Hey guys! So…it's Christmas in the Ryder's Chance-universe! I know it's still November, but I thought, if Glee can do a crazy flashback Christmas episode that makes zero sense and nobody wants, I can do a Christmas chapter in the end of November :p I hope you enjoy it! Also, I was informed on tumblr that today is Hanukkah, so happy Hanukkah to any Jewish readers :) And happy thanksgiving for Americans for tomorrow! (I think it's tomorrow?) Anyway, I think I've covered it all for now, hehe
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee :(
"This one's for…you…and this one's for you…" little Jessica squealed with delight, as she ran back and forth between the large Christmas tree and the piles of presents she was forming in the living room. Christmas morning had finally arrived, and Ryder's house was full of extended family members, who were currently having their gifts brought to them by Ryder's giddily excited six year old cousin. After five minutes, there was just one small gift left under the tree. Jessica picked it up and scrunched up her face whilst reading the label, confused by the unfamiliar name.
"Marley?" she asked. "Who's Marley?"
"Oh, just leave that one under the tree, Jess," Ryder told her quickly, his cheeks turning pink.
"Marley is Ryder's special lady friend, Jessica," Ryder's father told her with an over the top tone, and the room burst out laughing and 'aww-ing'.
"Ryder and Marley sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G-" Jessica giggled, before being scolded by her mother, who sensed that her nephew would probably like the subject to be changed.
"Thanks for that, Dad," he mumbled in his Father's ear.
"You're welcome," Mr Lynn joked. "Who wants to open the first present?" He roared.
"ME!" Came the inevitable reply from Jessica.
For the next few hours, Ryder enjoyed opening presents, eating lots of food, and having fun with his family. But every time he glanced over at the present sitting lonely under the Christmas tree, it reminded him of something else that was somewhat lonely this Christmas, aside from her Mother, and then the day didn't feel as special. He tried to shove it to the back of his mind, and busied himself with helping his Grandfather assemble Jessica's new doll's house, all the while wondering how his Mother would react if he asked if he could drive to Marley's for a bit.
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Just as Ryder had imagined, Christmas in Lima Heights Adjacent was a very different, much quieter affair. By 8pm, Marley and Millie lay on the sofa in their tiny living room, watching an old Christmas movie with a mince pie each, after having stuffed themselves full, and opening their one single present -that they themselves had scrimped and saved to buy each other- Marley had been delighted with the expensive looking leather bound book with blank sheet music pages for her song-writing, and Millie had been equally impressed with the bracelet from her daughter. Marley had even managed to get through the day (well, until now, at least,) without receiving a threatening message from Katie- something that had become a regular, almost daily occurrence over the past couple of weeks. Whilst one song-writing book and no threatening note might not have seemed great to most American seventeen year olds at Christmas, Marley considered the day a success. She wondered what it was like in the Lynn household right now- certainly a lot different to the Rose household. All she knew was that she couldn't wait until tomorrow, to see Ryder again, and hopefully watch his face light up when he opened his present.
Marley had just let herself be taken in by the cheery song all the characters on the TV were singing, when she and her Mother were snapped out of their musical trance by the doorbell ringing.
"Who on Earth is that, coming here on Christmas?" Millie asked, somewhat indignant.
"I don't know Mom," Marley shrugged, standing up. "I'll get it." Millie hummed in thanks, and Marley went to the front door, ensuring that the chain was firmly on before opening it, lest it be a Lima Heights thug…or worse, the mysterious Katie deciding to make a Christmas reveal and kill her or something…
Marley's chin dropped as she opened the door and saw none other than Ryder standing there, hands in his pockets, visibly shivering in the light snow. She grinned in surprise, undid the chain and fully opened the door.
"Ry, I thought we agreed tomorrow!" She laughed, brushing the snowflakes off his tousled hair and running her thumb over his cold red nose.
"I couldn't wait that long…merry Christmas," he whispered, before gesturing up at the mistletoe that hung above the doorway and leaning down to peck Marley on the lips.
"Merry Christmas…" Marley replied, slightly dazed that he was here without warning. "Come in before you freeze to death!" Ryder obliged and wiped his shoes on the welcome mat, before walking into the house and following Marley into the living room.
"Mom, Ryder's here!" Marley exclaimed, failing to hide her delight.
"Merry Christmas Mrs Rose," Ryder chipped in, and Millie smiled.
"And to you, Ryder. I, er…I should go do some washing up," she suggested, winking at Marley and slipping out the room with a smirk, having begun to warm up to the boy again after Marley's pleas to give him a second chance, and not wanting to make them –or herself- feel awkward by her presence.
"Here," Marley muttered, inviting Ryder to sit down, and going over to the small artificial tree in the corner of the room, and picking up the simple envelope addressed to 'Ry-Ry'. "Open it," she instructed, a small smile creeping onto her face. Ryder raised an eyebrow, before taking the envelope from her and tearing it open, a piece of paper falling out. He picked it up and slowly read it, his chin dropping when he worked out what they were.
"Shit, Marley…I mean…whoa…" was all he could stammer out.
"Remember when we went to Breadstix after your second football game of the season a few weeks ago?" she asked, "-and you told me you always wanted to go to an NFL game but you hadn't…so…I thought, why not go to one together?" she explained, pointing at the piece of paper, "so there's the ticket booking for a Bengals' game in Cincinnati. For you and me. That way you can go to your game and also teach me more about football so I understand what's going on when I come back from New York every now and them to watch you when you're playing for the Lima University team…"
"Marley I don't what to say, this is incredible…" He whispered, dumbstruck.
"It's not until spring, I thought we should wait until we've got college application out of the way, but…"
"It doesn't matter, Marls…it's perfect, thank you…" he told her. "But it must have cost a fortune, how-"
"Well…it's your tutor money I spent. Besides, I can't drive, so we're getting there on your gas money!" She laughed, sticking her tongue out as Ryder grinned, pulling her into his chest and kissing her on the cheek. Once they had pulled apart, he reached into his jacket pocket for his own gift to her, before presenting her with the small rectangular parcel. She grinned up at him and said a small word of thanks, before sliding her finger under the lose fold of wrapping paper and beginning to pull it open, revealing what was unmistakably a type of box from a jeweller's store. She smiled up at him again before opening it up and gasping at the beautiful silver heart shaped pendant necklace inside.
"Oh Ryder, it's beautiful…" she sighed, allowing him to remove it from its box and fasten it around her neck. She played with the pendant for a few seconds before looking up and noticing that Ryder was still wearing the same expression of expectation.
"And the rest," he instructed her, and she raised a confused eyebrow, not seeing anything else to open. "In the same box," he hinted. She picked up the box the necklace had just been removed from, and frowned at it, before realising what he meant and pulling up the soft velvety material it had been laying on, and finding a small piece of paper tucked underneath. She pulled it out, unfolded it, and read what it said.
'Will you be my girlfriend?'
She looked wide eyed at it, wondering whether she should squeal with joy or well up with tears. Instead, she simply looked at Ryder, who wore a nervous expression.
"Well…I know we've already kind of been dating for a few weeks apart from the whole Sadie Hawkins thing, but…I want us to be official. I want to update our relationship status on facebook…when we go back to school after the Christmas vacation, I want us to walk down the corridor holding hands, and kiss under the bleachers like we're in some cheesy high school movie…I want everyone to stare at us and know we're together…I want you to have dinner with my parents as an official thing…I want to take you to our senior prom…I want…I want to be your boyfriend and for you to be my girlfriend, it's as simple as that…so…will you?"
Marley set down the box, and threw her arms around Ryder's neck.
"Of course I will!" She exclaimed, and he grinned with relief, tightening their embrace, wanting to be as close to her as possible.
"I've finished washing up, Ryder would you like a mince pi-oh!" Millie exclaimed, wandering into her living room to find the boy in question and her daughter somewhat passionately making out. "On second thoughts," she muttered to herself, walking back out again with a grimace, "there must be something that needs an extra scrub…"
Happy early Christmas people! Marley and Ryder are girlfriend and boyfriend 3 Before you comment, I said just yesterday on tumblr that I do not like/care about/understand American football, aka. 'rugby with padding', but from what I understand, the Cincinnati Bengals are quite a big team, and in Ohio too so…in any case, Ryder does enjoy rugby with padding, so that's what counts :p I also accept that they probably wouldn't sell tickets in December to a game in spring, but hey, as I said before, my logic/unrealistic-ness cannot be worse than Glee's :p
Also, some of you lovelies actually want to be my friends, which is just too cute, so by all means pop onto my tumblr askbox and talk to me! (Link is on my profile)- but be warned, it is not a spoiler free blog, so if you're behind on Glee, proceed with caution!
So, please leave a quick comment/review below if you have 10 seconds, thanks! On that note, to my reviewers from chapter 17:
eXtraOrdinaryGirl04: I'm happy to tell you via PM if you want to be told! I had originally not planned on it being such a mystery, I thought I had dropped loads of hints earlier on in the story, but it's become a major theme, so I won't tell here because some readers want a surprise :p
TeaAndGlee: Interesting guesses :p Well, now we know what happened last week, and hopefully there's continuation and still hope! I did, I did :p To be fair, I'd probably still be trying if I hadn't donated to the kickstarter- they're very keen to personally thank those who've donated, which is sweet :)
Ember411: Your guess has been noted ;) As for presents, you were spot on- in fact, it was the pendant that Ryder got for Jake to give to Marley in I Do- only this time he got to give it from himself :p Have you donated to Billy Boy yet?
Gleek555: Glad you like the ryley fluff, and hope you enjoyed more of it here :) I'm so excited for Billy Boy, I need it to happen now! Aw, yay you for donating/planning to donate!
Iheartart13: Of course! Pop into my ask box on tumblr and talk to me if you wish :) Hahaha, a beer bottle with water, I do like that idea :p Your fave story? Awww!
Savannaramirez35: Glad you liked the fluff, hope this was pleasing too! Here is your update :)
Gleeatic713: Afghjkl the best chapter of all time? Ber-limey! Your catfish guess has also been noted ;) Oh you like Doctor Who too? Wahhh me too! Ughhh there was so much whouffle in the 50th I died…I love whouffle so much :')
Guest: Interesting guess ;) Hope you enjoyed more fluff and Christmas feels! You were right about Ryder's present being romantic- he is good at that!
Thanks again guys,
Lauren xxx