The 12 Dates of Christmas

The One With the Tree (feat. Matt Smith)

A/N: There is no reason to the order of the celebs I chose to write about. I'm simply going off the random order that they appear in on the cover that the lovely Bluebell84 was kind enough to make for me. That being said- Matt Smith, everyone! The Doctor is IN!

Becca squinted into the distance. The tree farm seemed to go on forever, which was probably a good thing, as Matt had yet to find a single tree that "spoke to him".  She wrapped her scarf more tightly around her neck and pulled it up to cover her trembling lower lip and reddened nose. Matt wound in and out of the rows, trailing a hand over the shimmering green needles, leaving puffs of snow in the air behind him as he went.

"This one is so close. If it weren't for that bald spot there near the bottom..."

"So we'll turn that part to the wall," Becca grumped.

"Won't do. No. Onward." He seemed unfazed by the cold, undaunted by the sheer number of trees to be inspected. Becca followed behind, her Christmas spirit disappearing with her body heat and the feeling in her toes. She vowed to give Matt fifteen more minutes before she made him choose a tree. Any damn tree.

She tried to let his childlike enthusiasm and charm wash over her. Prayed it was contagious. He really was wonderful, it was just hard to think about that when your fingers refused to bend and your ears wanted to fall off. And when your memories regarding tree shopping weren't all that magical. But that smile- there was the one everyone saw, and that was great, but the real smile...the one just for her...knocked her off her feet. The smile he was giving her now.

Despite herself and the cold, she found herself grinning back at him. "What?"

"Rebecca my love, I do believe I found it." His eyes glittered. It was ridiculous. All this for a tree. One that would drop needles on the carpet, and tempt the cat, and have to be dragged to the curb as the last of its life drained away...

"I hope so." She stamped her feet, trying to coax the blood to flow into them once more and pushed through the ankle deep snow to where Matt stood. He reached out and beckoned her over excitedly, putting his arm around her shoulder.

She looked at him grinning, and then looked to the tree. The sun filtered through the branches. The snow dusted it only ever so lightly, and it glittered. It was only a little taller than her, and would fit perfectly in their small flat. It was just right. The smile that broke across her face was genuine. Matt was pleased.

"Okay," Becca admitted. "I get it. You're right. It had to be the right tree. And this is the right tree."

Matt turned her to face him and pulled her close. "It had to be the right tree for the right girl."

He spun her around and she laughed. "I would have been happy with buying an artificial one. This isn't for me."

He looked shocked. "Artificial! Never! It had to be real, and yes, it's for you! A real tree, a real Christmas, real memories..."

He pulled her against his chest again, and this time, they both spun.

"Why the emphasis on 'real', Matthew?" she asked against the coolness of his coat.

"It's silly," he mumbled with his lips pressed to the top of her thick woolen hat.

She looked up at him. "Well, I'll never know if it is or  not if you don't tell me."

"Alright, well. There are actually two reasons."

"Go on, then," she pushed.

He hesitated a moment. "I know that your dad used to drag you out every year to pick out a tree. And I know that you hated it."

"You're right, that's a silly reason. It was his annual attempt to force some kind of bond between the two of us. The only time he tried. And it was awful."

"No!" He pulled her close again. "I don't mean...that came out...what I'm saying is I was hoping to sort of, I don't know, replace the bad with good. Show you what real Christmas memories can and should be."

A silence hung between them for a moment. Matt looked hopefully at Becca, who chewed the inside of her lip. Slowly, the corners of her mouth turned up.

"That's actually really sweet. Thank you."

Matt's shoulders relaxed and he exhaled.

"Second reason?" Becca prompted as she snaked her arms around his torso and rested her head against him.

"Well, I spend all my time in imaginary worlds. Imaginary scenarios played out by imaginary people, right? Don't get me wrong- it's magic. But I want some of that enchantment in my real life. I want it with you. No fake snow, artificial trees, every bauble and light hung just so. I want real warmth, haphazard ornaments...real things. I want all that tied up in memories of you."

Matt got quiet and smiled softly down at Becca, who surged up to press her lips against his.

When they pulled apart, Matt was giving her his smile. The one just for her.

She grinned back. "Cut the damn thing down, and take me home. We have memories to make."