Experience---Michael and Anna-Sophia, Christmas special
"I want to show you what the winter festival looks like in my world," Anna-Sophia said, as she picked at her plate of cheese and fruit, lounging on their bed. She watched Michael at his desk, tooling around with a knife in one hand, as he read some paperwork held in the other. It warmed her heart, the balance in him.
Michael looked up from his paperwork, and set the knife down, eyes sliding up the bed, first to the bare foot and ankle, then along the muscular, but still feminine curve of her leg. Finally, after a while of taking her in, his eyes meandered up to hers. "You mean 'Christmas', right?" he asked, the timber of his voice giving away the hint that he'd been doing as much studying up about her world as he could.
She nodded a little, smiling and reaching out to him, silently wishing the fire was blazing better than it was. It was chilly in the castle this time of year. He noticed the chill on her skin when he stood and moved to her, eyes glancing at the fire to build it up a little more. He always looked after her. "Yes. Christmas. I want you to spend it in my home. And see New Years too." She tugged him closer to her, letting him join her on their bed.
"Tell me what it's like?" he asked, as he settled, one arm tugging her close, before tucking the other behind his head. It had taken them so long to get her settled in his world that they hadn't had a chance to experience much in her own. She missed it, sometimes. Missed her family, and the hustle and bustle of life there. But she'd brought a lot of her traditions and culture with her, no one could deny that. From the modern appliances to the way she dressed, everything about her screamed that she came from a completely different place. He listened to her, hanging on her words, and stroked her hair gently.
She snuggled against him, popping a bite of sharp cheddar between his lips, and rested on him. "It's hard to explain. Most people don't think the holiday season starts until Thanksgiving. But I count Halloween as the first holiday in the line of them, so, I guess I'll start there..." She explained all the holidays; Halloween, Thanksgiving, Black Friday..., the different winter holidays, but most specifically Christmas.
She was pleased to note that he asked appropriate questions, and was paying attention. Sometimes he asked her to tell him about her world when he wanted to drift to sleep, or take a little nap. The cadence of her voice always calmed him. But he was paying attention; wanting to learn. She knew he had a lot of work to do; it came with the territory of being who he was. And a lot of expected from her, learning the ways of the land, in order to be with him.
But it was time; they both knew it. It was time to go to her home. Time to spend some time there, and let her enjoy shopping that didn't include goats. Cars, rather than horses...and a private apartment that didn't have his siblings running up and down the halls. It was time for a trip.
He kissed her gently when she finished. "And what time will it be, do you think, when we get there?" he asked, lips against her temple.
"Whatever time we ask nicely for, I think," she answered him, eyes closed as she slipped a grape between her lips and let it explode between her teeth. "But I think I'd like mid-December. Get ready for Christmas, show you the madness...put up a tree..."
Michael looked over at her, hugging her to him a little more tightly. "If it's anything like what you've described to me, it'll be a great adventure," he answered, his voice quiet. "We'll pack and head out tomorrow. How does that sound?"
Anna-Sophia brightened against him, the smell of chocolate covered strawberries even more strong in the air. She nuzzled her appreciation into his neck, smiling. "I think that sounds wonderful," she answered, moving to drape a leg over his. "Tomorrow. It'll be the first thing."
"No, my Sweet One," Michael said and chuckled. "It'll be the second or third. After morning kisses."
His wife giggled softly, snuggling more against him. "Who am I to argue with the future king?"