Pheacker Teacher AU (because I can't think of a better title)

Christmas Break

(Small tw for talk of homophobic slurs.)

A few months passed, and autumn faded into winter, complete with awkward run ins with George every so often as he picked his daughter up from school.

Katie started staying late more often as winter progressed, almost as if George was late on purpose just to see Philip, but Philip had shut that train of thought down early on. He was sure George was just a busy man.

And suddenly, it was the last day of school before winter break, and he was helping students zip up their coats and tug on their boots so they could dash to the buses or the car pick up for a few weeks of causing mayhem for their parents.

Katie was used to her dad being late by now, and she helped Philip clean the classroom before they walked to the car pick up. He had insisted at first that she didn't have to, and that she could go talk to her friends also waiting for their parents, but she had insisted on helping. Besides, it was nice to hear her babble on about her family and friends.

They finished wiping down the desks before Philip turned the lights off, and the pair walked to the front of the building to wait for her Dad.

"-and my Grammy and Grampa are coming, and they always bring me big presents, my Dad says they spoil me, and my auntie is coming, and she makes the best cake ever, and my other auntie is coming too, but my uncle won't make it this year, I think it's because my Dad's mad at him." Katie said, babbling away about her Christmas plans.

"Why's your Dad mad at your uncle?" Philip asked. He shouldn't ask, but he was curious.

"He called my Dad something mean last year at Christmas. A fa..." she cocked her head to the side, trying to remember "a faggot? I think?" She finished.

Philip stopped dead in his tracks. "Katie, that's a very mean word, you shouldn't ever say it." He told her, a bit sternly.

"I know." She said "My nanny told me that, plus it made my Dad really upset. I don't know what it means, though."

"It's hard to explain what it means when you're this young, but you'll understand when you're older." He said, patting her head as they reached the front of the building, most of the kids already gone.

"Hey, my Dad's here!" Katie exclaimed, pointing to his car. She ran outside, and Philip followed her, to make sure she didn't slip on the ice.

She waved to Philip before getting in back seat of the car. Philip waved back and turned to walk back inside, when George called out.

"Hey! Hey," he said, stepping out of the car. "Katie and I got a present for you. You know, for being a good teacher and all." He reached back into the car and pulled back a medium-small wrapped rectangle.

"Y-you didn't have to get me anything." Philip stammered walking towards the car.

"Oh come on, just take it." George said, extending the package to Philip.

Philip smiled, blushed, and took the box. "Thank you." He said.

George's phone buzzed and he took it out of his pocket to look at it. "I've gotta go." He said "happy holidays."

Philip nodded as George got back in the car. "Happy holidays to you, too."