Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
First christmas
She woke up early, with a sudden, childish expectation of snow, Santa Claus, warm cocoa in front of the fireplace and presents. Stretching, she remembered that she wasn't a child any longer, and that – in fact - almost everyone she knew was dead and gone. Maybe this wouldn't be much of a Christmas. Feeling her mood darken, she turned around in bed, reaching out to the one thing that had remained in her life.
His side of the bed was cold and empty! The shock of disappointment made her sit up in the bed, wide awake. He had remained in her life, yet their relationship had changed dramatically. He had always been her best friend, and now he was her lover. And she was more dependent on him than she liked to admit to herself. Like now, she was uneasy. Christ, she almost wanted to cry because he wasn't beside her in the bed. She clearly wasn't over the events of September – she didn't feel safe without him in sight. And maybe she'd never get over Harper's Island.
Rising, she put on her slippers and her black silk kimono, and went in search of him. She stopped in front of the stunning view from the windows. As often before, she felt that she was blind to the beauty of the island – instead shuddering a little by the thought of being here. Harper's. Again. Because he wanted it. And she wanted to make him happy, even though it meant one hell of a sacrifice spending Christmas here.
Her shivering stopped abruptly - it was snowing! Light, fluffy snowflakes fell softly from the sky, and she felt her mood lighten a little. Moving through the house, she could smell woodsmoke from the fireplace. Brightening even more, she went into the open kitchen, and there he was. Feeling her face crack into a big grin, she saw him look at her.
«Cocoa with cream?», he said, gesturing towards her with a steaming mug in his hands. «To go with your presents? It seems like you've been a good girl this year, Santa has been here.» He nodded in the direction of the living room.
Following his eyes, she saw a fire crackling merrily in the fireplace, and their lovely Christmas tree beside it. And presents – lots of them!
Her hands now cupping a warm mug, she felt tears in her eyes. As always, it seemed like he knew her better than she did herself. He had completely fulfilled her wishes for Christmas – although she conceeded that maybe the snow was a stroke of luck. Maybe.
Lifting her eyes to his face, she beamed at him. «Our first Christmas. It's perfect, Henry, just like you are.»
At that, his eyes lit up to such a degree, that she wowed one thing to herself: She'd do anything in her power to keep him happy. Even spending time at Harper's Island would be worth it, if that was what he wanted.