#jatpadvent2023

[invisibleraven]

Haunted Holidays

December 6: Snowflakes <-AO3 link!

When Caleb declared he wanted Willie to experience a real white Christmas, the boy wondered if he intended to make it snow in LA at first. He was a magician after all. But when Willie had asked, Caleb had smirked and told him no, he hadn’t quite mastered control of the elements yet.

Instead he was going to take him up to a ski chalet for the holidays owned by a few friends of his. Willie didn’t know how to ski, but Caleb assured him he could learn, even if he was sure Willie would like snowboarding more.

Only when they arrived at the chalet, there wasn’t a bit of snow in sight. Clementine looked apologetic, telling them the forecast called for flurries later today, with a few inches overnight so they could hit the slopes tomorrow.

“There is another family here, and they have a little boy your age,” Clementine assured Willie, secretly handing him a candy cane with a wink.

Willie grinned, sucking on the treat, clutching Lancelot close as Caleb escorted him to their room. Caleb told him he was free to explore as long as he stayed out from underfoot and was back before dinner. Willie agreed to those terms, grabbed his jacket, patted Lancelot as he left the plush dragon on the bed, and took off.

The chalet had a nice great room, with a roaring fire, lots of games, and books for those who didn’t want to partake in outdoor sports. Willie promised himself he’d check all that out later, but headed for the lawn.

He left his coat open and had his toque shoved into his pocket instead of on his head, but it wasn’t overly cold out and Willie doubted there would actually be snow with it being this temperate. Instead he looked for a good tree to scale or a cool looking cave to explore.

Instead he found a little blonde boy, maybe a year younger than him, in a warm looking parka and a hat with a tassel on top.

He unfortunately found him by barrelling into him and ending them both laying flat on the ground.

“Ow…” the boy groaned.

“Oh sorry!” Willie said, popping up and giving the boy a hand. “I totally didn’t see you there, my bad!”

“It’s okay,” the boy said. “My coat cushioned the fall. I’m Alex by the way.”

“Willie.” He looked toward the gray sky and hummed. “You wanna play hide and seek?”

“We don’t know these woods, what if we get lost?” Alex asked, looking worried.

“That’s half the fun!” Willie exclaimed. “But we could go exploring instead. I don’t think there’s bears or coyotes.”

“Bears?” Alex squeaked.

“Don’t worry, you can hold my hand,” Willie assured him, and tugged him towards the woods.

They spent half the afternoon merrily exploring, though they found the fence before any creatures, and those were all birds and an odd field mouse. “Not even a raccoon,” Willie grumbled.

Alex giggled at that, swinging their hands between them. “I’m kind of glad about that, they have rabies, and that wasn’t on my Christmas list.”

“Mine either, but it still would have been cool to see one,” Willie admitted as they emerged from the tree line, back to the yard of the chalet.

But then they looked, and the ground was littered with white. “It’s snowing!” they yelled simultaneously, twirling around in the flakes. Stretching their tongues out to catch the flakes, laughing when Alex claimed the ones in January were better. Kicking the dusting on the ground up, trying and failing to flick the fine powder at each other.

“William!” Caleb yelled from the door. “Zip up your coat at this moment! I can’t afford for you to get me sick before the clubs’ New Years Eve extravaganza!”

Willie grumbled, and did as he was told, sticking his tongue out at Caleb as the man mimed the hat too, but he did as he was told. Willie hated getting sick so he supposed it was cold enough to justify the extra layer.

“Is that your dad?” Alex asked.

“Yup, he’s a buzzkill,” Willie replied. “But otherwise he’s pretty cool.”

“He doesn’t look like you-does your mom?” Alex asked.

“Caleb adopted me, and he’s gay, so if I had another parent it would be a dad, but his last boyfriend was a giant butt, so he said he was fine with the two of us for right now,” Willie explained.

Alex’s eyes were as wide as saucers at this, but then his mom called him to come in and wash up, which meant Willie knew he was going to get called in himself soon. “Could we play some games together later?’ he asked. “Maybe see if this place has good hot cocoa with marshmallows?”

“I’d like that,” Alex admitted, then rushed in to give Willie a quick hug before running off. Leaving Willie beaming as the snowflakes blurred Alex’s retreat, and he raced after, uncaring about the cold and wet, but really looking forward to enjoying his first white Christmas with Alex. And little did he know it, but it would be the first of many.

#jatpadvent2023 #willex #julie and the phantoms

[invisibleraven]

Haunted Holidays

December 21: Wrapping Paper <-AO3 link!

“I think that’s everything,” Carrie said as she looked over the sea of bags and boxes surrounding her.

“It had better be, I think we bought out half of LA,” Reggie groaned from where he had flung himself onto the couch.

“You know some of that is for you right?” Carrie replied.

“I’m aware,” Reggie said, looking up from the arms he had covering his face. “Which is why you should hide them while I’m too tired to peek.”

Carrie hummed but did grab a few bags and rushed off, making Reggie bite back a grin. Honestly he loved that she used the holiday season to spoil their loved ones. Stuff none of them would buy themselves, but they all secretly wanted. Carrie was aces at gifts, and Reggie was getting better since they started dating.

“Okay Peters,” Carrie declared as she reentered the den with a clap of her hands. “No napping, we have to get wrapping!”

Reggie groaned, sitting up and looking at her. “Okay, gimme a beat.”

Carrie scowled and waved a tube of wrapping paper at him. “Come on you.”

Reggie gave a mock salute and started taking items out of bags, handing them over to Carrie so she could find the right gift bag or bow to go with each gift. “I always figured you’d get a professional to do this kind of thing.”

She shook her head. “That’s more my dad’s thing. I like wrapping gifts, giving it that personal touch. Shows that you’re willing to spend the time on it outside the thought of the gift itself.”

“When I was a kid I wrapped all my gifts in the comics section of the newspaper-saved up the colour pages every Sunday to do it,” Reggie commented.

“MeeMaw didn’t have paper for you to use?” Carrie asked. She knew better to ask about his parents-they only gave him shame, complexes, and recrimination, never presents.

“I wanted to do it myself,” Reggie said with a shrug. “She loved my version of a personal touch.”

“I bet you made her great gifts,” Carrie said. She had never met MeeMaw, the woman had unfortunately passed before she got the chance. But she loved hearing Reggie’s stories about her.

“Oh yeah, the best pages of scribbles, popsicle stick picture frames, and clay handprints you ever did see,” Reggie said, then a look of melancholy passed over his face. “She kept it all though, had a box of it all stored in the attic.”

Carrie scooted over , cuddling into his side. “She loved you, and treasured everything you gave her. I know I would.”

Reggie snorted. “Doll you gave me an itemized list of gifts.”

She had done that hadn’t she? And she knew he had bought her every one without complaint. “I know,” she whispered. “I think I needed a reminder that it isn’t what you get, but the love and thought behind it.”

“So I can return the ludicrously pricey scarf?” Reggie jested.

“Not on your life,” Carrie said, sticking her tongue out at him. “But feel free to wrap it in some newspaper if you keep the packaging on it.”

Reggie grinned, tilting her head back for a kiss. “You know, I just might do that.”

Then on Christmas morning, Carrie had to laugh when every single one of her expensive presents were wrapped in homemade paper-covered in Reggie’s doodles and lyrics.

She kept every piece. Which turned out to be worth it, as the next year she used the paper he had made to wrap his gifts in. RReggie gave a delighted bark when he noticed, and made a show out of oh so carefully peeling the tape off so they could use it again.

By the third year, it was getting a bit worn, so Carrie said they would just have to make new paper, and spent a lovely afternoon doing so. “But we’re still keeping the old stuff right?” Reggie asked shyly.

“Oh sinta of course!” Carrie assured him. “We could make a cool art piece out of them if you want.”

She missed the way his face lit up at that, but Reggie thought that was for the best because he now had a plan to blow all other Christmas’ out of the water!

Oh Christmas morning, Carrie came down the stairs, and saw something hanging on the wall, covered by a sheet. Reggie was standing next to it, looking a little nervous, a little tired, but still his gorgeous sunshiney self. “Hey doll, Merry Christmas,” he said, greeting her with a kiss when she replied in kind.

“You figure out what to do with the paper after?” Carrie asked, taking a step back to survey the large set up.

“Yup, you wanna do the honours?’ Reggie asked.

Carrie nodded and ripped off the sheet, then gasped. There they were --all the pieces of wrapping paper. Covered in their doodles, notes, and little bits of their history. A photo of the two of them after a paintball game where she had dominated and Reggie was just happy to be there. Riding side by side on horseback, though Reggie was doing so with considerable more grace.

There were programs and ticket stubs, and a few candy wrappers, lyrics to half finished songs, even a section for Tisdale, Carrie’s Shar Pei that Reggie used to walk every day-it was how they met after all. And though she had crossed the rainbow bridge, the both of them would forever be grateful for her influence in them getting together.

Then right in the middle, was an origami heart, with the words Open Me printed on it. Carrie grinned at Reggie, wondering what silly pun awaited her-he did love his jokes her man.

Only when she opened the heart, there were only two words printed there. WOrds that made Carrie’s heart race and her face break into a smile. A smile that grew even wider when she saw Reggie kneeling before her with a ring made of folder paper.

“I swear I got you a real one,” he said, offering it up. “But I kinda had to doll.”

“No no, this is perfect,” Carrie said, slipping the ring onto her finger. “Yes by the way.”

Reggie whooped and spun them around, all while Carrie admired her ring. She knew it would probably end up framed somewhere so she could keep it forever-but right now it outmatched even the brightest of diamonds, and was worth more to her than every gift under the tree.

#jatpadvent2023 #jatp sweet tarts #julie and the phantoms

[invisibleraven]

Haunted Holidays

December 25: Family <-AO3 link!

Merry Christmas all!

Ray had one rule when the band made it big; they always came home for the holidays. No ifs, ands, or buts. No matter what else they were doing, or where in the world they were, Christmas time was family time. They had rolled their eyes but agreed, and had stuck to the agreement ever since.

At first it was just Julie, since the rest of them had their own families to spend time with, though they all migrated over to the Molina house at some point and didn’t really leave after that. But Ray didn’t mind, regardless of blood, they were all still his kids, and he’d rather have them here with him than out on the streets or getting into trouble.

Then Ray found out what Reggie was going home to and insisted he just stay with them from here on out. Went so far as to make himself a foster parent should Reggie ever need it, and by the next holiday season Reggie was emancipated and living with them full time.

The next year he found out about Luke running out on his parents, and squatting in their garage. He gave the boy a good talking to, but once he saw that Luke was determined to not go back, he urged him to at least let his parents know he was safe, and that he was always welcome. Things would always be tense with the Pattersons’, but they could at least rest easy knowing their son was somewhere safe, and loved.

By the next year, Julie, Luke, and Reggie were together as well, so Ray figured it was better for them to stay in the house where he could keep an eye on them rather than not. Plus it meant he didn’t have to look further into adult adoption and let the guys figure out a way to make themselves Molinas another way. He’d keep a hold of the family heirloom rings just in case.

Alex and Willie followed soon after-they usually stayed with Willie’s foster dad, but he often travelled for work, so any year they didn’t want to follow him, they were welcome to spend the holidays with the rest of the band. That became more and more frequent over the years, with both boys coming to become honourary sons to him, and he was as much of a dad to them as he could be.

Flynn and Carrie were the last to join. Flynn because she genuinely did have a good relationship with her family, and usually only came over for a gift exchange with Julie more than anything. Carrie had taken her time coming back into the fold, and it wasn’t until she and Flynn had worked themselves out that Ray really thought about her spending her holidays with her rockstar father up in that big mansion, or perhaps alone when Trevor was working or on some retreat. Ray would bet it was more so the latter rather than the former.

So that was how he found himself with a houseful of people for this year's celebration. Three couples, plus himself and Carlos, and he was sure Victoria would stop by at some point, probably with food. Which wouldn’t be unwelcome given the number of people.

Ray decided to get the house ready before they arrived; cleaning and getting the decorations up, but he left the tree for when Julie was home, since that was her favourite thing. He picked up groceries for the week, then went back for extras, and a few snacks to hide away for himself. Plus things he could stick in their stockings; candy, socks, guitar picks, pens, and hair stuff.

He already had presents sorted, even though all of them insisted he didn’t need to get them anything. But he couldn’t have nothing under the tree for them to open! So he got everyone their traditional matching pyjamas, those were non-negotiable, but he also got everyone a book, plus a nice photo in a frame for each of them to do with as they wished.

Ray hummed as he placed the last gift under the tree, hoping Julie would get here soon so they could put the ornaments on. Wondering if this time next year she’d be wearing a ring on her finger, the guys had been hinting about wanting to ask for some time now. Maybe a few years down the road, they would all come home with a bevy of kids. Ray would like that, having children around to celebrate the holidays with. To be an abuelo to them all, regardless of blood.

“Raymond! I’m here with the food!” Victoria called out.

“You know where everything goes!” he called back, then went to help because he’d catch hell if he didn’t.

Soon enough Carlos was home, and the three of them got to work cooking, doing any last minute wrapping, and playing phone tag with the crew flying in.

“Flynn says their flight is delayed, but she and Carrie will be here by supper time,” Victoria confirmed.

“Alex and Willie are driving down now, ETA two hours,” Carlos said, barely glancing up from his phone.

“Julie says they have a stop to make along the way, but they should be here soon,” Ray said. “And asked if we had room for two more.”

“Who did they adopt now?” Victoria asked, good naturedly.

“It’s probably Kayla and her new partner,” Carlos said. “Julie said they weren’t sure what they were doing for the holidays.”

“Well the more the merrier!” Ray declared. “Carlos, help me dig up some more chairs por favor.”

Soon enough, the doorbell rang, and Ray smiled. Everyone knew to just come in, but they delighted in letting him answer the door, welcoming them home for Christmas. And as soon as he opened the door, he got an armful of Julie, hugging him tight. “Feliz Navidad papi!”

“Feliz Navidad mija. Where are the boys?”

Julie gestured to where Reggie was getting the bags, and Luke ws helping someone from the back of the car. An older woman and man that Ray instantly recognized. “He reconnected with his parents?”

“They’re trying,” Julie whispered. “And he wanted to celebrate with his whole family. You don’t mind, do you?”

“As long as everyone is civil and respectful, of course not,” Ray assured her. “But if Luke goes missing out to the garage for a bit, I won’t question it.”

Julie hugged his side briefly before letting go to help Reggie with the bags, so Ray could get a Reggie hug in. He then greeted Emily and Mitch warmly, insisting they weren’t intruding and were more than welcome. He grabbed Luke into a side hug and whispered his pride into his ear afterwards though, and by the man’s smile, Ray knew Luke had needed to hear that.

The rest of the crew arrived shortly, with warm welcomes all around, and Willie said if he knew they were allowed to bring parents he would have dragged Caleb along. They all laughed at the thought of Caleb Covington coming here for the holidays, but Ray told Willie to try next year, they’d make a big thing of it.

They ate and caught up, had a round or two of carols, and some snacks-nothing fancy, but it was a lovely night. “Alright gang, presents are at nine sharp, be here in your jammies, or be square!” Ray declared as he went to head off to bed after they finished the tree. “Emily and Mitch, you are more than welcome to come back, even though I’m afraid I don’t have matching Molina family pajamas for you.”

“Maybe next year?” Emily suggested. “We’ll be by for dinner afterwards though, I’ll bring a pie.”

“Oooh, I do love your pie,” Luke said. “Come on Ma, I’ll drive you and Pop home.”

Maybe Ray waited up to ensure Luke got home safe that night-but the hug he got in thanks more than made up for the lost sleep. Plus the next morning was a lazy affair-no need to get dressed, just warm up the cinnamon buns, start the coffee, and wait for the kids to get up.

It wasn’t a grand Christmas, nothing over the top, but Ray felt warmed by the spirit of the season as he watched his family gather together, exchange gifts, laugh and love together. Plus he spied the diamond now sitting on Julie’s left hand, and the slim bands on both Luke and Reggie. He wasn’t going to say anything-he was sure they wanted to wait until everyone was here. He could be patient.

So Ray sat back, drinking out of one of his many World’s Best Dad mugs, content as anything, and happy to enjoy Christmas with his family.

#jatpadvent2023 #ray molina: best tv dad #julie and the phantoms

[invisibleraven]

Haunted Holidays

December 8: Fuzzy Socks <-AO3 link!

Set in my 'I am The Willies' Au!

Willie whistles as he puts the bread in the toaster-he is still amazed by the machine, whose sole function is to make bread warm and crispy. His species doesn’t have bread, or food really, but he has come to quite enjoy eating.

“Mmm Morning sweetie,” Reggie mumbles as he snuggles into Willie’s back, still half asleep.

“Good morning,” Willie hums as he stirs the eggs.

“See you and Petunia are getting along better,” Reggie says, his voice still sleep rough and with his lips brushing Willie’s neck, the whole effect makes him shiver.

“We’ve reached an understanding,” Willie replies, even if he’s still a little scared of the chicken, she at least now grudgingly lets him take her eggs without pecking his hands.

“You milk Daisy?” Reggie asks.

“And fed Ferdinand,” Willie says. “It’s been a year, I do know what chores need doing by now.”

“I know you do babe,” Reggie says, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Just wanted to see if I needed to let go.”

The toast pops at this moment, and Willie snorts as the sound makes Reggie dislodge anyways. “You can make the tea.”

They found out early on that coffee does not mix well with Willie’s alien physiology so he sticks to tea. Reggie likes both, so he’s fine switching over, and he gets the kettle going as Willie plates up breakfast.

They play footsie under the table as they eat, Willie talking about the new book he’s started while Reggie tells him about the tractor he has to get fixed today, and finishing the winter preparations.

Willie had loved winter last year, delighting in the snow, in the celebrations, the chance to wear the socks Reggie got him. He was looking forward to doing it again soon.

But this year, he’s determined to get Reggie a gift. He has money now-he has a gift for languages so he does translations through the computer that Reggie has, even if it was a bit tangly getting him a human identity at first. He is now officially Willie Shotton-the last name thing was super weird, and Reggie had explained he needed one. Finding out he wasn’t the only Willie in the world had almost given him a crisis.

“There may be a lot of Willie’s out there,” Reggie conceded, “but no one like you-you’re the best of all the Willies.”

So he had taken the last name of Reggie’s nona, which made him secretly wonder why he didn’t just share a name with Reggie, but he kept that question to himself.

Now though, how to get Reggie a gift? He knew how to buy things off the computer, Reggie had taught him how, after explaining money and the like. He had quite enjoyed shopping ‘online’ as it was called. Especially the skateboard he had gotten since he refused to learn to drive Reggie’s truck.

It wasn’t that he was scared of driving-it just wasn’t his favourite thing. The day they installed an auto pilot into his ship was one of Willie’s happiest-third to meeting Reggie, and discovering he could make a choice to stay with Reggie.

Willie knew he could buy Reggie something online, but you could never be sure of the quality, plus Reggie might open the package and spoil the surprise. Which meant going into town.

Willie had gotten used to town by now-he still didn’t love the crowds, but he had become friendly with a few of the locals. Who called him “Reggie’s young man” and delighted in showing him interesting books or knick knacks for the farm.

He bundled up-his human form doesn’t get cold quite as fast, but the humans look at him oddly when he shows up in a crop top and shorts in a blizzard. Grabs a few reusable bags, and heads out.

Skating into town, Willie hums to the music in his head, a tune from his homeworld-human music just doesn’t compare but he does enjoy some of the stuff Reggie plays. He stops at the little general store, strapping his board to his back, and begins to browse.

He picks up some chocolates, a rare treat they both enjoy but Willie tends to overindulge in when given the chance. A sensible pair of work gloves-Reggie’s were falling apart. A nice journal with a set of pens so Reggie could write down his poems, songs, and important notes.

Then he saw them- a huge display of fuzzy socks. All knitted by the older ladies in town, some with lining, some without, and all in a variety of patterns.

Willie wasn’t a fan of clothes, but socks he loved. So he might have picked out a pair or two for himself, both in vibrant colours. Reggie is a bit more monochrome, so he sticks to the more festive options, though he does giggle at the ones covered in knitted lights saying Get Lit on the bottom.

Having gathered his spoils, Willie then ensured he grabbed anything they needed around the house, plus a loaf of Old Lady Gibson’s raisin bread. That stuff was to die for.

He skated back home, a little slower as he was more weighed down now, but he still got home long before Reggie. It gave him time to hide the presents before putting away anything perishable.

Christmas morning dawned cold and grey, but Willie didn’t mind. He left his ship, tended to the animals who didn’t mind his natural form, then shifted and went inside the house to start the cinnamon rolls. He had taken to baking, so they were his latest experiment.

Reggie was always eager to be a guinea pig for anything Willie made-well once he learned measurements and temperatures were more a rule than a suggestion.

Reggie came down and greeted him with a kiss, starting the tea right away. There was no need to speak as they enjoyed breakfast, enjoying the quiet companionship as the fire in the old wood stove cracked and popped.

“Presents?” Reggie suggested. Willie nodded enthusiastically, and practically dragged Reggie to the couch. Then shoved the package into his hands.

Reggie beamed as he tore into it, delighting in each piece, laughing uproariously at the socks, even pulling on the Get Lit ones and grinning as he wiggled his toes. Willie was next, and he opened his bag-more chocolate and treats that he loved greeted him. A pack of stickers to decorate his board, a nice pair of gloves so he could make a snowman later.

And a pile of fuzzy socks-including a matching pair to the one Reggie was currently wearing. Willie laughed and pulled them on, tugging Reggie into a kiss until they were intertwined on the couch, their socked feet tangling together and indistinguishable from one another.

#jatpadvent2023 #wiggie #julie and the phantoms

[invisibleraven]

Haunted Holidays

December 20: Coming Home <-AO3 link!

Emily looked glumly at the boxes before her-she used to love Christmas, once upon a time. Did up the whole house the day after Thanksgiving, started her baking soon after. It was always a joyous time.

She can recall her first Christmas with Mitch, the two of them dancing to Nat King Cole playing on the turntable with only the tree lights to guide them. The year that Luke was nearly four, his big hazel eyes peeking over the counter in amazement as she made butter, sugar, and flour transform into cookies. How she caught him trying to scale the closet in an attempt to find presents the year he was seven.

The joy on his face when she gifted him the guitar the next year.

That was when everything changed. Music became an obsession, consuming Luke’s every waking moment. He was good, there was no arguing that, but Emily missed him helping her bake, or untangling her yarn as she knitted him another beanie.

She missed her son, but she had no idea how much worse it would get.

It was the year he was seventeen-long limbed and voice deep. She had found his grades-all low to failing. When she confronted him, he admitted to having dropped out. Who needed school when he was going to be a famous rock star?

It had been a horrible fight, harsh words that stung her heart to hear, even more vitriol spilling from her lips as Luke packed a bag and left.

He hadn’t been back since. And he never would be, since that July the police came to tell her that he little boy was dead.

That had been twenty five years ago.

Since then, the joy of the season had vanished for Emily. It was hard to decorate the tree with ornaments Luke had made as a child. To hang her and Mitch’s stockings but leave Luke’s in the box. To put aside the pang of the unopened presents still sitting in his room, even though she ached to put them under the tree. Like he would waltz in the door after band practice to open them.

It hurt a little less this year though. That nice Julie girl had given them Luke’s song-an apology and lament for her and what had been broken between them. She had come back a few times, to bring them cookies most recently, and had left with a new scarf wound around her neck.

She struck Emily as the kind of girl that Luke would be into; pretty, musical, kind. Though Luke had told her before he left that he liked everyone, and didn’t see anything wrong with that.

Emily wished she had taken the time to validate him then. To let him know she didn’t care who he loved, or how many people he chose to be with, as long as he was safe and happy. But she would never get the chance.

“Okay hun?” Mitch asked, hugging her from behind.

She hummed. “It’s still hard.”

“We don’t have to-“

She shook her head. “I don’t want to skip Christmas, I just wish…”

“I know,” he whispered, kissing the side of her head. “Let’s get started okay?”

He had already put the outside lights up, though neither of them had bothered turning them on, despite Christmas being less than a week away. They slowly put up everything-the garland, the wreaths, the Nativity.

“Remember when Luke used to play with the shepherds alongside his Ninja Turtles?” Mitch reminisced. “Or the time he replaced the baby Jesus with a Lego figure?”

Emily chuckled, “Oh yes, we got so mad-though Karen Mercer told me Alex used to do the same thing.”

“Have you spoken to them lately?” Mitch asked.

Emily shook her head. “I sent them a card, but that’s all. I don’t expect to get one in return-you know what they were like.”

“And Evelyn?”

“Sent a card to the forwarding address she gave me, but it got returned to sender, so who knows where the Peters are now,” Emily replied, running her finger along the edge of a photo of the boys, all smiling and twinkling eyes.

Soon all that was left was the tree, and Mitch squeezed her hand-it had always been Luke’s favourite thing to trim it. Insisting he could put the star on the top of his dad helped. Then being able to do it himself, with pride. That last year he was alive he hadn’t bothered to help, off at one gig or practice or another.

They had replaced the tree since then, a nice pre-lit thing that was a little smaller than their older one, but that was fine with Emily. With only the two of them they didn’t need a big tree.

She was about to start trimming when a ring of the doorbell sounded through their home. “Carollers or charity?” Mitch bet with an arch of his eyebrows.

“That or the Farris lady wants a cup of sugar again,” Emily replied. “I’ll get it.”

Only when she opened the door, it wasn’t any of those. There, looking just like the day he left, was Luke.

“Hey Ma, Merry Christmas.” He was holding hands with Julie…and was that Reggie? “Can we come in?”

#jatpadvent2023 #emily patterson #with a hint of peterpatterlina #julie and the phantoms

[invisibleraven]

Haunted Holidays

December 5: Music <-AO3 link!

“You’re telling me we’ve got no gigs booked at all?” Luke asked Flynn incredulously.

“I’m telling you that right now almost every spot is booked up with acts doing holiday orientated music-choirs, pageants, concerts and the like,” Flynn explained calmly. “Not many people are lining up to see a rock show in December.”

“There has to be more than none!” Luke retorted. “Not everyone wants to hear the million and second cover of Jingle Bells or Silent Night!”

Flynn shrugged. “What can I tell you buddy? Christmas sells, so you can either accept that you aren’t playing through the next month, or start learning some White Christmas and Frosty.”

“Ugh, I hate holiday music,” Luke said with a pout, slumping back on the couch, crossing his arms.

“You like TSO,” Reggie piped up from where he was hanging garland around the rafters of the studio. “And you loved the Old 97’s song from the Guardians holiday special,” Julie interjected.

“Yeah but those aren’t played ad nauseum from Thanksgiving onwards, nor are they preventing us from playing gigs!” Luke argued.

“Would it be so bad for us to do a few holiday numbers at a gig?” Julie asked. “We could write our own, or do some classics in our style, mix a few non holiday hits in there.”

“Oooh, I would kill a pop punk version of Mariah Carey!” Reggie exclaimed.

“Yeah you would!” Julie said, giving him a high five and a sweet kiss to the cheek.

“Fuck I do wanna hear that…” Luke grumbled. “Fine, let’s see what we can come up with and if-and that’s a big if-we find enough stuff for a show Flynn can try to find us a holiday show.”

“Knew you’d see it my way,” Julie said, leaning in and kissing him as well, then pulled back and grinned.

“You two are lucky I love you,” Luke griped, but there was no heat to it, and so Reggie and Julie just shot each other knowing glances.

Once they got Alex to agree-though he vetoed any instance of The Little Drummer Boy-yes even the Bing Crosby and David Bowie mashup, they were golden. Flynn found them a slot at the Station one weekend, and another at Confusion the weekend after, with a possibility of playing one more weekend at both if the crowd there liked them.

Luke still grumbled about adapting the holiday songs, but Reggie did in fact kill on the Mariah number, and he wasn’t about to deny his boyfriend the chance to show off his chops or the world hearing it. Plus Julie was gonna sleigh (ha!) the heck out of her rendition of Winter Wonderland.

“But no Baby It’s Cold Outside!” Luke said, even as Reggie and Julie were harmonizing on the number. “It’s creepy!”

“It was actually quite feminist for its time,” Alex remarked. “But yeah, the nuances are lost on a modern audience. So I’m with Luke.”

“You’re no fun,” Reggie said, but then cheered up when Luke told him they could do a Channukah number during the first night, to honour it falling on one of the eight nights. So he cheered up pretty quickly.

They did write a new number or two, but Luke didn’t feel they were polished enough to premiere. “Maybe when we’re big enough we can do a whole album and they’ll be ready then,” he mused.

The shows went off without a hitch-the crowd loving their interpretations of the classics, whooping as they all caroled their hearts out. Plus at the end of every show, Julie pulled out a sprig of mistletoe and held it over Luke’s head, with her and Reggie laying smacking kisses on him as a result.

“I’ve got one more gig for you,” Flynn said on the weekend before Christmas. “Just your acoustics and voices.”

“It’s not a church is it?” Alex asked, screwing up his face.

“Nope.”

That was how the four of them found themselves at LA County General-in the children’s ward. “We can’t do our own versions here,” Luke stated. “For once, let’s play Jingle Bells and Frosty as intended.”

“For the kids,” Julie said, clutching his hand.

“For the kids,” Reggie agreed.

They played for over an hour, leading the children in song after song, handing out copies of their demo alongside candy canes, and Reggie was sure they had created a legion of fans that would stick with them long after they made it big.

Julie nodded along with that assessment, but nudged Reggie, the both of them nearly melting at the sight of their boyfriend, sitting with a little boy in a blue beanie, teaching him the chords to Jingle Bells, the biggest smile on his face as he did.

“We’re doing this again next year right?” Julie asked.

“No doubt about it,” Reggie replied. “By then that kid will want to learn Baby It’s Cold Outside and Luke will be powerless to say no.”

Julie laughed, and leaned her head against Reggie’s shoulder, the both of them still watching Luke, and deep down in her heart, she knew Reggie was right. Because even though he grumbled and complained, if there was one thing Luke cared about above everything else-it was music, and the chance to share it with the world.

#jatpadvent2023 #rukebox #peterpatterlina #julie and the phantoms

[invisibleraven]

Haunted Holidays

December 7: Miracle <-AO3 link!

Happy first night of Channukah to all who celebrate!

Julie grabbed a box from the attic, handing it down to Reggie. “I think that’s the last of it.”

“Thank goodness, how much more Christmas does one need?” Reggie teased, waving at the multitude of boxes surrounding him.

“Wait,” Julie said, pulling a box towards her that was labeled Reggie’s Holiday Stuff.

“You have a box too!”

“Oh, um, we don’t need to take that one down,” Reggie said, oddly shy.

“Well now I definitely am,” Julie said, taking it down with her and shutting the attic ladder behind her. She laid the box down and opened it, stopping at what was inside. “It’s a candelabra?”

“It’s a menorah,” Reggie replied. “For Channukah.”

For all their time together, Julie and Reggie tended to leave religion alone. He respected her Catholic faith and she respected the fact that he didn’t seem to have any. At least that’s what she thought.

“You wanna tell me about it?” Julie asked. “Or why you never said anything?”

Reggie sighed, maneuvering them around the boxes until they were sat side by side on the couch. “My mom is Jewish, and my dad is half, so that’s how I was raised,” he explained. “Odd thing in Georgia, but MeeMaw and Pops brought me to Temple every week, made sure I kept kosher and all that. My parents cared a little less, but they always have.”

“So why did you stop going?” Julie asked.

“When we moved here, we found a place to go at first, but with my folks working and arguing more and more, it was soon a Channukah and Passover kind of thing. Then not at all. I tried going by myself, but…” At this Reggie slumped. “I liked having my weekends free, and bacon. I really liked bacon.”

“I know,” Julie snorted.

“Anyways, MeeMaw tried to get me to do the Bar Mitzvah, but by then my faith was more skewed than anything. So I didn’t bother, which I think kind of broke her heart.” Reggie looked at Julie then, playing with the ring on her finger, the one he had put there the night they first moved into their house. “She made me promise to get married under a canopy though.”

“We can do that,” Julie promised him. “So tell me about Channukah. All I really know comes from cartoons.”

So Reggie explained the miracle of lights, the reasoning behind all the oil, fond memories of his childhood enjoying latkes and games of dreidel. How even after all this time, he could recall Pops’ voice saying the prayers as they lit each candle. He had forgotten a lot of Hebrew, but those would always stick with him.

“Do you want to celebrate it again this year?” Julie asked. “I wouldn’t mind-we do Christmas every year for me.”

“I don’t know if that would be allowed,” Reggie admitted. “I don’t consider myself as Jewish very much anymore. I’m okay with that really.”

“I’m not saying you get Bar Mitzvahed or start going back to Temple if you don’t want to,” Julie reasoned. “But if you want to do the odd high holy day, we can. And if we ever have kids, well shouldn’t they learn a little about their heritage?”

“We’re having kids now?” Reggie teased.

“One day,” Julie replied with a shrug.

Reggie paused at that. Picturing a little girl with Julie’s curls and his eyes lighting the menorah and stuffing their face with gelt. Sitting with MeeMaw as she prepared latkes and matzo ball soup. Saying the prayers over a loaf of challah in a tiny voice.

He wanted that so bad he ached.

“Yeah, let’s do it.” Reggie checked his phone. “We have a few days before the first night-plenty of time to prepare.”

“Means we have time to decorate first,” Julie said, placing the menorah on the side table, the place that usually housed her ceramic village. She supposed she’d find somewhere else for it to go from here on out.

She was okay with that-especially when Reggie kissed her temple in thanks. And wondered how hard it would be to make latkes.

#jatpadvent2023 #rulie #julie and the phantoms

[invisibleraven]

Haunted Holidays

December 4: Scarf <-AO3 link

When Emily Benoit was a child, she was always fascinated by how her grandmother was able to take some yarn and needles to make all manner of things; hats, sweaters, dish cloths, socks, and a multitude of scarves.

“Do you want to learn mon petit chou?” she asked, and Emily nodded yes.

From then on, everytime they drove out to visit her grandparents, Emily learned to knit. Simple things at first; the stitches, how the thickness of the needles made a difference, as well as the different quality of yarns.

She started with the dish cloths, a square of yarn with a border that was suitable for cleaning jobs and not much else. But they were easy, and she could do one in the time the car drive to her grandparents took, or the length of a movie, her needles clicking and clacking along as she watched. Her parents came to put up with the sound, even if her papa complained every so often.

As she grew older, she took on more complicated knits; sweaters-though her grandmother cautioned her to never make one for any romantic partner lest they were married first, apparently there was some curse associated with that. So Emily made herself one-a red knit sweater with little flecks of black that made her look like a fuzzy strawberry, but she adored it all the same. A cream cardigan for her mother, a shawl for her grandmother, a vest for her grandfather, a hat for her father.

After her grandmother passed, Emily put down her needles for a spell, feeling like it wasn’t the same not having her there to trade patterns with, but eventually she resumed knitting, a beautiful quilt out of the last skein of yarn her grandmother gave her. It sat on the foot of her bed until Luke was born, then it moved to his crib, and he took it with him when he moved out.

Luke had no interest in knitting himself, but he always adored anything his mother made him-even if she would never understand his love of beanies when they lived in California.

Then Luke told her she was going to become a grandmother herself. He and his husband Reggie had decided to adopt, and Luke shyly asked if she would knit a blanket for their new bundle of joy? Emily was, of course, thrilled by the idea.

So when Kurt Johnny Patterson was brought home, it was in the mint green blanket his grandmother made for him. And two years later when their surrogate gave them Shania Joan, she too got an Emily Patterson blanket.

Emily loved spoiling her grandkids with knitted goods-had even taught Reggie a few simple patterns, though he was pretty hopeless at it, his enthusiasm was adorable. He did manage to make a decent dish cloth or two, and Emily used them until they unraveled with pride.

This year though, she figured she would make the whole family scarves-they had declared they were going to a ski lodge for the holidays, so the kids got to experience snow for once. Emily and Mitch were invited of course, and she delighted in having a White Christmas like she had as a child.

Only when she lifted her needles, her fingers were cramped and achy-arthritis was a pain, and it prevented her from doing much knitting these days. She scowled at the yarn, which is how Shania and Kurt found her after raiding her cupboards of all her cookies.

“Whatcha doing Gran-Gran?” Kurt asked.

“I was going to try to knit us all scarves for our trip, but my fingers aren’t cooperating, my little bumblebee,” she explained.

“Can you teach us how to do it?’ Shania asked, giving her a big smile, showing off her missing front teeth, half her words whistling as a result.

“Of course I can honeybun,” Emily assured her. So just as her grandmother taught her, she showed the children how to pearl, to stitch, how to add and drop rows with ease. Letting them pick their own yarn and that for their fathers, even her and Mitch.

In the end the scarves were a bit uneven and lumpy-but Emily vowed she would wear hers until it wore out. And she did-but by that time Shania and Kurt were much better, and made entirely new ones to replace it.

#jatpadvent2023 #ruke #peterpatter #julie and the phantoms

[invisibleraven]

Haunted Holidays

December 22: Christmas Tree <- AO3 link!

As it got closer to the holiday season, everyone could see that Reggie was getting a bit morose. Usually he was gung ho about celebrating the season, decking the halls and baking up a storm.

But not this year.

This year he had to put MeeMaw into a home-her mind was deteriorating fast and she couldn’t be left to her own devices any longer. That meant dealing with closing up the farm until his uncle could either take it over or sell it. Dealing with the woman who practically raised him no longer knowing who he was.

So he didn’t see much point in celebrating. Thus his partners decided to do something to cheer him up.

“Why don’t we go out and get a real tree this year?” Willie suggested. “I remember you telling me you lived that as a kid.”

“We have a tree though,” Reggie replied. “That gigantic pre-lit thing that Carrie bought.”

“We can have a real one this year,” Carrie assured him, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I don’t mind.”

“I’ll see if I can find a reputable tree farm in the area,” Alex piped up. “So we can chop it down and everything.”

“I don’t know about trusting any of you with an axe,” Julie stated.

“Hey I know how to use an axe!” Reggie protested. “I had to chop wood for the farm all the time!”

“Fine,” Julie amended, “I don’t trust anyone who isn’t Reggie with an axe.”

“That’s fair,” Luke quipped. “I can tie it up after though, since I was actually an Eagle Scout.”

“For like a week,” Alex scoffed.

“I learned the knots, didn't I?” Luke retorted with a waggle of his eyebrows.

“I don’t think Shibari and tree tying knots are quite the same,” Kayla shouted from the laundry room. Everyone pointed in her direction, causing Luke to pout until Julie fluffed his hair and told him his knots were great.

“So we’re really doing this?” Reggie clarified, but it looked like he was perking up, so they all nodded. “Sweet!”

That weekend they found themselves bundled up and ready to go. Kayla had to work, but wished them luck. Flynn and Carrie had bowed out, not being fond of the outdoors but promised to make a popcorn chain and some hot chocolates for when they came back. “Just come back with all your limbs and digits!” Flynn called as they piled into Reggie’s truck.

“So, where to?” Reggie asked Willie and Alex. They had the map on their laps, and were quietly debating between themselves.

“Willie here wants us to just head into the woods, and find the perfect tree,” Alex explained, pinching the bridge of his nose. “But I have explained that it is often illegal, so I found some places where they invite you to come in and choose your own tree from their patch of land.”

“No jail!” Julie stated firmly. “Or hefty fines!”

“Fiiiiine,” Willie whined, and suggested the nearest farm.

“Alright people,” Alex said as they exited the truck. “We’re looking for a nice spruce tree. The firs are nicer, but also more pricey.”

“Cuz you can tell the difference,” Luke snarked under his breath, but received an elbow to the ribs for it.

They broke apart, looking amongst the unclaimed trees, but nothing was grabbing their attention. Everything was too scraggly, too short, too lopsided.

Eventually they came across a tree that looked the part, and they made a plan to get it down and to the car. Even if the skies are turning grey and foreboding. Reggie gave a mighty thwack of his axe, and it embedded itse;f in the trunk for a moment. Then he pulled it back out, ran his fingers through his hair, and did it again.

Julie whimpered at the sight, and Luke was right beside her, clutching her hand. “Man, we've got one hot partner,” he murmured. “We should take him apart later in that flannel.”

“I like the way you think,” Julie purred.

“Timber!” Reggie yelled gleefully as the tree fell. “I always wanted to say that.”

As it turned out, Luke’s knot tying skills were the best, so he was the one who went about securing the tree to the truck bed, and got Julie to double check his work, just in case.

“Great job mi vida,” she complimented him, the group of them setting back off.

Of course, getting it home was the easy part-setting it up took a lot of work, resulting in the five of them getting scratches and sap everywhere as needles littered the ground.

“I am so not cleaning that up,” Carrie said as she supervised.

“Help or leave,” Alex grunted at her.

Finally, the tree was up, even if some of them were a bit worse for wear, the smile on Reggie’s face as he took it in made the pain worth it. “Five minute break to clean up and then we trim?” Willie proposed.

Everyone agreed, and went their own ways to freshen up, coming back to Carrie and Flynn stringing lights on the tree, along with their string of popcorn. Alex turned the lofi on, playing some classic holiday music, and the group of them began to decorate.

“It’s not a bad little tree,” Flynn commented wryly.

“We did a lot better than Charlie Brown, it’s true,” Luke replied.

They finished up, flicked the lights to the room off, and stood back, oohing and aahing as they took in the splendor. And very quietly, Reggie began to cry-too many emotions swirling around in his head. But he let his partners hold him, and smiled at the tree-now and forever a symbol of the lengths they were willing to go for him.

But he’d be totally cool going back to plastic next year.

#jatpadvent2023 #the great polyphantoms polycule #julie and the phantoms

[invisibleraven]

Haunted Holidays

December 23: Secrets <-AO3 link!

Luke scowled as the store radio blasted Feliz Navidad, the displays starting to be filled with trees and Santa’s. “It’s way too early for this shit.”

“I mean, I love Christmas, but hard agree,” Julie said. “Wait until Thanksgiving is over at least!”

“It’s like, we get it, the holidays are coming up! But it doesn’t need to be everywhere,” Reggie added.

“I’d be fine skipping the whole thing honestly,” Luke confessed.

“Okay Scrooge,” Julie said, but then registered the serious expression on his face. “How about we get what we need and talk about all that at home?”

Between the three of them they made quick work of the grocery list, so it wasn’t long until they were back home, food put away, and sat on the couch.

“You wanna tell us what the deal is with you and Christmas?” Julie asked Luke.

“I used to love it,” Luke confessed. “The songs, the gifts, the food. It was my favourite time of year. My mom’s too.”

His partners reached out to take his hands, bolstering him with love and strength, an act that Luke appreciated more than they knew.

“Then we started fighting-over my grades, my friends, but mostly music,” he continued. “It all came to a head the Christmas I was seventeen. We got into a knock down, drag out fight and I…I ran away on Christmas Eve. I haven’t been back since.”

“Well that explains a whole lot,” Reggie surmised. “No wonder you don’t like Christmas.”

“You’re no big fan of it either,” Luke retorted.

“Well I’m Jewish, so I never saw the point,” Reggie replied with a shrug.

“Wait, then how come we’ve never done Channukah with you?” Julie asked him.

“I’m pretty lapsed,” Reggie admitted. “But the last few years with my folks it was always more of an ordeal, another reason for them to fight, or to lash out at me over. So it just became another thing they ruined. A time for me to see all the happy families coming together and wondering why I didn’t get to have that.”

Julie rushed over to his side, hugging him tight. “Oh cariño.”

“It’s okay Jules,” he assured her. “I know now that family is who you choose. You guys are my family, you’re all I need.”

“So do you want to reclaim Channukah with us this year?” Julie asked. “I’d be willing to learn about it if you want, make it our own.”

Reggie sniffled. “Yeah, I’d like that.” Then he turned to Luke. “What about you Lu? You wanna make our own holiday this year? Something new for the three of us?”

Luke held himself tight for a moment. “I dunno… it’s been so long, and the hurt is still there.”

Julie reached out and pulled him into her and Reggie’s embrace. “Look, we’re not saying you have to go make up with your mom, or we have to do the whole shebang. But it might be nice for us to have a little celebration. Start a new tradition, reclaim this time of year.”

Luke bit his lip, and looked at them both. “Can we still make cookies?”

“Of course we can,” Julie assured him.

“And do gifts,” Reggie added. “I like gifts.”

“Okay,” Luke said. “New holiday, sounds like a plan.”

“So what do you wanna do first,” Julie asked. “Bake cookies? Get a tree? Set up the menorah?”

Luke hummed. “I think I wanna call my mom.”

#jatpadvent2023 #peterpatterlina #rukebox #julie and the phantoms

[invisibleraven]

Haunted Holidays

December 19: Apron <-AO3 link!

If there is one thing Victoria Alvarez cares about, it’s her family. It’s not surprising given her Puerto Rican roots and her mothering nature. When she loves, she loves fiercely, and forever. Which sometimes makes her job as a social worker harder, but it’s also why she’s the best there is at it.

So when her sister passes-God rest her soul-Victoria steps up to look after Ray and the kids. She’s not there everyday, but often enough to make sure they don’t starve, the kids are bathed and going to school and that Ray isn’t staying in bed all day. She even hooks them up with a family therapist she works with, and hopes that Dr. Turner can help mire them through their grief.

The other thing she does is cook. For one, she enjoys it, it relaxes her, helps centre her after a long day. For another, she’s good at it, everyone praising her dishes, asking her for her recipes-which unless they share blood she’s not sharing, and maybe not even then.

But growing up in a large family meant she always cooked too much. She’s a happily single gal so she does keep some for leftovers, and gives some to her Pilates friends. But most of it goes to the Molina household.

Because without it…

Look, Ray is a great guy, Victoria couldn’t have asked for better for Rose. He’s a kind heart, not bad looking, a great dad, and an amazing husband. But he’s also an awful cook. He can manage breakfast fine, and his spaghetti isn’t bad. Yet his cooking expertise stops there, and well, Victoria’s kin are not living off spaghetti alone.

Which is why she hatches a plan.

“Knock knock!” she calls out as she enters. She doesn’t bother to actually knock, she never has.

“Hey Tori,” Ray greets from his desk. “I was just finishing up a bit of work before Carlos got home, what’s up?”

“Suit up,” she says, tossing an apron at him. “You’re getting a cooking lesson.”

“What?” he says, but smiles a little at the World’s Best Dad apron that she got him. “I’m an okay cook.”

She whirls around at that, hands on her hips. “Raymond, I love you, but you know how to scramble eggs and boil water for pasta, that’s not enough.”

“The kids haven’t complained yet,” Ray says, but he still ties the apron around his waist and follows her into the kitchen.

“The kids don’t want to add more onto your plate,” Victoria says diplomatically. “Plus they’re kids, they’ll live off frozen pizza and grilled cheese if you let them.”

“That’s…fair,” he concedes. Starts cleaning vegetables as she hands them to him from her bag. “So what are we cooking?”

“My arroz con pollo y pasteles,” she says. “Two easy staples that freeze well so you can just defrost and nuke them if needed.”

“Sounds good,” Ray says and gets started making the mise. He was always more comfortable as Rose’s sous chef than anything, but it means he’s decent with a knife and follows instructions well. It’s not that he dislikes cooking, he’s just never really bothered to learn how to do it. Plus with how forgetful he is, sometimes he’s more of a liability than not.

“You should teach Julie and Carlos how to make this stuff too,” he says as they cook. “Julie is at least old enough to start helping with meals.”

“Between school and her band, I doubt she has the time,” Victoria says. “But if she’s willing to learn, I’m willing to teach.”

“I think it would more so be a good bonding moment for you two,” Ray said. “You’re the closest thing she has to a mother figure now.”

“I don’t want to replace Rose,” Victoria said, adamant. “If Julie wants me to play some sort of maternal role in her life, I can, but that has to come from her.”

“Well then use it to connect with our heritage,” Ray amends. “She’s been really into learning about Puerto Rico since you mentioned bringing her there as a graduation present.”

“That I can do, although heaven knows mama will undo all my hard work to teach her the ‘right’ way,” she said wryly.

They both shared a chuckle over that. Maria Alvarez always knew best-at least according to her. She had high expectations and never failed to let you know when you fell short of them. She had never been a great fan of Ray, and still harped on Victoria for being single at almost fifty. Never mind that Rose had adored Ray, and Victoria had no interest in romance at all.

They kept working, mostly in companionable silence, but occasionally talking about work, or the kids, or the latest crime thriller they were both enjoying. The house slowly filled with the scent of the food cooking, and Ray beamed when Victoria clapped him on the back. “See, two more recipes to add to your roster!”

“I really did it huh?”

“What did you do?”

The two of them turned around to see Carlos standing in the doorway, tossing his book bag to the dining room chairs. “Your papi made supper for you all tonight,” Victoria told him.

“Huh, it doesn't smell like spaghetti,” Carlos said, snatching up an apple.

“That’s because your tia helped me cook her arroz con pollo y pasteles,” Ray said. “Give us a little variety.”

“I mean, I like your spaghetti,” Carlos said with a shrug. “But it’ll be nice not to have it every night.”

“Ha ha, go get ready for baseball, funny guy,” Ray said, shooing him up the stairs.

Victoria put the food away, it would be fine reheated anyways, and she knew that on baseball nights Ray usually got burgers for the kids, regardless if Carlos’ team won or lost.

“Thanks for helping me cook Tori,” Ray said as he stacked the dishes to wash later. “I’m sure our next lesson will be just as fun.”

“Anytime hermano,” Victoria said, pulling him in for a rare hug. “Anytime.”

#jatpadvent2023 #ray & victoria #julie and the phantoms