Christmas Season: No Snow for the Englishman

A/N

So I edited this chapter because the first one I put here was so blah. If there are actually people who read this and come back to read my updates, you would know that this was initially very different from what you're about to read. Anyway, when I first uploaded this chapter, I was in vacation in El Nido, Palawan. Some of the best beaches in the world are found in the Philippines, so please come by sometime.

So now, about this chapter. Filipinos are known to be the longest celebrators of the Christmas season. In our country, it starts from September up until January or mid February. This is because native Filipinos already loved celebrations. When Spain tried to colonize the land, they exacerbated the natives' love for celebrations by introducing fiestas for saints and stressed the importance of Christmas. Take a walk in the Philippines during September and you will hear malls playing Christmas songs and see city officials taking charge of public decorations. Anyone protesting against the early setting up and late taking down of Christmas decorations is just an inside joke among us. We literally have six months of Christmas decorations, the other six being allotted to planning for the next Christmas season. Also, this is a UKPh chapter because they're my main ship. Just sayin'. Sorry if Arthur is a bit OOC. I'm still learning the ropes here. XD

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"Say, Maria? Is this place that Boracay you're so proud of? I feel like I could live here for the rest or my days."

Arthur Kirkland, who was lying on a hammock between two palm trees, turned his head ever so slightly to address the Filipina sitting beside him on the ground, hiding from the sun under a beach umbrella.

Maria laughed, hugging her knees and staring out to the horizon, "No Arthur. This is just an ordinary beach. We're still waiting for the boat that'll take us to Boracay. We're bound to depart this afternoon, I think."

"Drat. And I've started to get comfy, too." Arthur scowled and laid back again on his hammock, "I can't believe it's snowing in my country and yet it's this warm and sunny in yours! Some countries have all the luck when it comes to the weather."

"Well, I've rarely ever seen snow, if that comforts you." Maria replied, lying down on the beach towel she had prepared for herself, "and may I remind you our tropical weather involves several major typhoons a year? You know that, you've helped me countless times because of typhoons already."

"Fair enough." Arthur replied wth a dry laugh, remembering that the first time he came to the Filipina's aid, he was shocked to find her stranded on the roof because of a three-story high flood. She had claimed to be alright but in need of supplies. Back then, he couldn't comprehend how anyone could still smile during a disaster like the one Maria had experienced, but apparently, the Filipina was sturdier than he thought.

"Arthur?"

"Hm?"

"You're going to get a sunburn if you keep that up."

"Alright. Do you have room under the umbrella?"

"I guess so. I am pretty small." Maria laughed dryly.

Arthur sat up slowly as he heard sand shifting under Maria as she tried to make room for Arthur. He grunted as he lazily rolled out of the hammock and onto the beach towel she had laid out for him. Finding his companion lost in her thoughts, he copied her sitting position and asked, "So what's on your mind?"

Maria, who had been staring at the sea silently, took a few seconds to reply as a few memories flashed before her in her mind's eye…

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October 6th, 1762

Christmas was coming, yet Maria still had not heard from her Papa. He would have been ecstatic by now, preparing for the fiestas to be celebrated in the next few months, so Maria knew something was not right; it was too quiet.

She had tried to look for her Papa Antonio, who had been missing for days, aboard the ship that had suddenly appeared docked in her ports, but instead found herself surrounded by foreigners. Noticing that one if them seemed more well-dressed than the others, she addressed him. "Who are you? What have you done to my Papa Antonio?" She held up her bolo, ready to lunge if the stranger came too close.

"Easy there, miss. Antonio's momentarily… disabled. But he'll be fine, and as long as you cooperate, so will you." The stranger told her, tilting his head slightly. His men lowered their guard at his command. He spoke with a strange accent she could not place, and he wore foreign clothes and a very confident grin. He stepped aside and held his hand out to her, directing her off his ship and onto one of her ports, "If you please? I'm afraid all of this is new to me, and I would love to have you as a guide."

Maria reluctantly took his hand. She didn't trust this person, but his emerald eyes were certainly breathtaking. Of course, her Papa Antonio had green eyes as well, but this stranger was different. He was –

"MARIA, NO! Do not go anywhere with that pendejo! Arthur! Let mi hija go!" Antonio struggled with his restraints, desperately trying to call the attention of his adoptive daughter before she took the stranger's outstretched hand.

Maria turned and saw her Papa Antonio momentarily before the stranger forced her away from the ship where he was momentarily exiled. That was the last time Maria saw her Papa for three long years.

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"I'm thinking about how you kidnapped me." Maria replied bluntly.

"That was a long time ago! I did what I had to do, alright?"Arthur defended himself, "and while I do regret having to tear you away from Carriedo, I would do it all over again if I could have spent a longer time with you."

Maria, not used to the Englishman being so open about his feelings (indeed, she sometimes even wondered if he did have those, as he rarely showed anything apart from impatience and indifference), turned to look at Arthur with startled eyes.

"Arthur – "

Arthur reddened, realizing his mistake, "I-I mean, who wouldn't? The weather here is fantastic and it's a great place to trade. Don't-don't think this is about you! I only came here to stop Carriedo's supply to defeat him in that war. Everything I did was completely for my benefit."

Maria stared at him for a long time, then suddenly burst out laughing.

"I only wanted to ask you if you want to get going since we still have to pack our things to make it to our ship. It leaves this afternoon, remember?"

"Oh. Right. I knew that. Come one, then."

The two boarded the ship a few hours later without any incident. After eating dinner, they decided to enjoy the view of the night sky from the deck.

While enjoying the feel of the waves bouncing against the side of the ship, Maria suddenly turned to Arthur, who she noticed was looking extremely attractive under the dim light of the moon and stars (not that she would admit to that in front of him), "You know what? Why don't you spend the Christmas season here again next year? I would love to have you over."

Arthur turned to see Maria smiling up at him, "Of course," he shrugged, trying to look nonchalant and desperately hoping he did, "like I said, I would love to spend more time with you."

"I thought that was only because my country's a great place to trade?" Maria raised a brow, teasing him. He rolled his eyes at her, but not without noticing the way her clear brown eyes shone every time she smiled.

"Well I might have other reasons which I'm not allowed to disclose to you. I am a spy, after all."

Maria laughed at the Englishman, who had his arms crossed and chin raised stubbornly, "Alright fine. Be that way. I'll still see you September next year anyway. Or have you forgotten how I celebrate Christmas?"

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It was his second Christmas in the Conquistador's Las Islas Filipinas. Well, his first real one, at least. The last few months of the first year was spent on conquering the provinces outside Manila and Cavite, so much so that celebrations were postponed and eventually abandoned. Maria had stayed with him, and although she had initially ignored him and had tried to run away a number of times, she had eventually grown civil towards him the last few months. Lately, however, she had returned to sulking, and although she was still answering him politely, he couldn't help but notice that she would clam up every time he asked her why she was upset. To be fair, he should have remembered that she had not seen her adoptive father for almost a year. When he eventually realized the root of her sorrow, however, he started to plan how he could cheer her up. They had grown accustomed to each other, after all. It would be a shame, Arthur convinced himself, to ruin the start of a potential trading partner.

Arthur surprised Maria one day when out of nowhere, he asked her, "Maria? How do you celebrate Christmas here?"

Maria was initially shell shocked, but had eventually caved in to Arthur's request to teach him all about her practices. He sang carols, hung festive lanterns, attended midnight masses, and he even tried to practice preparing what Maria called a Noche Buena. Maria kicked him out of the kitchen soon after.

Arthur found himself particularly enjoying his long walks with Maria to the church for the midnight masses. She had convinced him to attend them with her as her people believed that if someone could complete the ten days of masses up to Christmas Eve, that person would be granted a wish. Now Arthur had never really been religious to begin with, but he did enjoy Maria's company to staying alone inside his house without the assurance that she would come back to him, and so he diligently accompanied her every night.

The midnight mass for Christmas Eve had just ended. Arthur and Maria made their way through the crowd, many well-wishers giving Maria a friendly, "Maligayang Pasko" or "Feliz Navidad!"

The crowd eventually thinned and by the time they were only a few blocks away from his home (Maria was staying with him under supervision) they were the only people walking the streets. The gas lamps lighting the cobbled streets filled their path with a warm glow. Maria walked beside him, happily humming the last carol the choir sang before they left the church. Walking beside Maria and hearing her sing, the thought of staying like this forever suddenly crossed Arthur's head.

He suddenly stopped walking.

"Maria?"

"Hm?"

"…Merry Christmas."

Maria, who had continued walking, glanced back at him, and smiled. She hoped the lamp light didn't betray her embarrassed face to Arthur. As she replied with an enthusiastic, "Maligayang Pasko din sa iyo, Arthur" she realized how much the Englishman had grown on her, and she wanted nothing more at that moment than to stay by his side and learn more about the fascinating stranger that had come to her shores as an enemy.

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"Of course I haven't. How could I forget?" Arthur replied. Maria felt his hand hover over hers slightly and hesitantly before finally capturing it in his. She blushed and looked up at him, only to fine him still gazing at the stars, "How could I forget how perfect you looked that first Christmas Eve we spent together?"

Arthur's heart raced as Maria held his hand and tightened her grip, laughing, "You should really learn how to express your feelings, you know."

"What feelings?" Arthur replied stubbornly despite not letting go of Maria's hand.

"And I thought I was close to a breakthrough," Maria sighed, "oh well, I'll take what I can get." She smiled at him as he gazed at her. He smiled back, reminding her why she kept trying to make him smile, even after all those years of separation.

The two stayed for a while longer under the stars before retreating into the cabins to rest and dream of the wishes they made centuries ago on a particular Christmas Eve.