Jack Dawkins One Shots

The Nuytsia Tree

Jack made his way out of the Port Victory Hospital, feeling the crisp evening air against his skin, eager for a stiff pint of the Cat and Bagpipes before turning in for the night. However, as he made his way down the worn stone steps, he couldn't help but let out a hearty chuckle at the heartwarming sight that greeted him.

There she was, Y/n, his beloved. Jack and Y/n had been courting for a good few months now, and they had every intention of tying the knot early next year. Y/n stood amidst the dusty path, wearing a sweet green plaid dress. She was doing her best to push along a quaint wooden cart, its bed filled with a tall Nuytsia tree adorned with vibrant orange flowers. Despite her determination, it was quite the comical scene to see such a petite woman struggling to manoeuvre such a sizable tree in a cart.

As Jack approached, he couldn't help but admire Y/n's unwavering determination. With each laboured push, she let out little whimpers and huffs, her brow furrowed in concentration as she moved the cart inch by inch. It was a testament to her unyielding spirit, and Jack found himself falling even more deeply in love with her in that moment.

"Ah, Y/n, what've you got there?" Jack chuckled, striding towards her with a grin spreading across his face. "Are you trying to move the entire forest?" he teased, reaching out to gently relieve her of some of the load. "Y/n, my lovely, you're going to give yourself a hernia with that thing,"

she smiled widely as she saw him almost bouncing with joy "Jack! Look! My Tree!" she giggled,

"Right...What's so special about this tree, eh?"

"It's my special tree!" she smiled "It's the same Christmas tree I've had for the last four years. Every year I pick it up from Aster's farm across town for the season and then cart it back for him to plant back the rest of the year." she explained, "This year it did a lot of growing... and I may have underestimated the size of cart I'd need."

"Ah, I see," Jack chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, I suppose you can't blame a girl for getting excited about Christmas." He winked at her, his expression softening as he looked at her flushed cheeks. "I'll help you get it home, come on" he said tossing his hat and coat into the cart so he could help her,

"Thank you, Jack," Y/n nodded and happily took one side of the cart,

As they trudged along, Jack couldn't help but notice Y/n's radiant smile. They finally reached the outskirts of town, where Y/n's cosy little cottage came into view, surrounded by a lush garden that was her utter pride and joy.

"There we go," Jack said, puffing slightly as he struggled to keep pace with the stubborn tree. "We're going to have to find a way to get this beast inside, aren't we?"

she nodded rather sheepish, as she pondered how it would fit inside her little cottage without damaging her beloved tree "Hummm...."

"Leave that to me, I've had my fair share of navigating tight spaces on ships," Jack said with a sly grin, his mind already racing with possible solutions. He walked ahead, eyeing the cottage's doorframe and windows, mentally calculating the best approach. "We'll have to remove some of the trim work, he muttered to himself, "And possibly take out a few panes of glass...but I'm sure it can be done." He turned back to Y/n, seeing her face of utter panic,

"Noooo!" she whined. "You can't hurt my little house."

"Don't worry, love," Jack said soothingly, trying to placate her fears, "It's just temporary, I promise."

Y/n pondered for a moment but they both knew there was no way around it, after some measuring and arrangement they managed to get it into the living room standing the tree up in its pot,

A look of relief washed over Jack's face as he watched Y/n expertly position the pot beneath the tree, "Brilliant, love!" he exclaimed, "But now we need to figure out how to decorate it properly."

"I already Have plans!" she smiled fetching a box, "I've been drafting plans since summer." she said, "You don't have to help, you can scurry off for your beer if you like."

Jack chuckled, "Oh, I wouldn't dream of leaving you to it alone," he said, sauntering over to examine her plans, "In fact, I think I'll stick around and see what kind of masterpiece you've come up with this time."

she giggled and nodded. Before Y/n got to work, Jack helped as merely her assistant to decorate the tree with sweet ribbons, bows, and candles. Working through the boxes of ornaments collected from around the world, they carefully placed each decoration not just on the tree but all over her little cottage, making it turn into a sweet, festive, cozy little haven. The flickering candles, the scent of cinnamon, and the warmth of the fireplace. It took a while, but as the sun began to set, casting a golden glow through the windows, they sighed contentedly and sat down on the plush couch, admiring their handiwork.

The majestic evergreen tree stood in the corner of the room, adorned with an array of ornaments in every colour of the rainbow. The branches sagged under the weight of delicate glass baubles, and intricate handmade decorations. The soft glow of candles nestled among the branches. Beneath the tree, a collection of beautifully wrapped gifts in an assortment of shapes and sizes awaited eager hands. In the fireplace, the crackling fire cast a cozy warmth throughout the room, illuminating the stockings hung with care and filling the air with the comforting scent of burning wood. The mantle above the fireplace was adorned with sweet trinkets and cherished mementos, each one carefully placed.

"It's...it's absolutely beautiful," Jack breathed, "You've outdone yourself this year, Y/n."

"Well I had you helping me," she smiled nuzzling her head on his shoulder

His arm instinctively wrapped around her, holding her close as he gazed at their handiwork. "Mmm, yeah... I guess I did add a bit of flair," he whispered, his lips brushing against the side of her head as he leaned in to inhale the scent of her hair, "But mostly, I think it's just because you're so bloody talented."

she smiled and looked up at him "On the matter of the festive... You know you're welcome to come. I know... we haven't married yet a while but still, I'd like us to spend it together. Nice practice for next year,"

A hint of a smile played on his lips as he looked down at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

He sadly reminisced about the Christmases spent in the chilly London snow, where he struggled to afford even a loaf of bread with holes in his shoes. The bitter wind would cut through his thin coat as he trudged through the snow-covered streets, searching for anything to earn a few coins. He vividly remembered the ache in his stomach as he rummaged through bins on Boxing Day, hoping to find discarded toys to sell or food to eat. Even in the cramped attic with Fagin and the other boys, they would gather around a small, flickering candle and hang their tattered stockings in hopes of not being forgotten. As he grew older, he witnessed Fagin quietly slipping a coin into each stocking in the dead of night, so the boys wouldn't wake up to nothing.

His thoughts then drifted to his years at sea, where he observed his shipmates receiving heartfelt letters and thoughtful gifts from home. As they gathered around during the holidays, they made sure he didn't feel left out, sharing stories and memories of their own families. Captain Grimm always made sure to give him a book or something to aid in his training, a gesture that he deeply appreciated.

He also reflected on the anticipation of spending the holidays in Port Victory, always working diligently while everyone else enjoyed the festive season.

But now, he couldn't help but envision the cosy moments he would get to share with Y/n. They would be snuggled up by the crackling fire, creating their own little traditions and relishing these precious times together. He imagined the joy of sharing these traditions with their future children, eagerly filling stockings and leaving out cookies on Christmas Eve. The thought of these heartwarming moments filled him with a sense of overwhelming happiness and excitement.

"Practice, eh? Well, I suppose that's one way to look at it." He smiled doing his best not to get teary thinking of it all, " But I have to say, I'm rather looking forward to spending Christmas with you, Y/n... This year, next year... and the rest of our lives."

"As am I Jack," She smiled pulling him in for a small tender kiss before they cuddled up by the fire.