Christmas Morning
Ann were lying in the dark, staring into the ceiling of the bed, eyes fully open, and her fingers drummed against the cover lightly and quietly. She could hardly contain the excitement she felt, waking up next to her wonderful wife their first Christmas morning spent together and what more, waking up knowing there was a whole family to celebrate it with. Her very own family. Ann glanced at her wife who were fast asleep still, her arm resting over Ann’s abdomen protectively, her chin on Ann’s shoulder, and she could feel her calm breathing against her neck. The blonde couldn’t help but grin at her, she was so beautiful when she was asleep, her features relaxed, and all worries and weights lifted from her. Ann bit her lip, starting to feel impatient and restless, surely it must be morning now? They should get up. Everyone gets up early on Christmas morning. What time was it anyway? Ann’s eyes found the silver pocket-watch resting on the nightstand on Anne’s side and Ann carefully moved Anne’s arm, grimacing when Anne mumbled in her sleep, thinking she had woken her up. But Anne continued to sleep, and Ann let out a breath as she turned her wife on her back, and then leaned over her to reach the watch. Her fingers touched the cold metal, and she grasped it, thinking she had succeeded when Anne moved under her,
“What are you doing?” Anne spoke hoarsely, and Ann froze,
“Eh… you’re asleep.”
“Mm…” Anne mumbled, “Why are your… in my face?”
“Sorry.” Ann flushed hurriedly withdrawing herself, the watch still in her hand. Anne groaned, shaking her head slowly with eyes closed as if trying to wake up properly. Ann watched her amused, leaning down to press a kiss against her lips. Anne sighed content, eyes still closed, and her whole form relaxed again, and Ann snickered at her,
“Anne!?”
“I’m awake!” Anne sat up straight almost knocking Ann by the chin, and Ann smirked at her; she looked positively sleep drunken for once, hairs plastered to her face and she barely managed to keep her eyes open.
“It’s Christmas morning!” Ann said excitedly, and Anne tried to focus her eyes on her, but they stung and then she saw the pocket-watch in her wife’s hand and she lazily took it from her,
“That’s mine.”
“Did you hear what I said, dearest? It’s Christmas morning!” Ann tried again, grinning wide and Anne’s forehead wrinkled in confusion, flickering the watch open and looking at it. She squinted her eyes trying to focus them on the hands of the watch, moving the watch in-front of herself to be able to see.
“Christmas! Anne!” Ann’s hands shook her wife at the shoulders and Anne moaned,
“Ann for heaven’s sake, she’s not even five!”
“Oh well, she is soon, and we should get up and go downstairs to sit by the fire and…” Ann was rambling, and it was too early in the morning for Anne to fully hear that, she merely sighed, resting back against the pillows, eyelids heavy,
“She’s four! The others won’t come down until earliest at seven.”
“Well, you always like being on time.”
“Ann, I want sleep, I need sleep.” Anne groaned, moving closer to her wife, placing her head under her chin, breathing calmly trying to fall asleep again. Ann’s fingers ran over her back, and Anne smiled small, nuzzling herself nearer her wife, thinking she had won and would get to sleep.
“Since when?”
“What?” Anne whined, pressing her face into her wife’s chest, willing her to shut up. But Ann frowned, licking her lips absentmindedly,
“You are always up early.”
“Well yes, but not at four in the morning, and especially not when I went to bed at half past two.” Anne growled tiredly into Ann’s neck, and the blonde seemed disappointed,
“Why would you go to bed that late when you knew it was Christmas morning today?”
“Because Ann… I’m not,” Anne stopped herself, she was going to say ‘five’, “I don’t care.”
“Don’t care?” Ann’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline and she scowled, before pushing Anne off her, the brunette groaned but hugged her pillow to her instead and Ann glared at her before throwing the cover of herself, sitting up on the side of the bed before standing up, stretching her back.
“Anne I really think…” Ann began, turning around, only to find her wife fast asleep again with the pillow to her chest and Ann rolled her eyes,
“Fine.”
Ann wouldn’t let Anne’s glumness take any of her excitement from her, instead she wrapped her robe around herself, and put her feet in her slippers before quietly opening the door. Cringing as she set her foot down out in the hallway because the old wood squeaked loudly. Ann closed the door behind her carefully and when she turned around again, she contained a squeal as she on quick feet ran down the hallway to the stairs and then took four or five steps at the time, literally leaping down the stairs like an excited child on… Christmas morning. Only she was a full-grown woman of thirty-one. But Ann didn’t care, no one saw her in any case. Ann stopped suddenly down by the stairs, marvelling at how quiet the whole house was. No one else were awake. Not even the servants. Ann realised how much sound she must’ve made, galloping down the stairs and decided to sneak on her tiptoes into the drawing room where she had hung the stockings up yester-evening. The room was a bit chilly since there was no fire, but Ann didn’t mind overly-much, she had her eyes fixated on the magical stockings hanging from the mantel. She sat down on the floor, taking in the room that had been decorated for the season after all, despite Anne’s ill-will to do so. It was beautiful, and the whole room smelt of Christmas. Ann inhaled it, and closed her eyes, smiling – she loved Christmas. It was something special about the atmosphere in a house on Christmas morning, that Ann couldn’t for the world describe, but she enjoyed it, loved it, and it was the only day of the year that she would bolt out of bed at such an early hour. Of course, it would’ve been nicer if the fire had been lit, Ann thought, but she didn’t blame anyone – they didn’t know that she would be up and about so early in the morning. It was getting a bit chilly on the floor though, but Ann wrapped the robe tighter around herself, staring at the stockings wondering what might be in them, hoping that the others would soon rise so they could open their stockings. Ann glanced at the clock in the corner of the room, she was nearing half past four, and she sighed, it wasn’t likely that anyone would come down for a few hours more.
She sat hugging her knees to her chest, feeling impatient – she wanted to see Anne’s reaction to her gifts, and she wanted the day to be perfect for their first Christmas together. But Ann closed her eyes frowning, Anne wasn’t equally keen and still asleep upstairs. Maybe Ann should go upstairs again and try and rouse her tired wife from her sleep? Ann thought for a second, imagining how that might go when something touched her shoulder and she jumped out of her skin on the floor, looking behind her to see her wife standing there in her robe with a thick-knitted blanket wrapped around herself. She had dark circles under her eyes, but she was smiling softly,
“You’re awake!?” Ann looked astonished and Anne nodded tiredly,
“Mm. Couldn’t stay asleep knowing you were down here by yourself.”
Ann smiled brightly at her, grateful that she had come down to be with her and Anne sunk down beside her on the floor.
“Let’s get a fire going, shall we?” Anne looked at Ann with a small smile, before crawling to the fireplace and doing just that. Ann watched her in awe as she lit the fireplace. No one was as able as her wife. Ann was sure she could do absolutely anything she put her mind to. Anne threw her a killer smile, that always made Ann swoon, before kneeling over to her. The brunette wrapped the blanket around Ann as well, hugging her to her, kissing her over the hair,
“Happy Christmas Ann!”
“Happy Christmas!” Ann beamed, resting her head against Anne’s shoulder, staring into the growing fire that danced before her eyes. It wasn’t long until she felt Anne weigh down on her, and the woman moved to lie her head in her lap,
“What are you doing, Anne?” Ann asked amused and she mumbled into her lap,
“I’m just resting my eyes for a minute.”
Ann chuckled quietly at her, running her fingers through her hair, down her back in calm soothing movements, lulling her to sleep. She placed soft, sweet kisses on her temple and over her hair, feeling ridiculously happy at the moment. This was so far a great Christmas morning.
They had been sat in-front of the fire a good two hours and a half, well to be fair; Ann had sat in front of the fire – Anne had slept in front of it, when the rest of their family finally woke up. Marian helped Aunt Anne down the stairs, and as they were about to enter the drawing room, Aunt Anne stopped Marian suddenly,
“Why…”
Marian didn’t finish her sentence as her aunt shushed her,
“Look at them. Look at our little Annie, she looks so sweet sleeping on the floor!”
Marian almost rolled her eyes at her aunt, but even she couldn’t argue against the fact that they both looked rather sweet there in-front of the fire.
Their sounds had however alerted Ann who was fully awake, and the blonde turned and saw them standing in the doorway and made to move but Aunt Anne waved a hand,
“Don’t get up on our account, dear.”
“We were just… I was just excited about Christmas morning is all.” Ann blushed prettily and both women smiled at her kindly,
“Oh, I agree Christmas is lovely. I myself could hardly sleep last night.” Aunt Anne said with a generous smile at the young woman. Marian nodded,
“Yes… but I see that our ‘chief’ was less so.”
Ann snickered,
“Well, at least she’s here.”
“Mm. I tell you what…” Marian kneeled down by Ann, and nudged her gently,
“Let’s play a little prank on Madam.”
Ann’s eyes lit up, and she moved carefully from under Anne, lifting her head from her lap, and Marian took her place instead. Ann began humming ‘silent night’ to rise Anne from her slumber. Aunt Anne sat on the sofa trying to contain her gleeful chuckles as well as her fellows. It was hard to keep a straight face. But then Anne moved, groaning, smiling, probably at hearing Ann’s voice, and then her dark eyes opened,
“A-“Anne’s eyes opened fully and she screamed her head off at the sight of Marian towering over her. Anne pushed Marian away from her, scrambled up from the floor, her face red, chest heaving quickly,
“Marian, what the fuck!?”
“Language!” Aunt Anne reprimanded her, and Anne glanced at her briefly, before eying her sister again who was laughing on the floor with tears running down her cheeks. Ann was behind the sofa screaming of laughter, and Anne shook her head at them, exhaling slowly,
“You are so childish.”
“And you’re such a scaredy cat.” Marian retorted, and Anne blew air through her nose,
“Well, your face is rather frightening to wake up to.”
“Ah!” Marian huffed, and Ann though still trembling from laughter sat up straight after sharing a look with Aunt Anne,
“Oh look!” Ann pointed out the window and the Lister sisters were distracted from their pending argument,
“What?”
“The snow sparkles in the sun.” Ann frowned a bit, she hadn’t a ready reply.
“It’s still dark out…” Anne glanced at her confused, and Ann tried smiling convincingly as if she really had meant to say that. But then her eyes found the stockings on the mantel and they widened with excitement,
“We have to open our stockings.”
“We do, I’ll get the Captain.” Anne made for the door but as if summoned, her father appeared in the doorway, and they greeted him warmly. Anne sat down beside Ann on the sofa, and the blonde was fidgeting quite a lot, thrilled that it was finally time to open their stockings. Anne couldn’t help but beam warmly at her, she was captivating. Lost in thoughts and looks on her wife, she was surprised when Ann spoke to her,
“Do you want me to give you your stocking, Anne?”
Anne frowned, seeing as the others had already fetched their own,
“I didn’t finish mine.”
“No but did.” Ann smiled, standing up again to fetch it, handing it to Anne with a smirk,
“Happy Christmas.”
Anne looked at the stocking placed on her knee, it was nicely embroidered with her name, and then on the back, Ann had embroidered a small top hat, and a pocket-watch on the brim. Marian was right, she didn’t deserve Ann, she was too pure for this world sometimes. Ann observed her,
“Do you like it then?”
Anne’s eyes went from the stocking, and met the bright eyes of her wife, and she nodded,
“Mm…”
Anne leant forwards, and gently pecked her cheek, making Ann grin content.
“Should we open them at the same time?” Marian asked after having pretended to be engrossed with the stitches on her stocking to give her sister a moment of privacy.
“Yes. Happy Christmas!” Anne smiled, and the other’s answered as a choir,
“Happy Christmas!”
Ann who had been up since before four, and who had been like a child… on Christmas… all morning suddenly waited patiently and didn’t dig into her stocking. She was watching Anne’s face as she opened hers. There was a new pen, and a few treats from her aunt, father and sister and then she pulled out a small box, it was signed ‘with love from Ann’, and she glanced up at her wife for a second smiling, and Ann eyed her intently,
“Open it.”
Anne lifted the lid of the box and inside were an exquisite and expensive emerald green cravat. She touched the silk carefully with her fingers, feeling the smoothness before her misted eyes found Ann’s,
“Thank you! It’s… beautiful.”
“Well, you look handsome in green.” Ann winked, and Anne squeezed her hand gently, wishing that she could kiss her. It was a thoughtful gift, and Anne suddenly started to feel a bit self-conscious about her gifts to Ann, which she not only wasn’t entirely happy with, she had also bought them last minute because she hadn’t intended to do Christmas gifts. When Ann had seen her wife’s reaction to her gift, she opened her own stocking. First out was new pencils from Marian, and then a few treats and ribbons from Aunt Anne and Captain Lister and then she fished up the wrapped thin collectors’ book. Anne started to regret her purchase. Why had she bought that thing? And not the whole collection of Sonnet’s? She had been up half the night, inscribing it, filling it with notes for Ann; words of affection and love and memories. But… Anne frowned worriedly, this wasn’t her best gift, though still, she thought, better than nothing at all. Ann however opened the gift eagerly and smiled up at Anne when she saw the title.
“Shakespeare’s sonnet’s!”
“Uh, yes, only eighteen I’m afraid. But I have inscribed it for you.”
“Why, I didn’t know you were such a romantic.” Ann teased as she flickered through the pages, that were all full of Anne’s own words, interpretations and love.
“I’m sorry, it isn’t quite as good as yours.” Anne apologised but Ann merely looked up at her through teary eyes,
“It’s perfect. It’s full of your words and thoughts, and I shall keep it for always!”
“Do you really like it?” Anne gave her a sceptical look and Ann nodded,
“Of course I do, It’s from you!”
Anne seemed relieved and a cheerful grin made it onto her features, and she moved a little closer to Ann on the sofa.
When the stockings had been opened and enjoyed, they all moved to sit at the table to enjoy a Christmas breakfast before Church. They were all of them merry, and no argument sparked during it, which considering that both Anne and Marian were sat there was a Christmas miracle. After breakfast, whilst they were still seated at the table, they exchanged their last Christmas gifts. Ann gave Anne hers first, and all watched as she opened it. Anne’s eyes grew wide,
“Ann! Not for me, surely not?”
“Of course they’re for you!” Ann smiled, and Anne looked down at the silver onyx cufflinks her mouth open, stunned, it was such a considerate gift.
“They are… God, Ann, they’re gorgeous!”
“They are engraved on the back.” Ann gave her a mischievous smirk, and Anne lifted one of them up and turned it around and she actually gasped quietly as tears threatened to spill over, on one of the cuffs it said, ‘AA 30/3 1834’ and on the other, ‘Amor vincit omnia’.
“Ann!”
Anne was speechless, a tear leaked from her eye, it was so superbly done, it meant so much and her stomach sank suddenly as she realised her gift – sucked.
“I had them engraved at two different jewellers, so they wouldn’t know what was on the other and figure something out.” Ann whispered to her, and Anne chuckled at her, drying her tears away with the back of her hand,
“I don’t think I deserve you. You are too good for me!”
Ann shook her head, grasping Anne’s hand affectionately, and Anne was then forced to give her gift and she did so reluctantly, and Marian averted her eyes, groaning,
“Oh, this is going to be embarrassing!”
“It’s not a bucket is it?” Aunt Anne inquired, remembering a Christmas long time ago, and Marian shook her head,
“But I almost wish it was. An engraved bucket.”
“Oh, Christ.” Aunt Anne mumbled, as Ann opened her gift, but Anne stopped her suddenly,
“You know, I’ve been thinking. If you want us to dress Jack up as a reindeer when we go to church – that’s absolutely fine with me… and, and, um, if you want, I’ll do um, anything you have your heart set on doing today, or any other day.”
Ann laughed at her nervous wife, but only very kindly,
“Calm down, Anne – it’s the thought that counts.”
“Mm.” Anne’s eyes darted to her sister and aunt, who both looked at Ann with some agony.
“Oh!” Ann exclaimed, happy as anyone, “New watercolours! It’s just what I needed, thank you, Anne!”
Anne was all astonishment and suspected that Ann was overdoing it for her sake.
“Do you like them?”
“Yes, they’re lovely.”
Anne almost breathed a sigh of relief, but she would have to be unusually kind and accommodating to her wife for months to come, it was nothing less of what she deserved.
When all the gifts had been opened, they went upstairs to dress for church. Anne made sure to wear her new cravat and her new cufflinks and to kiss her wife as often as she could before they needed to leave for downstairs. Ann smiled mischievous at her after Anne had bestowed another kiss on her lips,
“You know, tonight, when we go to bed…”
“Mm…” Anne looked at her enthusiastically, as she had hopes for a trip to Italy when night did come.
“I would like to paint you.”
“Paint me?” Anne asked dumbfounded, that did not take the turn she thought it would.
“Yes, you.”
“Alright, what kind of painting? A portrait?”
Anne made herself agreeable, she did have a lot to make up for, and Ann grinned, before giving her a smouldering look, her eyes travelling down the lengths of her body,
“No, Croquis.”
Before Anne had time to do anything other than gawk and turn crimson, Ann moved past her for the door, but she threw her a look over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow,
“I didn’t know you were such a blushing flower.”
“When did you… how did you, who told you…? Are you sure?” Anne stuttered, and Ann was pleased at her reaction,
“Well, it’s not much different from what you do. I mean your diary must be positively filthy by now.”
“It’s not the same.”
“Hm? I don’t agree.” Ann smiled, “In any case, I should like to sketch you and after… well then I’d have no objection to share a few kisses.”
“Kisses?” Anne repeated surprised, and Ann laughed,
“The kind of kisses that you write about…”
“He…” Anne almost began laughing but then she stopped, “Wait, you know?!”
“It doesn’t take a genius to crack your code, once you know certain phrases.” Ann teased, and Anne looked panicked,
“Oh… do you think anyone else would know?”
“Imagine if someone found them and did just that!” Ann laughed humoured, and Anne shook her head laughing with her now,
“That… now that’s ridiculous!”
There was a tap on the door, and Marian opened it,
“Are you both dressed? The sleigh is ready.”
“Yes.” Ann replied, smirking at her wife before they ventured downstairs with Marian and outside, taking their places in the sleigh. With merry laughter, and rosy cheeks they then drove off in their winter wonderland, to celebrate Christmas mass with all their neighbours and friends. It was truly, a happy and blessed Christmas morning.