Work Text:
It’s December and only 3 days until Christmas. Charlie is throwing a Christmas party with his boyfriend Nick at their house. It’s the first party they’ve thrown together.
Charlie is a bit nervous. He often has issues with food around the holidays but he’s seen his therapist about it recently and discussed it at length and he feels he is ready. Also he’s only inviting his friends plus Tori and Oliver as his parents suck especially his mother although she’s not anywhere near as horrible as Aled’s mum.
Currently Charlie and Nick are baking Christmas themed cookies in the kitchen whilst The Ark’s new Christmas album is playing in the background. Charlie loves the Ark and his fave is Rowan. He knows that Nick kind of likes them too especially Jimmy. Recently Jimmy and Lister came out as a couple which surprised a lot of fans as some believed Jimmy and Rowan were a couple even though Rowan is straight and was for a long time in a relationship with Bliss Lai.
Charlie hums along to their cover of ‘Driving Home for Christmas.’ Nick has a bit of flour on his face, Charlie decides not to tell him about this fact. Nick comes up to wrap his arms around Charlie’s waist from behind.
‘Hey Char, are you looking forward to the party tonight?’
‘Yeah I am. I’m looking forward to spending it with the people I love the most.’
‘Same. I love you,’ Nick says as he presses a sweet kiss to Charlie’s cheek.
’I love you too’, Charlie says as he turns his face to give Nick a gentle tender kiss on the lips.
~
A few hours later and it’s nearly time for the party to begin. The decorations are up and the food is on the table. It looks beautiful, Charlie thinks.
The doorbell rings. It’s Tori with her boyfriend Michael. He goes over quickly to greet them. He wraps his big sister in a warm hug. Oliver is already at the house , Nick had picked him up earlier.
Next to arrive is Elle and Tao. Elle looks stunning in a red dress and slim heels. Then Aled arrives with his boyfriend Daniel and their friends Frances and Georgia. This is Charlie’s first time meeting Frances and Georgia. He knows that Frances is Aled’s best friend but he’s only recently reconnected with Aled.
The last to arrive are Tara and Darcy. They were the first people to know about Nick and Charlie. It’s funny because Charlie used to be jealous of Tara and think Nick still liked before he knew she was a lesbian and had a girlfriend.
Soon the household is filled with joy and laughter. Charlie finds out Georgia is also a fan of the Ark and has also read and written fanfiction usually about Jimmy and Rowan before finding out about Jimmy and Lister. She says she’s really happy about them and that it makes sense. Charlie admits he has a bit of a crush on Rowan.
~
“You should have seen how much Charlie pined over Nick back in year 10 it was so cute”, says Elle over the dinner table.
“Aw babe,” says Nick fondly, taking Charlie’s hand into his own. Charlie squeezes his hand affectionately.
“Yeah he had it pretty bad and still does,” Tori piped up.
“Thanks Tori,” says Charlie embarrassedly with slightly pink cheeks. Nick leans over to kiss them.
“Honestly though Elle can hardly talk, she was so mopey and piney about Tao back in year 11,” says Darcy smugly.
Now it’s Elle’s turn to blush. Tao smirks to himself slightly.
“Tao was just as bad,” pipes Aled in a quiet voice.
“Yes he was,” says Charlie with a slight laugh and shake of his head.
When the desert comes out Charlie is feeling a bit nervous. Eating dessert is the hardest part of meals for him. It’s still a struggle to eat his main meal even though he’s a lot better at it now. Nick looks at him knowingly, squeezes his hand and whispers in his ear saying “Char, you know you don’t have to eat all that if you don’t want to babe. You did so well, I’m so proud of you.”
Charlie smiles at his boyfriend. He loves him so much and then he feels the courage to take the first bite of his Christmas pudding. It’s delicious, he stops after a few mouthfuls but it feels like an achievement and the proud smile on Nick’s face suggests that he agrees.
There is mistletoe in the corner of the room and Aled and Daniel get caught under it together. Aled gets all cutely flustered but he embraces the sweet kiss Daniel gives him. They really are very cute.
On the couch Tori and Michael are stroking the dogs. They’re curled up together with Tori’s arm around Michael’s shoulder and Michael’s arm wrapped around her waist. Charlie takes a secret snap with his phone. He may or may not post it on Instagram later.
Once the party is over Tori and Michael stay behind to help clean up and stay in the guest room that night.
Later on that night Charlie sneakily brings up the mistletoe to his and Nick’s bedroom and they share a rather heated kiss before falling asleep from the exhaustion of hosting a party.