Archive of Our Own ^beta

It was December and it had snowed. It had snowed hard, thick white snow covered every inch of the ground outside, covering the tops of fences and making the outside world seem as if it was coated in a layer of glitter with the way everything sparkled under the winter sun.

Mole hadnt stopped shivering since he'd awoken that morning, thick socks and a thick jumper just didn't seem to stop the chill that was embedded in his bones.

Even with the fire roaring the cold was still there freezing him inside out, he'd never been very good at keeping warm above ground. You never really needed full winter gear for life underground, a coat, scarf and hat did just fine.

"Would you like a blanket?" Rat asked, appearing beside Mole with a cup of Tea. Rat had to admit it was cold, possibly one of the coldest winters he'd ever experienced.

"Yes please, Ratty" He brought the mug of tea close to him warming his fingers around it. Winter in Mole End had been very different to what he'd experienced overground. Overground people seemed to be ready for the Christmas season as soon as October ended.

Some riverbankers had gentle flickering lights in their windows to mimic candles and others had red, green and white decorations up inside and out. It was all jolly, in his own home the closest he got was a few paper people he'd cut out one evening, and a small decorated fir. The river bankers here though had trees as large as them decorated from head to toe in tinsel, pinecones and other assortments of decorations.

Rat's home was decorated too, a few paper garlands across the window frames, the lights that mimicked candles and a small tree, much like what Mole had, over in the corner with very few decorations on. But then this was Rat, he'd probably spent every Christmas over at Mrs Otter's house. Aside last year, it was spent fighting the weasels, foxes and stoats out of toad hall. They'd completely missed out on Christmas.

He mentally noted it down to get Rat some more decorations. Once he was feeling brave enough he'd have to go out and fetch a few extra bits. Sipping his tea he looked up as Ratty returned with a blanket...the blankets. Several blankets.

"I think i have just about every blanket I own, there's also my duvet in the mix too" the cold had gotten to him too but not as bad as Mole, he'd donned a thick navy jumper and forgone the waistcoat he usually wore. The fire felt as if it would never cut through the chill that had settled in the air.

"Ratty you needn't of collected every blanket, one would've been fine" Mole smiled appreciatively all the same as the other placed one on Mole and the rest down the side of the armchair for later use.

"Eh, they're there now." Rat shrugged walking to the window, peering out of it. "I don't think the snow is going to let up anytime soon. It's a good job we flipped the boat over and stored her I think she'd of become a boat-bucket of snow."

"Is it really that bad?" Mole asked pulling the duvet around him tightly leaving room for his hands to poke out to hold the tea. Last year there was snow fall, but it was tolerable despite getting caught up in the mix of Toad's shenanigans.

"Worst I've seen, I'm hoping it'll clear up for Christmas." Rat replied still staring out the window. He was probably itching to get back on the river, the flow had come to a gradual stop and most of the river had a thin layer of ice across it.

Mole hoped it would let up for Christmas, but he wished it would stay, even for a little bit to explore the snow. A white Christmas was something of a myth to him, it never snowed in December only in the months before or months after. He'd only experienced one or two in his lifetime, getting brave enough to leave the mole society underground and go poke his head out. Immediately retreating back underground from the bite of the frost.

"What is Christmas like in Mole End?" Ratty asked glancing back over at him.

"Warmer than this" Mole joked, pausing and thinking for a moment "It is warmer than this, I have a few decorations...not much but a few that I try to put up. Then of course there's the Wassiling mice and then we moles gift give practical things to see us through the winter and that's, that's about it. There's usually a party but I avoid them, they get far too loud. I'm quite happy reading in my little home."

That was simply tradition down in Mole End, Mole had never really liked the party at the end anyway and always found a reason to leave, the music being loud or there being far too many people. Or simply just 'something urgent' he had to attend to to cut the his time there short.

This would be his first proper overground Christmas as a Riverbanker, Rat and the others had of courses informed him of a few traditions such as a Christmas meal, sitting together and gift opening and optimally going out in the snow. Though Badger claimed he was 'a bit too old for all that snow m'larkey'

Nonetheless he was still invited over to spent Christmas with them. Toad was too, despite Ratty's minor protests.

"We'll have to spend next Christmas down at Mole End...last years didn't really count"

Mole gave a small laugh and nodded his head in agreement. They certainly were preoccupied with the whole Toad being in jail and then escaping fiasco and the fending off the Wild Wooders to get the ownership to the rightful person...or Toad, thing.

The whole year in fact had been relatively quiet in regards to Toad's new fads. Keeping a safe distance away from Toad, spring, summer and autumn had come and gone being spent further up-stream with Ratty in the boat, having picnics.

They'd returned to Mole End one or two times as well, it was always exactly how he left it but it was as still as welcoming as ever. Mole had learned that wherever he's been he's made a home there, a home with Ratty beside the river, a home with Mrs Otter and then his home. His own home he'd clawed and dug himself, it was nothing as grand as Toad Hall, nor as big as Rat's place yet it was still his home and perfect to him.

"You look like you've gone away with the clouds Mole," Rat started

"Sorry, I was just thinking about how long I've been here with you beside the riverbank and my little home.." his tone was soft with something else which worried Ratty.

Rat's face changed slightly at the mention of Mole's abandoned home, recalling the first time he'd kept Mole away from it. To how he'd been such a pig and nearly refused to follow Mole once he began crying from home-sickness. It hurt. He hoped now it didn't hurt Mole so much with their sparse visits to Mole End.

"I suppose Mole End isn't big enough to host a Christmas in though" Mole let out a small laugh as he stood up behind him looking out the window, his duvet wrapped around him still. The dark had set in earlier than usual for winter and they'd been surrounded by the dark snowfall for hours. Each thick snowflake settling on the rest.

The lanterns Mole had set up faintly glowed against the snow casting an orange yellow shimmer around them. "I don't suppose it is, besides its late, we need to be up to shovel the path tomorrow."

Mole gave him a look

"I need to be up to shovel the path" Ratty corrected with a small laugh, reaching for Mole's hand and leading him to their bedroom.