Happy Holidays to my wonderful giftee @blancasplayground! I hope you enjoy the story.
And thank you to @jemmafitzsimmons and @eclecticmuses for running this wonderful exchange and making the lovely banner, and to @janedoh1 for beta testing my fic.
The fic is called “Problem Solved”, is rated Teen and Up, and is 2,600 words. Summary: Jemma Simmons and Leo Fitz are the star students at the Academy, despite their young ages. They are also best friends who are obsessed with science and who each harbor a secret. And they are wondering why their fellow students decided to hold a masquerade ball.
Happy Secret Santa reveal, @whatlighttasteslike!!! Your prompt was so much fun to write and I hope that you like it!
December 20th, 2005
Jemma Simmons was irate. And irate was not the way that one was supposed to be feeling over the holidays, intense tiffs with one's family over the proper way to make a sticky toffee pudding aside. There was supposed to be her mother's signature rich French hot chocolate and Jemma's patented present wrapping technique and the annual trip to go shopping in London and look at the lights and the Sunday roast at their favorite pub, followed by a vigorous walk through the hills to work off the effects of that Sunday roast. By now, she was supposed to be home, curled up by the fire with the cat and one of the many books she had been planning to buy at the London Review Bookshop. She was not supposed to be staring up at the ceiling of her dorm room, which was developing an alarming stain in the shape of a dragon, and politely cursing the name of the smarmy flight attendant who had informed her at the gate that her flight had been overbooked. And that the next available flight to London wouldn't be for another three days. (She had very nearly screamed in the airport, right next to the Starbucks manned by one very aggrieved-looking barista and the long line of travelers jockeying to get a prime boarding position before she thought better of it. She did wheel her suitcase very aggressively through the terminal, which made her feel a little better about the situation.)
Finals had been over for a full day and a half and nearly everyone else had fled the dorm. On the bright side, this was the first quiet Saturday night she had experienced since August. No drunken swimmers from down the hall, no one blasting music with their door open, no one complaining in the common room about the Econ exam. And no Daisy to pull her off her bed and talk her out of rewatching the Great British Baking Show for the fourth time. No Bobbi to make microwave popcorn with cinnamon sugar and suggest elaborate pranks to play on the second floor. No Elena to watch cheesy sci-fi movies with and tease about her slow-burn flirtation with the tall guy down the hall who had been looking Elena's way since the first day of move-in.Jemma rolled over and buried her face in her pillow. She reasoned that she was entirely entitled to five minutes of sulking. Then she would order Chinese food, raid Daisy's stash of fantasy books for something to read, and settle in for a nice, quiet night.
Here its is, cutting it down to the very last minute. My gift for @mrsleopoldfitz who prompted me with Fitzsimmons and making their own holiday traditions.
Jemma jumped at the sound of a thump against the front door. She just narrowly caught the stool that toppled when Peggy leap from the seat and ran to check what had caused the noise. “Don’t open it until you check who’s there.” Jemma called after the young girl. She grabbed a dish cloth to wipe the flower from her hands and peaked into the play pen where a little bundle with blonde curls slept peaceful, unbothered by the noise.
“It’s a package Mummy!”
“I’m coming.”
Peggy waited, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Anytime a package came this time of year was exciting as Christmas morning itself. Fitz’s mother sent cookies. Her parents spoiled the kids and sent expensive Christmas ornaments from where every they had travelled that year. These came snuggled between books and toys that were far more appropriate and appreciated.
The package was definitely too small to be the one from her mother and father and a quick shake determined it wasn’t their annual Christmas cookie shipment.
A terrible disappointment to Fitz who had just shuffled his way down the stairs, eyes narrowed on the box.
“Don’t get that look, our first batch will be out of the stove in a few minutes.”
“No offense Jemma but they’re not the same.”
Jemma crossed her arms. “We use your mother’s recipes!”
“Yeah, but I think she left something out.” Fitz said as he took the box from Jemma’s hands and flipped it around. “It’s from Daisy.”
“Aunt Daisy sent us something!”
“I saw and I told her not to send anything, she feels so bad missing Christmas this year.”
“Can I open it?”
“Come on Monkey, you can open it but only after I cut the tape.”
Fitz tucked the box under one arm and scooped up Peggy with the other. Jemma followed them into the kitchen, depositing the box on the one flour free corner of the counter and Peggy back on her perch on the stool.
Fitz cut open the box and handed a gift wrapped in pretty silver and red paper to Peggy. She tore into it, letting out a long ‘ohhhh’ as she stared at the book revealed beneath. “It’s got our name on it, Mummy read it please.”
Jemma sighed, extracting her hands from the bowl of cookie dough once more. Fitz handed her a towel before she could ask and Peggy handed her the book. She was surprised to see not a child’s book but a scrapbook with the words Merry Christmas Fitzsimmons embellishing the front, a picture of a plate of familiar cookies. “Peggy this isn’t a book you read, its one full of pictures.”
“Really?” Only her kid would find that a let down.
“It’s still really great Peggy.” Fitz slid the stool closer to the counter. Jemma smiled at the pair as they leaned in closer in anticipation. She flipped to the first page and Jemma grinned.
A collage of their little family adorned in Ugly Christmas Sweaters. They had started exchanging them annually years ago, way back at the academy.
It was one of their most significant traditions, started by accident and Jemma didn’t even know for years. When Fitz picked the first sweater he genuinely thought she would like it. It was a nice color, one he always thought looked especially nice on her. The material was soft and warm but not itchy like they sometimes could be. The reindeer weren’t even comical or cartoonish they were just little silhouettes. Unfortunately he had just opened one of his own gifts. A truly ridiculous Christmas sweater that apparently reminded her of one she’d seen him wear in a picture from his childhood. She thought it was so like them to have the same thought, dorky Christmas sweaters as gifts, and suggested they do it every year.
On the next page were a few shots of them in their kitchen. One showed herself cutting cookies from the dough rolled out in front of her. Fitz stood behind her, clearly sneaking raw cookie dough from the bowl. Jemma recalled scolding him, telling him not to eat it, only for him to remind her that the eggs were pasteurized.
The next picture over showed Fitz sneaking a spoonful to Peggy and she once more recalled her mantra, ‘don’t eat the raw cookie dough.’ She also distinctly remembered treating two intense tummy aches that night.
They flipped a few more pages. Their family outside building snowman. Silly kisses under the mistletoe. Presents being opened on Christmas morning.
Jemma stopped on one a little longer than the rest. It was just one picture on the page. Their family of four asleep on the couch, only her eyes were open as she held tight to a fluffy blue blanket with a tiny freckled face peaking out. Fitz was sprawled out at the other end of the couch, their legs tangled together in the middle. Peggy was passed out across his chest, his hand resting securely on her back as the dozed. It was taken last Christmas. When a fussy little boy refused to sleep but settled down miraculously when Fitz tuned the radio to a Christmas station.
The stove timer beeps and Jemma was pulled from her thoughts.
“Peggy sweetie, why don’t you go look at this on the couch and we’ll bring out some cookies when they’re cool.”
“Okay!”
Jemma pulled the cookies from the oven and returned to Fitz’s side. He had cleaned up the mess from the package was looking at a card they missed when they opened it. She wrapped her arms around Fitz’s middle, peeking at the note.
To my favorite family of science nerds,
I wish I could be with you guys again this Christmas but unfortunately duty calls. Maybe I can swing by around valentine’s day so you kids can have the night off from your kids. I’m going to miss your wacky traditions, even more after making this silly thing. I hope you like it.
Much Love,
Daisy
“That’s sweet, that she took the time to make this, especially considering she could throw a digital one together in probably half an hour max.”
“She got to do something with her down time, saving the world is just a part time job, didn’t you know.” Fitz smiled and Jemma giggled. Fitz reached past her for a cookie and Jemma tried to bat his hand away.
“Still too hot.”
“Don’t care.” He snatched up a tree shaped cookie, taking a bite despite the fact that it would burn his mouth. “They’re just not the same as when mom makes them.”
“Shut up!” She gentle shoved him away, still somewhat giggly. “You still have flour in your hair.”
He shrugged. “I’m not saying they’re bad you know, just different.”
“They’re ours.” She said picking one up off the tray. That was all it was.
Hi from your Secret Santa! I've got your present entirely planned out; now I just have to create it :) I'm excited to get started!
Now for a question. Have *you* ever been snowed in at the airport? Because that doesn't sound very fun, LOL!
Oh, I am so pumped!
To answer your question - no I haven't, thankfully. I'm an anxious flyer on a good day, and being stuck in an airport (on Christmas Eve no less) just sounds like my own personal hell.
...so of course that's why I picked it for my FSSS prompt. I'm a sucker for the "making the best out of a bad situation" trope. Especially when it involves adorable British people.
Hi there! This is your FS Secret Santa! I've got ideas coming together for your story, and I'm excited ( : And don't worry, I love your prompt, and I hope that you like what I'm thinking for it! Do you have any favorite Christmas songs or movies that should make a cameo in the story. Oh, and good luck tonight! Hopefully the Fitzsimmons gods will be good to us!!
Hey Santa! Firstly, I am so sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. Sometimes I get anxious answering asks and I end up putting it off for days. But I’m here now!
I’m excited that you are excited! I’m sure you’ve got great ideas cooking in your head and I am really looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
There was a Santa Claus movie with John Lithgow and Dudley Moore that we had on VHS when I was a kid that I used to watch allll the tiiiime. Pretty sure I watched it whenever I wanted, no matter what time of year it was. I’m not sure how much play it got over in Britain and it’s also an older movie so I’m not sure if Fitzsimmons would have ever heard of it. :) I do like Love Actually though. Those are the only two Christmas movies I can think of right off the top of my head!
As far as songs go, I really like Mariah Carey’s, All I Want For Christmas, because it’s so upbeat and cheerful (hence it making an appearance in my SS fic from last year!) but I like Mannheim Steamroller too. We played their version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen at an honor band I was in in high school, and Stille Nacht is really pretty too. Very chill.
I survived this week. Let’s all huddle together and hope for the best for the finale now, eep!!
'Tis the season to write fanfic!! This is your Fitzsimmons Secret Santa here and I am so excited to have your prompt! So many sneaky possibilities for our favorite lovebirds ( : Any favorite holiday traditions to throw in the mix? Seasonal headcanons?
Heeeeey!! I’m glad that you are excited! I feel like I should apologize though, because I am terrible at coming up with prompts. I wanted something fluffy (though I could probably make my prompt angsty if I put my mind to it, natch) and I was like WELL EVERYONE LIKES FITZSIMMONS KISSES so I was like screw it, seven minutes in heaven! Though, if you like, I’ll tell you what my close second-choice prompt was, in case you feel like trying to work it in: “we’re the only single people on this holiday trip/cruise so we might as well stick together.” Absolutely no pressure though! Write what makes you happy. :)
Let’s see, traditions...we usually have a get-together with the extended family on my mom’s side, which includes my cousins, who I was pretty close with growing up. They’re always really fun. We sing karaoke or play Rock Band or Dirty Santa and stuff like that. Imagine if Fitz got brought to an extended family party of Jemma’s like that!
As for headcanons...I have actually not given a lot of thought to it but I imagine if Fitz and Jemma were able to make it across the pond for the holidays, they would stay together but split time between their families--like, maybe Christmas with Fitz’s mum and New Year’s with Jemma’s family. They probably spent the holidays apart the first year they knew each other and were completely miserable, and swore never to do it again.
I’m so glad to hear from you! Hopefully this gives you some good food for thought!
