Work Text:
Christmas Eve, Dreamland, 1920
“Wow!” Joe said happilly in awe.
“I’m glad you liked it, buddy.” Holt said looking with tenderness at his son’s joy.
The very first Christmas in Dreamland for the Farriers and the rest of the Medici troupe was new for them, but in the last couple of months, right after Dumbo’s succesful debut, they felt almost comfortable to admit that this park could be their new home from that day on. And now, Christmas is here and all the Max’s troupe had gathered around inside the training tent where there was a huge full decorated Christmas tree. The troupe wasn’t the only people there, there was also other Dreamland workers and their children who kept staring in amazement at Joe’s new gift.
“You’ve really outdone yorself, Holt.” Max said over his shoulder to his friend.
Joe had just received a new and shiny bicycle. It was decorated with a big red bow on top of it.
“Well, Max.” Holt spoke, “Let’s just say I’ve got a little Santa’s help.” after he said that, Holt turned his head to his right and looked iver Colette, who was wearing a red dress with a fluffy white collar and black shoes. She returned the glance to the rider and because she heard wht he was saying to Max, she winked at him.
That made Holt smile and even blush a little.
“I’m going to try it right now! Milly come with me!” Joe whooped.
Milly, who had just received her presents which where three history books and a new oncie ran after her younger brother. “Joe wait! Put your coat on, it must be less than 2°C out there!” she warned.
“I’d listen to your sister, Joe.” Ivan th emagician called out.
Begrudgingly Joe obeyed and went inside the tent, grabbed his coat and hat and went outside once more. All the Dreamland’s workers children followed fim after to watch him ride his bike.
Meanwhile, the adults started to exchange presents with eachother. They waited for the children to leave so they won’t know. For Holt, it was important to keep the illusion of Santa Clause alive, at least for Joe. Milly already suspected from a beggining the truth.
“Joyeux Noel, Holt” the cowboy heard behind his back. He turned around and saw Colette with a box in her hands. “Hope you like it, cowboy” the french lady’s smile confidant.
Holt blinked and chuckled, looking down at the box which had a green and red wrap. Then he looked at the woman’s blue eyes.
“Oh princess, you shouldn’t have---”
“Non cherie, leave that modesty aside.” Colette said firmly but softly too. “Please, open it.” Colette grinned, trying to hide her excitement.
“Fine, princess. Thank you.” Holt responded. He put on his head a Santa Clause’s hat he had in his hand for quite some time, grabbed the present and put it on the floor so it would be easier for him to open it.
Colette clasped her hands in front of her lips, waiting for seeing his reaction.
As soon as the rider tore out the wrapping paper, he finally opened the box slowly.
“I want to give it a little suspense.” Holt said looking up at the aerialist with a teasing grin.
“Holt...” Colette rolled her eyes, but laughed.
“Ok, ok.”
When he finally opened the box, his eyes opened up so much he could swore they could’ve just pop out of his face. Colette was so pleased by the look of his expression.
“So, cherie? What do you think?”
“Holy cow! Honestly I don’t know what to think, princess.”
“Show moi.”
All of the sudden, Holt put a hand inside of the box and picked up a shiny pure black leather boot with white leather embroidery. It defenitively looked like a piece of art.
“My God, Colette! Look at these! Are these really mine!?”
“You liked them?” the woman asked eagerly.
“I love’em!!” Holt exclaimed in complete joy. He took both boots to see them better, he just couldn’t believe he was getting this gift from her. He then looked up again at her in admiration and gratitude. It’s incredible you took the bother to give me a present, Holt thought in his mind, you’ll never stop surprising me, princess. Is like he felt he didn’t deserved such gesture. He returned to his new boots again for some seconds.
“They most have cost you a fortune.”
“I wanted to give you the best, cherie. Also, I knew you needed new boots.”
“I never told ya that.”
“You did not have to. I watched carefully at the old boots you have been using all this time. The only ones you have and how...wore out they were.” Colette confessed. “I thought you may want quelque chose de bien pour toi. And feel comfortable.” the woman explained with empathy with her hands behind her back.
Holt stared lovingly at her eyes once again and gave her a sincere smile. “Then thank you again, Colette”
“De rien, cherie.” Colette’s smile grew even bigger and a blush emerged in her cheeks.
Without warning, with his eyes half closed and a rised eyebrow Holt rose up from the floor. He gently rested his only hand on Colette’s hip and carefully drove her nearer to him. His face trying to get closer to hers, he closed his eyes. But before he could go any further, he felt the womans fingertips on his lips.
“What do you think you are doing?” she asked, her face confused and eyes wide open.
Holt was blushing hard, moving away from the woman’s fingers. “I-I-I thought that...that....uhhmm. I thouht we-we...” he couldn’t understand why Colette was surprised by this. They have done this before, not around other people but they did. The last months gave them time to let their feelings bloom, open up to eachother and finally confess everything they felt for the other. It was no surprise for Holt’s children and circus friends that he and Colette were together. In fact, Max once said to him that he and the aerialist were practically married by the way they tease eachother and look fondly at the other when they think no one is watching. So, at this point if they kiss right there, right now, a few meters away from the others, it wouldn’t be a shock. So, why is Colette hesitant. “Princess, I thought we could do this, publicly. Did...did you regret it?”
“Of course not, mon amour.” Colette’s voice was soft.
“So what’s the problem?”
“This is not the right way to do it, cherie. Specially today.” she explained like she was saying something obvious.
Holt’s eyebrows rose up dumbfounded. “Not the right way? What do you mean?”
“There is no mistletoe.” Colette looked up from where they were standing pointing to the ceiling with an open hand. “It would not be proper.”
When Holt heard that and looked at the ceiling as well, he sighed in relief. Oh, so that’s what you meant, he thought. He bent down his head to watch her face.
Colette’s smile was revellious.
Holt half laughed under his breath, “You are such a tease.”
“Tu ne me connais pas encore?” the french woman said fingering Holt’s collar.
Holt started to look around the training tent until he caught something at the distance, behind Colette’s back.
“There’s one over there, near the horse stables.” the rider pointed out with his chin.
Colette turned around. And there it was, a mistletoe hanging over the stable’s entrance. She turned again, curious to see the expression of her lover.
Holt grinned showing his teeth. He suddenly grabbed Colette’s hand and took her with him fast to the stables. Colette laughed out loud with him while both they were running, holding hands. The cowboy’s excitement was so contagious that it was overwhelming. She felt like a teenager!
Holt stoped as soon both were under the small mistletoe. The two stared at the symbolic decoration and then at the same time, bent their heads, making eye contact.
“Now, this is proper?” Holt soothingly said.
Colette formed a tender smile, containing a chuckle and a blush. She rested a hand on his chest and the other caressing her beloved’s left cheek. “Oui.” she responded whispering.
Instead of just going for it, Holt wanted to give her a very deserving kiss. So, he leaned into the woman’s touch, closed his eyelids and rested his lips on her hand that was on his cheek. He nuzzled her palm, then her wrist with his closed mouth. He took the chance to smell the sweet perfume of hers and feel the softness of her skin.
Colette was hypnotized by the man’s sweet demonstration of love. She felt how her heart melt at the sensation and at the face of pleasure of the cowboy. She sometimes forgets such simple gestures could be so meaningful.
The tip of Holt’s nose traced a line on Colette’s arm until he lifted his head, put his face closer to his beloved. Then finally, he locked his lips with hers very gently.
Both moaned and let their mouths move with peaceful pace. Holt put his only arm around Colette’s waist and pulled her closer, while Colette cupped the cowboy’s face only for her fingertips digging the hair of the back of his head. Holt’s hand tentatively caressed the exposed back of his girlfriend, knowing she was wearing a low back dress, a type of dress that drove him mad to only watch on her, he took the opportunity.
Colette shivered a bit at his touch, and God she loved it. She decided to move her hands to the sides of the rider’s neck and holding from there. Soon after they parted away for air. Colette pressed her forhead against his, only to quickly move away to watch him eye to eye.
“What is it?” Holt questioned.
“I have not told you?.”
“What?”
She gripped his shoulders and in a low whisper said “French give two kisses.”
Holt could feel his face beam and blush. He wasted no time and without warning grabbed Colette’s face and kissed her even more passionatelly.
Colette was in pure bliss. She put her arms around Holt’s strong torso and held him as tightly as possible.
------------------------------------
The next day, 25 of December, 9 o’clock in the morning...
Colette was sleeping, cuddling into a pillow while her body was under thick covers that kept her warm. One of her feet was outside of the bed and the other inside. Some strains of hair were on her face and her brething was steady and calm. Suddenly, her body slightly twitched as soon as she heard some mild noises.
She moaned and shifted in the bed she was in and gradually opened her eyes. Colete brought one hand to rub her tired face and move to the side he hair.
“Oh, I’m sorry love. Did I wake ya?”
The Queen of the Heavens heard the familiar voice and lifted her head to have a clearer watch. There she saw Holt, wearing only a sleeveless undershirt and his underwear shorts; his legs were resting against the edge of the bed.
“I’m sorry I wake you, princess.” Holt softly said, kneeling on the bed to reach his girlfriend. “I was just moving some things around here.” He then started to caress Colette's barely exposed left shoulder. “Merry Christmas, darling.” then, he bent down and gave to the sleepy woman a sweet peck on her forhead.
“Mmmhh Merry Christmas to you , mon cher.” Colette answered with still a raspy voice since she was still just waking up. She shifted to be in a comfortable faced up position.
Soon after, Colette looked around and then to her boyfriend once more, “I slept in this bed.” she affirmed but somehow she sounded a little surprised. She was on Holt’s bedroom, in his appartment if the hotel. She also find out immediately she was naked due to the intimate sensation of the sheets against her skin.
“You have.” Holt chuckled. “Honestly, I wanted to wake you up earlier,” Holt spoke while he traced with the tip of his thumb the line of his beloved’s jaw, “but I saw you sleeping so peacefully that I just couldn’t.”
“You are so sweet, cherie.” Colette half laughed but felt warmth by her beloved’s confession. The woman moved her arms and spread them while stretching.
“Wait, princess. Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
With that, Holt jumped off of the bed and left the bedroom.
Colette rose up a little and rested against her elbows, curious what her boyfriend was doing.
Some seconds later, Holt returned and stoped on the door frame. His only arm was behind his back, it was clear he had something there, hiding. His mischievus smile was giving away his excitement and his large eyebrows wiggled.
For Colette, it was beyond adorable to see Holt like that, so eager to give her a surprise, like a child.
Holt walked towards the bed again sat beside his partner, still the object behind his back.
Instead of asking about the obvious hidden surprise, Colette decided to ask something else.
“How did I end up here, cherie?” the tone of her question was playful.
Holt sighed a laugh, “Well, it all started with a kiss,” he said whilst he got closer to her, “then one thing led to another and as far as my memory can reach, I ended up tearing your dress apart from you in the living room.”
“You are going to end up in the naughty list for doing that, you bad boy.” Colette snickered.
“Not my foult. That’s what you get for wearing a dress like that. Apparently I’m not the only one ending on that list, princess.” Holt teased whilst he formed a wicked smile.
Colette rolled her eyes. She leaned towards the man and grabbed the sheets to cover her bare chest while moving. “Did you think that dress looked good on moi?” she asked tentatively in a low voice, wanting to know his opinion.
“With that low back...God.” Holt whispered, imitating the tone of the woman. “You did it on purpouse, did ya? ‘Cause you know the things that do to me watching you wearing those dresses.”
“I cannot say it was intentional.” Colette teased, “Or...unintentional.”
“Woman...”
The aerialist snickered leaned over and stole a quick kiss from her lover.
“Well, here it is.” Holt moved his right arm and showed Colette her present. “Merry Christmas!”
Colette saw it was a box, almost the same size of the box of the boots she gave him. It was a light blue box with a white bow on top. Colette took the object and placed it on the bed and carefully opened it. She saw that something was covered in a yellow piece of wrap paper, she unfolded it and when she saw the real actual present, she could swore gasped out loud.
In the woman's hands there was a porcelain doll, with brunette hair combed with two braids and a neat blue dress.
“Oh!” Colette breathed, “A doll.”
“A porcelain doll.” Holt added. Then, a bit nervous he asked ”You- you like it?”
The Queen of the Heavens looked up at Holt’s eyes, she felt her own watering a bit. “If I like it? I...I adore it!”
Holt’s face gained hope “You do?”
“I do.” Colette inhaled deeply.
Holt could sense that Colette was about to cry; he placed his hand on her shoulder “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. I am fine I swear, cherie.” Colette assured him, sniffing a ittle. ”Is just I have never received such a sweet present like this. Honestly, I do not know what to say.”
That gave Holt a little relief. “I’m glad you liked it. I didn’t you would or not I mean I’ve never bought dolls before, let alone an expensive porcelain one.” he explained nervous. “I used almost all my savings to buy it.”
“Oh Holt.” Colette looked at him.
“Now, now princess, don’t feel guilty. I wanted to give this to you. I insist. I wanted to give you something very special.”
Colette smile grew widely, she rested one cheek on top of the doll’s head.
“I’m sure you expected somethin' more glamurous like a jewel... but I remember you’ve told me stories about your past, about your poor childhood. I remember you said how much you wanted a doll like this one when you were a little girl.”
Colette’s heart felt a strong warmth by the pure kindness from the man and the reason of his choice of gift.“Oui, that was how it was for moi. The only toys I had were hand-me-down toys or hand-made by my mum. It was hard for moi to understand why some children had more than my family.” she responded recalling those memories.
“I know.” Holt said with empathy, “I think every girl, specially on Christmas, should have a nice doll. Well almost every girl, I mean my daughter Milly never truly cared for those, she was more happy with books.” he sighed a laugh.
Colette laughed with him. She then placed the doll aside carefully and with her arms surrounded Holt’s neck and kissed him lovingly. Not caring if the bed sheets fell from her chest “Merci, mon amour.”
Holt kissed her back and cupped her face. Their bodies pressed in a affectionate hug while they sat on the bed.
They stayed like that for a while, whilst the couple watched the snow falling through the window.
The End.