Chapter 1: December 22nd
"… And then after this boy from school – what was his name again, Clarke? Doesn't matter – well after he had told her he was going to marry her one day, my 6 year old daughter came home and announced that she was never going to marry that stupid boy, because she obviously would marry Alex Danvers when she's grown up." Jake Griffin finished his anecdote.
While a chorus of laughter erupted, Clarke felt her face flush bright red. 'What is her life?' She looked down into her mug of hot chocolate and pretended to be very interested in her marshmallows. God, how she wished she had taken her Dad's earlier offer to put some rum in it.
"Well, now that Alex's girlfriend dumped her a week before Christmas, you can still make good on your promise, Clarke." Eliza Danvers interjected only half jokingly. That earned her another round of laughter and a furious cough from Alex who was almost choking on her last sip of cocoa.
Clarke's eyes widened and for the first time this afternoon she dared to look at Alex who now also sported a deep blush. 'Has Eliza really just outed her oldest daughter in front of half of the neighborhood? Since when was Alex gay? Is this just a weird dream? Has someone spiked her hot chocolate?'
Alex's voice drew her out of her thoughts. "Thanks mom, and it was already a month ago that Maggie and I split up. It was a mutual decision, she didn't dump me." Alex corrected.
"Oh honey, of course." Eliza hugged her daughter. "But still the timing… who does this so shortly before the holidays?" "Mom, please leave it."
Abby cleared her throat. "So, who wants egg nog?"
Clarke couldn't help but smile like an idiot when she caught a shy smile from Alex, and suddenly something warm filled her chest. Maybe coming home for Christmas was a good idea after all.
Just a week before she had a fight with her mother over the phone who had wanted her to come home for the holidays. But as the newest resident at her hospital she had been destined to work during the holidays. It had been only a day later that a colleague had asked her to take over her shifts because he had been dumped by his girlfriend and hadn't wanted to wallow in his misery alone in his apartment. So despite the fear of impending family drama she had announced to her joyous mom that she would be home for Christmas.
Imagine her surprise when just 2 hours after she had arrived at home their old neighbors, the Danvers, were coming over for a little pre-holiday get together, their oldest daughter Alex in tow who Clarke hadn't seen for over ten years. The woman who had been her babysitter occasionally. The woman who she had been crushing on really hard in her early teenage years. The whole affair had been pretty one sided of course. Clarke had been a stumbling mess around the older and unfortunately pretty straight girl. But Alex despite her cooler and older friends had always been kind to her. Only after Alex had left for college and Clarke had started high school, she showed a romantic interest in others.
So when suddenly Alex Danvers was standing in front of her, smiling and pulling her in for a hug like old friends, Clarke forgot how to breathe for a moment. Alex looked fabulous. Despite the age difference she was the most beautiful woman Clarke had ever seen, and with her flannel, jeans, and leather jacket she looked also really really gay.
What only seemed like wishful thinking then was now an oh so sweet and promising reality.
The evening was approaching fast and soon the Danvers were excusing themselves because they had to pick up their youngest daughter Kara from the airport. During the goodbye hug with Alex Clarke felt her heart flutter and when Alex whispered into her ear "see you soon" she thought it stopped altogether. Not trusting her voice she only nodded and smiled. The smile didn't leave her face the whole evening, but thankfully her parents didn't comment on it.