A Collection Of John Shelby Imagines

Smile for Santa

After that cold afternoon in your house when John had convinced you to spend the day celebrating with his family, you had found that you had become incredibly anxious as the day neared. Last night, you had been running around, making sure that the food you had promised to bring was cooking before wrapping it up tightly, burning your fingers twice as you hadn't waited for it to cool down.

John had given you some pocket money and you had spent the weekend deliberating between two dresses, having no idea which one would look better on you and which one would please Polly more. You knew she could be straightforward at times but you didn't know if this translated over to what she might say about your appearance. In the end, John had blindly pointed at one and told you to buy it after getting frustrated about your nervousness but he kept insisting that it was 'just like any other day with the added extra of strictly no business talk at the dinner table'.

When you finished stressing the morning of, John halted your never-ending train of thoughts when he knocked on your door, prompting you to open the door and make sure that you had everything you needed for the day in a flurry.

"John!" You breathlessly exclaimed as you swing the door open to greet him, "Please come in, there's just a few more things I need to make sure of."

Wordlessly, he wraps his arm around you, stopping you from walking away to whatever you were going to do next. "It's one day; there's no need to stress out," he mumbles into your hair,pulling your back closer to his chest and winding his other arm around you.

You bring your hands to rest on his forearms, leaning your head back on his shoulder and breathe out, "I don't want anything to go wrong... that's all."

John lets out a light laugh, "Have you met The Shelby's before? No matter what you say or do or think is going to prevent a disaster from happening, there will always be something. I'm pretty sure last year it was Arthur's drunk antics breaking things and the year before Finn knocked over the tree by accident which, in turn, lit up the rug as he knocked it into the fire."

"Jesus... I'm not sure that helps my mind," you say, wincing at the thought of Polly screaming at everyone as they put out the fire and attempt to save the rug and the tree, "Wait, is that where the massive scorch marks came from in the lounge?"

John loosens his hold on you, letting you turn to face him, his grin takes over his face, "You noticed? Pol' tries to hide the scorches by arranging the furniture differently but we all know it's there."

"I was only trying to be polite," you mutter, a small smile gracing your lips.

"That's why she loves your company," he leans closer, eyes flickering to your lips, "it's one of the many why I love you."

Your eyes flutter close and he presses a chaste kiss to your lips, not pressing for anything more. Turning your body to face him completely, you bring your arms to his chest, resting your palms on the breast of his coat before curling your fingers around the lapels. His fingers brush your face, rubbing soothing circles into your cheeks. It was a kiss filled with love and it made you melt into his body, knowing that no matter what would happen today, you would be okay and you knew that at the end of it all you would still have John to turn to.

Eventually, you pull apart, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, making you instinctively run your thumb across the bottom of his lip, enjoying how they looked when stained with your lipstick, "You got a lil' something..." you whisper before pressing a kiss to his lips and pushing him away gently.

"I'll go clean my face then," he replies, moving towards the sink.

When you've decided that you've gathered everything you need for the day you make your way over to the Shelby family home. It was a brisk walk in the biting cold, tucked under John's arm with your arms wound tightly around his torso for warmth as he carried the food you'd insisted on cooking to lessen the load on Polly.