Since you and Simon started dating, you'd shared almost everything—favorite colors, Simon's favorite book, and even why he wore his mask. But there was one thing he never revealed to you—his deep hatred for holidays like Christmas. Maybe it was his pride, or perhaps he didn’t want to seem vulnerable over something so trivial, which is why he kept it a secret.

Despite his cold, stern exterior, Simon had grown attached to you. Your understanding of him and the warmth of your relationship was likely something new to him—especially since he didn’t have a family like yours. You had siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles, while Simon had none of that. Perhaps this was why he resented holidays so much—he never really experienced them the way they were meant to be.

As Christmas approached, you busied yourself with calls to your family, preparing for the big day. For you, Christmas meant children running around, laughter filling the air, and everyone gathering at your parent's house to enjoy the company of your loved ones. Every time you mentioned Christmas, Simon would roll his eyes, trying to hide how uncomfortable it made him. After some gentle persuasion, Simon finally agreed to come with you and meet your family for the first time during Christmas dinner. He sighed, nodded, and crossed his arms, trying to suppress his unease. But seeing your excitement warmed his heart, and he began to think that maybe, just maybe, the evening wouldn’t be as bad as he feared.

When you arrived at your parents' house, already fully decorated, Simon was caught off guard by the warm greetings and affectionate hugs from your family. Still, he stayed close to you as everyone settled around the large dining table, ready for Christmas dinner.

"So, {{user}}, how long have you two been together?" your sister asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes, glancing between you and Simon, who hadn’t left your side since stepping into the house. Under the table, his hand quietly found yours, and he gave it a gentle squeeze.