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The one time Melanie wakes up early, Georgie muses, is on Christmas. Because of course it is. Georgie loves many things about her girlfriend and her sleep schedule is not one of them.
Georgie’s still asleep when Melanie pushes gently on her shoulder, rousing her, before she fully shakes her. Her eyes are glass, but Georgie thinks she can see a sparkle in them as she climbs on top of Georgie, grinning and grabbing her hand and yanking her up out of bed.
“Good morning to you too,” she grumbled as Melanie grabs her by the hand and starts dragging her down the hall. Georgie stops at the tip of the stairs. “No running. You’ll just trip. If I have to take you to the hospital on Jesus Christ’s birthday, that’ll ruin it.” Melanie rolls her eyes but grabs onto Georgie’s arm with one hand and grabs the railing with her other. Georgie is still worried about her falling when she’s not around, but at least she does slow down when asked. Hopefully her New Year’s resolution will be to be safer. Unlikely.
“There’s gifts under the tree, right? I don’t think my wrapping went very well.”
“Yeah, I put them all in a pile. It’s a nice traditional Christmas. Do you want coffee or a tea?”
Melanie plops down on the couch, pulling a blanket up over her legs. “Tea. Duh. It’s cozier.” She pauses. “Make sure it’s the caffeinated stuff, though.”
Once they have their warm drinks, Georgie takes one of her smaller gifts and hands it to her girlfriend, who eagerly tears through the nice wrapping paper as she explains what it is.
“They’re those thick, fluffy socks that might as well be shoes. We still don’t have carpets and it’s been getting cold out… my phone says it should snow tomorrow, so it’ll be extra cold in here.”
Georgie helps her take the tag off as Melanie struggles to express gratitude. After she slides them on and remarks how soft they are, she tucks her legs back under the blanket and they disappear.
“We really should get a better furnace. And insulate the walls properly. At least some warm carpets and thicker blankets?”
Georgie laughs. “I’m not tearing up the entire house because you’re a little chilly.”
Melanie sticks out her tongue and hands Georgie her present.
The gift exchange barely lasts thirty minutes- Melanie used a local delivery service to order Georgie an electric kettle that just has to be plugged into the wall, a “Riot Grrrl Christmas” CD for the car, an adorable beanie with a Pom-Pom, and a necklace with a fake-silver lesbian symbol charm. Georgie gets her the socks, bleach and some red hair dye, and the brand of microwave macaroni that she likes the best.
“We’ll finish up A Christmas Carol later,” Melanie sighs, “I’m too tired.”
“That’s like saying you’re too tired for TV!”
“Exactly. It’s nap time.”
“You’re either a really old later or a toddler,” Georgie says, booping her on the nose.
“Oh, says you.”
Georgie wraps her arm around Melanie, holding her close to her chest. Melanie yawns and stretches like a cat, eyes dropping as they hold each other close. Georgie tilts her head back and closes her own eyes, exhausted.
“You’re like a child sometimes.”
“Mmm.”
“You had to drag us down to the cold living room for presents? At six in the morning?”
Melanie presses a sloppy kiss to Geogie’s lips, her smile felt in between kisses. Georgie can taste the herbal tea on her breath. “I love you.”
Georgie squeezes her tight, thinking about Basira spending the holiday season alone. She doesn’t celebrate Christmas, but maybe this could have been an excuse to visit her. Keep her company. She doesn’t have anyone, really, and Georgie has her girlfriend every day. Sometimes she forgets how lucky she is to have her person. Melanie is the best thing that ever happened to her, and she’ll die on that hill.
It occurs to her that this is the first normal Christmas they’ve had together. The first one was while Melanie was in therapy and right before she made the plan to lose her eyes. It was nice and there were more people, but it was certainly more tense. Then there was the apocalypse, where time wasn’t real and a gift was just some peace and quiet between them two. And now… exchanging gifts in the living room of a haunted house that may or may not be friendly. Fingers crossed for friendly.
Not exactly the most normal holiday, but certainly by comparison.
She’ll give Basira a call later. For now, she’s content to kiss and cuddle her girlfriend on their couch. Merry Christmas indeed.