A/N: And now it's time for this year's final story!
December 25th- Silent Night
"Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright"
It was Christmas morning. Flynn opened the door of he and Eve's apartment to find the three Librarians all there, together, along with Melody.
"Hi!" Cassandra cheered. "Merry Christmas!"
She rushed forward to hug him. Flynn jumped back and startled. He chuckled-so typically Cassandra. He and Jake shot each other a look and smirked before Cassandra moved away from him and back to the others.
"Merry Christmas!" Eve said, walking in from the bedroom.
"Merry Christmas!" the Librarians replied.
Flynn put his arm around Eve. The others couldn't help but smile and kept looking down at the rings on their friends' fingers.
"There's some bagels on the table and I've got eggs and bacon cooking in the kitchen right now" Eve explained. The Librarians had all come to Eve and Flynn's apartment for Christmas brunch before heading off to their own personal family dinners and activities.
"What should I do with these presents?" Jake asked, lifting up the bags he had in his hands.
"Just put them under the tree" Flynn said. "And then come to the kitchen. I'm making mimosas!"
He danced slightly as he walked away and Eve laughed as she followed him. The others smiled at each other. This proved more than ever, that no matter where they went later that day, they were spending Christmas morning with their family.
Melody and Ezekiel had just retreated to her bedroom at her home back in Australia. Her parents had invited them for dinner, and because they couldn't reveal they had a magical teleporting door, they'd made arrangements to stay at her house that night.
"It's strange isn't it?" she said. "Being back here together after all these years."
"Yeah" Ezekiel said. "It looks a lot different than I remember"
"Well it is" Melody laughed. "We're over ten years older remember"
"I know" Ezekiel said. They laughed and he kissed her on the cheek before they moved to start unmaking the bed.
"Do you know what I think we should do?" Melody said.
"What?" Ezekiel asked.
"Have one of our Christmas movie marathons. Just like we used to do after dinner when we were little"
"Sounds good" Ezekiel said, climbing into the bed. "But we're starting with Home Alone"
"No way are we having this argument again" Melody said. "You know I insist we have to start with Rudolph"
"But Home Alone was literally our life growing up" Ezekiel exclaimed. Melody laughed. They'd been having this same argument since they were 11 years old.
"But Rudolph is a classic"
Ezekiel tried to hold the remote in the air away from Melody, and she squealed as she reached for it. He laughed misceviously on the outside, but on the inside he beamed. He'd missed these Christmases. And nothing was more perfect than to have them back now.
At their apartment, Jake and Cassandra sat on the floor by their tree and leaned against the coffee table. Their nativity scene they'd bought sat underneath it. Cassandra was currently cuddled up on Jake's shoulder while he finished reading the nativity story, an old family tradition that he'd told her about.
"That was lovely Jacob" Cassandra sighed.
"Yeah" Jake agreed. "It was always one of the good things about Christmas with my family. My mom used to insist on it every year. After she died it was the one thing my pop kept up. And my sisters and I always made sure it happened when he was too drunk to care"
Cassandra said nothing, but simply squeezed his shoulder tightly and pressed her chin into him. He turned his head and kissed her sweetly. They'd had Christmas dinner with Cassandra's parents, and after an uncomfortable evening, they were just happy to be alone together.
"You want some wine?" Cassandra asked.
"That sounds perfect" Jake exaggerated. Cassandra laughed and got up to walk to the kitchen.
She returned a few minutes later with two glasses of red wine and chuckled when she saw Jake strumming his guitar. She silently moved next to him so as to take him by surprise.
"Whatcha doin'?" she asked. Jake jumped back, earning another laugh from Cassandra.
"I thought it would be nice to play some carols" he explained. "You know, just to end the night"
"I love it" Cassandra said. She took a sip of her wine and then cuddled in close to him again, before he began to play and quietly sing.
"Stille Nacht. Heilige Nacht. Alles Schläft, Einsam Wacht"
"What's that?" Cassandra asked.
"The original German lyrics" Jake said. "I think they're much more peaceful"
Cassandra shook her head, expecting nothing less from her boyfriend. She closed her eyes and listened to him continue, enjoying the beautiful stillness of the night with the person she had loved: the Christmas she had craved forever.
"Schalf in himmlischer Ruh'. Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh'"
Flynn walked in from he and Eve's kitchen carrying two glasses of wine. Eve's parents had left a few minutes ago, having come to join them for Christmas dinner before they flew back home. He found Eve on their couch, smiling at her phone.
"I just got an email from the wedding photographer" she said. "He sent me the pictures"
"Already?" Flynn asked.
"That's the beauty of the 21st century babe"
They kissed before he handed her her wine glass and sat down. She scooted closer to him and moved her legs up on the couch, and he put his arm around her waist.
"Look" she said, showing him the phone. "They came out so great"
"Here" Eve said, scrolling quickly through a bunch of pictures. "This one's my favorite."
The picture she landed on was of their first kiss on the altar. The photographer had zoomed in and focused on them, so they were brightly colored, and everything else around them was blurred. In the corners, you could just slightly see the red blur of the poinsettias that were decorating the church.
"Wow" Flynn remarked.
"I think maybe that's the one we should frame" Eve suggested.
"I think you're probably right"
Eve kissed him then turned her head to the window.
"Look Flynn!" she gasped, jumping off the couch and running over to the window. "It's snowing"
Flynn walked over to join her, hugging her from behind.
"How beautiful" he remarked. "Just like you: my wife"
He kissed her shoulder after adding in the last bit and Eve laughed with admiration. No matter how overly sappy she wanted to call him, she couldn't deny the excitement at having a new word for him. Today was a magic unlike anything they ever encountered in the Library, and tomorrow they'd leave for their honeymoon.
From the radio in their kitchen, a soft version of Silent Night began to play, making the whole scene all the more perfect.
"Merry Christmas Flynn" Eve whispered. "I love you."
"Merry Christmas"
They kissed again, illuminated by the glow of their Christmas tree, and framed by the gentle snowflakes falling outside.
Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace.
A/N: So that's it! I just wanted to thank you guys for your continued love and support once again! I know, at least I thought, these stories didn't really live up to last years. I was super busy with school and not totally in the Christmas spirit either. But I did enjoy a lot of them and I hope you did too! I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and wish you a very happy New Year!