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Christmas had always been a special holiday for Sylvain and his friends— they’d all be at the Fraldarius estate, sitting around the Christmas tree bundled up in warm blankets and holding mugs of hot chocolate. They’d take turns opening their gifts then spend hours playing with their new toys, and after a long fun filled day they'd all pass out in Felix's room. Dimitri had always been the first to fall asleep, then Ingrid, then Felix with Sylvain being the last.
Christmas had always been magical to Sylvain even after Glenn had passed and the four of them grew distant. The nostalgia and the feeling of hope that the holiday carried were one of the few things that kept him going. So even after they had stopped meeting at the Fraldarius house Sylvain made it a point to get them gifts, and attempted to hold small parties like the good ole days.
It had been a rough five or so years but they had made it out in the end, some of them had even found love.
~~~
Christmas eve had been a whirlwind of activity as they celebrated the holiday with their friends. It had been a day of festivities and laughter, a stark comparison to their quiet Christmas day. Christmas had been filled with good food, some cheesy Christmas movies, and plenty of thoughtful gifts, and plenty of downtime to rest from the busy party from the day before.
After a long day Sylvain and Felix holed themselves away in the kitchen, their arms lazily wrapped around each other, as they waited for the cookies to finish. They swayed to the sound of soft Christmas music as the smell of gingerbread wafted through the air. The messy aftermath reminded Sylvain of the equally messy baking episodes the five of them tried to attempt without Rodrigue’s help. None of the cookies ever looked pretty but they tasted good which was what mattered in the end. At Least now their cookies looked and tasted good thanks to Mercede’s help.
“You have that dopey look on your face again.”
“Hm? Do I?” Sylvain chuckled as he placed a kiss on the top of Felix’s head.
“Yes. You do. What are you thinking about?”
“Just thinking about all of the crazy stuff we did as kids, like how we’d get sick from playing in the snow all day or how you and Ingrid would turn your candy canes into knives and fight with them.” That memory would always get a smile out of Felix. Glenn used to think it was hilarious but it stressed Rodrigue out so much that he banned candy canes from his home. Ironically they were one of the few candies Felix willingly ate. Even now Felix smelt of peppermint and pine, while Sylvain smelt of his favorite bergamot tea blend.
“For the record I never lost those fights.” Which was technically true, Ingrid’s candy canes would always break before Felix would burst into tears. “Those were fun times.” It was rare that Felix felt reminiscent, unlike Sylvain who lingered in the past Felix preferred to focus on the present. Neither of them ever really thought of the future, they didn't think they’d even have a future, but now their future was starting to look hopeful and so beautifully bright. That didn’t mean Sylvain was ready to give up on his reminiscing anytime soon.
“Yeah they were, but I'm glad we get to make new memories.” Felix simply hummed in agreement. The oven’s timer beeped signaling the end of their cozy little moment.
Felix pulled the cookies from the oven with his new cat paw oven mitts (courtesy of Sylvain) while Sylvain poured them coffee (black for Felix and an alarming amount of cream and sugar for Sylvain). They took their treats to the living room and settled on the couch where they sat in silence, basking in each other's presence. It was times like this, when the world slowed to a standstill, that Sylvain could take the time to appreciate how far they’ve come. It was during these quiet moments that Sylvain realized how completely and irrevocably in love he was.
Sylvain reached out to pull Felix into a slow kiss, the mix of cookies and coffee tasted bittersweet, much like the journey that brought them together.
A cozy fire warmed the fireplace, a decorated Christmas tree shone brightly, soft music played in the background, and the smell of fresh baked cookies filled the house. It was Christmas and Sylvain got to spend it with the one he loved most.
It was their first Chrtismas together, and hopefully one of many more to come.