Lizzie had never been part of a wealthy family. Her father worked in the local bakery, always opening up and closing. He would be gone from early in the morning until late at night. Her mother wasn't much better, working for the royal family of the Ocean Kingdom, desperately trying to earn what little she could to help the family. It wasn't that the King and Queen wouldn't give, they had insisted multiple times to pay off debt for her family as thanks to her mother. But their advisors always disputed, they never wanted them to give away the large sum of money needed to pay of their debt.
Lizzie worked as well. She was a paper girl. It was more pocket money than real earnings, but most of it usually went to her parents rather than be spent on herself. It was easier that way. Get everyone something good instead of just herself. Sometimes she would even donate the portion her parents had kindly refused to charities that helped the homeless. It was a large issue in her part of town.
It got worse when Christmas came. She hadn't felt a real Christmas spirit since she was old enough to understand that they could never have a large Christmas tree and decorations that covered the entire house. Her younger Brother used to complain about it, but in the past few years, he had become quieter about it. She wondered if it had something to do with him leaving every Christmas Eve and only re-appearing for boxing-day dinner.
Jimmy had always been shy, but never secretive. But he wouldn't tell his parents where exactly he was going, just that he was safe, warm and looked after. Lizzie feared he had found a family that made him happier. He always denied it when she asked, but he had that smile on his face every time he came home on the 26th. It was one that screamed he felt loved, something she hadn't seen when with his biological family.
She just hoped he was happy. She wished everyone in the world could be. Sometimes she wanted the pain of life to just cease, even for a minute, just so she could feel the calmness that could lay on the world if people and life cycles weren't as they had been designed.
A little girl made a great big wish
To fill the world full of happiness
- - - -
Jimmy had never been brave enough to come out to his parents. It wasn't like they weren't supportive. Lizzie had been openly bi for years and they had never complained or made homophobic comments. Instead, they teased her and pointed out every hot girl and sweet guy they saw in the streets. Sometimes his Father would tell her about someone who had been in the bakery that day, and his Mother would rant about some of the other, younger, castle workers being perfect for her.
What stopped him was the fact that his awakening had been on a foggy night, sat on a hill with nothing else to live for other than his family.
- - - -
Christmas Eve used to bring Jimmy joy, waiting for Santa to bring him his gift, each year wrapped perfectly by his elves. Sometimes he thought he heard the sound of hooves and the red light of Rudolph's nose.
At present, however, Christmas eve was nothing but a sour reminder that he had nothing. His family had little money and he had given up his wish of a Christmas miracle would ever happen. To him, Santa was just a lie told by parents so he would go to sleep. Most kids still had present deliveries, but Jimmy never thought they were magic. They were luck and fortune. Money his family didn't have and time he didn't think he was deserving of.
His sister worked now. It was only him still in school. He wasn't that intelligent though. It would have been better to keep Lizzie in school than him, but she had refused, pleading him to have a normal childhood and go to school then college. He still felt guilty about it
- - - -
It was one dark, dreary night that he had decided to venture outside of the kingdom boarders. His parents had never properly let him explore the world surrounding the Ocean Kingdom. It wasn't a crime and it wasn't illegal. His parents always just had this idea that the other people roaming the Earth were cruel, mean and selfish.
He remembers them telling him a story once. About two toppled countries who kept things to themselves. Only having one species of fish, fighting over who was better for years. They decided one day to make amends. Apparently, their world fell after that. Releasing all the evil and negativity in one large explosion. According to them, the world wilted and drained of its vibrant colors, leaving only grey and the dangerous shades of crimson and magma orange.
It was that night that he met Scott.
The elven prince had been sat on a hill a few miles from his Kingdom. He was alone, no guards to protect him or friends to talk to. Jimmy was younger back then. He didn't understand not to talk to strangers. He hadn't ever seen a picture of Scott - he wasn't at Rivendell history at school then; still suffering through Mythlandic folklore.
The cyanette had spotted him within the first few seconds of him being near him, staring at Jimmy for a while. It was something about the way he regarded him. It was a look of interest and kindness. Being the son of a baker and royal attendee, no one really looked at him like that. It had been strange. A nice strange. It was as if Scott was looking at him like Jimmy was a normal human being with a stable family and happy life
Maybe it was that look that had set off their friendship. For three years, he left home to celebrate Christmas with the Rivendell royal family, He had been anxious the first time. He had heard rumors through the great vine that Scott's parents were unforgiving and cold to new people, especially those Scott surrounded himself with, even more so if they were a peasant.
They were actually really nice. Welcoming. Jimmy finally felt like he was somewhere he belonged. He could just be himself with Scott and his family.
- - - -
It was the second Christmas he spent there he learned Scott was Gay, the main reason Rivendell had changed their marriage law, as well as the Royal terms and conditions of marriage. It hadn't been a huge surprise to Jimmy. He never really saw Scott looking at girls, or even attempting to find one.
It set something alight in Jimmy he had never felt. But he had heard of it. That feeling of almost relief when you find out your heart may have a chance. He had never even considered liking a boy. But he supposed Scott wasn't just a boy.
He was Jimmy's Christmas miracle. Scott had found Jimmy when everything seemed to be going dark for him. Like his future was nothing but a winding road of faked suspense and surprise when it ended in complete failure.
- - - -
It was the third Christmas that the two had been caught under the mistletoe. Their first kiss had tasted like hot chocolate and smelled like festive candles and pine from the fresh Christmas tree they had spent decorating because Scott's parents had been so busy they had forgotten what day it was.
- - - -
Jimmy had always dreamed of finding that one someone he could love, and who would spread that love with him. His dreams had been big as a child, but that one had always been the most important to him. And he finally had it.
We can let our souls run free and
(S)he can open some happiness with me.
~ ~ ~ ~
Day 1 done! 24 to go. Hope the first day of the holiday season was good for you all. What advent calendars we all got this year :)
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Underneath The Minecraft Tree
Fanfiction25 prompts, 25 days, 25 one-shots for the Christmas season
