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It was only in recent years, after the beginning of your relationship, that Jason had started celebrating Christmas.
As a child, there was barely enough money to spare for there to be any presents or decorations, or even one of those spreads of Christmas lunches you see in the movies. Despite the little income being brought in, during the early years of Jason's childhood his parents at least tried to bring some semblance of Christmas joy to their freezing, water damaged apartment. Catherine would try and whip up a roast chicken with some potatoes and carrots, and if they had some cash to spare, she would serve for dessert a mound of raspberry jello using an old china bowl that belonged to her mother. Willis would turn on the TV and as a family they would all sit down and watch whatever Christmas movie rerun was showing over the air for free.
Some years, Catherine would manage to register Jason for an Angel Tree program if she got in fast enough and that would provide some meagre presents to stack beside Jason's bedside on Christmas morning. But once Willis got deeper and deeper into crime dealings, and the more dependent Catherine became on the drugs to deal with her illness, Christmas was no more in the Todd household. Jason became too busy trying to keep him and Catherine looked after once Willis disappeared for there to be any worry about Christmas. Instead, it was "when's the next meal?" or "how cold are we going to be this winter?" and once Catherine died leaving Jason to the streets? The idea of Christmas was long wiped from his mind.
Being taken in by Batman and going to stay at Wayne Manor changed that for a couple years. Bruce didn't exactly celebrate Christmas like they do in the films either. It involved a lot more dressing up in costumes and a lot more prowling the roof tops for criminal activity -- so any other night as Batman and Robin. Christmas morning was always reserved for opening Christmas presents under a well decorated tree curtesy of Alfred, followed by a light breakfast, leisure time, and then a hearty lunch. The afternoon, evening, and subsequent night would, as always, be dedicated to Bruce's endless crusade through Gotham. Bruce didn't expect Jason to join him on patrol, but that didn't stop thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen year old Jason from putting on the yellow cape and flying over rooftops with the Bat.
After, there were no more Christmas' for Jason Todd. Three years were spent in a vegetative mental state. A couple more afterwards in a continuous spiral of anger, resentment, and depression. Then, nothing. Total apathy to the holiday season, just another capitalist holiday created for people to spend money and make people who don't have the money to spend feel worse than they already do.
Then you came along and all of a sudden Jason was no longer alone at Christmas. Really the first couple of Christmas' were just the two of you lounging around on your couch eating sandwiches and watching 80's films, yourself not being the particular pinnacle of holiday enthusiasm but still wanting some company in the cold, dark nights of winter. And then the two of you got serious.
You moved in with Jason, bringing your own charm to Jason's apartment. With your arrival, it truly emphasized how much Jason was missing in his bachelor pad. Since the move occurred around Christmas, the plan was to go shopping for what was needed and pretend they were surprise presents settled under the Christmas tree -- which was just a small tabletop tree you bought at Target settled on the ground next to the TV set.
From then, the both of you got each other something small every Christmas, all culminating to this moment. Now standing six months pregnant in the middle of the grocery store, barking orders to Jason what you need to make the Christmas lunch you're set on serving for the two of you.
The decision to have a traditional Christmas itinerary had not been thought through. In fact, the thought came to you last night on the 23rd of December that you needed to have an at least semi-normal Christmas Day to get into a routine now that the both of you were to be parents. You hadn't had the best relationship with your family, resulting in stony gatherings and subpar gifts -- if there were any -- meaning until now, you hadn't any expectation of a traditional Christmas.
When it was just you and Jason, your little fanfare for the tradition was comfortable. You just needed to be together to be happy. But with a child on the way, you couldn't help but become frantic at the thought you couldn't provide the same Christmas whimsy all children look forward to once December came around.
That's what has lead you to waddling around the crowded aisles with Jason acting as a battering ram with your cart, already piled high with various meats, vegetables, cookware, and baking ingredients. The different pregnancy symptoms already put you in a bad mood alongside the mindless wandering of people getting in your way and the repetitive Christmas pop songs playing over the stores speakers. You're just about ready to sit down in the middle of the store and start sobbing when you find there's no more bag's of superfine sugar left on the shelf. Sensing your growing agitation, Jason rests a hand on your lower back, massaging the area with deft fingers in an attempt to distract you.
"Hey it's okay, we have sugar at home." He comforts, leading you further down the aisle away from the barren shelf.
"I need superfine sugar for meringues, normal sugar is just going to mess everything up!" Your lip starts to tremble, feeling silly at being so upset over just a bag of sugar.
"Baby, we don't need to have meringues," Jason cuddles you to his chest, cornering you closer to the cart. "We already have enough desserts for the next three Christmases."
Your voice is muffled by your face being pressed into his shirt. "But I need to make them, they're on the list I made. What's the point if I can't make it perfect..."
Jason gently pushes you back, looking down into your face. He scans your face, taking in your wet eyes and trembling lips. Pieces of hair are sticking up in random places and dark circles from sleepless nights weigh heavy on your face. Despite it all, you're he most beautiful woman in the world he's laid eyes upon.
A hand comes up to rest in your hair, a thumb brushing gently over your cheek bone. "Why does Christmas have to be perfect? As far as I know, even if the world was ending, any day would be perfect as long as I was with you."
Tears finally begin to fall, making Jason's heart stutter for a second in panic. "I just love you so much," you warble out. "After every-everything, you-you've gone through" a hiccup leaves your mouth "I want you give you everything!"
Jason feels his own eyes grow watery at this; his sweet wife crying over sugar because she wants their first Christmas together as a normal family to be perfect for his sake. He wraps his arms around you fully, pulling you in again, blocking curious onlookers from an upset pregnant woman.
"You have given me everything," he whispers into your ear. "Your love is all I could ever need in this world. And soon you'll give me our first baby. Our Christmases before now were perfect because you were with me, and they'll be perfect every year afterwards because we'll be together."
Your cries slow down until tears stop falling and your breathing comes under control. Fingers dig into muscled shoulders as Jason pulls back, looking down at you with his bright blue eyes and handsome face and stupid perfect hair, and you wrap your arms around hi neck to pull him down into another hug.
"I love you, so so much," he whispers into your neck. "I'd do anything for you."
Even though your aching body and hormonal anxieties tell you to break down into another fit of tears, you just dig your chin into his head and return his words of love -- so glad to have Jason as your life partner despite the hardships the two of you have faced to get to this point.
Tilting your head up to look down the aisle, on the very top shelf where stock is stored, above all the sight lines of old grandma's and busybody bakers, the label of a blue bag catches your eye. A single, lone bag of superfine sugar not close to the edge but resting just above the normal sugar display.
You shove Jason away, feeling a little bad at his puff of surprise at the breaking of the tender moment, but not bad enough to point in the direction of the last bag of sugar and demand: "you said you'd do anything for me, so go get that bag up there on the top shelf!"
With his orders, Jason wordlessly spins on one foot and immediately speeds down the aisle, dodging shoppers, to reach one hand up and quickly swipe the bag of sugar just as a couple of women were pointing up at it a few feet away. With trained efficiency, Jason's back by your side, sliding the bag of sugar into the cart.
All of the tears from earlier are gone, now a dazzling smile is spread across your face as you grab Jason's collar and bring his face down in a smashing kiss too inappropriate to be doing in public. But you don't care, because your amazing, sexy husband has just made your entire day!
Jason isn't fussed as he melts into your hold, all thoughts vanishing from his head. Finally, once you both pull away, Jason grins at you, eyelids heavy as he studies your face. "Best reward."
A sly grin overtakes your face as you slide a hand over his belt and yank him closer. "That was just a sneak peek to the real reward, you'll get the real thing at home."
Jason's demeanor suddenly shifts, his posture straightening and a calculating look overtakes his face. "So what else do we need, or can we blow this place and get packing?"
A hearty laugh follows you through the aisles as Jason begins pushing the cart towards the check out lines splitting the holiday crowds like the Red Sea in his hurry to get home.
You rest a hand on your belly, excitement for what the future holds for you and Jason rushing through you in anticipation.