Chris Evans: The Collection (Imagines and Short Stories)

25 Days of CHRISmas (Day 23): Merry COVID Christmas 1

December 25th, 2020

It has been more than a year and a half since Chris and Dana got married. First, on a more personal note, in November, Dana gave birth for the second time to her first child with Chris-- a boy whom they named Westley. Then obviously, the pandemic is still going unfortunately strong. They're living through this pandemic the best they can. They've been in Boston since April with Scott and they'll stay until Luna needs to go back for in-person classes. Dana will be traveling with her husband. She's on hiatus for the upcoming DWTS seasons as she just had Wesley and obviously the virus. She won't go until she and everyone else she interacts with on the show gets vaccines. That gave Chris and Dana time to enjoy being parents to their son. Though Luna felt like his, she isn't and she is all grown up. Now, despite how they imagined their son's first Christmas, they try to make it as fun as they can.

"Honey," Dana asks Steve after feeding their month-old son. "Would you mind burping Wes as I try to get Luna up. It's already 9:30 and I want to start opening presents before Scott gets back."

"Sure," Chris nods while placing the croissants in the oven with a timer set. He is already draping a towel over his shoulder. Chris's arms are outstretched to take his son into them. His smile is so genuine and adorable that it makes Dana melt. She unlatches their son from her breast with a gentle swiftness in her hands. Chris makes life easier for her by walking over and taking Westley.

The baby fusses a bit in the exchange, which has Chris doing instinctual shushing softly. He starts the comforting bobbing motion and swaying from side to side. He tells his son, "It's okay, Buddy. It's just Daddy. Mommy will be back before you know it."

"Si, si, mi amor. Mama volverá," Dana speaks with a voice coated in sugar. She stands up and slips one half of her bra back on. Dana begins shrugging her shoulders with vigorous intention to get the sleeve of her red nursing gown-- which is unbuttoned in the center-- back on the shoulder. Once she succeeds in that arduous endeavor, she does the buttons in the middle. Finally, she's presentable to wake her daughter. "Wish me luck in the lion's den."

"May the force be with you," Chris turns briefly but continues to pat Wes's back until he burps.

Dana strides upstairs with confidence. Her daughter may be a teenager, but she is a good one and typically doesn't need much coaxing. When referring to Luna's bedroom as the lion's den, it was simultaneously truthful and hyperbolic. Dana prays since it's Christmas and she had a baby a month ago, it will make getting Luna out of bed easier.

She approaches the door with caution and knocks, "Luna! It's Christmas! Es la Navidad!"

Dana hears nothing stirring behind it, so she presses down the door knob and enters. Luna looks so peaceful and at ease in sleep. She must have been dreaming of sugar plums or more accurately, the BMW she's getting and driving it along the Santa Monica Coast highway on a sunny day.

"Feliz Navidad, Mija. Wake up," Dana says, still coated in sweetness, but for a more mature person. It's less babyish. "We're going to open presents!"

That phrase would make a younger Luna bolt out of bed with such delight, however Dana is met instead with a teenager's grumbles of being woken up. For good measure, Luna moves to turn her back towards her mom. Dana is undeterred and sees if blinding her daughter with the light of the sun bouncing off a new snow patch will get her to rise. It only seems to cause more irritation in Luna but she continues to sleep. So the classic methods aren't working, so maybe try a more creative one.

Dana sings to the tune of "Joy to the World":

Joy to the world

It's time to wake up