'you bring out the best of me'

homesickness - Chris Evans x Reader

Warnings: homesickness mention and mention of the global pandemic and lockdowns

Summary: request from an anon: 'You and Chris have been dating for a year, but you live in a different state, so you bite the bullet and leave your job and family and move to Boston. You start to get homesick with the holidays coming up, and you feel nothing in the home you now share is yours. Chris noticed that you are acting different, so you tell him through sobbing tears how sad you are. Maybe he even lets you get a cat?'

Word Count: 1,244

Pairing: Chris Evans x Reader

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Christmas. Your favourite time of the year, usually. This year was a little different though, this year you weren't going to be spending it with your family. You had bit the bullet and moved across the country to be with your boyfriend. Chris. Chris and his dog, Dodger. You had left your entire life behind, family, friends, your job. When you first moved in it was the best decision you had ever made, you were able to spend every day and night with your favourite person, your boyfriend. But as the months passed and the global pandemic raging as the festive season drew closer, you couldn't help but feel more alone than you ever have before in your life. You wouldn't be able to go home, with Chris in tow, to see your family for the week after Christmas, and they wouldn't be able to come to you either. It had brought your spirits right down, especially with the year that has just happened, you didn't know how to feel, or even tell Chris.

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You frown a little as you look round the decorated living room quietly, pulling the blanket closer to you to get rid of the chill that you was feeling creeping in, not because of how cold it was in Boston but it was this chill was because of how quiet it was round the house. Chris had popped out to do some last minute Christmas shopping and left you with Dodger as company.

Usually a few days before Christmas your family would all converge at your parent's house for the holidays, laughter and noise would fill the house.

But this isn't a normal year. Or a normal Christmas. 2020 sucked. The whole pandemic fucking sucked. You missed your whole family and you haven't been able to see them since you moved to Boston to live with Chris.

Tears fill your eyes as you look at the bookshelf, trying to make out your things but you couldn't. The house that you now share with Chris didn't feel homely to you. It was too big, too quiet and you knew that it would break Chris' heart if you told him how you actually feel.

Dodger rests his head on your knee, knowing that you were upset, trying to comfort you before Chris came home. You smile a little and pet his head quietly.

"I'm sorry Dodge...I just feel so lonely..." You whisper to the pup, unbeknownst to you that Chris has just arrived home and could hear you from the doorway.

He frowns to himself as he watches you, noticing the tears that have stained your cheeks and sets the shopping bags down. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asks softly, not wanting to startle you too much.

You jump and turn to him before shaking your head, looking back down at Dodger who was yet to go and greet Chris. "It's not a big deal..."

Chris sits next to you and pulls you into his arms, rubbing your back slowly. "It is a big deal, I want you to feel at home here, I know it was tough for you to leave your entire life behind for me..."

You sob gently and nods slowly before burying your face into his cable knit sweater, his scent overwhelming your scenes as you can't help but let the tears fall. "I just, I miss them so much, even though we now share this house, it doesn't feel like home. I don't think it helped with the pandemic and that we are unable to really see anyone else...but it has been really hard on my mental health Chris..."

You feel him press a soft kiss into your hair, something that has always calmed you down when you were upset. But, instead of calming you down, it made you feel worse, guilty that you were feeling like this when it should be the most joyous time of the year. Add the fact that it would be the first Christmas you and Chris spend together in your own house, not either of your parent's houses. You should be making new memories and new traditions, not crying over something so small.

"Here's what we are going to do tonight..." Chris whispers to you, rubbing your back in soothing circles, kissing your temple to ensure that you are listening to him. "I am going to run us a bubble bath and then we are going to get into our pyjamas and then, we are going to FaceTime your parents, have a catch up with them, then we will watch a movie with some hot chocolate and cookies..."

You can't help but smile a little at Chris' plans for you both and his willingness to FaceTime your parents for you. But the feeling of being lonely still lingers even though Chris has been able to cheer you up a little.

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A few days after you told Chris how you really felt and that you were lonely and homesick, he arrived home early from his meetings. Dodger goes to greet him excitedly as you follow Dodger, smiling at him a little. Chris could see that even though you had told him what was wrong it would take some time for you to be back to your normal self again.

"You're home early..." You say a little confused as you stop by the kitchen doorway, watching Chris a little confused. You notice that he is holding a small bundle in his arms as he tries to unzip his jacket with one arm and with Dodger jump up at him. "Dodge, come on, let Daddy come in properly..." You tell the pup and he sulks off to his bed quietly, head down and tail limp.

"I am, and I have an early Christmas present for you..." He says and walks over to you, placing the small bundle of fur in your arms carefully, trying not to startle the small ginger furred kitten he was holding.

You gasp and looks at the kitten in shock before tearing up, holding her close to your chest as she nuzzles into your warmth. "Chris..." You mumble and a genuine smile gracing your lips for the first time in a long time. "She is gorgeous..."

"I remember you told me that you used to have a cat when you were younger, so I thought...I have Dodger as my companion and you could have this little one as yours..." He explains and sets the bag of the kitten's belongings down so he can start putting them in the right places with Dodger's equivalents.

You watch Chris a little overwhelmed before leaning down to kiss your kitten's fur as she purrs up at you. "Welcome to the family little one, I think I am going to call you Ginger, to match your fur..." You say softly and smiles as she looks up at you curiously with her large eyes.

Chris smiles as he watches you, biting his lip as he knows that getting you a kitten wasn't the complete solution to curb your loneliness and crush it, but it was a start and he couldn't wait till the pandemic would lighten up so he could fly your entire family out here for you. To make you smile. Because that is all Chris ever wanted, to see you smile and know that he has done everything he could to make you happy.

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