It's beginning to look a lot...
There was still much to be done, many rooms to fill and many personalizations that would make White Chapel a home, but the last month and some weeks had turned the drafty, empty gallery into something that was not only much warmer and more inviting, but festive.
There was a Christmas tree in nearly every communal room, garland and red bows were wound over the rails of the massive staircases, and candles floated everywhere. Golden ornaments and baubles glinted in the nestle of greenery wherever the eye rested. It was nearly as festive as Hogwarts had been during the holidays.
Gwen was pleased. Tretower hadn't ever seen the like, not while her parents had been in residence and not after. It would someday when her brother and Romy filled the estate with a mass of children.
This year though - Gwen was just thankful her brother was alive. The assortment of family and friends gathering was anything but traditional, but they were breathing and there to be with one another. It was nothing like the small, cozy Christmas a year ago, but she couldn't be anything but thankful for everyone who would fill her home this night.
Considering the tragic events at Hogsmeade, they were fortunate. She was fortunate.
She could hear the girls giggling, their laughter drifting up through her open door. Lips twitching, Gwen smoothed her hands down her dress as she stood from her dressing table. Her heels clipped against the wood and she wondered if Jonathan was already in the library as she made for the stairs.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He'd not seen a Holiday like this since he'd left Hogwarts. Families celebrated Christmas, and as he'd had none for almost the whole of his life, he hadn't celebrated. Jonathan's dark gaze traveled up the extravagantly decorated tree that towered in the space of the library. He was sitting in front of the fir, close enough that the fresh smell of the outdoors wafted through the air as he took a breath in.
This was important to Gwen. It was clear by the amount of time she'd spent preparing, by the very particular way she'd had everything set. He understood her desire to have a family Holiday. Her brother had very nearly been lost in the battle at Hogsmeade, and making sure he was close, her entire family was close, made perfect sense.
Jonathan, however, hadn't yet had the opportunity spend an evening with her whole family. Well, not really. The last time he'd been in a room with all of Gwen's extended family, her brothers had been otherwise occupied. You couldn't really have a conversation with an ass or a sheep, and barring any sudden wand-twitchings from Gwen, he'd finally have the opportunity.
He wouldn't describe the feeling in his stomach as nervousness - he'd spent quite a few hours with Bishop, Tonks and Romy in the past - but there were a few flutterings of something making his foot dance in anxiousness while he waited for everyone to arrive.
Looking up from the pile of gifts at the base of the tree, the clip of Gwen's heels on the flooring quickening his pulse by sound alone, he ran a hand over his chin and the small amount of stubble that he'd let grow.
She'd let the girls know that everyone would be arriving anytime now and they should make their way down, but she could still hear them giggling up in Regan's rooms, could hear the pitter patter of Tess running and trying to avoid the dress shoes Regan was trying to cajole her into. That Rose was helping the fey child avoid her near sister wasn't helping matters much.
Gwen was just glad there were smiles to be had this holiday and one ghosted her lips as she clipped into the library. The tree dominated her vision for a long moment, tall and bright as it was, but she could feel eyes on her, eyes that made her skin warm, and she turned to see Jonathan.
Heat stirred, but she pushed it away. Such hadn't been indulged since before Halloween. Her bed had only been shared for sleeping, but if that was what he needed right now, it was what he would have. Still, she did not deny herself the want to be near him and moved towards him, lips twitching further as she slid into his personal space. "Merry Christmas, Jonathan."
Eyes had tracked her progress into the room, and as she slid onto the arm of the chair he was in, Jonathan lifted his arm and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her into his lap. "I'm sure it will be merrier once your family's here," he said with a small turn of his lips, fingers reaching to brush a lock of dark hair behind her ear.
"Louder, certainly. Merrier," a tiny smile curled her lips as she met his gaze, "that is debatable. But it's Christmas." And thus all the things that had been pressing at the edges of her consciousness, all the weights of the weeks and months were pushed away, just as they had been for awhile now.
"So it is," he hummed. "I used a charm to wrap the gifts. Had to look it up in a book, even. I hope your brothers and sisters are appreciative." He'd seen the brief second of darker thoughts in her eyes before they were hidden, veiled, pushed aside. He'd seen so many of his own in the mirror lately that it was rather easy to recognize hers.
"Also used an extra charm for Tess'. She's going to have to work for it." He smirked, imagining the small girl ripping through the paper, only to find five more layers beneath it.
Quiet mirth suffused her then and her nose crinkled as a warm laugh slipped her lips. "Wicked, though I think she'll love the discovering almost as much as the gift itself." The thought of little Tess tumbling through the mountain of gifts, ripping at them exuberantly did lift her spirits. It was how it should have been for all of them.
Part of him brightening at the fact that he'd made her laugh, he pulled her closer. "Wicked is my middle name, love."
"And I thought it was smug arse all this time," she murmured, smile still hovering at her lips as she reached up, fingers dancing lightly over his cheek, eyes dropping to his mouth a moment before their sparkling depths met his again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Romy was nearly giddy with excitement. She hadn't celebrated a Christmas since her father's death, and even then it was only the two of them, him lavishing gifts on her as he wished he could do for her mother.
This year was vastly different, though. The extended 'family' she'd married into was large in comparison, with a wide variety of personalities bound more often by their love for each other than by the blood in their veins. Everyone in her new family was a part of it because they chose to be, not out of obligation.
There were other reasons to be happy and grateful this holiday season, she was reminded as Joscelin shrunk the large bag of gifts they were bringing and held out his hand for hers. He was not completely healed, would likely never be as spry as he'd been before his injury, but he was here. The alternative had been an unthinkable horror and she was more thankful than she could express that her husband had come back to her.
Twining her fingers with his, they Apparated to White Chapel and Romy gasped in delight as she took in the splendor around them. Gwen had outdone herself. Restless fingers adjusted the
dress she wore. It was over the top and she knew it, but it was festive and pretty and it made Romy feel good, so she would brave the inevitable raised eyebrows in good humor. Joscelin thought she looked beautiful and that was the only opinion she was concerned with.
Hazel-green eyes watched Romy's face light as she turned about, delighted gaze taking in all the decorations, the homey warmth infused in what used to be a cold and stark building. It was a hell of a turnaround, and though Joscelin thought it was nice, he had to wonder what had been driving his sister so hard to produce such dramatic results.
All the same, it was beautiful and his wife loved it. She also fit right in. His lips curled as he looked up at her. It was odd to look up at her from his wheeled chair, but he was glad to be looking at her happy, glowing face all the same.
Setting the large bag of wrapped gifts down, he tugged on the hand he already held until she spilled into his lap, the heavy, velvety red folds of her dress spilling around them. "Satisfied with this year's north pole then, Mrs. Claus?"
Romy stilled long enough to search her husband's face for any sign that her weight was paining him. Satisfied he was alright, she relaxed again, letting the light back into her eyes and smile. Leaning in to rub noses - the only appropriate greeting when one was at the North Pole - she brushed his lips lightly. "It's perfect," she admitted, feeling rather like a child again among all the splendor. "Best I've ever seen. Of course, that might have as much to do with the company as the decor."
"Gwenny may have gone overboard a bit, but I think it's the company," he said, grinning against her mouth before sliding his hand into her hair, the other resting lightly on her hip as he captured her lips.
Her heart fluttered just a little in her chest, uncertain still how to deal with the abundance of happiness and love she felt. She indulged herself, letting the kiss linger longer than was probably necessary given that they had yet to greet their hostess, before pulling away with a soft flush pinking her cheeks. "Alright Santa, have you got your Ho Ho Ho in gear? There's merrymaking to be made."
Joscelin flashed a grin, eyes twinkling. "Ho, ho, ho, darling," he said before dipping her back and pressing a kiss to honey colored skin exposed in the V of her dress.
As her head tipped back, Romy laughed, feeling lighter than she had in months. It was Christmas and she had a wonderful husband and a family to call her own. What else could a girl ask for?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
She could hear the roll of wheels, and, adjusting one more bow on the tree, Gwen turned on her heel just in time to see Joscelin and Romy fill the archway. Her eyes only widened slightly at the very festive dress her sister-in-law was wearing, but when her gaze slid to her brother and the amused expression he was aiming at her, she wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh along with the twinkle in his eyes or glower at him for finding entertainment in her reactions.
Resisting the urge to twirl as she caught the minor surprise on Gwen's face, Romy laughed. "I know. I'm overdressed, and quite overdone with my Christmas spirit. It couldn't be helped."
Romy crossed to where Gwen stood and brushed a kiss to her sister-in-law's cheek. "Everything looks amazing, Gwen. Happy Christmas."
"Thank you.. a little much, perhaps, but it is my first time directing it all myself," she admitted, tiny smile curling her lips a she turned her full attention to Romy. "You look beautiful," she added. "I just wasn't prepared to find Mother Christmas here tonight." Her lips twitched, eyes twinkling.
The smile that spread at Gwen's praise and the slight tease that followed was small, but genuine. The more time Romy spent with her new sister, the more she found she enjoyed the other woman's company. "Well, I heard a rumor someone was rivaling the decorations I've put up around the elves' workshop. I had to check it out."
"Checking out the competition is the cornerstone of good business etiquette," Jonathan said, coming to stand beside Gwen, a warm hand at the small of her back. He smirked at Romy and the very vivid Christmas picture she made before his gaze rolled down to Joscelin, "I don't know about you, but I'm dreadfully glad that I decided not to wear my beautiful red velvet gown. I would be completely jealous at being shown up."
"Thank you, Jonathan," Romy said with a giggle. She'd spent time with Gwen's beau before, mainly at the office, and they'd generally gotten on just fine. It was a little unsettling to reconcile the no-nonsense Auror with whom she was familiar to this much more charming version, though, and she couldn't help the slight tinge of pink that colored her cheeks. "I'm sure you'd look lovely in your gown, though."
"And if anymore is said on the subject, we'll have delved well beyond polite conversation," Joscelin said, grinning up at his sister. The glare she sent him had a laugh rumbling from his chest and he nodded at Jonathan. "It's probably best if we leave the skirts to the women," he agreed. "I'm not sure I've got the right curves for them."
"Oh, don't sell yourself short. Maybe Romy will let you try it on when you get home. We wouldn't want you to get a complex." Lips turned into a smirk, Jonathan looked at Gwen out of the corner of his eyes.
"I'm so very glad the girls aren't down here yet," Gwen said dryly, unamused brown eyes going to her brother to Jonathan, and back.
Romy laughed. "I don't know. Tess would probably have loads of fun doing their make-up."
"Mmm," Jonathan hummed, frowning slightly. "Let's not give the pixie that idea. I'm not sure I'd be able to say no if she asked."
"Is that right?" Gwen murmured, expression canny as she turned to him and set a hand on his chest.
"I don't suppose I could get you to keep that information confidential?" The look in Gwen's eyes told him everything he needed to know. "Damn."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Remind me to thank Fred for his repellent charm. I didn't know snot could fly that far," Tonks commented from right outside the doors. She adjusted her wrap over her dress, pushing at Jude's hand when he tugged on the beads twinkling on the bodice.
"Next time we should probably apply it to both of our outfits," Bishop returned, using his handkerchief to wipe at a speck that had landed on his sleeve. Leaning down to bump foreheads with his son, he teased the youngster, "I think you wait until we're all gussied up to have those really big ones, don't you?"
Jude grabbed at his father's ears, his giggle of delight leading to a steady supply of drool.
"Don't get him excited until we can hand him off, husband. Then it'll really be a happy Christmas."
Gently prying tiny fingers from his person, Bishop kissed his young son's head before wrapping his arms around the both of them and unsheathed his wand. "Alright, alright. Are we all set?"
"We are. You may Apparate us," Tonks replied, leaning into Bishop and holding tightly to the bag of shrunken gifts.
He counted down from three, transporting them from the cozy lighthouse to Gwen's palatial home. As he took in the surrounding, garland and Christmas finery of all kinds covering every available surface, he broke into a deep laugh. "Gwenny never does anything halfway."
"No, she doesn't," Tonks said with a bit of awe, eyes wide as she took in the great room. "I think she may have missed a calling in life: Christmas elf." Jude's eyes mimicked hers, and he reached out towards the lights, making small grunts of excitement.
"Let's go say hello to our elfin host, shall we?" Bishop suggested, his hand falling to the base of his wife's back as he led her further into the house.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A gentle hum of conversation filled the library and it warmed Gwen. The last Christmas gatherings she'd been part of that held any semblance of family and warmth, home, were past and some of their players missing. Theresa and Tristan were notably gone this season, the former missed every year since she'd been taken from them and the latter alone. It hurt to think on how much things had changed in a year, but Gwen pushed it away for the present time.
There was much to be thankful for, much to be glad for.
Gwen was glad for having so many around her, such a flurry of activity. She was glad Joscelin was alive, that Regan was with her and that perhaps she could provide for Tess what she'd obviously never had before. Besides herself and Joscelin, none of them were related by blood, but the family and friends gathered this eve of Christmas ... it wasn't the perfection her mother had always expected, but it felt good and right.
Presents could not be opened until they were all gathered though. Shifting away from everyone, she clipped to the arching doorway to look up the flights of stairs. The girls were taking their sweet time.
"Do stop fussing, precious," Regan prodded, shooing Tess onto the landing ahead of her. "You look darling, and you only have to keep everything on for a little while." Dress, stockings, patent leather mary-janes, and hair ribbon had finally been appropriately attached to the overly-excited child, though the duration of that state was already in mortal peril as Tess flicked suspiciously at the bow adorning her head.
"How long little while?" she asked cannily, trying to eye the green spill of satin out of view atop her hair.
One eyebrow arched pointedly in the mirror before she turned to go downstairs herself, Regan volleyed, "Until bedtime, which will be sooner than you'd like if you keep pouting. You wanted it curled, like mine, remember?"
"You not wearin' a bow," Tess returned, her borderline sullen expression so much like Regan's own reaction to not getting her way, not so long ago, that the elder 'sister' couldn't help but smile.
"I'm not," she agreed. "I'm too big for a bow. It looks pretty in your hair, like the china babies with their curls and party dresses." The bait was offered and accepted, a smile appearing on the soft pink lips with their touch of gloss. Relieved, Regan grinned in return and scooped Tess up to sit at her hip, starting down the stairs, calling, "Come on, Rose, or they'll start without us. Gwen loathes anything being late."
"Oh, I'm aware she hates it. I've gotten the eye several times for being late just a few minutes to practice," Rose said as she followed Regan and Tess down the stairs.
Rose stuck her tongue out at Tess when the girl looked over Regan's shoulder, shortly after rewarded with a mirror expression from the dirty blond.
"I can't help it if someone likes to steal the covers and knee me in the middle of the night," she added, reaching out to tug on a lock of Regan's hair as she came even with her friend.
Maneuvering around Tess to press a kiss to Rose's cheek, Regan pointed out, "It could be worse, you know. She doesn't wet, and once she's sleeping in her own bed, in her purple room," she emphasized, nuzzling Tess' nose with her own, "she won't have to worry about being smushed in the middle all the time."
Tess scrunched her nose, her eyes crossing for a moment as she rubbed away Regan's eskimo kiss. "Not done yet," she retorted, poking her tongue out in Rose's direction once more.
"No. Soon, though. We had to get ready for Christmas, first. Gwen had a mission, from the look of things," Regan observed, nodding around at the impressively festive decor as they reached the ground level.
"Miss'in?" Tess began, only to be immediately distracted by Gwen's presence. "Ooh, pretty!" she squealed, wriggling until Regan turned her loose to bolt over to the eldest household member, where she ran her fingertips over the lace surface of her caretaker's skirt.
"There you are," Gwen said, fingers brushing against Tess' as the fascinated little girl studied her dress. "Are you quite ready for gifts then, hmm?"
Nodding, Tess held her hands up to Gwen. "Hug?" she asked, waving her fingers hopefully. "Please?" She'd gotten much better at remembering Gwen's favorite word, though it didn't work quite as encompassingly as she might have hoped.
"Yes, always, little love," Gwen assured her as she swept the small child up and into her arms. A light nuzzle to her soft cheek was given before she pressed her lips in a quick kiss, her dark eyes drifting past to the two older girls coming down the last steps.
"You both look quite lovely. I'd expect nothing less, of course, given everyone's been here for going on fifteen minutes." Despite her words, Gwen's brow lifted and her lips twitched.
With a low and good-natured sniff, Regan countered, "You get to wrangle her the next time she has to wear nice shoes, then. I was close to having Rose sit on her for me."
"I totally would have," Rose said with a giggle.
Snuggling closer to Gwen, Tess whispered in self-defense, "Shoes pinch. Bein' good girl. Bow still on."
"And you look very lovely as well," she assured the feyling softly. Wand in hand then, Gwen murmured a spell she'd learned a long, long time ago from a cobbler she'd commissioned a fortune's worth of shoes from. "Do the shoes feel better now?"
Tess nodded, squirming free as the news of their guests registered. "Joss'n here? He bringed the doggies?" she wanted to know, peering around for signs of the company Gwen had mentioned.
"Not this time, but Teddy's in there waiting for you with Jonathan and everyone else. You'll get to meet Aunt Dora and little Jude, and my other brother, Bishop, as well." It was a lot for a child to process, but Gwen had found that Tess was quite bright and she felt no reason to speak to her as if she wasn't. "You can go on in and introduce yourself to everyone if you'd like?"
"'Kay," Tess agreed readily, skipping off into the greatroom, her shoes and the ordeal they'd caused already entirely forgotten. Joscelin was fun, and she hadn't met this Bishop person yet, but he was probably fun as well.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Watching Rose follow little Tess into the library, Gwen's lips twitched and she turned to her near-sister, reaching to pull her close and link their arms together. "Was she so very difficult to wrangle then?"
Regan sighed, winding her arm in Gwen's and leaning closer to brush a kiss across one flawless cheek. "You know how she is... a thousand questions to get out of anything she'd rather not do, and frighteningly enough, her logic is usually sound, in some way or other."
Shaking her head, she conceded, "She isn't going outdoors, and it's warm in here, so shoes aren't really necessary. I told her it was just in case Joscelin rolled over her toes. That and the hair ribbon were nearly lost causes for the evening."
"We've fallen very far, haven't we," Gwen said, tiny smile curling her lips when she glanced over at Regan. "Wheeling and dealing with a person a quarter our age and not even half so tall."
Nose scrunching at the poke, Regan returned, "Really, you get to dress her next time, then. Or give her to Jonathan, but she'd have come down in her denims and jumper, barefoot."
Glancing around at the people they'd gathered; an odd sort of family, to be sure, but theirs, or... most of it... she wondered at the difference between this holiday and the last one, and tried to quash the sharp pain of longing for the one remaining member of her blood family. Fingers tightening minutely on Gwen's wrist, she admitted softly, "I miss him. Even as things are, I wish for him here."
It was a thought that had been filtering through her mind for the last several weeks as they neared Christmas, and even several times already that night. This holiday was so very striking in its difference from the last, and while she couldn't be anything but thankful for the group - family - assembled, Regan's words rang true.
"I wish him here too, dear one," Gwen murmured, voice low and intimate, only carrying to Regan's ears as she slowed their progress towards the library. "I miss him in ways I didn't know it was possible to miss a person," she admitted, somehow on this day, such a raw one if she thought on it too hard, it was easier to open some.
Wordlessly she disentangled their arms and turned to bring Regan against her, arms wrapping tightly around the slightly smaller woman. "We should see him soon."
"I did, yesterday... to wish him a happy Christmas, such as it is." Her voice faded on the last, thinking of her brother sitting silently in his suite at Waverly, alone, and Regan turned her face against Gwen's neck, breathing her sister's warm scent to keep from crying. "I feel so guilty, that he's by himself tonight and we're all here," she confessed, having learned, if anything, from her sessions with Charlotte that she was better off voicing the things that bothered her, at least to Gwen.
Swallowing, she bolstered herself enough to add, "I'm lucky to have you still, though. To have this."
"That is how I feel as well," Gwen said softly, hand soothing up and down Regan's back as much for herself as for the blonde. "Lucky to love and be loved, though it does not completely allay such feelings as you've described. I can only hope that he's here with us next year."
She swallowed back the lump in her throat as her thoughts wandered, and hugged Regan tightly a moment longer before pulling away enough to look her friend in the eye. They were both a bit watery yet, and Gwen leaned in to press a kiss to Regan's cheek. "Merry Christmas, despite it all, love. It is our second, of countless others I hope."
Regan nodded, nuzzling Gwen in turn. "Happy Christmas, heart's-sister." Finding a smile, she ventured, "If we collect much more family, we may need a larger house next year."
Despite the spark of thought Regan's words incited, a grin touched Gwen's lips. "That's what magic is for, dear one."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Bishop's eyes followed the little girl with the bow that was slowly slipping from its original perfect placement as she bounced about the room, restless excitement pulling her attention in too many directions to be still for very long. It amused him to no end that Gwen had somehow ended up with a houseful of youngsters under her care in one way or another. Casting a glance in his sister's direction, he decided it suited her.
It was not the way they'd expected Gwen's family to grow. At this time the prior year, they'd all been anticipating a wedding, and likely a baby shortly thereafter. If he could have, Bishop would've spared Gwen the pain of what had happened instead, but looking at those gathered around the room, he was satisfied that she was happy, even if it was in a different way than expected.
The corners of his mouth turned upward as Gwen's little sprite danced over, looking up at him curiously. Lowering himself into a crouch, as close to the young one's level as he could get short of sitting on the floor, he spoke conspiratorially. "They made you dress up, too, then?" he asked, tugging lightly on the skirt of her pretty green dress. "Personally, I'd rather be lounging in my pajamas, but my wife," he nodded in Dora's direction, "chased me 'round the room until I agreed to put on trousers."
Tess nodded in response to the question-greeting she'd been posed, tilting her head at the large man who'd stopped her progress toward investigating Romy's dress. He was head and shoulders taller than she was, even sitting on his heels, and she turned her eyes up to ask, "You the brother, too? B-sha?"
Looking around for Gwen, she caught sight of Joscelin in his chair, and whipped back to Bishop to query as it occurred to her, "All brothers big? Sisses isn't all big. Regan isn't. Gwen too. Only brothers big?"
Bishop chuckled as the questions came at him one after the other. Gwen would have her hands full with this one, as precocious as she herself was but without the filter impressed upon Gwen from her earliest days.
"I'm the brother Bishop, yes," he acknowledged, reaching up to straighten the falling bow. "And you, I believe, must be Tess, the newest princess in the castle. As for brothers, not all of them are big, but we do tend to be bigger than sisters. Gwen's brothers need to be big, though, so we can protect ourselves when she gets upset with us. Brothers are very good at annoying sisters, especially when we love them a lot."
"Gwen get us-set? Mad? No smacks though, she said." Eying Bishop warily as he released her head, the bow in place once again, Tess prodded, "Do give smacks, or no? You too big be getting smacks." The any-ing word was new, and she was sure Bishop did love Gwen... it was hard not to, once she stopped being all blank, but if he was like Joscelin, Gwen liked to yell at him.
The question caught him off guard, and Bishop's expression softened as he wondered how often Tess had gotten 'smacks' for it to come to mind so easily. "No princess, I don't give smacks and Gwen doesn't either. She does like to use her wand on Joscelin and me, but that's special just for big brothers who make her mad."
Nodding slowly as she listened, Tess clarified, "Don't gonna zap me, too, Gwen said. Or Red Lady. I'm too little? And bein'-have. Bow fixed now. Shoes still on." She pointed to her feet, with the shiny shoes Regan had made her wear, which at least didn't pinch now that Gwen had fixed them with her zap.
"No one's going to zap you," he promised the little sprite, "and if anyone tried they'd get a big zapping of their own from Gwen, Joscelin, and me. Probably a few others, too. Hurting princesses is not allowed in this family. Would you like to come meet the rest of the family? My Dora and Jude are just over there." He pointed to where his wife was letting Jude admire the twinkling lights on the tree as his son gave a delighted squeal.
Her eyes following where the big man pointed, Tess sighted a tall woman holding a baby, and her mouth curled into a smile. Babies were sort of fun, so long as their mamas weren't too loud about them being sticky or making noise, and she couldn't imagine this Dora being that way, if she was Bishop's. "'Kay," she agreed readily. "Baby is happy? He likes the tree, too?"
"He does. Most of the time he's a very happy baby." Catching Tess around the waist, he swung her up onto his shoulders and stood so she towered over the rest of the assembled crowd. "Hang on tight!" he said as they started across the room.
Shrieking in surprise as she was suddenly several feet taller than she was used to, Tess curled her fingers in Bishop's hair, getting herself balanced as he started walking. "Gwen's brothers very big," she commented, mostly to herself.
Bishop's laugh boomed through the air as he kept a steadying hand on the little legs hanging from his shoulders. It was nice - and good practice - to have a little girl around again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Joscelin chuckled as he watched Gwen's little halfling introduce herself to Bishop, but his gaze was drawn to another who'd followed her into the library. He'd seen hair that color - bright orangey red - only one other place.
"You're Gwen's new Chaser?" he asked, wondering at his sister's ability to collect people. He could only think she was nesting. Or something. Not that he'd say it to her - tonight, anyways. He'd rather not spend the evening as an ass again. Not so soon, anyways.
"Last time I checked," Rose said with a grin, sticking out a small hand towards the man she'd heard so much about from Regan. "And you're the big brother."
"Well, shorter for now, but generally bigger most of the time," Joscelin agreed, grinning as he clasped her hand and brushed a kiss to her knuckles. He didn't have to look very far up from his chair at this one and his lips went crooked. "Nearly bigger than you from here, even, though I wouldn't have guessed it from what I've seen on the pitch. Falmouth didn't have a chance."
Rose's grin widened, turning her whole body towards Joscelin. "Luckily we'll never know, since Gwen caught that snitch." The nudge at her being small had her eyes narrowing slightly. "Sometimes good things come in small packages."
"Never said it was a bad thing, sunshine," Joscelin said, holding his hands up. "If I recall, the Chaser you replaced was pint size, and really, Gwenny's not that big herself. And my wife over there," he said, nodding towards Romy in her extravagant Christmas gown, "is not overly tall either, especially for an Auror. What I've found," he said, eyes twinkling now, "is that the smaller the package, the more fierce ... and ready to use your wand." He winked.
"Oh, I've been told that in this company I don't have to worry about it. Gwen'll make sure you're dealt with in a proper fashion." Rose had laughed uproariously at the stories Regan had told her. She understood the desire to hex older brothers. She had three who were always angling for one, in one way or another. "Plus, I don't think I'd be quite so creative in doing so. In other things, perhaps, but hexing? Not so much. I'll leave that to the semi-pros."
Joscelin grinned. "Don't ever say that too loud. She might hear you only think her semi-pro, and then she'd feel obligated to show differently. I am trying to keep myself all apiece tonight. Hooves didn't suit, I don't think."
"Mmm, I don't know. I hear wool is in this year."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Still feeling rather overjoyed by the collection of people gathered who were all just a little bit hers, Romy spotted Regan and made her way over to talk to the younger woman. They'd had their ups and downs, but the most recent visits at Tretower had been pleasant, and they were both making an effort to improve their budding friendship.
"Happy Christmas, Regan," she said, bright smile firmly in place as she leaned in to brush a kiss to the blonde's cheek. "It's good to see you again."
"Oh! Merry Christmas, Romilda," Regan greeted in return, catching the Auror's hands to squeeze them gently. "I'm so glad you're both here with us tonight," she said sincerely, eyes flicking to Joscelin as he made Rose burst into giggles. "I'm sure he's been driving you mad, being cooped up."
Romy's mouth curled into an affectionate grin as her eyes found her husband. "He tries very hard not to let me see that he's frustrated. There have been a few instances where I've caught him tearing through the house. Joscelin doesn't do 'sheepish', he always look quite pleased with himself no matter how much scolding he gets."
Smirking at Romy's choice of adjective, Regan commented, "I don't know... I think Gwen could manage a sheep if she were vexed enough. I'll try to bring Tess to play more often, though. Goodness knows they act the same age on a regular basis."
"She did do a convincing job on Bishop..." Romy admitted, shaking her head as she remembered that night. "Jos would love to have Tess over, and you too, of course. He's quite excited about her gift, actually. Can't wait to have her try it out with him."
Regan winced at the thought of the sort of toy Joscelin would have found for Tess. "I'm not sure I want to know, honestly, but I think whatever it is might need to live at your house." Her mind caught on the idea that they were not certain that Tess would even being staying, but she dismissed it for another time, unwilling to ruin the joy of the evening.
Laughing softly and quite at ease with the wariness and suspicion any gift from her husband brought, Romy nodded. "I'll do my best, but I'm fairly certain half his enjoyment comes from imagining its use in the halls of White Chapel." Her grin went a little crooked as she added, "I did manage to talk him out of the one that might have inspired him to use aerodynamic charms."
With a shake of her head, Romy changed tack a bit. "Have you thought about schooling at all? Draco Malfoy has a primary school for magical children... or would you employ a private tutor?"
A little groan escaped at the idea of Tess flying anything in the house. "She probably would want to go flying, too," Regan muttered.
Biting her lip, eyes flicking around until she found the feyling buzzing about near Gwen, Regan shook her head. "I've thought on it, but we don't know that she's staying. She has got a grandmother, somewhere... and Gwen's quite attached, but it would be her decision. It's not as if anyone with the right authority would give me a child to raise."
Romy nodded solemnly, her eyes following Regan's to where Tess was, the girl's excitement and happiness obvious in her bearing. Regan was probably right. She was rather young to take on rearing a child, at least in the eyes of those with the capacity to make such a determination, not to mention her brother's current state and the concerns there.
Gwen, however, was in a much better position to attempt to gain custody. She had an impeccable reputation, as well as significant wealth and power. It wasn't as obvious to those outside the family that Romy's sister-in-law had a very loving heart, but Gwen didn't lack in that area either. "Tess seems very happy where she is, and the little bits I've heard about her home life before don't sound very promising. I suppose we can only hope the grandmother will see the opportunity for Tess if she were to stay here."
"She doesn't seem very protective, given that Tess was elsewhere as much as wherever 'home' was, from what she's said. Nevermind that we've scoured the lists from Hogsmeade for months now and found nothing." Regan sighed, forcibly releasing the frustration the issue never failed to raise. She'd fallen for Tess the instant Gwen had pressed the child into her arms, and more than wanting Tess to stay with them, she wanted the girl to have a good childhood, and to be loved.
Clearing her face with as much alacrity as her brother might have managed, she turned calm eyes to Romy. "I think she'd like school, if she stays. Percy's son, Jack, goes to Saraswati Preparatory, and she's quite keen on him, so whatever he does is of particular interest to her."
"She does seem to enjoy being part of things. Tutoring can be done well, but for a girl like Tess, I'd have to agree. She'd probably thrive in a group setting. It doesn't sound like she had much opportunity to spend time with other children in the past. That can be awfully lonely."
Whenever Tess' grandmother was found, Romy hoped the woman would be willing to let the little girl stay. A preemptive visit to the Ministry's social worker might be worthwhile, but she'd have to speak to Gwen about it first. Romy didn't have a lot of clout, but she'd dealt with that department in the past and it wasn't likely to hurt in any case.
Smiling in understanding, having been almost completely isolated for the duration of her own childhood, Regan agreed, "It is. Tess is quite social... I'd fear the chaos if she were kept in with a tutor for too long. I rather think she'd take after your husband."
Breaking into giggles, Romy looked across the room, unsurprised to see Joscelin cajoling the little girl into what was most certainly some kind of mischief. "I'm afraid if Joscelin has any say in the matter, she'll be molded in that way regardless of her schooling."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tess was settled in her lap, excited energy making her little form vibrate. Lips curled into a tiny smile at the child in her arms, Gwen brushed a kiss to the downy soft skin of her cheek and whispered, "you can go open now, little love. The big one."
Tipping her head back to regard Gwen with wide eyes, Tess pointed at the wrapped parcel in question. "That one mine?" she asked disbelievingly, sliding from her perch to shift from foot to foot in anticipation. Gannaw had wrapped her rag baby in brown paper the year before, and she'd enjoyed tearing open the uneven envelope to find the plain little doll, but she'd never received so large or well-appointed a gift before.
"All yours," Gwen promised, smile curling her lips as she pet a hand lightly down her hair before nudging the small girl forward.
Somewhat haltingly, Tess hopped forward and circled the box in its bright paper, the whole of the thing nearly as tall as she herself was. Running a hand along a fold in the paper, she dug her fingertips under the flap and tugged, glancing back to Gwen as the wrapping started to tear.
At the reassuring nod, she pulled more intently at the layer of paper, her brow furrowing as a bit of something tiled-looking came visible. Determined now, she found another corner and began peeling downward, a quiet "Oh!" sounding as the beautiful and detailed dollhouse was revealed.
"House for playin'?" Tess asked absently, mesmerized by the tiny furniture and fixtures.
"That, is, in fact a house for playing with," Gwen agreed, eyes lifting to the other smiling faces around. "Merry Christmas, love," she added, bright eyes coming back to the enthralled little girl.
Bouncing up from her study of the wallpaper's miniature design, beaming brightly, Tess ran back to Gwen and flung herself into her surrogate parent's arms. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" she chattered, scrambling up to kiss Gwen's face. "Mer'Chrissmas!"
"You're welcome," Gwen said, a bubble of laughter rippling from her lips as she was peppered with kisses. "You're very, very welcome."
Setting her away enough to summon one other present, Gwen put it in Tess' hands. "One more, darling."
"'Nother one?" Tess queried, still fully aglow over the lavish toy she'd just been given. She ran her fingers over the shiny paper, pulling at an edge when Gwen urged her on. The wrapping removed easily enough, she pried open the box it hid, blinking in disbelief at her discovery.
Reaching out to trace a fingertip over the doll's shining golden curls, she whispered, "China baby... she pretty..." Head rolling back against Gwen's shoulder, eyes full of wonder, she asked quietly, "I keepin'? She mine?"
"All yours," Gwen promised as she reached out to pet a hand down Tess' own curled hair. "You play with her all you'd like."
Satisfied, Tess curled up in Gwen's lap to snuggle her new baby. She'd have to have a name, before too long, but they had to get to know each other, first.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Clearing his throat, the adults giving Tess ample time to tear through the wrapping and paper covering her gifts from Gwen, Jonathan rose to his feet. Flicking his wand, several packages that had been pushed towards the rear of the tree lifted and flew towards their recipients. Running a hand over the scruff at his chin, Jonathan shrugged his shoulders.
"I suppose I can't compete with an entire house, but I had to try."
The truth was that Jonathan had never bought anyone a Christmas present in the entirety of his life, and he'd had no idea where to start. He'd spent several hours in several stores until he'd finally decided on what he had, and despite the salesperson ensuring him that he'd done well, he had no idea how the gifts would go over.
He had a vague feeling that he might have gone overboard, but with no basis for comparison, there was no way to be sure.
He'd have to wait for the looks on their faces.
Gwen watched as looks of mild surprise passed across some features, but the spirit of the night didn't hold anyone back from opening their gifts. Joscelin and Bishop guffawed about how sauced they could manage to get with two bottles of scotch while Jude wriggled and squealed at the bright color of the wagon that Dora uncovered.
She cast her gaze back towards the girls all sitting near her and raised a brow, lips twitching. "Shall we, then?"
Settling Tess on the floor beside her and quashing her own surprise at the three neatly-wrapped parcels Jonathan had distributed to her, Regan set about removing the paper on the smallest box, smiling as a remarkably well-chosen pair of earrings appeared.
She was accosted immediately by Tess' little hands, presenting a similar pair, with clips for her unpierced ears. "Look!" the little girl chortled, bouncing excitedly and pointing to Gwen's lap as well, where another set of pearls lay. "All same!"
Another wriggle later, Tess leapt up to find Jonathan, a broad grin on her face as she wound her arms around his knee in a hug. "Pretty, thank you." She held the earrings up, entreating, "Put on? Please?"
Regan bit her lip to keep from snickering, offering, "They are lovely, Jonathan, thank you."
"You're welcome," he said, brown eyes finding Regan's hazel ones as his fingers grabbed the small pearls he'd picked out for Tess. He knew she'd want what Regan and Gwen had gotten, or at the very least something similar, and was glad that he hadn't been mistaken. Pushing the downy hair away from the girl's ear, he carefully clipped the earring onto her lobe, hoping it didn't pinch too tightly.
Jonathan moved to the next ear, sitting back when they were both secure. "They're lovely, Tess. You look much older than five. Six, maybe even six and a half."
His gaze ticked upwards, catching Gwen's. They were warm, happy, exactly as he'd hoped they'd be. He knew he'd been pathetically distant in the past months, and even though the weight of guilt he felt over Hazel's death still fell heavy on his shoulders, he'd missed the sparkle in her eyes, the spark that had been there before Halloween and the havoc it'd wrought.
If he could make her smile like he used to, make her laugh, maybe something in him would ease. He wanted to make her happy, and knowing he'd been sorely lacking only urged him to try harder, do better.
"The jewelry boxes are lovely too," Gwen said, eyes lighting as she watched Tess' focus in on Rose's as the paper fell away.
"And as long as we're exchanging gifts now..." Gwen pulled her wand then and murmured a spell that had everyone's gifts floating leisurely towards the recipients. "... Happy Christmas, everyone," she said, tiny smile curling her lips.
Curious at the tinier of the packages that Gwen had sent his way, Joscelin tore the paper away. Revealed was pink and purple streamers, and Joscelin looked at them curiously for several moments.
"They're streamers," Gwen said, lips twitching as she watched her brother. She knew what he'd been getting up to at Tretower, how he'd recruited just about everyone in her household into racing him around the ground floor. "For the handles of your chair."
Bishop tried to cover his snort with a cough, but he knew no one was fooled. "Those are very pretty, Petunia. You'll be the flashiest girl around."
"Yes, I thought they were rather nice myself," Gwen agreed, dark eyes finding Bishop's just as a warm laugh slipped her lips. "Though I think your gift is nice also," she added to her other brother, eyes bright as she waited for him to open his gift.
Bishop eyed her with good-natured wariness as he tore the wrapping paper away. As he pulled the box top off, a rumbling laugh spilled from his lips. "Sheepskin. My favorite." He leaned over to drop a kiss on his sister's forehead. "Thank you, Gwenny. They're very nice. My feet will be nice and toasty this winter."
"I thought they might suit, all things considered," Gwen replied, the twinkle usually in Joscelin's eye tinting her own as when she looked up at him.
"You're a laugh a minute, Gwenny," Joscelin said dryly, though a smile curled his lips moments later as he ripped open the package for his streamers. "Though, these are pretty flashy," he added as he turned about to fasten them to his chair.
Jonathan's lips were curled into a smirk as he watched Gwen's brother attach the bright streamers to his chair, fingers already pulling apart the wrapping covering the smaller and less heavy of the two boxes that had floated his way. The tie was silk, and he couldn't help but run his fingers over the material. He'd always enjoyed silk, but as all of Gwen's nightclothes were the smooth fabric, he'd found a whole new appreciation.
"Thank you so much, Auror man," Rose said, bouncing in front of him as she carefully pushed the emerald earrings into her ears. "The jewelry box was more than enough, but I'm a girl, so I'll never turn down something sparkly."
"So I figured," he said, smiling softly. "They clash horribly with your hair."
"They do?" Rose's grin brightened. "Perfect."
As the colorful sprite turned her attention to Tess, lifting the small girl onto her hip, Jonathan's eyes looked down at the other box Gwen had sent his direction. It was a bit of chaos, wrapping paper littering the floor as people continued to rip into their gifts, but it was something he was finding he liked. Ordered chaos. Safe and happy chaos.
Jonathan tore the bright paper from around the box, opening it to reveal a collection of single-malt whisky. He lifted each bottle and peered at the label. He'd heard of some of them, but others were new. Where Gwen had found them, he wasn't sure, but found them she had.
His dark gaze sought hers from across the room, where Tess was showing her the purple bathrobe he'd also gotten the girl. Catching her eyes, he smiled, an honest expression on his lips as he peered at her.
Gwen's lips twitched into a tiny smile when she met Jonathan's gaze over Tess' head. It warmed her in a way she'd not felt in months to see the expression on his face, to see the almost happy ease he'd taken this eve with the family about.
Scooping Tess up, eyes brightening on the tiny girl's when she giggled and held on, Gwen moved towards him and bent to brush a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you for the gifts." Thank you for trying for everyone.
She pressed her cheek to his a moment before rising, dark eyes going to Tess. "There's still a few more left for you beneath the tree, little one. Shall we go see what Regan has brought?"
Tess blinked, happy to be snuggled into Gwen and full of glee from opening gifts. "More?" she asked, her mind darting over the piles of colorful paper she'd already unearthed things from. "Where gonna go?"
Turning about, Gwen nodded towards Regan and the small pile of gifts she had near her chair. "Just over there, love." Pressing a light kiss to Tess' downy cheeky, she set her down to find her way through the debris towards the blond.
Screwing up her face in concentration, Tess shook her head. "No." She stared at Gwen for a moment, then tugged at her to ask, "Where things gonna go? Where playin'-house and baby and purpur robe gonna go? And more things?"
"In your room," she replied, brows pulling together slightly as she bent to Tess' level. "It'll be done very soon and then all of your things can go there."
"They live here, forever?" the little girl continued to question, still somewhat unsure of timeframes and the matter of herself staying in this house. She loved Gwen and Regan, and Rose, and the J-man, and liked living in the pretty house with them, but it wasn't where she was supposed to live, she thought, and all of the nice new things would probably stay with the pretty house.
"No, they'll go wherever you go," Gwen said, shaking her head slightly. Her dark eyes were intent on Tess' face though, and it was in that moment that she really thought about the little girl leaving them, taking her toys with her. It nearly made her frown.
With a slow nod, Tess let go of Gwen and accepted the silver-wrapped package Regan held out to her. She plopped herself on the rug, digging into the paper and pulling it off without prompting, this time. She giggled and clapped at the fancy scent bottle and vanity set she uncovered, announcing giddily, "For my prettyin' table!" as she bounded up to hug Regan.
Laughing in response, Regan cuddled Tess and bent to kiss one round cheek. "Yes, just like mine," she murmured happily. She hefted the child onto her lap, producing a smaller, flat box, which she also presented to the feyling. "This too... and some things for your new room, but you'll get those later."
Already stripping the parcel of its curled ribbon, which she wrapped around her arm as an ornament, Tess laid her head back against Regan's shoulder and prized the lid from the box, running her small fingers over the shiny surface of the combs nestled in tissue within. "Pretty," she breathed. "What for?"
"For your hair, precious," Regan explained, shifting Tess so she could pull the hated bow away from her dark bronze curls. She took the comb Tess held up and slid it in place, making a neat little knot at the back of the child's head, the rest of her ringlets tumbling free about her thin shoulders.
Tess looked to Gwen, tilting her head to feel where the comb was anchored. "I pretty?" she asked, dipping her chin so her caretaker could see the new shiny thing.
A smile touched Gwen's lips, banishing the unsettling thoughts of Tess' departure away, and she nodded slightly. "You're quite beautiful, little one."
Regan gave Tess little squeaking kisses until she squirmed and squealed, then let her dance free to go collect her baby and brush its hair. "Yours are here, too, if you've a moment," she hinted at Gwen, gathering the gifts in question and offering them to her sister.
Gwen's eyes were bright as she watched Tess skip away, but when she turned her gaze back to Regan, she nodded towards the few wrapped gifts that Regan had neglected to open. "Shall we do it together then?"
"While our laps are unoccupied?" Regan teased, gathering her presents from Gwen. "I'm glad she's enjoying her Christmas. Everyone certainly seems to have had fun finding things for her."
She unfastened paper as she spoke, raising the lid on a familiarly-shaped box to nearly purr at its contents. "Oh, they're gorgeous, Gwen, thank you!" she said, pulling the silver pumps from the box to admire them.
"I'm glad you like them," Gwen said, eyes warm as she watched Regan. Her blond friend was particular and she'd spent days looking for just the right pair of heels. Not only because she wanted to find something Regan loved, but because they were selected to go with the gift Regan had yet to open. "I hope you like what they were selected to go with as well," she added as she began to tear the paper from the first box Regan had handed her.
Her lips turned up when a pair of slippers were revealed. "These are perfect," she said softly, finger tracing over the softness. "I'd been thinking on getting some as I've been around the gallery so much of late. Thank you."
"Mm, I'd thought a pair might not go amiss, though they don't click quite so intimidatingly as you tend to prefer," Regan returned, smiling. "They go with something?" she added, choosing the likelier of the two remaining options and unearthing a clothing box from its wrapping.
The dress to match was stunning, and she 'ooh'ed appreciatively. "They do, I see. I ought to let you do all my shopping, I think." Her last box, the smallest, proved to hold a well-suited and delicate bracelet to complete the outfit, and she grinned broadly at her sister's impeccable taste.
"Everything is lovely. I should aspire to your skill, but I think I should only be disappointed in myself," she commented cheerfully, leaning across the space between their chairs to bestow a kiss.
"I've made an art of shopping for beautiful things," Gwen replied, lips turning up at the corners. "Once you gain the years between us, I think you will have it down to an artform as well." The smile touched her eyes then, but she lowered her gaze to open the last package Regan had given her.
The feathered earrings captured her attention thoroughly. They were so delicate, lovely, and not at all like what she usually bought for herself. All the same, her mind was already filtering through her wardrobe for what would be best to wear with them. "These are beautiful, Regan," she said, eyes still studying the delicately pretty things for several moments before she raised her gaze to the moss green ones on her and smiled. "I think I shall love them."
Quite amused by her sister's enchantment with the uncharacteristically dainty jewelry, Regan laughed softly and felt at peace for a rare moment. She missed the cozy solitude of the previous Christmas, but gently, for now, and the happiness around her balanced, somewhat, the ache for things that might have been.
"I am glad, then. I did not think you would have them without help." Much and dearly as she loved Gwen, the woman wore her shield in all forms, and here at home, at least, she deserved to show true, some of the time.
"No, I wouldn't have, but I'm glad you know the parts of me that desire such things that I often forget myself," she said softly, leaning over on the sofa to press a kiss to Regan's hair. "Thank you."
"And you," Regan answered, nuzzling Gwen in turn. "Happy Christmas."
Summary: Christmas gathering Part I
There was a Christmas tree in nearly every communal room, garland and red bows were wound over the rails of the massive staircases, and candles floated everywhere. Golden ornaments and baubles glinted in the nestle of greenery wherever the eye rested. It was nearly as festive as Hogwarts had been during the holidays.
Gwen was pleased. Tretower hadn't ever seen the like, not while her parents had been in residence and not after. It would someday when her brother and Romy filled the estate with a mass of children.
This year though - Gwen was just thankful her brother was alive. The assortment of family and friends gathering was anything but traditional, but they were breathing and there to be with one another. It was nothing like the small, cozy Christmas a year ago, but she couldn't be anything but thankful for everyone who would fill her home this night.
Considering the tragic events at Hogsmeade, they were fortunate. She was fortunate.
She could hear the girls giggling, their laughter drifting up through her open door. Lips twitching, Gwen smoothed her hands down her dress as she stood from her dressing table. Her heels clipped against the wood and she wondered if Jonathan was already in the library as she made for the stairs.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He'd not seen a Holiday like this since he'd left Hogwarts. Families celebrated Christmas, and as he'd had none for almost the whole of his life, he hadn't celebrated. Jonathan's dark gaze traveled up the extravagantly decorated tree that towered in the space of the library. He was sitting in front of the fir, close enough that the fresh smell of the outdoors wafted through the air as he took a breath in.
This was important to Gwen. It was clear by the amount of time she'd spent preparing, by the very particular way she'd had everything set. He understood her desire to have a family Holiday. Her brother had very nearly been lost in the battle at Hogsmeade, and making sure he was close, her entire family was close, made perfect sense.
Jonathan, however, hadn't yet had the opportunity spend an evening with her whole family. Well, not really. The last time he'd been in a room with all of Gwen's extended family, her brothers had been otherwise occupied. You couldn't really have a conversation with an ass or a sheep, and barring any sudden wand-twitchings from Gwen, he'd finally have the opportunity.
He wouldn't describe the feeling in his stomach as nervousness - he'd spent quite a few hours with Bishop, Tonks and Romy in the past - but there were a few flutterings of something making his foot dance in anxiousness while he waited for everyone to arrive.
Looking up from the pile of gifts at the base of the tree, the clip of Gwen's heels on the flooring quickening his pulse by sound alone, he ran a hand over his chin and the small amount of stubble that he'd let grow.
She'd let the girls know that everyone would be arriving anytime now and they should make their way down, but she could still hear them giggling up in Regan's rooms, could hear the pitter patter of Tess running and trying to avoid the dress shoes Regan was trying to cajole her into. That Rose was helping the fey child avoid her near sister wasn't helping matters much.
Gwen was just glad there were smiles to be had this holiday and one ghosted her lips as she clipped into the library. The tree dominated her vision for a long moment, tall and bright as it was, but she could feel eyes on her, eyes that made her skin warm, and she turned to see Jonathan.
Heat stirred, but she pushed it away. Such hadn't been indulged since before Halloween. Her bed had only been shared for sleeping, but if that was what he needed right now, it was what he would have. Still, she did not deny herself the want to be near him and moved towards him, lips twitching further as she slid into his personal space. "Merry Christmas, Jonathan."
Eyes had tracked her progress into the room, and as she slid onto the arm of the chair he was in, Jonathan lifted his arm and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her into his lap. "I'm sure it will be merrier once your family's here," he said with a small turn of his lips, fingers reaching to brush a lock of dark hair behind her ear.
"Louder, certainly. Merrier," a tiny smile curled her lips as she met his gaze, "that is debatable. But it's Christmas." And thus all the things that had been pressing at the edges of her consciousness, all the weights of the weeks and months were pushed away, just as they had been for awhile now.
"So it is," he hummed. "I used a charm to wrap the gifts. Had to look it up in a book, even. I hope your brothers and sisters are appreciative." He'd seen the brief second of darker thoughts in her eyes before they were hidden, veiled, pushed aside. He'd seen so many of his own in the mirror lately that it was rather easy to recognize hers.
"Also used an extra charm for Tess'. She's going to have to work for it." He smirked, imagining the small girl ripping through the paper, only to find five more layers beneath it.
Quiet mirth suffused her then and her nose crinkled as a warm laugh slipped her lips. "Wicked, though I think she'll love the discovering almost as much as the gift itself." The thought of little Tess tumbling through the mountain of gifts, ripping at them exuberantly did lift her spirits. It was how it should have been for all of them.
Part of him brightening at the fact that he'd made her laugh, he pulled her closer. "Wicked is my middle name, love."
"And I thought it was smug arse all this time," she murmured, smile still hovering at her lips as she reached up, fingers dancing lightly over his cheek, eyes dropping to his mouth a moment before their sparkling depths met his again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Romy was nearly giddy with excitement. She hadn't celebrated a Christmas since her father's death, and even then it was only the two of them, him lavishing gifts on her as he wished he could do for her mother.
This year was vastly different, though. The extended 'family' she'd married into was large in comparison, with a wide variety of personalities bound more often by their love for each other than by the blood in their veins. Everyone in her new family was a part of it because they chose to be, not out of obligation.
There were other reasons to be happy and grateful this holiday season, she was reminded as Joscelin shrunk the large bag of gifts they were bringing and held out his hand for hers. He was not completely healed, would likely never be as spry as he'd been before his injury, but he was here. The alternative had been an unthinkable horror and she was more thankful than she could express that her husband had come back to her.
Twining her fingers with his, they Apparated to White Chapel and Romy gasped in delight as she took in the splendor around them. Gwen had outdone herself. Restless fingers adjusted the
dress she wore. It was over the top and she knew it, but it was festive and pretty and it made Romy feel good, so she would brave the inevitable raised eyebrows in good humor. Joscelin thought she looked beautiful and that was the only opinion she was concerned with.
Hazel-green eyes watched Romy's face light as she turned about, delighted gaze taking in all the decorations, the homey warmth infused in what used to be a cold and stark building. It was a hell of a turnaround, and though Joscelin thought it was nice, he had to wonder what had been driving his sister so hard to produce such dramatic results.
All the same, it was beautiful and his wife loved it. She also fit right in. His lips curled as he looked up at her. It was odd to look up at her from his wheeled chair, but he was glad to be looking at her happy, glowing face all the same.
Setting the large bag of wrapped gifts down, he tugged on the hand he already held until she spilled into his lap, the heavy, velvety red folds of her dress spilling around them. "Satisfied with this year's north pole then, Mrs. Claus?"
Romy stilled long enough to search her husband's face for any sign that her weight was paining him. Satisfied he was alright, she relaxed again, letting the light back into her eyes and smile. Leaning in to rub noses - the only appropriate greeting when one was at the North Pole - she brushed his lips lightly. "It's perfect," she admitted, feeling rather like a child again among all the splendor. "Best I've ever seen. Of course, that might have as much to do with the company as the decor."
"Gwenny may have gone overboard a bit, but I think it's the company," he said, grinning against her mouth before sliding his hand into her hair, the other resting lightly on her hip as he captured her lips.
Her heart fluttered just a little in her chest, uncertain still how to deal with the abundance of happiness and love she felt. She indulged herself, letting the kiss linger longer than was probably necessary given that they had yet to greet their hostess, before pulling away with a soft flush pinking her cheeks. "Alright Santa, have you got your Ho Ho Ho in gear? There's merrymaking to be made."
Joscelin flashed a grin, eyes twinkling. "Ho, ho, ho, darling," he said before dipping her back and pressing a kiss to honey colored skin exposed in the V of her dress.
As her head tipped back, Romy laughed, feeling lighter than she had in months. It was Christmas and she had a wonderful husband and a family to call her own. What else could a girl ask for?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
She could hear the roll of wheels, and, adjusting one more bow on the tree, Gwen turned on her heel just in time to see Joscelin and Romy fill the archway. Her eyes only widened slightly at the very festive dress her sister-in-law was wearing, but when her gaze slid to her brother and the amused expression he was aiming at her, she wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh along with the twinkle in his eyes or glower at him for finding entertainment in her reactions.
Resisting the urge to twirl as she caught the minor surprise on Gwen's face, Romy laughed. "I know. I'm overdressed, and quite overdone with my Christmas spirit. It couldn't be helped."
Romy crossed to where Gwen stood and brushed a kiss to her sister-in-law's cheek. "Everything looks amazing, Gwen. Happy Christmas."
"Thank you.. a little much, perhaps, but it is my first time directing it all myself," she admitted, tiny smile curling her lips a she turned her full attention to Romy. "You look beautiful," she added. "I just wasn't prepared to find Mother Christmas here tonight." Her lips twitched, eyes twinkling.
The smile that spread at Gwen's praise and the slight tease that followed was small, but genuine. The more time Romy spent with her new sister, the more she found she enjoyed the other woman's company. "Well, I heard a rumor someone was rivaling the decorations I've put up around the elves' workshop. I had to check it out."
"Checking out the competition is the cornerstone of good business etiquette," Jonathan said, coming to stand beside Gwen, a warm hand at the small of her back. He smirked at Romy and the very vivid Christmas picture she made before his gaze rolled down to Joscelin, "I don't know about you, but I'm dreadfully glad that I decided not to wear my beautiful red velvet gown. I would be completely jealous at being shown up."
"Thank you, Jonathan," Romy said with a giggle. She'd spent time with Gwen's beau before, mainly at the office, and they'd generally gotten on just fine. It was a little unsettling to reconcile the no-nonsense Auror with whom she was familiar to this much more charming version, though, and she couldn't help the slight tinge of pink that colored her cheeks. "I'm sure you'd look lovely in your gown, though."
"And if anymore is said on the subject, we'll have delved well beyond polite conversation," Joscelin said, grinning up at his sister. The glare she sent him had a laugh rumbling from his chest and he nodded at Jonathan. "It's probably best if we leave the skirts to the women," he agreed. "I'm not sure I've got the right curves for them."
"Oh, don't sell yourself short. Maybe Romy will let you try it on when you get home. We wouldn't want you to get a complex." Lips turned into a smirk, Jonathan looked at Gwen out of the corner of his eyes.
"I'm so very glad the girls aren't down here yet," Gwen said dryly, unamused brown eyes going to her brother to Jonathan, and back.
Romy laughed. "I don't know. Tess would probably have loads of fun doing their make-up."
"Mmm," Jonathan hummed, frowning slightly. "Let's not give the pixie that idea. I'm not sure I'd be able to say no if she asked."
"Is that right?" Gwen murmured, expression canny as she turned to him and set a hand on his chest.
"I don't suppose I could get you to keep that information confidential?" The look in Gwen's eyes told him everything he needed to know. "Damn."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Remind me to thank Fred for his repellent charm. I didn't know snot could fly that far," Tonks commented from right outside the doors. She adjusted her wrap over her dress, pushing at Jude's hand when he tugged on the beads twinkling on the bodice.
"Next time we should probably apply it to both of our outfits," Bishop returned, using his handkerchief to wipe at a speck that had landed on his sleeve. Leaning down to bump foreheads with his son, he teased the youngster, "I think you wait until we're all gussied up to have those really big ones, don't you?"
Jude grabbed at his father's ears, his giggle of delight leading to a steady supply of drool.
"Don't get him excited until we can hand him off, husband. Then it'll really be a happy Christmas."
Gently prying tiny fingers from his person, Bishop kissed his young son's head before wrapping his arms around the both of them and unsheathed his wand. "Alright, alright. Are we all set?"
"We are. You may Apparate us," Tonks replied, leaning into Bishop and holding tightly to the bag of shrunken gifts.
He counted down from three, transporting them from the cozy lighthouse to Gwen's palatial home. As he took in the surrounding, garland and Christmas finery of all kinds covering every available surface, he broke into a deep laugh. "Gwenny never does anything halfway."
"No, she doesn't," Tonks said with a bit of awe, eyes wide as she took in the great room. "I think she may have missed a calling in life: Christmas elf." Jude's eyes mimicked hers, and he reached out towards the lights, making small grunts of excitement.
"Let's go say hello to our elfin host, shall we?" Bishop suggested, his hand falling to the base of his wife's back as he led her further into the house.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A gentle hum of conversation filled the library and it warmed Gwen. The last Christmas gatherings she'd been part of that held any semblance of family and warmth, home, were past and some of their players missing. Theresa and Tristan were notably gone this season, the former missed every year since she'd been taken from them and the latter alone. It hurt to think on how much things had changed in a year, but Gwen pushed it away for the present time.
There was much to be thankful for, much to be glad for.
Gwen was glad for having so many around her, such a flurry of activity. She was glad Joscelin was alive, that Regan was with her and that perhaps she could provide for Tess what she'd obviously never had before. Besides herself and Joscelin, none of them were related by blood, but the family and friends gathered this eve of Christmas ... it wasn't the perfection her mother had always expected, but it felt good and right.
Presents could not be opened until they were all gathered though. Shifting away from everyone, she clipped to the arching doorway to look up the flights of stairs. The girls were taking their sweet time.
"Do stop fussing, precious," Regan prodded, shooing Tess onto the landing ahead of her. "You look darling, and you only have to keep everything on for a little while." Dress, stockings, patent leather mary-janes, and hair ribbon had finally been appropriately attached to the overly-excited child, though the duration of that state was already in mortal peril as Tess flicked suspiciously at the bow adorning her head.
"How long little while?" she asked cannily, trying to eye the green spill of satin out of view atop her hair.
One eyebrow arched pointedly in the mirror before she turned to go downstairs herself, Regan volleyed, "Until bedtime, which will be sooner than you'd like if you keep pouting. You wanted it curled, like mine, remember?"
"You not wearin' a bow," Tess returned, her borderline sullen expression so much like Regan's own reaction to not getting her way, not so long ago, that the elder 'sister' couldn't help but smile.
"I'm not," she agreed. "I'm too big for a bow. It looks pretty in your hair, like the china babies with their curls and party dresses." The bait was offered and accepted, a smile appearing on the soft pink lips with their touch of gloss. Relieved, Regan grinned in return and scooped Tess up to sit at her hip, starting down the stairs, calling, "Come on, Rose, or they'll start without us. Gwen loathes anything being late."
"Oh, I'm aware she hates it. I've gotten the eye several times for being late just a few minutes to practice," Rose said as she followed Regan and Tess down the stairs.
Rose stuck her tongue out at Tess when the girl looked over Regan's shoulder, shortly after rewarded with a mirror expression from the dirty blond.
"I can't help it if someone likes to steal the covers and knee me in the middle of the night," she added, reaching out to tug on a lock of Regan's hair as she came even with her friend.
Maneuvering around Tess to press a kiss to Rose's cheek, Regan pointed out, "It could be worse, you know. She doesn't wet, and once she's sleeping in her own bed, in her purple room," she emphasized, nuzzling Tess' nose with her own, "she won't have to worry about being smushed in the middle all the time."
Tess scrunched her nose, her eyes crossing for a moment as she rubbed away Regan's eskimo kiss. "Not done yet," she retorted, poking her tongue out in Rose's direction once more.
"No. Soon, though. We had to get ready for Christmas, first. Gwen had a mission, from the look of things," Regan observed, nodding around at the impressively festive decor as they reached the ground level.
"Miss'in?" Tess began, only to be immediately distracted by Gwen's presence. "Ooh, pretty!" she squealed, wriggling until Regan turned her loose to bolt over to the eldest household member, where she ran her fingertips over the lace surface of her caretaker's skirt.
"There you are," Gwen said, fingers brushing against Tess' as the fascinated little girl studied her dress. "Are you quite ready for gifts then, hmm?"
Nodding, Tess held her hands up to Gwen. "Hug?" she asked, waving her fingers hopefully. "Please?" She'd gotten much better at remembering Gwen's favorite word, though it didn't work quite as encompassingly as she might have hoped.
"Yes, always, little love," Gwen assured her as she swept the small child up and into her arms. A light nuzzle to her soft cheek was given before she pressed her lips in a quick kiss, her dark eyes drifting past to the two older girls coming down the last steps.
"You both look quite lovely. I'd expect nothing less, of course, given everyone's been here for going on fifteen minutes." Despite her words, Gwen's brow lifted and her lips twitched.
With a low and good-natured sniff, Regan countered, "You get to wrangle her the next time she has to wear nice shoes, then. I was close to having Rose sit on her for me."
"I totally would have," Rose said with a giggle.
Snuggling closer to Gwen, Tess whispered in self-defense, "Shoes pinch. Bein' good girl. Bow still on."
"And you look very lovely as well," she assured the feyling softly. Wand in hand then, Gwen murmured a spell she'd learned a long, long time ago from a cobbler she'd commissioned a fortune's worth of shoes from. "Do the shoes feel better now?"
Tess nodded, squirming free as the news of their guests registered. "Joss'n here? He bringed the doggies?" she wanted to know, peering around for signs of the company Gwen had mentioned.
"Not this time, but Teddy's in there waiting for you with Jonathan and everyone else. You'll get to meet Aunt Dora and little Jude, and my other brother, Bishop, as well." It was a lot for a child to process, but Gwen had found that Tess was quite bright and she felt no reason to speak to her as if she wasn't. "You can go on in and introduce yourself to everyone if you'd like?"
"'Kay," Tess agreed readily, skipping off into the greatroom, her shoes and the ordeal they'd caused already entirely forgotten. Joscelin was fun, and she hadn't met this Bishop person yet, but he was probably fun as well.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Watching Rose follow little Tess into the library, Gwen's lips twitched and she turned to her near-sister, reaching to pull her close and link their arms together. "Was she so very difficult to wrangle then?"
Regan sighed, winding her arm in Gwen's and leaning closer to brush a kiss across one flawless cheek. "You know how she is... a thousand questions to get out of anything she'd rather not do, and frighteningly enough, her logic is usually sound, in some way or other."
Shaking her head, she conceded, "She isn't going outdoors, and it's warm in here, so shoes aren't really necessary. I told her it was just in case Joscelin rolled over her toes. That and the hair ribbon were nearly lost causes for the evening."
"We've fallen very far, haven't we," Gwen said, tiny smile curling her lips when she glanced over at Regan. "Wheeling and dealing with a person a quarter our age and not even half so tall."
Nose scrunching at the poke, Regan returned, "Really, you get to dress her next time, then. Or give her to Jonathan, but she'd have come down in her denims and jumper, barefoot."
Glancing around at the people they'd gathered; an odd sort of family, to be sure, but theirs, or... most of it... she wondered at the difference between this holiday and the last one, and tried to quash the sharp pain of longing for the one remaining member of her blood family. Fingers tightening minutely on Gwen's wrist, she admitted softly, "I miss him. Even as things are, I wish for him here."
It was a thought that had been filtering through her mind for the last several weeks as they neared Christmas, and even several times already that night. This holiday was so very striking in its difference from the last, and while she couldn't be anything but thankful for the group - family - assembled, Regan's words rang true.
"I wish him here too, dear one," Gwen murmured, voice low and intimate, only carrying to Regan's ears as she slowed their progress towards the library. "I miss him in ways I didn't know it was possible to miss a person," she admitted, somehow on this day, such a raw one if she thought on it too hard, it was easier to open some.
Wordlessly she disentangled their arms and turned to bring Regan against her, arms wrapping tightly around the slightly smaller woman. "We should see him soon."
"I did, yesterday... to wish him a happy Christmas, such as it is." Her voice faded on the last, thinking of her brother sitting silently in his suite at Waverly, alone, and Regan turned her face against Gwen's neck, breathing her sister's warm scent to keep from crying. "I feel so guilty, that he's by himself tonight and we're all here," she confessed, having learned, if anything, from her sessions with Charlotte that she was better off voicing the things that bothered her, at least to Gwen.
Swallowing, she bolstered herself enough to add, "I'm lucky to have you still, though. To have this."
"That is how I feel as well," Gwen said softly, hand soothing up and down Regan's back as much for herself as for the blonde. "Lucky to love and be loved, though it does not completely allay such feelings as you've described. I can only hope that he's here with us next year."
She swallowed back the lump in her throat as her thoughts wandered, and hugged Regan tightly a moment longer before pulling away enough to look her friend in the eye. They were both a bit watery yet, and Gwen leaned in to press a kiss to Regan's cheek. "Merry Christmas, despite it all, love. It is our second, of countless others I hope."
Regan nodded, nuzzling Gwen in turn. "Happy Christmas, heart's-sister." Finding a smile, she ventured, "If we collect much more family, we may need a larger house next year."
Despite the spark of thought Regan's words incited, a grin touched Gwen's lips. "That's what magic is for, dear one."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Bishop's eyes followed the little girl with the bow that was slowly slipping from its original perfect placement as she bounced about the room, restless excitement pulling her attention in too many directions to be still for very long. It amused him to no end that Gwen had somehow ended up with a houseful of youngsters under her care in one way or another. Casting a glance in his sister's direction, he decided it suited her.
It was not the way they'd expected Gwen's family to grow. At this time the prior year, they'd all been anticipating a wedding, and likely a baby shortly thereafter. If he could have, Bishop would've spared Gwen the pain of what had happened instead, but looking at those gathered around the room, he was satisfied that she was happy, even if it was in a different way than expected.
The corners of his mouth turned upward as Gwen's little sprite danced over, looking up at him curiously. Lowering himself into a crouch, as close to the young one's level as he could get short of sitting on the floor, he spoke conspiratorially. "They made you dress up, too, then?" he asked, tugging lightly on the skirt of her pretty green dress. "Personally, I'd rather be lounging in my pajamas, but my wife," he nodded in Dora's direction, "chased me 'round the room until I agreed to put on trousers."
Tess nodded in response to the question-greeting she'd been posed, tilting her head at the large man who'd stopped her progress toward investigating Romy's dress. He was head and shoulders taller than she was, even sitting on his heels, and she turned her eyes up to ask, "You the brother, too? B-sha?"
Looking around for Gwen, she caught sight of Joscelin in his chair, and whipped back to Bishop to query as it occurred to her, "All brothers big? Sisses isn't all big. Regan isn't. Gwen too. Only brothers big?"
Bishop chuckled as the questions came at him one after the other. Gwen would have her hands full with this one, as precocious as she herself was but without the filter impressed upon Gwen from her earliest days.
"I'm the brother Bishop, yes," he acknowledged, reaching up to straighten the falling bow. "And you, I believe, must be Tess, the newest princess in the castle. As for brothers, not all of them are big, but we do tend to be bigger than sisters. Gwen's brothers need to be big, though, so we can protect ourselves when she gets upset with us. Brothers are very good at annoying sisters, especially when we love them a lot."
"Gwen get us-set? Mad? No smacks though, she said." Eying Bishop warily as he released her head, the bow in place once again, Tess prodded, "Do give smacks, or no? You too big be getting smacks." The any-ing word was new, and she was sure Bishop did love Gwen... it was hard not to, once she stopped being all blank, but if he was like Joscelin, Gwen liked to yell at him.
The question caught him off guard, and Bishop's expression softened as he wondered how often Tess had gotten 'smacks' for it to come to mind so easily. "No princess, I don't give smacks and Gwen doesn't either. She does like to use her wand on Joscelin and me, but that's special just for big brothers who make her mad."
Nodding slowly as she listened, Tess clarified, "Don't gonna zap me, too, Gwen said. Or Red Lady. I'm too little? And bein'-have. Bow fixed now. Shoes still on." She pointed to her feet, with the shiny shoes Regan had made her wear, which at least didn't pinch now that Gwen had fixed them with her zap.
"No one's going to zap you," he promised the little sprite, "and if anyone tried they'd get a big zapping of their own from Gwen, Joscelin, and me. Probably a few others, too. Hurting princesses is not allowed in this family. Would you like to come meet the rest of the family? My Dora and Jude are just over there." He pointed to where his wife was letting Jude admire the twinkling lights on the tree as his son gave a delighted squeal.
Her eyes following where the big man pointed, Tess sighted a tall woman holding a baby, and her mouth curled into a smile. Babies were sort of fun, so long as their mamas weren't too loud about them being sticky or making noise, and she couldn't imagine this Dora being that way, if she was Bishop's. "'Kay," she agreed readily. "Baby is happy? He likes the tree, too?"
"He does. Most of the time he's a very happy baby." Catching Tess around the waist, he swung her up onto his shoulders and stood so she towered over the rest of the assembled crowd. "Hang on tight!" he said as they started across the room.
Shrieking in surprise as she was suddenly several feet taller than she was used to, Tess curled her fingers in Bishop's hair, getting herself balanced as he started walking. "Gwen's brothers very big," she commented, mostly to herself.
Bishop's laugh boomed through the air as he kept a steadying hand on the little legs hanging from his shoulders. It was nice - and good practice - to have a little girl around again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Joscelin chuckled as he watched Gwen's little halfling introduce herself to Bishop, but his gaze was drawn to another who'd followed her into the library. He'd seen hair that color - bright orangey red - only one other place.
"You're Gwen's new Chaser?" he asked, wondering at his sister's ability to collect people. He could only think she was nesting. Or something. Not that he'd say it to her - tonight, anyways. He'd rather not spend the evening as an ass again. Not so soon, anyways.
"Last time I checked," Rose said with a grin, sticking out a small hand towards the man she'd heard so much about from Regan. "And you're the big brother."
"Well, shorter for now, but generally bigger most of the time," Joscelin agreed, grinning as he clasped her hand and brushed a kiss to her knuckles. He didn't have to look very far up from his chair at this one and his lips went crooked. "Nearly bigger than you from here, even, though I wouldn't have guessed it from what I've seen on the pitch. Falmouth didn't have a chance."
Rose's grin widened, turning her whole body towards Joscelin. "Luckily we'll never know, since Gwen caught that snitch." The nudge at her being small had her eyes narrowing slightly. "Sometimes good things come in small packages."
"Never said it was a bad thing, sunshine," Joscelin said, holding his hands up. "If I recall, the Chaser you replaced was pint size, and really, Gwenny's not that big herself. And my wife over there," he said, nodding towards Romy in her extravagant Christmas gown, "is not overly tall either, especially for an Auror. What I've found," he said, eyes twinkling now, "is that the smaller the package, the more fierce ... and ready to use your wand." He winked.
"Oh, I've been told that in this company I don't have to worry about it. Gwen'll make sure you're dealt with in a proper fashion." Rose had laughed uproariously at the stories Regan had told her. She understood the desire to hex older brothers. She had three who were always angling for one, in one way or another. "Plus, I don't think I'd be quite so creative in doing so. In other things, perhaps, but hexing? Not so much. I'll leave that to the semi-pros."
Joscelin grinned. "Don't ever say that too loud. She might hear you only think her semi-pro, and then she'd feel obligated to show differently. I am trying to keep myself all apiece tonight. Hooves didn't suit, I don't think."
"Mmm, I don't know. I hear wool is in this year."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Still feeling rather overjoyed by the collection of people gathered who were all just a little bit hers, Romy spotted Regan and made her way over to talk to the younger woman. They'd had their ups and downs, but the most recent visits at Tretower had been pleasant, and they were both making an effort to improve their budding friendship.
"Happy Christmas, Regan," she said, bright smile firmly in place as she leaned in to brush a kiss to the blonde's cheek. "It's good to see you again."
"Oh! Merry Christmas, Romilda," Regan greeted in return, catching the Auror's hands to squeeze them gently. "I'm so glad you're both here with us tonight," she said sincerely, eyes flicking to Joscelin as he made Rose burst into giggles. "I'm sure he's been driving you mad, being cooped up."
Romy's mouth curled into an affectionate grin as her eyes found her husband. "He tries very hard not to let me see that he's frustrated. There have been a few instances where I've caught him tearing through the house. Joscelin doesn't do 'sheepish', he always look quite pleased with himself no matter how much scolding he gets."
Smirking at Romy's choice of adjective, Regan commented, "I don't know... I think Gwen could manage a sheep if she were vexed enough. I'll try to bring Tess to play more often, though. Goodness knows they act the same age on a regular basis."
"She did do a convincing job on Bishop..." Romy admitted, shaking her head as she remembered that night. "Jos would love to have Tess over, and you too, of course. He's quite excited about her gift, actually. Can't wait to have her try it out with him."
Regan winced at the thought of the sort of toy Joscelin would have found for Tess. "I'm not sure I want to know, honestly, but I think whatever it is might need to live at your house." Her mind caught on the idea that they were not certain that Tess would even being staying, but she dismissed it for another time, unwilling to ruin the joy of the evening.
Laughing softly and quite at ease with the wariness and suspicion any gift from her husband brought, Romy nodded. "I'll do my best, but I'm fairly certain half his enjoyment comes from imagining its use in the halls of White Chapel." Her grin went a little crooked as she added, "I did manage to talk him out of the one that might have inspired him to use aerodynamic charms."
With a shake of her head, Romy changed tack a bit. "Have you thought about schooling at all? Draco Malfoy has a primary school for magical children... or would you employ a private tutor?"
A little groan escaped at the idea of Tess flying anything in the house. "She probably would want to go flying, too," Regan muttered.
Biting her lip, eyes flicking around until she found the feyling buzzing about near Gwen, Regan shook her head. "I've thought on it, but we don't know that she's staying. She has got a grandmother, somewhere... and Gwen's quite attached, but it would be her decision. It's not as if anyone with the right authority would give me a child to raise."
Romy nodded solemnly, her eyes following Regan's to where Tess was, the girl's excitement and happiness obvious in her bearing. Regan was probably right. She was rather young to take on rearing a child, at least in the eyes of those with the capacity to make such a determination, not to mention her brother's current state and the concerns there.
Gwen, however, was in a much better position to attempt to gain custody. She had an impeccable reputation, as well as significant wealth and power. It wasn't as obvious to those outside the family that Romy's sister-in-law had a very loving heart, but Gwen didn't lack in that area either. "Tess seems very happy where she is, and the little bits I've heard about her home life before don't sound very promising. I suppose we can only hope the grandmother will see the opportunity for Tess if she were to stay here."
"She doesn't seem very protective, given that Tess was elsewhere as much as wherever 'home' was, from what she's said. Nevermind that we've scoured the lists from Hogsmeade for months now and found nothing." Regan sighed, forcibly releasing the frustration the issue never failed to raise. She'd fallen for Tess the instant Gwen had pressed the child into her arms, and more than wanting Tess to stay with them, she wanted the girl to have a good childhood, and to be loved.
Clearing her face with as much alacrity as her brother might have managed, she turned calm eyes to Romy. "I think she'd like school, if she stays. Percy's son, Jack, goes to Saraswati Preparatory, and she's quite keen on him, so whatever he does is of particular interest to her."
"She does seem to enjoy being part of things. Tutoring can be done well, but for a girl like Tess, I'd have to agree. She'd probably thrive in a group setting. It doesn't sound like she had much opportunity to spend time with other children in the past. That can be awfully lonely."
Whenever Tess' grandmother was found, Romy hoped the woman would be willing to let the little girl stay. A preemptive visit to the Ministry's social worker might be worthwhile, but she'd have to speak to Gwen about it first. Romy didn't have a lot of clout, but she'd dealt with that department in the past and it wasn't likely to hurt in any case.
Smiling in understanding, having been almost completely isolated for the duration of her own childhood, Regan agreed, "It is. Tess is quite social... I'd fear the chaos if she were kept in with a tutor for too long. I rather think she'd take after your husband."
Breaking into giggles, Romy looked across the room, unsurprised to see Joscelin cajoling the little girl into what was most certainly some kind of mischief. "I'm afraid if Joscelin has any say in the matter, she'll be molded in that way regardless of her schooling."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tess was settled in her lap, excited energy making her little form vibrate. Lips curled into a tiny smile at the child in her arms, Gwen brushed a kiss to the downy soft skin of her cheek and whispered, "you can go open now, little love. The big one."
Tipping her head back to regard Gwen with wide eyes, Tess pointed at the wrapped parcel in question. "That one mine?" she asked disbelievingly, sliding from her perch to shift from foot to foot in anticipation. Gannaw had wrapped her rag baby in brown paper the year before, and she'd enjoyed tearing open the uneven envelope to find the plain little doll, but she'd never received so large or well-appointed a gift before.
"All yours," Gwen promised, smile curling her lips as she pet a hand lightly down her hair before nudging the small girl forward.
Somewhat haltingly, Tess hopped forward and circled the box in its bright paper, the whole of the thing nearly as tall as she herself was. Running a hand along a fold in the paper, she dug her fingertips under the flap and tugged, glancing back to Gwen as the wrapping started to tear.
At the reassuring nod, she pulled more intently at the layer of paper, her brow furrowing as a bit of something tiled-looking came visible. Determined now, she found another corner and began peeling downward, a quiet "Oh!" sounding as the beautiful and detailed dollhouse was revealed.
"House for playin'?" Tess asked absently, mesmerized by the tiny furniture and fixtures.
"That, is, in fact a house for playing with," Gwen agreed, eyes lifting to the other smiling faces around. "Merry Christmas, love," she added, bright eyes coming back to the enthralled little girl.
Bouncing up from her study of the wallpaper's miniature design, beaming brightly, Tess ran back to Gwen and flung herself into her surrogate parent's arms. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" she chattered, scrambling up to kiss Gwen's face. "Mer'Chrissmas!"
"You're welcome," Gwen said, a bubble of laughter rippling from her lips as she was peppered with kisses. "You're very, very welcome."
Setting her away enough to summon one other present, Gwen put it in Tess' hands. "One more, darling."
"'Nother one?" Tess queried, still fully aglow over the lavish toy she'd just been given. She ran her fingers over the shiny paper, pulling at an edge when Gwen urged her on. The wrapping removed easily enough, she pried open the box it hid, blinking in disbelief at her discovery.
Reaching out to trace a fingertip over the doll's shining golden curls, she whispered, "China baby... she pretty..." Head rolling back against Gwen's shoulder, eyes full of wonder, she asked quietly, "I keepin'? She mine?"
"All yours," Gwen promised as she reached out to pet a hand down Tess' own curled hair. "You play with her all you'd like."
Satisfied, Tess curled up in Gwen's lap to snuggle her new baby. She'd have to have a name, before too long, but they had to get to know each other, first.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Clearing his throat, the adults giving Tess ample time to tear through the wrapping and paper covering her gifts from Gwen, Jonathan rose to his feet. Flicking his wand, several packages that had been pushed towards the rear of the tree lifted and flew towards their recipients. Running a hand over the scruff at his chin, Jonathan shrugged his shoulders.
"I suppose I can't compete with an entire house, but I had to try."
The truth was that Jonathan had never bought anyone a Christmas present in the entirety of his life, and he'd had no idea where to start. He'd spent several hours in several stores until he'd finally decided on what he had, and despite the salesperson ensuring him that he'd done well, he had no idea how the gifts would go over.
He had a vague feeling that he might have gone overboard, but with no basis for comparison, there was no way to be sure.
He'd have to wait for the looks on their faces.
Gwen watched as looks of mild surprise passed across some features, but the spirit of the night didn't hold anyone back from opening their gifts. Joscelin and Bishop guffawed about how sauced they could manage to get with two bottles of scotch while Jude wriggled and squealed at the bright color of the wagon that Dora uncovered.
She cast her gaze back towards the girls all sitting near her and raised a brow, lips twitching. "Shall we, then?"
Settling Tess on the floor beside her and quashing her own surprise at the three neatly-wrapped parcels Jonathan had distributed to her, Regan set about removing the paper on the smallest box, smiling as a remarkably well-chosen pair of earrings appeared.
She was accosted immediately by Tess' little hands, presenting a similar pair, with clips for her unpierced ears. "Look!" the little girl chortled, bouncing excitedly and pointing to Gwen's lap as well, where another set of pearls lay. "All same!"
Another wriggle later, Tess leapt up to find Jonathan, a broad grin on her face as she wound her arms around his knee in a hug. "Pretty, thank you." She held the earrings up, entreating, "Put on? Please?"
Regan bit her lip to keep from snickering, offering, "They are lovely, Jonathan, thank you."
"You're welcome," he said, brown eyes finding Regan's hazel ones as his fingers grabbed the small pearls he'd picked out for Tess. He knew she'd want what Regan and Gwen had gotten, or at the very least something similar, and was glad that he hadn't been mistaken. Pushing the downy hair away from the girl's ear, he carefully clipped the earring onto her lobe, hoping it didn't pinch too tightly.
Jonathan moved to the next ear, sitting back when they were both secure. "They're lovely, Tess. You look much older than five. Six, maybe even six and a half."
His gaze ticked upwards, catching Gwen's. They were warm, happy, exactly as he'd hoped they'd be. He knew he'd been pathetically distant in the past months, and even though the weight of guilt he felt over Hazel's death still fell heavy on his shoulders, he'd missed the sparkle in her eyes, the spark that had been there before Halloween and the havoc it'd wrought.
If he could make her smile like he used to, make her laugh, maybe something in him would ease. He wanted to make her happy, and knowing he'd been sorely lacking only urged him to try harder, do better.
"The jewelry boxes are lovely too," Gwen said, eyes lighting as she watched Tess' focus in on Rose's as the paper fell away.
"And as long as we're exchanging gifts now..." Gwen pulled her wand then and murmured a spell that had everyone's gifts floating leisurely towards the recipients. "... Happy Christmas, everyone," she said, tiny smile curling her lips.
Curious at the tinier of the packages that Gwen had sent his way, Joscelin tore the paper away. Revealed was pink and purple streamers, and Joscelin looked at them curiously for several moments.
"They're streamers," Gwen said, lips twitching as she watched her brother. She knew what he'd been getting up to at Tretower, how he'd recruited just about everyone in her household into racing him around the ground floor. "For the handles of your chair."
Bishop tried to cover his snort with a cough, but he knew no one was fooled. "Those are very pretty, Petunia. You'll be the flashiest girl around."
"Yes, I thought they were rather nice myself," Gwen agreed, dark eyes finding Bishop's just as a warm laugh slipped her lips. "Though I think your gift is nice also," she added to her other brother, eyes bright as she waited for him to open his gift.
Bishop eyed her with good-natured wariness as he tore the wrapping paper away. As he pulled the box top off, a rumbling laugh spilled from his lips. "Sheepskin. My favorite." He leaned over to drop a kiss on his sister's forehead. "Thank you, Gwenny. They're very nice. My feet will be nice and toasty this winter."
"I thought they might suit, all things considered," Gwen replied, the twinkle usually in Joscelin's eye tinting her own as when she looked up at him.
"You're a laugh a minute, Gwenny," Joscelin said dryly, though a smile curled his lips moments later as he ripped open the package for his streamers. "Though, these are pretty flashy," he added as he turned about to fasten them to his chair.
Jonathan's lips were curled into a smirk as he watched Gwen's brother attach the bright streamers to his chair, fingers already pulling apart the wrapping covering the smaller and less heavy of the two boxes that had floated his way. The tie was silk, and he couldn't help but run his fingers over the material. He'd always enjoyed silk, but as all of Gwen's nightclothes were the smooth fabric, he'd found a whole new appreciation.
"Thank you so much, Auror man," Rose said, bouncing in front of him as she carefully pushed the emerald earrings into her ears. "The jewelry box was more than enough, but I'm a girl, so I'll never turn down something sparkly."
"So I figured," he said, smiling softly. "They clash horribly with your hair."
"They do?" Rose's grin brightened. "Perfect."
As the colorful sprite turned her attention to Tess, lifting the small girl onto her hip, Jonathan's eyes looked down at the other box Gwen had sent his direction. It was a bit of chaos, wrapping paper littering the floor as people continued to rip into their gifts, but it was something he was finding he liked. Ordered chaos. Safe and happy chaos.
Jonathan tore the bright paper from around the box, opening it to reveal a collection of single-malt whisky. He lifted each bottle and peered at the label. He'd heard of some of them, but others were new. Where Gwen had found them, he wasn't sure, but found them she had.
His dark gaze sought hers from across the room, where Tess was showing her the purple bathrobe he'd also gotten the girl. Catching her eyes, he smiled, an honest expression on his lips as he peered at her.
Gwen's lips twitched into a tiny smile when she met Jonathan's gaze over Tess' head. It warmed her in a way she'd not felt in months to see the expression on his face, to see the almost happy ease he'd taken this eve with the family about.
Scooping Tess up, eyes brightening on the tiny girl's when she giggled and held on, Gwen moved towards him and bent to brush a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you for the gifts." Thank you for trying for everyone.
She pressed her cheek to his a moment before rising, dark eyes going to Tess. "There's still a few more left for you beneath the tree, little one. Shall we go see what Regan has brought?"
Tess blinked, happy to be snuggled into Gwen and full of glee from opening gifts. "More?" she asked, her mind darting over the piles of colorful paper she'd already unearthed things from. "Where gonna go?"
Turning about, Gwen nodded towards Regan and the small pile of gifts she had near her chair. "Just over there, love." Pressing a light kiss to Tess' downy cheeky, she set her down to find her way through the debris towards the blond.
Screwing up her face in concentration, Tess shook her head. "No." She stared at Gwen for a moment, then tugged at her to ask, "Where things gonna go? Where playin'-house and baby and purpur robe gonna go? And more things?"
"In your room," she replied, brows pulling together slightly as she bent to Tess' level. "It'll be done very soon and then all of your things can go there."
"They live here, forever?" the little girl continued to question, still somewhat unsure of timeframes and the matter of herself staying in this house. She loved Gwen and Regan, and Rose, and the J-man, and liked living in the pretty house with them, but it wasn't where she was supposed to live, she thought, and all of the nice new things would probably stay with the pretty house.
"No, they'll go wherever you go," Gwen said, shaking her head slightly. Her dark eyes were intent on Tess' face though, and it was in that moment that she really thought about the little girl leaving them, taking her toys with her. It nearly made her frown.
With a slow nod, Tess let go of Gwen and accepted the silver-wrapped package Regan held out to her. She plopped herself on the rug, digging into the paper and pulling it off without prompting, this time. She giggled and clapped at the fancy scent bottle and vanity set she uncovered, announcing giddily, "For my prettyin' table!" as she bounded up to hug Regan.
Laughing in response, Regan cuddled Tess and bent to kiss one round cheek. "Yes, just like mine," she murmured happily. She hefted the child onto her lap, producing a smaller, flat box, which she also presented to the feyling. "This too... and some things for your new room, but you'll get those later."
Already stripping the parcel of its curled ribbon, which she wrapped around her arm as an ornament, Tess laid her head back against Regan's shoulder and prized the lid from the box, running her small fingers over the shiny surface of the combs nestled in tissue within. "Pretty," she breathed. "What for?"
"For your hair, precious," Regan explained, shifting Tess so she could pull the hated bow away from her dark bronze curls. She took the comb Tess held up and slid it in place, making a neat little knot at the back of the child's head, the rest of her ringlets tumbling free about her thin shoulders.
Tess looked to Gwen, tilting her head to feel where the comb was anchored. "I pretty?" she asked, dipping her chin so her caretaker could see the new shiny thing.
A smile touched Gwen's lips, banishing the unsettling thoughts of Tess' departure away, and she nodded slightly. "You're quite beautiful, little one."
Regan gave Tess little squeaking kisses until she squirmed and squealed, then let her dance free to go collect her baby and brush its hair. "Yours are here, too, if you've a moment," she hinted at Gwen, gathering the gifts in question and offering them to her sister.
Gwen's eyes were bright as she watched Tess skip away, but when she turned her gaze back to Regan, she nodded towards the few wrapped gifts that Regan had neglected to open. "Shall we do it together then?"
"While our laps are unoccupied?" Regan teased, gathering her presents from Gwen. "I'm glad she's enjoying her Christmas. Everyone certainly seems to have had fun finding things for her."
She unfastened paper as she spoke, raising the lid on a familiarly-shaped box to nearly purr at its contents. "Oh, they're gorgeous, Gwen, thank you!" she said, pulling the silver pumps from the box to admire them.
"I'm glad you like them," Gwen said, eyes warm as she watched Regan. Her blond friend was particular and she'd spent days looking for just the right pair of heels. Not only because she wanted to find something Regan loved, but because they were selected to go with the gift Regan had yet to open. "I hope you like what they were selected to go with as well," she added as she began to tear the paper from the first box Regan had handed her.
Her lips turned up when a pair of slippers were revealed. "These are perfect," she said softly, finger tracing over the softness. "I'd been thinking on getting some as I've been around the gallery so much of late. Thank you."
"Mm, I'd thought a pair might not go amiss, though they don't click quite so intimidatingly as you tend to prefer," Regan returned, smiling. "They go with something?" she added, choosing the likelier of the two remaining options and unearthing a clothing box from its wrapping.
The dress to match was stunning, and she 'ooh'ed appreciatively. "They do, I see. I ought to let you do all my shopping, I think." Her last box, the smallest, proved to hold a well-suited and delicate bracelet to complete the outfit, and she grinned broadly at her sister's impeccable taste.
"Everything is lovely. I should aspire to your skill, but I think I should only be disappointed in myself," she commented cheerfully, leaning across the space between their chairs to bestow a kiss.
"I've made an art of shopping for beautiful things," Gwen replied, lips turning up at the corners. "Once you gain the years between us, I think you will have it down to an artform as well." The smile touched her eyes then, but she lowered her gaze to open the last package Regan had given her.
The feathered earrings captured her attention thoroughly. They were so delicate, lovely, and not at all like what she usually bought for herself. All the same, her mind was already filtering through her wardrobe for what would be best to wear with them. "These are beautiful, Regan," she said, eyes still studying the delicately pretty things for several moments before she raised her gaze to the moss green ones on her and smiled. "I think I shall love them."
Quite amused by her sister's enchantment with the uncharacteristically dainty jewelry, Regan laughed softly and felt at peace for a rare moment. She missed the cozy solitude of the previous Christmas, but gently, for now, and the happiness around her balanced, somewhat, the ache for things that might have been.
"I am glad, then. I did not think you would have them without help." Much and dearly as she loved Gwen, the woman wore her shield in all forms, and here at home, at least, she deserved to show true, some of the time.
"No, I wouldn't have, but I'm glad you know the parts of me that desire such things that I often forget myself," she said softly, leaning over on the sofa to press a kiss to Regan's hair. "Thank you."
"And you," Regan answered, nuzzling Gwen in turn. "Happy Christmas."
Summary: Christmas gathering Part I