Love.

In all the movies, love is supposed to be simple, isn't it? Easy. Perfect. Effortless. All the movies say true love is like that- don't they? So when you grow up, you search and search and search for something like that. Something that is easy, only to come up with a silver platter that was only made of stone all along.

Love isn't easy. It's not perfect. It's not effortless.

But the wonderful thing about love: it's not rare. Sometimes it can feel that way, when you're drowning in yourself, pummeled by wave after wave of mindlessly numbing thoughts. When the claws of childish youth have ripped your lips apart in silent screams of agony. When the air turns bitter and twisted, and your breath is stolen from your lungs by a pantomiming poltergeist.

It's easy to fall into the faults of your own mind, like the wells of deep depressions have let you collapse a little too far. Love is a pathway. Love is a journey.

Love is a ladder.

It's not an escalator, not some minor button to press, it takes time, and energy, and effort. It takes compromise and motivation, but most of all it takes a choice. Love is not a choice, that's not what I'm telling you, my sweet, angelic readers. But there comes a choice when you love someone, a moment where you have to make a choice to keep fighting. It's always dramatic, the movies I suppose, fight for your love.

Love is war, in a way. It's a fight, often merciless and unrelenting, but in the end - isn't the sunrise after a war is over, the prettiest sight you've ever seen? With war, comes peace. With love, comes fighting. War is complicated. Love is complicated. Everything is complicated. Life is just complicated.

Love makes it a little easier. Okay – a lot easier.

Love soothes those thoughts, detrimental and frightening. Love takes the claws, and clasps them on their own. Love softens the snowstorm of winter, and returns the oxygen stolen from you. Love is..well...love. In any form. In the way, you hold your friend's hands when they're cold. The way your sister waits for you by the door to return home from college. The way your younger brother tells you your ex-boyfriend simply isn't worth it because he didn't call. The way your mother cradles your face. The way your father jokes about a shotgun every time you mention a date. The way your lover insists the scars are the prettiest thing they've ever not seen - not out of guilt, pity, or dread, but because you are a survivor. Because you were strong enough to not only get up but to keep going.

No, love is not simple, easy, or effortless.

But what love is, is worth it.

This is a story about love.

It may not be perfect, but it is mine. And mine is so much more important than perfect.

Hasn't someone ever called you, my love? They mean it. It's not possession, but rather loyalty; devotion. My love is a promise written not in stone, but in actions. My love. I will burn the stars if they keep you awake. I will hunt the monsters if they haunted you first. I will keep you safe, and warm, and loved.

And doesn't everyone want to be loved?

Everyone deserves to feel loved. To feel wanted.

Love is hope, too.

The town of Houlton, Maine hasn't felt hope- hasn't felt love in a long while. It's been far too long for many of the residents, and as winter is fast to approach, along with the holiday season, there is a desperate need for a revival. Now, I don't know the members of H.O.L.L.Y. personally, but I do know they get shit done, one way or the other. Thanks to the rigid scheduling of some of its more...structured members, and the blazing optimism and spirit of its second half. Either way, they're doing their best to bring some holiday spirit back to the quiet town.

What brings hope back better than a love story?

There's probably something out there that does the trick, but I prefer romance, dear reader, and so does H.O.L.L.Y., luckily for me.

So settle in, as cold winters rattle windows, and the scent of cinnamon and cardamom settle before a wood-burning fireplace. It's the winter solstice, after all.

Deep in the town of Houlton, Maine
A house stood haunted by Christmas pain
A bright, lovely woman stands at the gates
Waiting in spirit for her son out of state

HOLLY will watch and wait from afar
Persistent as ever, however bizarre
A love story unfolds, just see and wait
It's Christmas dear reader, it's only their fate

Cartilia Delaine, a fair woman with a fair heart, stood on the front porch of the house, waiting for the familiar bumbling sight of her step-son's, well son in any way that really matters, car to come up the spiraling driveway at the foot of her home. The house was extravagant, sometimes too large and empty for her taste, but she couldn't part with it still. It's the home of too many memories, of too much laughter - it was his home, her husband's. Toby's father. Tobias' father. A pretty smile twitched the corners of her mouth up- he did go by Tobias now, didn't he? Toby is what Emil called him. She can't fault him for not wanting to hear it any longer. She didn't want to hear any sweet names, like honey or sweetheart much from anyone else either.

Tobias should be home any minute now, he always came to see her for Christmas, despite the tragedy that loomed over it. Cartilia couldn't dwell on it much, and it's much more painful to be alone and sad. Besides, you should hold onto the people you love the most during this time of year, and she loves Tobias very much. She didn't need him to call her mom, Cartilia was special in its own way - just between them. She made sure Tobias knew that.

The winter air was sweet and cool, and it wasn't long (thankfully) that she had to stand at the door before seeing the car, smooth and sleek as she had remembered, arrive. Tobias had taken after his father, going to Princeton, studying English. He would be so proud of him- he was so proud of him, Cartilia was sure of it. He was living in San Diego now, a lifetime and a half away, but he would still call often enough.

He's never missed a single Christmas here.

She hears blabbering in town from some, their children aren't able to make it. Too busy, too expensive, too far. All valid and important reasons to consider, but it creates a special section in her heart for a gratefulness that Tobias has never let her be alone on Christmas, even if they're in separate rooms of the house- it's a great comfort to know he's here.

Sometimes she forgets how tall he is. It never ceases to make her pause when he steps out of the rental car, a smile mirroring Emil's that used to send pangs through her chest like a bullet, with a height around a foot taller than her. Still, her smile stretched across her features in a moment, and she clutched the comfortable coat to her body as he walked up the short steps to greet her with a hug.

"How was the flight? Did you land alright?"

"I did, Cartilia." He gave his own smile, ushering her back inside with his suitcase to shut the door behind them both. The house was warm with the scent of snickerdoodles and shortbread, basking in the holiday spirit of Christmas. It was Emil's favorite holiday, and Cartilia could never quite bear the idea that Emil could be somewhere knowing that the house wasn't decorated like it used to be. So it was still smothered in the holiday joy, so his spirit could rest easy. Tobias' stepmother must have missed the pause on his face, taking in the decor as he did every year because she tugged his suitcase out of the way to the side. Dismissing the looming thoughts, he gave a short nod, "It was a fine flight. Bangor was busy, but I expected that." he reached for his suitcase again, only for Cartilia to wave him off.

"Oh- come and sit for a second would you? It's an hour and a half drive from Bangor, not to mention quite the flight, aren't you tired?"

"I'll just be a second, I swear." Tobias picked up the suitcase anyway, returning a smile. "We can walk and talk, can't we?"

"I suppose." Cartilia looked to her feet as a meow of greeting as Duchess rubbed against her legs, before rolling over in front of Tobias. His smile turned soft, a fraction more genuine than it had been taking in much of the vomited Christmas season - not that Cartilia wasn't a tasteful decorator, she was. His stepmother sighed, reaching down to scoop up the cat, "I see your soulmate has missed you dearly." She shook her head, "I swear, Tobias, she likes you much more than me- you should just take her with you."

A laugh reverberated in his chest, soft and muted as he shook his head, making his way to his room. "You don't mean that; Duchess loves you very much, Cartilia, she'd get over my presence if I was here longer. Besides, Duchess would enjoy that flight back to San Diego about just as much as I did on my way here."

"That bad?"

"A lot of turbulence."

"Hmm." She set Duchess on his bed as they stepped into the room, rubbing her ears before looking up at Tobias. "Well, there's a stormfront building up in the northeast."

"Where'd you hear that?"

"Eleanor!"

Tobias sighed, sticking his hands in his pockets as he narrowed his eyes, "Cartilia, Eleanor is also convinced that one rainstorm is going to be the next great flood." He shook his head, "Did you look up this information? What about weather stations or the news, anything?"

"Oh, stop being such a skeptic. Have a little faith." She crossed her arms over her chest, "Of course, I skimmed a little bit, but snow on Christmas is a nice hope, isn't it?"

"Unless I'm snowed in and can't get on my return flight."

Cartilia waved him off, shaking her head as she turned for the door, "Well, whatever. When you're done having an attitude, I'll be downstairs with cookies." She mocked a scolding face back to him, despite her tone betraying the sincerity of the statement. "Sana Price lent me her recipe this year, you remember the Prices don't you?"

She said it as if he could ever forget. As if the thought of seeing any member of that family sent his heart into a spiral of blurry dread, unstitching the carefully healed parts of his heart that had been broken oh so long ago. Tobias did his best to not stiffen or look awkward, politely nodding. "Yes, of course I do."

"Yes, well. I ran into her at the market last weekend when I was picking up some things. Her daughter is coming home for Christmas, isn't that nice?" She traced an invisible pattern on the door frame, feigning innocence.

"She has two daughters."

"Oh- you know who I'm talking about. Kaleah is going to be home for Christmas tomorrow."

"So?"

"So! Maybe it'd be nice for you two to see each other, you know, catch up."

"Cartilia, she doesn't want anything to do with me. She wanted to break up- it's been six years. We haven't talked at all, it's weird to try and talk to her now, especially with nothing pushing us to talk to each other."

"Oh that's right, I didn't mention it."

"Mention what?"

"The Prices, we're going to have dinner tomorrow together."

"What."

A lover of Christmas on her way home
Discomforted by blizzards, and white winter snow
To home in Houlton, deep in Maine
For the promise of family and colored candy canes

A story awaits, unbeknownst to her
Of spirit and solstice: pine, spruce, and fir
It's the week of yule, and spirits are about
Holly is working, I don't have a doubt

"Is the snow that bad? Pull over if you need to pumpkin, I'll come and get you-"

"Dad, it's not that bad. I can still see." Kaleah gripped the wheel at ten and two, eyes scanning the wintery weather stretched out along the road. "Besides, I'm still a good five hours away, I'm sure it won't be like this for much longer. It'll clear up."

Craig Price scowled, shaking his head, "I don't know why you couldn't just fly a little closer-"

"The flight was canceled, and there was no way I was going to find something this close to Christmas! Anything that wasn't drastically out of my price range anyway- and no you couldn't have paid for it, don't suggest that again."

Kaleah's mother sighed on the other side of the line, shaking her head "Your father is worried dear, and so am I! If you need to stop for the night, do that. I don't want you driving for much longer in the dark."

"I'll be alright Mom." Kaleah sent a sparring glance towards the call presented as if her parents could somehow feel the look through the screen. "I'll go slow, and I'll be careful. I just want to be home in time tomorrow for the annual bake-off-"

"You mean to get your ass kicked in the annual bake-off-"

There was a soft smacking sound, and Sana's voice rang loud and clear, "Thea! Don't distract your sister, she's driving, it could be serious."

"Alright, alright ma- sorry cookie."

Kaleah could hear her grin through the phone and felt embarrassment flush her cheeks despite not even being present at the house. She groaned, shrinking a little into her seat, "Please tell you you guys are going to let that nickname go this year."

"Wouldn't think of it." That was Jay then, smirking like a great-value version of Flynn Ryder, she was sure.

"Just drive safe, Leah." Heidi's voice always made her smile, then again- when did her sister-in-law fail to lift her spirits, even just a fraction? "We can be on a team this year, me and you. Maybe Jay and Thea will spend the entire time bickering, then we might have a fighting chance."

Kaleah laughed, the sound warm and honeyed, "Heidi, you've never made a bad dessert in your life-"

"Ah! Not true. Once I gave Hector a cake made with salt for April Fools."

"Okay, fine- correction - you've never made a bad dessert on accident in your life."

Hector grumbled his agreement but scoffed anyway. "I can't believe you would do that to me, the love of your life."

"But you were so cute- you ate an entire slice and told me how much you loved it cause you didn't want to hurt my feelings, remember?"

"Well, I do love you more than a piece of bad cake."

"Stop being gross and sappy." Thea sighed dramatically, "I'm already oh-so-very alone this Christmas, so can it with the soulmate stuff."

Kaleah laughed again, spirits lifted tremendously from just a simple call to her family. "If it helps Thea, I'm also alone this Christmas."

"No boyfriend to bring home?"

"Or girlfriend," Hector added, prompting the silent reminder to their mother. Kaleah smiled at the support.

"Or partner," Heidi added, and Thea laughed a little in response.

"Kaleah, you like all of 'em and you can't get any-"

"Hey!" Leah shot out in protest, despite the humor that warmed her chest amidst the swirling snowstorm. "I was defending you, besides, I don't need a partner to be happy- I can be proud of myself just fine without someone at all." her eyes scanned across the road, extra wary for any sparring creatures to dart across at any moment. It'd kill her to hit an animal, really, it would. She'd pull over and cry for a while if she did, regardless of what it was. They just sat a little too close to her heart for it not to affect her at all. Animals were everything to her, her livelihood, her career. She likes driving- she does, but the weather plus the already lowering visibility makes her increasingly wary and nervous about hitting something on the road.

Thea hummed again, mulling that over. "Well, maybe you won't be alone forever-"

"Thea! Shush up- we haven't told her yet."

Nerves on top of nerves struck the chords of Kaleah's heart, and hesitance weaved tapestries in her speech. "What do you mean- you haven't told me yet. Haven't told me what, exactly?"

There was a too-long pause of silence, one that told her exactly what was going on. Thea, no doubt, was getting some kind of scolding look from every member of the family present. Of course, this only fed her anxiety regarding the situation.

Family sure is good at that sort of thing, aren't they?

"Dad? Tell me what."

"Oh come on- if you won't tell her, I will." Kaleah could see the image of her sister crossing her arms petulantly, as if determined to undermine some kind of secret kept from her sister.

Instead, Sana Price spoke up. "Ah- well, you see, I ran into Cartilia at the market not too long ago. She's borrowing my snickerdoodle and shortbread recipes- I told her to keep an eye on them the first time. The cookies always choose the baker-"

"What an omen for Leah."

"Thea, mom's talking."

"-Anyway, you remember Cartilia, don't you?"

Kaleah gripped the wheel a little tighter, tight enough that her knuckles were starting to turn white. Of course, she remembered Cartilia- how could she ever forget the mother figure to the love of her life?

No- not the love of her life. Not her soulmate.

God, she has to stop thinking that.

"Yes, of course I remember Cartilia, Mom."

"Right, yes, well- anyway. Tobias is coming home for Christmas, he just got in this morning I think. Late in the morning though."

"Okay? So? It's not like we talk or anything."

"Yeah, we'll you're about to." Thea snickered again, and it was accompanied by another soft smack, probably the sound of her mother's oven mitt swatting over at her once again.

Kaleah, on the other hand, felt her heart stop dead in her chest when her mother continued with. "We're having dinner together tomorrow."

Oh winter spirits, come out to play
On this joyous solstice day
Warm the hearts of the residents here
Grant them blessings and days of good cheer

A story unfolds, my readers, you know
A renewal of history, a reminder of home
Long be the wait for star-crossed lovers
But thank god Holly, is a group that does hover

"A dinner?" Kari raised their eyebrow, looking skeptically over the carefully printed schedule Mei had given to each of them. Setting it down, they tapped their fingers absentmindedly on the table. "Already working on a timeline I see."

"We don't have a lot of time." Mei leaned against the counter of their kitchen, cracking her knuckles. "We gotta get the ball rolling on this, we don't have a lot of room for a natural 'oops i ran into you'"

"Even though those are the most romantic." Beside Kari, Aurora sighed, looking out the window briefly. The falling snow illuminated her face, but it seemed to only leave pain painted on features so soft they could vanish in an instant. The vicious memories vanished in an instant, less time than they took to appear, and she turned to look at Belina for a supporting vote. "Well they are, aren't they?"

"They are." Belina offered a warm smile, the kind that lit up a room, as she glided towards the table, setting a bowl of steaming soup in front of Aurora. "However, we don't have a lot of time, and there's no one better at time management than Mei."

"I know." Aurora grumbled a little, and Mei shook her head, pushing off the counter to take her own seat at the table.

"Look, there's plenty of room in the schedule to look into more 'accidental' meet-ups, but we already have a few on schedule after this. They're bound to be awkward with each other. Six years isn't nothing."

Kari continued to tap their fingers, letting their mind wander instead. Their placement in Houlton was nice, on the outskirts of the town, about half an hour from it in fact, so it wasn't anywhere someone might notice them. The manifestation of their home was thanks to Belina for the most part, as she was the controller of the hearth of Yule, and caretaker of the Yule cat. Mei helped along with the physical things they more or less needed within the house. So while Belina would offer safety, Mei offered substance.

Rora and them had a different job, one that more or less was increasingly important to the actual targets of the mission itself. Not that Belina and Mei weren't important, they most certainly were, but it was a different kind of important. That's what made them work though, all varied specialties and tasks.

"Kari?"

It was Belina, eyebrows knitted as she set a hand on their arm, holding out a bowl of soup in front of them as well. Right- Kari had forgotten that due to the physical manifestation, essentially a temporary mortal form, they would have to treat it as such as well. Sleeping, eating, etc. They grimaced but nodded their head. "Thank you, Bella, sit down too, would you?"

"I will." She gave their arm a squeeze, before ushering Mei to sit down as well, then taking her own seat. "What were you thinking of anyway, Captain?"

Kari dismissed the nickname just this once, despite the aching fondness that spread through their chest. Belina was very sweet in that way, and she was the other oldest member here, surely remembering the first time that came up. Dismissing the thoughts, they resumed their tapping. "Don't any of you find this mission slightly..odd?"

"Odd?" Aurora perked up, tugging at her hair, "How so?"

"I mean- the guardians, they mentioned this as our mission, doesn't it feel a little-" How should they put this exactly, "..trivial?"

"Love isn't trivial." Aurora protested immediately, and Kari sent her a scolding look.

"That isn't what I said." Their fingers drummed against the wood rhythmically, "I mean, don't you think there might be bigger things we need to look after this season?"

"I don't know why they would give you a mission that was trivial, Kari. You're basically old enough to be a guardian yourself, they trust you."

"Gee, thanks Mei." Kari spoke flatly. They usually did though, during their physical manifestation. It was only thanks to that physical manifestation that they could speak. Any other time, they were silent at the grave- or as their first name, if that mattered anyway. Tone is difficult when you aren't used to talking. Of course, they can read tone like no one else in HOLLY, but when it comes to saying things, that's completely different.

"That's not what I meant." She sighed exasperatingly, cracking her knuckles again as she waited for the soup to cool, (unlike Aurora, who was wolfing it down so fast Belina was worried she'd burn her tongue). "I just mean, you've been doing this for a long time, I'm sure they wouldn't waste your time."

"Houlton does feel miserable," Belina added, swirling her own bowl with a spoon. "It feels so empty- even if people are trying. Maybe they just need a good story to get them back on their feet."

Kari leaned back in their chair instead, fidgeting with the scarf around their neck, one that had been dutifully stitched by Aurora upon their first day of manifestation. "One romance isn't going to do that. Wouldn't they need something a little more powerful?"

"Love is powerful." Aurora countered, yet again.

Kari wasn't trying to be a skeptic, really, they weren't. And Aurora did make it difficult to be so adamant. Mei offered her own shared smile, along with Belina's in response to Aurora's comment. "Have a little faith in the spirit of love, Kari, you're the one leading us."

And so we now begin our adventure of love
May the stars guide our guardians above
Holly lurks in the shadows of Yule
Not aiming to fear, but to use as a tool

And now you must wait for the story to endure
So rest your sweet heads as I now concur
Love is not power, not freedom, not blight
Love is something to be seen, on this cold Yule night

────୨ৎ────

WYN

Hi all! I hope you enjoyed this first chapter of Yule! I loved writing it, and actually it made me feel significantly better about how things are going in my own life. I hope everyone had the best winter solstice they could, and I hope your Yule continues to only get better.

This chapter was a little bit longer than I expected, but it was awesome to write! I wanted everyone to get a quick little cameo, along with an introduction to our characters.

Stay warm and safe out there! I hope none of you minded the more narration role I took in my writing, let me know about things feedback wise if you didn't enjoy i

Love you all! Goodnight <3