Comments | stoatshead_hill: RP: Christmas Morning

shh_ernie in stoatshead_hill

RP: Christmas Morning

Dec 25, 2007 14:28

Date: 25 December 2005
Character(s): Ernie Macmillan, Eleanor Branstone, [The Branstones]
Location: River & D
Status: Private
Summary: Ernie and Eleanor spend a quiet Christmas morning together before the chaos. And then head into the chaos at the Branstones.
Completion: Complete

( Please, Merlin, No More Snow. )

eleanor branstone, place: private residence, ernie macmillan, december 2005

Comments 40

shh_eleanor December 26 2007, 22:22:13 UTC

Eleanor rolled over and reached across the bed for Ernie, only to discover that he was already gone. They still had a while before they had to be anywhere, and they had the house all to themselves since Zach and Mandy had left to visit his family. Pulling the blankets up higher, she elected to stay in bed and hope that Ernie was planning to come back soon ( ... )

shh_ernie December 26 2007, 22:52:17 UTC

He hadn't expected her to grab the envelope. He'd been planning on presenting it to her and then perhaps making an excuse that he'd forgotten something. But she was reading it and wiping at her eyes. Which made Ernie's own eyes water a bit. There was a reason he'd chosen to write it down rather than say it.

At her compliment, he ducked his head, "I dunno about the best. But I'm going to try." He shook his head to cover his embarrassment. "Come on, eat up then." Handing her a fork and a plate, he poured out two cups of tea. Right before he settled back under the covers, he cast a stain repelling charm on the bed. Just in case.

shh_eleanor December 26 2007, 23:02:06 UTC

"Oh no, you will be. I wouldn't have settled for second best." And the charm on the bed just was just further proof. Sighing happily, Eleanor settled back against the pillows and cut into her breakfast. "Is this going to become a tradition? Because I think I could live with that." She grinned again. They could start making their own traditions.

shh_ernie December 26 2007, 23:10:35 UTC

Ernie stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth. Wasn't half-bad if he did say so himself. He chewed and swallowed before raising an eyebrow at Eleanor. "So, I'm supposed to wake up on Christmas morning, in the cold I might add, and cook breakfast for you?" The eyebrow went even higher. "And what might I get in return?"

Thread 11

shh_ernie December 27 2007, 01:05:02 UTC

Ernie straightened his tie for the millionth time after he Apparated them to Eleanor's parents' house. After opening his 'gift,' they'd talked some more. Frankly, he was worried that it would slip. From Eleanor or Mrs. Branstone. Or, more likely, himself. That would be worse, he was certain.

Taking his hand, she tugged him along to the back door and inside the house. "Happy Christmas!" she called out. He echoed the call as Mrs. Branstone hugged him and Mr. Branstone shook his hand. He gave Henry an affectionate slap on the back and asked him about Emma.

shh_eleanor December 27 2007, 01:26:02 UTC

Eleanor was far more nervous than she should have been for Christmas at her parent's house. She still wasn't feeling very good about this. Frankly she thought that by telling him, they'd be giving her father the false idea that he had some sort of say so about what she did with her life. After all, her mother had suggested that they postpone the wedding when she'd found out, and Eleanor was getting married on New Years Eve no matter what anyone had to say about it. But if Ernie felt better about coming clean she ought to support that. She just hoped it didn't end up biting him in the arse ( ... )

shh_ernie December 27 2007, 01:40:36 UTC

"Yes, we're getting married," Ernie replied, rolling his eyes. And there was more to the Emma story than Henry was currently telling. But he was certain he'd have to get him away from Eleanor to hear about that. However, he had more pressing matters right now. "And I hope you're still planning on standing up for me." He rubbed the back of his neck. "There's something you should know. I..." He didn't fancy telling it twice so he tugged Eleanor to her feet and steered her and Henry to the dining room ( ... )

shh_eleanor December 27 2007, 01:59:26 UTC

Janus paused from with a fork halfway to the table as Ernie barged in to the dining room with Eleanor and Henry in tow. He'd be wondering what Ernie would do this time, as it seemed he liked to spring things on them every time he saw the boy, and now he supposed he was about to find out.

Of course he'd been expecting to hear that he'd gone ahead and gotten Eleanor pregnant, since the two seemed to move at the speed of light, so this certainly was a surprise. And not a good one. He looked back and forth from Eleanor (who clearly looked miserable) to Ernie (who he didn't know well enough to tell what he was feeling), and finally, to his wife, who said, "There will be absolutely no hexing under my roof."

Well, so much for that then. Instead he removed his glasses and rubbed his temples in slow circles. "Where did you two say you met again?" He remembered, it was supposed to have been the bookshop that Eleanor had worked at, but frankly he was starting to wonder if it had really been the insane asylum.

Thread 23

shh_eleanor December 28 2007, 02:06:49 UTC

Eleanor stared at the doorway that Ernie had just disappeared through, trying to figure out what had just happened. She grabbed the card and read it over. Nothing upsetting in there. She thought it was rather nice, actually. Of course, that may have been the problem.

"You don't think I upset him, do you?" Mum asked.

"No, I don't think you did. I'll be right back." She followed Ernie out the back door. "You alright?" she asked quietly.

shh_ernie December 28 2007, 02:13:01 UTC

At the sound of Eleanor's voice, he hurriedly swiped at his eyes with his sleeve, not caring that he was wearing his nicest shirt. "Er...yes..." His voice still sounded rough so he cleared his throat. "I...it's silly, I reckon. Just a card. They likely didn't even mean..." He laughed nervously. They were likely just being nice and he'd gotten all emotional. Even so...

"I've never had a mum and dad before," he said softly, looking up at the sky and shoving his hands in his pockets. Finally, he turned around and faced Eleanor. "D'you reckon they meant it?" Merlin, he really wanted them to have meant it.

shh_eleanor December 28 2007, 02:35:48 UTC

"I'm sure they did," she told him, sliding her arm around his waist. "Otherwise they would have signed it 'Mr. and Mrs. Branstone."

Well, it probably hadn't been Dad's idea, but Mum would have at least told him what she was doing. Besides, her father had threatened Ernie with brutal death, so she thought it would serve him right if he hadn't. Mum, though, she knew for certain Mum wouldn't have meant it.

"You really are a part of the family now. Like it or not," she teased.

shh_ernie December 28 2007, 03:10:04 UTC

"I like it," he admitted with a sheepish grin. "I reckon I need to open my gift. We should go back in." He slipped his own arm around her waist and they went back into the house.

His gift was a few CDs and a music book. With actual chords. Henry piped up that he'd helped pick all of it out. Since Ernie needed to learn some 'real' music. Ernie laughed. "Thank you, Henry," he said, mussing his hair. Turning to Mr. and Mrs. Branstone--No, Mum and Dad, the little voice reminded--he added, "Thank you, Mis--D-Dad, M-Mum, for the gift and the card and having me here. It means a lot." Merlin, his face felt hot.

Thread 6