Title: May Your Days Be Merry and Bright
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Snowy Christmas mornings in Vancouver.
Disclaimer: *checks* Nope, still not true. Darn it.
Notes: Mad props to thehighwaywoman for the beta. I wanted to get this up now, because I probably won't be around much 'til after the holiday. God, this is embarrassingly schmoopy. Enjoy. :D

ALSO, have a very happy holiday, everyone. I ♥ you!



1


The room was mostly dark, with watery blue moonlight spilling through the wide wall-length windows. Beyond them, snow drifted slowly down to blanket the ground. Every few moments a gust of sharp, lonely wind blew, rattling the windows. Jared snuggled in closer to Jensen, wrapping his arms around Jensen's waist.

Jensen murmured sleepily, "It's like the middle of the night, dude." His voice was rumbly, quiet. Jared buried his face against the back of Jensen's neck, could feel his voice there. "What're you doin' 'wake?"

"Can't sleep," Jared whispered, lips ghosting along Jensen's skin. "Too excited."

"You're like a giant six year old."

"I know. I just really like Christmas."

"Huh, I would never have guessed," Jensen said. Jared smiled against Jensen's skin, thinking about the lights he'd forced Jensen to string up, the seven-foot tall tree and the wreath hanging on the front door.

"Anyway," Jared continued whispering. "You go back to sleep. I'm fine."

Around a loud yawn, Jensen said, "What time is it, anyway?"

Straining his neck to look at the clock yet not unwrap himself from Jensen's warmth, he said, "Four-thirty."

"Ugh. Wake me up at a reasonable hour, man."

"K."

Jensen was already slipping back into sleep; Jared could feel his breathing even out. Inhaling deeply, smelling Jensen's expensive cologne and his sweat, Jared watched outside, where snow was piling up thick and white in their new back yard, obscuring the ground and making everything unrecognizable.

The reason he'd said yes to this house was because of the master bedroom. It faced an acre of heavily wooded land, completely private, with a wide, weathered deck leading directly from it, frivolous double doors and everything. And the windows, the windows had sealed the deal, spanning almost the entire stretch of wall, dropping from ceiling to floor. Jensen had looked at 'em and said, "Curtains would be really fucking expensive."

Jared had smiled and proclaimed there was no way he was ruining this view with curtains, even when Jensen reminded him of his penchant for walking around the house naked.

Jared had shrugged that off. "Who's gonna see?"

Brow furrowed, his mouth drawn wide and straight like it got when he was thinking real hard, Jensen had looked toward the view, said, "It's in Vancouver."

"Feels like it might be home." He'd paused. "We can live anywhere," Jared had cajoled. "And I don't want California. I want this."

"I just want you," Jensen had murmured, quietly, like he was still afraid of being the total sap that he was around Jared. A light had come into his eye. "That bathtub is really big." He'd smiled with his tongue caught between his teeth.

Two hours later they'd put in a bid. It was the least scary thing Jared had ever done.

Jared felt warmth crowd his chest, thinking about it. He drifted pleasantly in the space between consciousness and sleep, snug against Jensen, watching snow fall from the sky.

Later that morning, he was zipping up his new Northface Jacket, staring out the living room. Wrapping paper littered the area around the tree, open presents piled up on the ground: a new guitar; a signed Zeppelin vinyl. The kitchen was a mess. A new waffle maker was still dirty and plates were left on the table. Empty coffee mugs and glasses still half-full of Mimosas scattered across the top.

Jensen looked ridiculous. He was bundled in a puffy jacket, arms stuck out at his sides, and his movie star sunglasses covered his eyes.

A wide grin split Jared's face when he saw him. "Ready to go?"

"Oh, yeah," Jensen answered. "But you watch out, 'cause I'm gonna cream you."

"You got half an hour to build a fort and make your snowballs," Jared instructed, pulling on his hat; it had earflaps. He raised his eyebrows. "And then? Game on."

"Oh, it'll be game on." Jensen took off his sunglasses, eyes crinkling at the corners. He chuckled.

"What is it, dude?" Jared asked.

Jensen shrugged. "Nothing. Nice hat."

"My hat is awesome."

"I know; I bought it for you." A pause. "It looks ridiculous."

Jared tipped the hat, making it crooked, and grinned cheekily at Jensen. "It's a good thing you don't love me for my looks, then."

Jensen scoffed. "I love you for your ass, dude."

Straining to look behind himself, turning himself in a full circle, Jared commented, "It is pretty fantastic."

"Damn straight. And it's gonna get itself kicked real soon. Also, you look like Harley when you do that."

"Them's fightin' words, Pretty Boy."

"Oh, bring it on."

Jared gave a delighted grin. "Don't worry, I will."

Outside, the sun shone brightly, bouncing off the freshly fallen snow. Jared's boots crunched through the layer cake of ice and snow. To his left was an anatomically correct snowman he and Jensen had built yesterday. Everything smelled sharp and fresh, and Sadie and Harley both pawed at the snow, yipping happily and digging their noses into the fresh powder.

Jensen laughed. "They look like canine coke addicts." He glanced sideways at Jared. In the sunlight his freckles stood out darkly against pale, smooth skin. His gaze lighted on Jared. "What's up?"

Jared felt his smile grow impossibly huge. "Nothing," he said, widening his eyes and watching Jensen.

"J," Jensen said, stepping back. "Don't even – "

And Jared was running, tackling Jensen into a thick layer of snow.

It got into his coat sleeves, cold and wet. Jensen laughed, loud and bright.

"Merry Christmas, Jen," Jared said, nuzzling against Jensen's neck.

Jensen smooshed a handful of snow in Jared's face. "Merry Christmas, man."


2

Jared gave a wide, loud yawn and opened the door leading from the garage to the kitchen. Two sets of paws scuttled their way across the tiles. "Hey, you two," he whispered, bending down to scratch behind first Sadie's, then Harley's ears. Harleys' tail whipped excitedly back and forth.

The house was warm and night-quiet; it smelled like the cinnamon potpourri his mama had sent up with the rest of their Christmas gifts. Jared stifled another yawn and rolled his suitcase all the way into the kitchen. The clock on the microwave claimed it was after three AM. He'd been traveling for almost twenty-four hours, laid over in Chicago when a storm had white-ed out the entire mid-west. It had taken three hours to even get through to call Jensen to tell him he'd probably not make it until Christmas morning.

"I miss you," Jensen had said, and Jared could hear his pout through the phone.

He'd frowned into the phone. "I know, man, I miss you too."

"Dude, you're not allowed to do films in December anymore, at least not in New York."

Jared had laughed then, scrubbing a tired hand over his face and watching a line of disgruntled travelers move slowly forward in the Starbucks line that looked half-an-hour deep, at least. Hark the Herald Angels Sing played over a hidden speaker. "Deal. I'll do what you did and find another series in Vancouver."

"Yes, please," Jensen'd said. He'd given a tired sigh. "When do you think you'll make it back?"

"Well, I talked to Mother Nature and she's doing everything she can to make this storm go by quickly."

"Oh, fuck off. I'mma hang up on you and your smart mouth, and then you'll be alone in an airport on Christmas."

Jared'd given another laugh. "I'll be there as soon as I can, man. I fuckin' – damn, I wanna see you."

"Me too." Jensen's voice was rumbly and quiet. Jared could picture him, clutching his phone, eyes bright green and mouth soft and pink. He felt his dick give a half-hearted stir.

"Hey, what are you wearin?"

"Are you trying to have phone sex with me while you're in an airport?"

He paused. The airport had bright florescent lights. "I can find a bathroom."

"Well, in that case, I'm wearing boxers with Rudolph on them, and a Santa hat…."

That had been twelve hours ago.

The kitchen connected to the living area, creating a huge great room. There was a large tree next to the biggest window, shining with multi-colored lights that Jensen had probably strung up by himself. There were no decorations on it, though. They were still in their boxes, piled up beneath the tree next to brightly colored packages that Jared knew Jensen didn't wrap.

Jared moved further into the room. There had been a fire, earlier tonight, and it still smelled faintly smoky. In the big squishy chair pushed up next to the hearth, Jensen was passed out in flannel pajamas. A Santa hat was crooked on his head. His mouth was open and he was snoring loudly. A half-empty glass of amber liquid sat on the small table to his right.

Jared took off his coat, hanging it over the back of the couch, and toed off his shoes. The multi-colored lights danced over Jensen's skin, making him glow. Jared bent down, whispered in his ear. "Jensen. Hey."

Jensen grumbled a little, face jerking away from Jared's mouth.

Jared grinned. "Hey, man," he said, a little louder, and he shook Jensen's shoulder.

"G'way," Jensen mumbled, eyes still shut.

Jared leaned forward, sucked Jensen's earlobe into his mouth, and smiled when Jensen jerked awake.

"What the – " His sleepy eyes focused on Jared. "Hey."

"Morning," Jared said.

"Mmmm." Jensen's mouth was puffy, bright pink. "What time is it?"

"Around three."

Jensen swallowed. "Oh, man, why didn't you call me? I would have picked you up from the airport."

"Ah, don't worry about it. I just took a taxi."

Giving a slow and sleepy, smile, Jensen leaned in for a chaste kiss. He tasted like bourbon, sleep. Pulling away, he said, "You're home. And your nose is cold. Also, I missed you."

Warmth crowded Jared's chest. "I missed you, too, man."

"Merry Christmas."

"Oh, hey, why aren't there decorations on the tree?"

Jensen followed Jared's gaze toward the giant Fir. "I was leaving them for you to help with. I know how much you like decorating."

Jared's smile was ridiculous. "You're – that's – I mean, thanks, man."

"It's no problem, you girl. We'll put the decorations up tomorrow." He paused, smiling. "You want to go to bed, or do you want some hot chocolate?"

"Ah, I wouldn't say no to hot chocolate in bed," Jared answered.

Jensen grinned. He stood, back popping when he stretched, and his shirt rode up, revealing a long, dark happy trail. "Go get in bed then," he ordered. Sadie pushed her head into his hand. "I'll let these two out for a minute and make your hot chocolate."

"Hey, I can help."

"Nope. You can't. Bed. No, actually, shower first, you smell. I'll be there in a sec." He gave Jared a small push toward the hallway.

"I feel I should be insulted," Jared said, giving a mock scowl and stifling another yawn. "Lucky for you, I'm too tired."

Jensen just gave an indulgent smile in reply. Jared padded his way down the hall, peeling off his traveling clothes. The shower was hot, exactly what he needed, waking him up a bit.

When he made his way to their bedroom, he found Jensen sitting up in bed, his glasses perched on the edge of his nose. The room smelled like chocolate.

Jared crawled onto the bed. "Whatcha readin'?"

Grin almost shy, Jensen said, "This," throwing a brochure at him.

Jared picked up the brochure. Aloud, he read, "Answers to your questions about relinquishment and adoption." He glanced up at Jensen, nervously biting his lip. Their eyes met. "Are you serious?"

Jensen shrugged a little, suddenly finding the comforter very exciting. "You'd mentioned – and I thought that, well – "

"You think we're ready?"

"I do," Jensen said simply, then, "Don't…don't you?"

Jared felt his eyes sting, just a little. He was really tired. "More than," he said. He cleared his throat.

Jensen grinned, that delighted grin he had that made me look about six years old. His eyes shone. "Merry Christmas, J."

"Merry Christmas, Jen."


3

A thin, unhappy wail met his ears, startling him out of his light sleep. The spot beside him, a Jensen-shaped dip in the bed, was still warm, but empty.

Through the baby monitor, Jared heard, "Hey, Munchkin, it's okay," in a soothing, deep voice. He glanced at the clock; four-thirty shone greenly at him. He'd been asleep for over five hours.

He padded his way up the stairs to the nursery. At the doorway, he stopped. Jensen stood at the window, rocking back and forth slightly. His shoulders were naked and broad, hair sticking up flat at the back of his head. He was singing quietly, so low Jared couldn't make out the words. Beyond the window, flurries fell from the sky and strings of white lights twinkled like stars. The room was dark. Jared leaned against the doorjamb, warmth crowding his chest as he watched Jensen soothe Violet.

"You're awake," Jensen said after a moment. He was looking at Jared's reflection in the window.

"Why didn't you wake me?" Jared said. He walked over, scratching at his belly, and placed a kiss on Jensen's stubbled cheek. "Merry Christmas."

"Mmm." Jensen leaned toward him slightly. His breath was warm and sleep-sour. "Merry Christmas. You looked so peaceful."

Violet was quiet now, sucking hungrily at the tiny bottle Jensen held for her. At four months old she was small enough to curl easily against Jensen's chest, whole body resting on one arm. Her eyes were still grey-blue and round as she stared at Jared.

"Hi, baby girl," he murmured, placing one large hand against the soft down of hair on the crown of her head. "Happy first Christmas."

Jensen spoke in a falsetto. "Thanks, daddy," he squeaked, moving Violet around a little.

Jared gave a tired laugh. "You're such a dork."

"Eh, you love me anyway."

Jared smiled into Jensen's eyes. "I really do," he whispered.

Almost two years ago, Jared and Jensen had sat down with an adoption agency, and filled out the first of roughly three thousand applications to adopt. They laid down a sizable chunk of money for the application alone, and the process was harrowing, background checks and interviews, and then the never-ending wait for someone to pick them, to trust them enough, to believe in them as parents. Jared had thought he'd had his heart set on a little boy, but by the time Violet'd turned up in their lives, he had been too filled with near-instantaneous love to care beyond the fact that she'd looked a little like Yoda, all wrinkly and tiny and perfect, too young to even smile or grab onto his finger yet.

Her eyes were drifting shut now, mouth still working at the bottle. Jensen was watching her, a small smile on his face. Jared's heart felt too big for his chest.

He said, "I think I want more," and Jensen just smiled at him as went on. "But I don't wanna wait as long this time."

"It was worth it," Jensen reminded him.

"I know, but – "

"If they were already over a year old it wouldn't take as long," Jensen said, like he'd been thinking about it too. He was moving to lay Violet back down in her crib. She'd only started sleeping in her own room two weeks ago, when she could sleep most of the night without waking up. It still made Jared nervous, thinking about her up here all alone. Jensen continued, "There are lots of older children that need good homes."

"Siblings, maybe," Jared said.

Jensen adjusted a pink and white striped blanket around Violet, put her stuffed Rudolph - a gift from Kim Manners – in the corner of the crib. Jensen's feet were bare, toenails too long, and he was in need of a haircut. Jared slipped an arm around him, pressed his face against his neck and breathed deeply. Violet's face was smooth in the moonlight.

Jensen said, "We could do more," and he leaned up to brush a kiss against Jared's unshaven cheek.



4

The room was inky black, and outside the wide windows snow fell in white, fat flakes. It glowed blue in the feeble moonlight straining through the clouds. It was kinda gorgeous, and Jared felt a slow smile creep across his face. It looked cold, a blanket of snow covering the ground, but inside the low, constant hum of the heater was in his ears. He murmured happily and curled himself around Jensen, nuzzling at that point just behind his ear, the part that made him squirm.

An unhappy, tired groan. "You're worse than the kids, man." Jensen's voice was sleep-deep and caught somewhere low in his voice.

Jared smiled against his skin. "Merry Christmas, Jen." He wrapped a foot around Jensen's hairy calf; it was hot. Lying next to Jensen was like lying next to a furnace: Jared's very own, mostly naked furnace.

"Oh, God, what time is it?"

Jared shrugged. "Prolly five, maybe four thirty."

Jensen's voice was always rumbly when he first woke up, real deep and sexy. "When you wake up on Christmas morning before your children, you have a huge problem. Also, I was having a good dream, you jackass, and you ruined it."

"X-rated?"

"As a matter of fact…."

"Did I have a starring role?" He slid his hand along Jensen's stomach. It jumped beneath his fingers.

"Nope, my eighth grade teacher – Miss Norman. She was explaining the concept of square roots. Man, she was a good teacher – "

"Oh yeah?"

"Mmmhmm - had really big tits, and her top two buttons always came undone when she got real excited and moved her arms around."

Jared's shoulders shook with laughter. Face still pressed against Jensen's neck, he said, "Let me guess. Your thirteen-year-old self was always poppin' wood in her class…"

"All the fucking time, man. I was like a walking hard on."

"That's too bad."

"Well, it was a good dream."

"Hey, Jen?"

"Yeah, J?"

"Listen."

A pause. "I don't hear anything."

"I know." Jared kissed along the back of Jensen's neck, into his hair, damp from sleep, and curled his fingers around Jensen's thigh. "No kids, no distractions." He bumped his hips against Jensen's ass. "You wanna?"

Waking up next to the same person for the better part of ten years meant you knew them really well, could tell when they smiled – could feel it – even without seeing their face. "It's the least you could do," Jensen murmured, a tired smile in his voice. "Miss Norman was about to get real excited."

Jared slid his hand around, palming a half-hard dick, and Jensen's hips did a little stutter forward. His breath hitched.

And the door creaked slowly open.

"Shit." Jared laughed quietly at Jensen's pathetic groan.

From the just-opened door, a childish voice said, "Dada?"

"Later," he mouthed into Jensen's warm skin.

"Promise," Jensen whispered back. He sat up, the comforter over his boxers, and reached for his glasses. As Jared turned to flip on the floor lamp next to his side of the bed, Jensen said, "What is it, Munchkin?"

"Melissa wants to open presents now."

"Come here," Jared instructed softly. Violet shuffled into the room, trailed by a parade, her younger brother and sister, plus Sadie and Harley; all were practically vibrating with excitement. Jared scooted 'til his back hit the headboard.

"Melissa wanted to open presents?" Jensen parroted, as the bed shifted and the kids all climbed on. Jared bent over, scratched at Sadie's ears, and lifted Mark up from underneath his armpits, settled him and his bright red PJs between himself and Jensen.

At the edge of the bed, Violet gave a wide grin, front tooth missing. "Yep." A few months just past six, she was insanely bubbly and talkative. Her hair was halfway down her back, straight and dark blond. Jensen had been harping on Jared for weeks now to take her to get it cut. Even in the dim lamplight, it shone. Harley and Sadie both jumped up next to her, each flanking her like a pair of guard dogs with red Christmas ribbons tied around their necks.

Melissa, now curled up against Jensen's bare chest with her stuffed bunny, Hop Hop, shook her head slightly. "You wanted to too," she accused with her bottom lip pushed out. She scrubbed her face against Jensen's chest.

Violet scowled a little, looked ready to say something in return.

"That's okay." Jensen smiled a little indulgently. "Daddy was already awake; he can't wait to open presents either."

"You can't wait?" Mark squeaked. His brown eyes were round with disbelief. He and Melissa had matching curly dark hair and wide dark eyes. They looked nothing like their older sister.

"I wanna see what Santa brought me!" Jared said, patting the space next to his knee for Violet to come curl up against.

She giggled. "Daddy," she said. "Santa doesn't bring you presents."

Jared frowned. "He doesn't?"

"He only brings presents to little boys and girls."

"But I've been so good," Jared protested, which set off a round of giggles. "I don't know, though. It's still pretty early. We don't even know if Santa's been here yet."

Which wasn't entirely true. When they did finally make their way into the living room, Jared knew what they would see: too many presents wrapped in bright paper heaped beneath the seven foot tree; stockings overflowing with trinkets; an empty plate that just last night had been piled high with store-bought cookies. For a moment, all three faces fell. Jensen shot him a look.

Jared rushed on, "But I'm almost certain he has."

"Tell you what," Jensen said. "Daddy'll go check to see if Santa's been here yet, and then we'll make pancakes."

"With chocolate chips?" interrupted Melissa.

"With chocolate chips. And then you can open all your presents from Santa and from Daddy 'n' me. Sound good?"

"I'm gonna need hugs before I get out of bed," Jared said gravely.

Three smiles lit his kids' faces. Suddenly, Jared was wrapped up tightly in spindly arms and fuzzy pajamas. Hop Hop was smooshed against his stomach. Over Violet's head, Jared met Jensen's eyes, shining and happy. He smelled laundry detergent, sweet breath and Johnson and Johnson's no tangle shampoo. Yellow light spilled in a wide, warm circle, bouncing off Jensen's glasses.

Outside, it was still snowing.



End. Happy Holidays!