#@descendantssecretsanta

[truth-from-lies-in-fiction]

A Completely Rotten Christmas to the Core

Merry Christmas to @bunny-lou from your Secret Santa. I know you're a Jaylos lover, so I thought I'd try my hand at writing your boys. I hope you don't mind that I also included some Malvie, which is for all intents and purposes my lifeblood. I hope you enjoy, and that you've had a wonderful Christmas.

Her cheek swollen from Mother’s slap, Evie curls up in a corner of the of the Rotten Four’s clubhouse, flipping through the pages of a children’s Christmas story. The pages are torn and tattered, but something about them eases the pressure in Evie’s heart. Each of them is painted with images of Christmas: Trees as big as a room, glittering with multi-colored lights; children sneaking downstairs at first dawn to open piles of wrapped presents; snow fluttering from the sky, swirling into a world fresh with white.

She presses her fingertip to her eyelash, still wet with tears, and gazes at the Isle world outside. A world where it is never white, where fresh snow never falls. A world where Christmas does not exist for the daughters of Evil Queens.

A world where mothers force their daughters into too-short skirts and shirts that plunge down down down. Where they force them to sit beside men-who-could-have-been-princes (but have become pirates), and whisper things like Kiss him, Evelyn…Touch him, Evelyn…Practice to become a princess, Evelyn… Did you really think it was all cleaning and cooking, Evelyn…

A world where pirate princes run their calloused fingers across the cheeks and along the lips of girls frozen to their chairs. Where those same pirates howl in pain when those same girls bite their fingertips. And where mothers smack daughters who do not behave.

A world where Christmas is disguised as cruelty, and misbehaving daughters tumble outside into the ice, tears stinging their eyes and pain stinging their hearts.

Evie sniffles, swallowing her tears. She pulls her shirt higher, as high as it can go (which isn’t saying much, with the plunging neckline), and flips another page in her tattered children’s book. She loses herself in a scene of a family standing together around a Christmas tree, with fresh snow peeking through the window in the background. And she wonders: Are her friends faring any better this Christmas than she did?

Seriously. This whole Christmas thing is cracked. Mal huffs and falls back against the outer wall of a tin roof house, as Mother cackles and knocks on the door.

“Mother?” Mal calls, crossing her arms. “Why are you bothering to knock when –”

The door opens. A little girl stands in the doorway, clutching the arm of a beaten-up teddy bear.

Great. “Run,” Mal singsongs to the child. “And hide your teddy bear.”

But the girl is too captivated by Mother’s glowing green eyes. She stares, transfixed, as Mother pounces, curling down upon her with claws outstretched. “Why, what a beautiful little girl you are,” Mother coos, tracing a claw beneath the child’s chin. “Are your mommy and daddy home?”

The child whimpers.

“Eldora?” calls a scratchy feminine voice from inside. “Who’s at the d– Oh.” A woman stumbles to a stop, her eyes flying wide, her final oh sharp and horrified.

Mother’s lips serpent into a smile. “Hello, dearie.” She remains coiled around the child, her claw at the girl’s throat. “Feel up to paying your tribute today?”

The woman grabs the child’s shoulder and jerks her backward. “It’s Christmas, Maleficent.”

“Why, yes.” Mother’s claws slip to the girl’s bear. She yanks it from her arms.

“Mother,” Mal says, her voice edged.

So edged, Mother turns and glares.

There may not be magic on the Isle. But Mother’s cold green glare cuts through Mal like cutlery.

“Is there something the matter, Mal?” Mother curls her claws around the bear’s throat, as though she is silently promising Mal the same fate.

Mal freezes in the vortex of Mother’s stare. Her hands begin to tremble. She shoves them into the pockets of her leather jacket. She will not let Mother see them shake. She opens her mouth to respond. To fight. To get Mother to leave these people alone. It’s Christmas. The little girl is no more than five. The mother’s face is grey as the ice coating the Isle streets. She takes a deep breath and wills fire into her eyes. Wills it until her eyes burn with the fire of the fae. Burn in challenge to Mother’s freezing glare.

But Mother taps into her own powers until her gaze smolders and intensifies. And then she begins to tear the head off the bear.

The child’s whimpers turn to cries.

Mal stares into Mother’s eyes and pinpricks of pain slice into her skin. Any words of battle are lost to the silence, as her throat closes down in fear. With a disgruntled cry, she snatches the bear from Mother’s claws and wraps it in her arms. “Fine,” she chokes out, breaking away from Mother’s smoldering stare. “But I’m not hanging around while you steal their Christmas presents.”

“Such a disappointment.” Mother taps her claw against her lips.

“Better than being an evil witch.”

Mal has had enough. The last thing she needs is a recitation of everything she’s done wrong. She marches past Mother and into the starless night.

Stalking through sludge turned grey, she clutches the arm of the tattered little bear.

Wearing a thief-sized grin, Jay slinks through the door of his father’s hut with a bag full of loot. In the last two hours, he’s managed to slither down six chimneys and steal several of the trinkets moms and dads had planned for Christmas stockings. Cups and horns and coins and porcelain dolls. Enough to make some serious bank.

“Jay, is that you?” His father calls.

“In here, Dad.” Jay slings his sack onto the floor, near where he sleeps. Who knows? Maybe all this loot will be enough to score him a bed for the night. After all, it is Christmas.

Jafar steps into the room, where his gaze travels to Jay’s sack. A shadow seems to flit over his features. “What did you bring me?” There’s a pirate’s-blade edge to his voice.

The same kinda edge he uses whenever Jay has failed to do something right.

Jay’s grin fades. “Check it out.” He rips open the sack, where all the trinkets are on display. “It’s –”

“Junk.” Jafar’s nostrils flare. “You’ve been gone for two hours, and you brought back junk.”

“But, Dad.” Jay falls to his knees and scoops out a silver cup and a porcelain doll. “This stuff’s legit. Real silver and porcelain.”

Jafar stomps two steps closer and stares down at Jay’s trinkets. “You incompetent fool. The doll is missing an eye and the cup is cracked.” He forms a fist and knocks the trinkets from Jay’s hand.

Jay winces. “It’s the Isle,” he says, dumping the trinkets back into his sack. “You know what trinkets are like around here.”

“What about the Christmas presents then? Why bring me trinkets when you could bring me real goods?”

Jay stares down at his hands, which are stained with chimney soot. Truth is, he almost did go for the gifts. But he couldn’t do it. Because… “It’s Christmas, Pop. Don’t you think the Isle deserves a little good cheer?” He dares to glance into his father’s face.

A face that ghosts white and then bleeds red. “Good cheer?” His father spits the words. “You’re a thief, boy. Learn to think like one.” He whips back his hand, bringing it down across Jay’s cheek.

Pain explodes across Jay’s face. “I thought I was,” he chokes, cradling his cheek.

“And for that,” Jafar says, lifting the sack of trinkets, which clinks together as he carries it to the door, “you’ll sleep outside with your stolen trinkets.”

He tosses the sack outside and waves his arm for Jay to join it. “Next year, bring me real goods and I might let you sleep on the sofa.”

A burning sensation stings Jay’s eyes. He whips his hand across them, unwilling to let Dad see. Instead, he marches out the door, a son-turned-thief.

He waits for the door to slam, and then he picks up the sack and hefts it over his shoulder. His cheek throbbing in the cold dark air, he begins the trek back to the first house he stole from.

Turns out, he’s only up to collecting junk this year. So he might as well take it back to where it came from. Because even Isle kids deserve a Christmas.

Carlos sneaks from his house, closing the door behind him. Inside Hell Hall, his mother curses and crashes through piles of fur. Fur Carlos was supposed to keep clean. Fur he soiled when he fell after four lashes of Mother’s whip.

One lash for failing to properly clean her fur.

One lash for failing to properly paint her nails.

One lash for failing to properly congratulate her on the strength of her lashes.

And a fourth lash “Because it’s Christmas, darling, and little boys should understand just how good they have it all the other days of the year.”

A fifth lash whooshed toward his back, but Carlos fell onto the coats he hadn’t cleaned and soiled them further with his blood.

“You worthless fool,” his mother cried, dropping her whip and cuddling her fur. “How dare you soil my poor little darlings?”

“I – I’m sorry.” Carlos backed toward the door. “I didn’t mean –”

“Didn’t mean to bleed on my precious coats?” His mother growled, snatching up her whip. “Come back here, Carlos.”

But for once, Carlos didn’t listen to Mother. For once, he turned and sprinted from Hell Hall, out into the freezing night.

He slams the door behind him, cringing at Mother’s curses and shrieks. The cold air bites into his skin, sinking into his wounds. His shirt is in tatters, his skin knitted together with blood and bits of leather flakes torn from Mother’s whip.

But he wraps his arms around his body, gritting his teeth when the movement stings. And he jogs far and fast from Mother’s Hell.

The streets are brighter tonight, even in the Isle shadow. Certain shops glint with Christmas lights, and a browning Christmas tree shimmers in Isle Square. Even the moon shines slightly through the clouds. Shines a few doors down, where a boy carries a sack up onto someone’s dilapidated porch.

Jay. Carlos’ chest constricts. Of course. Who else would show up when I look like crap?

The splintered moonlight slides along Jay’s muscles. Muscles that bulge as he lifts trinkets and places them onto the porch. And when Jay glances up from his sack of gifts, the moonlight caresses his eyes, softening them and turning them a velvet black.

Carlos ducks behind a bush. The last thing he needs is for Jay to see him looking like this.

Jay whistles. A moment later, his footsteps crack along the icy sidewalk. Closer and closer, they come.

Carlos slides back along the bush, ducking beneath the foliage.

But Jay, ever stealthy, catapults over the greenery, landing stooped in front of Carlos. “Trying to hide, my friend?” He greets Carlos with a grin that does wicked things to a boy’s heartbeat. “Or just playing peeping Carlos?”

Carlos forces out a laugh. And says the first words that pop onto his tongue. “Mother’s on a rampage.” He cringes. Dammit. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He swallows a breath, waiting for Jay to notice his wounds. Waiting for Jay to stare at him as though he is weak.

But Jay’s eyes do not dance, as they so often do when he’s getting ready to tease. And they do not darken with pity.

They remain a velvet black, deeper now, more understanding. “Did she hurt you again?” There’s a bitterness in his voice.

A bitterness that seeps into Carlos’ muscles like a balm, comforting and warm. “Oh, you know.” He shrugs. “It wasn’t so bad.” The words are stale and tasteless, like so many lies.

Jay stares at Carlos for another shattered heartbeat. And then he opens his sack and pulls out his jacket. “I’m actually pretty warm tonight.” He holds his jacket out to Carlos. “You wear it.”

“Are – are you sure?” Carlos touches the buttered leather.

Jay never lets anyone use his stuff. Carlos once tried to borrow a shirt after a brutal pirate fight, and Jay nearly took his fingers off with a sword.

“’Course I’m sure.” Jay shrugs and wraps the coat around Carlos’ shoulders. His fingers linger along Carlos’ throat, sliding along his skin. “Our parents are jerks, man,” he whispers. “We’ve gotta look out for each other.”

Carlos sucks back a breath at Jay’s touch. And his gaze lands on Jay’s bruised cheek. “You, too?”

“Yeah, well.” Jay drops his hand from Carlos’ throat. “I didn’t exactly get everything on Dad’s Christmas wish list.” He leaps to his feet, grabbing his empty sack.

A sack that a few minutes ago had held a bunch of trinkets.

Carlos slides to his feet and grabs Jay’s hand. “Hey. Did you – you didn’t return everything you stole, did you?” Could Jay have really had the strength to defy his father like that?

“Sure I did.” Jay shrugs. “It’s Christmas.”

“Jay.”

But Jay is no longer looking at Carlos. He’s dropping the sack into the bush, burying it beneath the greenery. “C’mon,” he says, kicking it into the dirt. “I have an idea.” With that, he laces their fingers together and pulls Carlos toward Isle Square.

Carlos waits, but Jay never lets go of his hand.

There’s a light gleaming at the top of the warehouse. Mal stops outside on the street and stares up at the yellowish glow. During her walk there, the teddy bear has somehow become cuddled within her arms, his half-severed head leaning against her chest. She strokes his matted fur and sighs.

She never walks away from Mother.

She never gives up on Mother’s schemes.

Her goal in life is to become Mal, Mistress of Evil. Mother’s frickin’ clone.

But something inside her broke tonight. Something shattered when Mother tore apart this teddy. When Mother tore into Mal’s gaze with her cold green glare.

The light in the warehouse seems warm. A tinge of yellow lighting up the dark Isle night. Beckoning Mal to a place Mother does not know. The home discovered just weeks ago by the Rotten Four.

Still cradling the teddy, she snatches a rock from the street and tosses it at the yellow sign that serves as their lock. The gate to the warehouse rises, and Mal stalks toward the stairs.

Whoever’s waiting in the warehouse, whoever turned on the light, has gotta be better than Maleficent.

Evie caresses the page of her book with a fingertip. The family painted on the page circles around their Christmas tree, their faces alight from the yellow glow of the lights. A fire crackles in the fireplace, casting a crimson gleam. Keeping the family warm from the fluttering white snow piled up outside their window.

Something inside Evie’s chest aches. She tries to picture herself and Mother standing around a Christmas tree, but the image flickers and fades. She cannot bring it to life.

She’s freezing in this warehouse. The clothes Mother forced her to wear are too low-cut. The shirt plunges so low, her chest is cold. A cold that seeps deeper inside each time she thinks of Mother.

She sighs and touches the page, prepared to flip, when someone stomps up the stairs.

Evie glances up from her book to discover Mal. Her purple hair is as wild as her eyes are green. She cradles a beaten-up teddy bear, stroking it as though it is a long-forgotten child.

Their eyes lock, and Mal’s face flares pink. “What are you doing here?” she asks. Her voice is rough – as rough as when Evie first came to Dragon Hall and Mal vowed to make her life miserable – but stitched within her words are threads of vulnerability.

Evie’s breath falters.

Something has changed. This girl, this wild Mal, is suddenly unguarded.

A smile springs to Evie’s lips. There you are. The words spring to her mind, and she realizes in that moment that she’s been waiting. Waiting months for Mal to take off her mask.

“Why are you staring?”

Evie shakes her head. “I’m not staring.” She tilts her head toward the space beside her on the Four’s overstuffed couch. “C’mere and I’ll read you a story.”

Mal hides behind a refuge of her purple hair, which has fallen into her eyes. “And just why would I want to hear a story?”

Because you look like a lost little girl. “Because it’s Christmas, M. And people listen to stories on Christmas.”

It’s the first time Evie’s used the nickname, even though it’s been dancing on the tip of her tongue for weeks.

Mal flips her hair from her face and catches Evie’s gaze. The green in her eyes darkens, intensifies, as though from just one nickname, she’s gained the power to glimpse Evie’s thundering heart. “Fine.” She shuffles across the room, bouncing onto the couch by Evie’s side. “Read me a story then.”

Evie tries, she really does. She even curls her fingers around the storybook.

But now that Mal is close, Evie finds herself lost in the green of Mal’s eyes. In the way Mal’s looking at her, just her, like she really sees her. Evie reaches out and touches Mal’s hand, which is as cold as the night outside. “What happened tonight?”

Mal cringes, hiding her gaze beneath a fall of her eyelids. “Mother.” The word is cut from the harshest of fabrics, and sewn together with stapled stitches.

Evie knows it well. The same stitches are holding together her own broken heart. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.

Mal’s eyes open, the green somehow even more intense. Words sketch themselves across her face. Her features soften. Her lips curl upward. And she allows her cradled bear to drop from its place against her chest and land upon her lap.

As the bear falls, Mal’s eyes fall, too, sliding over Evie’s clothes. She stiffens. “What are you wearing?”

Evie sighs. “My mother was up to her own games tonight. She tried to make me…” Her face flares with heat, the memory of the pirate prince slicing through her thoughts. “She gave me princess lessons.”

Mal’s hand forms into a fist beneath Evie’s palm. “Give me a name and I’ll make sure he never walks again,” she growls.

A fog horn pierces the night, and Evie bites back a laugh just as harsh. “Don’t bother. I bit him so hard, I think he’ll need stitches.”

Mal’s hand twitches. And when Evie glances up, she finds Mal’s mouth twitching, too. “That’s my girl,” Mal murmurs.

Evie’s breath catches. The words knit themselves within her mind, woven in so many shades of emerald. The color of Mal’s eyes, which widen when the words leave her lips.

Mal opens her mouth, maybe to reclaim the words.

Before Mal can speak, Evie presses her lips to Mal’s parted mouth. No way, M. I’m not gonna let you take it back.

Mal’s lips are cold, and when Evie kisses her, they freeze. Mal freezes, a fairy girl crafted from ice.

Evie slips back, just enough so that their lips are no longer touching but their breath still mingles. “Kiss me back,” she whispers, tracing her fingertips along Mal’s hand. “I dare you.” I dare you to let go. I dare you to unfreeze. I dare you to let me inside.

Mal stares into Evie’s eyes, lost in the vortex of her stare. And then her gaze slips to Evie’s lips. All at once, she melts. Her lips part in a groan, and she slides her fingers through Evie’s hair, pulling her forward. Crushing their lips together in a kiss.

Mal’s lips slide along Evie’s, and Evie’s world turns to warmth. She is no longer freezing in the clothes forced onto her by her frigid mother. Her skin prickles with heat. A heat so intense, it slips beneath her chest, warming the place left cold by her mother’s slap. She wraps Mal in her arms and holds her close, finding herself in the warmth.

Long after, when they have stopped the kiss to catch their breath, when Mal has leaned her head against Evie’s shoulder, when Evie has wrapped her arm around Mal’s back, when the bear curls into its own corner of the couch, Mal gazes down at the book still opened on Evie’s lap. “Is this the story you were going to read me?” she asks, thumbing the painting of the Christmas tree.

“Mmhmm.” Evie nuzzles the top of Mal’s head, breathing in her fiery scent. “Someday, I’d like a Christmas like this one.”

“Mmm.” Mal kisses Evie’s shoulder. “Someday.”

There’s a promise in that word as it leaves Mal’s lips. As if she isn’t just repeating what she’s heard. As if she’s rolling it along her tongue, tasting its angles and curls.

Before Evie can discover its meaning, though, there’s a clatter on the stairs. Two boys appear in the warehouse. Carlos, lost in the contours of Jay’s leather coat, and Jay himself, who carries a browning Christmas tree.

“Did someone say Christmas?” Jay asks, wearing a mischievous grin.

A bubble of laughter springs from Mal’s lips. “You stole that tree from Isle Square, you thief.”

“Yup.” Jay turns the tree upright, allowing it branches to fan out. Dangling from all but a few is an ornament, and stretched between the ornaments are strings of tiny lights.

Carlos touches the branches. “Jay and I have decided we’re gonna have a Christmas, right here in the clubhouse.”

“Like a family,” Evie breathes, sliding her fingers through Mal’s.

Mal leans her head against Evie’s shoulder. “Someday,” she whispers.

Evie’s heart glows.

Mal glances at Jay. “Set up the tree,” she says. “I’m gonna add some finishing touches.”

In the darkness of Christmas night, when the Isle streets below are coated in grey sludge and the sky fails to shine with the brightness of stars, the Rotten Four find in each other a family.

Jay guides Carlos to a corner and strips the boy of his jacket. Then, with touches careful and lingering, he applies a balm to the wounds along Carlos’ back. The concoction seeps warmth into Carlos’ muscles so that, when Jay is through, the sting is almost gone.

“I got you, man,” Jay murmurs, sliding Carlos back into his jacket.

Mal shrugs out of her own leather jacket and wraps it around Evie’s shoulders. “To keep you warm,” she says, placing a kiss on Evie’s cheek.

Jay coughs and rubs his mouth with a fist, hiding a smile.

A smile that vanishes when Mal glares, daring him to make another sound.

“Whatever,” Jay says, holding out his hands. But his smile returns, and he winks at Mal, who blushes.

Warm in Mal’s leather jacket, Evie skips away from the scene to find a needle and thread, and to collect the teddy bear. Cradling the bear in her arms, she sews his seams. And then she washes him with soap and water, until he is made new.

Setting the teddy bear beneath the tree, she calls the boys to the couch and opens up the Christmas story. Though the story is written for children, Carlos leans back into Jay’s arms and Jay nuzzles his chin against Carlos’ shoulder, and the two sit and listen to Evie read.

While Evie’s voice drifts through the room, Mal strides to the cupboards, where she uncovers cans of spray paint. The spritz of the paint mingles with the sounds of Evie’s story, filling the clubhouse with a kind of wild creativity.

Finally, when the moon dares to peek through clouds fat and grey, when the Christmas tree glimmers with lights plugged into the clubhouse walls, when the last notes of the story have been spoken and Evie has closed the book, Mal caps her spray paint and steps back from her work.

There, painted behind the tree, there is a window. And within the window, there is the fall of snow. On the opposite wall, there is a fireplace. A fireplace painted warm with crimson flame.

Mal gazes at Evie, her eyes alight. “Who says that someday can’t be now, E?”

Evie’s skin prickles with warmth at the light in Mal’s eyes and at the nickname that falls from Mal’s lips. She rises from the couch and grabs the bear. “No one at all,” she whispers, placing the creature in Mal’s arms.

Mal smiles down at the toy, smoothing her fingers along its seams. “You fixed her.”

“Fair trade.” Evie gathers Mal in her arms. “You fixed me.”

“You were never broken.” Mal murmurs the words against Evie’s heart.

“Neither were you,” Evie breathes the words into her hair. “You were always Mal.”

She gazes down at her girl, and touches their lips in a kiss. A kiss both gentle and soft, but filled with heat.

Jay clears his throat. “Yeah. If you two are gonna make out…”

Evie laughs against Mal’s lips. “We’ll continue this later then,” she murmurs. Stepping back, she turns to find the boys.

“Merry Christmas,” Carlos says with a grin.

“What he said.” Jay nods at the boy, grabbing his hand.

Evie raises her eyebrows at their touch. And at the way Mal slides her arm around Evie’s back, pulling her close.

Things have changed tonight. Changed in ways that are good.

They have found their Someday.

Together with her family, Evie gathers around the Christmas tree, gazing at its lights and savoring the warm glow deep within her heart.

[findingfandomwithafangirl]

“To progress anywhere in life, you have to face your demons.” - John Noble 

Core Four // Secret Santa gift (part 2) for @evieoftheisle for @descendantssecretsanta

[qveenpoppy]

merry christmas, @edream93! i’m your descendants secret santa! i made some moodboards for ya, of the sea three (harry, uma, & gil), uma herself, and umaudrey. hope you like them! and i hope you have a magical day 💖

@descendantssecretsanta

[chaosmadden]

Happy holidays from your secret santa @elle-eedee !!!!! An excellent Chad Charming for your excellent self!!! (p.s. if you want versions with different flags or background colors or whatever let me know!!!!!!!)💙⚔️💛

[auradon-bore-a-don]

The Perfect Christmas (Jaylos)

Warnings: Tooth-rotting fluff 

Pairing: Jaylos and some Mevie

Ao3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21984289

A/N: This is my @descendantssecretsanta gift for the amazing @unapologeticallyjaylos! You have no idea what an honor it is making a gift for you, i love you’re work so much! Sorry it’s late!

Write A Letter to Santa

“What’s a Santa?”

“Not a what, a who.” They were in one of the many sittings rooms of Belle and Beast’s castle. Ben had decided invited the VK’s of Auradon Prep to stay at his home over the winter break. He said it was because he wanted to be the one to teach them about Christmas and other holidays. Jay thought it was actually because they didn’t want to leave four villain kids alone on campus for a month. Even after fighting Maleficent, some people still thought they were just like their parents. “He’s this old guy who wears a red suit and breaks into people’s houses on Christmas eve to leave them presents.”

Carlos’ face looked even more confused.

Jay shook his head, “I might’ve explained it wrong. Doesn’t matter.” He showed Carlos a piece of paper and a pen. “It’s one of those Christmas things Ben was telling us about. I figured it would be fun.”

“Really? You thought it would be fun?” Carlos said as he crossed his arms and raised an raised and amused eyebrow, smirking.

“Ok, Ok, laugh all you want. I figured it might get him off our backs for a while if we did something “Christmas-y” and “traditional.”” Jay quoted the words with his fingers as he spoke them in his King Ben voice. It didn’t sound anything like Ben and it made Carlos laugh.

“Alright, why not? If only to get Ben to back off a bit. What do we write to him?” Jay gave him a big smile and hurriedly passed him the paper and pen.

“If I remember correctly,” which he did. Jay didn’t want to seem too suspicious. “All we have to do is write “Dear Santa” and what gifts we want for Christmas and we’ll get it.”

“Really?” Carlos questioned. “That’s it? We just say what we want and we get it.” He had a skeptical look on his face and he hovered the pen over the paper.

“Well, Ben did say something about having to be good and on something called a “nice list.”” They gave each other a look, just six months ago they were planning to steal Fairy Godmother’s wand.

“I guess it’s worth a shot.” Carlos eventually said and they began writing their lists. When they were done, Jay pulled out two white envelopes.  Before he could explain, Ben walked in and greeted them.

“Sorry about earlier, I kinda got carried away with the holidays.” Ben was wearing an over-sized Christmas sweater that read NICE LIST in big red letters. “I hope I didn’t deter you from the holiday.”

“No problem, Jay and I are actually just finished writing letters to Santa.” Carlos told him and Ben gave him a confused look.

“Oh, uh, guys. You know there’s no…” He trailed off at the look on Jay’s face. “…way those letters will get to him in time if you don’t mail them soon, right?”

The change wasn’t smooth and Carlos gave a questioning look at Ben but before he could say anything, Jay interrupted. “Oh, wow!” He stood up startling the other two boys and through an arm around Ben’s shoulder, pulling him out of the room. “You better show me how to mail them before it’s too late then.”

Ben was able to say a quick goodbye to Carlos before Jay pulled him completely out of the room.

Play in the snow

Jay had to give Ben some credit, if there was one thing he liked about the holiday, it was the snow. On the Isle, all that ever happened was clouded skies and the occasional rain. Jay enjoyed the snow, the cold not so much. Cold didn’t mix well with his sleeveless shirts and vest and the long sleeves he wore now were a bit restricting but it was worth it when it snowed. The best thing was the look on Carlos’ face though. His cheeks would get red and make his freckles stand out more than usual and the look of pure joy made his heart melt. But the best part? Would be when Carlos got so cold he would push his face into Jay’s chest for warmth. He would wrap his arms around the smaller boy and just watch him, careful not to stare for too long.

“Jay, look out!” Jay turned to Carlos only to be hit in the head with a snowball. He stumbled for a moment before regaining balance.

“You just gonna stand there?” Mal yelled from across the gardens of the castle. She was holding another snowball in her hand and was slowly lobbing it into the air.

Jay smirked. “Nice arm, but I’d be more worried about you’re girlfriend!”

Mal gave him a confused look before Evie dumped a bucket of snow onto her head. Mal jumped to get the snow out of her coat, bewildered, looking at Evie. Evie only giggled before seeing the look on Mal’s face and then started running in the opposite direction. It didn’t take long for her to catch up to Evie, tackling the bluenette to the ground and shoving some snow down the back of her jacket. Evie’s scream mixed with Mal’s laughter as she lay under Mal, squirming form the snow in her coat.

Jay watched them kiss each other before turning away to give them some privacy.  He watched as Carlos chased Dude around in the snow, wearing matching jackets. Jay couldn’t help but smile at them. “Stare any harder and he’s going to notice.”

Jay jumped and turned to see Audrey, who was visiting for the day. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been staring at Carlos for a good ten minutes with a stupid smile on you’re face.” She teased, bumping shoulders with him. “You VK’s might think your so tough and can hide how you feel, but your faces give you away every time.”

He stammered and opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water. She just smiled, nudging him towards Carlos. “Go on, there’s no point in just standing around in the snow.”

Have cookies and coco by the fire

The second best part about being out in the snow is after you’re done and go inside. At Belle and Beast’s castle, it’s even better. Mrs. Potts had Christmas cookies and hot chocolate ready when everyone came inside. The plan was to watch movies and sit in front of the fire while eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate. Mal and Evie went back to their room to change but didn’t come back, probably getting distracted. Audrey had to go back to her own castle, but not before giving Jay a sly look before she went. Ben ended up having to deal with some king stuff, so that left Jay and Carlos alone in the main sitting room.

“You got something,” Jay gestured vaguely to Carlos’ cheek at the crumbs that rested there. Carlos tried to wipe them away but missed them. “No, uh, here.” Jay used his thumb, cupping Carlos’ cheek and brushed the crumbs onto the floor. Neither of them moved once they noticed how close Jay had gotten to brush the crumbs. They already were sharing a thick flannel blanket and using each other for warmth. Jay could feel Carlos’ breath mixing with his own. He was afraid to look at Carlos’ eyes, his own hadn’t moved from his thumb. Slowly, he trailed his eyes over Carlos’ face. Their eyes met and Jay came to the realization that Carlos had always been watching his face.

“Thanks,” Carlos whispered, not breaking eye contact.

“Sorry we’re late!” Evie’s voiced jolted the two boys from their position and to opposite ends of the blanket. Dude, who they both had forgotten was on Carlos’ lap, yipped and jumped off the couch. “Someone, got a little distracted.”

Evie bumped her hip to Mal’s as she tried to fix her hair. “I wasn’t the only one.” Mal said giving the boys a smile.

Tell him how you feel with a kiss under the mistletoe

The Christmas eve party was in full swing and Jay hated it. It wasn’t the company, or the party itself. No, Jay hated the party because every time he tried getting Carlos under the mistletoe, someone else got in the way! After the cookies and coco moment, Jay figured it was the perfect time to try and tell Carlos how he felt. He was talking with Ben and learned about mistletoe, and he was determined to get Carlos under it.

The first time he tried, Carlos was dragged away by Doug and Evie ended up walking under. The second time it was Audrey. She was hiding from Chad and happened to use Jay as cover. Last time it was Ben who had come over to ask how he was doing, just like the good host he was. Each time he meant for it to be Carlos, and each time he ended up kissing one of his friends on the cheek instead of the one person he actually wanted to kiss. It was made almost worth it by the blush on Ben’s face after, almost.

After his last effort ended with him giving a kiss on the cheek to Mrs. Potts, Jay gave up hope and went outside to the balcony. The doors closed behind him, and the sounds of the party were muffled. His thoughts turned sour at his bad luck, maybe this was a sign. Maybe he read the way Carlos looked at him wrong. Maybe Carlos didn’t want to kiss him like Jay thought. Maybe he was just being kind, that always was Carlos’ biggest weakness back on the Isle.

Jay groaned into his arms, crossed over the railing he was leaning against. So much for the perfect Christmas.

“Want some company?” Jay bolted up at Carlos’ voice. He hadn’t even heard the door open.

“Uh, yeah. Yeah, I don’t mind.” He moved over so Carlos could lean against the railing with him. “You sure you don’t want to be inside where it’s warm?”

“Nah,” Carlos shrugged. “It got too warm for me, too many people.” They stood in silence, staring at the view of the land. All was quiet except for the muffled noise from the closed door. “I heard you’ve been looking for me all night.”

“Oh, yeah? Who told you that?” Jay turned to get a better look at Carlos, half of the boys face was illuminated by the light from inside.

“A little dragon told me.” They chuckled. “Said she was tired of you kissing her girlfriend and sent me out here to find you.”

“In my defense, I only kissed her once and it was on the cheek.” He didn’t know when, but at some point they had moved closer to each other.

“I know,” Carlos reached into his pocket and grabbed something Jay couldn’t see. “I think you should be kissing your own date, personally.”

“I didn’t bring a date.” Jay straightened up and stood directly in front of Carlos.

“You also didn’t ask.” Carlos’ hand reached up above his head and Jay looked up to see the mistletoe he had so desperately wanted Carlos to be under.

“For the kiss or the date?” He wrapped an arm around Carlos’ waist, pulling him close. His other hand ghosted up his side to rest on his cheek.

“Both.” Carlos’ free hand slid up Jay’s arm to rest on his shoulder and they stared at each other just like the night before. Slowly, Jay felt his eyes close and he leaned into Carlos. It was only a few seconds but it felt like an eternity before Carlos’ own lips met his. His lips were soft and tasted slightly like chocolate.

Jay didn’t know how long they stayed that way, it felt like hours but he didn’t care. To his surprise, it was Carlos who tried to deepen the kiss first. Jay let him, enjoying the feel of Carlos in his arms and the hand Carlos twisted into his hair.

And hope he feels the same

He does.

[writing-kiki]

Possession is nine tenths of the law...Right?

Merry Christmas to @fcstation1063 I'm your @descendantssecretsanta Secret Santa, you mentioned Carlos as one of your favorite characters, and Jaylos as a favorite ship, I hope you like it :) x

Special thanks to my beta @geminillama who is the actual best 🧡

[trueishcolours]

Summary: Evie and Audrey prepare for the New Year’s Ball

@umaspirateship, please enjoy this, your Descendants Secret Santa gift. You listed Evie/Audrey as a favourite ship, so I thought I’d try my hand at writing them. I hope that this Christmas Day finds you well and that your holiday season is filled with joy!

[benjaycaptain]

so i’m totally not dead whoops but i am finally over all the real life issues that overcame my holiday season to post my @descendantssecretsanta gift for @trueishcolours

Title: now i know how to play my hand Word Count: 3242 Rated: teen just because implications of d/s elements and sexual tensions Characters/Pairings: established uma/harry, uma/ben/harry getting together, minor appearance from gil, who’s the best

"You keep staring at him," Harry said. He kept working on polishing his hook, but his gaze flickered between the rag in his hand and Uma's face.

Uma shrugged, not correcting her gaze, knowing that it would drive Harry crazy. "There are worse things to stare at," was all she said, keeping the amusement she felt out of her voice.

Harry made a face, rag and hook forgotten, and he finally turned to look at Uma's point of interest.

Eyebrow raised, Uma glanced at him. "Do you disagree?"

Snorting, Harry gave her a halfhearted shrug. "Fine, he's pretty, but he's so..." He scrunched his nose, obviously at a loss on how to describe the object of their conversation.

[fake cut to ao3]

[and a link in case the fake cut doesn’t work https://archiveofourown.org/works/22092127]

hope you enjoy!

[umaspirateship]

Secret Santa Gift: “All Was Quiet”

Christmas is over, but @descendantssecretsanta is not! As I didn’t have access to a computer on Christmas, and as my Christmas fic is actual a post-Christmas reflection fic, I ended up posting it today! @malicebertha I hope you enjoy your Mal-centric Christmas fic, which follows Mal as she tries to figure out what’s left, now that the holidays are over and all her new AK friends are still away for break. 

It is posted HERE (https://archiveofourown.org/works/21985198) on Ao3, and I’ll be posting another version in text here on tumblr!

I hope your holiday seasons went very well, and hope you find peace and reassurance in this vague, disjointed interval between school/holiday business and the new year. And my apologies, as well, for not getting this fic to you earlier!

[brokengem]

Title: Blues and Whites Fandom: Descendants Pairings: Mal/Jane, Fairy God Mother. For: @tinybroodinggay from your @descendantssecretsanta! I hope you enjoy this little work of art. Hope you had a very Happy Hannukah and Happy Holidays! <3

Also can be found on AO3 over here. 

“Oh no! I’m late!”

Jane’s outburst tore Mal’s attention from the book she’d been studying. A frown graced her lips as she watched the pretty little fairy rush about to collect her things. With a slight huff Mal leaned against her hand, not once taking her eyes from the other girl.

“What’s got you in such a rush?”

Jane paused, the Calculus book she’d been trying to stuff in her book frozen in her hand. Bright blue eyes blinked back at the dark fairy.

“I’m so sorry, Mal,” Jane rushed out, stuffing the book in her bag, “I don’t mean to cut our study session short, but I’ve so lost track of time. It’s the first day of Hanukkah and I was supposed to meet with my mom ten minutes ago.”

“Hanukkah?” Mal’s frown deepened. The Isle hadn’t offered them much joy in terms of holidays. In fact they had never  celebrated a thing until they were welcomed in Auradon. Sadly, she only a vague idea of what Jane was talking about.

A sad frown appeared on Jane’s lips, “that’s right. I’m sorry, Mal. You guys didn’t get the chance to celebrate the holidays did you?”

“It’s no big deal,” Mal shrugged, turning back to her forgotten math book. It wasn’t a complete lie. A part of her didn’t mind, but the other part. The part that enjoyed being in Auradon and liked being good felt a little hurt by her lack of knowledge of all the traditions her new home had to offer.

Jane’s giggle brought Mal’s attention back to her, a pale hand extended out towards her. “Why don’t you join us? We’ll go meet mom in the kitchen and then head back to my room.”

Mal blinked down at the offered hand, “what are we going to the kitchen for?”

The blue-eyed fairy’s smile grew impossibly wider, her eyes practically sparkling in her excitement. “Mom got permission for us to use the kitchen to make latkes! You’ll love them, I promise. They’re like a potato pancake and if you want you can even have them with sour cream.” Mal’s amusement must have shown because the tip of Jane’s ears turned red followed by a light dusting of pink coming to her cheeks as she quietly finished, “They are delicious.”

With a playful shrug, Mal accepted Jane’s eagerly wiggling hand, “I can’t really turn down food, especially if you’re claiming it to be so delicious.”

She was barely able to pack up her things before the excited Jane lead her out of the library.

                   ******************************************************

Mal didn’t know what to expect when she entered the kitchen, but a cheery Fairy Godmother in a blue and white apron with bowls of ingredients was certainly a sight to behold. The headmistress beamed as they entered.

“Mal, what a pleasant surprise!”

She dropped her bag down beside Jane’s, accepting the matching apron Jane held out for her. “I hope  it’s okay if I join you. Jane invited and I really don’t want to mess up your holiday or anything.”

Fairy Godmother’s face melted into a small frown for all of a second before her bright smile return. “Not at all, child. I’m happy to have you.”

Before anything Mal could say anything else, the woman swept her up into one of the tightest hugs Mal had ever had. It was enough to help calm her nerves as she relaxed and returned the hug with one of her own.

“Wonderful,” Fairy Godmother gave her cheeks an affection pat, “now you can help Jane with the onions and potatoes.”

Jane held out a onion and knife, smiling sweetly as Mal made her way over. “You’ll want to peel the skin off and cut them into quarters. I’ll do the same with the potatoes.”

Nodding, Mal carefully took the items and did as she was told. It didn’t long for her eyes to begin to water, the purple haired fairy wiping away the tears with the back of her sleeve.

“How do you do this without crying?” she whined, happy to be finished with her task.

Jane laughed from beside her, “I’m sorry. I probably should have done the onions. I’ll show you a good trick to preventing tears next time.”

The promise of their being a next time totally didn’t send warmth through Mal’s entire body.

“Now we put these in the food processor and then we’ll quickly start making the batter.”

Everything was much more fun than Mal imagined. The potatoes and onions were grated and Mal got the pleasure of squeeze out as my liquid as possible. They worked together to mix it all together with the eggs, flour, salt, pepper and baking powder. Fairy Godmother let them have their fun as some flour found itself smudged across Mal’s cheeks and blended into Jane’s brown hair. Their giggles feeling the kitchen as they took turns mixing.

“All done girls?”

Mal took a step back and watched as Fairy Godmother poured some batter into the hot oil she’d taken care to prepare. Quickly the kitchen was filled with such an overwhelmingly delicious scent. She couldn’t wait to try the treat they’d worked together to prepare.

That warm feeling returned as watched Jane come to her mother’s side and they sung together. It was beautiful even if she couldn’t understand a single word.

Ten minutes passed and the first set of latkes were ready. Jane handed her a plate of two of the treat with a smile. With a small thank you, Mal took her first bite and groaned happily.

                       ******************************************************

Mal had been to Jane’s dorm plenty of times to study or just to bother the younger girl, but she’d never seen it so clashing before. Audrey’s half of the room was decked out in the traditional greens and reds that all of Auradon Prep seemed to have been drowned in just after Thanksgiving. Jane’s half of the room was decorated in blues and whites. A large six pointed star hung just above her bed, she’s seen a smaller version around Jane’s neck everyday.

“That’s the Star of David,” Jane smiled, playing with the miniature version she wore, “it’s a known symbol of the Jewish people, but it also means so much more than that.”

Mal walked up to the large star, tracing the points and triangles with a finger, “I’d love to hear more about it sometime.”

When she looked back, pink dusted Jane’s cheeks and her ears were red once more as she beamed back at her, “I’d be happy to tell you more!”

“What’s the story behind that?” Mal pointed to the silver nine-candle candelabra on the windowsill, only one unlit candle in it’s holders.

Jane clapped her hands together, quickly crossing her room to reach her desk. The top drawer opened and she pulled out a candle and box of matches.

“That’s a menorah. We celebrate Hanukkah for eight days starting today at sunset and each night we light a candle after saying our blessings. Mom offered the blessing before she had to go. She can’t be here for the lighting tonight but she’ll be here tomorrow and every night after.”

Mal nodded, watching as Jane lit the lone candle in the center, the shamash she’d said. She added the one she’d taken from the drawer right beside it. Carefully, Jane removed the lit candle and held it out, a shy smile on her lips.

“Would you like to light the first candle, Mal?”

Green eyes widened, “are you sure? It wouldn’t be disrespectful or anything will it? I don’t want to mess anything up.”

Jane shook her head, “it’s fine, don’t worry about it.”

“If you’re sure,” Mal took the candle, carefully using it to light the other, staring bright-eyed at the flames. Jane hummed beside her, taking the lit candle and returning it to the center.

They stepped back, Jane quietly singing another song in Hebrew. The word beautiful crossed Mal’s mind again as she listened, sliding her hand into Jane’s. The younger gave paused for a minute in her song, but gave Mal’s hand a squeeze as she continued her song.

The evening had been pleasant and Mal enjoyed herself. She hoped Jane would be okay with her joining in on the celebration for the remainder of the days as she learned more and hopefully got to get closer to the girl.

[descendantsrecaps]

@descendantssecretsanta

To @truth-from-lies-within-fiction

Merry Christmas! I hope this malvie fic puts a smile on your face! Enjoy!!

-

It was far too cold to be casually walking the streets of Auradon, but when Mal had informed Evie of a surprise she had planned, the blue-haired girl couldn’t stop herself from throwing a coat over her shoulders and following Mal from inside their shared dorm room.

And as expected, the frigid air forced the two to pull their hoods over their heads and shove their hands into their pockets, but they continued on nonetheless, Mal seemingly unaffected by the wind gusts that fanned over her face.

“Were the winters this cold on the Isle?” Evie muttered through gritted teeth that remained so in an effort to stop them from chattering.

“Oh, stop complaining, it’s not like it’s snowing,” Mal teased, jabbing an elbow playfully into Evie’s side to which the girl only groaned. Evie waited for an ‘anymore’ to be tacked onto the end of the statement, but it never came. “Besides, we’re almost there.”

Evie squinted into the distance, searching for a hint of where exactly ‘there’ was, and found a dimly lit café sign about a block or so ahead of them. She slowed slightly, her head tilting to one side. “Mal,” she started, turning to look at the girl whose purple hair had begun to peak messily from the edges of her hood and blow wildly in the wind. “I appreciate the gesture, but couldn’t we have just made hot cocoa in the dorms and avoided this weather?”

Mal stopped then, too, her eyebrows falling low on her forehead until she found the café sign and shook her head. “I’m not taking you to get hot chocolate,” she laughed as if the thought alone was ridiculous, taking a hand from her pocket and wrapping it around Evie’s arm to tug her forward. Evie pouted out her bottom lip, trudging on until the sidewalk ended and looked out upon a fenced-in lake that had long since frozen over in the December weather.

“So,” Evie prompted, scanning over the area for a sign of the surprise Mal had promised.

“So,” Mal mirrored, gesturing to the lake. Evie’s eyebrows furrowed as her gaze found a group of students sitting along the edge of the lake, pulling skates onto their feet. “We’re going ice skating, silly.”

Evie’s eyes widened at that. She froze (quite literally) in her tracks.

“Oh.”

“What? You don’t like it?”

“No, it’s— not that, it’s just—“ Evie stuttered in a failed attempt to gather her thoughts in a way that formed a cohesive sentence. Mal smiled at the way Evie had grown so flustered, but the grin quickly faded to a look of concern.

“What’s wrong, E?”

Evie dropped her gaze to the snowy ground below, cheeks beginning to burn a light shade of red. “You’re gonna laugh at me,” the blue-haired girl said as more of a warning than a worry.

“No, I won’t,” Mal dismissed but when Evie held her line of sight with the snow, Mal added, “I promise.”

Evie couldn’t stop a smile from tugging at her own lips at the words, knowing well that Mal didn’t make promises to just anyone, and the fact that she had made one to Evie— no matter how small— filled her with the tiniest spark of pride.

“Fine,” she grumbled, bringing her eyes back to Mal’s. “I’ve never been ice skating.”

Immediately, Mal stifled a laugh, to which Evie pouted audibly and almost turned completely to start back towards their dorms before the purple-haired girl stopped her with the grip that was still on her arm and rushed an apology through her continuing laughter.

“You promised,” Evie whined, arms crossing over her chest. Mal simply shook her head, the smirk ever-present on her lips.

“Evie,” Mal took her other hand from her pocket and reached it out to turn Evie to face her with two gloved fingers. “Neither have I.”

Mal’s smile was contagious and a similar one easily came to Evie’s face before it fell to a frown of confusion.

“This sounds like a terrible idea.”

“Oh, hush, it’ll be fun,” Mal rolled her eyes, starting towards the lake with Evie’s coat sleeve still in tow.

“Can’t we just go home and drink some hot cocoa?” Evie took a step backwards, trying to coax Mal into turning around. Mal did pause in her movements, glancing at Evie with a look of obviously fabricated annoyance on her face. “Think about it, Mal. Me and you, curled up in front of the fireplace, drinking the hot chocolate that Carlos is so good at making.” She could see the girl’s green eyes softening at the idea, and Evie took a step closer to her until their faces were just inches apart. “We could put on a movie and—“ Just when Evie thought Mal might give in to the temptation of returning home, the girl abruptly turned away with another sharp tug on Evie’s arm.

“Nice try, you’re not getting out of this.” Mal dragged Evie to the rental booth, ignoring the mumbled laments that came from her as they checked out two pairs of skates and headed towards the ice.

“I still think this is a terrible idea.” Evie stood from a bench once her skates were tied securely on her feet, struggling to find her balance on the uneven blade. Mal found her footing easily and held back more laughter as she watched Evie falter in her steps.

“You know, considering you wear six-inch heels on a daily basis, I thought you would be better at this,” Mal said, knowing it would draw a reaction from the girl. Evie would have reached a hand out to shove the girl if she hadn’t thought it would make her fall, so she let the remark go unavenged for the sake of her own balance.

Evie looked prudently towards the ice as they neared it, stopping just before her skates reached the point where ground changed to lake and letting out a shaky sigh. Mal took the girl’s gloved hand into her own, offering it a reassuring squeeze.

“You’ll be fine.” Evie nodded in faux agreement, pondering for a moment on how she had become so willing to do anything as long as it would put a smile on Mal’s face.

The shorter girl was the first onto the ice. Her stance faltered for only a moment before she straightened with a look of accomplishment on her face. “Come on, Evie, it’s not so bad.”

Evie’s face, however, did not read triumph as she successfully made it onto the frozen lake, instead stuck somewhere between fear and regret.

Mal dragged her skates a step or so forward, sliding Evie’s along with her until the two were a few feet from the edge, gliding along the ice at a snail’s pace.

“See, nothing to worry about,” Mal said just as Evie fumbled forward, a yelp escaping her lips before Mal tugged her back up, mere inches from her knees hitting the ice.

“You’re trying to get me killed, aren’t you?” Evie exaggerated breathlessly, using the hand that didn’t have a death grip on Mal’s wrist to smooth out the wrinkles that had formed in her coat.

“Of course not,” Mal scoffed, pulling Evie closer until the taller girl was pressed against her side. “Because if you died,” Mal leaned in and planted a soft kiss on the taller girl’s lips. “I wouldn’t get any more of those.”

Evie blushed, the flustered smiled that Mal loved so much finally returning to her lips.

“I still think this is a terrible idea,” Evie mumbled, her smile making it impossible to believe the statement.

“What if I told you that we can stop and get hot cocoa on the way back?” Mal brushed a lock of blue from Evie’s face, her own lips parted in a similar smile.

“Then I like this idea a little more.”

[gayinthespacebetween]

@thatoneshippyblog @descendantssecretsanta

Hey! So uh, I made a Jayvie video as your secret santa. It’s too big for tumblr though, so I uploaded it to Youtube. I really hope you like it!

Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byXtlt4_huQ&t=7s

[findingfandomwithafangirl]

Sea Trio + Instagram AU

Secret Santa gift (part four, the finale) for @evieoftheisle through @descendantssecretsanta

[evieoftheisle-remade]

Instagram profiles: Ben/Carlos/Jay 

My @descendantssecretsanta gift for @j-pom !! <3 I hope you like it!!

[chaosmadden]

@jaylos happy @descendantssecretsanta , I'm sorry for the wait!!! I hope you've had an excellent holidays and start to your new year. 💖

[tinybroodinggay]

A Very Merry Descendants Hannukah

Hello, @malwedance! I am your Secret Decendants Santa, here with your gift for the @descendantssecretsanta​. I hope that your Christmas is bright and cheery!

When Evie told her about the latest influx of new Isle Kids coming soon, Mal smiled at Evie’s happiness. Evie was ALWAYS so proud anytime a new kid was being brought over, and since most arrivals came in groups of four or six, Evie was so very happy every time. And, Mal, being the best girlfriend, always basked in the glory.

“Dear, are you going to hang there like a lazy bat, or are you going to help me decorate?” Evie said without looking up from her garland.

Mal sat up, and smirking said, “I still don’t understand what Christmas is, but if you want it, sure.” Mal had grown up with Maleficient, who was not a big Christmas person. Hannukah, on the other hand, was her mother’s holiday, and Mal had loved the candles, and the story, and the latkes.

Evie sighed, and kissed the top of Mal’s head when she came close, “Well, I also plan to do something for Hannukah, dearest. But, you know how much the Kingdom looks to Auradon Prep these days…”

“And most of them don’t understand that there are other holidays. Excepting Sherwood, and Agrabah, and Olympus, etc.” She smirked, which earned her a bop on her nose with a gingerbread toe.

“Yes, dear. Once we finish decorating the front of the castle, we can start our room. Blue and white will dominate it, with lovely purple accents, of course.” Evie then leaned down, and kissed where she had bopped. “And, you can light the candles, if you can control your flames.”

Mal sighed with utter happiness. She was glad that her blue love understood her love for Hannukah, or at least supported it. Auradon wasn’t the best place for people to celebrate holidays that weren’t Christmas, especially one celebrated by “The Mistress of All Evil”, but Mal liked it pretty well.

“What do you want me to do?” Mal asked.

Evie smiled, “Hand me more garland, and some ornaments, and then the entrance should be done. I wish we could use your magic…”

“Me too, love,” Mal said, sure no one could hear them but each other, “But we promised her and Ben that we wouldn’t use any more magic.”

A huff of a sigh, “I know. But, once this is over with, we can start decorating the room.”

Mal stood up and started to help, “Of course, blue wonder.”

~*~*~*~

A few hours later, Mal and Evie were sitting in front of their room’s fireplace, sitting shoulder to shoulder, watching some stupid Auradonian Christmas special, drinking cocoa. The room was hung liberally with blue and white garlands, a menorah set up by the window, with candles in their box and matches, in case Mal can’t use her flames.

Evie was enjoying the movie, but Mal was focused on the mirror behind the TV, which showed a very clear picture of the window. She trailed the sun as it set, and when it fell behind the horizon, she squealed in happiness.

“Babe, what is it?” Evie asked, a curious smile on her face.

Mal got up off the couch, “Princess, the sun set!”

“And?” Evie looked at her, not understanding.

A breath out of the nose, “Hannukah starts at sundown.”

“Oh,” a smile. “Oh!” Understanding. Evie got up, and went over to the candle, set on the table in front of the window. “Do you want to start?”

Mal smiles, and then her eyes flicker green and she focuses. They hadn’t told anyone about this, but finding old books on magic wasn’t as hard as they thought. Mal’s hand flickers and a flame gutters into life above it.

A deep breath, and Mal started to light the candles while saying the prayers she grew up with, and found that it sounded happier now.

As she lit the shamash, she smiled at Evie, “Thanks, babe, for letting me do this for the next week. I love you,” and a kiss on her cheek.

Evie smiled, “Dear, I love you, and anything to make you happy. I know we were all raised differently, except me, but this is what you are, and I won’t do anything to stop that.” And then with a knowing smile, “Plus, you know how much I like to spoil you,” and pulled out a small box from under the table.

Mal smiled, and then pulled one out from under her pillows. “Trade on three?”

“One.”

“Two.”

And then in unison, “Three” as they traded the gifts. They both stood there, unwrapping their gifts, and looked at each other in awe and love when both gifts were revealed.

“A book all about the science of fashion,” Evie cooed, “Honey, it’s perfect!”

Mal was proud of that, since it was the perfect gift, and it was relevant to all of Evie’s interests. She said, “Baby, you got me a book on dragon magic? How?”

A cute smile, “Well, it pays to make clothes. I made a gown for a lesser noble near Sherwood, and she traded me that book for the gown. Not the worst trade I’ve ever made, and I knew that it would thrill you to no end.”

Mal knew that the book would have to wait until the next day, because tonight was watching Christmas movies with Evie and the boys, along with Jane and Lonnie, all while drinking cocoa. She knew that, because she knew Evie, and knew that Evie wanted that more than anything. So, for Evie’s other gift, Mal had set the whole thing up.

A little bit later, and the boys arrived at their room, followed by the other girls. Evie wasn’t expecting them, but one look at Mal ‘I can’t keep a secret’ Dragon, and she knew what was going on here. “You invited our friends over? Why?”

Mal pulled out a pair of DVDS, both basic Christmas movies, “Because I know what you love, and you want to watch these with all of our friends.”

A running kiss was the response, and a bit later, they were all watching some simplistic movie about the wonder of Christmas, and only Jane commented on the menorah, saying that it was as pretty as the one in her own room.