So, I'm jumping ahead. Quite a bit. But it's Christmas, so this had to be done. I'll get back to the ones in the middle after this. At some point I'll probably delete the chapter and put it back in chronologically. Because I'm a sucker for ordering things correctly. And yes, Christmas. It's a bit late, but for me Christmas lasts from Christmas Eve to New Years, so technically it isn't.

Snowballs and Drinking

He woke up to the crashing and jumping of a small body on top of him. His eyes opened, and he could vaguely make out Charlotte's face beside him which was grimacing slightly at the jolts.

He turned on his back, and smiled at his small son who was shouting something unintelligible but which he knew the context of.

'Haha, merry Christmas, boy!' He exclaimed back, playfully tackling the child and settling him down.

'Make sure he doesn't hurt you, Henry, you've still got a bad back.'

He laughed, properly sitting up in bed.

'Well, it's Christmas. It's only acceptable to jump on people and beds today. Now,' he said, addressing the boy. 'there might be some presents downstairs, but it depends on whether you've been good.'

'We've been good, we have!' Charles chanted, jumping up and down again.

'Hey, hey, hey, let me wake up first.' She laughed, sitting up like Henry.

'I'm sure we can start early...what time is it?'

'Six o'clock. By the angel, it feels like it's getting earlier each year!'

'Because he grows more excited!' He explained, softly leaning over and placing a comforting kiss to her cheek. She leaned over the side to reach into the cradle to retrieve Matthew, only half awake now.

'I can't believe he hasn't cried yet.' She said, staring down at the bundle of blankets.

A smile settled on her lips, and then Henry took Charles in his arms and carried him out of bed, his legs swinging in anticipation. Charlotte did the same, carrying Matthew as they walked down to the living room. There in the centre, was a beautiful decorated tree, with a generous pile of presents underneath it. They sat down in front of it, and watched Charles unwrap present after present and smile at the incredulous sounds he made. Charlotte snuggled up to his side, her head resting on his shoulder.

'Isn't it nice to have a quieter Christmas? Just us, no one else to irritate us, like Will.' She said. Henry had to agree, yet in his blood he would always love the big family vibe.

'It is, actually,' he admitted, 'it's nice to be a small family, just the four of us. It's nice to have some privacy.' He leaned forward to kiss her gently and smile warmly as he withdrew, drawing an arm round her and hugging her to his chest.

'Look what we've got for Matthew.' He said, reaching out for the presents they unwrapped together. It was basic baby stuff, with small cuddly toys and new blankets and even a little rocking horse he would look adorable upon. Charles was playing with his own toys, a delicately carved carriage that Henry amused himself greatly with while Charlotte set Matthew in his chair and started preparing dinner.

'Do you need any help?' He asked her.

She laughed, 'last time I heard that I had to rearrange the whole Christmas tree. No, I'll be fine.'

'Hey, it wasn't that bad. I had some difficulties with the tinsel, was all.'

'That you decided to invent so unnecessarily, and smother it in glitter. What does it actually do?'

'It...it's for decoration, like ornaments. Meant to look pretty.'

'Henry, I swear I saw it almost breathe fire. Why would you invent such a thing?'

'Well, I don't think that was part of the experiment, dear. After my glitter concoction I wanted to find out if I could make something for Christmas. I'll have to try again with that one. I'm sure Magnus can help me, he knows everything about shiny stuff.'

'Okay, well next time don't put it on the Christmas tree before you've tested it properly. Not to be rude but I don't want anyone getting hurt.'

Henry deliberated, 'no, of course not.' He said, diving down to play with his son as they developed a manic chase around the room. Charlotte watched on with a smile, admiring how easy and interactive Henry was when you got him into doing something.

It wasn't long before they all ran outside to the snow, Charlotte making sure they were all wrapped up properly. Matthew was awake by now, and juggled about restlessly in her arms. They all began by making a snowman, Henry sticking screws on as buttons and spanners as arms until it was part machine. Charlotte collected extra scarfs and hats, decorating the snowman while Matthew giggled at the sight.

'Yes, it's a snowman! Can you say 'snowman' Matthew?' He asked, tickling his chin and taking him off Charlotte to hold him. Rocking him about it slowly began to snow again, until Henry's hair was no longer ginger, but pure white.

'I think I've actually sent him off to sleep!' He told her, still rocking the baby in his arms. Charles raced round in circles, leaving small footprints as he went and laughing excitedly at every drop of snow that fell on him.

'I'll take him back inside.' Charlotte took him, but Henry caught her shoulder.

'Lottie, stay out here.'

'He can't be inside on his own.'

'Leave him over there, then. Put an extra blanket over him, he'll be fine. Come on, Charlotte, embrace the Christmas spirit!'

She shook her head at him and laughed. After making sure Matthew was 100% warm enough, she trudged back to them, the snowflakes sticking to her eyelashes. Henry mischievously rolled up a snowball, lodging it at her and chuckling. She froze, mouth open as her stare bore into Henry and he took a few steps back, grinning. Charlotte rolled up a snowball and equally threw it at him in return, until they were in the midst of a huge snow battle, in which Charles enjoyed immensely. One in particular hit Henry hard and squarely between his eyes. He fixed on Charlotte and she turned as he chased after her round the garden, snowball in hand. He caught up with her, throwing the ball aside and instead catching her round the waist. Yet being Henry in particular had it's faults, and he clumsily slipped on the otherwise steady snow. Launching backward, Charlotte came with him until she rested atop him and they laughed breathlessly.

'That's what happens when you're a Shadowhunter. You never give up the game.' She told him, and ruffled his hair.

'I think I prefer you ginger.'

She pecked him on the lips, then helped him to stand. Henry smiled jovially and brushed himself down. Walking back to the warmth of the house, he momentarily disappeared, probably to change his wet socks. Yet she was busy concentrating on the dinner to notice him enter the room, and the first thing she felt was his hands round her neck, placing a necklace round it. She looked down at the silver shining between her collarbones and felt him lean further into her, his arms wrapping round her waist.

'I promise you this doesn't breathe fire.' He whispered, and all she could do was stare at the sparkling gem and gasp.

'Henry, it's beautiful. Why-'

'Merry Christmas.' He cut in, placing his chin on her shoulder. She turned round to see his eyes glimmer and smile at her.

'You told me not to get you anything.'

'Yes.'

'But I have nothing to give you, Henry. You should have told me you'd gotten something.'

'I didn't get it, Charlotte, I made it.'

'It's...it's...' She tried to speak, to tell him how beautiful it was but she couldn't. She was too surprised and taken it back.

'Besides, you can make it up to me easily.' He said, watching her as she marvelled at it. She turned fully and kissed him thankfully, a hand cupping his cheek and her arms slowly embracing him.

'Thank you.' She whispered sincerely into his shoulder, closing her eyes and wondering how she had ever come to deserve him.

'How much time must you have put into that-'

'It's all worth it. It's worth everything once you see it round the neck and think how ugly it is compared to the woman wearing it.'

His words really melted her heart, and it felt too often when he did this. How he could flatter her so easily and so regularly was beyond her. What had she done to love such a sweet and adorable man? She racked her brains but didn't think of one little thing. Charlotte was at such a loss and remarkably speechless to what she could say in reply. Her eyes were watering, and this time not from the bright lights that illuminated the room. She decided not to say anything, but kiss him again with as much gratitude and love that she could. What was more he was still smiling, and that warm, heart-stopping smile was one he knew could easily turn her into an undignified mess. He continued to linger there, creating quite a distraction to her but nonetheless revelling in every touch he gave her. Her eyes couldn't help follow the glowing stone at her neck and wondered how he could even think her as more valuable than a jewel.

'Oh, I need to feed Matthew.' She sighed, staring at the vegetables still smoking in the pan.

'It's okay, I'll do it. You're dinner can't get cold, not on Christmas Day!'

Carefully, Henry picked him up from the blanket on the floor, where he had been wriggling about for an hour or so.

'Come on, then, dinner time for baby Matt. He held him with one arm, rocking him while taking the baby food and settling him in his chair.

'Open mouth.' He said, kneeling in front of him and spooning the food into his mouth.

'That's it, yum yum. You like this don't you?' He asked, as Matthew gurgled and clapped his hands.

'You're going to grow very strong, aren't you little Shadowhunter, with what you're consuming. Big and strong and undefeatable!' He said.

Charlotte laughed at the two, Henry mirroring Matthew's actions and making him laugh hysterically.

'Right, Henry could you lay the table?' She asked.

'Of course.'

He set about while Charlotte served the dinner up, Charles instantly running to the table at the smell of food.

'You love your food, don't you?' She asked Charles, who was waiting impatiently.

'Like me.' Henry said, sitting down in his chair and high-fiving the young boy.

'What time do you think they'd be here?' He asked, as Charlotte sat down opposite him.

'I don't know. It will be nice to see them, though.'

'Who's coming round?' Charles inquired.

'Everyone from the Institute.'

'Yay!' Charles exclaimed, still excitable.

'Thought you might liked that. Seeing all your cousins again. And Uncle Will.' Henry said.

'Uncle Will?!' He gasped.

'Yes. The one that's too much of an influence over you. We should probably keep you two apart for the time being.'

'Aw, come on, he loves Uncle Will.'

'I wasn't talking about Charles, I was talking about you Henry. The last time you raised heads with Will was when we found you trying to ward off ducks in the duck pond. And the time before that you nearly set alight to the both of you because you had somehow managed to stick yourself together with glue.'

'Good times.' Henry grinned.

'Maybe you shouldn't talk much to him, take it easy tonight. Don't want you disappearing into the night and coming back sopping wet again.'

'Haha, one does get wild sometimes.'

'Yes.' She agreed. The rest of the afternoon was spent playing with Charles and Matthew, or watching them amusedly from the sofa.

'It does feel weird, being so quiet. I'm glad they'll be here in the evening. I like a busy home.'

'Only at day.'

'Yes,' he said, 'not at night.' He kissed her forehead, pulling her closer to him.

Soon enough the house crowded, and everyone was laughing and talking and drinking the night away. Charlotte had subconsciously missed the full bodied swell of a bigger family, and it dwelled on her mind while she interacted with everyone there in different ways. She was glad Charles had someone to play with, as he was mostly on his own. He would have to wait a year or two until Matthew was old enough to play with him.

Henry sidled up next to her, pushing another drink into her hand.

'Henry, I can't. I've already had too much.'

'It's Christmas, Lottie, don't forget.'

'That would be your excuse all year round if it could be.'

'Come on, drink up.' He said, giving her a lazy smile.

'I think you've already reached the limit.'

'There is no limit.'

'There is when I have to drag you up to bed.'

'Well, I'll make sure that doesn't happen.'

And he did. After that one drink, she became too relaxed, kept accepting drink after drink that she knew was not acceptable in any way. Oh, she would kill Henry. He kept subtly placing one in front of her as he downed his own. By the end of the night they had almost forgotten everyone had left. Luckily Charles and Matthew had been taken up to bed already, and they sit there together, Charlotte not quite used to the dazed and fuzzy feeling but undeniably liking it.

'Why did you get me drunk, Henry?' She asked.

'Why not? Christmas, Charlotte, Christmas. Everything's acceptable at Christmas. And it's quite nice, isn't it?' He rambled.

'Yes, but I know what you're like when you're drunk Henry.'

'Really?'

'Yes. You will do the craziest of things.' As if to ironically prove her point, he said something about inventing a flying turkey, and got up out of his seat to make way to his laboratory. Following after him and sighing, he was almost half sleep and even worse in a drunken state than she had assumed. His hands were even clumsier than usual and he was holding a screwdriver in his hand, rambling further. Gently she took the tool away from him, leading him away from the workbench.

'Come on, Henry. I'm tired too. Actually, I'm exhausted. I can't believe I let you take indulgence of me like this. I don't know what I was thinking, or what you were thinking. Although I never do know what you're thinking Henry.'

'That makes two of us.' He told her, and then suddenly she was kissing him without the faintest idea of why or how. His arms wrapped round her shoulders and carried her up the stairs. He was at his most clumsiest and vulnerable, and she knew there was a chance he'd drop her in his state. But to be honest she couldn't care. Her senses were dulled, her brain was slow, and she couldn't even remember how she had travelled from the bottom of the stairs to her bed as Henry placed another sloppy but exhilarating kiss. Her eyelids became heavy and her breathing became slow, but the intoxicated feeling only multiplied the amount of pressure he applied to her skin, in which she returned. She felt Henry's soft hair nuzzle her face and his hands caress her waist and then nothing at all.

•••

She groaned. Her eyes forced themselves to open, and all she could see was bedsheets. Her head was pounding and her hands clenched the duvet covers restlessly. With reluctance, she raised her head a fraction and saw out of the corner of her eye, a tuft of ginger hair in the middle of the bedsheets. Fully sitting up, she examined her position. She was lying normally, but on her stomach, while Henry was all over the place. His head was just resting beside her leg, his arms were widened out by the side of him, one leg was dangling over the side of the bed and the other was curled up ridiculously near her thigh. Only Henry, she thought, could sleep in such an awkward position. She prodded him awake, until he groggily opened his eyes and raised his head.

'What's the matter? How did I get up here?'

She laughed, and then noticed. Henry was wearing nothing but his pants. She didn't know how far they had gotten last night but his state told her enough.

'Henry, you might want to get yourself dressed.'

He looked down at himself, confused, groaned and collapsed back onto the bed. He had fallen straight back to sleep again and she smiled at his soft snoring. Carefully, she pulled him over to her, tucking him into the duvet and resting his head on a pillow. She loved the sight of him sleeping, so calm, his mouth slightly open. She nestled in closer to him, her head positioned at the crook of his neck, and closed her eyes too, drifting off with the warmth of Henry's body and the solace of a peaceful morning.