Chapter Text
"Talk to you later, squirt," George waves at his phone, smiling when his nephew excitedly waves back to him. "And don't forget what I said."
"I r'member," Peter nods, his dark curls bobbing with the movement. "An' don't worry, Uncle George. I'll be extra sneaky, jus' like you told me."
"Good boy," George grins. "Looking forward to your report back."
He gives one extra wave, and one of the virtual hugs that his nephew has started asking for. A beep and the screen goes dark when the call ends.
"What was that about?" Dream asks, walking around the sofa with two cups of hot cocoa, each piled high with mini marshmallows. He hands one to George. "Careful, it's hot."
"Thanks," George pulls his hands into the sleeves of his hoodie and accepts the mug. He sighs at the warmth that seeps through to his fingers. It's the kind of warmth he doesn't mind, even in Florida. "And I was talking to my nephew, Peter."
"Yeah, I figured that much." Dream takes a seat next to him. "But what was up with the good boy bit?"
George's lips lift in a smirk and he looks over the top of his mug when he brings it to his lips. "Look at you, jealous of a five year old."
"I'm not -" Dream coughs a little, his cheeks flushing pink like they always do when he's flustered. "- I'm not jealous. Just... curious, that's all. Sounded like you were scheming over something and -"
"Anyone ever told you you're cute when you're flustered?" George takes one hand away from his mug and reaches to pat Dream's knee.
"Yeah," Dream smiles, soft and gooey like the marshmallows melting in his mug. "Just about every day, idiot."
George can't help smiling back, and he gives Dream's knee a little squeeze before pulling his hand away.
A comfortable silence lingers between them while they take turns blowing on their mugs and taking careful sips. It's nice, moments like these. Not exactly like the holidays back home, with snow and sledding and ice skating, but none of that matters as long as he has Dream.
"So?" Dream is the first to break the silence. "What were you talking about?"
George rolls his eyes and chuckles a little. Dream is nothing if not persistent, but George supposes he can trust Dream with this little secret.
"Okay," George pivots towards Dream and tucks his feet in a pretzel on the sofa cushion, then leans closer and giggles a little. "Every year when I lived back in London, my sister would take it upon herself to attack me with an unexpected snow ball fight. Those first two years living here she didn't get that chance, so last year she went all out."
Dream leans back a little and laughs. "And let me guess, you're enlisting her son for a little bit of payback, you little menace."
"Don't act so smug," George nudges Dream's hip with his knee. "I've seen the pranks you've pulled on Sav."
"True," he agrees. "Oh, speaking of which, I was talking to her earlier and she had an idea for us."
"Hmm," George takes another sip of his hot cocoa, now the perfect temperature. "What is it?"
Dream turns until he's facing George and scoots a little closer until their knees touch. He has that grin on his face, the one that spreads to his eyes, lighting them up like a Christmas tree. Immediately George knows that whatever idea Dream has, he'll 100% agree with it.
He can't help it, not when Dream gives him that look.
"So," Dream begins. "Have you ever heard of a thing called vlogmas?"