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“Lumine, come on. Don't go out onto the ROOF like that!” Aether chided his sister as she walked into her bedroom. This year, he was dressed after Rudolf, plastic antlers on his head lined with felt (Lauma helped him make them), a large red reindeer nose on his face and black mittens (to emulate the hooves). He also wore a light up Rudolf sweater along with a harness lined with bells (that Lumine refused to ask why he had to begin with).
Lumine, on the other hand, was dressed in a pretty, silvery white mid length dress with a sheer turtleneck collar, dotted all over with small white snowflakes. She had decided this year she'd be a snowflake, so she'd paired it together with a pair of sparkly silver heels.
“Blitzen isn't lined up right after yesterday's snowfall.” She unlocked the window, slowly pushing it up and allowing the cold air to breeze in. “I'm just going to go up there and fix him.” Aether shook his head, still looking frazzled and bewildered.
“What? Come on, Lumine! You can't go up on the roof in HEELS! It's snowy and icy up there, you'll fall and break your neck!” She glanced down at her silver heels. He had a point. She stepped out of them, pushing them aside as she turned back to the window. “Wait- what are you doing-!?”
“I told you, I'm going to fix Blitzen.” Her feet would only be cold for a little bit, it wouldn't take that long to fix her light up reindeer. “I'll be fine, stop worrying!” The guests to this year's smaller Christmas eve party were going to be here soon. She HAD to fix Blitzen now.
“You weren’t even the one to put them up, your boyfriend did it. He didn’t trust you on the roof either.” She rolled her eyes. He was a worrywart too. For some reason they were both so worried she was going to hurt herself.
“I’ll. Be. Fine.” She reiterated, finally taking the step. Cold bit at her foot when it touched the snow covered roof. It would be quick, she told herself. She just needed to push Blitzen back in place. She took another step, her other foot meeting the cold snow.
Had the roof always been so steep? She’d never noticed it before, she was never the one to put her lights, reindeer, santa and his sleigh up. Xiao had done it for her a few years until they settled into hiring someone for the job instead. Except this year, her boyfriend insisted on doing it for her. She’d been so happy at the time and buried him with christmas cookies and cakes when he came inside with his nose red and lights affixed on the roof.
A couple of steps in, Lumine realised just how slippery it really was up here. Maybe this had been a bad idea. She was a mother of two, falling and breaking her neck wouldn’t be a very good gift to her children. But she was already up here, she just had to be a little brave. If she took it slow and easy, she would be fine, wouldn’t she?
That question was almost immediately answered when she slipped, falling onto her ass and sliding down the roof. Her scream pierced the cold mid day air as she slid down, falling from the roof. She could hear her brother crying out for her, but she wasn’t paying him any attention.
Why had she been stupid enough to climb up on this roof alone?! Blitzen was still standing, who cared if he wasn’t perfectly aligned (she cared) with the others?! She couldn’t believe she was going to die trying to fix-
And suddenly, she was no longer falling, instead finding herself between two strong arms holding her up. Had she died? Was she imagining being held? Or… She cracked open an eye, seeing a ginger haired man holding her. Her boyfriend.
“Is me saving you from something going to become a holiday tradition?” He asked her, making her flush red. She’d nearly forgotten that was how they met.
“Only if you keep saving me.” She felt delirious from her fall, flustered and out of her mind. She was still reeling from the fear of almost dying. “L-look.” She held up the skirt of her dress. “I’m a snowflake.” It felt like someone was pumping morphine into her system.
“Oh, so I should’ve caught you on my tongue then?” The rush of adrenaline had been so intense, but now all she felt like doing was laughing. She’d been so close to death, all from something so small; and now here she was in her boyfriend’s arms! It was so funny, it was so coincidental, and so-
Then everything went black.
Lumine gasped as she sat up, her blanket falling from the movement. When she looked around, she recognised the interior of her own home, though she wasn’t sure how she got here. The last thing she remembered was falling off the roof while trying to fix one of her reindeers. Was she even still alive? Or was this some sort of afterlife?
“Glazing is THAT easy?!” Aether practically cried out from the other room. “Well I could've done that!”
“It's probably better that you don't.” That was Ajax's voice! “You're not a good cook.” She smiled at that. He was a TERRIBLE cook! He'd invited her and Ajax over for a bbq dinner in the summer and one of his burgers had literally caught on fire!
“Come on, for something that simple? How can-” When they both walked into her room, Aether cut himself off with a gasp. “Sister!” Before she knew any better, he was squeezing her in a tight hug. “You scared the living hell out of me!” He shouted, but didn't ease up on the hug.
“I'm sorry! I didn't mean to, I just had to-”
“I told you, you shouldn’t be on the roof.” Lumine stiffened at Ajax’s voice. He had told her that… “I would’ve gone up there for you if it meant so much to you.”
“I keep telling you I can handle myself, I’m not some damsel in distress who needs you to do all the hard work.” She frowned up at them both as he slowly approached her.
“Well you’re kind of a dam-” Aether clamped his mouth shut when she turned to glare at him.
“She prefers the term ‘danger prone’.” Ajax amended as he sat down beside her.
“I’m not danger prone either.” She huffed out as her boyfriend hugged her. So what if she got into trouble a little more than the average girl? She could still handle herself JUST fine! “I didn’t even know you were here yet, Ajax.”
“I’d just pulled up when you opened the window.” He crossed his arms. “I didn’t want to scare you and make you lose your footing.”
“It was pretty slippery up there.” Aether glared at his sister.
“That’s what I was TRYING to tell yo-”
“Mama!” Lumine looked up at her daughter as she burst into the room, all bundled up in her winter gear. “Are you feeling better?” She looked so cute with her hair pulled back up into a pair of pigtails and dressed in her pink coat and pink boots. It was obvious her father had just picked whatever she’d asked for.
“Much better, thank you Bonnie.” Bonnie shifted on her feet, looking up at her nervously. When Lumine opened her arms for her, the little girl brightened up and ran to hug her.
“Um… can you come out and play with us?” Lumine smiled at her, but Ajax cut in before she could reply.
“Your mama almost hurt herself.” He knelt down to be eye level with her daughter. “You should let her rest a little longer.” Lumine frowned, though Bonnie looked like she understood.
“Okay, Ajax.” She loved that her daughter was taking that rejection so well, but…
“No, I'll come out and play. I should be fine.” Bonnie's face lit back up like a Christmas tree. “But only for a little bit, okay? Mama still has to finish making dinner and doing last second touches around the house.” She ignored her boyfriend's glare at her, instead adding, “Ajax will play too.”
“Really?!” Her seven year old gasped in excitement. “Okay! Hurry down soon, okay?” Before Lumine could even reply, the little girl was practically skipping out of the room. She could only imagine having that kind of energy again.
“I'd rather you lay down and rest a little more.” Ajax scolded as he looked down at her.
“Oh come on, we have to make the holidays magical for the kids, don't we?” She smiled at him when his expression softened a little.
“Alright, I get it. Come on, let’s play with the kids.”
Over the course of the next few hours, the rest of the guests arrived. Aether's wife, Nilou and their daughter Iris arrived first, joining Ajax and the kids in the back to make snowmen. At that time, Lumine was back inside working on the sides for dinner and Aether was tweaking a few decorations.
Lumine's ex-husband Xiao and his boyfriend Venti showed up a while later as the kids came in for hot chocolate. The kids spent the time between sips telling their father about all the fun they'd had so far in the day. Like a good father, Xiao listened calmly with interest; despite the fact that Lumine suspected he was a little bored. He was a great father and he loved his children deeply, but he wasn't exactly known to be the ‘fun’ parent.
The house was warm and lively, just like the twins loved to have. It wasn't the large party they held every year, but it was cozy and intimate. The smell of fresh ham filled the air soon, lights twinkling every which way, a tree in every room. Quite a few times Ajax slipped into the kitchen while Lumine cooked, pulling the silly trick of holding a mistletoe over her (with his stupidly long arms!) Just to kiss her. But at least he asked her each time if he could help.
Dinner went perfectly. Eggnog at the table, along with a couple of peppermint martinis and milk for the kids. Lumine's perfect honey glazed ham had been more than enough to fill everyone up, along with her freshly made bread, green bean casserole, and her creamy mashed potatoes with homemade gravy. There was also a bowl of mac and cheese, just for her picky daughter. It was days like these that made everyone grateful that she'd become a chef.
“Santa tonight?” Sterling, Lumine's son, asked as he sat in front of the largest tree in the house, the one with all their presents around it. He held a stuffed reindeer in his arms, dressed in his snowman patterned onesie.
“Mhm, he's going to come and deliver more toys to you tonight.” Lumine smiled from her position on the couch, nestled into her boyfriend's side. “But only if you've been good.”
“How does he know we've been good?” Iris asked, looking up from one of her barbies. “He's only seen me at the mall!” She frowned at her, then at Aether. “Do you know him, daddy?”
“No, but he knows you and me.” Iris raised a skeptical brow at the man gripping another mug of hot chocolate. Nilou yawned beside him, shifting a little.
“You know what they say.” Lumine chimed in. “He knows when you're sleeping, and he knows when you're awake.”
“And he has a list he checks.” Aether added.
“Twice! So he knows if you've been naughty or nice.” Iris rolled her eyes at her aunt.
“That sounds like magic.” She said flatly. “Everyone knows magic isn't real.” Bonnie looked up at that, eyes wide.
“That's not true! Magic is real! I've seen the toothfairy before!”
“What? No you haven’t.” Iris replied, rolling her eyes again.
“Yuh-uh! She was outside my window a few months ago!” It had been Ajax’s idea to use one of Bonnie’s small fairy toys and a fishing rod to make it appear like she was flying away. The darkness had been perfect for hiding all the clunkiness of the illusion. She really appreciated how good he was with kids and how much he wanted to help her keep the magic in their lives. He’d spent years doing the same things for his younger siblings.
“Yeah, magic is…” Venti let out a hiccup as he stood by the fireplace, hanging on Xiao’s shoulder. Lumine suspected he’d drank a bit too much again. “Real, there’s the sandman, and Santa, and the toothfairy, and the easter bunny, leprechauns and-” Xiao shushed his boyfriend as he began to ramble on about various creatures.
“...Really?” Iris looked at her father who simply nodded.
“Magic is real.” Aether confirmed. Nilou let out another yawn.
“We should start heading home, Ae.” She stretched her arms out. “Santa won’t visit if Iris isn’t in bed.” Aether nodded, but when the two began to get up, Ajax got up, making Lumine nearly tumble over.
“Hold on. In my family, we give gifts on Christmas eve.” He walked toward the tree, all eyes on him. Lumine gritted her teeth. There was no way he was going to make them change their traditions because his family did it a different way, right? He was just her boyfriend, it was a bit early to make a large family like theirs change an ingrained tradition. “I want to give one of my gifts to everyone tonight.” He turned back with a smile, holding up gifts wrapped in various kinds of paper. “Just mine.” He handed a large box to her son, then one to her daughter and her niece. He handed one box over to Aether, then one to Nilou. To her surprise, he even handed one to Venti and one to Xiao.
“Really?!” Bonnie turned to look at her as if she were looking for permission to actually open it. Lumine shrugged before gesturing to her to go ahead. Bonnie’s hands were hesitant as if she weren’t really sure this was allowed.
Paper ripped to the little girl’s right, followed by, “Whoa!” Iris looked over the box of a new car for her barbie. “I got a new car!” Bonnie squirmed in excitement, tearing the wrapper off her own, much larger present.
“Wow! It’s a house!” Bonnie cried out as she turned the box around to look at all the colourful pictures. “Thank you, Mr. Ajax!”
“More like a mansion…” Ajax whispered to Lumine as they watched look at her dreamhouse. “You're welcome, Bonnie.”
“Is this REAL, authentic Snezhnayan wine!? This is such a good vintage!” Venti shouted as he held a red bottle up, looking over the label as he dropped the gift bag down.
“Aw, new dance shoes! I was starting to wear mine down!” Nilou exclaimed as she opened a shoe box in front of her. “Thank you, Ajax.” The ginger smiled at her, glancing over at Sterling as he tore apart the Christmas themed dinosaur wrapping paper on his box. His eyes lit up at the kid sized kitchen set box.
“Whoa!” He looked at the various pictures, turning his head in every direction. Lumine wasn’t exactly sure if he understood what it was, but they could help him figure it out.
“What do you say when someone gives you something, Sterling?” The little boy turned to look at his mama and the other man.
“Thank you, papa!” He’d been calling him that for a while now, though Ajax didn’t seem to mind. Instead, he just went with it, answering back and continuing to dote on her son.
“Is this…?” Xiao began, holding an opened small white box in his hand. His other hand reached in to pull out a rather intricate looking dragon figurine.
“It’s supposed to be Rex Lapis. It came from Liyue.” Her ex-husband looked at it, admiring every angle of it.
“Thank you.”
“Wait, this is-!” Aether asked as he tore the wrapping paper off his box. “The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft?!” He practically shouted as he looked over his newest lego set, his knees bouncing in excitement.
“Lumine told me you have a Lego spaceship collection, so I looked for the best one.” Aether’s eyes were glued to it a few seconds longer, his excitement rolling off him in waves. Then he turned to his sister, practically bouncing in his seat.
“What did you get?” Lumine blinked, then looked around. She hadn’t gotten a present. She didn’t necessarily need a present; but she was starting to feel a little left out. These did come from her own boyfriend after all. Aether frowned when he noticed she had nothing either. “Ajax I think you forgot Lumine.” When the ginger looked over at her, she flashed him a playful, pleading expression.
“I didn’t forget her.” He held one hand out to her, which she took. Was he going to lead her somewhere or-
One minute, she was wondering where they were going to go, but the next her heart was hammering in her ear and her brain was breaking. She watched the tall man lean down in front of her, until he was down on one knee and his other hand was reaching for his pocket. “I know, we’ve only known each other for a year,” he started, and Lumine gulped. There’s no way this was real, right? “But I’ve really grown to love you, and your family.” The people in question watched with a deep intensity, except for the kids who didn’t quite seem to understand. “I want to be here for you and your kids. For those good times and bad.” Her face felt like it was on fire. “After the pregnancy scare last month, I’ve been really thinking about marrying you and sharing my future with you.”
“Wait. What kind of scare?” Aether asked, but he was quickly ignored.
“So…” Ajax let go of her hand to open the box, showing off perhaps one of the biggest diamonds she’d ever seen. “Will you…Marry me?” Her eyes were drowning in tears as she tried to find her words. She felt like she was choking on this moment, but not in a bad way.
“Y-Yes.” Lumine finally managed to squeak out, before she flew forward, tackling him to the ground in a hug and peppering his face in kisses. Her kids were now staring too, but she didn’t mind. She was just so incredibly happy.
This was the best Christmas present ever.
“Mmm where are you going?” Lumine asked as she watched Ajax sit up from the bed. The covers were draped over her naked body as she watched him get up and reach for a pair of red pants.
“Going to go down the chimney.” He answered nonchalantly. She blinked and sat up after him, watching him grab a pillow, then a red coat and wrapping it around him and the pillow.
“Wh-what? Why?!” He buckled it together with a black belt. He sort of was pulling Santa off; but he still looked too thin in her opinion.
“In case the kids go downstairs.” He reached for a red Santa hat and white beard. How had she missed him bringing those in?
“Wh-what if you hurt yourself?” She scooted closer on the bed. “I don’t want you falling off the roof too.”
“I’m a trained assassin.” He answered easily, leaning over to place a kiss on her nose. “I’ve gone down chimneys before, and I’ve been on plenty of roofs. Including yours to put those decorations up. I’ll be fine.” She bit her bottom lip as he walked over to the window she’d gone out earlier.
“W-well be careful.” Lumine huffed out. “And if you’re up there can you-”
“Fix Blitzen, I know.” Ajax pushed the window open. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Be careful…” She repeated, shifting under the covers. “And Ajax…?” He looked over at her, one foot out the window.
“Yeah?”
“I love you.” And then she smirked. “And bring that hat and beard back when you’re done. I think I need my stocking filled again.” He smirked back at her, slowly sliding the window down.
“I love you too. You better have some cookies up here when I come back, or I’ll eat you out instead.” She let out a squeak as the window shut fully, her face burning red in the night.
She was a very lucky woman, and getting luckier by the minute.