Chapter Text
Michaela
Michaela wasn’t big on Christmas. The Stirling side of her family liked a quiet Christmas Eve of a proper roast, matching Christmas pajamas, and A Muppets Christmas Carol. They would all dress nicely to go to church on Christmas Day. Michaela had a burgundy dress and a burgundy sweater that she alternated, and then they would spend the rest of the day inside, drinking hot chocolate and watching movies.
Her mother’s side, the Gobas, who were primarily based in South Africa, enjoyed spending their holiday having barbecues, going to the beach to surf, and generally lazing about in the yard. They would all take one big family photo, where it was inevitable that one child would attempt to run out of the photo while the flash went off, someone sneezed, or blinked. Granddad Goba would refuse to take another, so the funny-looking cousin was just stuck with that representation that year.
Michaela was finding out the Bridgertons were Christmas People.
“That’s all you’re bringing?” Fran frowned at her duffel bag full of henleys, joggers, and sweatshirts.
Michaela looked at her clothes. “Do I need something?”
“You only have one nice outfit.”
“We only have the church service?” Michaela frowned in confusion.
“And Family photos and a dinner on Boxing Day, where family friends will stop by. Bring extra clothes, I’m sure my mother may suggest we stay until New Year's.”
“A week?”
“She doesn’t see me enough.”
“We’re not in Siberia.”
“I know. But Violet Bridgerton gets what she wants on Christmas.”
Michaela groaned before dumping her clothes out of her bag. She was going to need an actual suitcase.
“Okay, so rundown,” Fran said, eyes on the road and hands on the wheel as she drove. They were an hour away from Aubrey Hall. Michaela didn’t know what she needed a rundown on. “Okay?”
“Ant and Kate are running on like 3 hours of sleep, and Ant is acting insane,” Fran said.
“More than usual?”
Fran nodded. “So steer clear of him and be nice to Kate. Ben is bringing his new girlfriend.”
“Sophie? The Australian?” Michaela asked.
Fran nodded.“Colin is single and doesn’t want to be, so be prepared to be asked for tips. Eloise is single and wants to be, so treat her as you normally do.”
Michaela could hear the anxiety in Fran’s voice. She squeezed her thigh.”It’s going to be fine.”
“It’s going to be a mess because every Christmas is a mess. Mum is excited that everyone is here, and she has two grandchildren, so just smile in the photos. Greg is Greg. Hy has been keeping me up to date on what the house has been like.”
“How has it been?” Michaela watched Fran’s fingers tap on the steering wheel. “Fran?”
Fran took a deep breath. “Daph and Simon separated in May, and Daph decided to drop that bomb when she got there with her new boyfriend, who is really her ex-boyfriend before Simon, so we all know him, and he’s staying for Christmas.”
Michaela’s mouth dropped open.
“Don’t mention it. Don’t mention Simon. Just…pretend it’s normal.”
Michaela couldn’t help her response. “What the fuck?”
“I know.”
Fran parked the car before sighing in her seat. Michaela watched the front window curtains flutter.
“Ready?” Michaela asked.
Fran shook her head before opening her door. They grabbed their luggage and made their way to the front door.
“Francesca!” Violet cried when she opened the door without them knocking. Fran was pulled into her mother’s arms like she hadn’t seen her in the family Zoom last week. Michaela wrestled her and Fran’s bag inside before she was grabbed in her own hug. “And Michaela! Is your mother upset I stole you away?”
“Oh no, she’s with my Aunt Janet and my Aunt Wilma this year on a cruise. Very happy to not be freezing.”
“That’s good. Gregory. Colin, take their bags.”
The brothers swooped in and carried their bags up to Fran’s room.
Fran and Michaela took off their winter gear and followed Violet into the kitchen. “We’re almost done with the desserts. Hyacinth and Sophie are doing sides. Eloise was helping…”
“She went to get supplies with Daphne, Fred, and Ben,” Sophie said.
Michaela looked around the kitchen and saw why Eloise volunteered for that job. It was like a commercial kitchen in there - food on every surface, remnants of cooking on everyone’s clothes. Michaela glanced around for an out.
“What do you need us to do?” Fran asked. Michaela tried to tell her girlfriend not to volunteer them with her face.
“Can someone watch him while I take a nap?” Kate came in holding Baby Neddy.
Bingo.
“I’ve got him.” Michaela swooped in and held him. He gave her a very Kate look. Kate mirrored it.
“You do?” Kate asked.
“Yeah. Some nephew time.” Michaela grinned at the baby, hoping he did not get in one of his Bridgerton Diva moods.
Neddy grinned back. Score.
“Okay…” Kate said. “Augie is in the den with Agatha if you want to sit there.
“And that’s where I will be.” Michaela kissed Fran’s cheek and left.
Fran
Bridgerton Christmas had a distinct rhythm: cooking as a family, Christmas Eve was church followed by PJ family time, and doing non-screen activities. Everyone opened their gifts together Christmas morning, which was followed by a big breakfast spread. There was nothing else to eat until dinner, and the last days were spent with Boxing Day Dinner and Quality Family Time.
Mum had this schedule as long as Fran had Christmas memories, and they stuck to it, if you exclude the depression years. Fran should have timed their arrival better so they could have avoided the actual cooking.
“Okay, so what do you know?” Hy asked.
Fran looked up, and Hy was looking at Mum.
“I don’t know what you are asking, dear.”
“What’s up with Daph and Simon?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t? How do you not know?”
“Your sister isn’t talking.”
Hy hummed. “So what are we doing?” Hy looked at her.
Fran should have snuck out with her girlfriend when she had the chance. “Nothing?”
“We have to do something. Lock them in a closet? Mistletoe?”
“Hyacinth,” Mum warned.
Thankfully, Hy didn’t get a chance to reply because the door opened. Ben, Fred, and Eloise were carrying all the bags from their shopping trip while Daphne swanned into the kitchen.
Daphne pulled her into a hug. “Frannie. When did you get in?”
“An hour ago. How are you?”
“Fine. Fine. Just enjoying the time with Fred and Augie. You remember Fred.”
Fran nodded at Fred. Fred smiled back.
“Is Michaela here this year?”
“She is.”
Daphne nodded. “Good.”
Fran felt the awkwardness in the room like a heavy blanket. Thankfully, Michaela walked in with a fussy Neddy. “Where’s Anthony?”
Everyone cooking shrugged.
“He went on an errand. Where’s Kate?” Ben asked.
“Napping.”
Ben gave Michaela a So? Look. Eloise tapped the back of his head.
“Even I know you do not wake up a new mum, Ben.” Eloise rolled her eyes.
Mum wiped her hands on a towel and grabbed Neddy. “I’ll take him.” She left the room.
Fran looked at Fred, who was awkwardly hovering by the back door.
“Fred, this is my girlfriend, Michaela.” Fran watched him nod with a weak smile while Michaela raised an eyebrow and nodded back. Michaela opened her mouth, no doubt ready to make fun of him.
Fran kicked her ankle.
“Fran,” she hissed.
“Come help me,” Fran sweetly ordered.
Fran worked quietly with Michaela until the front door opened and slammed shut. They all worked until a set of footsteps reached the kitchen door.
“Oh shit,” Michaela whispered. Fran looked up to see Simon glaring at Fred.
Fred was glaring back.
“Dinner is going to be amazing,” Hy whispered next to her.
They still had some time before dinner, so Michaela used that to catch up with El, Ben, and Colin while playing Mario Party. Fran decided to enjoy a hot cider outside and saw Anthony in the shed, pulling out Christmas lights. Her curiosity won out over her desire not to be roped into work, and she made her way over to see what was going on.
Greg and Hy stood by the door, looking forlorn.
“Anthony?” Fran asked.
Anthony popped his head out. He had a five o'clock shadow and looked like he hadn’t slept in a week. “Frannie! When did you get here?”
“A few hours ago. What are you doing?”
“We’re getting lights,” Greg answered.
“Why?”
“To put on the house. Did you know we’re the only house in the neighborhood not decorated? Mrs. Featherington commented on it last week.”
Fran could imagine what Portia Featherington said. “So, you’re decorating the house three days before Christmas?”
“I’m showing them all up. No one outdoes a Bridgerton.” Anthony went back into the shed, grumbling about the organizational system that he no doubt created.
“What really happened?” Fran asked.
“Neddy liked the lights on other people’s houses, and Ant got mad,” Hy answered.
Fran nodded. That made more sense.
“AHA! Greg! Get in here.” Anthony cried.
Greg sighed. “Save yourselves.”
“Don’t need to tell me twice,” Hy said and scampered off, pulling Fran with her.
Dinner ended up being an awkward hot mess. Daph sat next to Fred and across from Simon, who sat between Agatha and Augie. Mum was doing a good job of keeping things light and breezy.
The Bassets were not talking to each other unless Augie was talking. Then, Agatha and Mum decided to put Augie to bed. Kate and Anthony shuffled off to sleep, while Neddy wanted to sleep, and then it started.
“So are you two going to say what happened or-oww!”
Hy glared at Eloise and Colin, who elbowed her at the same time.
“Nothing happened,” Daphne said. “We just decided to separate.”
“Your sister decided, and as we know, what Daph wants, she gets,” Simon replied. “She is the princess after all.”
“Don’t call her that,” Fred said.
“Fred, I don’t need you defending me. Simon, I don’t appreciate that.”
Daphne was ignored for the peacocking going on.
“It’s not his fault. He doesn’t understand you,” Fred said.
“I understand her better than you,” Simon replied.
Fran’s eyebrows rose as the men glared at each other. She leaned closer to Michaela, partly to hide and partly to get a better angle.
“Why are you even here?”Simon asked.
“I was invited. By my girlfriend.”
“How can she be your girlfriend when she is my wife?”
“For now,” Fred mumbled.
Simon stood up, looking like he was ready to drag Fred across the table and throttle him. Fred stood up and seemed to be on his toes, trying to make himself appear taller than he was.
“It’s like watching housewives live,” Colin whispered. Hy hissed at him to shut up.
“What was that?” Simon asked.
Greg slipped out of the living room, no doubt to get Anthony.
“Let’s all…” Ben stood up and trailed off before grabbing Sophie’s hand. “Good night.”
“Oh, you’re just leaving me?!” Eloise yelled. Hy cleared her throat. “And Hy?”
“Colin is there.”
“Colin can’t fight!”
“Excuse me?! I would if I needed to!” Colin yelled. The room was dissolving into two very loud arguments. Fran had a bit of pity for her sister, who looked uncomfortable.
“I knew I should have made popcorn,” Michaela whispered.
Fran elbowed her.
“What is going on?!” Anthony roared. “It’s nearly midnight. Kate is sleeping.”
Everyone started talking at once.
“I don’t care! Go to bed!” Anthony ordered.
Michaela
Fran’s childhood bed was so small that they both were lying on their side, with Fran pushed into the wall while Michaela burrowed into her chest. She could hear Eloise’s “not snores” from across the room. Michaela looked up to see Fran looking at her.
“Can’t sleep?” Fran shook her head. She looked heartbroken. “It’ll be okay.”
“How do you know?”
“You really think your family will let them divorce? No one divorces here.”
Fran snorted. “Been talking to Mum?”
“She wanted to make it clear that you all mate for life.”
Fran giggled.
She kissed Fran’s shoulder. “You’ll see. The power of Christmas will solve this.”
“We are living in a Netflix Christmas movie now?”
“You know it.”
“Stop talking and go to sleep,” Eloise called out.
“Sorry El.” Fran whispered. “Night.”
Eloise grumbled while they tried to laugh quietly.
Michaela came downstairs on Christmas Eve to see Hy and Colin hanging mistletoe. She looked around and saw a sprig of mistletoe every 4 steps. She thought about asking, then decided not to. This was none of her business.
She made her way into the almost deserted kitchen and slid behind Fran, pulling her into a hug and kissing her cheek. “Morning.”
Fran twisted to look at her properly. “Did you see?”
“They are going overboard.”
Fran sighed. “Everyone wants to help.”
“I mean, we don’t even know why they are on a break.” Michaela thought about it. “Probably poor communication.”
“Probably.” Fran allowed Michaela to take a sip out of her coffee. Fran yawned.
Daphne stormed into the kitchen. “What’s with the mistletoe?” She looked at both of them, ready for an answer.
Unfortunately, Daphne’s big sister powers did not work on Michaela - she was the youngest cousin in her generation - she was immune, like Hy.
Unfortunately, Fran was not. Fran’s eyes widened. Michaela thought fast.
“All me. I want to kiss her every second.” Michaela kissed the ticklish spot on Fran’s neck so she’d giggle. Fran did giggle, and Michaela watched the reluctant smile on Daphne’s face.
“Where’s Fred?” Fran asked, leaning into Michaela’s arms more.
“He went home.”
Michaela made an intrigued sound. Fran opened her mouth to ask, but Daphne cut her off.
“It was awkward. I didn’t know he saw me as his girlfriend. I wanted it to be casual.”
“Right.”
“And I didn’t find him yelling at Simon like that attractive.”
Michaela had a question about that. Fran shook her head.
Right. Daphne was obviously on a roll, so it was best if they just let her get that out.
“I mean, Simon wasn’t great either, but I am his wife, and he has always taken that so seriously. And Fred knew that I still loved him. I don’t know why he thought it would change. We have only been separated since October.”
“Hy said May.”
“We briefly got back together after Augie's birthday.”
“Of course,” Michaela said, then hissed at the kick she got. Fran ignored that.
Daphne sighed. “I feel like I am giving up too easily. Like I should fight more. Simon is fighting. I should fight with him, right?” Daphne nodded like she had made up her mind. “Thanks for the talk.”
Michaela shook herself out of the daze she fell into with Daphne’s rambling.
“Of course. We’re always here.” Fran said.
“We are?” Michaela asked. They were? Fran pinched her. “Kidding. We so are. Ready to listen. If needed.”
Daphne rolled her eyes with a small smile. “Thanks.” Daphne took her cup of tea and moved to look out the sliding door, watching Simon and Augie laugh in the snow.
Anthony and Ben supply run ended up being Christmas lights. A gross amount of Christmas lights.
Michaela stood outside with Fran, El, and Hy as they watched the men put lights on the roofline. Hy had her phone out, recording the chaos.
Michaela was shocked Ben was even up there. That man did not believe in physical activity.
“Ben’s going to fall,” Hy said. Michaela nodded in agreement.
“Don’t say that. He’s fine.” El replied.
Michaela glanced at Sophie, who was watching closer to the house with Daphne. She had her phone clutched in her hand. So, she saw it too.
Fran started digging in her pockets before moving to Michaela’s.
“What’s up?”
Fran grabbed the car keys. “Sophie, I have keys.”
“Good,” Sophie called out, right as Ben lost his footing and slid down the roof and onto the front pavement.
Fran sighed. “Are you riding along or staying?”
Michaela sighed. “Riding.”
Fran
Thankfully, all Ben got was a sprained wrist. You would think that he broke his wrist with the amount of complaining he did.
“You can at least say sorry!” Ben cried.
“I did! Three times!” Anthony yelled back from the roof. They were all standing around, coats over their pajamas, waiting for the lights to be turned on. “Now, Greg.”
Greg, in the garage, flipped the switch, and they waited until finally the lights flickered on.
The sight was beautiful. Fran watched Neddy’s eyes light up, and Anthony’s smile went from smug to excited. It was sweet how her brother wanted to make his son’s first Christmas so memorable.
If only it weren’t 1 AM.
“Can we go inside now? It’s cold.” Hy whined.
“No. Enjoy the lights.” Anthony grumbled.
They enjoyed the lights a bit more before Mum clapped her hands. “Alright, that’s enough. We have church in the morning.”
Anthony sighed from his perch. “Alright, Greg.”
Greg ran back to the garage and shut the lights off.
Fran hid a yawn behind her hand while they all shuffled around the front steps of the church. Mum had the idea to take family photos while they were out instead of when they got home.
“Alright, now I’d like to break you all up. Anthony and Kate first.”
Fran looked at Kate and Anthony, who grimaced in unison.
“Mum-”
“And after Anthony, Daphne, you and Augie, and Simon.”
“Mum, we don’t-” Daphne started.
“Alright,” Simon said.
“Then Ben and Sophie. Michaela and Fran. Then Colin, Eloise, Hyacinth, and Gregory.” Mum was talking to herself at that point.
“Why can’t we go first?” Hy asked.
“Why can’t we do this at the house?” Michaela whispered.
“Because Violet Bridgerton wants to do this here,” Fran whispered back.
They watched Mum’s plan be put into motion. Neddy lasted three pictures before kicking up a fuss. Simon and Daphne awkwardly posed for their pictures.
“Hold on, dears. The camera seems to be giving me some trouble.”
“What’s wrong? Did you break it?” Ben rushed over.
Mum waved him away. Fran raised an eyebrow. Mum was terrible with technology.
“What is Mum doing?” El whispered.
“Netflix Christmas Miracle,” Michaela whispered in reply.
Fran watched Simon and Daphne go from frosty to laughing with each other about something. Fran glanced at her siblings, who all seemed to be holding out hope.
“Alright, all fixed. Thank you, Benedict.” Mum waved him back and started snapping pictures again.
A mug of hot chocolate came into Fran’s view on Christmas morning while they waited for the parents to come downstairs to open gifts.
“Thank you,” Fran whispered. Colin was sleeping next to her on the couch. Hy and Greg were busy dividing up the gifts under the tree.
El rushed in from the kitchen. “Hy, your mistletoe bombing worked.”
“It did?!” Hy ran out of the living room, followed by everyone else.
Simon and Daphne were kissing under several sprigs of mistletoe. Just like they should have always been.
“Awww, yay.” Colin whispered.
The kissing got very…graphic.
“Eww,” Greg whispered.
“Excuse me, this is a public area,” Anthony called as he walked down the stairs.
Kate smiled while holding Neddy. “Good Morning.”
Daphne and Simon broke apart and gaped at them all.
“Hi,” Daphne whispered.
“Are you two done fighting?” Hy asked.
“Umm…”
“We have to talk more, but I hope so,” Simon said. Daphne grinned.
“Good, because this was getting pathetic,” Agatha said while Augie led her and Mum into the living room. “Now come on, I’m ready to be done with all of this.”
“You love giving gifts,” Hy told her.
“No, I do not.”
The family finally sat down to open gifts. Michaela pulled her back.
“What’s up?”
Michaela pointed up. Fran looked up to see mistletoe.
“Happy Christmas.”
Fran grinned. “Happy Christmas.” She pulled her girlfriend into a slow kiss before-
“Fran! Michaela!”
Michaela sighed. “My family next year?”
Fran nodded.