#he also said jac was like a second mom to him shut up

[rempirestatebuilding]

Cash dressing as Matt has officially broken me. That’s his order brother now. They can’t get rid of him actually, it’s not allowed.

[iwantthedean]

Under the Mistletoe

Summary: A Christmas party with friends brings Gil and the reader together.  Pairing: Gil x Reader Word Count: 2040 Warnings: None -- except watch out for your sweet tooth.  Challenges: Three of them! @atc74‘s 2K Gif Challenge (gif in the story), @jayankles 1 Year Everything Challenge (Prompt: Time with friends), and @d-s-winchester‘s 12 Days of Christmas Challenge (Prompt bolded). 

You tugged your red dress down over your head, mindful of your curls and carefully applied makeup. After securing a pretty gold necklace around your neck and the matching bracelet around your wrist, you found your favorite pair of stud earrings and put those on as well.

Christmas was your favorite time of year — the lights and decorations always caught your attention, but mostly you enjoyed the time with family and friends. Tonight was an occasion to celebrate the holiday season with the latter of those two groups, an event you had been looking forward to all week.

Slipping into your coat, you made sure that you had your purse, that your gold heels were secure on your feet, and that your scarf was arranged just so. Your friend Brooke was already waiting in the driveway, the headlights of her car illuminating the snow that had been falling all day.

“Damn woman, that dress!” Brooke exclaimed when you got in the car.

Pulling your coat open a little more so she could get a good look, you smiled. “Yeah? It’s not too much?”

“No, it’s perfect,” she assured, “especially if you’re trying to catch someone’s eye.”

As she backed out of the driveway, she gave you a meaningful glance. Rolling your eyes, you buckled your seatbelt and told her to concentrate on the road.

“I’m not trying to catch anyone’s eye, thank you very much. I just wanted to look nice.”

“And if Gil’s there, it’s just an added bonus,” Brooke teased.

You rolled your eyes again, but said nothing. What could you say when she was exactly right? Your crush on Gil was relatively new, but the text message streaks the two of you had exchanged in the last couple of weeks gave you a sliver of hope that perhaps Gil was interested in you, too.

When the two of you arrived at the party, you handed your coats to the man behind the counter of the coat check, and tucked your numbers safely into your clutches. You followed behind her into the small banquet hall; the friend hosting the party had invited too many people between her family and all of her friend groups to host the party in her home and — wow. She had gone all out on decorations, that much was clear.

“Jacqueline must have cleaned out her bank account,” Brooke whispered to you. “Oh, hey, there’s our group! C’mon!”

The rest of your friends were all happy to see the two of you, greeting you enthusiastically and wowing over your dress just as Brooke had. You blushed and thanked them, then asked where the bar was; it was an open bar and you were ready to take full advantage of your friend’s generosity.

“No worries,” said a voice behind you, “I’ve got a drink for you right here.”

You twirled around to see Gil standing with a drink in each hand. Smiling, you took your favorite holiday drink from him.

“Well, thank you, Gil.”

“You’re welcome,” he returned, sipping at his own drink. “Saw you walk in so I thought I would get your drink while I was there. Sorry, Brooke, I don’t know what you drink.”

“It’s completely fine,” Brooke replied, waving him off before heading for the bar herself.

You took a good look around, noting the projector screen rolling down from the ceiling. “Slide show?”

Gil shook his head. “See all the pillows and stuff down front? After we eat, we’re watching It’s A Wonderful Life.”

“That’s one of my favorites!” you squealed, clapping your hands together excitedly.

“I know,” Gil chuckled. “Hey, I need to go talk to some people over there for a work thing, but save me a seat for the movie, okay?”

You nodded and thanked him again for the drink. Brooke flounced her way back over as Gil was leaving, a fresh glass of wine in her hand.

“Well, that was cute,” she giggled. “What did he say?”

“If you don’t stop saying things like that, I’m never going to stop rolling my eyes at you,” you laughed. “We’re adults — you remember that, right?”

She shrugged. “But you have a crush and he might like you too, and it’s damn adorable!”

You feigned shock. “Brooke! You said the ‘D’ word!”

The two of you dissolved into laughter. As everyone took their seats for dinner, you chanced a look around the room. Gil was already looking at you; you blushed and smiled before taking your seat.

Another hour passed before the movie started, and you could hardly contain your anticipation. Many people opted to continue mingling quietly, staying in their chairs or walking around the room. You found a comfy spot that allowed for you to get comfortable but also not flash anyone in your dress.

The lights dimmed, and you took another look around. You didn’t see Gil anywhere, and you felt disappointment start to take over when the opening credits started and you were still sitting by yourself. Before the movie actually got started, though, your attention was drawn to the movement beside you.

“I’m sorry,” Gil said, “I told Jacqueline I would only come to the party on two conditions — if I could work the office angle, and —”

“Gil, shh!” Jacqueline ordered, a finger to her lips.

He winced and apologized before settling in next to you. Your heart was pounding in your chest at having him so near; you noticed that he was a little fidgety, too. His nervousness made you smile, and you scooted a little closer to him.

You weren’t an extremely emotional person, but, damn it all, this movie got you. Every. Single. Time. By the time that kid was talking about bells ringing and angels getting their wings, you were usually a bumbling, blubbering mess. You had managed to hold it together tonight, for the most part, but it was a struggle.

“Hey, Y/N,” Gil whispered.

You turned, forcing yourself not to blink so that the tears wouldn’t fall. You were surprised to see Gil handing you a tissue.

“Always gets my mom, too,” he told you.

“Oh, thanks,” you said with a quiet laugh, dabbing at your eyes so as not to ruin your makeup. “Glad I make you think of your mom.”

As the lights came up, Gil offered you a hand to help you off the ground. “I didn’t mean it like that, stinker.”

You smiled up at him. “I think I’m ready for another drink. Want one?”

“That’d be great, thanks. I’m gonna help Jac set up for karaoke and meet you back here.”

“Gonna sing tonight?”

Gil winked at you. “Oh yeah! And I’ve got something special for ya.”

You laughed and shook your head, walking towards the bar. Brooke met you there, demanding the details of what happened while you and Gil watched the movie together.

“Ha! As if you weren’t watching the whole time!”

“Okay, but I couldn’t hear anything!”

That was a fair enough reasoning, so you gave her a breakdown of the near-cuddling and what he had said when you were tearful at the end of the movie. Brooke clapped her hands together, as excited as you had been when you found out you would be watching It’s A Wonderful Life.

“I can’t wait for you two to be together!” she squealed.

You could feel your cheeks heat as you erupted in nervous giggles. “Not like it’ll happen tonight, Brookie. Don’t get too excited.”

Brooke gave you a look; you weren’t quite sure what it meant, but you also weren’t too sure you wanted to find out. Jacqueline was announcing that karaoke was starting, and that Gil would kickoff the singing.

With a deep breath, you took your drink and walked with Brooke to a seat close to where the karaoke was happening. Jazz chords started, and Gil winked at you as he waited for his cue to start singing.

Hot damn, the moment he did, you felt all that blood rush from your face … you didn’t know where it went, but you were feeling faint. The man could sing. You started imagining innocent moments of him singing you to sleep, or waking you up with that strong, melodious voice in your ear.

And then something else happened. The lyrics came back around for the second time, speaking of a man howling like a dog in heat. Gil got down on both knees and rolled his body so that his hips were giving thrusts up into the air.

Thank God you were only on your second drink, or you might very well have spit out the swig you had just taken. Instead, you gulped it down hard, and let new thoughts of a not-so-innocent nature take over your brain.

“Pull up on those dirty thoughts, woman,” Brooke teased, elbowing gently you in the ribs. “I need a trip to the ladies’ room. Escort me.”

“Now who’s being dirty?”

Brooke laughed. “You’re only saying that because you’re mind was already in the gutter. C’mon — I’m sure loverboy will be waiting when you come back.”

You could use the break too, you decided, so you downed the rest of your drink, and followed Brooke out the door.

The rest of the night was more fun than you’d had in a while. The drinks were flowing as though they were going out of style, there was lots of laughs and singing, and plenty of great memories.

When it was time to shut everything down, Brooke was in no shape to be driving either of you home. Jacqueline’s husband was, fortunately, so he and Jacqueline drove Brooke home.

You were scrolling through your phone, trying to decide to call someone or get an Uber, when you felt a tap on your shoulder. You turned to see Gil, his hands in his coat pockets.

“Need a ride?” he offered.

“You’re okay to drive?”

Gil nodded. “Since I was working the office angle a bit, decided I should stay somewhat coherent. Will you let me drive you home?”

You nodded and tucked your hand into the crook of his elbow. The snow was still falling, something that made you smile, turning your face up towards the sky.

“Next thing you know, you’ll stick your tongue out and try to catch them,” Gil grinned.

“Don’t underestimate me, Gil McKinney!”

He laughed and directed you towards his car a few feet away. After opening the passenger side door and helping you in, he hurried over to the driver’s side, blowing on his hands for warmth.

There was no conversation on the drive to your house, just light Christmas music playing while you watched the snow fall outside. The drinks you had consumed were working their way through your system, and you were feeling sleepy.

Gil kept the car running, but opened the door for you and walked you up to the porch. You had been smart enough to keep the light on, which you were grateful for as you fumbled for your house keys.

“Um, Y/N?”

You turned to face him. “Yes?”

With an awkward chuckle, he pointed to the mistletoe above your heads. “Did you …?”

You couldn’t help but laugh. “I did not. My guess is that Brooke hung that up there before I came out of the house, and then the little sneak made sure that she wouldn’t be my ride home.”

Gil took both of your hands, leaving the key in the knob. “Well, in that case, I’m glad I’m the one who offered to bring you home and not someone else.”

“Me too.” You bit your bottom lip as your sluggish brain processed that Gil had moved closer to you; any closer and your bodies would be flush together. He dropped your hands to move them to your hips, before his arms snaked around your waist.

“I didn’t get to tell you earlier, my other condition to Jacqueline for being at her party.”

“What was it?”

He leaned in closer. “That you were there.”

Your breath caught in your throat as Gil leaned in to kiss you, stopping just above your lips to check for any sign of protest. When he found none, he pressed his lips softly against yours.