued to look around at everyone’s beaming faces.

When you turned back to Hermione to see her kneeling with a small velvet box in her hands, you couldn’t help but gasp and let your hands fly to your mouth. “Ever since the day we met, I knew that there was something about you, something special; and I was right. You’ve been there for me through everything. I couldn’t ask for anyone better than you, and as much as I hate to admit, I am so thankful to Fred and George for locking us up in that broom closet. I want to have you by my side from now until forever, no matter what. So, Y/n L/n, will you marry me?”

Tears were welling up in your eyes and you found yourself overwhelmed with happiness, practically inhibiting you from speaking, all you could do was nod furiously. Relief and joy passed through Hermione’s features and she stood up, shakily taking your hand to put the ring on your finger. Once it was, you pulled Hermione to you and pressed your lips to hers, pouring all your feelings into it.

The family cheered around you but it fell on deaf ears as you wrapped your arms around Hermione’s neck and immersed yourself in the feeling of pure bliss, hoping that this moment could last forever. When you pulled away, you hugged your fiance as tight as you could, grateful that she had come into your compartment that day on the train.

After that, the entire family spent the whole night congratulating the two of you, and you refused to let go of Hermione’s hand. The ring that she picked out was simple, yet stunning. A rose gold band with a simple diamond in the middle; it was perfect.

Hermione kept you by her side for the rest of the evening, and as the day stretched on into the evening and then the night, celebrating with your large but happy family, you were sure that there was no Christmas that could ever top this one.

Forever Tags: @simonsbluee​

[underatedcharactersunite]

Driving Home For Christmas!

Summary; You work for Baratheon Jewellers, Jon Snow is apart of the Stark family company who creates many beautiful pieces that are sold in your store. However, Jon is a notorious flirt and arrogant git, but what happens when you see Jon walking down the street after an horrible encounter with Catelyn. Modern AU.  Pairing; Jon Snow x Female Reader  WordCount;1,730  Warnings; Strong Language 

***************************************************************************

Jon Snow was a man who antagonised you to no end. Every day he can into your jewellery store delivering a new pieces of jewellery that he crafted. Jon Snow appeared every bit arrogant as he was rude. Jon entered every room believing he owned it To top it off Jon continuously threw flirtatious comments in your direction.

Stark jewellers were one of your largest clients, so you couldn't afford to anger your bosses by being rude to Jon Snow the illegitimate son of CEO Ned Stark. You needed this job, you couldn't afford to lose your job on top of Christmas.

Besides, apart from your negative interactions with Jon, you truly loved your job. Your boss Robert Baratheon was the best boss you'd ever had. He was kind, understanding and extremely funny. If you needed anything you knew you could turn to your boss As well s your interactions with the other members of the Stark family were never negative. You would go as far to consider, Sansa Arya and Robb as friends of yours.

As Christmas drew closer, busier you became. Customers came in there hundreds if not thousands trying to locate their perfect gift for their love one. You lost count of the number of customers you'd wrapped gifts for after their consultations. You were definitely on your way to achieve best seller for that extra Christmas bonus.

"Love, Jon will be coming in today to drop some more stock. Would you be able to handle it for me? I'm up to my eyes in paperwork and Joffery's decided to ditch once again. Honestly, you try to teach your son a trade. At least Gendry and Tommen want to learn the family business."

"Yeah of course I will. Don't worry about anything, I've got it covered" You continued to wipe down one of the many glass cabinets. Robert approached you carefully as he pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead.

"Thank you, Love. Remember if you need anything all you need to do is ask. I see you as one of my daughters. Alright, I'll see you later, call me if you need anything."

"See you later, Robert." As he left, you suddenly felt a sinking feeling. Another day would soon be destroyed by the presence of Jon Snow. You could only hope your interaction would be short.

A couple of hours later, you were attending to an elderly gentlemen who was currently searching for his wife. Thy had been together for nearly thirty years.

"I don't know what I'm doing. There are so many options." Smiling, you hadn't be relieved to interact with such a sweet customer.

"It's okay Sir, feel free to take all the time you need. I can make you something to drink if you like. Picking the right present for a loved one ne can be difficult."

"Thank you for being so patient with me. Do you have someone special to buy a gift for this holiday season?

"No Sir, not this yearr" A frail hand rested ontop of yours, as you were met with a kind smile.

"You will meet your person, you mustn't give up hope"

"You could always buy me a special present." You fought the sudden urge to roll your eyes, Jon finally decided to make an appearance. Two hours late.

**

"Hello, Jon. I'll just hope this gentleman, and then I'll be over to you" Jon quickly took a seat in one of the leather chairs located in the centre of the room.

"I don't mind waiting, not for you Sweetheart." Jon sent you an overzealous wink. Shrugging him off, you returned your full attention to the elderly gentleman.

Never before had you been grateful for an indecisive customer. Throughout, you felt Jon's eyes running all over you. You friend from snapping at him. Although Jon's passive-aggressive antagonization couldn't halt your alation when the elderly gentleman chose a beautiful matching set of ruby earrings and necklace. The gentleman was ecstatic he managed to combat his indecisiveness.

Although the moment he left the store, you were forced to place your full attention onto Jon. As he strode up to the counter, you quickly forced a smile onto your lips.

"The way you engaged with that old man just now was pretty sexy"

"Thank you Jon. It's called being a personable human, perhaps you should try it sometime."

"I'll try it, if you let me take you out on a date"

"ell it looks like your staying as the arrogant, childish rude man child that you are. Robert mentioned you were here to deliver more stock"

"Straight to business, there I thought we were getting somewhere"

"Jon we are never going to et somewhere. Now can we just get on with it, so I can go home."

"Have a long day, if you let me I could make it longer."

"You're disgusting" You pulled the keys out of your trouser pockets as you open the door to the backroom.

As you marked off all the brand new stock from Stark Jewellers, Jon continued to stare at you. Honestly, did he need a picture?

"You can leave now. I'm closing now so I can go home."

"I thought we were having a good time" Walking directly past jon, holding the door wide open.

"Now get out!" Reluctantly, jon left leaving you alone to close, you knew it was only a matter of time before your next interaction.

*****

"I can't wait to go. The Bahamas is the most beautiful place" Sandy beaches, crystal blue oceans, amazing cultures. I wish you cold to come with us, you'd have a great time." Sansa's excitement could light up a whole room. The Stark's worked extremely hard, so the trip would act as a well deserved break.

"Maybe, I'll be able to go one day." Wiping down the glass cabinets you try desired to go the Bahamas one day, unfortunately,y this year is not it.

"Are you doing anything for Christmas? I don't want you to be alone. You're the last person who deserves to be alone on Christmas."

"i'll be fine, beside's you'll have a great time. Enjoy your vacation you deserve it. I'm just having a quiet Christmas this year. Everyone's off doing their own thing and my sister will be around for Boxing Day."

"As long as you wont be alone"

"I won't I promise."

It's Christmas Eve, after a grueling shift all you wanted to do was get home and relax. To make matters worse, it had started snowing. With the roads slipery and traffic choatic, everything appeared to be a snail's pace.

As you were driving home, you saw familiar silhouette waling in the distance. Rolling down your window, you confirmed your suspicion. Jon Snow was indeed sulking down the street with a suitcase in tow. Sansa had informed you there plane would take off at six that evening. So why was Jon walking down the street? 

You had no idea what conspired in you to do what you did next. Perhaps it was the Christmas spirit, but you pulled over. Stepping out of the car , you quickly ran cautiously to catch up to Jon. 

“Jon, why are you not on the plane?” You called out, Jon immediately stopped upon hearing the unusually soft tone of your voice. 

“Why do you care? Just go home! It’s Christmas Eve, be with your family” 

“I don’t have anywhere to be. Get in the car, it’s cold out and the paths are beginning to get dangerous”

“Why are you being so nice to me?” 

“Call it the Christmas spirit. Now get in the car your coming home with me.” 

“Are you flirting with me?” 

“Jon just get in the car!” 

                                             *****

The drive home was slow and cantankerous. Everyone trying to get somewhere and they were impatient about it. Now with Jon in the car, you were even more anxious.  

“This is not the way to my house” Jon mentioned as you turned the heating on higher. Was there no end to this drive home? 

“We’re not going to your house. We’re going to mine. No-one, not even you is going to spend Christmas alone.”

“I won’t be alone. I’ll go stay with Sam or Tormund” 

“Bullshit! Sam is taking little Sam and Gilly to Lapland and Tormund is gone home this Christmas. So are you gonig to meraciously get a flight on Christmas Eve”

“How do you know what they’re up to?” 

“There is this wonderful thing called social media. I also attend most Stark parties and I think your friends are pretty nice. You know between the Stark’s, the Baratheon’s and my sister, they are all the family I have.” 

“They treat you more like family then they do me. I must be something truly pathetic when the woman that hates me is the only one who has bothered to be nice to me.” 

“Jon, I don’t hate you. I never have. So what happened at the airport?” 

“At least that’s one of you. Catelyn still sees me as nothing more than the result of my Father’s mistake.  

“Jon, you’re way more than that. You are creative and talented, kind to everyone else. So in this instance, Catelyn is very wrong.

“I was looking forward to go to the Bahamas, but I guess I’m stuck here now.” 

“Hey! I don’t think I’m not that bad of company” 

“No your not.” The silence in the car echoed loudly, the atmosphere was thick and tense unlike any emotion ever conveyed between you both. Suddenly, you found yourself questioning, why you despised him in the first place. Here you were stuck in a car driving home on Christmas Eve. How more of a Hallmark movie could you get? 

Being stuck in traffic wasn’t helping. Suddenly, Jon’s arms wrapped around the back of the chair. 

“Looks like we’re going stuck in this traffic for a while” 

“Yeah it does” The tension between was beginning to get overwhelmed your hands resting tightly on the steering wheel. 

“Fuck it!” As if the two of you were thinking the something both of you leaned over the counsel as your lips clashed with one another. Jon’s hand gripped the back of your head as you pulled on his shirt. An eruption of a car horn broke your embrace apart. 

Moving your car forward, you struggled to catch your breath. 

“Was that my Christmas present” Rolling your eyes, you couldn’t help the smile that it caused. 

“You can have more when we get to mine” 

“I’ve never been more glad that Catelyn let me of family plans.” 

[goldeneyedgirl]

TwiFicMas2020 Day 2: Kidfic

Happy Day 2! Nothing interesting to say today, just on with the offering.

This was written as part of an anthology entitled ‘Five Ways Alice & Jasper Never Met’, which remains unfinished *gestures at WIP list*. After the messed up life I gave the Whitlocks in Against A Wall, I decided I should probably show the family having a slightly happier life. I feel like there’s probably the potential of a series of ficlets in this, showing the pair growing up together, but we’ll see.

Alice being adopted by teacher-Esme and doctor-Carlisle was definitely influenced by the sweetest fic, A Family For Alice by kr2009.

—

Louise Whitlock stacked the leftover pizza in the fridge, long since ready for bed. It had been a very long day. It had been a very long year.

Juggling four kids and a full-time job was exhausting in ways Louise had never considered. The errands list on the fridge was already two pages long; and that didn’t include the other lists on her phone, in her date-book, and doodled on the whiteboard next to the fridge.

It had been over twelve months since she had decided that, after her husband’s sudden death, she couldn’t stay in Texas. She needed a fresh start. And so did her kids. At first, she had just planned to stay in the south, find some small town with a hospital that needed a nurse. Far away enough to get some space, but close enough to be familiar. And be near friends and family.

She didn’t even know why she applied to a hospital in a tiny Pacific Northwest town, but it had seemed like a good idea at the time. Maybe facing down bills she couldn’t comfortably pay, living in a house that was haunted with memories of her husband, she had applied. It was the furthest place she could imagine from home, without leaving the country.  

And then she got the job, and there was really no good reason to turn down the offer, especially when they offered to cover some moving expenses. She had wanted a fresh start, after all.

Looking up Forks to try and convince her kids of how wonderful the move would be had been a shock to all of them. Her three girls had been horrified – no cinema, no malls, very few sporting teams; the rainiest place is the entire country, and the house that Louise had chosen, thinking it was cute, suddenly looked small and cramped when she saw it through her daughters’ eyes. Ten-year-old Lydia had freaked out at leaving her grandparents and her cousins behind; twelve-year-old Ava threw screaming fits about leaving behind their father’s grave. And Fern did nothing but whine about how boring Forks would be.

And then there was Jasper. Jasper had been in the car with Will when it crashed, leaving her baby boy covered in nasty scars. He had only been four, a little ray of sunshine who was always giggling. But afterwards, he was so sad and angry and quiet. He just didn’t talk much. Didn’t smile. It was almost as if she’d lost her baby boy in that accident at the same time. He just shrugged at Louise’s attempt to discuss their move to Forks, staring down at his Lego model.

It had been completely miserable. After she finally got the kids to understand that it was happening, and nothing they could say would change Louise’s mind, she had to deal with her extended friends and family trying to convince her not to leave. Will’s parents had actually threatened legal action to keep their grandkids in the state; by the time the house was sold, Louise wasn’t entirely sure they were even speaking to her.

The truth was that she had no idea if it was a good plan. No one seemed happy or positive about her plan; no one seemed to want to understand why they had to go. Even Louise was conflicted - was this her way of healing, of embracing a new normal and their new reality, or was she running away?

But a year later, looking back, she knew she’d done the right thing - just by looking at her son.

They had arrived in Forks on a rainy day – water falling from the sky in sheets – and Louise then spent a hellish week unpacking, trying to calm down three girls who thought Forks was worse than prison, and getting all four of the kids registered and ready for school before she started at the hospital. It was exhausting and frustrating in new ways – proper grocery shops involved driving to the next town over, since Forks only boasted a mini-mart; despite her best efforts, Ava and Jasper both needed new weather-appropriate clothing, whilst Lydia and Fern pitched fits about their hand-me-downs.

And the house was far from perfect - the carpet was filthy, the bathroom tiles were chipped and loose, Fern’s bedroom window had been broken in a storm, and the kitchen ceiling leaked. It was enough to make Louise to actually contemplate calling her mother for the money to drag the kids back to Texas. This wasn’t what she had signed up for.

But finally, the first day of school – and work – dawned. And it was chaos - Ava couldn’t find her backpack, Lydia wouldn’t get out of bed, and Fern was hysterical about starting at a new school. Jasper was just silent and solemn in front of his cereal, whilst Louise tried to remember where she’d left her own paperwork.

But miraculously, they made it out of the house on time. Forks had a combination Middle-Elementary school, so it was only one drop-off – at least for the next couple of years. And it looked like a nice school - lots of green space for the kids to run when it wasn’t raining, cheery murals on the walls, and many happy-sounding kids crowding the parking lot. That was always a good sign.

Ava, Lydia and Fern loudly protested their mother escorting them into their classrooms, and headed off to class with their assigned guides, all three of them looking like soldiers bracing for battle.

But Jasper was still glued to her side, staring blankly ahead. It was only because she knew her boy well that Louise noticed the nervous way he tugged at his hoodie as they headed towards the kindergarten building.

The kindergarteners were scattered throughout their gated playground – a sea of giggling, happy faces. One particularly pretty little blonde girl was perched at the highest point of the climbing frame – pink hair ribbons, pink Mary-Janes, even her little pink jeans had ruffles on them – smirking at the boys below, trying to climb up with her, but were struggling to find the right footholds. Two other little girls were sitting on the swings, whilst a redheaded boy lingered in the background, clearly trying to join in their conversation.

Kickball games, chase games, squealing and laughing and yelling: it was happy five-year-old chaos.

Jasper was hanging back, looking concerned, his fingers twisted through Louise’s belt loops. She’d had to call him back on his very first day of school last semester to say good-bye; Peter and Charlotte had been sitting alone, and he’d raced up to them, so eager for friends he’d left without saying good bye or even taking his backpack.

And now he was here, hiding behind her and pleading with his eyes not to leave him.  

Her poor baby.

“We have free play until nine o clock, unless it’s raining,” the teacher, a Ms Yorkie said sweetly, noticing Jasper’s reluctance. “Kick-ball, and hopscotch, and climbing, and tag.” She looked around the playground, and pointed at the climbing frame – a solid looking boy was sitting on the railings below the pink clad girl, laughing. “There’s Emmett and Rosalie. They’re very nice, would you like to meet them?”

Jasper shook his head and buried his face against Louise’s hip.

Miss Yorkie exchanged a look with Louise – it was the universal look of a kindergarten teacher warning that the separation would be ugly, but it would have to happen – the faster it happened, the better it would be for everyone.

“Jasper-”

“Hello!”

Louise turned around at the interruption to see a tiny little girl standing behind her. She looked like a little doll, with black hair cut in a bob, with an enormous red bow in her hair, a red dress over tights, and a pair of well-loved mary-janes.

She was beaming at Jasper, and held out her hand. “I’m Alice. Come and play.”

Jasper stared at her.

Louise didn’t expect Jasper to respond at all, to dismiss or outright ignore the invitation. Ms Yorkie was smiling at the little girl – Alice – who seemed to be bouncing with either energy or excitement.

Jasper stared at Alice for a moment, before stepping out from behind Louise, and taking Alice’s hand.

“D’you like monkey bars?” Alice asked as she dragged Jasper after her. “I like monkey bars.”

Louise watched as Jasper shed his backpack, and joined Alice, never looking back. She could see the little girl still talking to her son.

“He’ll be just fine,” Ms Yorkie said to her. “Alice will take care of him.”

Louise nodded and thanked the teacher, turning to leave.

As she slipped out the gate, she heard a squeal of laughter, and looked back to see Jasper holding little Alice around her legs so she could reach the monkey bars and swing all the way to the other side. Alice was giggling so hard she could barely grip the rails, and Jasper had a tiny smile on his face.

And that was enough for Louise.

--

It didn’t take long for Louise to learn about little Alice, and her family. Her full name was Mary-Alice Cullen, and she was the adoptive daughter of the local surgeon and his wife - who was an English teacher for the middle school students. They lived just outside town, and every afternoon, Alice would dash out the gates and into the middle school to find her mother.

It was easy to pick Alice in a crowd – not only did she wear bright colours, she always wore an enormous bow in her hair; it was almost like a satellite. Having seen how quickly the little girl could move, Louise had to wonder if the largeness of the hair accessories, and brightness of the clothing wasn’t completely intentional.

And where Alice went, so went Jasper.

Every single morning, Alice would be waiting faithfully at the kindergarten gates for Jasper; on the rainiest days, Ms Yorkie had to retrieve her several times from standing out in her raincoat and gumboots – a nearly blinding pink and yellow ensemble. And every time she spotted Jasper, she’d bounce on her toes, clapping and beaming with happiness. Louise couldn’t help wondering if Alice Cullen was the reason the kindergarten was enclosed with a fence.

Alice’s friendship with Jasper brought good things to all of them. Alice had had her mother call up Louise that very first weekend Jasper was in school, with an invitation for Louise, Jasper, and the girls to join them for a weekend barbecue they were hosting.

Esme Cullen was a sweet and gentle woman, who clearly doted on her daughter. The Cullens had the most magnificent house, with a garden that spilled into the forest. Esme had taken the opportunity to invite some other local families, especially those with children the same as Louise’s. It had been nice to talk to other adults, ones that didn’t know her whole story from birth for once in her life. Who didn’t look at her and the kids, and have pity written all over their faces.

And that’s how they settled into Forks. It was strange, how Alice brought Jasper back to life, dragged them all into the fabric of Forks. They became inseparable; when Jasper started soccer, Alice joined the team too, complete with pink cleats and enormous hair ribbons printed with tiny soccer balls. When Alice broke her arm falling off the monkey bars, Jasper had spent the entire weekend sitting at the end of her bed, glaring at any doctor or nurse who caused her pain or scared her. Jasper joined the Cullen family for at two vacations – one camping trip, one beach holiday. On the nights when Louise pulled the night shift, it was Dr and Mrs Cullen who had all four of the Whitlock children to stay, so Louise didn’t have to pay for an overnight babysitter.

It didn’t take long for Alice’s other friends to warm to Jasper either; Alice’s closest female friend was a girl named Rosalie Hale, whom Louise recognised as the pink-clad girl from the first day. A plain-spoken but beautiful girl, Rose was always clad in shades of pink, and seemed to be more of a set-piece for her parents than a child. She was obsessed with Jasper’s car racing set, and more than one rainy Sunday ended with both Rosalie and Jasper sprawled on the carpet, racing those remote-controlled cars.

Emmett McCarty was another of Alice’s friends – a tall, solid boy who seemed to always be laughing – who marched up to Jasper one day, introduced himself, and that was that. The middle child of half a dozen kids, Emmett was full of mischief and fun. The boys had begun construction of a club house in the forest just outside the Whitlock’s back fence, a hopeful lean-to that Louise didn’t think would last longer than the first bad wind. For a moment, she was sad that Will wasn’t there to help Jasper build a proper treehouse or clubhouse for the backyard. But, eventually, she realised that it wasn’t the actual clubhouse the boys wanted; it was the building and planning they had fun with.

There were other two that hovered on the fringes of their group - Isabella Swan and Edward Masen. They were similar – both quiet, awkward, and fairly disinterested in the games the others would engage in, but would tag along. Louise felt sorry for them – Isabella’s mother had divorced her father and left town before the Whitlocks had arrived in Forks, and the little girl seemed to be taking it hard. Edward’s parents were both older, and didn’t seem to understand how little boys were supposed to act, discouraging loud, rowdy games, or sport, and preferring for him to spend his time practicing the piano or reading quietly.

But Alice welcomed them, and so the others did too; though Louise noticed Jasper wasn’t thrilled with Alice lavishing her attention on Edward. The only one less thrilled with the addition of Edward was Rosalie; the two of them fought like cats and dogs, and the Cullens and Louise both had stories of trying to break up whatever argument they had gotten into. Even Louise’s own daughters didn’t have such loud, angry arguments with each other that Rosalie and Edward had.

Everyone was happier in Forks. At ballet practice, Lydia had met twin girls from the Quileute reservation – Rebecca and Rachel – and the three of them were as thick as thieves. Ava had a friend in a girl called Tanya, and Fern had fallen in with a pair of cousins called Leah and Emily. Most weekends and vacations, Louise’s house was overflowing with children, and she couldn’t say that she didn’t enjoy it.  

Her kids were happy. That was all she really wanted from the move in the first place.

Tonight, there were nine children under her roof; nine kids who had tumbled into the kitchen to wolf down pizza and soda, and were now tucked in their bedrooms. She knew that Ava and Tanya were up in Ava’s room, giving each other make-overs, and that Lydia and the twins were in the middle of one of their huge and incredibly messy art projects – Lydia’s bedroom usually looked like a giant art and craft project, with glitter and paint everywhere. And Leah and Fern would play elaborate games with their Barbie dolls until they passed out. The girls knew the rules: ‘bedtime’ just meant ‘quiet games in their bedrooms’ during sleepovers. Louise wouldn’t enforce sleep unless they woke her up.

And then there were the other two.  

Louise paused to look into the living room, the television still flickering some cartoon. Two little figures were sprawled out on sleeping bags – one bright blue, one sparkly pink – on the floor. They were almost sharing a pillow; one of Alice’s arms thrown over Jasper’s chest, clad in the pinkest, most ruffled nightgown Louise had ever seen. Jasper’s plush dog was tucked under one arm, and Alice’s rag doll was squished between them.

It didn’t matter how many times they begged to be able to stay up late - watching movies or television, or playing one of their elaborate games with action figures – they always fell asleep long before they planned to.  

Snapping off the television and the lights, Louise smiled to herself. She remembered her own mother’s stories about her and Will. How inseparable they had been as children - there was always a place at the dinner table for both of them, that it was perfectly normal for Will to spend the night in the bunk below hers. Everyone had warned her parents their friendship would fizzle out in middle and high school.

But it hadn’t. It never would have. Will Whitlock had been her best friend for two decades before he became her husband, and she never forgot that. It might even have been the part of him she missed the most. There was only one thing that could have broken them apart – Will not paying attention to the road and dying in a head-on collision. And only one thing had helped Louise keep it together - their beautiful children.

Maybe it was just a pretty thought; that Alice and Jasper would follow in hers and Will’s footsteps – childhood, the teen years, high school and college, a wedding and a family. That they’d forget all about the time before they met, because they were so in tune that it was strange to think of a time they weren’t friends. Maybe they wouldn’t fall in love; maybe they’d just be crazy-best-friends for life, dragging spouses on vacations to visit, an endless stream of emails and Skype calls. Or even fall out and drift apart – a name in a yearbook, and a hazy memory.  

But Louise thought about all the little things – the text messages Mrs Cullen sent her to warn Jasper when Alice was sick on school days; Jasper saving the green lollipops he got from the businesses around town, because Alice liked the green ones the best. Alice tackle-hugging him whenever a weekend went by without them seeing each other. Alice beating up the boy who made fun of Jasper’s scars, her knees and palms skinned and bloody as she defended herself to the teacher, Jasper holding her backpack and looking stunned.

Louise knew that loyalty.

It might not turn out to be anything, but she was definitely betting on Alice Cullen being by her son’s side forever.

[sellyoursoulforagoodfic]

12 Days of Ficmas: Day 8

New Love

Vergil x reader

Word Count: 390

As much as you loved watching your lover squirm, even you could only take so much before you started to pity the man. “You know you don’t have to ask if you want to hold my hand right?” you inquired, looking up at him with a raised brow.

Over the last several minutes, you’d watched the elder son of Sparda reach out with one of his hands as if wanting to hold yours only to abort and try to disguise the movement as something else. You lost count of how many times he’d wiped some nonexistent lint off his pants a while ago. Still, given the life Vergil had had--especially that stint as Mundus’s slave--it was hard to miss the fact that he likely couldn’t recall how to properly display affection casually. Honestly, you suspected that he might even be full-tilt touch starved based off his reactions when you did something simple like play with his hair. All that coupled with the fact that he was still coming to grips with the fact that he was actually in a relationship with someone . . . Well, to put it kindly it led to a wide array of mildly-awkward conversations.

Vergil scoffed as if to say ‘Of course I know that’, but there was a hesitation in the creases around his lips--the telltale signs of stress almost always present on his face--that you could see plain as day. “If you insist,” was his eventual response. Still, he did not make any sort of move to attain the contact you knew he wanted.

You rolled your eyes fondly. Alright, I guess we’ll have to work up to it, you thought moments before reaching out with your own hand so you could loop your pinky with his. “Baby steps it is, V,” you said happily, finger squeezing his for the barest moment.

Again, he scoffed, but this time he did something unexpected. He moved his hand so that his fingers laced through yours fully. “What?” he challenged at your surprised expression. “You said it was alright.”

The smirk that played with the corner of his lips brought a full smile to yours. “I sure did.”

“Come on, lovebirds!” Dante called from where he was on the verge of getting lost in the crowd in front of you. “The show’s gonna start soon!”

You laughed. “We’re coming!”

[sellyoursoulforagoodfic]

12 Days of Ficmas: Day 1

Snowed In

Jason Todd x reader

Word Count: 461

You had the night off for once. A blizzard had hit Gotham out of nowhere (for once without any nefarious plots involved), and the entire city was at a stand-still. As in no crime in sight. As in there were no bats needed to patrol tonight due to said lack of crime. Meaning you had one Jason Todd all to yourself since Damian was trapped at the manor with the rest of the family.

Now if only he’d get off the phone with Roy and Kori so you could enjoy it . . .

Pushing yourself up off the couch, you moved to implement the scheme that was steadily forming in your head. First, you lit a few candles in the living room. Romantic atmosphere and shit. Then your paranoia had you locate the handful of gas lamps you had stashed around the apartment and move them into the main room too in case the power went out. Getting back on track, you located a bottle of your favorite wine that’d been stashed in the little refrigerated wine closet this apartment had for some reason. Then it was all a matter of acquiring glasses, pouring them, and kicking up your feet on the coffee table during the wait you had ahead of you.

As if sensing your impatience, Jason peeked his head in only a few minutes after you sat down. His eyes lit up (literally given the whole Lazarus thing that kicked in whenever his heart rate picked up, that alone did wonders for your ego when it happened at just the sight of you) when he saw the scene that awaited him. “Hey, guys? Yeah, I gotta go. Y/N’s waiting for me . . . Yes, Kori, I’ll pass along a kiss for you. See you this weekend. Bye!”

“Free at last?” you teased over the rim of your glass.

“I’m all yours, sweetheart,” he smirked. “What’s all this?”

“Oh, nothing,” you shrugged. “Just thought we might have some fun is all.”

He plopped down onto the couch next to you. “What sort of fun do you have in mind?”

Without looking away from him, you flipped the TV on so it could display the menu screen for a horror game he’d been excited to play for a while now. “You know, just the usual.”

That toothy grin of his made your heart do a little flip. “Be still my zombie heart. I like the way you think.” Jason leaned over to kiss you briefly as he reached for the controller.

“Thought you might.”

When you spent the rest of the evening (and most of the night) leaned up against him while watching him play and chatting the whole time, you couldn’t help but think about how you never wanted this night to end.

[sellyoursoulforagoodfic]

12 Days of Ficmas: Day 12

Freebie!

Jason Todd x reader

Word Count: 362

You blinked yourself awake at the sweltering heat surrounding you. Wait . . . It’s winter. Why is it hot? Then you looked around yourself to find the source of the warmth only to be greeted by two heads of red hair draped across your legs. Oh yeah . . . you thought as you recalled the night before.

It was Christmas Eve, so you and Jason had invited Roy and Kori over to celebrate the holiday privately before heading over to the much larger (and mildly unpleasant) celebration at Wayne Manor. Apparently the movie marathon had left everyone much more tired than you’d expected because you’d all fallen asleep on the pile of blankets you’d set up on the living room floor. And now that you recalled that, you realized that it was just Roy and Kori lying on you that was causing you to be so warm.

“You awake?” Jason’s sleep-rough voice called your attention upwards to where his face was. You’d seemingly dozed off with your head resting on his stomach as he lay perpendicular to you.

“Yeah,” you mumbled back, enjoying the way his hand ran through your hair. “A little warm, though.”

He chuckled quietly. “Kori’ll do that to ya.”

“You sayin’ I’m not hot, Jay?” Roy demanded, calling attention to where he was mock-glaring at his best friend.

Jason scoffed. “As if.”

“I’m saying you’re both a bit too hot,” you complained as you started trying to scoot yourself out from under them. You managed to get free from Roy, who simply inch-wormed his way up to claim one of Jason’s legs as his pillow, but Kori was still firmly attached to you in her sleep.

“I think you’re gonna be stuck with your leach, there, for a while, babe,” Jason informed you, mirth in his tone.

You shrugged. “There are worse things than having a gorgeous alien princess clinging to you,” you announced. Besides, with Roy off of you, there was at least a breeze cooling you off a little. “Merry Christmas, guys.”

“Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” Roy muttered, clearly almost asleep once more.

“Merry Christmas, baby,” Jason echoed, hand still carding through your hair as you, too, started drifting off again.