#clexmas25

A year went by in the blink of an eye. Christmas came and went with bitten smiles and texts they just couldn't stop sending.

January was a haste of work trips, more texts, and dates at odd times and odd days. Kisses that felt both forbidden and meant to be at the same time, late nights sweating and talking and laughing, and mornings that could be as lazy as they could be hurried.

It took half of February for Clarke to face Octavia, a light argument of "Fifteen years?! Blake!" vs "A lifetime of your stubbornness, Griffin!" settled over laughs and grumbles and a few too many glasses of wine that got her confessing more than she was planning to say so soon.

Spring and Summer were work trips turned small vacations for one or the other and weekends spent with their friends and nephews pretending like they were all just friends.

The fall brought comfort of a well know changing schedule, afternoons spent cozied up under blankets that could be their own as much as they could belong to hotel rooms. Clarke's 42nd birthday and a "Bitch just kiss your girl, we all know what's going on!" followed by Lexa’s casual "I haven't spent more than a day in a row in my place for the past three months" turned into Lexa moving in with her and their relationship truly settling for them both.

And now it was winter again, December 22nd again and here they were, right where it all began, having learned nothing about not shopping so close to Christmas.

This time though, they already had all their gifts selected and wrapped, it somehow hadn’t occurred to them that they would be missing the most important decoration of this festivity. They really thought that with both their decorations combined they would be settled for a perfect winter wonderland at home.

After a moving in that took an entire month with both of their busy schedules, and a decoration date that turned into a whole three weeks of setting everything up off and on, Lexa didn’t think to mention that her tree was a 6ft tall unidimensional frame where she hung her ornaments, and Clarke completely forgot that her ancient 3ft tall tree had been taken away by her mother after finally moving back to Clarke’s childhood home.

So, when all the holiday decorations were finally up, and they were officially free from work, the tree boxes still full of ornaments looked out of place in a corner of the room where they finally noticed with laughs that took their breath away, that they were missing a Christmas tree.

They had decided on the spot that they would get ready and head out to get one. They took their time getting ready, taking a shower together that definitely slowed them down when they got sidetracked, but eventually they were presentable enough to go shopping.

The discussion starts way before they see their options. They both agree that they need a fake tree, one they can re-use for years to come and Clarke knows the good quality brands. The problem starts when Lexa says she wants a 6ft tall tree… and Clarke wants a copy of her 3ft tall one.

They enter the store laughing at each other’s arguments and tugging at each other to get the other to listen to them.

“Clarke, we have three boxes worth of ornaments, we can’t get a small tree!”

“We’re not gonna be using all of them though”

“Obviously, not everything is going to match-”

“Obviously, since yours are so flat”

“They’re not!” Lexa gasps, stopping her steps “They’re elegant!” she scoffs, and allows Clarke to tug her forward as they continue looking for the right aisle.

“They’re flat. Boring even” Clarke says as she turns to face her, planting herself in front of Lexa and getting a growled kiss for it “but it’s fine, you didn’t know me then, you couldn't have known how to have taste”

Lexa gasps against her lips and kisses her strongly to stop Clarke’s giggles.

“That is wild coming from someone whose entire mug collection can’t match a single pair”

“Hey! We’re talking about Christmas décor, not kitchen clutter”

It’s Lexa’s time to giggle, and with another kiss, it’s also her time to tug Clarke to keep walking.

“Listen, all I’m saying is that one day, not too far from now, we won’t be able to bend down to place ornaments. We can't have a tree that can't be on a table. We need to think of our future!”

“We can get a 5ft tree” Lexa suggest “that can be placed in a short table, later in life”

“Lexa!  5ft tree on a 3ft table is 8ft tall! We won't be able to reach that!” Clarke laughs as they near the tree section.

“Chairs exist!” Lexa shrugs “And ladders, and tables… Not to mention, we're only 40-

“42”

“We're healthy! And athletic-

“We're not athletic” Clarke snorts followed by giggles she can’t stop.

“I run everyday”

“You don't run- everyday”

“I run” Lexa corrects mid-sentence as she turns to level Clarke with a look that lacks seriousness “And my point stands” She says as her arms loop over Clarke’s shoulder, and she’s pulled closer by hands that round her hips and rest dangerously close to her butt. “We're healthy, our knees will be fine in the close years to come. We can get a tree that starts a foot from the floor”

Clarke kisses her then and Lexa can feel the frown she didn’t know she was carrying lift from her eyebrows. They kiss for a hot minute, forgetting they’re in the middle of the store for what feels like only a few seconds.

“I'm going to settle it at 4 feet” Clarke says against her lips once they part with dizzy smiles, she pairs it with a stubborn scrunch of her nose.

“Claaarke” Lexa groans with half a laugh, throwing her head back and rolling it back down with a whine “four is so small”

“Baby” Clarke tasks, her lips ghosting over hers “I know you like lengths of 8…" one singular raised eyebrow marks her point as she whispers "but 4 is a perfectly reasonable size"

With a wink and a soft peck to her lips, Clarke untangles herself from Lexa's arms and turns away in search of her selected tree.

Lexa is too stunned to do anything more than stand there with a shocked open mouth grin on her face.

“Look! This is one is perfect, it's not even too bushy”

Shaking her head, Lexa follows Clarke and loops her arms around her waist from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder and pouting even though Clarke can’t see it.

“My sexual preferences aside…” she starts, making Clarke giggle as she leans back into her arms “we really won’t be able to fit half of all our ornaments there”

“Half our ornaments -aka mine- fit on a tree smaller than this one”

“Babe do the math” Lexa tsks “A 3ft tall tree holds 1 box of them, and a 6ft tall, unidimensional one holds 2 of them; we need at least a 5ft tall, tridimensional tree”

“What math even is that?!” Clarke gasps out a laugh as she turns her head to look at Lexa.

“6ft in 3D is 2, plus another 3ft; 5ft” Lexa shrugs, but Clarke keeps frowning with another snort “Just-” Lexa kisses her side of her head and whispers into Clarke’s ear “trust me, okay?”

She kisses under Clarke’s earlobe, making her girlfriend shiver. Clarke turns in her arms with a sultry look and leans in to whisper into her ear.

“Keep talking to me like that, and kissing me in the right spots, and you might convince me”

They giggle as Clarke slips away and hops joyfully in search of a new option; Lexa follows with greedy hands that grab at Clarke’s hips to keep her close as they penguin-walk their way through the trees.

It takes Lexa a few more kisses and giggles to convince Clarke to go bigger, and it takes Clarke a single dirty sentence to convince Lexa that they don’t need anymore height for their tree. They settle at 4 feet and 6 inches, they pick a nice tree of a quality Clarke approves and a price neither find outrageous. They fit it in the back seat of Clarke’s jeep and take it home before the sun is down.

Assembling the tree consists of Clarke continuously telling Lexa that she knows what she’s doing and they don’t need instructions, until Lexa gives up on handing Clarke pieces she asks for -but clearly doesn't know what to do with- and decides to get hot chocolate as she lets her girlfriend figure it out.

They sit on the couch considering their mixed ornaments once Clarke’s done -and Lexa has mocked her for taking twice the time the instructions said she would- They tell each other stories about how they got each one, and make up stories about those they want to keep but the other wants to throw away.

“It has sentimental value!”

“Bullshit! You’ve never been to Canada!”

“Well no, but… I should get points for creativity”

Between laughs, tickles, wandering hands and warm kisses, they agree on a selection and start hanging them on their new tree. With more laughs, bumping hips and even more kisses they contest for the better -and worse- spots for their ornaments.

A few hours later, they lay under the tree, sweaty and spent, laughing and still kissing after successfully finishing their Christmas decorations.

“Told you it’d look holy from down here” Clarke hushes against the skin of Lexa’s neck.

“Not that our backs are thanking us for it” Lexa snorts but does nothing to move from their spot.

“Your back, I’m fine”

“Because you were on top the entire time! I hope your knees make you regret it tomorrow”

“I don’t think you want me to regret it, Woods” Lexa hums a giggle in agreement and they pull each other impossibly closer, enjoying the warmth of their bodies together.

“However,…” Clarke continues “If I were to regret it, that would mean I was right for wanting to get a table tree”

Lexa laughs loudly at that, squeezing Clarke’s sides.

“We would’ve probably ended up down here either way”

“Mmmhmm” Clarke giggles as she lifts her head from Lexa’s shoulder “Yeah, probably. No one should look that sexy in a silly sweater”

“I agree” Lexa smirks “You should be arrested for that crime” She whispers, scrunching up her nose with a smile.

“If I remember correctly, you love me.” She wrapped her arms around Clarke, snuggling into her.  “I know it’s last minute, but a few of the volunteers who were supposed to be Santa’s helpers came down with the flu and the Colonel is desperate.” Lexa told her. 

Clarke signed. She loved Lexa and wanted to help her, but she couldn’t think of anything she owned that was festive or could pass as elf attire. Plus, it was one of her few nights off. 

“The only thing I own that is Christmassy is an ugly sweater and some holiday fuzzy socks.” 

Lexa turned Clarke around so she could see her, and moved her hands up to Clarke’s shoulders. 

“I got this, Clarke.” Lexa reassured her, rubbing her hands up and down Clarke’s arms. “I know you had a long night. So, take this coffee and go shower. I’ll raid your closet and put something together.”

Clarke smiled. Lexa always had a way of calming her worries. 

“Okay.” She said. 

The hot shower was just what Clarke needed to raise her spirits, and the coffee had put a pep in her step that was a definite must if she was going to have to be in the Christmas spirit. She was just starting to dry off when she heard Lexa call out to her. 

With the towel wrapped around her, she opened the door, expecting to see clothes laid out on the bed. There were a pair of green socks and maroon leggings she wore to workout in. It was a start. Then she heard Lexa in her closet.

“Lex? You alright? Need help finding something?”

“Actually,” Lexa stepped out with her hands behind her back and a shit eating grin on her face. “I think I found more than I bargained for.”

Clarke narrowed her eyes, confused. She couldn’t think of anything in the closet that would make Lexa smile like the Cheshire Cat. 

“I believe you told me that the only Christmas clothing you owned were ugly sweaters and socks.” It was a statement, but Clarke could hear the questions. “I beg to differ.”

As Lexa started to move her hands to the front, white and red printed fabric could be seen, and Clarke’s eyes widened in surprise. She had completely forgotten about that outfit. It had been tossed into a box years ago, along with the crap relationship it had been tied to. 

In front of her body, Lexa held a green, transparent, lingerie nighty, with a small, felt, red bow placed strategically over the button of the split front. Completing the outfit was a green silk elf hat and long, candy cane stockings. 

Clarke’s hands covered her face in embarrassment; not from having sexy night attire, but because of the theme, it’s general tackiness, and the reason for the purchase. 

“Oh my god.” Clarke mumbled. “It not what you think.” How would she explain that Raven had bought that for her as a gag gift when she was dating Kilian after she complained about how boring he was in the sack. 

“It’s not…” Clarke huffed and looked up at Lexa who was still smiling. 

“I really hope you aren’t about to say it’s not yours, because I for one definitely think this would put me in the giving spirit, if you know what I mean.” Lexa wiggled her eyes brows suggestively. 

“I am not wearing that thing.” Clarke stated. 

“Not to the fundraiser, Clarke. It’s nowhere near work friendly. I mean for me.”

Clarke shook her head. 

“Why not?” Lexa was genuinely curious; Clarke was always so confident with herself in bed so to see her hesitate was out of the norm. 

“It’s was a gag gift. From long ago.” 

Lexa looked back down at it and saw a tag still attached to the hat. 

“It may have been, but I think you’d look amazing in this.” Lexa walked up to Clarke. “Maybe it can be an early Christmas present for yours truly.” She suggested, pulling Clarke in slowly to kiss her. 

She knew they had a party to go to, but Lexa couldn’t stop thinking about how sexy her girlfriend would look in the lingerie she was holding. 

Clarke’s lips were soft, even more than normal thanks to the hot shower. Lexa parted her mouth, wanting to taste more of Clarke. Her breath hitched as Clarke pulled away slightly, running her tongue over Lexa’s plump bottom lip, before leaning in to kissing her with more fervor. 

Lexa ran her hand up Clarke’s back over the towel, and to her neck, pulling her deeper in. Through the haze of lust, it clicked that Clarke was still only in a towel. Lexa had just started to lean back to rid her of the obstruction when her cell phone chimed, bringing her back to reality.

Not ready to pull apart fully, Lexa rested her forehead on Clarke’s. It took a few breaths for Lexa to steady her racing heart.

“How about, after the party, we can start where we left off, but with you wearing that?” Lexa slightly nodded her head towards the lingerie she had tossed to the ground moments ago. “And I can work my way off the naughty list for making you go to this thing?”

Clarke chuckled slightly. “I don’t know. You’re pretty high on the list.”

Lexa leaned in and kissed her one more time, sending a ripple through Clarke. “I can be pretty persuasive.” She whispered and then pulled back. “I’ll be off the list so quick.”

“Hopefully not too quick.” Clarke winked.