He hated Christmas now. Or at least—Christmas in this house. With her. With the wrong girl wearing his surname.

Emily’s laughter floated from the kitchen, bright and pretty, but it bounced off him like sleet. She wasn’t cruel. She wasn’t even bad. She just… wasn’t you.

He adjusted the cuffs of his dress shirt, trying to ignore the tightness in his chest.

Tonight you were coming.

…and he hadn’t seen you in months.

⸻

Doorbell rings

Theo’s whole body went still.

Emily: shouting from the kitchen, cheerful “Darling, can you get that? It must be Y/N!”

Theo swallowed.

Theo (internal)

Of course it is. Of course she says her name like that. Like it doesn’t kill me.

He opened the door.

And there you were. Wrapped in a long coat, snow caught in your lashes, cheeks pink from the cold. Beautiful. Unfairly so.

You smiled softly, the kind of smile he used to live for.

Y/N:

“Hey, Theo.”

Theo (internal)

Merlin. She still says my name like I matter.

His voice almost caught.

Theo:

“…Hi.”

For a moment neither of you moved. The cold air pushed between you, but it wasn’t what made him shiver.

Then Emily appeared behind him, glowing.

Emily:

“Y/N! I’m so glad you came!”

She hugged you. Theo watched the way your body stiffened for half a second before you hugged back politely.

He knew why. He wished he didn’t