Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime

Let Your Heart be Light

The air was crisp and cold, and you buried your face in the thick warmth of your scarf as you wandered down the pathway at the tree farm.

It had been Harry's idea: to get away from the city and spend Christmas in a cottage - away from technology and commitments and throngs of people - just the two of you. And of course you'd agreed: it had been quite some time since it had been just you two for any length of time, and as you were still re-learning things about each other, a few days alone in a cozy cottage with Harry at Christmas time was a perfect scenario.

"You really want to cut down a tree?" You asked, the corner of your mouth ticking up as you trudged along behind him. "There was that nice shop on the motorway that was selling pre-cut ones..."

"Yeh doubt m'lumberjack skills?" He replied, glancing back once, before turning his attention back to the rows of trees that surrounded you. "I happen to be very good with an axe."

You snorted at that, skipping a little to catch up with him and slide your mittened hand into his free one. "Yes, you don't let me forget about that one..."

He squeezed yours. "S'enough outta yeh," he chuckled, stopping in the middle of the path. "You're supposed t'be helping me find a good one."

You leaned against him, soaking up his warmth, while you scanned your immediate surroundings. You were lost in your own thoughts, admiring a small spruce tree with full branches and a nice top for a star, when he tugged at your hand and pulled you off the path, and into the trees.

"Harry, where–"

He stopped short, making you bump into his side with a gentle umph.

"This is it. This is our tree."

You peeked around his shoulder at the tree he seemed to be staring at. It was shorter than the one you'd been admiring, with long, strangly branches and short needles. You tilted your head a little, smiling into his coat. It reminded you of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

You loved it. You loved it more because he said 'our tree'.

"It's perfect," you agreed, nudging your cheek to his shoulder. "Let's give her a good home."

You held the tree upright while he sawed through the base, grousing at him every time he asked if you had it. You helped him lift it off and set it down on the ground, and when he straightened up, he tapped your nose with a gloved finger. His cheeks were rosy, eyes bright and soft on you. You reached up to adjust the beanie that covered his hair, then smiled up at him.

"Holidays look good on you," you mused softly, glad for the cold air to cover your blush.

"Yeh look good on me," he corrected. You two still had a lot of kinks to work out - nothing was perfect, and nor did he or you expect it to be, but you were working on being good for one another. "C'mon, love, let's get this baby to the cottage."

The pair of you carried the tree back to the car, Harry's cackling laugh echoing through the trees as you complained that you were going to have sap and pine needles in your hair, and as he strapped it to the top of the car, you paid the farmer and thanked him for letting you both choose a tree at such a late hour.

The cottage was a small place that Harry had found online that was fully furnished, with exposed brick walls, a wood fireplace, a beautiful bathroom with a claw-footed tub (Harry had shook his head when you had squealed with delight at the sight of it), and a gorgeous kitchen with all the amenities.

You set up the tree in the stand, and while you were waiting for it to warm up and the branches to fall a little more, you made your way into the kitchen to fix up some popcorn to make into garland.