Chapter Text
Bought a new wreath for the door
I vacuumed up the living room floor
Setting up the Christmas tree
Cause this year it's not only me
I decorated every year
But nothing's ever felt so clear
This Christmas is gonna be better than all before
***
“Pookie, will you help me with this?”
Andromeda was standing on her tiptoes, struggling to pull a large box out of the back of the closet in the extra bedroom that Astarion had converted into a home office.
“Absolutely not. I’m actively against this and will be making it known.”
She didn’t have to be in the same room as him to know that he was frowning. She could hear the displeasure in his voice and it made her chuckle.
After what felt like an eternity, and a struggle for the ages, the first box came sliding out with a loud thud. “I’m still not helping,” Astarion’s voice called from the other room, however, after a pause, she could hear the concern slipping in with the annoyance. “But are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. No thanks to you.” Her voice was playful as she huffed and puffed to pick up the heavy box. Astarion was lounging on the sofa, a glass of wine in hand, as he watched the holiday episode of the Great British Bake Off that she had turned on. He hadn’t bothered changing into his comfies when he got home from having dinner with Gale, so he was still wearing a flattering burgundy turtleneck and dark trousers.
“I told you I wasn’t helping.” His voice was matter-of-fact before he took a hearty sip of wine.
“So you did.”
She expelled a deep sigh as she set the box down next to the couch. After making two more trips to the spare room, she produced a grand total of three boxes. Bending over to open the first one, Astarion let out a low whistle. “I might not want to help with this silly endeavor, but I certainly am enjoying the view.”
A flush crept across her cheeks and ears as she barked out a laugh. Hush, you. I shouldn’t let you look since you’re not going to help me.”
“What’s even the point, darling? You put up a bunch of gaudy and tacky decorations for a month and then have to tear them all down. It’s exhausting and not worth it.”
Standing up straight, she turned to face him. Unable to hide her pout, she shrugged. “I like the decorations. Cicero never let me put them up so Karlach and I always went very elaborate with the decorating.”
Astarion groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “Don’t say things like that, because it makes me want to help you.”
She chuckled. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to guilt-trip you. I promise.”
Walking over to the couch, there was hardly any room for her to sit next to him, but she managed to make it work. She was sitting on the very edge as she hugged her arms around his neck and nuzzled her face into his curls. Rosemary and bergamot flooded her senses as she inhaled deeply, a sense of calm washing over her. “You really don’t have to help if you don’t want to.” She paused. “But I would like it if you did.”
He groaned again, but his arm that wasn’t holding the glass snaked around her waist. “Why?”
“Because I love you and I love doing things with you. Obviously.”
He rolled his eyes but she noted the betrayal of a smile on his lips. “Obviously.” He sighed. “Fine, fine. I’ll help. But I want it noted that I am not happy about it.”
“I’ll write it down in the logbook I keep to detail every grievance you have with something or someone. Usually me.”
“Always you. You’re incredibly annoying, you know?” His arm tightened around her.
“I know. Can’t be helped. It’s in my DNA.” Pressing her lips to his head, she lingered in the hug before pulling away from him.
Focusing her attention back on the box of decorations, Andromeda began pulling out strings of lights, garland and tinsel, and boxes of ornaments. The tree they had purchased wasn’t overly large, so they wouldn’t be able to use everything, but she was pleased that they had been able to get a real one. She had never had a real tree before, and although Astarion complained the entire time about how cold, wet, and snowy it was, he had gone with her to help her pick it out and chop it down from the little tree farm just outside the city.
Astarion was grumbling and cursing as he worked on detangling the string of lights she had handed him. His face was souring more and more by the second. Biting her lip, she took the garland in her hands and draped it around his shoulders like a boa. Glancing up at her, a look that was equal parts amused and annoyed, he didn’t say a word.
“You look very festive. The only thing you need now is… A-ha!” Producing a bow for wrapping that had made its way into the decorations, she stuck it to his white curls. “Perfect! You look magnificent.”
He pursed his lips, ruffling the garland. “I’m not sure. Green is your color not mine.”
She smirked. “I don’t know. I think the green looks quite nice on you.”
He rolled his eyes dramatically. “Of course, it does, my sweet. Everything looks good on me. But you’re the one who has a wardrobe that is made purely of blink-182 shirts and everything else in every shade of green you can think of.”
She giggled and shrugged. “What can I say? I like green.”
He leaned forward to peck her on the forehead. “And blink-182.”
“And blink-182,” she repeated before turning her attention back to the boxes.
After a surplus of additional cursing and grumbling from Astarion, the tree was adorned with lights and garland. The couple chatted and stole kisses as they placed ornament after ornament on the branches. As she hung up the final bulb, Andromeda sighed. “What’s the matter, my little dove?” Astarion’s arm slithered around her shoulders, hugging her to his torso.
“Nothing,” she said. “I just… I used to have a really nice collection of ornaments from when I was growing up. A mish-mash of ones my parents had gotten me over the years. But Cicero broke them all.” She sighed again. “The bulbs are pretty. Don’t get me wrong. But sometimes I miss having ornaments that felt like… me, I guess.”
“I see.” Astarion’s lips touched her hair. “Then perhaps you should open the box that’s hidden between the couch and the wall.”
Andromeda’s brow knit together as she looked up at Astarion’s face. His expression remained unchanged, still staring at the tree with mild disdain. Pulling herself from his embrace, she walked over to the side of the couch that was almost touching the wall and looked down. Sitting on the floor was a little green box with a deep red bow on top. Picking it up, she noted the little tag on it said “Andie darling” in Astarion’s elegant handwriting.
Eyes already watering, she carefully opened the lid of the box.
“Astarion, it’s beautiful.” She sniffled loudly before pulling the delicate ornament out of the box.
It was a little porcelain frame with the words, “Our First Christmas” painted carefully across the bottom. Inside was a picture of the two of them that Karlach had snapped when they had stolen a kiss while cutting down their tree.
He cleared his throat. “Don’t get too sappy on me.” He bit his lip. “Karlach and Gale both may have mentioned the ornament collection to me… oh, I don’t know… a hundred times.”
She sniffled again before walking over to crush herself into his arms. He stumbled back just a little from the impact, but he chuckled, hugging her back just as tightly. “Thank you,” she said, her voice muffled into his sweater.
He cleared his throat again. “I love you.”
“I love you too, pookie.”
Pushing herself up onto her tiptoes, she pressed her lips to his. No matter how grumpy and disinterested he tried to pretend to be, he always managed to do the sweetest things for her when she least expected it. “You’re very sweet, you know?” she said when she pulled back.
“I know. And beautiful.” He kissed her again. “But don’t tell anyone about the sweet part. I can’t allow anyone to think I have a soft spot.”
She giggled. “I’ll take it to my grave.”
Walking over to the tree, Andromeda hung the new ornament at the top, right in front so it could be seen easily. “Do you want to put the star on top?” she asked, brushing the tears from her cheeks.
“Yes, alright. I suppose I can.”
Taking the golden star from her hands, Astarion was meticulous as he positioned it atop the tree. It took him several moments of fussing and complaining about how it needed to be perfectly straight, before he finally gave a small nod. “There. Looks perfect,” he said.
Andromeda beamed as he hugged his arms around her shoulders again. “It does. The house looks so cozy now.”
Astarion gave her shoulders a squeeze. “I don’t know about you, but I need another glass of wine and then I’d like to cuddle up and watch more of your dreadful baking show.”
The elven woman gave an amused smile before pecking him on the cheek. “Two things… one, we’re not finished decorating because there’s more than the tree, and two, you watch my baking show pretty intently for someone who thinks it’s dreadful.”
Astarion groaned. “There’s more decorating? What else could we possibly need to decorate?”
“I have some string lights to hang around the living room window and our bedroom window. There’s some garland for around the bathroom mirror and a couple little festive mats for the kitchen and the bathroom.” She thought for a moment. “Oh, and I have a wreath for the door! And some cute little window clings.”
Astarion rolled his eyes. “I’ll allow the lights, the garland, and the mats, but I draw the line at those putrid window clings.”
Andromeda pouted. “What’s wrong with them? I think they’re darling.”
His face morphed to one of disgust. “Look at them. Why the hell does Santa look like that? I don’t want that creepy old man staring at us while we’re having sex.”
She snorted in a way that was highly unattractive. “Well, I’ll make sure to put Santa on the living room window. And he’s not creepy! He’s just a cute little cartoon Santa.”
Astarion shook his head. “Absolutely not. Santa stays on that sheet and not on my windows. This is non-negotiable. I wouldn’t try to argue. I am a lawyer, you know?”
Her eyes narrowed as she slowly held out her hand. “I had no idea, but I suppose there’s no fighting that one. You have my word; Santa stays on the sheet.” She paused. “But the rest are going up!”
Taking her hand in his, he gave it a firm shake. “I accept your terms and conditions, Miss Greenleaf.”
“Very well. It’s settled, Mr. Ancunín.”
The pair laughed before sharing another kiss. When their lips parted, Astarion let out a contented sigh. “The things I do for you, my darling,” he said softly, stroking his finger along her scarred cheek.
Leaning into his touch, she sighed too. “I love you.”
“I know.” He paused. “I love you too. Now, show me where this shit goes before I change my mind.”
Letting out a giggle, Andromeda started handing him everything that needed to be put up. It took the pair the better part of the evening to get the apartment decorated, but they laughed and smiled the entire time. Sometimes Andromeda had difficulty wrapping her head around the fact that she was finally in a good and healthy relationship, but she was grateful to have someone she could enjoy the holidays with.
She was happy to have finally found her home.