A Holly Jolly Christmas

All I Want For Christmas (Is You)

Author Note: Merry Christmas! No, I'm not a month early. I'm eleven months late. The year 2020 was a lot, as I'm sure you all agree. Last year, I just didn't have it in me to create a chapter for this fic, but my goal was to write one for each year so... This is the first of two chapters I'll be posting this month. They're both done with the second one just needing to be edited, so keep an eye out for it. Happy Holidays!

<><>

For the first mile or so after leaving the airport, Alex had admired the view. Where National City was towering skyscrapers and built-up architecture, Smallville was as its name suggested: small. Quaint and full of open farmland, the odd farmhouse or residence dotted here and there and was surrounded by even more fields for as far as the eye could see. But when you'd seen one flat, empty field overshadowed by the bleak wintery skies that held threats of snow, you really had seen them all.

Kansas was so flat and boring, she could see why most of it was made up of farmland. There was literally nothing else you could do with it.

The tires on the road, a dull background noise, became the perfect soundtrack to accompany the perfectly dull scenery.

It didn't help that her companion wasn't very forthcoming with conversation either.

Alex glanced across to the seat beside her, where Kelly was also staring out of the window. "Looks like it's gonna snow. What are the chances we'll have another white Christmas, do you think?"

Kelly hummed, a rather noncommittal sound, as she snuck yet another look at her phone. Alex had lost count of the number of times Kelly had done so since they exited the airplane. It had led to a series of stinted, largely one-sided conversations, and Alex was in no shape to hold up both ends.

"Is everything okay?" she asked when Kelly offered no further addition to her answer to Alex's previous question.

"I'm sorry, what?" Kelly asked, blinking away from the handheld screen to finally meet Alex's gaze.

"I said is everything okay? I mean with us. Is something wrong?"

"Babe. You worry too much." Kelly leaned in, barely brushing her lips on Alex's cheeks, as she jerked her head back to her chiming phone. "Oh, just Instagram," she muttered, a heavy frown on her face, as she checked other apps on her phone.

That wasn't a no.

Alex inhaled, opened her mouth to say as much, then closed her mouth again and turned back to the window, as thankfully, mercifully, the Kent Farm appeared on the horizon. They continued on the road for another few miles before pulling onto the long, winding driveway. Off in the distance, past the small lake, was another farmhouse, this one a barn converted into a home by Clark's own hands and gifted to Kara and Lena. It had been renamed Solitude, a play on words about the Fortress, as it was more of a gathering place than their penthouse in National City, but it provided seclusions from the bustling city and the reporters that hounded both ladies in every aspect of their lives.

The car ground to a halt, and Kelly looked up, blinking, as she stretched her neck to peer past Alex and out the passenger side back window. "Oh, are we here already?"

"Yeah," Alex sighed. "Time flies when you're having fun, huh?" Except she wouldn't call this drive fun. It was anything but.

"Stay put." Kelly pressed a kiss to her own fingertips, pressed them to Alex's cheek, opened the car door and exited, all in one smooth, dismissive, motion.

"Stay put, my ass," Alex grumbled, as she unbuckled herself and opened the car door. Fresh air assaulted her nostrils, a definite whiff of farm mixed with the sharp crispness of winter. It was a stark contrast from the city. Whether it was a good thing or not, Alex still hadn't decided.