๐๏ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ & ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๏ธ
pairing: anthony bridgerton x fem reader
summary: itโs your first christmas as husband and wife. in between cider and carols, you suggest painting ornaments together. yours turns out chaotic and silly. his? quiet, sentimental, and heartbreakingly full of love. they both end up on the tree, forever.
warnings: nothing but pure fluff
The Bridgerton estate was quieter than usual.
Just the two of you in the drawing room, tucked away from the noise and bustle of the extended familyโs holiday chaos. Snow dusted the windowsills. A fire crackled in the hearth. And on the table before you sat a box of plain white baubles and a dozen tiny pots of paint.
โIโve never done this beforeโ Anthony admitted, inspecting a brush like it might bite him, โPainting ornamentsโ
You grinned, โWell, my lord, youโre about toโ
He arched a brow, โYouโre going to call me that even while handing me glitter?โ
โEspecially while handing you glitterโ
He chuckled, the sound warm and low as he dipped his brush into red. You both got to work, your tongue poking out a little as you focused, his brow furrowed in that adorably serious way like this was a matter of state.
You painted a tiny snowman in a top hat with far too many buttons, then added a little cartoon version of Anthony next to it with exaggerated sideburns and a speech bubble that said โindeedโ
โIs that meant to be me?โ he asked, scandalized
He snorted, โI lookโฆ derangedโ
His ornament took longer.
He didnโt let you see it right away, guarding it with his palm as he added one last detail. Then he held it up with a shy little smile you rarely saw on him, boyish, bashful.
It was a snow covered cottage.
Your cottage. The one from your honeymoon in the Lake District, tucked among pines with smoke curling from the chimney. On the back, heโd written in elegant script:
First Christmas - The Start of Forever
Your heart cracked open like a chestnut over an open flame.
โAnthonyโ you whispered, touched beyond words
He set the ornament down and gently cupped your cheek.
โI know itโs sillyโ he said softly โBut I wantedโฆ something weโll see every year. Something that reminds me of what really mattersโ
You didnโt say anything at first.
Soft and sweet and a little paint smudged. His arms wrapped around you like they were made to. The fire glowed behind you. Your ridiculous ornament sat beside his perfect one.
And both found their place on the tree.
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