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Though he's never admitted it, Wilhelm adores cheesy Christmas movies. The more cliché the better. Working girl returning to her home tome, reuniting with childhood sweetheart, the near kiss, and the big romantic climax at the end. He has a soft spot for cheesy things like that.
Wilhelm has never gotten to experience those cheesy Christmas movies, though. He's never dated someone at Christmas and even if he did, he'd be too caught up with palace duties to celebrate the season with them.
This year is different. Not only is he dating the love of his life, he gets to spend Christmas with the love of his life's family. Everything has been perfect. They've decked out in cheesy sweaters. They've binged Christmas movies. They've stayed up late and gotten wine drunk. It's everything Wilhelm imagined Christmas to be and more.
Except for one little detail.
There is not a single mistletoe to be found. Nowhere. While helping the Erikson's unpack their decorations, Wilhelm kept an eye out for any scrap of mistletoe. But there was none.
No problem, he can pick some up at a market or a shop. Or so he thought. Every where from here to Stockholm seems to be sold out.
Wilhelm isn't ungrateful. He's unspeakably thankful for the opportunity to spend Christmas with an actual family. But he can't help want that fairy tale moment of standing with Simon under a mistletoe and kissing him like it's their happily ever after.
One night, they're all scattered around the living room, watching the millionth bad Christmas movie of the week. Ayub takes an armchair. Rosh sits on one side of the couch. Linda perches on a chair. Sara sits on the floor next to Felice who visited for dinner. Simon is wrapped in Wilhelm's arms on the other half of the couch, a fluffy blanket draped over them.
The white cis-het couple on screen are finally realising their love for each other, and reunite. They're both too nervous to make the first move do they just chat. Until the guy looks up and notices mistletoe hanging over them. The girl blushes and giggles. He tips up her chin with his finger, his eyes looking to her lips. Slowly, they lean in and- finally, they kiss.
Ayub cheers.
Wilhelm rests his chin on Simon's shoulder. Simon, who is half asleep, leans back on Wilhelm and kisses his cheek. With a satisfied sigh, he lets himself doze off. Wilhelm cradles him for the rest of the movie. Simon truly misses a riveting ending. The lead get together and all their problems go away? No one saw that coming!
The night ends with the movie. Wilhelm stirs Simon awake enough that he can shuffle upstairs to his bed. They run into some trouble as they refuse to turn on the lights, but in no time Simon is tucked in snugly.
"Wille? Where are you going?" Simon murmurs when Wilhelm doesn't lie down next to him.
"No where, I'm just going to help clean up. I'll be right back, I promise" Wilhelm lies. Though he does put away some plates and wipe down the kitchen counter (as any guest should), he slips downstairs to finish up wrapping his presents.
He had a lot of trouble picking out gifts. Getting something too expensive or flashy would just be rubbing his wealth in everyone's faces. He made sure to put thought and love into everything. Sentimental volume over monetary value.
He's wrapping his present for Linda when a figure sneezes at the living room door.
"Sorry" Simon says, rubbing his nose. He's still groggy from sleep.
"Don't be- and bless you"
Simon chuckles. He sits next to his boyfriend on the rug, careful to avoid the strewn about wrapping paper and sellotape.
"Can't you finish wrapping these tomorrow?"
"I won't have time to tomorrow, what with you never leaving my side for two minutes"
"You complain, but you love it"
"I love you"
Simon smiles with a blush, looking to the ground with embarrassment. His smile stretches into a yawn.
"We actually have a Christmas tradition at the palace" Wilhelm says, putting the final bow on Linda's present. "We don't have many traditions, but Erik and I always wrap out presents in the weirdest things we can. IKEA manuals, calendars, one year Erik wrapped my present in a . . . adult magazine"
Simon laughs. "Really? And here I was thinking that the princes were stuck up"
"Oh no, we have a definite wild side. What about you, do the Erikson's have any Christmas traditions?"
"Just the classic ones" Simon says. "Leaving out cookies, watching It's A Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve, setting up a nativity scene, nothing too exciting" Simon cuts himself off with another yawn.
"You should come back to bed" He says. "You're going to be no fun tomorrow if you're tired"
Wilhelm gives him a look. "Do you just want me to come upstairs so I can tuck you in again?"
"Yes" Simon gets to his feet, taking Wilhelm's hand to pull him up too. "As long as you're tucked in with me"
"Of course" Wilhelm wraps an arm around his boyfriends waist. Simon leans into him happily and they creep out of the living room. Simon stops them in the doorway. He grins up at Wilhelm.
"Speaking of traditions" his eyes slowly look up above the door. Wilhelm follows his eyes and- oh my god, no way.
"I'm sure you know the mistletoe rules"
White berries glow in the dim light. Green leaves wave down at the boys. Wilhelm smiles brightly, looking back to his adorable boyfriend. He laughs in disbelief.
"How did you?"
"What can I say? You're not the only romantic in the house"
Wilhelm wraps his arms around Simon's waist, pulling him closer. Simon licks his lips. His warm hand cups Wilhelm's cheek, stroking it with his thumb.
"Is this how they do it in the movies?" Simon whispers.
"Hmm mmm" Wilhelm can't resist slipping his hand under the back of Simon's shirt. "Just like this"
They meet halfway and kiss sweetly. Simon wraps his arms around Wilhelm's neck, pulling him impossibly closer. This isn't how they kiss in the movies- it's better. Wilhelm sucks on Simon's bottom lip, tilting his head to deepen the kiss. His hand trails up his spine. Satisfying shivers tingle through Simon. The kiss grows hotter. Movies never let kisses go this far.
Wilhelm moves his lips to Simon's cheek, jaw, and down his neck. He not-so-secretly hopes to leave marks. Simon giggles.
"At this rate, we'll never get to sleep"
"Mmmm, fine" Wilhelm groans, not meaning it. He let's his boyfriend pull him upstairs and into his arms. Cheesy Christmas movies are fun and all, but they don't have this. Sure, the mistletoe kiss was fantastic, but it wasn't the mistletoe that made it special, it was Simon.