A Twist In Time

A Spectacular Thing

Christmas dinner was a spectacular thing. This year, Polly had given in and let Phineas interfere. She had welcomed the over-sized stuffed turkey with all the trimmings. She'd happily accepted the roast potatoes and perfectly cooked vegetables and the joint of beef and gammon. No one questioned where Phineas got the food from, they were all thankful.

It was actually really nice to see Polly without having to worry about providing food for the family.

While the morning had been all about the presents and Christmas dinner had been about eating with the ones we loved, the early evening was what I enjoyed the most. John wandered off with his children into the parlour to spend some time with them and Polly, Arthur, Ada, and Finn were around the kitchen table entertaining Phineas and Newt.

It left some time for me to be with my boys. Just the three of us.

It was nice seeing Tommy interacting with TJ without the constant eyes of his family on them. I felt like he was more relaxed and allowed himself to be carefree with TJ. I only had to wonder how long that lasted for.

Soon, in the New Year, Tommy would be starting on his game plan on moving the business further and I didn't know how much of his time would be left for TJ. Or for myself.

Watching Tommy play with our son in the living room, rolling the stupid Hogwarts Express across the floor was something I wish I could pause in time. Seeing the smiles on their faces had me wanting to live in this moment forever.

"I got the feeling it ain't this easy to put him down," Tommy muttered, watching as I tucked TJ in and pressed a kiss to his head. "I know it ain't this easy."

"It's because he's worn himself out the last couple of days," I told him, taking his hand and leading him back downstairs. "There's something I want to show you."

Tommy didn't bother saying anything as I led him into the cupboard under the stairs. He did look surprised to find that all the snow had gone and instead we were in a fully bloomed meadow with a soft, warm breeze.

"It's changed," he muttered as I closed the door behind us and led him over to a blanket I'd set up earlier.

"I didn't want it being cold in here," I told him, pulling him down to join me on the blanket.

"You're nervous."

I hated that he was able to see that when he looked at me.

"Remember that story you told Freddie? About us meeting in France, marrying and then me falling pregnant with Thomas-J?"

"You think I could forget it? You came in guns blazing," he argued, grabbing my hand as I went to hit him. "What about it?"

I sighed and pulled out the envelope I'd hidden under the blankets. I held it carefully in my hands, fiddling with it as I glanced up at him.

"You might have realised that I didn't give you a present. No," I said, waving him off as he went to protest. "I wanted to get you something but you're a tricky man to buy for Tommy. Giving you money would be pointless because I know you want to earn that yourself. You wouldn't accept it from me."

"You could accept my marriage proposal." I rolled my eyes and tried to hide the smile from my lips.

"I have this." I handed him over the envelope. "I think, once you read it, it will mean more to you than anything else I could offer."

Tommy took the envelope and opened it, his brows furrowed as he read the pieces of paper and flicked through the collection of papers in his hands. He looked up at me, his mouth open slightly as he glanced back down at the papers in his hands.