Chapter Text
Day One & Day Two Combined Prompts: Gift Wrapping & Family
The house smelled of mulled wine and mincemeat pies.
Serena's hand was at her back, voice soothing and warm in her ear. "They'll come. They said they would."
Bernie shivered a little at the kiss placed softly behind her ear, looked out the window again and frowned.
"Have you finished the gifts?"
Bernie shook her head. "
"Hup to it then, Major."
When she wasn't in the back of a moving car, or wrapping something wonky-shaped, Bernie was methodical and precise. Serena set her to work wrapping boxes. Specific papers for specific people. Serena had an eye for the trimmings, and individualized each box artfully. She was masterful with a wide ribbon and some false poinsettias, had shopped around the Boxing Day sales to get the best bargains the year prior. Jason surveyed the proceedings and tutted, but deemed Bernie's work acceptable.
It was easy to relax into the domesticity of it.
Elinor arrived first, a force of nature, like her mother. She sulked and buzzed about at the edges of the room, snipping at Serena, huffing her way through the house. Serena had warned Bernie that she might, told her not to take it personally. None of Elinor's ire was directed towards Bernie, at least. She was polite, even held a conversation with Bernie about journalism and peppered her with questions about her time with the RAMC. She'd gone out for a cigarette break when the third episode of Dr Who started, rolling her eyes, but staying silent.
While Elinor skulked about outside the solarium, Serena touched Bernie hip and leaned closed to murmur, "Told you they'd come."
The doorbell chimed a moment later. She grinned and nudged Bernie. "Go. Let the Wolfe Pups in. I'll put the kettle on."
It was a day of festive dress, fancy trappings, good food, and family. Cameron and Serena made sure the wine and conversation flowed. He was more cheerful and cheeky than Bernie had seen him in ages, more mature, without any bile or irony. It made her heart soar that they seemed to appreciate each other. Charlotte was polite to Serena, respectful, but watchful, she seemed more wary. Of the three children, Bernie noticed that Lottie reached out to Jason the most, made an effort to include him in the conversation, chatted with him at length about his special interests. Serena noticed too, caught Bernie's eye, smiled.
Elinor stayed moody and withdrawn, disappeared when Raf, Fletch, and the Fletchlings came swarming 'round, but at least wasn't openly hostile towards anyone besides Serena. Predictably she reappeared in time for gift wrapping to be torn away, and presents cooed over. Bernie didn't like the way she treated Serena, but knew enough to understand the history between parent and child and that it wasn't her battle to fight. Instead she kept her focus on how lovely it was to have Cam and Lottie there, how good it felt to have her children near, to see them thriving.
She took a moment when Evie was shrieking over something Serena had given her, to lean over and tell them. "I'm glad you're here. Thank you for coming. I know it has to feel strange."
Lottie considered her for long enough that she felt awkward at the outpouring. "It's good to see you happy, Mum."
Bernie could only suck a breath in through her nose and press her lips together to stop her chin from wobbling.
"Being with you and your brother makes me happy," she said finally.
Cam smiled, "Yeah, but Madre, it's also good to see how happy she makes you."
Bernie went silent and reached out and squeezed their hands, as if she was trying to press her gratitude, her love into their palms, and nodded.
Later, Bernie heard Lottie thank Serena for her gift, and for including them. "You are good for her," she said quietly. "I haven't seen my mum this at ease, this...alive, in... well, ever."
Bernie blinked back tears and focused her attention on some tinsel that slipped off of the tree.
It was a good day, despite the foibles, despite the rolled eyes.
Late that night, when all the dishes had been cleared and washed, and the bags of torn paper were dragged to the outside bin, Serena slipped her arms around Bernie's waist and swayed with her in the light of the brightly decorated tree.
"I have one last gift. But I didn't wrap it," Serena said in a low hum and looked at her from beneath her lashes. "Not exactly."
She stepped back and unbuttoned just enough of her blouse that Bernie could see the red and black lace hidden beneath it.
"Care to follow me upstairs, Major? Finish opening it?"
Bernie smiled, her heart felt full.