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━━━

"How 'bout this one?"

August's voice rings across my hearing, holding a line of shiny, scarlet-red tinsel.

I nod softly, my hands motioning, "it'll be nice around the tree, yes," I nod, my approval earning him a large smile.

He scuttles to the tree; a tree he managed to get bought into the town from foreign farmers, his body suited to the height and width of such a large tree.

Decorating a tree with my future husband.

Romantic, truly.

Perfect.

I smile warmly to myself.

The air is beginning to lower in temperature, just faintly. Winter is approaching, and so is Christmas.

Christmas, with August.

I'm excited!

I watch as he gently slides and wraps the coloured, gleaming tinsel around the tree, adjusting its position, as I hold different glitter-coated and coloured Christmas baubles.

Sliding them over different branches, we work together as the tree begins to flourish in festive colour, my own happiness blooming at the sight.

He's smiling also, largely.

Christmas, only a few days away, readily approaching as he fluffs out the branches.

"Is the tree nice? Do ya' like it?" He asks quite enthusiastically, glancing at me hopefully as I nod warmly, expressing truthfully,

"It's so nice- it smells lovely also," As he grins.

"Don't it? I paid a decent amount, but it's perfect; you're perfect," he murmurs, my head perking to the softened tone lined across his voice.

"Do you know who'll be at Dorothy's Christmas party...?" I ask quietly, head lifting to meet his deep gaze as he hums in quiet thought.

Hands clasping, he cracks his knuckles, "Dorothy, you and I, some co-workers, her family-friends... the townspeople, I suppose," he shrugs, turning back to me with a sigh.

"It don't matter, we'll go fer' however long ya' mind can handle, I'll have a drink or two, you can have yer' gal-talk with Dorothy, have somethin' ta' eat, and we'll head off and light that ol' dusty barn down the town on fire,"

He smiles excitedly, a soft laugh gently leaving me as I shake my head gently.

"Your so silly,"

"I'm completely serious," he giggles, eyeing the now-completed tree like an artwork

━━━

Each day flows by faster than I had expected, and as it does, Christmas has arrived.

Christmas, is here.

And I am awoken by August repeating that to me, over and over again, August scooping me out of the sheets as crack of dawn glistens through the windows.

The air is colder, and as I sit on the carpeted floor across from the glistening tree, August is lighting the fireplace, poking a stick at the brewing flames.

Hues of yellow and orange dance over the burning wood, his figure excitedly shifting to sit next to me.

Endearment pulses through me to see such a gentle giant ecstatic over a festive holiday, and it makes me happy.