"Glamorous and positively glowing"

14 months later, 25th December 1988

Blinking tiredly, Carol was met with the bare back of her girlfriend of over a year. Smiling, she turns onto her back, keeping the duvet tight around her abdomen as she looked around the bright room.

It was vast, the white walls widening the already large room, the walls lined with photographs and bookshelves. A large window stood tall beside the closet door, a curtain waving ever-so-slightly under the breeze leaking in under the window. Sighing, Carol turned her head and smiled at the woman stirring in her sleep next to her.

After a few minutes, Lillian turned her head and noticed Carol staring.

"It's rude to stare," she mumbled, turning to face her with a smile.

"I wouldn't have to if you weren't so goddamn gorgeous." Carol's comment made her blush and stretch.

"Merry Christmas, Carol," propping herself up, Carol smiles down at the blonde, wishing her a Merry Christmas also and leaning down to press a soft kiss to her lips.

"Come on," Carol mumbles against her lips, "Monica's probably had Maria up for hours now." Rolling over, Carol rolls out of bed heading to the bathroom. As she walked across the room, she felt Lillian staring- the gaze forever scorching her bare skin. "It's rude to stare," Carol called over her shoulder.

"I wouldn't have to if you weren't so perfect," Lillian called after her as she disappeared into the bathroom.

▪︎~○••○~▪︎

Walking into the detached house, Carol looks around silently trying to silence the heaving bag in her hands. She shimmies her way around the dining table and glances into the lounge, seeing the Christmas tree lit up and presents scattered around it and a small whining voice echoed into the hall.

"When is Auntie Carol getting here?" Sharing a knowing smile with Carol, Lillian steps up to the door frame and knocks on the wood.

"Knock knock," She smiles, looking into the room.

"Lilly!" Monica leaps up from where she was strewn over the couch and leaps at the woman. As the two of them laugh, Carol steps around them with a fake scoff.

"Auntie Carol my ar-" she catches Maria's eye and coughs, "butt. My butt." As Monica pulls away from Lillian, the blonde in question reaching out the pinch said butt before walking over to greet Maria.

"Merry Christmas, Maria." As they sat around the tree watching Monica open her presents, Carol rested her head on Lillian's shoulder with a blissful smile. Lillian turned her head to press a kiss to the top of her head. "Merry Christmas, Carol," she mumbles into her hair as her arms weave around her frame.