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Shadowheart had been very excited to host a Midwinter dinner for her parents. All of the traditions around that time were something she had missed in her years as a sharran and even if she was lamenting that fact greatly, she was over the past; because the past simply does not exist. She had set her mind on the present and what it could offer her and that was a wonderful time with her parents and, of course, her beloved.
Said beloved was putting up decorations around the cottage; colorful lamps, and garlands made of winter plants -leaves and flowers. Shadowheart walked into their living room to check in on her and was quite pleased with the result. "Lovely," she breathed, a little taken aback that such a simple thing could bring her so much joy that it made her heart flutter.
Stephan turned to her, "Are you finished in the kitchen?"
"Almost," Shadowheart replied, "I'll need your help with dessert. It's your father's recipe after all."
"I'm not as good at making it as my father is, but I can try."
"That's all that matters in the end, no?" Shadowheart said playfully and took a few steps around the living room admiring her lover's handiwork, until she settleted on a garland, that seemed to catch her eye. It was a thin wreath made up of green leaves, "Come here a second." She beckoned Stephan over and the latter walked there quickly, asking if something was wrong, "Not quite," Shadowheart said and picked the garland up from where it hung. She proceeded to gently placed it on Stephan's head. When she was met with a confused look, Shadowheart simply shrugged, "I just thought it would look good on you. Don't take it off, I like it." Stephan did not argue.
Back inside the kitchen the two took to preparing for the dessert. At first they had to mix all dry ingredients and create a dough, from there they simply had to bake it. The sweet scent permeated through their little cottage carried in the winter's wind that blew gently through the small slit of the window that was open.
During the wait, Shadowheart sat down on the couch with a huff, while Buttons who had thus far been lying by the door, moved near Shadowheart and curled around her feet. Stephan stood for a little longer, fixing a few of the decorations that had gone askew. Soon they were joined by one of their cats, called Rodion, who had wandered out of their bedroom. He jumped onto the couch, stretched a little and climbed onto Shadowheart's lap and she began petting his dark blond fur. Stephan occasionally glanced at her beloved, and the look in her eyes was akin to a soft caress or kiss on the cheek.
The knock on the door startled them a little. "That must be them." Stephan said and turning to Shadowheart she added, "I will go fetch the two additional chairs from the shed. Remember after you take out the pastries, immediately submerge them into the syrup and then let them sit for a bit."
Shadowheart nodded and made her way back into the kitchen, while Stephan opened the door and greeted both Arnell and Emmeline, who stood behind it, letting them know that Shadowheart was in the other room. The two of them smiled and, as per their agreement with Stephan, went to keep Shadowheart occupied.
Shadowheart turned toward her parents as soon as she heard their footsteps, "I'm so glad you're here," a couple quick hugs followed in between smiles and warm greetings, "But what are you doing in the kitchen?"
"We thought that we could offer you a helping hand." Arnell gestured at the counter.
"So, what can we do, dear?" Emmeline asked.
Shadowheart smiled, pointing each to what they needed to do and after that everyone was taking care of their respective task. The room was filled with lighthearted chatter and laughter, and Shadowheart yet again was at a loss, marveling at just how fulfilling all of this was, far more than she could imagine and was led to believe. She was truly enjoying herself. So much so that she only realized that Stephan was fetching chairs for longer than she reasonably needed to, after there was quite literally nothing else left to do in the kitchen, and her parents were unable to keep her in there, like they had thus far, everytime she tried to leave.
Shadowheart walked into the living room, on her way to the front door, only to be met with her lover (still wearing the garland Shadowheart gave her, though now it sported a few snowflakes among the leaves that made it up) standing at its center surrounded by what appeared to be gifts.
Indeed, strewn all over the living room was a sea of colorful boxes with bows and weirdly shaped objects (that Shadowheart could not discern) of various sizes, wrapped in gleaming paper. "What's all this?" Her eyes jumping around the room, glancing at everyone of the presents.
"That are for you. It's customary to give gifts during Midwinter." Stephan replied.
Shadowheart felt her father's hand on her shoulder then, and turned to look at him, "We helped pick them for you."
"But it was her idea." Her mother pointed to Stephan, as Shadowheart turned to look at her next.
"I get that, but why are there so many?" Shadowheart addressed Stephan, evidently confused, as she approached the center of the room where she stood.
"Well, it's for all those holidays you missed. I thought we might try to make up for them." Stephan explained, as she took Shadowheart's hands into hers. A few seconds passed before the words fully sank in, and Shadowheart smiled brightly, in a way that, one might say, she lit up the entire room.
"Thank you" Shadowheart said, untangling her hands from Stephan's grip, and falling onto her, in a tight embrace, as if she was afraid the moment wouldn't last, "I don't know what to say." Her voice wavered somewhat, as she was choking back tears of joy, that had her eyes brimming.
"You don't have to say anything. You look happy and that's all that matters to me."