#jjppe fanfic

[playitaagain]

Masterlist

The red and white tinsel twist around the tree, creating a candy cane effect. JJ watches as Mama Heyward expertly places ornaments on the tree, letting Heyward and Pope place a select few under her watchful eye. The angel has already been placed on top by Heyward while Mama Heyward fretted about the small ladder he had to climb on to place the angel there. 

“JJ, dear, can you place that ornament on the tree?” Mama Heyward tugs JJ out of his own musings, barely catching a glance at the reference ornament before she’s turning her attention back to the tinsel around the tree, tugging it a bit to block a particularly bare spot. 

“Oh, yeah,” JJ mutters. He’s mostly been hiding away on the couch while he lets the Heywards decorate for the holiday, attempting to stay out of the way so as not to disturb their holiday traditions. 

He pushes himself off the couch though, nabbing the ornament in question and moving across the room to hand it to Mama Heyward. “Here you go,” he comments, eyes averting away from the tree. He feels a bit out of place, like he’s intruding in this family moment. 

“Oh, no, you can find a nice little place for it,” she smiles, but JJ can see the pointed look she gives to a bare spot of the tree. The shock from her statement must show on his face because Mama Heyward’s smile softens around the edges as she reaches a hand to cup his cheek, thumb gentle as it brushes soothingly over his smooth skin. This same action months ago would have had him jumping away but he’s gotten much better with this casual touching since he moved in with them at the end of the summer. “Honey, I think you can claim that ornament for yourself. That is why I bought it.”

“But I’m not-“ she cuts him off before he can continue. 

“Don’t give me that. You’re part of this family and you’ll be decorating the tree with all of us. We all have a few ornaments from the years so I went out and bought a few for you to add to our tree.” 

Mama Heyward is brushing the tears away before JJ can even realize he’s crying. He feels comfort in her arms as she pulls him in, hand soothing down his wild blond hair while the other rubs his back. JJ can’t help but wrap his arms around her, hold her tight. He couldn’t be more thankful for this family, for taking him out of the environment that would have had his flinching away in fear months ago. 

“Are you sure?” He whispers and he can feel her nods again his shoulder. 

“Of course,” she whispers back. JJ is blushing a bit in embarrassment as he pulls away, wiping at the tears on his cheeks. He’s thankful Heyward and Pope have gone about to do their own thing even if he knows they heard the whole conversation. He doesn’t really mind. 

JJ lets out a breath as he moves to place the ornament delicately on the tree, careful when the branch bends with the weight. He tucks it back a bit further in so it’s cradled by the branches below and pulls back to admire it for a moment. 

“Now!” Mama Heyward catches his attention, one hand holding another ornament out to him while the other holds a box of candy canes. “I think we need a snack.” 

The candy canes are held out to each family member. JJ follows the lead as he takes two from the box, watching as each places a candy cane on a branch while tugging the other open to eat. He catches Pope’s eyes across the room as he pulls away the plastic, a shy smile pulling up his lips. 

He thinks this might be the best Christmas he’s ever had. 

[playitaagain]

For the 10 minutes fic 12) fireplace + 16) blankets please 🥺Idk I just want cuddles and happiness for them 🥺

-Isabella🦋

yes please, give me cuddling, happy mayward. 

Fireplace || Blanket

Pope never expected to have a fireplace in his house. The crackle of the fire inside had always been a kook privilege. The mantle decorated with expensive goods and wood stacked inside, normally just there for decoration. 

The Pogues always had fires outside, warming them from the cold bitter air, warming them in times when the night got too cold and the heat didn’t work (a common occurrence at the Chateau). The four of them would grab a pile of blankets, curl up next to a roaring fire and huddle around sucking up each other’s warmth. 

When they get a place of their own (Pope still can’t help the goofy smile that pulls up his lips when he thinks about their own place), he’s surprised when a small fireplace sits in the living area. He instantly hears the cranky of the fire, remembers curling up with the pogues, huddled from the cold. He thinks about a time before him and JJ where him and JJ and he used to take that opportunity to curl close to the boy he liked without having to worry because it was only for the cold. 

They have to get that place. 

It’s how he finds himself arranging wood into a neat pile, the small pieces on the bottom to light the pile. The mantle is adorned with pictures of the Pogues and his family. The middle photo is one of them smiling, a young girl held between them, eyes bright but oh so nerves in their first moments together. The photo on the wall, a gift from his mother, is a larger photo of their wedding, dancing together on the floor, eyes filled with love, unable to look away from each other. 

Pope returns to the small couch, smiling when JJ pulls back the blanket, arm across the couch falling over Pope’s shoulder when he settles himself next to the other, thumb brushing back and forth over his t-shirt. 

The sudden shift in weight has him adjusting, arms moving to wrap around the little girl that had slipped from JJ’s lap to his own, fingers still wrapped around the fingers of JJ’s other hand, bright smile on his face as she rambles about her day at school. 

The fire crackles away in the background as JJ answers each question directed at him, commenting on little details in their daughter’s story. Pope can’t take his eyes off them, chest warm with love and adoration.