#aftgexchange2019

The Foxes spend their holidays separately, with Andrew and Neil staying behind

Andrew doesn’t have many pleasant experiences with the holidays, and they’re both content with spending their break as is

But it’s a combination of Nicky’s insistence of doing something special and the little stare Neil gives when he sees anything Christmas, that Andrew reconsiders

In passing, Andrew tells Neil that he’s in charge of any holiday plans, and that gets Neil thinking

He never really understood or enjoyed Christmas, it’s kind of difficult to when it reminds him of his father’s Christmas parties

Or the fact that he and his mother were Jewish 

But this is their first holiday together, and Neil is all for making new memories and experiences with Andrew

So Neil decides to go shopping with Andrew

Snow starts to fall, and much to Andrew’s annoyance, Neil is underdressed

Cue in some intimate insults and forehead touch as Andrew puts on a beanie on Neil before they continue on with their trip, the snow doesn’t last much longer

Of all Christmassy things he expected to see, Andrew raises a brow when all Neil gets are oranges, oil, scented pine fragrance, and a bottle of wine

They head to the rooftop and Neil starts to assemble

Neil remembers Mary cutting the oranges, the halved peels saved and the fleshy innards a tasty snack, her pouring oil and pine fragrance in the pseudo bowls and lighting the oiled stem on fire

Neil does the same, ‘It’s hard to celebrate Hanukkah properly when you’re running, but we made do with what we could’

He remembers his mother telling him that oranges get sweeter in the winter

There being some reaction that makes the fruit sweeter and prevents freezing, it’s their way of surviving Abram, and sometimes Neil thinks they’re alike in that aspect

Mary was by no means mother of the year, but it’s moments like those, he can’t help but cherish

He doesn’t tell Andrew that, but he doesn’t have to

They stay on the roof in silence until the scent of pine is gone

They don’t do anything special for the next couple days, but Andrew keeps thinking back to the rooftop

So he comes up with his own way of giving in holiday cheer

One night, Andrew gifts Neil a menorah, and Neil is floored,

Don’t look at me like that, Andrew tries not to let the fuzzy warmth from watching Neil or the smug satisfaction of properly celebrating the holiday, unlike a certain someone, intoxicate him

Neil lights the candles and he just reflects on how lucky he is-to be alive, to have a family, to be with Andrew

They relish the moment and enjoy their holiday content with each other