Secret Santa Fic For gabrielladusult

[girlyswot]

We're almost at the end of the Secret Santa stories.  I'll post my gift tomorrow and then launch the official 'Guess The Author'  competition.

This is for gabrielladusult.  Have a merry Christmas, Amy, and take a few moments to enjoy this story.

Hedgerow liquor

She was lost in thought as she sat on the window seat, gazing out across the garden, towards the cliffs where the land ended and the sea began, far below. The fire that flickered behind her made the shadows dance merrily over the snow covered ground, while the dark wintry sky and sea seemed to merge in blackness beyond the cliff. She brought her mug to her lips once more, taking another sip of the steaming hot chocolate concoction, laced with Maman’s hedgerow liquor.

“A Knut for your thoughts, Victoire.” A warm and soft yet rough hand caressed her cheek. Teddy.

“Oh, I’m just thinking about Christmas. All the different Christmases I’ve had – here, at the Burrow, in France…” She turned and looked up at him. “And next year we’ll have our first Christmas.”

“We will.” He gazed into her eyes, and she once again found herself lost in his, as he lifted her chin and moved in closer. “Are you okay with that?”

“Okay?” She couldn’t help but giggling, “Of course I’m okay with that, you silly man! I’m more than OK, actually – want me to show you how okay I am?” She put her mug down on the window sill and stood up, snaking her arms up his body before locking them in place behind his neck. “This is about as okay as I am,” she said as she pulled him down for a searing kiss.

“For as long as I remember, this is what I’ve wanted.”

***

Teddy couldn’t help but marvel at his luck. Victoire had said yes when he proposed after she graduated, and next summer they were getting married. Married. He couldn’t help but wonder if Dad had felt something like this when he had proposed to Mum. Not that he’d ever get the chance to ask. Gods, I hope we’ll never experience war, he thought to himself. I’m not sure I’m made of that kind of cloth, that I’d be able to survive. He shook his head to expel the maudlin thoughts and grabbed the mug Victoire had prepared for him, it sure smelled delicious. He took a tentative sip and sighed happily as its warmth spread through his body. What was it that Fleur used in this hedgerow liquor of hers? It would never have occurred to him to mix it with hot chocolate, but it worked.

Victoire was sitting on the window seat in the parlour, looking out towards the sea. They needed to have window seats in their home, if not for any other reason than the way she looked when she was sitting there. It was the perfect picture. Add to it a baby on her arm, maybe a toddler or four…

“A Knut for your thoughts, Victoire.” He stroked her incredibly soft cheek with his free hand.

“Oh, I’m just thinking about Christmas. All the different Christmases I’ve had – here, at the Burrow, in France…” She turned and looked up at him, the fire reflecting in her eyes. “And next year we’ll have our first Christmas.”

It shouldn’t be legal to look so beautiful. The fire cast a warm glow all over her, enhancing her devastatingly good looks.

“We will.” He gazed into her eyes, and he once again found himself lost in them, as he lifted her chin and moved in closer. “Are you ok with that?” He needed to know, what if she didn’t really want him after all, what if she’d said yes and regretted, but didn’t want to hurt his feelings by cancelling the engagement? Was this self doubt what Uncle Harry talked about when he said he was a bit too much Lupin at times?

“Okay?” She giggled, and he wondered why. “Of course I’m okay with that, you silly man! I’m more than OK, actually – want me to show you how okay with it I am?” She put her mug down on the window sill and stood up, snaking her arms up his body before locking them in place behind his neck. Luckily he managed to reach a table and set his own mug down safely before holding her close. “This is about as okay as I am,” she said as she pulled him down for a searing kiss.

“For as long as I remember, this is what I’ve wanted.” She smiled at him, blowing all doubts from his mind. He should’ve known, but he really didn’t mind her telling him like this. It was going to be a wonderful Christmas.

Comments

[crumplehornedki.livejournal.com]

Teddy and Victoire are so cute - I love the little touch of Teddy wondering about his parents and that glimpse of Remus coming through in Teddy's doubts.

SS write some more this little glimpse is intruiging

[amamama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You won't believe how much I struggled with this - all I wrote tended to be flangst! Maybe I'll do some more... after Christmas.

[gabrielladusult.livejournal.com]

A late Christmas party and tempermental internet prevented me from seeing this last night.

I love the he said/she said (or technically she said/he said) idea. It's wonderful to be able to see the story from both perspectives.

The imagery of the first paragraph as Victoire looks out the window is lovely -- reminds me of my childhood home, which had a (more distant) view of Puget Sound.

The line about Teddy being "too much Lupin" is funny. Even for a bright, confident fellow, being in love with such a beautiful woman probably awakens all sorts of insecurities. Teddy can ask his father-in-law about that.

I have no idea what hedgerow liquor is, but I think I like it!

[amamama.livejournal.com]

Now that the cat is out of the bag, I can tell - hedgerow liquor is liquor made with berries and fruit found in the hedgerows. So, I'd expect a hedgerow liquor made in Scotland to be different from one made in Wales, but maybe I'm wrong? I thnk I need a trip to study hedgerows... And while I'm there I'll look at the British countryside in general, and the pubs and... :)

[gabrielladusult.livejournal.com]

Now that the cat is out of the bag, I can tell

Tell me about it, I've been trying so hard recently to respond to every comment on my own journal that it took a bit of restraint not to comment on the responses to my entry here.

I wondered if it might be you, but I had a couple other ideas and I realized reading all the stories, that I'm not at all familiar with very many of my friends' writing styles -- so I guess in addition to writing more in the new year, I have to make an effort to read more of everyone's work.

Thank you again, personally, for taking time and effort to write my little tale during a difficult time for yourself. <3

[grandma-kate.livejournal.com]

Teddy and Victoire stories are uaually very romantic but this was especially so with both perspectives.

[amamama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[stmargarets.livejournal.com]

I love the two perspectives and the tender, sparse dialogue between the two of them. The image of Victoire looking out the window is so indicative of the future and hopes and dreams - it really fits this story! Lovely work, Secret Santa!

[amamama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You even guessed it was me... *grins* It was really fun to write, and had I been in better shape I would've mede more out of it, but I was not up to it.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

One of the things I'm loving about the exchange fics is the variety. It's so nice to see some Teddy/Victoire and you have them just perfectly here, amamama. Thanks so much for taking part!

[amamama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It was nice being part of this exchange, but I never anticipated the trouble I'd have writing fluff. My first attempts were rather dark - until I thought about Teddy and Victoire. :)