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Christmas started early for the Dickinson family, the decorations and tree were bought at the very beginning of December. There was a new addition to the family this year and the entire Dickinson family was determined to make it the best Christmas for little baby Ned.
Emily stood in the parlor of the Evergreens astonished by the tallest Christmas tree she had ever seen in a house. Austin had gone out of his way to get only the best for his son. Sue sat across the room, threading pieces of popcorn on a string. Sue's tongue stuck out in total concentration and Emily wondered how Sue could look so cute doing the smallest things.
"Em," Lavinia shook her out of it, "can you pass me that box?"
"Oh, yeah," Emily said, placing her drink down before sliding the heavy box of decorations to her. "Sorry I was distracted."
"I could see that," the blonde laughed, "I can't believe no one else has figured it out yet."
Emily rolled her eyes, "Whatever." She took a sip of her drink, the liquor burning down her throat. She glanced back at Sue and Sue was already looking back at her like she was the whole world.
Emily's cheeks flushed and Lavinia shook her head, "You two are so obvious."
"Shut up," Emily's face was getting warmer and warmer and it wasn't because of the fireplace. She looked once more at Sue, who's smile fell as she noticed Emily's nervousness.
Soon after, Sue set down the popcorn and made her way over to the two Dickinson sisters, Emily was unable to move.
"Here, you might want this," Lavinia pushed a mistletoe into Emily's hand and ran away before Emily could yell at her.
"Is everything alright, my darling?" Sue asked, her hands trailed down Emily's arms just to hold her hands. Emily followed Sue's eyes as they dropped down to their hands, Sue's brows furrowed. Sue smirked looking back up at Emily, "You know you don't need a mistletoe to kiss me right?"
Emily smiled shyly at the ground, just the thought of looking at Sue right now would make her melt, "I know."
Sue lifted Emily's chin, connecting their lips in a soft kiss that left Emily wanting more. It took everything in Emily's body to pull away, "What if they see?" The fear of getting caught, both terrifying and exciting.
"No one is around," Sue reassured her, "and you know how hard it is not to kiss you when you look at me like that?"
Emily's lips pulled up in a irresistible smile, checking around them before pulling Sue in for another kiss. One hand held Sue's waist and the other held the mistletoe above them, even though they didn't need it. She couldn't help but smile as she kissed the love of her life.
"You remember the first time we got caught under mistletoe?" Emily's mind wandered to years and years prior. Their first kiss.
"Of course, I do," Sue smiled, her forehead resting against Emily's. "You had been trying to get me under the doorway the entire day."
"That's not exactly how it went," Emily insisted, trying to keep some of her dignity.
"Mhm, sure," Sue hummed, "then tell me what happened that day."
"I had your present upstairs so I wanted to give it to you and we just so happened to step underneath the mistletoe," Emily said and Sue shook her head.
"Who was the one to hang the mistletoe in the first place?" Sue teased.
"Who is not important," making both of them laugh.
"Either way, thanks to that mysteriously-hung mistletoe I got to kiss you," Sue said, confidently, "and in that moment I knew I was in love with you." She sighed, "It took me a while to admit it though." Emily remembered those months that had followed, Sue began to be hesitant around Emily.
"You came around," Emily said, brushing her nose against Sue's.
The two broke apart at the sound of footsteps approaching, Lavinia entered the room before everyone else almost as if she was trying to warn the two. "Ready to decorate the tree?" Austin asked everyone, holding Ned in his arms.
Lavinia's arm linked with Emily's when Sue moved to stand by Austin. Everyone watched adoringly as the pair helped their son put up the first ornament on the tree. Instead of jealousy or hurt, Emily couldn't help but watch lovingly as her beloved nephew babbled gleefully. Sue smiled at her and Emily's heart swelled with pride.
The entire family began to help decorate the tree, all except for Mrs. Dickinson, who took the baby from Sue and Austin as quickly as possible insisting that they should have fun decorating the tree and was in desperate need for quality time with her grandson.
Emily found Sue by her side once more. Their hands brushed against each other every once in a while and the night became a silent competition of who could catch the other staring more.
It was a tie.
It was the morning of the holiday party that was to be held in the Evergreens. Sue had taken a well-deserved break from preparing all the food and at the first sight of snow she made her way to the Homestead. She was on a mission.
Maggie answered the door a few seconds after she knocked, welcoming her in and let Sue know exactly where Emily was because it wasn't a question who Sue was here for. She bumped into Mrs. Dickinson, "Shouldn't you be at home cleaning for the guests?"
"Yes, well-" she was never a good liar, "I just came over to ask if there was any extra decorations Austin and I could use."
Mrs. Dickinson seemed to accept this and said, "Well I have no idea where those would be. Emily probably knows, she's in the conservatory."
"Thank you," Sue said, politely before rushing over to the conservatory.
"Sue?" Emily said, joyfully surprised. Sue's smile grew, completely infatuated by the mere presence of Emily. The poet put down the group of flowers she was collecting and greeted Sue with a kiss on the cheek. Anything else would be too suspicious and Sue knew that but the disappointment still lingered. "I thought you were getting ready for the party tonight."
"I am," Sue said, "but I just had to see you."
Emily smiled, "I was just thinking the same thing." Emily took a step closer to her, "Was there a reason in particular?"
Sue's stomach flipped and the embarrassment set in, "No- well I-" her entire face burned and she felt like a teenager all over again.
"Is something wrong, Sue?" Emily asked, the worry written all over the poet's body.
"No," Sue laughed nervously and bit her lip, "It's nothing- it was ridiculous."
"What is it?"
"It's snowing," Sue said, pointing out the obvious. Emily nodded as she tried to piece it together but it wasn't nearly enough information. "I- I wanted you to kiss me in the snow."
Emily's face relaxed but Sue's heart was still racing. "Well why didn't you just say so." Their fingers intertwined as Emily led them to the privacy behind the barn. Emily pushed Sue against the wall and kissed her feverishly, making her warm against the cold. She loved when Emily took control.
Only when both of them were fully out of breath did they part, neither of them able to get enough of each other. Sue's chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, staring at Emily in awe of her beauty. "What?" Emily asked, a shy smile played on her red swollen lips.
Sue brushed a stray piece of hair behind Emily's ear, the snow littered across the poet's long strands. "You look so beautiful in the snow." She stood there memorizing every part of Emily's face: the moles on her cheek, the rise of her cheekbones, the red hue of her nose. Engraving the moment in her mind forever.
Sue cupped Emily's face and kissed her once more, softer than before yet still as meaningful. "Stay over tonight?" Sue asked, hopeful that Emily would say yes. Emily nodded breathlessly. "I should probably get back to cooking," Sue sighed.
"Just one more," Emily said, quickly kissing her again. The pair reluctantly part from there, despite the fact that they would see each other in just a few hours. But a few hours was much too long in Sue's mind.
Sue couldn't tell you how the party went. She remembered the first few guests arriving but the moment Emily appeared, Sue had forgotten all about being a hostess. All she could think about was how good Emily looked in that blue dress of hers.
Emily knew it too. Sue would catch her across the room, an alluring smirk on the taller girl's face. She wanted nothing more than to send everyone home and say the party was over just so she could kiss her. Instead she waited it out, making small talk about things she could care less about when the love of her life was in the same room, looking at her like that.
Not even two seconds after the last person stumbled out of the house drunk, Sue led Emily to her room. "Finally," Sue said, pushing Emily down on the bed, "I thought they'd never leave."
Emily giggled under her and Sue smiled into the kiss, intoxicated by the pure bliss that was just being with Emily.
The pair were tangled up in each other, Sue's finger tracing Emily's collarbone mindlessly as Emily's hand trailed up the side of Sue's bare leg. "What are you thinking about?" Emily asked her.
"How I want to wake up with you on Christmas morning," Sue admitted wistfully. It was a far-fetched idea, Sue knew that. Emily's parents would become suspicious because even Lavinia couldn't cover for them. There was no good explanation why Emily wouldn't be at the Homestead on Christmas Eve.
"You know I would," Emily said, cupping Sue's face. Sue's chest ached but she knew this was the only type of life they could have together. Secret meetings and longing glances. "I'll come here as soon as I can though," Emily ran her thumb over Sue's lips, "I promise."
Sue tried to smile but it didn't quite reach her eyes. There was so much more that she wanted but could never have. Like being able to call Emily her wife.
"Hey," Emily pulled her out of her thoughts and wiped away the stray tears on Sue’s cheek, "come on, none of that." Emily kissed her, something that never failed to cheer her up. "I love you."
The corners of Sue's lips lifted in a smile. She would never tire of hearing that, "I love you too."
"We're together, right now," Emily said, anchoring them to the present, "and I don't know about you but I'm having a pretty fantastic night." Sue's lips broke out into an uncontrollable smile. "Tomorrow hasn’t come just yet."
"When did you become so wise?" Sue asked, always amazed how Emily knew exactly how to bring her back.
"Someone special told me once, that today is all we have," Emily said, kissing Sue once more, "and I realized she was right." Sue rolled her eyes as she pulled Emily closer, her hand trailed down Emily's stomach, all the way down, between her legs.
Emily woke up on Christmas morning determined to get to Sue as soon as possible, like she promised. Lavinia had already opened all the presents by the time Emily had made it downstairs like all the Christmas' before.
"I'm heading over to Sue's," Emily said, after Lavinia showed off everything that she got this year.
"But Father wants us at church," Lavinia said, "he expects us to be ready as soon as possible."
Emily rarely went to church but Christmas was the exception, not because she wanted to go but because it was family tradition. She could think of a thousand other things she'd rather do than sit in that stuffy room for a couple of hours.
"I imagine Sue and Austin will be there as well," Lavinia stood up, holding all of her gifts.
"Alright," Emily resigned.
Sure enough, the two were at mass with her adorable nephew dressed in his Sunday best. Sue had made it a point to make sure there was enough room for the rest of the Dickinson family next to them. Emily gawked at how stunning Sue was in something as simple as a plaid dress.
"Merry Christmas," Sue said, greeting Emily with a quick kiss on each cheek before doing the same for Lavinia. Emily watched as Sue greeted her mother-in-law awkwardly, Sue had always known Mrs. Dickinson never particularly cared for her.
"Thank you for saving us seats," her father told Austin. Emily was happy that the war in her family was over.
"Of course," Austin said and the rest of the family settled in their seats. Emily sat next to Sue, the pair smiled at each other. Maybe this won't be as unbearable as usual, Emily thought as mass began.
Halfway through, Sue's pinky ghosts Emily's between them. Emily's eyes dropped to their hands, her lungs filled and fell unsteadily. Anyone could see them if they weren't careful.
Her hand itched to hold Sue's. Screw it, Emily thought. She laced their hands together, hiding them under the sides of their dresses. She glanced around, anxious to relieve her nerves and was thankful to find everyone paying attention to whatever the pastor was saying.
Her stomach in twists, she looked toward Sue for reassurance, but Sue was staring ahead with a content smile. Emily's body relaxed.
She caught Austin looking towards their locked hands and her heart dropped. Her eyes wide with worry. Austin met her eyes and much to her surprise, the corner of his mouth twitched up into a half smile. He nodded as if he approved and turned his attention back to the front. It was the closest they would ever get to talking about her relationship with Sue.
"You are all coming to the house, I assume?" Mr. Dickinson asked, as they all stood outside the church.
"Yes," Austin smiled, "it is Christmas after all."
The entire family went back to the house making pleasant conversation about the upcoming new year. The house filled with joy as Lavinia played the piano, the entire family sang along to songs from Christmas past.
As things began to die down, Emily and Sue snuck away from the family up to their personal sanctuary, Emily's room. Emily stopped them in the doorway and looked at Sue mischievously, "Look up."
A poorly hung mistletoe above them and Sue beamed at her, "I wonder who hung that there."
"Shut up," Emily said, playfully, "Just kiss me."
Sue closed the gap between them and their lips moved in sync, the kiss both soft and needy. It was different from their first kiss all those years ago, there wasn't an ounce of hesitation or nervousness. Their love had grown sure and confident.
Sue's the first to pull away, "I have one last present for you."
"You do?" Emily asked, taking a step back from Sue. Sue pulled Emily into the room, closing the door quietly behind them.
Sue pulled out a neatly wrapped box with a red bow on top and handed it to her. "If I had known I would have got you another present," Emily frowned. She had tried to knit Sue a scarf but it came out all lopsided. Sue insisted that she loved it anyway.
"Just open it, Emily," Emily could hear how Sue's voice shook ever-so-slightly. Emily ripped the paper, unveiling a small rectangular box. She looked up to Sue with pure adoration and Sue urged her to open it.
Emily didn't know what it was yet but she still cherished it more than anything. "Sue, you shouldn't have," Emily gasped. Two silver necklaces laid flat in the box, small black rings in place of where the pendant would usually be. "Sue-"
"I know we can't technically get married," Sue said, biting her lip. "But I also don't really care. We can wear the necklaces and we'll know." Sue paused, taking a deep breath and her eyes glossy, "And that's enough for me. If that's enough for you."
"That's more than enough for me," Emily said, tears of joy prickled her eyes, "Being with you is more than anything I could wish for." Emily pulled Sue in for a kiss, indulging in the feeling of Sue's arms wrapped around her neck, pulling her impossibly closer.
"Can you help me put it on?" Emily asked, as soon as they parted.
Sue nodded, picking up the necklace carefully. Emily felt Sue's cold fingers against her skin as she clipped the necklace. The ring settled on her chest and she knew no jewelry had ever fit her more.
Sue kissed Emily's shoulder, before stepping back. Emily turned to face her and said, "I love it."
"Really?"
"Yes," Emily's smile wide, "May I help you with yours?"
"Of course," Sue said, beaming at her. Emily's hand's were embarrassingly sweaty as she fumbled with the chain. By the time Emily got it, both girls were giggling.
Sue took both of Emily's hands in hers. Emily stared at Sue with so much love in her eyes that anyone would have thought that Sue had gifted her the entire universe. In Emily's opinion, Sue had. "Do you, Emily, take me, Sue, to be your wedded wife? In sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, till death do us part, as long as we both shall live?"
"No," Emily said.
"What?" Sue's brows shot up in confusion.
"You said it wrong," Emily said, confidently, "I, Emily, take you, Sue, to be my wedded wife. In sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for as long as you shall have me. Even afterlife."
"Alright," Sue smiled brightly as she started over, "Do you Emily, take me, Sue, to be your wedded wife. In sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for as long as I shall have you. Even afterlife."
"I do."
"And do I, Sue, take you, Emily, to be my wedded wife. In sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, for-as-long-as-you-shall-have-me," Sue rushed, desperate to kiss Emily again making Emily laugh, "Even afterlife." Sue paused for a brief moment, "I do."
"I now pronounce us married," Sue said, proudly. "You may now kiss the bride." Emily grabbed Sue's face and kissed her wife overjoyed.