Work Text:
It might never snow in Outer Banks but that doesn’t mean that the winters were warm. December came and brought high winds and cold temperatures – the once green parks were now filled with dead tree leaves and a lack of color. Very depressing for a town that thrived during summertime.
And for four-year old Marley Larissa Maybank, it was the most serious thing in the world.
“But why can’t we have Christmas in summer?’’ she asked seriously, looking up to Kie with her childish curiosity and innocence. “I love Christmas and gifts but it’s so cold, Mommy.’’
“Because this is how it works in this part of the world,’’ Kie explained gently, running a hand through Marley’s blonde curls, the color identical to her father’s.
“So, it’s summer somewhere right now?’’
“Yes and we’ll go one day together,’’ Kie smiled at her daughter’s curious face, her lips forming into a pout.
It wasn’t a lie. JJ and Kie had gone on their surf trip shortly after getting back from Morocco with the Blue Crown and came back a few months later, refreshed and having eloped in Spain. It was only fair – they had talked about going to Spain on their surf trip when they were locked in the cargo ship and realized that they were in love with each other.
They planned on going on a surf trip again, when Marley would grow up a bit more and they could go on a surf trip all together, as a family this time.
“I want summer back,’’ Marley sighed. “I like Christmas and I like the trees but I don’t like the cold.’’
“Just like your dad,’’ Kie shook her head with an amused smile.
Kie personally loved winter, despite summer being her favorite season. JJ started liking winter a bit more after Marley was born – Kie had given birth to their little girl six days before Christmas and to this day, he called her ‘his early Christmas miracle’.
It was Christmas morning and Kie and Marley were taking a walk. Marley was bundled in her coat, scarf and gloves and was holding her mother’s hand tightly, asking questions about everything and expressing her opinions that she took very seriously.
“ – And I wanted to get a gift for Bobby too and Daddy took me to this shop and it had turtles, Mommy,’’ Marley blabbered excitedly, talking about yesterday when she went shopping with JJ. “Can we get a turtle? Next to the fish?’’
“You want a turtle?’’ Kie asked, clearly amused.
“Yeah! Can we get one?’’
“Maybe,’’ Kie smirked, knowing that JJ was already planning on getting one, since he saw her admiring them yesterday at the shop.
“When we go to the beach again, we’ll try and find a turtle hatch,’’ Kie said, adjusting Marley’s scarf. “You were so little and don’t remember but you took your first steps next to a turtle hatch.’’
“Really?’’ Marley asked excitedly.
“Yes,’’ Kie nodded, recalling the time where they hung out at the beach with the Pogues, this time with no Kooks bothering them or running them over. Marley was so excited to see the turtles, she took a few hesitant steps towards them with her parents cheering.
After a brief walk around the park, Kie took Marley back home to get ready to leave. She enjoyed these peaceful mornings with her daughter, especially during a holiday. She used to love doing it with her own mother before everything went to shit and she wanted her kid to have memories that wouldn’t be tainted one day and would remind her that her parents love her more than anything.
Back home, Marley was over excited to see her presents and let go of Kie’s hand once they had crossed the porch. She rushed inside and to her father who was standing close to the tree, looking at something sceptically. A huge grin formed on his face when he spotted the little hurricane running towards him.
“There’s my girl,’’ he grabbed Marley in his arms, looking at her with love. “How was your walk?’’
“It was great, Daddy,’’ Marley held to his neck as she started talking enthusiastically. “I didn’t like how empty it was but Mommy said we will go somewhere where it’s summer in Christmas one day and oh, she also said we could get a turtle.’’
“Want a turtle, huh? Just like your mama.’’
They spent the morning inside, with Marley safely tucked in her dad’s lap as she opened her gifts. Kie and JJ had taken their time last night after putting her to bed – drinking wine and wrapping the gifts delicately. Or more like, Kie correcting the mess JJ had created and putting bows over them.
Afterwards, it was midnight and the gifts were under the tree so JJ decided to follow the tradition and drag her under the mistletoe to make out, with Kie feeling like she was experiencing high school love all over again.
That was the good thing about JJ. No matter how many years passed, no matter how much turbulence they faced, no matter how many times he tried pushing her away due to feeling unworthy, his love for her never faltered. To this day, she still falls in love with him more and more.
Marley loved her new school bag with her favorite movie plastered on it, her new puzzle and board game. Giggling enthusiastically at the ripped paper and brand new gifts, she looked up at her dad and gave him a kiss on the cheek and then turned to her mom to do the same.
“Thank you,’’ she continued giggling and crawled away to open the board game.
Her parents watched her with love written all over their faces for a few minutes and then turned to each other.
“What did you get for me, huh?’’ JJ gave her a small smirk, his hand going to the side of her head to cup her face. Brown eyes stared back at him, a small laugh escaping her.
Kie reached on the tree, next to where Marley was playing and grabbed a small box with a delicate bow over it. She held it in her hands and extended it to him, an excited smile forming in her lips.
JJ looked at the small box in suspicion and then back at her, “What did you get, ya little sneak?’’
“Open and find out,’’ she replied.
Like father, like daughter, Kie thought as JJ ripped away the wrapping paper like Marley did earlier and threw it next to him. A small, black box appeared and he threw another suspicious look at his grinning wife before opening it.
“John B is bringing it over later,’’ Kie replied as he stared at the golden keys on the box. “The second charter boat you’ve been wanting to buy for the past few years? It’s yours.’’
She knew why her husband put off buying the second boat – they had money but having Marley had made him a little paranoid – throwing too much money away made him think that Marley would end up in the state he was as a kid, always hungry and upset. Kie fully understood that and had saved enough money to get it as a Christmas gift – because he was one of the people who deserved happiness more than everything, after everything he had been through.
“Kie,’’ he started, his words faltering a bit.
“I don’t wanna hear anything,’’ she shook her head, leaning over to kiss him.
He grabbed the back of her neck gently and pulled her in for a kiss, his hand rubbing her back under her shirt. He pulled away for a few seconds to whisper, “I love you.’’
“I love you,’’ Kie whispered back breathlessly.
The result of their love was still next to them, giggling at her new toys so they pulled back with one last, lingering kiss.
“And for you, m’lady,’’ JJ grabbed the gift he had set under the tree. Kie chuckled at the way it was wrapped, a bit rough on the edges and not smooth at all. It had a shape and Kie started suspecting what it could be.
She was quick to unwrap it and she was right – a new, wooden ukulele. But it wasn’t this that mostly caught her attention but that it had her initials engraved.
“I made it,’’ JJ told her. “I know you already have one but you’ve been saying that it’s falling apart so I thought–
Kie didn’t let him finish, she pulled him in for another breathtaking kiss. The ukulele laid on her lap and so was his brand new boat keys. It wasn’t just the gifts – it was the thought and effort they had both put behind it.
“Merry Christmas,’’ Kie whispered after pulling away, their foreheads touching.
“Merry Christmas, Kie.’’
Soon after the gift exchange, Marley put her gifts in her room and Kie got her ready. Once she was dressed and bundled, they got downstairs where JJ was waiting for them. He immediately scooped Marley in his arms, asking her if she was excited about spending Christmas with the Pogues.
The family in question were in the Chateau that had been rebuilt three years ago. The moment they stepped foot in the house, Marley bolted out of her father’s arms and ran over to her cousin in the living room.
Sarah pretended to be hurt and shocked, “Only here for Valerie, Marley?’’
Marley giggled and ran over to her aunt, who scooped her up and pressed a few kisses on her cheek. JJ and Kie acted similarly with Valerie Jay, who was two years older than Marley and was also entertaining herself with her gifts.
“My favorite godchild,’’ JJ said dramatically, grabbing her up as Valerie squealed.
“She’s your only godchild, JJ,’’ John B called out from the next room.
“And? She has to be reminded that she’s the favorite.’’
After the two girls received the same treatment from Pope and Cleo, they rushed off to play with Bobby, who was not entertained by the loud voices and just wanted to sleep in his doghouse.
“You are cooking?’’ JJ looked horrified when he walked in the kitchen to find John B hunched over the counter. “Do we have the emergency number for food poisoning?’’
“Very funny, JJ,’’ John B deadpanned. “Do you wanna do it?’’
“Nah, I’m good.’’
“Do what?’’ Kie snorted, “His specialty, burnt toast?’’
“Hey,’’ JJ acted offended.
“Oh come on, you know damn well it’s the only thing you can cook,’’ Pope rolled his eyes.
“Now, get out,’’ his best friend threatened him with a fork.
JJ grumbled under his breath as he walked out of the kitchen and headed over to where Sarah was sitting with the girls.
Two hours later, the table was set, the candles were lit and everyone had sat down. It almost brought them back to another time – before the Blue Crown but after El Dorado, when they had just opened their shop and had dinners all together. Now they had two little girls added in the mix but it felt complete – the Pogues felt fully completed now.
Kiara looked around the table, feeling happiness gnawing at her, making her feel like the happiest woman in the world. Sarah leaning against her shoulder while sipping on wine, JJ and Pope kept making fun of John B about his cooking even though half of the dishes were gone because of them and Cleo was looking back and forth in amusement. Val and Marley were stealing from each other’s plates and giggled at their fathers who kept bickering.
She wouldn’t trade this for all the gold in the world. When she caught JJ’s look, she knew what he was thinking.
The Pogues, his wife and his little girl were his gold and he wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.