Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Noooo it’s too early.”

Kara whines, pulling one of the twelve pillows in her designated corner nest over her eyes, and again as her partner takes it. Again.

“If it’s not me, someone else will come in,” Adriane says, with absolutely zero guilt or apology.

“Mhm,” Kara says, frowning. She’s an adult, why does she have to wake up early on a day off.

. . .oh, right. Christmas. An unsurprisingly busy one, because they still have to make it to her parents tonight, and unfortunately the sentient animal friends who also call Ravenswood home have gotten used to the local traditions over the years.

Kara does like her life, and her Christmas outfit is ready to go - a sparkling champagne dress for later, and a pink Christmas sweater for the morning.

Kara shrugs it on with a well worn pair of jeans she stole from the dark haired person she cuddles up against.

“There,” she says. “Give me another 20 minutes for makeup. And a nap.”

Adriane rolls their eyes.

“Mhm,” they say.

“Which of us did the Christmas shopping this year?”

Adriane hmms.

“Alright, At least you no longer risk an eager quaffle jumping on your head.”

Kara laughs.

An overeager dragonfly pops up at that exact moment.

Well then.

Emily woke up early to prepare for all the different parts.

She thinks about how strange her life has become. Now 24, she’s spent half her life in Ravenswood, or close by. She could have become a monster, she could never have found her place.

Instead, she’d pulling Christmas presents out with the help of a ferret shaped elf.

By the time she’s done, strange animals sit around - even a now grown generation of unicorns have even made time to visit.

Just in time to be done, a lithe figure in a soft pink sweater launches herself at Emily.

“Emillyyyy,” Kara whines. “Adriane is being mean to me.”

Emily pats her girlfriend unsympathetically. Ozzie scoffs.

“We finished getting the presents out,” he says. “On our own.”

“Well,” Kara says. “I got most of these, so there!”

Adriane joins them, wrapping a strong and toned arm around Emily.

“You’re still like a spoiled child sometimes,” she says. Emily neglects to bring up that now, they’re usually the ones doing the spoiling. Kara’s very convincing when she gets excited, and frankly more mature, but. . .

Kara huffs, but brightens as she sees the guests.

“Well then,” she says. “Present time!”

Adriane got up at the brink of dawn to spend it with their wolf family. They couldn’t stay as long, but it was a chance to catch up.

By the time they got back in, Emily was up with a cup of green tea in hand. She smiled over at Adriane.

“Good morning,” she said. “How was the family?”

“Hoping they can spare New Years more properly,” Adrianne replied. “But I told them we’d at least make it for the day of ice.”

Emily nodded.

“. . .And the other family?” She asked softly.

Adriane has a gift from their parents, it’s under the tree where they kept their gifts, animal gifts to be hidden until, well, today. Her grandmother of course was being invited to the Davies’ home tonight.

They imagine it will be strange but not fit them at all.

Adriane sighed.

“Not important,” they said.

Adriane is surrounded by friends and family now, though. Emily leans up against them as the rush to open presents begins.

Emily and Kara got her a hand-crafted, clearly magical pin in the shape of a wolf’s paw print. Adriane’s parents got them a painting based on the elements. Dreamer comes up with the package from the pack on his back, which turns out to be fresh Aldenmore meat and a card from them all.

This is where their home was always meant to be.