callmeemily | Here comes santa claus!

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Here comes santa claus!

The holiday this year is so incredibly different than the last.

Last year? Raleigh was holed up in the boarding house, no one in 300 miles but her shitty boss knew her name, and she was so poor that she was eating rice, beans, and leftovers from the Seaside bakery.

This year, everything's changed. Orchard House is chugging along astoundingly well; Raleigh puts in long hours, but it's paying off. She's been able to hire somebody else to work the register, she's getting custom orders - the whole thing. She has friends. Honest to god friends, and she's got enough money that she's actually got presents for people. For a lot of people - it's a mix of cookies and things, but there's a little something for everybody piled on the table in the back corner, and one mass-text later she's humming through the bakery, music playing from the speakers, warm cider in a carafe, and everything's warm and cozy.

She looks at it, at this business that she's made with the help of this whole town, and she can't help but smile. Tonight? Spending tonight with friends and found-family? That's what this whole thing's about.

Gathering post! Raleigh will tag everyone who tags in, but feel free to tag one another, too. :) It's up to you if they have gotten a text, or just heard the music and seen the crowd. Everyone'll get something!

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The good news is that she's definitely not feeling like anything is uncomfortable between them - it's just a bit of a mess, the way it's always been. Someday, maybe they'll talk about it - but considering how it's gone so far, it's not all that likely, and that's okay with her.

She knows what he's doing when he just sort of guides her to the plush chairs tucked into the corner, but she doesn't turn him down. She's tired and her leg hurts like a son of a bitch today, and it's just the kind of thing that she remembers last instead of first. That if she doesn't rest up enough, that other people can tell. "A million more times, until I actually start listening," she said with a laugh. "And hey, I'm not the one who brought vodka to a bakery, mister."

"Not all that much is new," she says, thinking for a second. "I mean, stuff here? Really good. Really, really good with all the Christmas orders - I think it'll slow down in January, but I've been kept on my toes." She makes a face. "I mean, if it's either pretty boring or demons, I think I'd takes demons any day, you know?" She still- it bothers her. Not the whole way it went down, she's thankful that everyone came out of it safe and there were just some drywall repairs, but-- She's been thinking a lot about what it means to be human, here. To have things go bump in the night that you never even really knew what they were, or how they could kill you, until it'd happened. Demons are real. So are hydras, apparently. Les's transformed things into other things more times than she can count, and every single time it makes her feel incredibly uneasy. He does it without thought - but she wonders, sometimes, what would happen if he was upset. If he could just... change things, because he felt like it.

But right now? Right now that doesn't matter, because it's Christmas, and Coop's here, and the entire store is full of happy, laughing people, and the smell of baked goods and cider, and that's what's important. "I do, though, have stuff for you. If, you know, now works." She's smiling at him over her mug of mulled cider. "How about you? You still working too much?" Like she could talk.

Raleigh laughs. "Quite the set-up. You realise that makes it sound like I'm running some sort of mobster ring or something, right?" She guides Corry to where there's mugs and a pot full of mulled cider on a hot plate, and ladles her out a mug before passing it to her. She doesn't trust herself to really carry it right now - her gait's a little worse than usual today, because she's been burning the candle at both ends, right now. "But thanks. How're things? How's Will?" She's so glad that Corry'd been able to make it - they have this very weird sort of friendship, but Raleigh's really happy they have it.

It's the kind of hug that Raleigh gives, too, so it all works out in the end. "Of course! I'm really glad you came." She beams - she's been smiley all night long, because it's one thing to put together a bakery, it's yet another to mass-text a bunch of people three hours before you want to throw a party and actually have people show up. And show up, they did-- it's pretty much making Raleigh's day.

"Well, there's cider, and cookies, and gingerbread - I don't know if I made it right, though - and uh. Most of the pastries are gone, but whatever. You see it, you've got it." Right now, it's a party - nothing's being sold, it's just there so people can eat their fill.

She nods over to the table that's got gifts - and a ton of boxes of cookies, too. "This sounds weird, but I got you something for Christmas? If you want to do that, once you grab food?" It's just a thing - this is the first year she's been able to get gifts for her friends, so she actually... y'know. Did.

Mira grins. No matter how much better she is these days at talking to people, and how she's managed to settle into friends she loves and trusts, there's something fluttery and exciting about someone being truly happy to see you, someone new. "Unless you forgot the ginger part, I'm sure it's great," she laughs and starts in that direction, blinking, impressed, at the pile of food and trying to imagine that quite a bit is gone. "That's a ton of stuff. Do you want to sit down?"

"Oh, you didn't have to do that!" Mira. "I um. I actually got you something too? But still. Yes, we should totally do presents." She grimaces nervously and laughs. "I really hope you like it?"

Raleigh notices someone peering into the window, and she moves to the door, pushing it open. "Come on in! There's definitely enough for everyone." She wouldn't leave anyone standing out in the literal cold - not today, not on Christmas Eve!

She's not the steadiest on her feet, but she's used to the way she's walking, and once Lena comes in - because she doesn't want to leave the door open - she nods to the chairs and food. "Help yourself! Everything's on the house, tonight."

"That sweater...." She doesn't even know what to say about it, but it's got so much character it supersedes a hello. She shakes her head just a little. "Sometimes, I feel like you can get away with almost anything, just because you're you." She means it in the best way possible, and it's obvious because of how much she's smiling.

Her eyes flick to the bottle, and she bites her lip for a second because she's thinking. "I don't have wine glasses, but I do have a corkscrew - do you think wine in mugs would work?"

They'd figure out something - weather it's mugs or water glasses, she's got both.

Spencer's present is at home, too - Spencer and Joel's and Huxley's, even though it's a little weird to get a present for a dog. There's one for both of them - she has a really good picture she'd actually taken of them one day when they were just hanging out in the store, and it's clear from the way they're looking at at each other that they care deeply for one another; it'd been a sort of accidental find, that photo, but she'd had it printed and framed it.

Besides that, she got Spencer books of logic puzzles, and a big Lego set that was comic-book themed - she didn't know if he liked Batman, so she kept the receipt, but she really hoped that he did. There were a couple of other stocking things but she's getting used to doing the whole Christmas-for-friends thing, and she really likes being able to buy people gifts.

"Oh, here," Raleigh says as she passes him a mug - it's still warm from the dishwasher, and she's got a tray of them that she moves to set down next to the cider so there's more. "I don't think we've met," she says with a smile as she re-stacks the next mugs by the steaming cider, "I'm Raleigh. It's nice to meet you."

She's actually really glad that there's people here she doesn't know. Raleigh definitely tries her best to be warm and inviting, and to have Orchard House be the same; the fact that it seems like it's mission accomplished? Makes her really glad.

"Charlotte!" Raleigh makes her way over- she's a little slower than usual, but it's because she's tired and she's put a lot more stress on her bad leg over the last couple of days, but everything's come together and it's pretty much great.

She hugs her friend, even as she notices the doofy sort of smile on her face, and she can't help but smile, too. "I'm so glad you made it! Sorry about the short notice, I just sort of... decided, this morning."

It's a little weird, but obviously no matter what, it was the right decision. Everyone here is so happy, they're smiling so much-- it's perfect.

Raleigh laughed. "Well, I mean, I didn't bake all of it today. I'm not that into baking." Most of it was today, but a lot of the stuff that all cooked at different temperatures-- that all was made and boxed up until it was needed.

And now? Totally needed. For the fun and the party. "But yeah, I'll sit down in a second." She goes to get more cider, talking to Mira over her shoulder. "You realise that you saying I didn't have to do it, then saying you got me something, too, means that you're like... totally a hypocrite, right?" She's laughing as she says it, her voice lowering just a tad. "But I swear, I want to tell you that you didn't have to do it, either. So, I guess we both know that we didn't have to get our gifts, so that's even better, right?"

She takes a sip, then nods to the couch that's just freed up, continuing with a sheepish smile. "I really hope you like yours, too. If you don't, I kept the receipt. Don't judge me, okay?"

"I'd actually argue that I can't get away with anything because I'm me," Spencer answers softly, and it's a joke but if there's the slightest hint of bitterness in his tone, he hopes Raleigh will excuse it. He realizes it's his own fault for bringing it up at all, but he buries it back down because tonight is a time for celebration, for being with friends and enjoying the holiday season in a way he hasn't been able to in what feels like such a long time now. "I suppose that's true when it comes to Joel, though. He likes the Christmas sweaters, you should have seen how delighted he was the first time we dug up the collection from the attic."

There's certainly more where this had come from, it had become something of a tradition in the family for his mother to bring these awful things home for Spencer and Dane, though Spencer's always seemed to be a bit a worse. He thinks now that maybe she'd done it just to make him smile, she'd always loved it when he smiled, and there's a quick, sharp pang in his chest at the wish that she could see him now. Spencer has found that it's nearly impossible not to smile when he's with his husband, and he has so much more to be thankful for that he's been given in the past seven months. Being here, too, being in good company with people who've treated him far better than most in past years, is so different from what he'd expected out of another Christmas because he'd been getting used to spending the holidays alone.

"I think mugs would work just fine," he says, getting his mind back on track to the conversation at hand. "I don't think anyone would complain, at least, they'd likely just be happy to have the alcohol. I'll certainly be happy, you can lead the way."

"If it isn't my wayward neighbour," Keira muttered, poking Coop in the ribs and cutting in front of a few people to talk to him. Well, cutting in front of a few people and Coop. "You owe me big Shea."

Keira never called Coop his actual name because that would be like giving in to him. Far too easy and far too uncomplicated and Keira lived for making her life a tangled knot of not sleeping or falling for anyone.

"You still have not been on a date with my friend, you know Gen's practically heartbroken. You can't tell but on the inside she is," Keira replied poking him in his well formed pecs.

Lara had just finished delivering the last of her gifts when she passed Orchard House and heard the music coming from inside.

There's quite a hefty crowd and the atmosphere is light and fun and Lara smiles. It's just what she needs after a long week.

Walking through the door, she's hit with a scent of baking and warm cider and she sighs as she approaches the counter. She orders a pastry and some cider and heads to a little table to enjoy the atmosphere. On the way she bumps someone accidentally.

"I'm sorry!" She says, smiling at them. "It's been a long day."

"That," Lara said giving Spencer a long look up and down as she walked through the crowd to stand in front of him. "Is the most distressing sweater I've ever seen, Spencer. What the hell possessed you?"

"Aren't you cold?" Lara asked, looking up at Coops short hair. "I'm getting you a hat for christmas."

Food appeals when he hears about it, so he ends up at the bakery. Even though it hadn't been in his original plans.

He’s been looking at the apple pastries when he felt someone bump into him. It wasn’t a surprise, considering how busy it was. People were going to end up on top of one another, he’s about to apologise but then he hears the voice and grins.

So many years around Lara, he recognises the lilt of her voice. With a small grin he turns to speak to her, “That’s quite alright. Fancy seeing you here though.”

“Owen...” Lara sighed and nudged him gently in greeting in the crowded room. “I came for the warmth and to get off my feet. You nearly ended up wearing my cider!” She said laughing. “You want one?”

"Well, I am sure you've told me previously I can make anything work for me. So I suppose cider would be an interesting challenge. Unless it looked like I wet myself." He grinned a little, gently nudging Lara back. "If there is one going, I'll take it."

Lara chuckled and dashed back to the counter, serving herself and dropping money into the drawer. It was probably way more than the cider cost but she was in a good mood. She worked her way back to the table and offered it to Owen. “Sit?” She said, pushing out a chair. “Entertain me with your day?”

With a small nod, he followed the instruction and dropped himself into the opposite chair. It was nice to see Lara, they'd both been busy recently. Following everything with the cave it just felt like general Siren life had altered and the build up to Christmas meant more work for Heart of Gold. Taking a sip of his drink, he smiled, "My day has been pretty uneventful. Took a few calls, make a few appointments. Had a chicken salad for lunch... probably about it. How about you?"

“Oh god...Owen...” She groaned. “You have a less interesting life than I do.” She teased, taking a bite of her pastry. “I was just delivering gifts but I’m living rock and roll in comparison.”

He couldn't help a small huff of laughter because Lara couldn't be more wrong. His life was a hot mess that could be considered exciting by most people, but today had been simple. If a way he wished his life was overall. "I can't be blamed for having a dull day. And you know me, I'll do my present delivery last thing Christmas Eve."

"How are Matriarch duties doing?"

Lara waved a hand. “Same old. Same old.” She said. “I went and looked in on a few people. The heat is playing up in the retirement home again. Do you think Jason might be up for looking at it?”

"Really? They should probably get that thing replaced if it keeps doing it. Maybe we can get some sort of sponsorship involved-" Owen cuts himself off, realising he is trailing. "But I'm sure Jason wouldn't mind. He's a good guy."

Lara cocked her head at him. “You’re all over the place today.” She said. “Something on your mind?

For a second he keeps smiling, as if trying to suggest 'what do you mean?' But this is Lara, and there is pretty much nothing in Owen's life that she hasn't been involved in. She saw him after his Mum died, and not long after his Dad died and he turned up at Watersong. When he was on edge over falling for a client and when he decided to leave. Lara had kept him alive when he was in a coma and visited the hospital for the months when everyone said it was hopeless. And she told him that Abi had died.

There was literally no reason to try and hide things from her because she had seen him at his worst probably a whole lot more than when he was at his best.

Letting the smile drop away he sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face. "I'm just tired Lara - not physically. Just... mentally."

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Here comes santa claus!

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