Winter Dream (Riley)

[Deleted]

December 25, 2025

It was Christmas morning. Kinsey's first Christmas with Riley. Well, her first Christmas with them actually being together. While they'd spent the last holidays together at Hogwarts he'd been engaged, and it was all ... complicated. It wasn't complicated anymore. 

The pair got married last summer and Kinsey couldn't believe her life had taken a turn this way. A year ago, she'd never have believed it, but the last few months had completely convinced her. Now, she was entirely determined to have an amazing Christmas. 

Other than work, she and Riley didn't really go out very much. He was still nervous about retaliation from his family or Priscilla's for his decision to go against them, and Kinsey didn't want any drama either. She figured they'd had enough of that to last her a long while. So the pair had the plan to enjoy the holidays quietly together. 

She rolled over in bed, cuddling up to him and smiling. "Are you planning on waking up at all today, or just sleeping away your day off?" Kinsey teased lightly, glancing up at her husband.

@riley

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Christmas day. A day that Riley usually dreaded. Usually it involved a quiet morning with his family and then the attendance of some crazy, fancy dinner party that evening where he would be forced to socialize with individuals he would never actually speak with during school term and he’d have to wear a suit and keep an eye on his manners. Okay, he liked the suit. And the manners suited him fine as well. It was the company that he wouldn’t miss this year. And the air. The heavy air that hung in those parties. Everyone knew what was really going on. Thoughts of purification and talks of arrangements to keep the bloodlines clean. He wouldn’t have put it past his parents to have set up his previous engagement during one of those parties. The thought made him shutter.

However this Christmas morning started very differently than any he had before. Instead he was woken up, slightly later, by the voice of his sweet wife from right beside him in their bed. He could barely believe this was his life. It was almost better than he could ever imagine. Sure, their flat was small and not the prettiest or biggest or fanciest. But it was theirs. And as far as he was aware, they were safe. That was the best gift he could ever have gotten. “Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you from the festivities.” he teased before pulling her into his arms and giving her a squeeze and a kiss on the head before letting a large yawn escape his mouth. “Happy Christmas, Kins.” he mumbled happily.

@kinsey

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Kinsey grinned as he squeezed her close, kissing her head. This ... was all she'd ever wanted. Being so close to Riley, being loved by him and knowing he would never leave her. She was happier than she'd ever imagined being. Which only meant, she wanted to repay the favor. She knew Riley loved her. He wouldn't have gone against his family and risked everything if he didn't. She knew how hard that was for him, so she wanted to make him as happy as she could. Even though the two of them didn't have much. They had one another, and she was clearly going to use that to her advantage. She chuckled against him. "Oh yes, I've been aching to go outside and lose myself in the festivities. Been dreaming about it for hours," she teased sarcastically. She looked up at him and beamed. "Happy Christmas, Riley," she answered. Honestly, if he wanted to just stay here she wouldn't argue it. As long as she was with him, she was happy. 

@riley

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Riley gave a small laugh at her answer. “You really want to go outside? It’s freezing and sounds like rain.” he teased. He was sure she meant just outside of their bedroom or something, but he also wouldn’t put it past his crazy, free spirited wife to want to go outside and take in the day. Kinsey was an entirely free spirit and everything seemed to make her happy, from the weather, to the fire, to just existing in the same space and doing daily things with him like making dinner and cleaning up the flat. She always seemed happy and content. It was one of the many things he loved about her. He didn’t have to keep her entertained or impressed. But that didn’t mean he didn’t try. “We could get up and get some hot chocolate if you’d like.” He offered. he didn't want to keep her in bed all day when she wanted to get up. And, he had a surprise for her in the living room that based on her current behavior, he was certain she hadn’t seen yet.

@kinsey

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Riley smiled, laughing when she teased him and Kinsey realized in that moment that she was truly happy. Despite everything that happened over the past year, with her knightmares and Priscilla and so much more, Kinsey Bainbridge Fudge (oooh, it still felt strange to think of herself that way) Was completely delighted with her life. She was with Riley, she had a job she adored. What else could she really want?

She rolled her eyes when Riley teased her back. “Well, I supposed you’re right. Going outside right now wouldn’t be much fun with the rain.” Kinsey glanced to the window before smirking at her husband. “That doesn’t mean that we can’t have fun inside though,” She sighed dramatically, “if you can find the willpower to get up.”

At his suggestion Kinsey perked up. “Okay, but it has to be that kind that you make that’s not too chocolate-y, sound good?” Kinsey wasn’t a super big fan of chocolate in general, but Riley had a way of making the drink that was just divine. She got up and then turned to look at him, “Are you going to join me?”


@riley

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Riley rolled his eyes dramatically as his wife insisted they could only have fun if he found the willpower to get out of bed. “Fine, anything for you, dear.” he teased and sat up, finding his slippers so his feet wouldn’t suffer the cold ground. He had ulterior motives for getting up, however. He had half expected the dog to bark or wake Kinsey up last night, but it didn’t. He had been shocked that he was able to pull off yet another surprise for her. He had stayed up later than her last night, saying he just wanted to finish some case notes before he went to bed so he wouldn’t have any work to do on Christmas. It seemed like she bought it because he was sure she would make it known if she knew what awaited her in the living room.

He stood up and slid his robe on, tying it around his waist as she asked that it not be too chocolatey. How he married someone who didn’t like chocolate he’d never understand. “Extra chocolate for you. Because you woke me up so early.” he decided, an evil smirk on his face. “Yes, I’m coming, go ahead.” he said, nodding to the door and following her out. The little golden ball was curled up on the floor beside the fireplace and popped it’s little head up as they came into the main room of their flat. Riley didn’t say anything and waited to see if Kinsey noticed.

@kinsey

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Kinsey laughed as Riley finally got out of bed. She wasn't worried about him staying in bed all day, but she did enjoy teasing him. She was looking forward to today, a day spent almost entirely with him. It was Christmas and she had no plans on doing anything but being with her husband and having an enjoyable day. "Finally!" she teased as she leaned forward, hugging him tightly and then giving him a kiss. 

She rolled her eyes, "Well that just means you want some extra chocolate, because we both know that's not going to happen." She still appreciated his teasing. She just loved spending her time with him in all ways possible. He told her to go ahead and Kinsey laughed, turning to leave the room. She walked into the main room and then heard something over by the fireplace. Kinsey looked over and then gasped. "A puppy!?!" She beamed and then turned to face Riley. "You got me a puppy!" She ran over toward the fireplace, kneeling in front of the adorable ball of fur. "Hello! Aren't you just the most adorable thing ever!"

@riley

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She gave him a hard time about saying she would get extra chocolate and he expected nothing less from her. He just laughed it off and stood in the doorway after her as she finally spotted the furry little ball, who got excited when it saw people emerge from the bedroom. She was so excited and Riley smiled while he watched her go and interact with the puppy by the fire. It was a rather picturesque moment. He wished he had a camera to keep that image forever. “I figured we needed to add a little someone to our family.” he said with a smile and walked over to join them, kneeling down next to her and petting the fluffy little head. “Still needs a name.” he informed her.

@kinsey