Hello! I'm back with another chapter! Thanks to all of you for sticking with me so far. Arthur, do you have anything to say to the readers?
Arthur: ... Uh, thanks for the support, I guess...
Peter: Heheheh~ I know what's gonna happen~
Arhtur: 'Going to', you mean.
Peter: Yeah, whatever.
Anyway, THOU SHALT CARRY ON! Oh, btw, I own absolutely NOTHING except for the plot. There will be things in here that are obviously not mine!
It's December 24, the day before Christmas and Arthur and Peter had a lot of indoor decorating to do. It was about 8 o'clock and Arthur was still sound asleep.
"Come on! Get up, you jerk!", Peter said as he hopped on Arthur's bed. Arthur groaned and turned, "It's not Christmas, brat..."
"I know! We have to decorate, though!", Peter began to pull Arthur's arm, trying to get him out of bed. Arthur sighed and slowly sat up, "Fine, fine. I'm up. Just let me get dressed..." Peter nodded and darted out of the room, way too excited to do some decorating. Arthur grudgingly stood, moving away from the comfortable warmth of his bed and over to his dresser to grab some clothing. He took out a red t-shirt and some gray sweatpants before shedding his pajamas and changing into them. Then he walked out of his room and down the stairs.
When he arrived in the living room, he found Peter channel surfing. Arthur rolled his eyes and walked to the kitchen. He took out a kettle and filled it with water before placing it on the stove and turning it on. "I thought you wanted to decorate, not watch television.", Arthur said loud enough so Peter could hear him. "I did! I was just waiting for you!", Peter replied as he finally settled on Cartoon Network, watching Steven Universe.
Arthur pulled out his phone to find that the frog had texted him.
From: Frog-face
Arthur let out a little giggle at the name he picked for the contact.
Lapin, You should come to the party~ It's on Christmas day and it starts at 5. It's at the house of moi, of course. You and Peter will have plenty of time to have your Christmas 'family' time.
Arthur rolled his eyes and texted back.
To: Frog-face
If I recall correctly, I believe, yesterday, you said something along the lines of, "It's not like you would have a boyfriend to take with you, anyway!" Guess what, you were right. You want to guess what that means, also? I'm not. Bloody. GOING.
Admittedly, though Arthur would like to have a boyfriend, he only said that as an excuse not to go. He'd much rather stay home and spend Christmas with Peter and only Peter, away from the commotion of a party especially if it was being held at Francis's house, of all places. And thus, Arthur went to his music app and started playing his Christmas playlist. Just then, the kettle squealed, letting him know that the water was boiling. He grabbed an oven mitt and moved the kettle off of the burner before turning the stove off. He then proceeded to grab a teacup and saucer and his favorite Earl Grey tea. He took the kettle, with the oven mitt, and poured some water into his cup before putting a teabag in it and letting it soak. As he did this, he began to sing along with the current song, Carol of the Bells.
"Hark! How the bells,
Sweet, silver bells,
All seem to say,
'Throw cares away!'
Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold."
He took some sugar and honey out of a cabinet and got a paper towel before taking the teabag out and placing it on the paper towel. He then proceeded to put sugar and honey into his tea. Once this was done, he took a sip and smiled softly, 'Ah, tea. You never cease to bring a smile across my face.' As he drank the tea, he hummed along with the rest of the song.
"Gaily, they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer.
Christmas is here.
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas!
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas!"
Just as he finished his cup of tea, Peter ran into the kitchen. "Are you done yet? Let's get started!", He said before running back out of the kitchen and turning off the TV. Arthur shook his head and placed his teacup down and picked up his phone before leaving the kitchen, himself.
...
"Peter, be careful! Where did you get that mistletoe, anyway?", Arthur said worriedly as he watched Peter hang mistletoe and stockings above the fireplace. Peter merely grinned, "Don't worry about it, Eyebrows!" Arthur pouted and self-consciously placed his hands over his eyebrows, "... You have them, too..." Peter ignored that comment. "Andd... There! Done!", He said as he moved away from the fireplace and dusted his hands off, "What's next?" Arthur sighed and shook his head slowly, "We need to decorate the tree." Peter's eyes sparkled, "Yay! Hold on, just let me get my special ornaments!" Arthur watched confusedly as Peter bounded up the stairs, 'Special ornaments...?' He then shrugged and went to get the tinsel, Christmas lights, normal ornaments, and the star for the top.
When he came back, he found Peter smiling, with a Christmas hat on, holding a box full of... Pokemon plushies...? "Those are your so called 'special ornaments'?", Arthur crossed his arms and jut out his hip after he put down the festive decorations. Peter nodded vigorously, "Don't hate! Appreciate!" Then, Peter set the box on the ground next to the tree and began to hang up his plushies, starting with Bulbasaur. Arthur rolled his eyes before saying, "You should let me put the tinsel and lights on the tree before you put those up." Peter stopped his ministrations, "Oh..." He took down the Pokemon on the tree and moved out of the way so Arthur could do what he needed to do. Arthur let out an airy chuckle before picking up the lights and wrapping them around the tree and plugging them in, but not turning them on. Peter picked up the tinsel and helped Arthur put the red, green, and gold strings of sparkles upon the tree. "Hold on, I'll be right back.", Arthur said before leaving the room and coming back with a step ladder.
"This will make it easier to put the ornaments on the tree. You can go ahead and start putting your Pokemon on." Peter smiled and adjusted his Christmas hat that matched Arthur's before returning to what he was doing earlier. Arthur placed the step ladder next to one side of the tree and grabbed a box of ornaments. He placed spherical item after spherical item until he ran out and went to get the not-so-spherical ornaments. About twenty minutes later, the tree was covered in spheres with designs on them, little figurines of angels and gingerbread men and such, and Pokemon plushies. Arthur stood back and admired their work. Still, something was missing... Ah, that's right! He almost forgot about the star! He turned to Peter with a smile on his face, "Would you like to do the honors?" Peter was confused for a moment before his face split into a smile, "Yeah!" Arthur then picked up the star that would go on top of the tree and handed it to Peter, "Be careful, now." Peter rolled his eyes, but he grinned, nonetheless.
Just as Peter started climbing up the step ladder, Silent Night began playing on Arthur's phone. Arthur watched as Peter climbed, ready to catch him if he were to fall. When Peter made it to the top, he oh so carefully and slowly moved the star toward the tip of the tree. Arthur watched anxiously, trying so hard to refrain from yelling at him to hurry up so he wouldn't have to be so worried. Slowly, and finally, the star made its way onto the tree. Arthur sighed is slight relief as he watched Peter climb down the ladder. Once Peter was on the ground again, he smiled at Arthur and ran to hug him, "Merry Christmas, Artie." Arthur pat the boy's hair and smiled softly, "Merry Christmas to you too, lad." When Peter let go, he grabbed Arthur's wrist and dragged him towards the couch, "Let's watch TV for the rest of the day!"
They did, indeed, end up watching TV for the rest of the day. They watched loads of classic Christmas movies and they ordered pizza(because everyone knows Arthur can't cook.). As it was nearing 10 o'clock, Arthur stood from the couch, "Okay, time for bed." For emphasis, he let out a yawn. Peter pouted, "I don't wanna!" "Well, if you don't, then Santa won't come!" Peter pouted, "Don't we need to put out milk and cookies for him?" Arthur sighed, "Alright. Let's go get some." They both walked into the kitchen and Peter got the cookies while Arthur got the milk and the glass. Arthur poured milk in the glass as Peter got a paper plate and put five cookies on it and sneakily took one for himself. Arthur gave him a reprimanding look, "You know you aren't supposed to eat sweets before bedtime." Peter huffed and rolled his eyes, "Who are you? My mum?" Arthur smirked, "I very well could be." "You aren't a woman, though... Or are you? Artie, prove to me you aren't a woman!", Peter said and they both laughed and brought they milk and cookies out into the living room. "I don't have to prove anything to you, runt." Peter stuck his tongue out at Arthur and Arthur did it right back.
They placed the items on coffee table and Arthur ushered Peter upstairs, "Okay, time for bed." Peter begrudgingly trudged up the stairs and changed into his pajamas before hopping into bed, "Hey, Arthur, can you tell me a story?" Arthur looked at him incredulously, "Really? You're twelve, you do know that, right? Or do you want me to tuck you in, too?" Peter sent Arthur a glare, "Just do it, jerk." Arthur sighed, "Fine" He then sat on the side of Peter's bed. Arthur then took a deep breath and recited a poem he memorized for no particular reason at all, A Visit from St. Nicholas...
"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
'Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blixen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!'
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
'Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.'"
By the time Arthur finished, Peter was fast asleep. He smiled and brushed some of Peter's hair out of his face before he stood and left the room, shutting off the light and closing the door on his way out. He then walked downstairs and gathered Peter's presents and wrapping material. He spent about an hour wrapping stuffed animals, clothing, books, toys, and Peter's video game before placing them all under the tree.
As the clock, struck twelve, Arthur heard a strange noise. He furrowed his eyebrows and stood. It sounded like it was coming from the... fireplace...? Arthur cautiously walked towards said fireplace and looked up into it. His eyes widened when he saw something coming down. He quickly pulled his head out, causing him to fall onto his butt. Then, something landed and crawled out of the fireplace. Arthur stared wide-eyed at it. It was... a person. A person covered in soot wearing a Santa outfit and holding a single box. Just then, the person looked up with glowing blue eyes and glasses. They both sat frozen in their spots. Arthur was about ready to scream bloody murder, but, the person spoke, "Arthur...?" Arthur recognized that voice. Since it was dark in the room and the person was covered in ash and soot, it took Arthur a little while to figure out who it was. He stared closely at the person, "... Alfred...?"
Annnndddd... I'm ending this chapter here. It was already longer than usual, so you guys get to be left off on a cliff hanger! (^^; I'm sorry, don't kill me!)
Arthur: What the bloody hell is Alfred doing in my house!?
All in due time, Arthur, all in due time...
Peter: *yawns* Until next chapter...