Actions

Work Header

Rating:
Archive Warning:
Category:
Fandom:
Relationships:
Characters:
Additional Tags:
Language:
English
Collections:
Yuletide 2024
Stats:
Published:
2024-12-25
Words:
1,333
Chapters:
1/1
Comments:
22
Kudos:
145
Bookmarks:
5
Hits:
873

Light Is Returning

Summary:

Anne hosts her family for Christmas Eve as they wait for Captain Wentworth's return from his latest journey. The Wentworths also have some good news of their own.

Notes:

Just a little treat! I went with a lot of details from your request, including fluff, the holiday theme, including Anne's terrible family, and Frederick being away. The title is from a chant for yule that I found, but I have no idea if it's traditional or anything. I just thought it fit the fic. Happy Yuletide!

Work Text:

"I put the Yule Log in the fireplace," said Little Charles. He puffed up with importance, while little Walter stood at his side, a fine second-in-command. "Is there anything else that needs doing?"

Anne nodded and drew out the saved piece from last Christmas Eve's log, handing it to her nephews. "Have your father help light the fire and then add this to the flame. It will bring both of our families luck for the coming year."

With a whoop, the boys ran off again. Mary gave a gusty, long-suffering sigh.

"How has it been having them home for the winter holidays?" Anne asked. "Did you miss them both terribly while they were away?"

"Of course I did!" Mary said, indignant. She threw herself onto Anne's settee, a dramatic addition to the drawing room. "What kind of mother would I be if I did not miss my own children? Oh, but Anne, I'd forgotten how much noise boys make. You would think that their time away at school would help them develop proper manners!"

"I would think that, yes." Anne took a seat in her favorite chair, opening her arms for little Sophia, who immediately hopped into her mother's lap. Sophia cuddled in her arms, and Anne thought about how she would miss this once her lap lacked room because of her once-again growing waistline. She so enjoyed being with child the first time through, but there had been no three-year-old demanding her attention then. Still, she would not trade any aspect of her life, save Frederick being away from them so often. "They seem very well-mannered to me."

"Well, of course they would to you," said Mary. She threw her arm over her face. "They have always listened to you, Anne. It is almost as if their own father and mother do not exist!"

Anne stifled a laugh, but did a poor job of it, for Sophia reached up and patted her cheek. "Mummy smile," she said, and smiled, too. Her dimples, a mirror of Frederick's, appeared when she did so and Anne's suppressed amusement for Mary's histrionics melted into real joy.

Little Sophia's nurse came to take her to give her supper then, letting Anne know that the rest of her family had arrived. Sir Walter and Elizabeth crossed under the bough of holly and ivy one at a time, both peering around Anne's house as if they had never been there before. While it was true that neither of them visited often, especially as they still remained in Bath for most of the year, they came when Anne and Frederick first set up the household and had visited several times since.

"I simply do not understand why we could not celebrate at Kellynch," Sir Walter was saying to his eldest daughter. "Is the ancestral home no longer good enough for the Elliots?"

"The Crofts are away on the Admiral's ship until the spring," Anne said, standing and kissing her father and sister on the cheek, each in turn. "We could not impose on your tenants, given those circumstances."

Sir Walter grumbled, "I suppose not."

Anne smiled and patted her father's arm. She would also prefer to celebrate the holidays with the Crofts, but things were what they were. Next year, perhaps they would all be together again with a new baby besides.

Mary hopped up to greet her father and sister, too, but her father told her that the dress she was wearing was no longer in fashion, so she turned on her heel and left the room. Charles came back into the drawing room at that exact second, trapping them both under the kissing bough; their children chanted at their parents to kiss, which they did in a perfunctory fashion. Anne did not miss the way Mary's cheeks colored, however, and was charmed by it.

"A lower-class custom," Elizabeth said, but Anne noticed her examining the mistletoe with interest anyway. "Anne, I thought you said Captain Wentworth would be here. It is rather disappointing that he isn't. How boring."

Anne agreed with that. Everything was more interesting with her husband around. When they were first married, she had accompanied him on his voyages, but once she was carrying little Sophia, the journeys became too fraught. However, all of this was temporary. Before Frederick retired, Anne was determined to set sail with him once again.

"His ship was due into port two days ago, but you know how it is with the sea," said Anne. "The Navy may give estimates, but ships really operate by the grace of heaven. Still, I was sent word that his ship was spotted yesterday evening, so he should be joining us soon. The ride here is not long and he will wish to make haste."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Why did you not go to port to meet him?"

"Because it is Christmas Eve and you are all here," said Anne patiently. "Of course I wrote to Frederick weeks ago about this very party. He planned on being here to help with the preparations and would not wish for me to ignore my own family just to wait by the shore for his arrival. Besides, the anticipation would excite Sophia too much. She does so love her papa."

"Of course she does!" Sir Walter exclaimed. "Every worthwhile daughter worships her own father."

Anne would not have phrased it that way, but Frederick and Sophia's bond was certainly something to behold. Any time Frederick had to go away for more than a few days, Sophia asked after him any time her little mind was not otherwise occupied. As a result, Anne had developed quite the aptitude for interesting children's crafts. Many of the decorations for the party were done by her daughter's little hands.

Mary had come back to the drawing room, having successfully completed her pout, and peered out the front windows, watching the walk. "I see a carriage outside," declared Mary. "Anne, do you think it could be—"

Anne missed the end of Mary's question, having dashed from the drawing room to the front entrance so she could throw open the doors. Standing just outside was Captain Frederick Wentworth, beloved husband and father, clutching a valise and wearing a beatific smile.

"Mrs Wentworth," said Frederick with a bow.

"Captain Wentworth," said Anne and curtseyed.

Then at once, she flew into Frederick's arms, tilting her face up for a kiss. Anne's feelings for her husband sometimes surprised her, none of the years or any temporary distance having lessened them, but this certainly was no complaint. With Frederick's arms around her, she felt more at peace than she did at any other time. Simply put, she had found her home.

"Frederick," she admonished once they parted again, "only one bag? This cannot possibly be all of your luggage. You were gone for over a month!"

Frederick laughed. "My trunk and other things are being sent after me. I could not stand to wait for them, knowing you were waiting for me at home." He put his hands on her stomach, the swell just barely noticeable for any who knew to look. "Does your family know?" asked Frederick.

Anne shook her head. "I have not yet told them, and since the Crofts are away and Lady Russell is traveling until Twelfth Night, there is no one left perceptive enough to notice. I fully expect my father to make a comment about me eating too many cakes before my true nature occurs to any of them."

"Any amount of cake you eat is the perfect amount," said Frederick, making Anne burst into laughter. "We should tell them tonight when we feast."

"Fine," Anne agreed. "I see no harm in that."

"But before that happens, I wish to greet my darling daughter. I know it is nearly her bedtime." Frederick held out his hand. "Come with me, Anne. I do not wish to be apart from you tonight."

Anne was only too happy to oblige with his request.