Chapter 1
“I can’t believe you’re making me do this” Shaw groaned.
“I can’t believe that you’ve managed to get out of this for almost four years of marriage” Root rolled her eyes.
“I was injured” Shaw fired back.
“Not for four years” Root smirked and Shaw just huffed.
“I’m cold” Shaw said and suddenly Root’s arms were wrapping around her from behind, encasing her in a bear like hug, or it would be if Root wasn’t an actual bean pole, the only thing that was making a difference was the layers of clothes they had on as they attempted to fight the snow.
“Get off me” Shaw growled and Root just kissed her cheek, leaving the lingering sweet scent of her cherry lips on Shaw’s face.
“Well it’s either hypothermia or cuddles, Sam” Root said and Shaw looked at her. Even though she absolutely detested this weather, she always found that Root looked beautiful, completely lit up. Regardless of the elements trying to take them out with snow and rain, Root still wore a smile, her cheeks and nose were still pink, even as the snow landed on her hair and shoulders. For Shaw, it was near impossible to look away from her wife.
“Hypothermia.” Shaw answered. Root just smiled, Shaw turned away a smile stretching across her face too.
“Can we just pick one and go?” Shaw asked looking around at the foliage that surrounded them.
“Sameen” Root said “Picking a tree takes time and effort”
“Two things I don’t give a shit about” Shaw said “Especially when it’s snowing.”
“I’ll warm you up when we get home” Root smirked and Shaw glanced at her.
“What if I’m dead?” Shaw asked.
“Unfortunate.” Root said, taking Shaw with her gloved hand and pulling her towards the bigger trees.
“Those aren’t gonna fit in our house, Root” Shaw said looking at the giant trees Root was sizing up.
“They will” Root said. Shaw sighed.
“I don’t want my life to be escaping the jungle every time I want a cup of coffee” Shaw said and Root rolled her eyes.
“Stop being dramatic,” Root said “Besides, it’s not going near the kitchen it’s going by the window”
“Great” Shaw said and folded her arms as Root started pulling trees back so she could continue her investigation. Slowly, getting further and further into the pile of trees, until Shaw could barely see her.
“If you get stuck I’m not coming to get you” Shaw said, but watching her with a small concern.
“I’m stuck” Root said immediately and Shaw shook her head in disbelief.
“No you’re not”
“Don’t argue with me, Sameen” Root’s voice said from deep amongst the Christmas trees.
“Call an airlift I’m not coming to help” Shaw said.
“Then why did I marry you?” Root called back.
“Because I’m charming” Shaw said with a smirk, and moved closer to the trees, pulling the one directly in front of her back, just as Root rummaged her way out from behind several others.
“You’re not that charming” Root said sticking her arm out and waiting for Shaw to grab her and haul her out.
“You’re an asshole” Shaw said pulling Root back to her feet and waiting for her to finish dusting her coat off, before gently pushing her and watching her fall back onto the christmas trees.
“Loser” Shaw smirked watching Root trying to scrabble back to her feet as Shaw began to walk off.
When Root caught back up with her again Shaw let her take her hand.
“You know,” Root said “I think those trees were too big”
Shaw almost sighed, as she rolled her eyes and looked at Root.
“Seriously?”
Root just nodded innocently and Shaw looked away.
“You’re such a pain.”
“What if we got a tiny little shrub tree?” Root asked looking at the half deformed, barely above her knee trees.
“Stop” Shaw insisted.
“I’m just giving you options, sweetie” Root said watching Shaw get more frustrated with everything she said.
“No you’re not” Shaw said “you do a great job every year at selecting and dragging a plant into our home, I don’t know why suddenly this year you need me to do it”
“I’ve always fantasised about us doing this together” Root said dreamily and Shaw just stared at her as if to say why are you like this?
“Fantasised?” was all Shaw could say, Root just smirked a little.
“It’s special to me” Root said.
“What’s so special about choosing a chopped down tree in the middle of winter, to drag into our home and hang ugly balls on?” Shaw asked and Root rolled her eyes.
“Because Sam, I get to do it with you”
“And we also get to go grocery shopping together, and shoot people together” Shaw shrugged. “So what?”
“It’s Christmas” Root said.
“I’m aware” Shaw said and Root just grabbed Shaw’s hands and pulled her closer.
“No Sam,” Root said “It’s Christmas, and I love Christmas.”
Shaw looked at Root, right in those melty brown eyes. Everything softened.
“I know that” Shaw said gently. “But you’re an excellent tree chooser.”
“And I bet you are too if you just tried” Root said and Shaw let out a small exhale, the air puff appearing between them. “I know you’re cold, but the christmas spirit will warm you up”
“The christmas spirit?” Shaw echoed and Root just grinned.
“Do you want a kiss?” Root asked and Shaw just looked at her.
“No.”
Root kissed her anyway. Her lips were warm and tasted like cherry, Shaw felt better immediately.
“At least you don’t have me out here in an ugly christmas sweater too” Shaw said and glanced around at the different sized trees. “What about one of those?”
Root followed Shaw’s eyes and almost squealed with excitement.
“See” she said grabbing Shaw’s hand and pulling her towards them. “You are good at this, these ones are perfect.”
“They’re just trees Root” Shaw reminded her and Root paused, turning around to look at Shaw as had started examining them.
“A tree that is going to be living with us for almost a month” Root pointed out.
“Living is an arguable term” Shaw shrugged and Root glared at her.
“I’ll choke you with fairy lights.”
They looked at each other, their eyes locked. It was meant to be a threat, but somehow it didn’t come out as one. Shaw almost felt turned on, and she could see it in Root’s eyes too.
“Just pick a damn tree” Shaw said. Without unlocking their eyes, Root reached behind her without looking and grabbed whatever tree was there.
“This one will do” Root said immediately and Shaw glanced at the tree, then back at Root, a small smirk turning up the corners of her mouth as she realised she suddenly had the upper hand here.
She moved towards Root slowly, until they were only inches away from each other, where she could feel the warmth of Root’s breath against her face.
Root was just about to give in, and lean in and kiss her when Shaw spoke.
“That’s not good enough” Shaw said almost as a whisper into Root’s mouth. Root stopped in confusion, still looking at Shaw.
“What?”
“That” Shaw said glancing at the tree and then dragging her eyes across Root until they were looking at each other again.
“Is not good enough”
Root managed to look away from Shaw for the briefest moment to glance at the tree she was grasping hold of, then looking back at Shaw.
“Whatever” Root said “I don’t care”
Shaw put a hand on Root’s arm, slowly inching it down, past her elbow, along her forearm, until she got to Root’s hand, letting her fingers trace Root’s until she grabbed the tree trunk and pulled it from Root’s hand forcefully.
“That is not living in our home for almost a month” Shaw said with an amused smirk as she moved away from Root, putting the tree down and starting to inspect other ones. Roots lips parted, and she took a moment to register what had just happened before she turned around and watched Shaw closely investigating the trees.
“What are you doing?” she asked and Shaw glanced over at her.
“I’m choosing us a plant child” Shaw said “This is a very important task.”
Root stared at her.
“But…”
“Root,” Shaw said seriously “I would appreciate your cooperation at this time.”
Root’s face went from confused to amused in seconds as she watched Shaw rummaging through the trees.
“You want my cooperation?” Root asked moving closer to Shaw again so their bodies were almost touching. “You got it.”
“If you put your hands on me I’ll trip you” Shaw said feeling how close Root was against her back.
“Hostile” Root said and grabbed a tree, pulling it up. “What about this one?”
“No” Shaw said without even looking at it. Root raised an eyebrow.
“Why not?”
“Because” Shaw said looking at a branch. Root swapped the trees she was holding.
“This one is nice” she said and Shaw glanced at it.
“It’s too wide” Shaw said and Root smirked a little.
“You’re really doing this?” Root asked.
“Is it living out your fantasy expectations?” Shaw asked with a grin and a bucket of sarcasm. Root’s cheeks flushed a little pinker and she rolled her eyes.
“That’s not an answer” Shaw said and Root pulled up another tree.
“This is our tree” Root said and Shaw looked at it.
“I agree” she said and Root smiled a little. “But I want an answer.”
“You don’t get one” Root said and handed Shaw the trunk for her to pull it out and carry it.
“That’s unfair” Shaw protested, but Root was right behind her. Root grabbed Shaw by the hips and pulled her back gently into her own.
“You’ll live” Root whispered against Shaw’s ear.