Closed; Christmas at The Browns & Roger Davies

[lavender_x]

This was the first Christmas Day Lavender had been home for in the last six years. In the past, like most family events and weekends, she had made lame and dodgy excuses only the hole herself up in some remote hotel watching Christmas reruns and drowning herself in take out. There were some years that she made it for dinner, popping in the chaos of

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[rkdavies]

"Merry Christmas, gorgeous," Roger grinned. She did look gorgeous, and as casual as ever, which was when Roger liked her best. While he'd have liked nothing more than to kiss her bright red lips, he settled for leaning in to kiss her on the cheek.

This could have been awkward, but Roger had known most of Lavender's family for most of his life. Even when she was gone, he'd still seen most of them at least briefly once a year or so. It was odd to think about how often he'd seen some of her extended family in comparison to how often she might have.

Roger nodded toward the rest of the house. "Sounds like someone broke into the wine a bit early."

[lavender_x]

"They're insufferable," she laughed, shaking her head. For a moment Lavender thought she could hear the popping of corks back in the kitchen. It was clear that her family had no plans of stopping any time soon.

Though, she felt stone sober. Lavender had been nursing the same glass for nearly an hour now. She had gotten all wrapped up in a conversation with Rachael who, of course, couldn't drink herself. It didn't feel right getting plastered in front of a pregnant woman.

"I might need to do some catching up. First, I have something for you!"

Lavender reached for his hand and pulled him into the direction of the stairs. Her childhood room was still mostly intact up in the attic and she thought it would be the perfect place to exchange gifts.

[rkdavies]

"I definitely need to do some catching up." Once upon a time, wine had been a big part of the Davies Christmas. Having Lily obviously cut that down.

"Oh, good. I was starting to think I was carrying a box around like an idiot for no reason," he laughed as she pulled him through the house. It was an all too familiar route, one he'd walked a thousand times over the years. At the same time, it was a bit strange to be walking into a room that looked nearly identical to the way it had when he'd last seen it what felt like a life time ago.

"This brings back memories."

[lavender_x]

"Just like when we were little and sleepovers were still innocent," she mused, leading them up the stairs. Lavender laughed and threw Roger a grin over her shoulder. "Or how about when we were a little older and sleepovers were much less innocent

[rkdavies]

"Mostly the later ones. Those are somehow my favorite," Roger teased. He gave Lavender a wink as the sounds from downstairs began to fade.

Roger couldn't actually remember a Christmas where he hadn't been with family, at least some grouping of them, and also with at least a brief visit to the Browns. IT hadn't occurred to him how it may have been, staying away on holidays like this.

"Holidays are for family and all that." Roger paused. "Speaking of, Lily's a little in love with her camera. I think you stole Christmas with that one."

[lavender_x]

"Does she?" Lavender asked, her voice jumping slightly.

When she had done her shopping she debated all afternoon about getting something for Lily, not sure if it would be proper or too intrusive. At the end of the day she just couldn't help herself. After so many questions about her photographs Lavender thought it would only be right if Lily had a camera of her own.

Lavender shut the door behind them as they entered her room, her own little sanctuary growing up and the perfect place to spend hours with Roger.

"If she wants I could teach her a little bit, different forms and ways of shooting. She seems to really love photographs and all-"

[rkdavies]

"If she wants?" Roger shook his head. "I'm pretty sure you're kind of her favorite right now. She'd love that." With other women, Roger was too nervous to let Lily get attached. He trusted Lavender, though. He's seen her with Lily and was sure she wouldn't break Lily's heart - or his - this time around.

Plus, Lily's minor hero worship with Lavender was cute.

Roger took a moment to look around the room, then tugged Lavender's head to lead her over to the bed. They'd spent so many hours up here - as children just playing silly games and then older for very different reasons - it felt sort of full circle to be sitting here with Christmas presents to be exchanged.

[lavender_x]

She couldn't help but beam, feeling like she had passed some sort of new unspoken test. They had started out a few months ago so rocky and unsure. Now it felt like Lavender had fit right back into Roger's life - spending weekends together and dinners with him and his daughter.

Lavender followed him to her bed, reaching for his gift before settling in.

"This is my favorite part," she said, even though he knew. It wasn't getting the gift that was the best part - it was seeing what somebody thought about you that was exciting for her. And Lavender had been dying to see the type of gift Roger would have picked for her.

[rkdavies]

"It's always the best part." Roger liked giving gifts - willingly spoiled his daughter and Lavender when they'd been together before. As excited as Lavender got when she was giving someone something, the look in her eyes when she was really pleased and surprised was beyond beautiful.

"You first or me?" He asked, holding up the box he'd wrapped and shaking it a little from side to side.

[lavender_x]

"Me! Open mine first-" she told him, nearly shoving the two boxes into his lap.

Lavender kicked off her boots and pulled herself up to sit cross legged, facing him. She felt like a little kid again, bouncing with excitement and anticipation while she watched Roger. As much as she wanted to see what he had for her, she was even more excited to see what she had put together for him.

[rkdavies]

Laughing, Roger took the box. He leaned over to kiss Lavender quickly before pulling back and starting on it. When he pulled it open, he glanced at her then back at the book - a scrapbook - that he was holding in his hands.

It had... Well, it had everything in it. It was the most comprehensive chronicle of his career and matches that he'd ever seen. His favorite part, though, was the most recent picture he'd seen of them together. Lavender was wind blown but laughing and Roger was obviously sweaty and just off a practice run and smiling.

It was perfect.

"Lav. How did you get all of this?"

[lavender_x]

Lavender watched him closely, taking in his reaction as she continued to bounce with excitement. She was smiling to ear to ear by the time he spoke.

"I told you - I went to every game. My editor sent me a copy of every article," she explained.

The scrapbook was something that Lavender had started to work on after she had gotten out of the hospital. First, it started as a way to pass the time but she realized just how much information and material that she had. It was a tribute to Roger's success but also the only link that Lavender had to him these past six years.

"I left blank pages in the back so I can keep adding to it-"

[rkdavies]

Roger set the book aside and reached up to cup Lavender's face between his hands, pulling her in. He had to kiss her, it was a legitimate need at that moment. She'd told him she'd been there, but this? It was a way that linked them together in a very real way.

They may have been apart, but they'd still been together in their own way.

When he pulled away, Roger laughed. "Your turn." He carefully handed her the wrapped box he'd come in with.

[lavender_x]

Lavender leaned into the kiss, one hand set forward on the bed to steady herself. When he pulled back she was smiling.

"Oh, good - me!" she laughed, setting back down as she grabbed the box. Lavender pulled at the wrapping, wondering briefly if he had learned to wrap these last few years or had asked one of his sisters to help him.

The first thing she saw made her laugh, nearly snorting, as she pulled it out of the box. The hat popped open and regained its shape in her hands, an oversized elf hat in bright green, pointed ears pinned to the side, and a piece of mistletoe at the top where the jingle bells would normally be. Of course, it hadn't always been mistletoe - Lavender had switched it out once they had started dating.

"You still have this?" she asked in disbelieve, putting it on with out question.

[rkdavies]

Roger nodded, "Of course I do." It was such a ridiculous thing. This hat they'd ended up with on accident and kept switching back and forth for several years.

"It's our tradition. I couldn't get rid of it." He was smiling and didn't have any reason to stop. The way she looked - pleased and surprised - was enough to make sure he only thought of the best things. There were few things he loved more than seeing Lavender happy.

[lavender_x]

"This is the best!" She was laughing, her hands on the sides of the hat as she bobbed her head back and forth. The mistletoe at the end flung from side to side before landing in front of her face.

Lavender leaned forward and pressed a quick but firm kiss on his lips.

When she pulled back she back to digging into tissue paper and pulled out a scrapbook bound in dark leather. Her breath caught as she began to turn the pages.

"Roger-" she breathed, the smile replaced by wide eyes and a look of wonder. Every photograph that she ever had published and all of her articles documented front start to finish. It was incredible.