Murphy's Law ✔️

Chapter Twenty Two.

Christmas came around quickly- too quickly for Murphy to even realize it was in one day.

She panic-purchased an abundance of gifts for her new friends and family and coworkers and, of course, Harry. After eight hours spent running around London and wrapping gifts in her car so as not to spoil any surprises, she was finally back home and preparing for the night ahead. This was to be Murphy's First Real Christmas.

She'd watched the movies growing up and understood the basic concepts of what was supposed to go down: cheese platters, a main course meal, drinks and desserts and, finally, presents. In all honesty, she found herself rewatching A Christmas Story all while preparing a dinner for their guests for the evening.

Niall, who was asleep on the couch with a certain black cat curled up on his stomach, didn't require a formal invite- Murphy had come home hours prior, arms filled with wrapped gifts, to find the blonde sitting on her counter and eating her crackers. She simply raised an eyebrow, sighed and went back down to the store to get a new box of crackers.

Gemma had agreed to come only if there was bountiful booze and pot, to which Murphy had rolled her eyes, scoffed, and replied 'who do you think we are?'.

Liam had also agreed to come, but only as long as Murphy took an oath of protection to him against Niall. Murphy had never witnessed their rivalry up close and personal, but according to Harry it was just as real as it was ridiculous. Murphy informed Liam that he had her word.

And, in all honesty- that was just about it. A small band of misfits who had all taken the title of a family were to be gathered in Murphy and Harry's apartment within two hours to celebrate Christmas together.

Murphy inhaled deeply through her nose and pulled the oven mitt off of her hand before wiping the sweat off of her brow. Looking around, she realized how badly she needed a cigarette in that moment and made her way through the bedroom and out onto the balcony. Placing the fag between pursed lips, she flicked the lighter on and lit the end, inhaling deeply before shutting her eyes and leaning against the cold iron of the railing.

A cold tickle on the tip of her nose prompted her brown eyes to open. Pulling her eyebrows together, she glanced around at the grey city below her. Blinking in realization, a smile tugged at her lips as snow began to quietly fall over the city. She took another inhale and watched as the smoke drifted from her parted lips to blend in with the wind.

*

"You invited the cop to our Christmas party?!"

"Niall- you have got to calm down."

"Fine," Niall huffed in Murphy's direction as he placed the spliff between his lips and lit the end, "but if I hear one complaint about my pot smoke I'm throwing hands."

Gemma rolled her eyes in their general vicinity before sitting down beside Murphy on the couch. Casting a glance in her direction, she scowled. "I don't know how you can handle this much testosterone in your life," she grumbled. "You're a saint, Murphy."

Murphy shrugged before taking the spliff from Niall's hand. "I'm repenting for my sins," she replied casually. Gemma grinned.

Harry made his way from the kitchen and into the living room with his hands filled with bottles of copious alcoholic beverages. Placing them gently on the table, he turned to sit down on the arm of the chair beside Murphy as Niall and Liam sat on the floor together, completing their circle.

Drinks were poured and multiple spliffs were passed around (everyone ignored Liam's faces of disgust and dramatic coughs) until the group was chatty and flushed and giggly. Music played softly in the background- Pink Floyd's Brain Damage gently humming in the background of their loud conversations and boisterous laughter. About thirty minutes in, Harry slid off of the arm of the couch and landed halfway on Murphy's lap, earning him a glare and a playful pinch to the hip.