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fawnandshadows · 1 year

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Christmas Tree Farm

Word Count: 2k

AO3

Warnings: Language

Pairings: three brothers x three sisters, Elriel centric

MERRY, MERRY, MERYY Christmas to my beloved @nikethestatue . Thank you so much for your friendship this past year, and I hope you enjoy you gift 🥹🫶🏻

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Elain asked, her nose scrunched as she looked at the three men tying a tree to the top of Azriel’s truck.

“No,” Nesta answered for them, in a voice as cold as the early December air. Her hands were shoved into the pockets of her puffy coat, and Elain could see her sister shivering beneath the layers she piled on. “They don’t.”

“Nessy, baby,” Cassian said in a strained voice, his neck crooked as he tried to avoid a spindly branch as he fastened a knot. “You know your attitude gives me a hard on, but I can’t flirt right now.”

They collectively gagged, all five of them who weren’t named Nesta. She simply smiled while the rest of them tried to ignore all mentions of Cassian’s penis.

“Weird you get turned on by the Loch Ness Monster.” Rhys said from the opposite side of the truck, and from the way the tree jostled Elain could tell he was trying to tighten his side of the chords.

Elain could feel Nesta’s self-control slowly snapping like a rope being pulled in two directions until nothing but a small thread existed. She scrambled for a way to break the tension, knowing the animosity between her sister and Rhysand had been growing this holiday season.

Ever since Rhys proposed to Feyre, their youngest sister. Elain was happy when Feyre showed her the dazzling sapphire on her finger, but Nesta was furious. She started lecturing Feyre on how they had only been dating a year and that at 20 there was still so much left for her to experience. Elain winced when Nesta mentioned she couldn’t even drink at her bachelorette party.

Nesta and Rhys had never gotten along, but the more Feyre created her own life with Rhysand, the more desperately Nesta tried to hang on to her sister. Afraid she was creating a life without her. And Rhys…as much as Elain loved him…was an ass to Nesta — he knew exactly what words to say to push her over the edge, but Cassian was always there to comfort her. Nesta never ceased to remind him that he was five years older than Feyre, and Rhys always reminded her that she needed Feyre more than Feyre needed her.

Elain opened her mouth to ask if they needed any help, but the sound of snow crunching under boots and Feyre’s sweet voice saved her from salvaging the situation.

“How’s it going?” Feyre asked, carrying a red plastic tray with styrofoam to-go mugs of steaming cider balancing on it.

Rhysand immediately let go of his side of the chord, slackening the rope and inadvertently causing Cassian to stumble, and he rushed to his fiancé’s side to take the tray from her hands.

“I got it, love.” Rhys said as he leaned down to kiss Feyre, whose cheeks were red from more than just the cold.

“Thank you,” Feyre said, taking one of the cups off of the tray and bringing it to her lips. Her golden brown hair long and straight underneath her purple beanie. She gazed up at her fiancé with so much love Elain felt like she should be looking away, the same type of feeling you get when you look at the sun for too long. “I thought this would warm us up.”

Elain reached for one, sending her sister a thankful smile and hugging the styrofoam cup between her mittened hands. She blew gently over the opening, her lips puckered as her eyes drifted to the tall man that walked up behind her.

Azriel leaned forward to grasp one of the ciders, leaning much too close to Elain. His scent of cedar completely enveloping her and causing her mind to muddle. Which wasn’t how she should be feeling, especially considering she had a boyfriend who already was probably already freaking out because she wasn’t answering his texts. The spotty service at the Christmas Tree Farm refused to push her texts through, but had no trouble accepting them.

Graysen was already worried about her and Azriel living together…and Elain only partly understood it. Azriel was absurdly beautiful, and to say otherwise would be a lie. But it wasn’t as if they lived alone together, her sisters and his brothers lived with them. All six of them living together in Rhysands townhouse in the center of the city. Graysen had been hounding her to move in with him, but Elain wasn’t ready to leave her family just yet. She just wished Graysen would believe her, but he was constantly plaguing her with texts:

Is Azriel with you?

Are you home?

Send pics.

Elain made the mistake of sending him a pic of family game night, scrabble tiles splayed on the table and half full glasses of wine. Feyre, drowning in one of her fiancé’s cream sweaters, was smiling brightly since Rhysand had his arm slung over her shoulder with his cheek pressed into hers. Nesta was hiding a smile and fake glaring at Cassian, who held a strand of her hair smushed between his upper lip and nose like a mustache. And Azriel was smiling politely at the camera, one hand placed on Elain’s thigh, and Elain had her head tilted close to his just to make sure everyone could fit into the frame. She had forgotten that she was in Azriel’s Steelers sweatshirt, not thinking twice about the way Azriel was touching her.

Elain, apparently, looked too happy in the picture.

Graysen didn’t even respond. He simply drove to her house and banged on the door — it all happened so fast that Elain could barely remember what he said. She just remembered grabbing his arm and pleading with him to stop yelling at Azriel. The only word that Elain heard him say clearly was slut which caused Azriel to slug Graysen in the jaw. Cassian rushed to hold his brother back, though Elain could tell he wanted nothing more than to lay in on Graysen himself, and it was only Elain’s tear-stained face that stopped him.

Ever since then Graysen dropped in periodically, but he would be met with nothing but glares from her family and Elain’s tentative smile. Nothing explosive has happened since that one night, but Elain was always careful not to set him off.

Her phone pinged, drawing her out of her memories, and Elain looked to see a message from:

??????

She tried to respond, but the green text bubble just mocked her. With a sigh she shoved the phone back in her pocket and adjusted her mittens.

“Everything ok?” Azriel asked with a pulled brow, standing close enough to her that the others couldn’t hear.

The cold had turned his cheeks red with a flush, and his leather jacket was zipped all the way up with his cobalt scarf tucked into it. The scarf Elain had knitted for him last year — she made one for everyone in her family, but Azriel wore it more often than anyone else. So she knitted him matching mittens and a hat, one that would keep his ears warm and had a little pom on top, for his gift this year.

Elain even stitched in a little gnome design, knowing how much he enjoyed them around Christmas. She had a gnome statue that Azriel adored, and this year she got the little guy two more gnome buddies so he wouldn’t be lonely.

“Just trying to text Graysen, but the messages won’t go through.” Elain replied with a tense smile, wanting to quash the agitation she saw in Azriel’s features.

“He didn’t want to come?”

“I didn’t invite him,” Elain admitted, chewing on her lip and shifting on her feet. “It’s a family event. Getting a tree for our home.”

“You’re happier without him,” Azriel said bluntly, his knuckles turning white around his cider. Elain opened her mouth to defend her relationship, but Azriel kept going. “Don’t lie to me,” his hazel eyes burned as he gazed down at her. “You don’t smile when he’s around. Which is a shame,” Her breath turned to icicles in her lungs. His chilled hand came up to caress her jaw, his thumb dusting over her lips. “You have a beautiful smile, Elain. The world should see it more.”

Azriel quickly dropped his hand and the cold air stung her cheek.

“We just have to tighten the knots,” Cassian said in a booming voice, one arm over Nesta’s shoulder as she huddled into his warmth, burrowing into his red plaid coat. “And then we’re good to go,” He brought one hand up to take a sip of his cider. Nesta mumbled into his chest. “What’s that Nes?”

Nesta pulled her head back long enough to say, “You better not have picked a tree with a spider's nest.” before pressing her face back into his chest.

“But I heard they’re your favorite breakfast? Right after the hearts of innocence.” Rhysand said, pathetically shrugging at Feyre’s stern look.

Nesta pulled her head back to retort, but Cassian capture her lips in a heated kiss to distract her.

“Ignore him, Nes, he’s just sad the flurries are messing up his hair.”

“I’m wearing a hat, dick.” Rhysand said, but he sent a questioning look to Feyre anyway.

“You look handsome,” Feyre said, raising to her tiptoes to kiss his nose. “Very sexy.” Rhysand relaxed a bit at her words.

“Are you cold?” Azriel asked, his expression worried.

“A bit.” Elain admitted, taking another sip.

She watched as Azriel unzipped his jacket and opened his arms. For a second she bit her lip in hesitation, but a gust of wind blew some powdery snow into her face and Elain took shelter in his embrace. One arm sliding underneath his jacket and behind his back. Her cheek pressed against his soft sweater.

“Cashmere?” Elain asked into his chest, ignoring the flutters she felt as Azriel wrapped his arms around her and tucked his chin on top of her head.

“Mmhm.” Azriel responded and Elain felt the vibrations through his chest.

“I’m going to break up with him,” Elain whispered, her eyes shut tight. “But I’m scared.”

His body stilled and tensed at the words.

“Do you want me to go with you?” Azriel asked in a dark, even voice.

“Please.”

Azriel opened his mouth to respond, but Feyre cleared her throat. Silently asking for everyone's attention.

Elain opened her eyes and stood on her tip toes to see her sister. Azriel pivoted slightly to accommodate her.

“We have an announcement,” Feyre said, smiling nervously. “We were going to wait, but it’s so pretty here—” she spread her arms wide and gestured to the array of green trees dusted in snow, and the twinkling lights hung around the Christmas tree farm.

“You’re pregnant,” Nesta said in a cold voice, her glare narrowing in on Rhysand. “That’s why you’re getting married.”

Rhysand rolled his eyes and was about to respond, but Feyre placed a hand on his chest.

“No,” Feyre said, and sent an imploring look to her sister, begging her to be nice. “We set a date for the wedding,” She peered up at Rhysand, who motioned for her to continue with a smile. “New Years Eve.”

“That’s less than a month away.” Nesta said, about to take a step forward, but Cassian huddled her closer to his chest.

“Of next year,” Feyre explained, her brilliant smile not dimming from her sister's frosty look. “We need time to plan the wedding of Rhysand’s dreams.”

“You deserve the best, Feyre Darling.” Rhys purred, kissing his fiancé’s cheek.

“It will be beautiful.” Elain said, her voice not faltering as all of their eyes turned her way and saw her wrapped in Azriel.

“Obviously,” Feyre continued, her smile growing. “I’m going to need bridesmaids.”

“And I’ll need groomsmen.” Rhys said, smiling over Feyre’s head.

“I always knew Rhysie would ask me to marry him one day.” Cassian whispered loudly into Nesta’s ear, causing everyone to chuckle.

Feyre raised a pointing, gloved hand at Cassian and said, “Stop flirting with my fiancé or I’ll start to get jealous.”

“I’m really enjoying this conversation and all,” Nesta said, her teeth chattering. “But maybe we could continue it in the car. On the way home. With my butt warmer on.”

Nesta and Feyre squeeze into the back of the truck, and Elain sat waiting in the front middle seat. Her unofficial assigned seat as the shortest member of their family, but spending an hour sitting next to Azriel made her feel warm on the inside, so she didn’t care about the fact that she was missing a butt warmer.

Soon enough the boys slid into the car and Elain found Azriel pressing into her side, his arm slung over the back of the bench seat.

Elain hesitated for a moment before laying her head on his shoulder. She could practically feel him grinning at the contact.

The radio came on with the car and a warm burst of air came through the vent. Her eyes fell shut and she felt herself drifting away to the sounds of her family bickering and Nat King Cole’s voice crooning through the speakers.

She shifted more into Azriel, her body relaxing as she let herself fall asleep.

——

Tagging: @thefangirlofhp @sakurakittypeach @nikethestatue @tswaney17 @impossiblescissorspeachpaper @feyredarlinq @alwayssara @nyxreads @rinadragomir @secretpuppyflower @captainbrucebanner @ultadverb @irisesforelain @shedoessoshedoes @magnolia-blossom87 @sheena-beene @nivem565 @casuallivi @rhysiedarling @elain99 @athena-85 @swankii-art-teacher @reverie-tales @jujugirlfrombookstore @shadowflorecita @shy-violet-soul

#elriel #elain x azriel #elain archeron #pro elriel #azriel #elriel fanfiction #elriel fanfic #fawnandshadows writing #cozy days and snowy nights #Nike please forgive me for giving you a fic inspired by a taylor song #smutty part two in the near future #for some reason some of the tags weren’t working 😭

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