There was a knock at the door of the Parks' house, and Harvey went to answer. Standing outside were Hunter, Darius, and Eberwolf, all wearing festive sweaters. Darius was also carrying a pile of wrapped boxes.
"Welcome!" he said with a joyous smile. "Splendid Solstice to all of you! Come on in! Gilbert and I are so glad you could make it."
"The pleasure is ours," said Darius. "Besides, this is sounded important to your daughter and my ward."
As if on cue, Willow came into the hallway wearing a wreath around her head. "Hunter!" She ran to her boyfriend and wrapped him up in her arms. His face turned bright red as she pulled out of the hug and took his hands. "Thanks for coming."
"No prob...happy to be here," he said with a nervous smile before looking down at their hands. Some of Willow's fingers were wrapped in small bandages. "What happened here?"
"Oh." Willow bashfully pulled her hands away. "I'll tell you later. How are Luz and Amity? Still getting over that cold?"
"They're feeling better, and Camila wanted to make sure we're all back at her house for Christmas dinner tomorrow."
"Wouldn't miss it. Now, come on in." She pulled him into the living room, festively decorated with a red tree standing up in the corner.
Hunter was surprised just how similar the Human and Demon Realm traditions were for their respective holidays. Belos often liked to make a speech commemorating this time of year, but inside the castle walls, there was no celebration. Growing up, he sometimes wondered what it was like to participate in these rituals. Gifts, songs, friends and family...things that he was told were beneath him and the "big plans" the Titan had for him. But now, here he was...free to spend these holidays with people he cared about, and a girl who meant the world to him.
The adults swapped stories about their school days, some embarrassing anecdotes about the kids under their wing, and the age old tradition of telling ghost stories. Hunter and Willow took the opportunity to share some of the so-called Christmas Carols that Luz and Camila taught them. Everyone was singing, laughing, and drinking warm cups of apple blood.
Then it came time for the gift exchanges. Darius opened one addressed to him from Eberwolf, and cringed at the sight. Forming a hand with his abomination hair, he carefully pulled a dead dire rat. The beast keeper looked up at his friend excitedly as he forced a smile and placed the carcass back in the box. "How...very thoughtful of you." Eberwolf wagged his tail and tapped his foot as Darius reached down and scratched him behind the ears.
Gilbert watched his daughter and her boyfriend tentatively, then to his husband as they exchanged a smile and a nod. "You know, Harvey and I would be happy to prep that for you. We have the perfect recipes for dire rat dishes. Perhaps we could go over them in the kitchen?" The Parks lead their guests away, gave Willow a wink, and left her alone with her boyfriend in the living room.
"Well," said Hunter nervously. "I guess it's my turn." He handed Willow a wrapped parcel. "Splendid Solstice and Merry Christmas." She pulled on the ribbon and found a gold sleeveless shirt with a green EE logo on it. "For the Captain of the Emerald Entrails. I hope you like it."
She held it up to her torso a moment before hugging him quickly. "It's perfect. Thanks, Hun." Then she pulled a parcel out from behind her back and handed it to him. "Spendid Solstice." Hunter unwrapped it and let out a gasp, lifting up a somewhat clumsily stitched together stuffed cardinal with a single button eye. Willow twirled her bandaged fingers nervously. "I made it myself, with a little bit of help from my dads." The witch looked up at him as he started crying. "Oh no, Hunter, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he sobbed, wiping some of his tears away, and cradling the doll. "It looks just like him." She placed a hand on his cheek, and he placed his own hand on top of hers. "Thank you, Willow." He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. He might not have been ready to say it out loud, but knew with absolute certainty that he loved this girl. Behind his back he could hear the hum of a spell circle. They pulled out of the hug and locked eyes. She smiled at him, tilting her eyes upward for a moment. Green leaves and white berries blossomed from the ceiling above them. If Hunter recalled correctly, this plant was called a mistletoe, and there was a specific holiday tradition Luz told him about associated with it. He took a deep breath, smiled, and leaned down to press his lips against hers. She kissed him back, embracing him and running her fingers through his hair. They finally pulled apart and gazed at each other, the smiling as wide as they possibly could with their eyes sparkling.
Darius, Eberwolf, and the Parks observed approvingly.
"Our little girl's growing up," Gilbert said to Harvey in a whisper, both of them tearing up.
"Well done, Little Prince," said Darius quietly.