stars go blue [eleanor]

Christmas.

Or rather Christmas Eve. He sat on the floor picking through lights and ornaments. This was the first Christmas he would have with his family. His own family. The holidays up until the one fast approaching had been either spent with his mother's family or Eleanor's parents. This was their holiday. It was strange how much things had changed in the span of one year. The resurtant was doing so much better, the opening of Eleanor's was right around the corner. His son was born and he got married. He had been on busy man, but he cleared his schedule for the next couple weeks. They had gone toy shopping, without Will of course. Tree shopping had been the most time consuming. Which tree was perfect, which tree was big enough? Which tree would make the living room look awesome when covered in lights.

Finally a blue spruce had been the choice, two hours of debating and judging and they found the perfect tree. It helped that William tried to touch the tree when he hadn't tried to touch any other. So there they sat as a family in the middle of the living room floor. Well, he and Eleanor sat and William slept on her lap. Shifting he rose from his spot to walk in the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine along with two glasses. "I'm going to put him down...want to pour us some wine?" As he spoke the sound of the cork coming loose could be heard in the air around them. Sitting the bottle and glasses next to her, he reached to gently pick up their son. He would wake in the morning and with him would his love for Christmas. Loren could remember running down the stairs at two in the morning for Santa to have already come and gone.

He walked down the hall with a laugh that was quiet. He didn't know when he realized there was no santa, but he knew he wasn't upset to find out. Yes, he had been disappointed. But honestly maybe santa did exsit, after all there was magic in the world. Laying him down, Loren covered him with his covers before leaning to kiss his temple. The little guy was worn out. He'd been out all day, most of which was spent playing with toys in the toy store. Once home they played on the floor while Eleanor took pictures and did other things throughout the house. He hadn't been sure what she was doing and he didn't want to stop her to ask. As he made his way back into the living room he paused at the door to simply look at her. A smile touched his lips as he thought of how they first met. Had he known then that she would be the love of his life he would have never dated the women he had. Losing her back then had hurt and he didn't dare to think of the pain that might cause now.

She was his world, his stars and his sun. Eleanor had always been special to him, but he had not kow she would be the center of gravity in his world. Running into her that day had been the best of his life. "I love you.." He walked over to sit next to her, shifting to kiss her softly. "I have never been as happy as I am when I'm with you and our son." Brown eyes washed over her face. "Our first Christmas as a family..." His chuckle was light as he shook his head. "crazy right. I mean like a good crazy. Did you ever think this would be us, decoprating a tree on Christmas eve while our son slept down the hall?" Oh, he'd thought about it. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't. He thought about nights with her, mornings in the kitchen with her. The thought of walking their son to the park, or playing a game of catch. He had thought long and hard of the life they would have together. And if he had to be honest this was exactly how it looked.

"Oh, by the way my mom wanted me to give you this.." He shifted to pull a small blue box from his pocket, it's bow was neatly wrapped. "She says not to open it until midnight?" He wanted to peek inside but he promised not to. "Do you think he'll have a good day tomorrow?" He was worried their son wouldn't enjoy his Christmas. That was hard to concieve seeing he was so young, but Loren still worried.

Christmas!

It was weird. This was the first Christmas where she had proper responsibilities. Terrifying. Their home was softly lit and smelt like cinnamon and ginger, thanks to the cookies Eleanor had been baking. It was like a St. Clare tradition. Her mother made a gingerbread house and she made little biscuits in the shape of trees and presents and stars. Will had thought they were fun and had tried to eat two but got bored and crawled off, leaving a path of broken biscuits all over the counter tops.

Her feet hurt. Her shoes had been abandoned the minute they'd returned home and she sat crossed legged on the wooden floor. Gently, she rocked her son back and forth. William (she refused to let anyone refer to him as Billy) was out for the count, snuggled up in his blankets and dreaming. He looked so much like Loren, it was crazy. Will had his dark hair and eyes and when he smiled, she was convinced they were a mirror image.

"Hey," she whispered, flashing her husband a grin. She looked down and used a finger to adjust his little rocket ship pyjamas and kissed his cheek. Very gently as not to wake him, she knelt to hand Loren the heavy little bundle and smiled fondly as they left. "Oh yes please," she gushed and took the wine, deftly pouring two glasses. It was so nice to be able to drink again. Breast feeding had been a nightmare. She was sore and cranky but now that Will was on solid food, she could drink away. Thank goodness.

The living room was quiet. It was lit only by the bright string of fairy lights and a few candles that Eleanor had dotted around, using little cute lanterns. Outside was freezing. It was shaping up to be a white Christmas.

"Oooh hello," Eleanor said brightly, smiling into the kiss as she cupped his cheek affectionately. "I love you too," she said with a soft smile. It didn't matter how many times he said it. It would still elicit the same sort of reaction. She was utterly exhausted. She wanted a bath. Will had demanded to be played with, demanding Loren's attention and smacking his toy trucks together so hard that the momentum had knocked him flat on his back. She wouldn't trade it for the world.

She shifted closer to him, her thickly knit cardigan dragging along the floor as she leant into him a little. She smiled back at him, her heart swelling with affection. He'd grown up so much. Loren was a far cry from the womaniser he'd been back in Beauxbatons. He was a businessman and a family man. Eleanor reached out a pale hand and softly stroked his cheekbone fondly. "I should think so," she joked with a dimpled grin, handing him a glass of wine swiftly.

She snorted. "Tell me about it," Eleanor replied, her big green eyes wide and looking a bit dazed. "I've wrapped so many presents that every time I close my eyes, all I can see is red and gold." She chuckled. "Don't be offended but no, definitely not." If she didn't have Loren and Will, she'd be spending tonight in her underwear, eating Chinese take out and watching some trashy movie on her Muggle TV. But tonight? Tonight was different.

It felt like Christmas. Eleanor was excited for once, properly this time. Will's gifts were bought and wrapped. She'd baked an apple pie for desert. The turkey was defrosting in the fridge. She'd be up early to prepare the vegetables and make the gravy and cranberry sauce. Now they were settled and married, they wouldn't have to go to his parents' home. She was able to cook the dinner by herself, surrounded by her two favourite boys. She let out a sigh of relief, her slender shoulders relaxing as she sipped her wine gently.

"What?" The artist said, her eyes wide as she shifted to rest her wine glass on the floor and take the box. She rolled it in her hand and held it up to her ear to shake it gently. "What is it?" She pressed Loren for details, confused by the need for it to be opened up at midnight. She frowned again as she stroked the pretty little bow, a lock of platinum blonde hair escaping her ponytail and resting against the curve of her neck. "How lovely," she said brightly, wondering if she'd stay awake until the specified time. Carefully, she placed it on the sofa and off the floor in case the contents were fragile. She eyed the present curiously, chewing on her lower lip as her fingers itched to open it.

"Of course he will," she told Loren gently, squeezing his thigh affectionately. "He'll be spoiled rotten. Our parents are bound to buy him a stupid amount of presents and hold him and he'll be surrounded by people who love him so, why wouldn't he?" Eleanor asked with a smile, finding it endearing that he was so worried. Will probably wouldn't remember much of it but she was as worried as his father was about everything.

"It's going to be fine," she told him softly, leaning against him so her chin was on his shoulder. "To a lovely, stress free. Meaningful Christmas," she stated as she held her glass up in a toast. "Ooh I nearly forgot. I baked some mince pies but I think Will might have put his hands all over them.."

Having a family had undoubtedly changed him for the better. His life without Eleanor had been an act of repeated events. Bare and one night stands. Parties and one night stands. Relationships with the possibility of going nowhere at all. But now he had responsibilities and people who depended on him. His life might have changed but to Loren it was something he wouldn't trade for the world. As his wife moved closer to him, his arm found its way around her frame. She was by far the most intriguing woman he'd ever met. He could only hope that their son got her personality. She was so loving and free that it was hard to dislike her.

They had argued but staying upset with her had been as hard as holding his breath for too long. He wanted William to have a beautiful childhood and grow to be a man with honorable standards. Taking the glass of wine handed to him he took a slow sip with a nod. A laugh followed her statement. They had wrapped a lot of gifts that was for sure. Well, she wrapped and he put under the tree. Loren had never been good at wrapping things, but it didn't stop him from trying.

"No idea, she made me promise not to open it." As he spoke he shifted to place a long somewhat thin box on her lap. There was no denying that he had wrapped it, mainly because it looked terrible though the bow was perfect. "But then there is this box too." Deep brown eyes rose to look at her face as a smile crossed his lips. "This one you can open now." It was a charm bracelet she'd seen while they were shopping for Will's gifts. It had been hard to actually get because he had to find an excuse to leave her to do so. All he wanted was this holiday to be perfect.

He moved to kiss her temple as he nodded. "You're right. I guess I want it to be perfect. But I don't see how it couldn't be perfect when you guys are here. I guess I'm nervous is all..." Yes, yes he was for several reasons. Some he still didn't know how to explain. His glass was lifted to touch hers in a toast. "I couldn't have said it better." The laugh that followed was light and happy. "They still sound amazing. Hr liked being in the kitchen with you, it was adorable watching you two today." As he spoke of cooking, he thought of Eleanor's which was still a hidden secret from his wife. The unveiling would be on Christmas night because it was the biggest gift. He only hoped his chef was going crazy with preparation. "So do you think you got everything you asked for?"

As Loren slipped an arm around her, Eleanor snuggled up. Absently, she kicked off her heels and wiggled her bare toes, the coolness of the hard wood beneath her felt lovely. The living room was dimly lit, the only lights were the clear white ones artfully wrapped around the large Christmas tree. She was an artist and that much was clear. There were three stockings hanging on the fireplace, white and silver decorations on the tree, cards hanging on little pegs and the entire house smelt like cinnamon. It was bright and warm, vibrant and inviting. It was the Devereaux winter wonderland.

She sighed. "I told her not to buy anything," she complained, her pretty face crumpled as she lifted a hand to scratch her head before she sighed. She turned to look at the box and she tried to figure out what could possibly be inside. The fact that she'd been forbade to open it sort of made her want to open it more. But then a box was slid into her lap and she offered him a bright grin. "Really?" She gushed, touched and giggly by the wrapping paper. The fact that he'd wrapped it himself was adorable. She liked having the opportunity to open a gift early, especially without little Will crawling away from her when she tried to change his nappy and chewing on her house keys.

Eagerly, she ripped off the wrapping paper and tossed it over her shoulder carelessly. Eleanor opened the box and she gasped, flinging a hand to her throat. It was beautiful! It was soft and delicate with beautiful golden filigree leaves of different sizes, understated and stunning. It came with a tiny carved pink rose. "Loren," she breathed, turning to look at him with wide eyes. He'd remembered. They'd stumbled across the store and she'd lusted after it but there was no price tag that she could see and she hoped it wasn't stupidly expensive. "I love it," she grinned, leaning in to kiss him quickly and extending a wrist so he could fasten it around it. "I love you," she said softly. How cute and amazing and thoughtful was he?

Offering him a dimpled grin, she turned to face him properly. "What're you nervous about?" The tall blonde asked, tilting her head curiously. "Because Will is gonna love it," she gushed, wiggling her fingers excitedly. The house was bursting with love. It was brightly decorated and she was sure the little boy would be able to feel and feed off the festive atmosphere, just like she did. Playfully, she tapped the end of his nose with another smile. "Stop stressing," she said gently. "It's our first Christmas together as a family and who cares if it's not perfect?" She said cheerfully. "I've got you two and as far as I'm concerned, it's the best Christmas gift ever. But this bracelet comes a close second," she mused, extending a slender wrist to admire the charms sparkling in the dim light.

Taking more of her wine, she studied Loren closely in the quiet room. "Have I ever told you that you look exceptionally handsome in the candlelight?" She cooed, wiggling her eyebrows at him suggestively. It had been a while since they'd been properly intimate. Loren's work schedule and Will needing lots of attention, plus exhibitions at the gallery, by the time they got home all they wanted to do was sleep. Nudging a little closer, she took one of his hands and flipped it over. Her fingers stroked his palm, running over the creases there before running her finger tip across his wedding ring with a smile.

"Do you think so?" Eleanor asked brightly, instantly lighting up. "I think he liked rolling the pastry," she said fondly. "And eating the sugar," she frowned. She really did try and limit his intake but he was at the age now that he got his fingers into everything. Including the little sugar packets at the coffee shop she stopped at sometimes on the way home. The staff thought he was adorable but William was just plain cheeky sometimes.

"Maybe he'll take after you," she said with an easy smile. That'd be cool. Maybe Will could be a famous pastry chef and travel and gain world wide recognition for his sugary works of art. How fanciful. "Pssh you're adorable," she chided him playfully, squeezing his knee affectionately as she blew at her platinum blonde locks absently.

"And then some, I imagine," she said, pointing at the stack of gifts beneath the tree with a laugh. "I told everyone not to go overboard, I honestly did. I asked for educational things. It said in that book you got me that he needs sensory things and things with words and letters." She nodded and sipped her wine once more before swallowing. "Jigsaw puzzles and posters and soft toys and things but he'd got so many already," she groaned, slapping a hand to her forehead as she sighed as her slender shoulders slumped. There was also talk of what they'd do for Christmas dinner.

Her parents had invited them over to their house, she was sure Loren's mum and step-dad had too but she sort of wanted Christmas day. Here. Together. Just the three of them but she wasn't sure how she could do that without hurting anyone. Luckily, her parents were rather perceptive and they understood. Eleanor thought they'd be calling tomorrow evening some time to give the young family some space. She yawned, rubbing her eyes and mumbled, snuggling further into her husband's warm, strong body.

"This is nice," she said softly, running her fingers lazily up and down one of Loren's forearms affectionately. She kissed his shoulder fondly before resting her chin on it, nuzzling her cold nose into the side of his neck and inhaling deeply. He always smelled manly. Like soap, leather and expensive aftershave. Honestly? She was so comfortable, she could fall asleep right at that very moment. "I missed you," she said honestly. He got home so late some nights, she didn't often hear him get home.