#duchesschameleon

[waltwhitmansbeard]

ok the gentle care list… perc’ahlia and “oh…oh we’re hugging about this okay”

"Oh - okay - we're hugging about this, okay."

Percy's hungry. It's his own damn fault; one day, he'll remember to bring food with him before locking himself in his workshop all night, but, alas, today is not that day. He'd never dream of waking Laina at this hour, so he emerges from his den, bleary-eyed and ready to fend for himself.

The halls of Greyskull Keep are barely lit, just some candles in sconces every ten yards or so, so it's slow going. He's ravenous by the time he reaches the kitchen, which is pitch black. Cursing himself for leaving his lantern in his room, he fumbles around, sure that Laina keeps a book of matches somewhere nearby to light the stove, if only he could—

"Percy?"

He lets out a rather undignified yelp, sending something clattering to the floor. A few moments later, a candle flickers to life, and there is Vex, in her nightdress, looking at him and the knocked-over dinner at his feet with an one eyebrow raised.

He grins, embarrassed. "Ah. Yes. Hello."

"Hello, darling." Her words are light, but there's something off about her tone. "Did you need something?"

He can tell he's interrupted something; he just doesn't know what. "Feeling a bit peckish."

"Mm, yes, you missed dinner. Again." But there's no animosity in it, just general acknowledgement. "Well, I've made myself a little spread, if you'd like to join me." She gestures to the kitchen island between them, which is cluttered with a few cheeses, some strawberries Percy knows to come from Keyleth's garden, and a half-drunk glass of red wine.

"Oh, a midnight snacker after my own heart." He comes around the island to start picking at the makeshift charcuterie board. "So what as you up at this hour? I'm a workaholic, but usually you're rather insistent upon your beauty sleep."

She sticks her tongue out at him, then pops a cube of cheese into her mouth. "Just...couldn't sleep." She shrugs. "It happens sometimes."

He's well familiar with that, isn't he? "Lots of ghosts in the night, aren't there?"

She hums in agreement. There is a minute of silence between them, marred only by small sounds of chewing, and then she asks, "Did you like your father?"

He almost swallows a strawberry whole. "I—sorry—" He finishes hacking before he continues. "Did I what?"

"Your father. Did you like him?" She sips from her glass nonchalantly.

Percy blinks. "I—well—hmm." This was not a question he'd contemplated in a very long time. "He was a complicated man, my father. Not very affectionate, stubborn as a goat, more children than frankly he knew what to do with." Vex laughs at that. "But...I never thought he didn't love us. Me. You always knew where you stood with my father. If he was pleased, he showed it. If he was cross, you knew why." Percy pauses. "To be honest, I'm not sure I knew the man well enough to know if I liked him. He died before I got the chance to understand him as someone other than my father."

"I see." Vex swirls the wine in her glass round and round and round. "My father is an incomparable prick incapable of love."

Percy has no idea what to say to that. He just stares at her, slack-jawed, as she calmly finished her wine and sets her glass down on the island. Then, in the most shocking move yet, she throws her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. He catches her automatically, his hands splaying on her back. "Oh—okay—we're hugging about this, okay."

The de Rolos were never huggers. Too saccharine. Too vulnerable. But the twins were raised differently, he's aware; Vax is always touching somebody, and Vex's first instinct when she's tired or bored or yearning to be anywhere else than where she is is to tip her head onto her brother's shoulder. And that's probably what this is—in lieu of Vax, Percy is Vex's available option when in need of comfort.

So he rests his chin atop her head, feels her shake with sobs, with rage, with careful control, who knows. "You know, your father may not be much use as a father, but that doesn't mean he can't be useful."

"What?" Vex muffles flatly into his shirt.

"Well I, for one, find few things as personally motivating as spite."

Vex tips her head up to frown at him. Her eyes are warm and deep in the candlelight. There's a long silence, and Percy's worried he's stepped in it, but then she snorts out a laugh as her face melts. "You're not wrong, darling." She steps back, and for half a heartbeat, Percy considers not letting her. "A great number of my actions have been motivated by spite, for better or for worse. It can be satisfying, can't it?"

"Undoubtedly so." He doesn't reach up to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, because to do so would be insane. "Are we feeling better?"

Vex smiles. "A little food, a little wine, a little company...yes, I think so." She rocks up onto her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Goodnight, Percy."

And then she is gone, and Percy is alone with the cheese and the strawberries and the feeling of her lips on his face, a lingering warmth in this drafty kitchen. He stands there, unmoving, unblinking, until the candle burns low, until the chill of her absence forces his body toward bed, toward dreams he is not yet ready to understand.

[formulaforza]

I need you to know I am once again rereading Miss Americana and the way you write Charles’ realization that he’s in love with Chris is EVERYTHING to me. he’s reeling and so off kilter but trying to hold a conversation with her that he does love her, that she isn’t unloveable and it’s just SO GOOD and I just needed to say that. MWAH thank you for the gift that is this fic

no she is literally giving him a headache he's so broken 😭😭 it was one of my favorite things in the whole fic (my favorite thing is in chapter 9 and you guys don't know it yet)

as always THANK YOU for reading and thank you for popping in to show me love because it really keeps me going and has the little guy in my brain BEGGING me to write

[nicogayngelo]

❣️ pretty pleeeaaassseeeee

charlie! oh you are so kind, uplifting, and so sweet! your messages always cheer me up + i treasure our friendship as well. i always smile when i see your icon on my feed or in my inbox or where ever! :') so glad i can call you a friend!

mutuals send me “❣️” and i’ll say something nice

[argentinagp]

Book recs!

I just finished The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec and it was great!! Norse mythology, very good.

Also just read Lessons In Chemistry which was a fantastic book. Book Lovers by Emily Henry is also A+ and I will push my favorite book agenda: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Very, very good. Witches, vampires, and daemons live in our world with us. Very fun and the magic is great.

thank you!! will look for them!

[justasmallbloginabigklainefandom]

@duchesschameleon replied to your post “You know, I'm barely on Plurk anymore, but the...”:

It’s such an interesting graphic

​Honestly... I never really thought about it. It's also the logo and there are bones on the Plurk coin and the home button and what not.

Hmmmmm. At least it dressed up for my birthday.

[polkadotpenguin16]

SO. that’s jeff skinner, hockey player for the buffalo sabres currently. that playlist was made in celebration of his 1,000 game in the nhl and funny enough: breaking free from hsm is jeff’s goal song. the sabres allow their players to pick their own individual goal song for when they score at home and that’s what jeff chose. and it’s the best thing

OMG seriously?! That's so funny because I almost said "Start of Something New" from HSM 🤣 That's really cool that they do that!!

[banannabethchase]

∞

Trouble by Twice

When I stand in front of you again I'm terrible/babe you got me/I think we're in trouble baby/yeah that's trouble/I like this trouble

[duchesschameleon]

tried a thing…maybe going to make it into a series?? I can’t draw so hand lettering is the closest thing i get to creating things

[winterscaptain]

ngl ajf changed my life.... read it for the first time 2 years ago (i think??) and i still think about it from time to time 😭😭 ily!!!! <3

bestie it’s like you knew I sent a WIP to @ssaic-jareau and @duchesschameleon last night!!!! no promises but I have been writing!!

[waltwhitmansbeard]

I would NEVER give up on you. I take my epic comments on any and all fics very seriously.

Life is chaos absolutely. Life as a flight attendant during the holidays is especially chaotic. So ya know I’m just surviving over here and using critical role as an escape mechanism (I’m on ep 78 of campaign one!! we’re getting there!!!)

close (ish) to the end! you can make it!

[formulaforza]

do believe it’s time for me to reread Miss Americana and then come scream about how much I love it later

just dropping to say that yes, it is still my Roman Empire and i love it dearly

😣😣😣 i swearrrr i love it too

@silverstonesainz and i talk frequently about how i need to get my shit TOGETHER

[nicogayngelo]

driver opinions: valterri bottas!!!! bc I think he’s just a cool guy

have actually been talking a lot about bottas this week! so endeared by him, truly

send me f1 drivers

[argentinagp]

I assume you are very kind, talented, and probably doodle/draw whenever you can 😊

aw thank u!! i do not doodle/draw a lot truthfully, i get easily frustrated doing that hdjsjd

[barzzal]

call me crosby interlude p.2 is up!

miss me? u better!

@astrydis @sagebarzal @heysimps @barzybarz @penstxgal1968 @hockeytransplant @thescooby-gang @cherrylita @oleksiak-pettersson @matsbarzal @nhlgirl16 @titsbeauvillier @captainsimsam @matbarzyy @josthours @jostful @kazzilla @countryclubstarkey @barzysreputation @hoiyheadharpies @myhockeyworld87 @tovvaa @stfutkachuk @floralyn @barriesweet @je-ne-regrette-rien @cavill83 @princessphilly @tangercrosbyschultzfan25887 @just-gaily-things

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@prettyboyjackhughes @stlbluesbrat21 @dorotheathe1 @elitebarzal @barzal-mat @spine-buster @canadian-girl87 @hugheswhore @barznasty2point0 @iamthebonecarver @hockeypills @dreamer1430 @tregua-oca @caprielly @nationalhoranleague @jessicascontes @meishaabae @ballsakic @lovethepreds @colecauliflower @punkharts @ilyasorokinn @whoeverineedtobe @lorrmorr @stargurl-battleship @thescooby-gang @licia332 @kidlnthedark @lilyevanswhore @mae114 @unfortunatelyiloveu

@unfortunatelyilove @Heatherlcrosby87 @harrysfishbowl @0cean-vib3s @ilikeblue25 @wherethedinonuggies @nebsuli @thetoxicegg @sensoryyoverload @xserenax-13 @HockeyJedi13 @fallinallincurls @labellederessaca @besthockeyfics @72bread-pasta88 @iheartsidneycrosby @whatthepucknow @monalicia @eclecticfashionbookszipper @cappot @xelagirlxo @oceanlover0497 @nm-r @timahtime @dreamer1430 @beaubuckley @hockeyandsht @niki-is-a-thing

@bookoftenderthoughts @exdepressedstressednotwelldress @duchesschameleon @majdoline @bookoftenderthoughts @prettybiching @killersandmonkeys @dreamsndior @svndraoh @2kidcrew @hock-ee @alo-delmar @afuturemilf @notanaccount-anymore @brias1201 @idkalexaaw @ghosttkat @thevannuckss @iangiemae @ashleymarine @abrianna14 @createdbyperfectfury @annie170315 @UrImaginesPimp @lemondropirwin @jenn22xoxo @theblushinglittle @ninjabritches @williamkarlssons @aecw @ninjabritches @Iminlovewithenchiladas

@brehonodea @Fairygardenss @puck-up-sticks @Bxdbxtxh15 @penstxgal1968 @mp0625 @moon78universe @endlesswoods @bruins-simp @jonny-toes @lazysportsfanfornhl @queenmendes @tysonbarriedefensesquad @savage-aespa @kittymacaroons @pattiemac1 @simpforbucky17 @lwstuff @double-j @cynthia1guardia @taeminortaemout @midgasaurus0809 @nicoleloveshockey @oli-birchhall @cleofailsatjellyfishing @walkonthewiideside @cavill83 @lo-bells @beccaiscold @horchatayarroz @liv2640 @yassassqueen @lukeythemoosey @fadingwolfprincess @nm-r @electralove-m @hopewealwaysfeel @liv2640 @emsully2002 @idkjj04 @evelynevelyn19 @dasiysthings @heatherloves87 @hockeybabe87 

@lady-laura-speaks @lynnismypseudonym @puckmetwice @nhlfs @l0veforhugh3s @matthewss34 @magicgif @lethalvenus @mysticaldonkey @oceanluver0497  @alexlynn16 @joansiekennedy @kirillkaprizovswife @trashstacey @wkndwlff @generally-disinterested @ShadowWolf009 @ @ratqueeee @casualhilarity @theincognitoqueen @its-bitchin-belle-bitches @forever-for-ever-ever @parkersmjs @5secondsofonedirection @love-like-woaah @rebbie444 @jack17s @sleepretreat @alicechugstea @velvetpucks @bellstwd @smoooore @books-hlmc @crimsonred13 @foreverateengirl @lupinslibraries @angelmitsuri

[just-a-dreamer-x]

✨ 9 People you'd like to know better ✨

Tagged by @vampiritea

Last song: Never Let Me Go - Florence + The Machine

Favourite colour: Purple

Currently watching: Not really anything at the moment, I'm patiently waiting for Disney+ to add new 911 episodes so I can watch them on my television. I'm also thinking of starting a ouat rewatch

Sweet/Savoury/Spicy: It kind of depends on the mood. Mostly savoury

Relationship status: Single

Current obsession: 911

Last thing you googled: When is Easter Saturday, bc I always thought it was the day before Easter Sunday but my mother was telling me it's actually the Saturday after. Google agrees with her

Tagging: @banishingsigils @clusterbuck @duchesschameleon @fluidityandgiggles @justasmallbloginabigklainefandom @kinardbuckley @mistmarauder @hattalove @ayo-edebiri

[qvid-pro-qvo]

home for the holidays

pairings: bradley bradshaw x jake seresin x natasha trace, pete mitchell x tom kazansky, robert floyd x javy machado

word count: 2603

rating: e for everyone, because who doesn't love some friendly competition? special thanks to @duchesschameleon for sending me the tiktok that inspired it all.

nicky is the star of the final game of the Bradshaw-Seresin-Trace Holiday Bash. uncles and aunts, grandfathers, and parents are all invited to play, but who will reign supreme?

link to ao3.

-

Jake shows Natasha the video with a wicked grin on his face, eyes bright as Bradley shakes his head behind him. 

“C’mon,” he urges, “it’ll be fun . Don’t you want to see who he’d pick?”  

“I don’t want fists thrown at a holiday get-together,” Natasha shoots back, eyes carefully watching Nicky in the front room as he stacks the letter and number blocks with intense focus. Bradley has the same look, when he furrows his brows. The sight of it gets filed away with the other memories she keeps close to her chest. “It’s gonna be nightmare enough having all of us in one place, and hosting for crying out loud.” 

But Jake doesn’t relent. The video loops, and Bradley snorts as he hears the cheers of the family. 

“Nat,” he urges. “Don’t tell me you don’t want to see who’d win.” And then he grins. Smirks as he stands up straight. “Especially since it’ll be me.” 

And that, that’s a challenge. One that gets Bradley ooh-ing and turning to look at the both of them. 

“Jake, them’s fighting words,” he points out, and Natasha’s arms cross over her chest. Bradley stirs the pot, and Jake smiles bright as he moves to stand on the other side of Bradley and steals a taste of the soup he’s working on. 

“Mmm, mmm, mmm,” he hums, nodding his head. “Yes, ma’am. And they taste good, don’t they?” 

His little wink is what pushes her over the edge, and she laughs even as her eyes narrow at him. “All right, Seresin. You’re on!” Natasha says, reaching out to pinch the man’s side. He yelps a little, but laughs as Natasha starts to chase him around the island. “What’s wrong, Jake? Always can dish it, but never can take it!” 

“Nicky, help Papa!” he shouts, rushing toward the living room toward the tree and menorah where they sit side by side. Nicky looks up at the sound of his name, still-gummy smile and bright giggle loud as Jake scoops him up and holds him out as a shield from Natasha. “Help Papa! Get Mama!” 

And even though she’s playing angry and gives them both a playful growl as she chases them through the house, she knows the sight of them, Jake and Nicky with bright matching grins with Bradley’s laugh behind her, is another memory to get filed away. 

-

“All right, does everyone know the rules?” Jake calls out.

It’s the final game of the evening, after lots of mirth and merriment. The game of dreidel sits unattended, empty advent calendars pulled open way before their time for the chocolates inside. Natasha holds Nicky on her hip, adjusting the beanie on his head until it’s secure over his ears. 

“Is cheating allowed?” Javy asks, as Bob smirks beside him and tilts his head. Their shared look spells only trouble for the rest of them, and Natasha glances toward Nicky, who chews on the new toy truck from the two of them. “I mean. Not that we would.” 

“We would never,” Bob says, grinning. They step together and their bodies hide their hands behind their back. “We're good sports.” 

“I think cheating should be allowed. And if cheating’s allowed, it should be encouraged,” Mav chimes in, standing beside Bradley with a mug of cocoa in his hand. “I mean, only fair for the ones of us who aren’t the favorite grandpa.” 

Ice’s smirk flickers across his face, and he glances at his husband with a raised brow. When his eyes meet Natasha’s he signs for her as Mav moves to take his position in line. Favorite is a relative term, he tells her. And I think Bob is hiding more toys.

“Cheating isn’t allowed… if you’re caught,” Bradley says, looking around the group. He moves close to Nat and pulls down Nicky’s beanie just a tad more, giving him a little kiss on the cheek as the others give a little laugh. 

Amelia doesn’t speak, simply raises a brow as she eyes Jake. Jake looks at her right back, a silent standoff before a shared nod. Penny sees the same thing Nat sees from where she’s standing and just rolls her eyes, meeting Natasha’s gaze before nodding toward her daughter. 

“She gets her competitive nature from her mother,” she admits, “though I’m not a fan of this… alliance I’m seeing.” 

“They seem pretty confident,” Natasha admits, as her partner moves to clear a safe space for Nicky to toddle. “But I wouldn’t be too sure about the outcome. Nicky is full of surprises.” 

The tournament standings are drawn, a bracket made. The line is created, and the first two step up to bat. Penny and Bob kneel next to each other, and Natasha brings Nicky over a few feet away, smiling as the two of them put on their biggest grins. Nicky immediately starts babbling and squirming as his feet hit the ground, and the crowd gathers around with little cheers. 

“Three,” Natasha starts to count down. Her hands hold Nicky’s waist as he giggles and starts pulling at her grip. “Two. One. Go, Nicky!” 

Cheers erupt around them. Nicky starts toddling, slow at first, and then faster, the cheers getting louder and louder until he stumbles into Penny’s arms. The whoops erupt, and Nicky whips around at the sound, clapping as everyone else does. 

“Damn,” Bob says, frowning a little. “I really thought the truck would help.” 

“I don’t know how good a three-year-old’s memory is,” Javy consoles him, wrapping an arm around him as he stands and moves away. “But we tried.” 

Mav and Javy kneel next, much to Bradley’s delight. 

“You sure you can get up again, old-timer?” he calls to him, and Mav just glares. 

“I’m gonna get up victorious,” he shoots back, starting to wave his hands. “Hey, bud! C’mere, buddy!” 

Suddenly, Bob slinks around to Javy’s side. In his hands is the truck that Nicky was chewing on, and he holds it over Javy’s head. Immediately Nicky giggles and starts clapping, and when Nat counts down, he darts toward Javy and Bob. 

“Wait, Nicky!” Mav shouts. “Wait, no!” 

“Yeah, Nicky!” Amelia laughs, and suddenly Nicky is in Javy’s arms as he lets out a shout of triumph. 

“Oh, hell yeah,” Jake says with a grin, and Mav sits on his knees with a look of pure defeat. 

“Nicky,” Mav groans, head falling to his chest. “Nicky, I thought - I thought we had something.” 

“Even a grandfather can’t beat the appeal of the truck ,” Natasha chuckles, moving to rub gently at Mav’s back as he stands. “It’s all right, you’ll get ‘em next time.” 

“You said cheating was encouraged,” Bob points out, holding Nicky next as he immediately puts his mouth on the truck with delight. “And so we simply follow the direction of our captain.” 

Amelia and Bradley take positions next, and Jake starts to slowly move around the group. 

“Oh, no!” Bradley shouts, pointing at his partner with narrowed eyes. “Don’t try to be slick, Seresin, I know you and her are teamed up. One dad at a time.” 

“Honey, I know of no such thing,” Jake retorts, but before he can get to Amelia’s back Nat lets Nicky onto his feet. 

“Three, two, one!” 

Nicky  sways for a second, and Nat follows him as he gets his bearing. He looks between both of the people before stumbling to the right and then to the left, almost pitching into Amelia, who laughs with delight before falling directly into Bradley’s arms. 

“Dada,” he coos, burying his neck into Bradley’s arms. 

Amelia just sighs, glaring at Jake over Nat’s shoulder as Bradley kisses his son over and over. “You couldn’t have been a little quicker?” 

“I know, I know,” Jake sighs, rubbing his face. “My bad, Ames.” 

The final pair, Jake and Ice, share a handshake before settling to their knees, but Jake’s smile of triumph shines bright. 

Don’t be too quick to gloat, son , Ice signs to Jake, and Mav smirks as he translates. 

“Nicky knows where his loyalties lie,” Jake says. “We had a heart-to-heart before we started.” 

Jake and Ice both grin as they settle down, Ice taking a moment longer before holding out his arms. One more countdown, and the toddler is off, giggling before falling to his hands and knees and crawling. 

At first it looks close. He goes in a straight line, almost splitting the gap, but then Nicky pushes up with his hands to toddle again, and he falls right into Ice’s arms. 

There is stunned silence from them all, and then an eruption of cheers. Ice offers his hand to shake as Nicky is held against him, but Jake is shocked into a silence of his own. 

“You think you know,” he says. “My own son.” 

“You forget who watches Lion King with him. Movie nights on Grandpa Ice’s lap are very persuasive,” Natasha points out, as Nicky shows Ice the truck he has refused to let go of. He waves it to him, and Ice nods and presses a kiss to Nicky’s hair. “All right, that’s the first round!” 

The second round goes by quick – Penny beats Javy, even with the truck trick once again being used. Ice and Bradley square up a little, but once again Nicky shows a preference for his grandpa, who only looks a little smug at the realization. 

“I know,” Jake says, holding Bradley against him as he sighs with his defeat, more than a little dramatic. “I know.” When they kiss, Jake fakes a sniffle and wipes at the corner of his eyes. “Our son is a traitor. I don’t know how we’ll recover.” 

The second-to-last round has bets made and taken. Bob, Javy, and Bradley stand with Penny, while Mav, Jake, and Amelia move to Ice, cheering him on. 

“Amelia,” Penny says. “We’ve seen enough betrayal of parents today, haven’t we?” 

“Sorry, Mom,” she calls back, laughing as she high-fives Jake. “I think the admiral gets a clean sweep.” 

Natasha stands once more in front of the competitors, definitely two of Nicky’s favorite people. She gently removes the truck from his hands, and when his eyes alight on them, his smile is unmatched, fist moving to his mouth as he giggles. 

“Three…” 

Ice leans down. 

“Two…” 

Penny opens her arms with a bright smile. 

“One!” 

Nicky is released, and the cheers start up immediately. Ice’s group pumps their fists while Penny’s group calls to Nicky. But ultimately, it’s Ice’s bright, joyous smile that wins him over, as he claps and claps and calls out “Pop-pee!” before landing in his arms. His laugh is warm and a rumble in his chest, and no one feels particularly bad as he slowly stands with Nicky in his arms, who starts to reach for his glasses as soon as he can. 

“Our victor!” Mav cheers, moving to stand by his husband’s side. With a kiss to his cheek, he wraps his arm around him, reaching out for Nicky who reaches back and grabs at his nose. “And a handsome one at that.” 

“Whoa, now!” Jake calls out, as money is exchanged. “There’s still one more round.” Bradley shares a smile with him, and then he’s moving to Ice, gently taking Nicky away from his grandfathers. “After all, Mama still hasn’t played, has she?” 

Natasha just looks at her partners with disbelief, smirking as the two of them move to take her spot in front of the cleared lanes. “I thought I was the referee during these proceedings,” she says, watching as Nicky is carried by Bradley to the starting line, while Natasha is urged by Jake to stand next to Ice. 

“The Iceman’s final test,” Javy laughs, as he and Bob move to sit next to each other on the couch. “Two parents down, one to go.” 

Mav chuckles as Ice looks at him. “You’re up, baby,” he says, squeezing Ice’s fingers. “One more go.” 

The group splits again. Jake proudly stands at Natasha’s side, Mav beside Ice, and the others scattered around. Nicky’s truck sits, discarded, as for the first time, Nicky frowns at the two in front of him. 

“Uh-oh,” Penny says, chuckling. “That boy is thinking hard.” 

“Three,” Bradley starts. 

“Who’s it gonna be?” Amelia sings a little, letting her mom pull her against her side. 

“Two.” Nicky’s feet touch the ground, and Bradley holds his son as his eyes go a little wide. “And… go!” 

The raucous cheers go up one more time. Nat and Ice kneel beside each other, but for the first time, Nicky seems to hesitate. His lower lip pouts out, and he falls to his bottom, before going to his hands and knees. 

And then, he’s off. Crawling, crawling, faster and faster, and all eyes are on him as he goes, and goes, and goes…

Straight into Natasha’s arms. 

The eruption of laughter and delight is the loudest it’s been all night. Natasha scoops up her son with a bright grin, holding him close to her as he says a soft “mama” and wraps his arms around her neck. 

“It wasn’t even close,” Jake crows, moving to kiss Natasha firmly and hold her against his side. “Our victor, by a landslide –” 

“And the runner-up, who swept the rest of the competition,” Bradley laughs, reaching for Ice’s hand and lifting it above his head. Everyone else gives a clap and a celebratory shout, and Nicky finally settles in for the night on his mom’s hip, all tuckered out from the fun and games. 

“Think it’s movie time?” Bob asks from the couch. Everyone turns to face him, and see his legs stretched across Javy’s lap. “I mean, not that we’re settled in or anything.” 

“Right,” Amelia laughs, rolling her eyes before claiming her own spot on the floor with a blanket she steals from behind Bob. “I say we do the claymation ones.” 

“An excellent choice, Ames,” Jake says, giving her another high-five. “Though I will say I’m partial to Home Alone.” 

“Isn’t that a little violent for a toddler?” Bradley asks, frowning a little as he comes in from the kitchen. 

Penny stands with him, the two of them holding enough mugs for all. “And is anyone not a fan of peppermint hot cocoa? We have plain, too.” 

 “I think the toddler is gonna be asleep sooner rather than later,” Natasha tells them, gently patting Nicky’s back as he buries his face into her shoulder. “Happy holidays to Mama.” 

“Well, he can’t go to sleep without today’s present,” Mav says, reaching for the truck in the middle of the carpet. “Here you go, bud. You wanna watch Rudolph?” 

The truck is quickly pulled close, and Natasha laughs, holding her son against her with a smile. When she pulls back a little, his truck is offered to her, and she gladly takes it, making a motor noise with her mouth before driving it in the air for him as he giggles with delight, even with his sleepy eyes and furrowed brow that look so much like Bradley, his laughter that sounds so much like Jake. 

The claymation ones win out. Everyone finds a spot, and Nicky does end up on Ice’s lap, the two of them snoozing on a recliner as everyone else sips their cocoa. And while Nat curls up between her partners, her eyes can’t help but linger on the family they’ve made. Her mind can’t help but wonder what future holidays might bring. And if it's more of this, the people she loves most gathered around in a place they can all call home, well...

Natasha thinks she can handle that.