Here comes santa claus!

[callmeemily]

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!

Comments

[asharpertongue]

"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?"

[doublethepain]

"My husband," Spencer answers with a wry smile. He holds his left hand up to show Lara his wedding band with a playful roll of his eyes. "I did promise that I'd do anything for him, after all. He certainly could've asked for worse. It's my own fault, really, ugly Christmas sweater wearing was a tradition in my family before my mother and brother died."

He gives a half-hearted shrug, glancing down at the sweater with a huff, though it's followed with a fond smile. "I've got loads of these, it's ridiculous."

[asharpertongue]

Lara laughed. "That's impressive even by ugly sweater standards. I feel like you're gonna have to make him pay in dramatic and creative ways." She said, inviting Spencer to sit at the little table she'd commandeered.

[doublethepain]

Spencer can think of a few dramatic and creative ways that he could make Joel pay, though he suspects his husband would be more than okay with any of them, at least as soon as he finally gets his cast off his still healing hand. His cheeks flush red when he realizes that his eyes have gone glassy at the thought of what he and Joel will get up to when that time finally arrives, and he stammers for a moment before lowering himself into the chair beside her with a little more force than necessary.

"I don't mind it, really," he says, clearing his throat and offering a crooked smile. "I've always pretended that I do, but it's... fun. Even if it does get me unwanted attention sometimes."

[asharpertongue]

She wouldn't be a siren if she couldn't pick up on the vibes Spencer was putting out. Lara grinned but didn't comment. "I think you're in safe company here." She said, waving a hand around at the collection of serious ugly sweaters. She sipped her drink and offered him some of her pastry. "How have you been, Spencer?"

[doublethepain]

He offers her a grateful smile--for both the pastry and leaving well enough alone when it comes to the reason why his cheeks are still so red--and doesn't have to think very hard about his answer. "I'm good. Last month was a bit... Well, it was a little rough, but things have settled down again. Getting there, anyway."

Spencer's shoulder still seems to pop sometimes, though he isn't in pain anymore, and Joel's still healing but for the most part, preparing for the holiday season has been enjoyable and not only because the demon is gone now.

"Just enjoying my first Christmas as a married man, I suppose. What about yourself, any exciting plans with Levi for tomorrow?"