Marie and Kurt, Under the Tree

[x-traction.livejournal.com]

Marie and Kurt run into each other putting presents under the tree. Though they both think about Christmases past, they also realize that at the mansion, they are always with family.

Marie walked into the rec room, the last few presents finally wrapped and ready to be placed beneath the tree. Kneeling down, she began to set them amongst the other piles of gifts carefully, not wanting to break anything that might be potentially fragile. As she set the last one down, she rocked back into a sitting position, gazing at the tree.

The tree was big enough to conceal someone on the other side of it, and she hadn't noticed Kurt's presence putting down a few last presents of his own, any more than he'd noticed hers. But he emerged now, and smiled. "Hello, Marie."

"Hello," she replied. "Ah’m glad Ah’m not the only one doing a bit of last minute stuff for Christmas." Suddenly remembering a comment from talking with Amanda, Marie smiled at Kurt. "Oh! And happy birthday."

"Thank you", he said, smile widening. "And happy Christmas to you. I wanted to have things waiting for everyone who has stayed here."

"Same here,” she said. "It’s not easy for some of us who stay here." Her smile stayed on her face and the twinge of sadness in her eyes was so fleeting, it wasn’t noticeable. "This year is even weirder what with the Snow Valley crew all buttoned up tight. Ah’m hoping their presents made it through without too much damage."

Kurt was Not Thinking about anything the clan might be doing for the winter holiday (Yule, rather than Christmas, but they still marked it). He nodded. "I am sure it will be fine. Though I wish I could have spent time with Amanda."

"Ah'm sure she wishes the same, y'know?" Marie said, clasping her gloved hands together. "But we'll have fun here and then y'all can make it up once she's been cleared to leave the brownstone."

"It should not be long now", he agreed, though with more hope than actual knowledge. "Just a few more days. And yes, there will be fun here

"Feels like Ah haven't been here for a Christmas in so long," Marie said. "Even though it's only been a coupla years." She grinned at Kurt. "Ah still always wake up super early to open my presents. Never was good at the whole patience thing."

"Back in the clan", he said with a faint smile, hiding his own sadness, "we would have a feast, for Yuletide. Presents at sunset, and the feast and the fire and the gathering... I went to midnight Mass when we were near a town, but the clan feast, I would never miss."

"Must be hard," Marie said softly. "Your first holiday without them. Ah'm sorry." It was her first holiday knowing she was adopted, but in truth she hadn't spent Christmas with her family since the year she ran away from home, so it didn't feel much different.

He shrugged slightly, looking at the tree and the gifts. "It is not as if I am alone. It could be much worse."

"Yeah," she said, rising and reaching out to pat him carefully on the shoulder. "If there is one thing we are never here, it is alone."

"I think there will be presents after lunch tomorrow", he said, giving her a grateful smile. "All together."