Christmas in Camden
The joy and spirit inspired by the Christmas season can elevate anyone's spirits, thrilling with festive and brilliant sights and sounds. Families gather to share meals and presents, neighbors greet one another, and strangers exchange smiles. The spirit of the season was all-pervasive, and no one seemed immune to its joyful essence. Every car and phone were blasting upbeat music with their tunes that may be heard well before the season had begun, even as early as Halloween among those who couldn't wait. Almost everyone had bells, which added to the festiveness of the sound. They played outside the businesses of local stores, advertising discount items, and seasonal decor, providing a cheerful backdrop to everyone's shopping spree. These shops enticed people with gleaming new items for their loved ones while also distracting them with their dazzling displays.
On this Christmas Eve, Hansel and Fergus were on their way to the Dalmatians' household as an invitation to their Christmas party. The two were walking close to one another in order to keep warm as the snow fell from the sky.
"Brrrrrr, I'm glad D-Dawg invited us to his little party, but I don't particularly fancy this cold", Fergus said as he looked up, "mind you, it does make for lovely scenery."
"Oh, my folks talk about the great huskies further northeast that venture through tougher conditions than this", Hansel replied with an eyeroll, "it does get a little tiresome after a while, given the whole macho image they pride themselves on."
"Aren't you a macho man already?" Fergus quizzed. "I mean, name one person that wouldn't want you to bone them."
"Oh, shush you", Hansel said as he pushed a paw into Fergus' side while the fox chuckled at his own wit, "quite frankly, I think you come off more macho than me."
"Is that so? Could it be cuz of my exquisite good looks?" Fergus asked with a whip of his head. "Or my luscious soft fur? Or this beautiful face?"
"You were never one for modesty, that's for sure", Hansel replied with a bemused shake of his head.
"What's there to be modest about, I'm all that, and so are you", Fergus grinned with a boop to Hansel's nose, causing the husky to give a slight chuckle. The two finally arrived on the avenue where their destination was and found the front door strung with lights, the sound of music and voices being heard from inside. They knocked…and were instantly greeted by a warm of adrenaline-induced pups coming out in a pile on top of them.
"Early days, isn't it?" Fergus said to Hansel as they tried to free themselves from the pile of white and black.
"Oooooooh, sorry about that, you two", Came the familiar voice of Dylan as he tried to usher his siblings off his friends, "that's the family for you, always running around in mobs for…anything…come in, come in."
Hansel and Fergus stepped into the house where they were greeted by warm air and activity all around them. Decorations were hung everywhere, from the walls, to the hallways, to the stairs, it seemed almost everything had a tinkling light or an ornament. In all that were the pups doing various activities along with the other guests, Da Vinci was painting a landscape of a winter wonderland, DJ was playing disco renditions of classic Christmas songs, Dorothy was teething on a candy cane, the Dimitris were playing a round of 'poker', and other pups were running about the rooms.
"You decked out nicely", Hansel commented as he surveyed the area, "is it always so hectic?"
"Well, when you live with a family that consists of more than six people, it's to be expected", Dylan replied as they walked through the hallway.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, I didn't know Ebenezer Scrooge was in attendance", Fergus said as he pointed to the kitchen where Deepak was talking with Constantin, "thought he'd be at home doing his Wim of Wom or whatever it's called."
"It's the Wiao of Miao if you should know", the voice of the Persian cat responded as Fergus jolted, not having expected him to hear, "as for your previous comment, I may not be all sunshine or in your case, roguish, but I do have the ability to enjoy Christmas, albeit in a more reserved manner."
"I know what you mean, this atmosphere is a little…noisy", Deepak concurred next to him, "though I appreciate your attendance."
"Well, given you specifically wanted to see me, and since you're the only one who I consider to be pleasant company out of the lot, I thought I'd take you upon the offer to join this gathering", Constantin replied, "now then, you said there was something you wanted to show me."
"Oh, yes, though it's somewhere a little more private, you know, something only we'd get. Come on, I'll show you", Deepak ushered to the elder male as they walked off out of the room, though not before Fergus got a whip of Constantin's tail in his face.
"You know, I'd never expected one of your own to be so friendly with that old bugger, but I must say, they compliment each other nicely", Fergus said as he watched the two departing.
"Well, let's just say they helped me overcome a bit of short-sightedness on my part", Dylan replied, remembering the time when Deepak had temporarily left the house to live with Constantin, "plus, there's just something about that feels…right, you know."
"Yeah, I get what you mean, after all, I felt the same when I proposed to a certain someone", Hansel said with a wink to Dylan.
"Oh, haha, aren't you romantic?" Fergus mimicked with slight sarcasm.
"Well, considering you were blushing when I did it, I think I did my job well", Hansel replied with a smirk.
"And I seem to recall you were blushing when the two of us went in private to 'do the deed'", Fergus said with a wiggle of his brows.
"Haaaaaa, you know there's children who can hear you, right?" Dylan said with his eyes darting from left to right.
"Oh, mate, you're not getting hung up, are you?" The sound of a chill Cornish accent came from behind as into the kitchen stepped Spike, Dylan's face turning red upon this.
"What, me, oh no, I'm learning to relax like you", The Dalmatian replied with a wave of his paw.
"That's good to hear, perfect for the gift I've got planned for you", The Doberman said with a wink and a grin.
"Ooooooh, I like the way you think", Fergus grinned as he rubbed his paws together.
"Oh, dear, you never cease the chance to make something saucy, do you?" Hansel quizzed with a bemused roll of his eyes.
"Well, unsurprising when it comes from such ruff-raff like himself", A snooty voice rang out from outside the kitchen, causing all four males to scowl as they recognized who it was.
"Wait, you mean the stuck up broad got an invitation?" Fergus asked, particularly complexed as to how Clarissa of all people would have been invited to the party.
"Naturally, it wouldn't be a party without yours truly, even if it is below my usual tastes in terms of socializing", The corgi replied in her usual pompous manner, "and the lack of fondue, most unprofessional."
"Actually, you just didn't wanna be alone since everyone got an invitation", Dolly said from the hallway, "and we all know how much you love being the center of attention."
"Shut your mouth, you common fleabag!" Clarissa snorted venomously to the female Dalmatian.
"Why, you know I'm right, oooooh, lookit me, I'm Clarissa and I have no real friends besides the ones on payroll!" Dolly mocked in the corgi's voice before scampering down the hallway, cackling as Clarissa chased after her.
"Can't believe I actually let her get close to me", Dylan murmured, shivering in disgust at the memory of thinking he was royal, something Clarissa had tried to take advantage of. He was brought back to reality upon feeling a lick to his cheek.
"That better, luv?" Spike asked with his usual grin. "Can't have you feeling unpleasant around this time."
"Aaaah, thanks for that", Dylan replied with a bashful smile, putting a paw on his cheek.
"Awwww, aren't they just adorable?" Fergus cooed in a overly cutesy manner, clamping his paws together.
"Not as adorable as you", Hansel said with a lick to Fergus' cheek, catching the fox off-guard before he recovered.
"Oh, you sly dog", Fergus retorted playfully as he pinned the husky to the ground, licking at his cheek while Dylan and Spike watched on.
"Your friends are pretty playful, aren't they? I like that", Spike said as he watched the fox and husky with approval.
"Yeah, you could call them that", Dylan replied with a playful roll of his eyes before he turned to the sound of a crash. He rushed forward to peer into the living room, finding that Clarissa, Arabella, and Prunella were all scattered in a pile of decorations, the leader looking especially stoney faced as a crown hung from her nose, all while Dolly had taken refuge on one of the stacks of presents surveying below.
"Dolly, Dolly, look what I found!" The energetic voice of Roxy could be heard as she raced into the living room. "I got me some Holly! Hehe, get it, Holly, Dol-!" The Rottweiler had been so caught up in her excitement that she hadn't been looking where she was going, running into the presents Dolly was on, sending them flying and lying down on her back. Conveniently, the Dalmatian landed right on the larger girl's chest, the holly landing right on her nose.
"Uhh, Roxy, coulda come in a little slower…" Dolly said before notcing the look the darker furred female was giving her. "Um, what's with the-" She never got further than that before feeling Roxy suddenly pressing her lips against her own.
"Hehehe, how's that for a surprise?" Roxy tittered with an innocent expression. "It's tradition, after all."
"...face", Dolly replied, still trying to process what had such occurred, all the while, the guys had gathered by Dylan to witness what had happened, Fergus especially having a large grin on his face.
"About time someone surprised that lass", The fox said, his voice full of mischief.
"You mean just like I'm going to when we get home", Hansel said with a teasing tone in his voice.
"Oh, well, color me intrigued, Maestro", Fergus replied with a broad grin, "I'll be looking forward to it."
The rest of the party went down swimmingly, the other guests in attendance enjoying themselves along with the pups that buzzed around the place. Eventually, the activity settled down, and everyone began to head off back home. Hansel and Fergus were one of the last ones to leave as they bade farewell to the Dalmatians.
"Merry Christmas, you lot!" Fergus called out to Dylan and Spike. "Have some fun before the new year!"
"We'll make sure of that!" Spike called out to the fox.
"Don't mind him, he's just teasing, sort of!" Hansel called back.
"Oh, I'm sure he is!" Dylan called out as he watched the two disappear out of sight.
Fergus and Hansel walked back across the snowy streets, by this point, it had covered their tracks from which they had come from, which made the two all the more eager to get back home.
"Look on the bright side, at least we'll be having a white Christmas", Hansel said as he looked up at the still falling snowflakes.
"One of which will be spend in the comforts of our quarters, nuzzled up all nice and snug", Fergus murred as he pressed against the husky, "mmmmm, you're so soft."
"Haaaaa, could say the same for you, hon", Hansel cooed as he nuzzled back against the fox, "all snug like two dogs in a rug."
"Or in our case, a big ole cushion", Fergus replied with a wrap of his bushy tail to Hansel's smaller one.
The two finally arrived back home where their bed was waiting. Above it was a bit of mistletoe that was hanging on a branch, while the bed was decorated on the sides with all kinds of lights and treats, Hansel having let Fergus make some of the calls on what to put on.
"Doesn't that just look right cozy?" Fergus said as he plopped onto the cushion. "Now then, you mentioned a little something about surprises."
"Oh, yes, you see, the surprise was…COME HERE!" Hansel replied as he lunged right at Fergus to plant a huge kiss on his lips, causing the two to engage in a bit of a tongue war as they rolled about on the ground. Eventually, the adrenaline simmered down and they were both sidled up next to one another, ready for a good night's sleep.
"Merry Christmas, Fergus…" Hansel murred as he closed his eyes.
"Merry Christmas, Hansel…" Fergus cooed back as he too closed his eyes, the two canines drifting off to sleep as the snow continued to fall outside, awaiting Christmas day coming forward while also enjoying the warmth they brought to one another.