Well, I couldn't wait any longer to release this cause it's basically Christmas already so... enjoy the Christmas special! :D Merry Christmas everyone!
The Blind Date AU pt. 9
Christmas day had finally come. Shelby had done her best to plan out the whole day. She wanted her first Christmas with Audrey to be perfect. She even bought a mini Christmas tree for their hotel room. Shelby had decorated it and put their gifts underneath. Her own gift fit easily, but the gift Audrey had gotten her had to be put beside the tree rather than under it. Shelby being Shelby, was curious about her gift. She had shaken it lightly and tried to see the writing through the wrapping by holding it up to the light, but she couldn't see a thing. Audrey had known to double wrap it. Shelby was worried that the other woman actually knew her too well.
That morning, Shelby had woken up early. She knew it was Christmas. She even wore Christmas pyjamas (which was technically just an oversized reindeer themed, knitted jumper). Shelby was still half asleep when she started shaking Audrey. "Wake up, it's Christmas! It's Christmas!" Shelby said, her voice still heavy from sleeping.
Audrey jolted awake at the shaking and commotion, only to catch Shelby falling asleep again. She sighed softly, nudging Shelby gently. "Hey, you woke me up. You can't just go back to sleep." Audrey complained, sitting up and pulling Shelby up into her lap. She pet her hair and kissed the top of her head. "Come on, this is hardly fair." Audrey cooed, being all too gentle with a now sleeping Shelby.
A few minutes later, Shelby jolted awake, feeling Audrey's hands in her hair but not relaxing. She sat up, crawling into Audrey's lap and holding her face. "It's Christmas!" Shelby said excitedly. "It's Christmas, why are you still in bed?" she said, stumbling out of the bed and trying to get dressed.
Audrey was going to point out that Shelby had in fact, been in bed as well only seconds ago, but she let her go. She watched as the taller woman put on her jeans and rushed to put her nicer Christmas sweater on, this one featuring white snowflakes on a green background rather than a reindeer. Audrey smiled when she noticed Shelby had put it on backwards. Shelby quickly fixed it before climbing back onto the bed. "Audrey, you're still not up!" she said, taking her hand and tugging at it. "I have a whole day planned! Come on!"
Audrey whined softly. "Can't we just relax in bed a while longer?" she asked with a slight smile. She had never seen Shelby this excited for anything.
"But..." Shelby said softly, giving Audrey her best puppy dog eyes. She poked out her bottom lip.
Audrey rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine... I'm getting up." she said, swinging her legs out of the bed. Shelby was clearly overjoyed. She pecked Audrey on the cheek before rushing off to the kitchenette in their hotel room. She had prepared some food from yesterday, including a blueberry pancake mix. Shelby started on the pancakes, frying them all around the same size and thickness. She piled them onto a plate, setting some hot chocolate to heat up. She quickly set the table, putting out the hot chocolates and two plates with cutlery. She put the blueberry pancakes in the middle and covered them so they wouldn't get cold.
Shelby rushed back to the bedroom to find Audrey looking in the mirror distastefully. "Do I have to wear this?" Audrey asked, turning around to reveal a Christmas sweater that matched Shelby's, but rather than snowflakes it had candy canes.
Shelby couldn't wipe the smile off her face. She rushed over to Audrey and hugged her tight, the smaller woman feeling especially cuddly in the soft Christmas sweater.
Audrey sighed loudly. "I'll take that as a yes. At least admit I look ridiculous." she said, meeting Shelby's eyes.
"You look adorable." Shelby said, clearly pleased that Audrey was wearing the red patterned sweater. She squeezed Audrey's hand. "I've made breakfast. Come on, before it gets cold." she urged, tugging Audrey along excitedly.
The both of them ate quickly, feeling their tummies warm up when they drank the hot chocolate. When everything was cleaned up Shelby headed to the tree. She sat beside it excitedly, waiting for Audrey who seemed to be taking her time.
And she was. Audrey found Shelby's impatience entertaining. She sauntered to the tree, taking her time to sit down and get settled. "I'll go first." Audrey said, watching Shelby's eyes light up. She slowly passed the box to Shelby, noticing how her eyes shone. Audrey paused, pulling the present away slightly and watching Shelby's face fall. "I just wanted to say, thank you for the pancakes." Audrey said, still holding the gift away from Shelby.
"Yes, you're welcome." Shelby said quickly, not taking her eyes off the present.
Audrey smirked, slowly passing the present to Shelby, Shelby clearly thinking she was going to get it this time. Audrey quickly pulled back. "Oh, and I should warn you... I double wrapped it. I figured you would try to peek." she said, watching Shelby become more and more impatient.
"I noticed." Shelby huffed, noticing Audrey's smirk. She pouted, folding her arms.
"Oh? Don't you want the present?" Audrey asked.
"No, no. I do. Please." Shelby begged, moving in closer.
"Hmm, I don't know. Have you been naughty or nice?" Audrey asked.
"I've been nice." Shelby said quickly. "I have."
Audrey took her time, pretending to think to herself. "Well, if I do recall properly... you were rather naughty last night." she cooed.
Shelby blushed. She almost looked like she was going to cry. She just wanted her present.
Audrey gasped softly, noticing how Shelby's eyes welled slightly. "No, no, no." Audrey said, pushing the gift into Shelby's lap. "I was just playing, Shelby. Come now, don't cry. Open your present." she cooed, rubbing Shelby's back.
When Shelby finally got her hands on the present she shot Audrey a grin, the tears quickly fading. Audrey didn't take long to realise she had been tricked. What could she say? She was a sucker for Shelby's tears.
"You really have been naughty." Audrey said, poking Shelby lightly. Shelby still looked at her to make sure it was okay to open the present. "Go on." Audrey encouraged, leaning against Shelby slightly, her arm around her waist.
Shelby ripped into the paper almost viciously. Audrey's eyes widened as the paper seemed to be shredded away to reveal the gift. "A yogurt maker!" Shelby said excitedly, turning and hugging Audrey tight. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she said as she kissed all over Audrey's face.
Audrey braced herself as she received the kisses. She told Shelby the story about how she had gotten it. Shelby hugged Audrey tight. She couldn't believe Audrey had gone into every store and not found the present, yet by chance a fan had exactly what she wanted. "Now it's time for your gift." Shelby said excitedly, getting the small, cube box and passing it to Audrey. "I hope it's okay. I didn't really know what to get you but when I saw it I thought it was so beautiful and I thought you'd like it." she babbled.
Audrey opened the present, slipping her finger along where the sticky tape had been stuck. She took the wrapping off without ripping it, revealing a small cardboard box. Audrey frowned, opening the flap and taking the gift out, unwrapping the brown paper that was wrapped around it. Once the gift was free of the wrapping, Audrey looked at it carefully. It was a snow globe. Inside was a detailed sculpture of Big Ben as well as the buildings around it. The cars and trees could be seen, covered in snow. Audrey shook it, watching as the snowflakes swirled inside, covering the sculptures. The outside was also decorated with trees circling the base of the globe.
"Do you like it? Is it okay? I thought you'd miss home and-" Shelby was interrupted by Audrey's lips against her own.
"I love it." Audrey whispered, kissing Shelby's lips again but more delicately this time. "Thank you, Shelby."
"Merry Christmas." Shelby said, slightly flustered from the surprise kiss.
They kissed a little longer, not rushing their actions. Shelby's plans had been forgotten momentarily as they kissed.
...
Christmas day had gone quickly. Audrey and Shelby had gone for a walk in the park nearby. It was snowing, and everything was covered in a thick white layer of snow. It was beautiful, but cold. As the two of them walked, they held each other close. Audrey had flicked a little bit of snow off a tree branch at Shelby, prompting the taller woman to bend down and pick up a ball of snow.
"Oh, no. Please no. Don't. I'm sorry!" Audrey pleaded. It was in vain, though. Shelby got the snowball and plopped it onto Audrey's head with a grin. "You've done it now." Audrey said, scooping up a ball of snow. By the time she had gotten up, Shelby threw another snowball at her, hitting Audrey in the chest.
"I didn't ask for this. You started it." Shelby hummed with a shrug before being pelted with Audrey's snowball.
The two of them played a while longer until they were too cold. Audrey admired Shelby as they headed back to the hotel. The snow that had fallen in her hair didn't melt, same with the ones that had landed on her eye lashes. She felt the pompom on the end of Shelby's beanie before running her hand down her back. Shelby's cheeks were pink, just like the tip of her nose. She looked beautiful.
Shelby was freezing. She had made a snow angel and the snow had melted against her clothes. She just wanted to get back to their room before it got dark. She didn't notice Audrey's loving gaze.
...
When they finally got to their hotel room, Shelby changed out of the sweater and into a festive dress, drying off before doing so. She had set their dinner to cook while they were out. Shelby had set out a small table and two chairs beside the window. They could see the entire city as they ate.
Shelby set up the plates and brought them to the table, serving up their meals. "This looks lovely." Audrey said with a smile, looking up and meeting Shelby's eyes. Her eyes briefly fell to Shelby's dress. "You look lovely."
Shelby blushed slightly, hushing her. "Merry Christmas." she hummed with a smile.
They ate in silence, taking a moment every now and then to savour the taste of the food, the view of the city, and the view of each other. It had been the best Christmas Shelby had ever had. Everything was so much better with Audrey.
...
Christmas dinner had ended. Shelby and Audrey were content, both curled up in bed beside each other. They could see the city out their bedroom window.
"Thank you for a lovely Christmas." Audrey whispered, pressing a kiss to Shelby's temple. "I love you."
"I love you too. Thanks for making this the best Christmas ever." Shelby said sleepily. She had tired herself out from the sheer excitement throughout the day.
"When are we going home?" Audrey asked.
"I thought I'd book us to stay until New Years. We can watch the count down." she replied, stroking Audrey's hand. "And we can kiss."
Audrey smiled. Shelby always had the corniest ideas, but she loved it. "We can kiss now, you know." Audrey cooed, leaning in closer to Shelby.
Shelby smiled. "It's different on New Years." she hummed, pressing a soft kiss to Audrey's lips. Audrey kissed back, stroking Shelby's hair and pulling her in close to her chest so she could rest.
Shelby started to drift off to sleep. Audrey could feel her breathing slow and her muscles relax. It was calming to watch her. "Thank you." Audrey whispered softly, knowing Shelby couldn't hear her. "Thank you for loving me."
Audrey knew Shelby was aware of the confident front she put on. Shelby seemed to be the only one who was gentle when it came to considering Audrey's feelings, even if she did act like nothing affected her. Audrey had always been insecure about dating younger people, especially after what had happened with Rory. Audrey could tell the love between her and Shelby was real. She didn't find herself questioning it nearly as much as she had questioned the love between herself and Rory. In fact, Audrey questioned Shelby's love less and less as time went on. Audrey felt... safe.
She pressed one more kiss to Shelby's forehead before slowly snuggling up beside her, careful not to wake her. She played with a lock of Shelby's hair before eventually drifting off to sleep, completely relaxed against Shelby.
If Audrey was going to be honest with herself, this was the furthest she had ever gone in a relationship. She didn't want to lose Shelby. She was terrified, not of what Shelby thought about her, but rather the fragility of life. She couldn't lose Shelby. Audrey held Shelby a little tighter in her sleep, burrowing her face into her hair. She would never tire of this.
...
I hope you guys enjoyed that! Just letting you all know that I've been writing a Moira x Sally fic (in case you didn't know already). Also my best friend, mostlyuseless is writing a Bananun with a coven twist! Make sure to check out the fics below! Don't forget to review and follow the story for more updates!
Clean AU (Saloira) by owl22 (Moira x Sally)
If You Want It by mostlyuseless (Bananun)
Thanks again to everyone who reviews (especially in caps lock those ones give me life tbh). I hope your Christmas is super great! :D