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Wilhelm had fought their entire last year at Hillerska to be able to go to university and not stay in the palace, his main motivation, wanting to move in with Simon. Wilhelm hadn’t relented on this idea as graduation grew closer and the queen eventually capitulated at his threat of abdication, the one thing he held over his mother’s head. He tried not to use it too often, but he knew it would work every single time because his mother knew he would do it in a heartbeat. So graduation came and went with elaborate fanfare and parties, questions of what he was studying and what his plans were for the following year as if the whole country didn’t already know, but it was the price he paid. Wilhelm thought it was a worthwhile cost in the end as he was now getting ready to move with his boyfriend of three years.
Simon had protested and demanded that he pay for part of the apartment, that it should not be anything too big or flashy. He after all had the reputation of the Prince’s Solciatst Boyfriend to uphold. Finally, they found a slightly larger average size flat just blocks away from the university, it was still a little much for Simon but seeing Willie that happy made him cave. It was two bedrooms at the queen’s insistence, she refused to acknowledge all the nights that they had spent together at school, and Simon’s house, and the palace (but she didn’t actually know about those).
The happy couple moved in a few weeks before the beginning of term and spent the time settling and debating the perfect place for Willie's vast collection of coffee cups, it truly was absurd. They moved the furniture around at least seven times and finally had settled on how they wanted it two weeks after the semester started.
Simon was up to his eyeballs in sheet music and theory each night, his books and pages spread across the desk in the second bedroom as we jumped from one page to another cross-referencing notes from lectures to the books. Willie often settled into the large armchair they had put in there for him. He would curl his legs under him and fold his long body into a pretzel for hours while he studied government and economics as his mother wanted. What she didn’t know was that he was pursuing classes and lectures that broadened his understanding of countrywide social supports and benefits and how to implement them.
Their days filled with classes, the afternoons filled with studying, and their nights filled with each other. Most days weren’t perfect, many days were messy and difficult, but every day was worth it. They learned quickly that Willie tended to leave the dishes dirty while Simon tended to leave his clothes dirty. Some heater conversation and a chore chart later it was solved, mostly. Simon and Willie learned early, before even moving in together yelling wasn’t an option for them all it did was send both of them into panic attacks.
Soon the term was coming to a close faster than either one of them was prepared for, final exams and concerts were fast approaching which meant the apartment was neglected in favor of precious hours of sleep. With exams passed and a few weeks of downtime to celebrate the holidays and rest the boys started planning their first Christmas together.
Both Simon and Willie wanted to spend Christmas morning with each other, and just each other. So the plan was for Willie to spend the afternoon of Christmas day at the Palace as his mother was set to give her Christmas greeting and he would be in attendance, Simon would accompany him but not be on live television for the event. They would spend Christmas eve with Simon’s Family and exchange presents with them before heading back to their place for the night. It was going to be a crazy 48 hours but they had a game plan and were ready to go.
The Morning of Christmas Eve came cold and biting. Simon never being much of a morning person convinced Willie to stay in bed with him for almost an hour more than they planned with the temptation of cuddles and other activities, it wasn’t a hard sell. By the time they were up, showered, fed and caffeinated Willie was starting to get anxious about being late. They still had a well over a two-hour drive to Linda’s house and the idea of being late anywhere still filled him with dread. Willie had diligently packed all of the cookies, rolls, and other treats he had made the night before into a box that was sitting on the counter, by the time he had already repacked it making sure nothing was missing Simon was ready to go and dragging him out the door. Meeting Mitsalin at the bottom of the stairs on the way out to the car.
The drive to Bjärstad was uneventful and mostly quiet, Simon had one headphone in while his leg bounced to the song playing, while willie had brought a softcover book of Oscar Wilde’s poetry. One hand or leg always touching, Erik was always teasing him about needing to be always touching Simon but he really didn’t care at this point. Willie knew he was a slut for cuddles and didn’t deny it.
The arrival at Linda’s house was warm as always
“Mijo, it has been too long.” Linda pulled Simon in for a hug then hugged Willie “you aren’t eating enough, we can fix that today.” Linda and Simon went inside while Willie grabbed his box of baked goods.
“You didn’t tell me what I could bring for the Julbord so I brought….. Well, a lot” Willie began unpacking the box onto the table with the rest of the food Linda and Sara prepared.
“Yeah while Willie can burn a pot of noodles he can also bake absurdly well.” Simon laughs stealing a cookie as they are unpacked.
“Yes, well baking is a science with explicit instruction and outcomes while cooking you tell me to measure things with my heart.” Willie defends his lack of cooking skills. As Linda laughs Sara comes through the door followed by Felice.
“Sorry I am late, Felice’s father would not shut up even though I told him I had to leave.” Sara grumps while hanging up her coat.
“Yes well, he just had to know what our Prince was doing for the holidays” Felice rolls her eyes as well.
It had taken Felice and Sara longer to come together than Willie and Simon, they spent two and half years sharing glances and sleepovers before either one of them said anything. After spending some time learning more about the LGBTQ+ community Sara quickly and confidently labeled herself sex adverse asexual, but it took her longer to understand her romantic attraction. Felice pretty much knew she was a lesbian after her first year at Hillerska. It was only 6 months till graduation before the two of them finally got together.
“Everyone grab a plate!” Linda instructed before grabbing her own. Lunch was an amazing amalgamation of food: rolls, cheese, sliced meats, empanadas, hallacas, sweets, cookies, and more. An extra card table had been pulled out of a closet to make sure everyone had room to sit.
Once lunch is over the games come out just in time for Rosh and Ayub to arrive. They spend the next several hours on board games, card games, and even a ridiculous attempt at charades. Willi’s came out victorious in Monoply to no one’s surprise, Simon claims it is all that blue blood he has in his veins. Linda wrecks everyone when they decide to play some poker with Christmas candy. She still sends everyone home with more candy than she keeps.
Their afternoon is pasted with laughter and hugs and is wrapped up with cups of hot cocoa made by Linda with whip cream and baby marshmallows. Willie has loved spending Christmas with his boyfriend’s family but he can’t remember a better one than this, and that may have something to do with the fact that when he leaves Simon is coming with him.
By the time Simon and Wilhelm got back to their apartment, Willie was tired and falling asleep as soon as he sat down on the couch, and a sleep Willie quickly turned into the world's largest kola.
"Simme, come cuddle me" Wilhlem whined as he landed on the couch with all the grace of an elephant.
"My sweet prince, we need to go to bed and if I cuddle you on the couch we will never make it to bed" Simon grabbed Willie's hands and started dragging him up.
"Do I get a reward for going to bed?" Willie asked. Now standing crowding Simon's space his hands fell onto Simon's hips.
"Yes willie," Simon leaned in. "It's called a good night's rest without a crick in your back." Simon pulled away and laughed at his boyfriend’s pouting face. "Time for bed little prince"
By the time the boys are tucked in bed together it is just moments before Willie is asleep wrapped around his boyfriend, Simon follows him shortly after.
The morning dawns too early once again for Simon. Today starts even earlier than the last. When Simon finally is awake enough to turn off the alarm on his phone he notices willie is already up and out of bed. He can then hear moving about in the kitchen before he starts to smell bread baking. Willie is nervous. Wilhelm was an atrocious cook having never had to learn before moving in with Simon. But, baking on the other hand was something Willie picked up fast and soon became an outlet for his stress.
Simon shuffled into the kitchen with his sweatpants slung dangerously low on his hips. He was met with the full scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and sweet bread: Willie had made cinnamon rolls. The baker in question was furiously whisking a bowl of frosting in his arms and did not notice Simon’s appearance in the kitchen. Simon opened the fridge to get the milk out when Willie finally turned around and saw him. The sound that came from his mouth was in between a gasp and a moan before he stuttered out.
“Good morning, coffee…..” he seemed to get distracted while looking at Simon “Coffee is already made and Cinnamon rolls will be done in just a few minutes” he quickly indicated to the countdown on the oven clock. He turned away blushing, but it did nothing to hide the scarlet color that graces his cheeks, ears, and neck. Simon abandoned his task setting the milk on the counter before pulling the bowl from Wilhelm’s hands and depositing it safely on the counter before reaching up and wrapping his arms around Willie’s neck.
“Good morning baby” his voice still rough from sleep. Kissing Willie would never get old, never lose its spark, that Simon was sure of. Being a few inches shorter than his boyfriend had its advantages, one of them was that he was the perfect height to kiss right beneath Willie’s jaw. They stayed wrapped up in each other until the time on the oven pulled them back to reality.
Willie jumped from Simon’s arms to grab his oven mitts and pull his creation out of the oven. Simon finally poured his coffee and sat down at their small table knowing better than to be in the kitchen when Willie is baking.
“So am going to take a shot in the dark here and guess that these cinnamon rolls, as lovely as they smell, are not actually for my benefit but the outcome of your inability to sleep.” Simon knows he isn’t wrong.
“I just woke up and there wasn’t enough time to go back to sleep so I figured I would make us a nice breakfast for our first Christmas in our own place. The fact that we have to see my mother and I have to be on national television later today is a completely unrelated fact.” Willie knows he is lying. He pulls two off the pan for himself and two for Simon, coating them with copious amounts of frosting before walking to the table to sit down with Simon.
“Absolutely nothing to do with those facts” Simon laughs and takes his first bite, which is divine, truly a religious experience for someone who doesn’t believe in god.
When they finish breakfast they make their way over to their little Christmas tree and sit on the floor, this is the part that Willie had thrown a fit over. His mother wanted him at the Palace first thing in the morning and Wilhelm had refused flat out, he was going to spend Christmas morning with his boyfriend and they were going to exchange gifts next to their tree. So they sat cups of coffee and in hand and the fairy lights on their tree twinkling.
Simon had struggled to think about what to get his boyfriend who is the prince of a whole country, it took weeks to think of anything good and the help of one Crown Prince to get it figured out. Simon took out his present for Willie, a rectangle with sharp edges and a little heavier than expected.
As Willie ripped off the paper and turned it over his hand he found an absolutely gorgeous cloth-covered book. A History of Queer Royals: The stories they tried to hide. By H.J. Fox. As he opened the cover there was an inscription on the inside.
“We will make history because we do not have to hide. -Love Simon”
“Thank you! It’s perfect my love” Willie’s eyes began to water and he tried to blink back his tear to no avail.
“There is more!” Simon couldn’t help but blurt. Wilhelm started paging through the book and found bookmarks already placed in various chapters. “They mark all of my favorites, I thought once you had read it we can talk about our favorites together.” Simon dropped his head to hide his blush, but Willies hand caught his chin and pulled him up into a kiss.
“It is more than perfect.” He whispered into Simon’s lips. As he pulled back, “my turn now”
Willie’s struggle this year was not buying Simon something so preposterous, he thought Simon deserved the whole world served to him on a platter, but Simon wouldn’t appreciate him spending that much money on him so he had to scale back most of his early ideas. He had spent several long group chats with Rosh and Ayub being told that it was too much, finally, he had settled on what he thought was the perfect gift.
He handed Simon a package that was quite haphazardly wrapped, the prince had many talents gift wrapping wasn’t one of them. Simon opened his gift by slowly undoing the paper making Willie bounce with nerves.
“Just rip it off!” Willie urged him faster. Simon finally got all the wrapping paper off to reveal a music book. Elton John Through the Ages.
Simon immediately started flipping through the book to see what songs it had: Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer, Your Song, Bennie, and the Jets. It wasn’t a complete collection but it had some of everything. Simon looked up to see his boyfriend not so patiently waiting for his response.
“Thank you, baby! I can’t wait to play.” Simon leaned forward and kissed him.
There were a few more small presents; hats and gloves, a snowglobe, new ornaments for the tree, but soon it was time to get ready to go. Simon could feel the shift in Wilhelm’s demeanor changes, he went from soft and sweet to hard rigid lines and a stern set expression. Once they were dressed and ready to go Simon stopped Willie before they left the apartment.
“Hey baby, I am right here and I am not going anywhere” Simon soothes. “We can make it through a few hours, your bother will be there to help as well. And once we are done we get to come back to our home together.” Simon soothes his declaration with a kiss before he leads them down to the car.
The drive to Drottningholm Palace isn’t long, Willie wishes it was longer. They arrive and are greeted by staff taking their coats and presents for the family before quickly being ushered into one of the formal sitting rooms where a camera crew is already set up.
Eric and Amalia are talking with some of the camera crew, but Erik quickly notices them enter the room and immediately smiles and makes his way over, he wraps Willie in a tight hug.
“Merry Christmas! I have missed you. You go to university and all of a sudden you forget who I am.” Erik teases releasing him from the hug and then hugging Simon “At least Simon texts me about you or I would worry for your health.” Amalia gives them both a quick hug.
Willie’s father soon follows with a brief hug for Willie and a handshake for Simon, before returning to his wife’s side. She appears to be too busy with her current conversation for more than “Merry Christmas” from across the room. Soon Willie is ushered to sit on an overly stuffed couch that is gaudy in Simon’s opinion. Erik sits next to him and their parents take a seat on an equally ugly couch. Bright lights are turned on and Simon watches as Wilhelm quickly blinks to adjust to the light before fixing a tight and reserved smile on his face. Simon and Amalia are both relegated to a far corner as the crew finishes preparing the Royal Family for their Christmas address.
“Those couches are hideous. I don’t care if they are antiques or not they look like a fabric factory threw upon them.” Amalia whispers to Simon. Simon stifles a laugh, but not well enough to avoid the attention of their lovers. Willie gives him a small smile while Erik affectionately rolls his eyes at Amalia. It is a well-known fact that Simon thinks most things to do with the Monarchy are outdated and should be done away with. A lesser-known fact is Amalia, daughter of a well-known Count, has an anti-monarchy streak. She is just better at hiding it.
The cameras roll and the queen starts her address by greeting the nation and wishing them a Merry Christmas. The speech is filled with references to events throughout the year and platitudes that are meant to feel generous and heartfelt, but Simon thinks it falls flat. About 15 minutes later the speech has ended and Willie is immediately back at Simon’s side. A few more moments pass before a staff member informs the room that lunch is ready to be served.
There is a small procession to the formal dining room as they all make their way there together. Erik and Willie are chatting on the way over when Amalia grabs Simon’s arm in a way that makes it look like he is escorting her but the opposite is in fact the case.
“So how is our dear little prince doing?” Amalia starts.
“Well, I woke up to an entire batch of homemade cinnamon rolls, so stressed but we haven’t reached fully decorated cake levels yet.” Simon teases, but it is still an accurate assessment.
“Well, I am glad to know we are still only at small-batch baked goods. Now, how many innuendos do you think I can sneak into the conversation at lunch? Kristina still thinks me so innocent and is still convinced I sleep in a guest room when I visit so I doubt she will catch on but Ludvig I think is starting to suspect me.” Amalia giggles as they make their way into the dining room.
Each of them takes their seats at a table that is far too large for six people and far too fancy for most of the participants' taste. The conversation is stilted and awkward as Kristina asks about Wilhelm and Simon’s semester at university before she turns her attention to Erik and Amalia regarding the wedding set for the following summer.
15, the answer was Amalia could sneak 15 innuendos into Christmas lunch without her future mother-in-law suspecting anything. Her impressive number was helped by the fact Sausages were served as part of lunch.
After lunch, they retire to a less formal sitting room that has a large Christmas tree. Simon sat next to Willie on a big couch and snuggled in under his arm as Willie pulled him closer, earning a silent but cold look from the Queen. Erik quickly sat on the other side of the couch and pulled Amalia tight to his side and raised a single perfect eyebrow at his mother.
“How about a round of drinks?” Ludvig asked, clapping his hands in the way father did when trying to dispel awkwardness.
“White wine if you have any would be lovely.”Amalia quickly piped up.
“Absolutely, my dear. Erik, I pulled some of the scotch up from the cellar, does that tempt you?” Ludvig asked, pouring Amalia’s glass with a heavy hand.
“Sounds great dad.” Erik accepted.
Willie silently looked at Simon, seeking approval for an afternoon drink. Simon never drank, and most of the time didn’t mind when Willie had a glass of wine when they went out to dinner or had a beer when they spent the evening playing games with Rosh and Ayub, but always checked in with Simon first. There were times Simon preferred Willie not to drink and these times have always respected no questions asked. Simon gave just the tiniest of nods in response.
Willie stands up and makes his way over to the drink cart and asks his dad about one of the bottles as he finishes pouring Amalia and Kristina’s wine. While Ludvig walked over to the woman, Willie grabbed a glass and turned his back to the room, while making Simon’s drink. Simon’s drink didn’t contain alcohol, but no one else needed to know that. Willie brought back a glass for Simon that contained a dark cola and everyone would assume whiskey even though it had none. Willie had a glass of scotch for himself.
It was a routine they managed shortly after the boys came of age and Ludvig started to offer them drinks and Simon always declined. Some days he still did but today it was easier to just pretend than to open up the conversation as to why he didn’t drink. Erik and Amalia know he doesn’t drink and never push it but their parents don’t grant Simon the same courtesy.
There was an awkward few minutes while everyone settled in with their drinks and conversation was slow before Erik and Willie started to disclose embracing stories of Christmases past to the others’ partner.
Soon it was time for presents and perfectly wrapped gifts were distributed one by one. Erik and Willie both received new watches from their mother. Simon received a tie. Amalia received a set of hand towels with her and Erik’s initials monogrammed on them. Ludvig had gotten Willie a book of poetry, not an author he particularly liked but it was sweet. He had gotten Erik a new set of leather driving gloves. Simon received a pen with five tips, he looked up with a question in his eyes, but before it passed his lips he got the answer.
“It is for drawing a music staff, this way all the lines are even. I heard it is quite useful for those studying music.” Ludvig quickly offers. Simon’s smile was full and genuine for the first time that afternoon.
Gifts keep going until everyone has handed out their gifts and there are a few trash bags of wrapping paper sitting in the corner. By this point the sun is fully set despite it only being mid-afternoon, Erik announces that he will be driving Amalia home and they should get going so that Erik can get home at a reasonable time. This gives Wilhelm and Simon a good excuse to leave at the same time making sure there isn’t any time spent with just his parents.
Once goodbyes are said and both couples are walking down to their respective cars, Erik will be driving but Willie and Simon are not.
“So you need to get home at a reasonable time, what time is that Erik? Tomorrow at 11 am?” Willie quickly teases his brother.
“I am as likely to go home tonight as you two are to sleep in those separate bedrooms mother insisted you have.” Willie blushes, he never really can hold his own when it comes to teasing. “Have a good night, love birds,” Erik calls as he opens the door for Amalia like the gentleman he is before he quickly grabs her but as she goes to get in. She squeaks and bats his hands away laughing.
The ride home is quick and they bid Malin goodnight and a good week as she is off until the new year, a well-deserved vacation. They make it upstairs and shed their coats and scarves before settling on the couch.
“I am not tired, are you?” Simon asks.
“No, want to watch something?” Willie asked, already grabbing the remote.
“Yeah.” Simon hums in agreement as he settles leaning back against Willie’s chest.
Willie finds a broadcast of Kalle Ankas Jul from this year and knows that reruns from previous years will play after it. They both watch for about an hour or so before starting to dose. When Simon wakes up he tries to stand up only to feel his boyfriend’s arms tighten around him.
“Sleeping” Willie mumbles.
“I see that my sweet prince, but we should sleep in a bed.” Simon arches back to kiss his cheek.
“Sleep here” is all Willie replies
“Okay you can sleep here alone then, I am going to bed.” Simon giggles before extracting himself from Willie's grasp. The sleepy prince starts making grabby hands in Simon’s direction before finally getting up and trudging to the bedroom, quickly shedding his clothes and crawling in bed. Willie wraps himself around Simon once again and is back asleep in minutes. Simon isn’t far behind.