just_muse_me - 9.1.6 - Christmas Behind the White Door
(For not_a_savage who requested AU!Jack and Jules fluff. Jack used with permission. )
“Love is everything it's cracked up to be. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. ” - Erica Jong
Open on a cool, mild evening in a suburban LA neighborhood. A house, large but not overbearing, stands between all of the others. The yard is neatly trimmed and two small cars sit in the driveway. One is red and sporty, the other is simple, black, and sleek.
Up the stoned pathway from the driveway to the front stoop made of brick. The large white door stands brilliantly, a shimmering image of all that dreams could be. Their symbol of hope and happiness. A green wreath takes its place on the center of the door, red berries dotting around it.
Through the door and into the house, a comfort sets in.
There is nothing pretentious about the home, it is just a home. Stairs that carry to the next floor, rooms that open to rooms - every one of them used and worn. The kitchen is bright and welcoming, and often has something cooking or baking inside.
To the right a living room opens up. One that truly is lived in. An expansive tree stands in the corner of the room. A few ornaments here and there, mostly hers from the past. Popcorn and tinsel are strung around the branches, largely so in clumps along the bottom, where Aaron and Julian most easily can reach.
A star glitters at the top. Not an angel, because Jack doesn't believe. He believes in stars, though. The one on their tree reminds him of the incredibly bright stars over the island. They remind him of the stars he would look at once he came home, when he wished Juliet wasn't watching those stars without him.
It's not too chilly, but enough to be noticed. Juliet stands by the mantel as she hangs stockings. A small smile is on her face. No reason for it, really, she just tends to smile a lot now. Her hand brushes each stocking as it's hung. Juliet...Jack...Aaron. All beautifully handmade with love from Sun the year before.
"Am I the only one that hasn't forgotten when Christmas actually starts?" A teasing voice comes behind Juliet and she turns. Jack is standing behind her in light khaki corduroy pants and a soft black sweater. He too likes to smile lately.
"Mmm, my very own Grinch," she says as she steps closer to him. He smiles and moves his arms around her waist.
"I would never steal presents from children," he argues.
She laughs and wraps her arms around his neck. "Probably because you prefer to spoil our nephews than deprive them."
"Why shouldn't I?" He asks his quietly, looking down into her eyes. She smiles and her hand cups his cheek.
"I love that you do," she answers. She reaches up on her toes slightly to brush her lips to his, and he kisses her back slowly, holding her close.
"Your Grinch is starting to like Christmas more each year," he admits.
"Well how could he not?" She tilts her head and raises her brows. "I happen to provide a very wonderful Christmas. Just as it should be."
"Yes, you do." He pulls away from her and looks at the stockings with an approving nod. "They look great, Jules," he says, his eyes resting on Aaron's stocking.
"He'll be home in a couple days," she assures Jack.
"And he's going to love this." Jack nods and looks over at her. "I love this."
"I'm glad," she nods back. He steps back over to her and sets his fingers against her hips, then slowly pushes her across the room. Amused and curious, she lets him. When he stops in the doorway between the living room and front hall, he points up. Juliet tilts her head back with a knowing smile, and looks at the small piece of mistletoe hanging overhead. He touches her chin softly to bring her head back down and she looks at him. He smiles before leaning in to kiss her again. She kisses him back and laughs when he picks her up and starts up the stairs for their bedroom.
674
“Love is everything it's cracked up to be. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. ” - Erica Jong
Open on a cool, mild evening in a suburban LA neighborhood. A house, large but not overbearing, stands between all of the others. The yard is neatly trimmed and two small cars sit in the driveway. One is red and sporty, the other is simple, black, and sleek.
Up the stoned pathway from the driveway to the front stoop made of brick. The large white door stands brilliantly, a shimmering image of all that dreams could be. Their symbol of hope and happiness. A green wreath takes its place on the center of the door, red berries dotting around it.
Through the door and into the house, a comfort sets in.
There is nothing pretentious about the home, it is just a home. Stairs that carry to the next floor, rooms that open to rooms - every one of them used and worn. The kitchen is bright and welcoming, and often has something cooking or baking inside.
To the right a living room opens up. One that truly is lived in. An expansive tree stands in the corner of the room. A few ornaments here and there, mostly hers from the past. Popcorn and tinsel are strung around the branches, largely so in clumps along the bottom, where Aaron and Julian most easily can reach.
A star glitters at the top. Not an angel, because Jack doesn't believe. He believes in stars, though. The one on their tree reminds him of the incredibly bright stars over the island. They remind him of the stars he would look at once he came home, when he wished Juliet wasn't watching those stars without him.
It's not too chilly, but enough to be noticed. Juliet stands by the mantel as she hangs stockings. A small smile is on her face. No reason for it, really, she just tends to smile a lot now. Her hand brushes each stocking as it's hung. Juliet...Jack...Aaron. All beautifully handmade with love from Sun the year before.
"Am I the only one that hasn't forgotten when Christmas actually starts?" A teasing voice comes behind Juliet and she turns. Jack is standing behind her in light khaki corduroy pants and a soft black sweater. He too likes to smile lately.
"Mmm, my very own Grinch," she says as she steps closer to him. He smiles and moves his arms around her waist.
"I would never steal presents from children," he argues.
She laughs and wraps her arms around his neck. "Probably because you prefer to spoil our nephews than deprive them."
"Why shouldn't I?" He asks his quietly, looking down into her eyes. She smiles and her hand cups his cheek.
"I love that you do," she answers. She reaches up on her toes slightly to brush her lips to his, and he kisses her back slowly, holding her close.
"Your Grinch is starting to like Christmas more each year," he admits.
"Well how could he not?" She tilts her head and raises her brows. "I happen to provide a very wonderful Christmas. Just as it should be."
"Yes, you do." He pulls away from her and looks at the stockings with an approving nod. "They look great, Jules," he says, his eyes resting on Aaron's stocking.
"He'll be home in a couple days," she assures Jack.
"And he's going to love this." Jack nods and looks over at her. "I love this."
"I'm glad," she nods back. He steps back over to her and sets his fingers against her hips, then slowly pushes her across the room. Amused and curious, she lets him. When he stops in the doorway between the living room and front hall, he points up. Juliet tilts her head back with a knowing smile, and looks at the small piece of mistletoe hanging overhead. He touches her chin softly to bring her head back down and she looks at him. He smiles before leaning in to kiss her again. She kisses him back and laughs when he picks her up and starts up the stairs for their bedroom.
674