#Christmas in July 2022

[miracleonice87]

Merry Christmas, Darling - with William Nylander

a/n: my next Christmas in July blurb, based on the prompt "decorating the house, wrapping Christmas presents, planning and preparing for their parents to meet," requested long ago by my girl @broadstbroskis ❤️ as always I apologize for any bad translations as I relied on articles and our friend Google translate. enjoy!

warnings: none; total fluff

word count: ~2,000

_____

Your and William’s upbringings could not have possibly been more different. 

Though you both shared close relationships with your parents, that was where the similarities between your family dynamics ended. You were an only child, born and raised in Toronto by two finance professionals who barely remembered to slow down for ten minutes in the nineties to have a family. Though you were their pride and joy, they agreed not to have any other children after you were born, making you an only child with no other close family members besides a couple of aunts and uncles scattered throughout Canada. You had spent your days entertaining yourself, either with your nose in a book or headphones covering your ears as you played independently. 

William, meanwhile, was the second child of six born to Michael and Camilla Nylander, and had known nothing but a boisterous, bustling home life since the day he was brought home from the hospital. His siblings were virtually extensions of himself, and though they didn’t get to gather together often these days, they shared unbreakable bonds, and, more importantly, deep friendships with one another, despite the twelve-year range in their ages. 

So, when William announced that his entire family was coming to his house in Toronto for two days at Christmas, you were more than a little intimidated. So far, in the span of your nearly six month-long relationship with Will, you’d only met Alex, who was as easygoing and sweet as his older brother. You were certain that the other Nylanders would be just as wonderful, but the thought of meeting the other six all at once admittedly made your head spin.

Adding to your nerves was the invitation Will had blurted out at dinner with your parents last week, that they, too, should join the Nylander clan at his house for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They held back at first, claiming that they didn’t want to impose or crowd an already-full house, but Will absolutely insisted. Your parents were just as charmed by Will as you were, if not even more so, and so they eventually accepted, unable to resist his confident smile and assurances that “this will be great.” 

So, with that assertion, Will pulled you along with him in a weeklong festive frenzy, frolicking along the streets and shopping malls of the greater Toronto area in preparation for the gathering. He meticulously chose personal, thoughtful gifts for each of his siblings, his parents, and your parents; to say he went overboard was the understatement of the century, as his sprees required trips back to his house to drop off shopping bags before heading back out in search of more presents. And that was not even to mention the bags upon bags of tinsel, garland, wreaths, ornaments, bows, and wrapping paper he brought home more of seemingly every day after practice. 

You did your best to closely follow his trail of glittery, Christmassy chaos, trying to organize and clean up after him as he went, a task that proved not only exhausting but next to impossible – from taping back over the presents he’d hastily wrapped when the wrapping paper popped open revealingly, to vacuuming up the pine needles that had seemingly found a home in every room after he’d put up the tree, you had your hands full with just one Nylander, and the other seven were close behind. 

In addition to keeping up with Will, you made time for your signature stress activity – baking enough to feed a small country. As you mixed and rolled and cut and frosted dozen after dozen of cookies, Will flitted in and out of the kitchen, dipping his finger in the dough here, tapping flour onto your nose there, all the while singing along to Christmas carols from your Spotify playlist and trying to dance with you around the kitchen. 

You smirked as you once again felt his arms fold around your waist, his chin come to rest on your shoulder.

“William,” you sang in a warning. He parroted your own name back to you in the same tune. 

“Come on,” he urged, poking your sides as you doubled over, trying in vain to escape him. “Dance with me.” 

“Will, baby, I have so much to do in the next twelve hours,” you groaned as you glanced at the oven clock. Eleven hours. Shit. “I don’t have time to dance with you,” you added, kissing his cheek. 

He was relentless, and despite your best attempts, he wrestled the spatula away from you and threw it across the room, actually landing it squarely in the sink.

You gasped and spun around to face him. William quirked one eyebrow and grinned slyly, and you could tell even he was impressed at his display of athleticism. 

“You’re a nuisance,” you murmured halfheartedly as you allowed him to pull you toward himself, hands settling on your lower back. 

“But I’m your nuisance,” he argued, kissing the skin beneath your ear as you rolled your eyes. “Baby, c’mon, one dance and you can get back to baking. What’s the point of Christmas if you don’t have any fun?” 

And what could you say to that? 

You sighed, your head falling to one side as you smirked and wrapped your arms around Will’s neck. 

“One dance,” you asserted before kissing him as he raised a victorious fist in the air. 

He pecked your lips a few times before reaching around you to grab your phone, scrolling the playlist with his thumb. With an “ah!” he set the phone back down as a new song began to play. 

“Don't you know that Christmas would be incomplete

If you're not here with me

Sugar plums ain't half as sweet as you…”

You swayed back and forth to 25th by Tori Kelly before William spun and dipped you, causing you to erupt in laughter as he transitioned your sweet embrace to a giggle-laden boogie, shimmying and two-stepping to the beat. You mirrored his moves as you bopped around the kitchen, eventually ending up back in his arms for one last dip as he planted a kiss on your lips. As he brought you upright, you squeezed his bicep. 

“You’re an awful dancer,” you pointed out, kissing his cheek before circling the island to resume your cookie decorating. “But that was fun,” you added with a grin. “Thank you.”

“You’re no better,” he shot back, picking up and biting into a shortbread cookie on the counter. “But, you’re welcome,” he said, winking. 

After a long night of final preparations and a short night of sleep, you were back in the kitchen early the next morning, brewing a pot of coffee as you waited for the Nylanders to arrive from the airport. You heard them before you saw them, a cacophony of giggles that sounded remarkably like Will’s audible from the driveway. Will bounded down the stairs, his hair still damp from his shower, and announced with a grin, “They’re here!” 

You nodded, smiling, and took a deep breath, smoothing your suddenly-shaking hands against your thighs before heading to the front door, already swung open as Will ran to greet his family. You followed behind him out the door. 

“Tjabba! [yo, yo!]” he exclaimed, throwing his arms first around his mother Camilla, who kissed his cheek and murmured happily to him in Swedish as she held him tightly, how much she had missed her eldest son evident in her sweet embrace of him. 

Eventually, mother and son let go of each other, and she turned to you as Will collected two of his three younger sisters in his arms, kissing each of the tops of their heads. 

“Hello, kärlek [love]!” Camilla exclaimed, opening her arms wide as you stepped forward to hug her. “We finally meet!” 

You felt the genuine warmth radiating from Camilla as you returned her welcoming embrace. “I’m so happy you’re here!” you said. “Thank you for coming all this way!”

“Thank you for having us,” she replied as she pulled away, still holding onto your elbows to keep you close. “William said you’ve been working so hard to prepare – I hope it hasn’t been a burden.”

You shook your head. “Not at all,” you said. “It’s been busy, but as you know, Will makes everything fun.”

Camilla nodded joyfully. “That he does!” 

Your introductions to Will’s dad, Michael, and his sisters – Michelle, Jacquline, Stephanie, and Daniella – and your reunion with Alex were just as pleasant, and soon, you were all lounging in the living room by the fireplace, indulging in your prepared cookies and coffee as well as trays of snacks. 

As Michael chomped on a gingerbread man, he pointed the treat in your direction. 

“You know, I appreciate that you’re here now, because if it were up to William, we’d still be stuck eating Cheez Doodles and drinking Gatorade,” he teased, nudging William’s shoulder as his son rolled his eyes lightheartedly. 

“That was pretty much all that was in his kitchen when we first got together,” you admitted, earning groans from his sisters. “I’d like to think I’ve taught him how to grocery shop like an adult.”

“Oh, you’ve taught me much more than that,” Will said suggestively, waggling his eyebrows as you scoffed, jaw agape. You shook your head, covering your face with one hand before jumping up. “Uh, refills, anyone?” you deflected, causing an uproar of laughter. 

The next 36 hours held the same banter and liveliness, which only increased when your own parents joined the fun, and as Christmas night wound to a close, you found yourself looking around the living room, feeling a pit in your stomach as you realized your time with the Nylanders would soon be over. As you watched part of the group play a rousing round of Apples to Apples and the others telling stories and sharing memories about Christmases past, you realized that your favorite Nylander wasn’t in on the fun. With a crease in your brow, you left your perch on the couch next to Alex to go and find your partner. 

The dining room and bathroom were empty, but as you peered around the corner, you spotted Will at the kitchen sink, facing away from you. You approached silently, wrapping your arms around his waist and pressing a kiss between his shoulder blades when you reached him.  

“What are you doing?” you asked. 

“The dishes,” he answered with a giggle because, was it not obvious? “I know you get stressed when there are too many in the sink.”

You reached around him to shut the water off and pry the sponge from his hand, reminiscent of what he had done to you two nights before. He was smirking as he swiveled toward you. You kissed him and tucked some of his silky blonde hair behind his ear. You couldn’t keep the smile from your lips as you asked, “What’s the point of Christmas if you don’t have any fun?”

He chuckled and reciprocated your kiss. “Where’d you come up with that one?” he asked, leaning his forehead against yours. “Pretty smart.” You nodded. 

Just then, a shout came from the living room. “Guys, c’mon, we’re playing charades!” Michelle called. 

You pulled Will by his hands away from the kitchen and back into the living room where your families now sat split in two teams, Camilla patting the spot next to her on the couch and making direct eye contact with you, inviting you over. You smiled gratefully, but you stopped short of joining her right away in favor of pausing to take in the moment. William followed your gaze, and kissed your temple as you said softly, “This is all I’ve ever wanted.” He beamed and held you close as you leaned back against his chest. 

“Good, because you better be ready for a lifetime of it,” he said. You looked up to find him gazing lovingly at you. 

“I’ll hold you to that,” you whispered, leaning in for another kiss. “Merry Christmas, William Nylander.”

“God jul, älskling.” [Merry Christmas, darling.]

[melting-pot-fanfiction]

Mission in Venice

Rated: Teen & Up Author: lillyrosenight Pairing: Bruce Wayne/Hermione Granger Universe(s): DCU, Harry Potter Prompt: Venice, Italy - Sunglasses Word Count: 2,064 Summary: Hermione is sent to Venice by Gringotts and finds a familiar face.

Read stories from the entire collection here!

[hallmarktheheartoftv]

I’m watching My Grown-Up Christmas List this morning. Love the leads, I can see why they are a real couple.

[one-time-i-dreamt]

Weird Al made a Christmas movie where he played a villain who was kidnapping Santa’s elves, but people thought it was real and he got taken to court over it. There were posts all over Tumblr and Twitter about how he was now problematic whether he did it or not because even if he didn’t he still ENDORSED elf-kidnapping by playing this character. 

[quill-pen]

🦅🇺🇲🎆July 4th in modern Scrooge household🎆🇺🇸🦅:

Bright and early wake up call of 🎶AMERICA--FUCK YEAH!!!🎶

Ebenezer surrounded by five Americans decked out in red, white, and blue, stars and stripes, eagles, other U.S. icon bearing articles of clothing and face paint. (Millie is definitely running around with a U.S.A. flag cape.)

Ebenezer surrounded by Americans making eagle calls all day. "You hear that? It's the wild call of FREEDOM!"

Ebenezer being surrounded by Americans who randomly scream iconic American lines all day: "Don't tread on me!", "No taxation with representation!", "The British are coming!", "FREEDOM!!!" (Eb: You know that's more associated with 'Braveheart'?), etc.

Thankfully the kids' surprise tea dumping ceremony to simulate the Boston Tea Party only ever happened once, otherwise the pool would be wrecked. But Eb has begun to refrain from drinking tea on this day to avoid teasing about the Party.

Really bad American freedom "jokes": "What did King George III say?" "I don't know, what-" "Who cares?! FREEDOM!!! *eagle screech*"

Pictures of the Queen/King have definitely been covered up with Google printouts of American presidents.

The house's sound-system continuously plays patriotic, American songs all day.

Picnic in the countryside with blue rock shooting. (SO MUCH "FREEDOM!" AND "'MURICA!" THROWN AROUND.)

ONLY ICONIC AMERICAN FOOD IS THE MENU FOR THE DAY. (Eb has actually come to enjoy the biscuits and gravy for breakfast.)

Only American vernacular in the house. "Biscuits" are "cookies" for example--you will be corrected, probably with an eagle cry.

Fireworks display on TV to close off the day.

Definitely a "revolutionary war" in the bedroom that night. (Only both sides win.😏)

[365filmsbyauroranocte]

Films watched in 2022.

Top 10 December.

1. A Matter of Life and Death (Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, 1946)   2. Woman of the Lake (Yoshishige Yoshida, 1966)   3. Gap-Toothed Women (Les Blank, 1987)     4. Christmas in July (Preston Sturges, 1940) 5. The Fabelmans (Steven Spielberg, 2022)     6. The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins (Les Blank, 1969) 7. The Fire Within: A Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft (Werner Herzog, 2022) (gif vía: @ennaih ) 8. Garlic Is As Good As Ten Mothers (Les Blank, 1980)   9. Fire of Love (Sara Dosa, 2022)       10. Clint Eastwood, la dernière légende (Clélia Cohen, 2022)  

(My list on Letterboxd -click here-)

[soweirdondisney]

[timeless-secret-santa]

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who participated in 2022! You all made amazing creations!!

With a New Year comes new changes!! Like our name, we’re now Timeless Secret Santa! (though our email will stay the same…google won't let us change that, the dirty little lint lickers.)

We’ve updated our FAQ with this year’s dates for Secret Santa 2023! 

We’ve read your feedback which we really appreciate! As a result there will be changes this coming year. 

Things to keep in mind:

We’re keeping the sign ups date on October 22nd, which means this year you get a little under two months to create your gift!

There will be two check-ins! We will contact you and you can always opt out of the second check in if you’re finished early or just don’t want it. You can even check in early and beat us to the punch. We secretly love it when people do that.

We are instigating two drop out dates, we know shit can get hectic in December. You’ve caught covid, your idiot brother is in the ICU and you can’t leave them, your colleague died at their desk and now you’re stuck working 80 hours, or we gave you too much time and you forgot and you just can’t do it. We want you to tell us on or way before those dates if you’re dropping out. We will not be mad and honestly, we don't even need an excuse. We just need to know ASAP as we like to be able to find a pinch hitter so your Secret Santa is covered. We cannot stress enough that our priority is that you look after yourself and our asses are covered.

Gifting period is moving to 25th December - 1st January 2024! So, don’t feel you’re limited to Christmas themes, let's throw in post Christmas themes, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s resolutions, New Year’s heat waves, winter themes, or whatever you want etc.

We will be asking for emails this year, so if you don’t want to give out your personal one, please create a fandom email that we can use in the event we can’t contact you through your preferred medium of communication. E.g. twitter dies, tumblr has an outage etc.

We are also making discord as another option for communication. 

We are asking for your AO3 handle, this one is optional. It's so your Secret Santa can gift their work to you.

The sign up form has been simplified for the ease of mixing and matching you all. So bear in mind you will be asked for three requests. These are your favourite pairings with a trope or prompt. We will be matching you to/with people that have similar ships in their requests, if you’re ok with NSFW or not and squicks etc. instead of how we’ve been doing it in previous years.

We’ve removed the choice of gift medium, we feel everyone is happy to receive artworks or fic no matter what. We have found in the past couple of years that we end up with small groups of people who can only give gifts to each other. Soon they’d be repeating on each other which might get boring for them. Frankly, we want to open them back into the larger group cause we’re a family!

We’re installing better questions for pinch hitters and opening the option to be a Bon Bon creator! So when we need you, we can contact you appropriately.

Bon Bons are quick moodboards, manips, small drabbles/short fics, if you are keen you can prepare some ahead of time and just post them, we won’t stop you!

We asked you if you wanted to do a Christmas in July AO3 Challenge. The response was very surprising! So, we’ll be looking into it and will let you know the details of that by the end of January latest.

That’s it! For now. Thank you all for participating and I can’t want to see what 2023 brings!!

❤️ Timeless Secret Santa

[dewitty1]

Fic Recs Wrap Up - July 2022

On a Clear Day by Saras_Girl

Draco Malfoy is waiting for his real life to begin, and it appears that he’s not the only one. Coffee, charity, and the wisdom of the elderly. Rec Post

On the Last Day by trishjames @thusspoketrish

Draco is still mourning the recent loss of his mother when the Wizarding World is struck with the tragic news of Harry Potter’s untimely death. It’s just his luck that Potter not only comes back as a ghost, but seems intent on haunting Draco as he’s the only one that can see him. It’s a race against time to retrace the last few days of Potter’s life in order to find his body before he’s lost to the living or spiritual realm forever. On their journey, they’ll uncover secrets, betrayals, and a horrific truth that will disrupt both the living and the dead. Rec Post

To Be Out of Your Own (and consumed by another) by Cassiara @cassiaratheslytherpuff

By now even Harry recognises the pattern; he’d be an idiot not to. He’ll have sex, and in the moment it’ll be amazing. In the moment he simply is, he feels without thinking. Good, bad, pleasure and pain, he can just let go and feel because he isn’t the one in charge. Then he wakes up the next morning feeling disgusting and worthless and swears to never do it again. Still, it helps him forget about his stress, his anxiety and his hopeless crush on his Auror partner so he keeps going back. Rec Post

Muggle Magic by Aelys_Althea @aelysalthea

When Voldemort came for Harry, Lily took a stand. This time, Voldemort was defeated. But not enough for the Potters. Leaving the Wizarding world behind them, Harry is raised a Muggle without any knowledge of the magic. Not of the real kind, anyway. But magic always finds a way, and in his final year of high school Harry is introduced to a school of unexpected and unfamiliar people. Different people. Interesting people. And one person in particular that managed to draw a little more interest than the rest. Rec Post

The Way We Wind by bluefay  @thesleepiesthufflepuff

After the war, Harry’s life falls to shambles. Each day revolves around an intense battle with his mental health, and there’s nothing that Ron or Hermione can do to help him. That is, until Hermione teaches Harry how to knit. Fast forward five years, and Harry is the proud owner of a renowned knitting shop in Diagon Alley, The Whomping Willow Woolery. Christmas season is upon him, and the shop is busier than ever. So, is it really a surprise that Draco Malfoy wanders in looking for a gift for his mother? Cue awkward meetings, fluffy knitting lessons, a truly horrible scarf, a cat named Stockinette who is readily obsessed with Draco, and falling in love with one’s worst enemy. Rec Post

Prats, Parcels, and Parseltongue by ronbinary (bisexualronaldweasley)  @ronbinary

Harry is the Muggle world’s first snake-only veterinarian. Life is good, and calm, for once. Until Draco Malfoy shows up with a snake. And then another. And then he won’t stop coming in. Rec Post

Doing the Lambeth Walk by blamebrampton @blamebrampton

There are only three traditional choices for the cashed-up hero after victory. Harry Potter is too young to settle down and provide the wizarding world with a happy ending, and has too acute a sense of humour to spiral downwards into a spectacular flame-out. That leaves a life of good works. Choosing to lead it in Muggle Brixton comes with its own set of challenges, including Malfoys in the biscuit aisle. Rec Post

Love All Lovely by shealwaysreads (onereader) @shealwaysreads

Draco comes home for Christmas, and discovers that sharing is the best way of celebrating old traditions, and new ones too. Rec Post

Here are a few more fics I've read recently that y'all might like to check out as well! (ﾉ^ヮ^)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

Tiny Home by wolfpants @wolfpants

The last two people Draco expects to find chopping wood on his property are Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter.

But there they are.

--

Harry and Ron left the Aurors years ago to travel the world and make up for lost time. When they finally decide to settle roots back in England, together, building a tiny home in the Lake District by hand seems like the perfect plan. What they don't realise is that Draco Malfoy already lives on the plot of land that they choose to build on.

A story about years of feelings, about weaving lives in and around each other, and about finding a place safe enough to call home.

Secret Love Song by Writcraft @writcraft

If there's one thing Draco's certain about, it's that Harry Potter's hiding something. When he gets to the bottom of Harry's closely guarded secret, a flippant solution brings them closer together and forces Harry to confront his past.

Back Where We Began by Cassiara @cassiaratheslytherpuff

Harry has to go back to Hogwarts to get his NEWTs, and being well into his twenties he figures the course will pass without too much trouble. Enter Snape’s old Potions book, a bonding spell, and Draco Malfoy.

Like Diamonds We Are Cut With Our Own Dust by raitala @raitala

Draco has borne the mark of the Dark Lord for over ten years. It is familiar to him, but he pays the price for it every day, and Harry has noticed.

Fearful Trill by Vukovich @vukovich

Harry should have come out and met someone when he was younger. He should have seen a doctor about the pain in his hip while youth was still on his side. Now, he's made his peace with dying young, but maybe not with dying alone.

Draco should have got the Kiss. He should have died in Azkaban decades ago. Instead, guards throw him in a Ministry lift with a dying man who could stand to live a little.

Unexpectancy (Into you) by PollyWeasley @polly-weasley

Draco supposed that starting Eighth Year in Hogwarts fucking Harry Potter was a good start. Both of them were in the closet, for a lack of better words, and both of them were having fun with each other, no bonds attached, no uncomfortable talks, no need to tell their friends whatsoever. It was good to both of them, especially when you considered that the Wizarding World was stupidly ignorant and homophobic, and Draco was already suffering enough because he looked like he was gay. It was better just to keep it a secret. But when Draco suddenly finds out he ended up pregnant of Potter’s child, there was nothing he could do except face the world and reveal his secret. Would Potter accept to reveal his, too, for the sake of this new life?

Simulacrum by slashpervert

Draco sends a gift to Potter and finds himself in a difficult but erotic position.

you look so fine by michi_thekiller

In which Draco is a Veela and Harry is his mate. Dark!Humor or Crack!Horror, you decide.

"When Draco Malfoy turned 16 years old, he thought he’d make a night of it. He went to a club, met a bloke, and then promptly took himself next door pay-by-the-hour hotel, determined to get the most bang for the Galleon, in a manner of speaking.

Not even one full Galleon into it, Draco Malfoy lost his virginity.

It all went just how he’d always imagined it, and it was, all in all, a bloody good time.

Waking up the next morning, however, next to a bloody ribcage and a man’s intestines strewn all over the bed like thick wet streamers - that was a bloody bad time."

( •ॢ◡-ॢ)-♡

I hope you enjoy these as much as I have! Thanks, as always, for being here! ( ᵕ́ૢ‧̮ᵕ̀ૢ)‧̊·*

Happy reading, y’all!

xoxo Carey  (◍•ᴗ•◍)♡ ✧*💜💙💚💛❤💗💕

[miracleonice87]

And a Happy New Year... with Tyler Seguin

a/n: so I had started writing this literally months ago and it just so happens that Tyler’s suddenly engaged irl lolol so this feels slightly weird but!!! Christmas in July must go on! enjoy the last of the blurbs for this little celebration. based on the long ago requested prompt "having sex into the New Year" from my girl @kerwritesthings.

word count: ~1,500

warnings: 18+ only (what!!! who is she?), unprotected sex (committed relationship), swearing, alcohol, consensual sex after alcohol consumption, fluffffff

_____

Tyler held your mischievous gaze as you threw back a shot of tequila with Sarah and Fanny and bit down suggestively into a lime, and suddenly he had never been more grateful to live just down the street from Klinger.

His teammate was hosting the annual team New Year’s Eve party this year, and while he was having a great time with the guys and their significant others, he couldn’t wait to get you home and out of the slinky, silvery silk dress you’d chosen, which had nearly prevented you and Tyler from making it to the party at all. He sent you a wink as he waited for the ball to return to him from where Braden and Pavs stood at the other end of the beer pong table, and you smiled behind the glass of champagne Fanny had just topped off for you. 

Phew boy, Tyler thought to himself. So far tonight he had seen you indulge in a gin and tonic, tequila, bubbly, and a beer which you shotgunned like a champ after Roope playfully challenged you to do so. He knew how you got when you mixed your alcohol – friendly and frisky – which was another reason he was already ready to take you home despite the party around you still in full swing. 

He checked his watch. Quarter past 11. He pursed his lips, knowing how much shit he would get for ducking out so close to midnight, but still weighing the options in his mind.

But that was before you sweetly sidled up to him only minutes later, perching on the arm of the sofa where Tyler now sat, playing cards with a few of the guys. 

“Hi,” you purred in his ear, making sure to brush your lips against the shell of it. 

A slow smile stretched across his face as he leaned back against the couch cushions. 

“Hi,” he mimicked in a voice just as syrupy. “How’s my girl?” he asked, stretching an arm across your lap. 

You sunk his fingers into his curls, and he felt the cool metal of your engagement ring against his scalp, a sensation he was still getting used to even after a few months. He had to stop himself from visibly shuddering, the buzz beneath his skin coming from more than just the whiskey. 

“Fine,” you sighed. “I was just missing you.” 

Tyler chuckled and checked his hand before looking back at you. 

“I’m right here,” he reminded you, kissing your bicep. 

“No, like, I…” You wrapped both your arms around his shoulders and leaned in, and your familiar floral perfume made Tyler’s head spin. “...miss you.” 

Your faces were mere inches apart, and his eyes were fixed on your mouth as you pulled your bottom lip between your teeth. That’s it, he thought. I can’t take it anymore. 

Tyler hadn’t even realized that he’d let out a quiet groan, making you giggle and hide your face in his neck as Braden went wide-eyed, raising his eyebrows as Klinger laughed into his beer bottle, Pavs rolling his eyes despite the amused grin on his face. 

“Ah, young love,” Klinger mused. 

“Otter, Robo, cover your eyes,” Pavs instructed. “You’re too young to see this shit.” 

As you returned to an upright position, your cheeks still warm from the ribbing, Tyler tossed his cards onto the table. 

“I fold,” he announced, squeezing your thigh. “We’re out of here.” You shot up from the arm of the couch, maybe a little too eagerly, and followed Tyler as he bid his goodbyes and thanked your hosts. 

“What?! It’s not even midnight!” Robo complained as Tyler helped you pull your jacket around your shoulders for the short walk home. 

“Let them go,” Klinger said with a knowing smile, Fanny leaning into his chest. “You’ll understand someday.” 

You gave them a grateful smirk and waved a final goodbye, Tyler guiding you out the front door, hand on the small of your back. You pulled his hand into yours as you walked down the driveway, then lifted it and pirouetted beneath it, humming contentedly, as he laughed warmly, his breath forming fleeting white puffs in the late December air. 

“You’re tipsy,” he stated, pulling you in by your hips as you continued your trek. 

“That’s the point of New Year’s, no?” you pointed out, tipping your face up to beam at him. 

"Ugh, that smile..." he groaned, shaking his head. "You'll be the death of me."

To that point, you had no argument, and scrunched your nose as you pulled him down for a lengthy kiss.

Five minutes later and you were stumbling in the front door, barely greeting the dogs in favor of getting lost in each other. Tyler pushed the door shut with his foot and backed you into the wall, one hand tangled in your hair, the other cupping your jaw. His sloppy kisses trailed from your lips, to your neck, and across your chest as you felt the heat rise beneath your skin. You shrugged your jacket to the floor and kicked off your heels, your arms wrapping around Tyler’s neck as he placed hungry kisses to your bare shoulder. Your eyes focused on the clock across from you in the entryway, and you couldn’t help but smile.

“Ty, guess what,” you whispered, pulling on the tail of his leather jacket. 

“What?” he whispered back, lips still moving across your clavicle. 

“In fifteen minutes we get to say: we’re getting married this year.”

You felt him smile against your skin, and he wrapped you up in his arms as if he couldn’t have you close enough. He stood up straight.

“Best year ever,” he said firmly. You hummed happily. 

“I think I know a memorably way we can bring in this year together,” he said, swaying back and forth with you in his arms. 

You quirked a brow. “You don’t say?” 

He smiled broadly before stepping back, pulling you along by the hand. He ushered you up the steps first, which you should have seen through, because after three steps he laid a playful smack to your ass, causing you to yelp, then dissolve into laughter. 

You ran on tiptoe toward your bedroom where Tyler once again swung the door shut, this time to keep your furry children from disrupting their mom and dad’s fun. Tyler’s fingers danced along the skinny straps of your dress, making you shiver beneath his touch – he did little to hide his delight in this. He pushed the straps from your shoulders and the dress fell to the hardwood beneath, allowing him to survey the new black lace set that lay beneath. He sucked in air through his teeth, taking hold of your hands and moving them away from your body to look at you more closely.

“My…” He traced his finger along the lace waistband… “future…” and slid his hand to your spine… “wife,” and pulled you closer as you leaned in to capture his lips in a fiery kiss. 

“I’m the luckiest,” he whispered, earning a hint of a smile in the midst of your fervor. You backed him to the edge of the bed, pushing off his jacket and making quick work of pulling off the t-shirt beneath and discarding it along with your own clothes, Tyler taking care of his belt and jeans himself before toppling onto the bed, pulling you down on top of him with a squeak. 

Neither of you needed to verbalize that tonight was not a night for teasing, for build-up. With just minutes to go until midnight, your need for the other grew more desperate as the seconds of the year ticked away, a new one, and a new chapter, just on the horizon. 

With your final garments tossed aside, Tyler never broke eye contact with you as he slipped inside, smiling as he found you more than ready for him. The two of you easily found a steady rhythm, and your hands traveled the expanse of his chest and stomach as you breathed heavily. He soon increased his pace, and you knew it wouldn’t be long for either of you. He bent his head forward to rest it next to yours.

“Ty,” you whined at the new angle, your voice cracking and sounding foreign even to your own ears. 

He offered a hasty nod. “I know, baby,” he whispered, his tongue escaping his lips to dance along your neck. “I know.” 

And suddenly, there were fireworks erupting outside the window, echoing through the neighborhood alongside cheers and the strains of Auld Lang Syne from a faraway speaker, possibly even from the party you had just left. 

A smile flashed across Tyler’s face. 

“No better way to close out the new year, eh?” he asked, continuing his diligent movements. 

You hummed your agreement, grasping his face in your hands in order to kiss him sweetly. “Or ring in a new one,” you added. Tyler beamed then, bringing your knuckles to his lips reverently. 

“All I’ve ever wanted was you,” he stated, his words nearly a groan as you felt him tense up, knowing he was close. 

You pushed some unruly curls back from his eyes. 

“You have me, Ty,” you promised breathlessly. “You always have.” 

With that, he found his release, your name like a chant on his lips. You held him close as you found your own end, your hand firmly against the base of his neck to keep him close to you. 

As you each gasped for breath, he laid down beside you, reaching out an arm and inviting you to come closer. You snuggled into the crook of his neck, and you both repeated your love for the other in your blissed out haze. In only minutes, he heard your breathing slow, and glanced down to find you already drifting off to sleep.

“Here’s to a brand new year,” Tyler whispered, brushing your hair back from your cheek. “And here’s to us.”

[melting-pot-fanfiction]

Happy Accidents

Rated: General Audiences Author: thescarletphoenixx Pairing: Sam Wilson/Daphne Greengrass Universe(s): Harry Potter, Marvel Prompt: Orlando, Florida - Flip Flops Word Count: 1,764 Summary: Sometimes a little accident can have a happy outcome.

Read stories from the entire collection here!

[datshitrandom]

... its okay to play a song about christmas in july 🎶☀️😎🎄🎅

[jencsi]

Finlay Friday and happy holidays to all who celebrate

[itsnothappening]

stockings | jasonette

word count: +1.5k

summary: jason todd hated christmas.

a/n: it's july-

@maribat-calendar-events

ao3 | wattpad | series masterlist | masterlist | prompts

Jason Todd hated Christmas. He despised the holiday with a burning passion that was only rivalled by his love for his girlfriend, Marinette. Every Christmas morning, no matter how much anyone tried, Jason refused to function, lying in bed all day and hating the 25th of December.

In the beginning, when he first joined the family, Bruce, Dick and Alfred would spend hours trying to coax him out of bed—Dick even promised Jason the world if he just opened his eyes. Jason refused to do so. He loathed Christmas and nothing was ever going to change that. 

It's why as the month of December crept upon him, Jason's mood steadily became darker and darker, despite forcing himself to perk up for the sake of Marinette, who, despite her own fair share of bad experiences with the holiday, seemed to be practically in love with it. 

Jason could tell Marinette had noticed his foul mood over the last few days, but thankfully, she hadn't questioned him about it, giving him some time to think of an excuse. He hated Christmas, sure, but he loved his girlfriend more and he wasn't going to ruin her favourite holiday with his own pathetic, selfish hatred. 

That was how Jason found himself in the department store of Gotham—now decorated with Christmassy decorations—looking for materials to make personalised stockings for everyone in the family. Including Damian, despite Jason's not-so-vehement protests against it. 

"So," Marinette said, a brilliant smile on her lips. "What do you think? Green or Red?"

"Do you want my honest opinion?" Jason drawled, leaning against a shelf of Christmas CDs. When Marinette nodded eagerly, he leaned forward and said, "I know for a fact that no matter how much he denies it, Demon-spawn's favourite colour is green."

Marinette quirked an eyebrow at his exaggerated secrecy, but nevertheless, played along. "Green it is, then," she declared, tucking the material into her shopping bag. "We're done here, then!"

As soon as her back was turned, Jason let out a sigh of relief through his nose. The entire Christmas theme was everywhere in the store and it was making Jason feel prickly and irritable. He hated the pictures of the old man—Santa Claus—pasted everywhere, and the wreaths. But most of all, he couldn't even look at the presents decked up everywhere. It was all a huge scam to make people spend more money.

It wasn't the first time Jason had tried to justify his hatred for Christmas for that reason, but as always, it made the tension in his chest ease a little. 

Once they had paid for the materials, Jason and Marinette left the store, arms laden with bags, and yet, they could hold hands and swing them together. 

As they settled into Jason's car, Marinette turned up the radio to play Christmas carols. His grip around the steering wheel becoming a little tighter, Jason forced a fixed smile on his face as he watched her sing, the smile slowly becoming more and more genuine as he realised how much Marinette was just enjoying this. 

It had been a long time since Jason had seen her like this, especially considering the fact that she had been weighed down with request after request pulling several all-nighters to get them all finished. It was refreshing to see her so carefree and happy. 

When they pulled up to Wayne Manor, Jason wasn't surprised to see the entire family present. It was tradition in the family to get together for drinks exactly a week before Christmas. Having begun when he and Dick were teenagers, Jason remembered nights when Tim threw a tantrum that he was 'old enough to drink and not get drunk, thank you very much' and Damian judging him and Dick when they got drunk and danced on the dining table. 

Then, the next week, Jason couldn't care less about what was going on downstairs—Christmas Day was just too much for him to cope with. 

"Jason," Dick said with a bright grin on his face, his enthusiasm matching Marinette's, "I can't believe you actually came!"

The said man chuckled uncomfortably when he saw Marinette's eyebrows raise at the comment. He hugged Dick a little too tightly, giving him a warning look that his brother obviously ignored. 

In a few minutes, Jason and Marinette were seated on the loveseat in the living room, both of them full-on grinning as they watched their family's shenanigans. 

"Come on, Jason!" Tim yelled loudly from where he was singing karaoke to All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carey. 

Jason merely shook his head, not willing to let anyone get their hands on any more blackmail material. God knows everyone already had enough. 

"Yeah Jason," Marinette said, her eyes shining with mirth. "Go on. Show us your singing skills! Or are you too scared?"

Oh, that did it. 

Leaning forward with a smirk, Jason drank his wine glass in one go and stood up, brushing the non-existent dirt from his clothes. "For Marinette!" he cheered, and very soon, everyone else was too. 

It wasn't long before Jason was completely drunk, singing with his brothers every cringy Christmas song they could think of. If he wasn't, maybe he would have noticed Bruce leading Marinette to the corner of the room, a too-serious expression on his face. Maybe he would have noticed the dimmed smile Marinette came back with two. Or that she was being overly affectionate than usual as she drove them back home.

But, as it was, he didn't.

The next morning, when Jason woke up, he groaned loudly. His head felt like someone was playing football in it, tapping the ball to every nook and cranny of his head. 

"Morning sunshine," Marinette said brightly, a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. 

Jason merely groaned again in response, reaching out for the coffee. 

Marinette just moved it out of his reach, her smile infectious and teasing. "You, mon amour, aren't getting that until you brush your teeth and take a shower. You stink of wine."

Jason pouted at her, but it seemed to have no effect today, so he locked himself in the bathroom, grumbling. 

An hour later, Jason could say he was feeling marginally better, enough to sit down with Marinette and turn red when he watched the videos she took of him yesterday. It was...embarrassing, to say the least, and he was sure he was never going to live it down. 

Jason grumbled around his French Toast—courtesy of Marinette—pleading with the beloved light of his life to please, for my sanity, delete those videos. Obviously, she refused, but Jason was sure he'd manage to win her over at some point. It was only when he finished his cup of coffee and plate of French Toast that Marinette's bright expression dropped into something forebodingly serious. 

She looked at Jason very sternly, who, up till now had been a very happy boy indeed. "Tell me why you hate Christmas," she said, eyes sharp, but soft. 

Jason groaned loudly, flopping back onto his seat. He knew she wasn't going to let him go until he admitted why. "Bruce told you, didn't he?"

Marinette shrugged casually, but it didn't matter because Jason knew he was right anyway. 

Jason thought about pleading with her to let him get out of this, but all those thoughts went flying out of the window when he saw the glimmer of hurt in her eyes. It took him a few seconds to understand why, but Jason realised Marinette was hurt that Bruce had to tell her instead of him. 

He took a deep, deep gulp of coffee as he leaned back in his seat, steeling his mental walls. "Did you know that the kids who lived in the old orphanage's street got presents too? Apparently, it was something to spread joy or whatever. Every kid who I ever met there used to ask me every single year what I did wrong to not get a present. One year, I decided that enough was enough and I made a Christmas tree with the sticks and broken bulbs from the orphanage's trash. I even wrote Santa a letter, asking for food and home instead of toys because what would a street kid like me do with them? The next morning I woke up to nothing, as always, and then I wondered what I did to piss the old man off. I hate this day and I despise how weak and pathetic it makes me feel. Is that enough for you?"

Jason was aware he was being more than a little sharp with Marinette, especially considering the fact that she hadn't pushed him, but he couldn't help it. 

When he looked back at her, he expected pity in her eyes, or maybe even anger for how he was speaking to her. But instead, what he got was a warm hug. Jason's arms automatically wrapped around Marinette, and he buried his head into her neck, suddenly feeling very drained. 

"Shh, ma cherie," Marinette said, running her hands through his hair soothingly. "I'm sorry I pushed you. Bruce just pulled me away last night, and I, well, I wanted to know whether it was true because I felt guilty for dragging you around everywhere."

Jason wrapped his arms around her tighter, his eyes feeling suspiciously stingy. "I'm sorry too. I meant to tell you earlier, but you looked so...happy."

Marinette pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. "I can't be happy on Christmas if the one person I want to spend it with most isn't happy either, now can I?"

[365filmsbyauroranocte]

Christmas in July (Preston Sturges, 1940)

[theheartoftv]

When Charlie (Vanessa Lengies), a data analyst at a large toy store chain, learns the company is planning to transition the business exclusively online, she discovers one of their brick-and-mortar stores is outperforming the rest, and is sent to investigate why. If she can figure out what's so special about this location, she might be able to save hundreds of jobs and keep the magic of the toy store experience alive. At the location, Charlie meets convivial, yet stubborn, store manager Grant (Jesse Hutch), whose secret to success is the welcoming atmosphere he creates, making his store a popular destination for the community. When she first arrives, Charlie's analytical approach doesn’t sit well with Grant, who has a chip on his shoulder about corporate’s way of running things. As they bond over their shared goal of keeping the store open, Grant soon discovers Charlie has a secret creative side – designing holiday toys. With Christmas approaching, Charlie and Grant's time together reminds them of the simple joys of the business they both love. As their feelings for each other grow, they are reminded that growing up doesn’t mean losing your dreams.