Radian, Gallia
Five years after defeating Salem...
- - -
Having leave of any kind was alien to Glynda. Her entire life had been about work, work,
work. All to fight against the encroaching darkness.
Now? The darkness had been defeated. Oh certainly, the Grimm still existed and now that magic was known to Remnant again, there were bad actors seeking to use it. Salem cultists had sprung up and certain elements of the White Fang were still up to their old tricks despite their leader being long dead.
But true peace, it seemed, was found in what you
didn't have to do anymore. And that drop in workload allowed her and Jaune to settle down and relax a bit in Radian. The farmhouse he'd built for her was simple, almost quaint. Cedar wood from Mistral, pine and redwood from Atlas, with austere white walls and dark oak trimming. Vaulted ceilings and large windows with worn but comfortable furniture.
It was, in short, her dream house. Something she could have never imagined sharing with someone. Especially not the man she loved.
The man she loved who was dressing up in a big red suit with a wine red, white furred lined coat. He pulled on a papakha, the traditional furry hat that Father Winter wore, and examined himself in the mirror. Nearby, her father-in-law Nick and mother-in-law Isabel sat on the couch. Nick grinned as Jaune turned around, resting his hand on his knee.
"Perfect fit!" Nick chuckled, slapping his knee. Jaune smiled almost bashfully back at his father, and stroked his beard.
"You think so?"
"You look just like your father at... At his age," Isabel said, warm but a bit sad. Nick huffed.
"Worse things to lose than an eye and some years, Izzy. I should know." He sighed as he looked down at his missing left arm and right leg. Glynda winced and Isabel looked guilty. Jaune frowned deeply.
Everyone had sacrificed a lot during the war with Salem. Nick himself had helped in the final assault, taking down three Grimm Dragons almost single handedly before he fell. Isabel had kept him alive, but his arm and leg could not be recovered. Not even by Jaune's Semblance.
"Dad," Jaune whispered. Nick frowned for a bit, before he brightened.
"Bah... My only regret is that I can't play Father Winter anymore! Hard to wield the two sabers with a real and an artificial hand," Nick chuckled. "Don't you feel guilty about any of it. Any of you. We're alive, breathing, and I get to see my son and my wonderful daughter-in-law make children smile! That's what it's all about."
He grabbed Isabel's hand and squeezed it. Isabel smiled back, though tears still shone in her eyes. Jaune sniffled a bit too, but manfully hid it. Glynda rose from her seat, her red dress flowing around her, as she hugged Jaune. He smiled at his wife, and she smiled back warmly.
"It is a bit crooked," Glynda said, reaching up to adjust his furry hat. Jaune sighed.
"I must have a lopsided head."
"Yes, we knew that," Glynda chuckled. Jaune huffed and nuzzled her... Before he pinched her bottom. Glynda squealed.
"Or a picky wife."
"You're lucky I'm picky," Glynda sniffed, "I wouldn't have chosen the best!"
Jaune laughed.
"You're right about that... Well! Lady Winter, shall we?"
He offered his arm. She took it and cuddled up against him.
"Of course, Father Winter!"
"Great!" Nick cheered. "I'll drive!"
"Maybe I should handle that," Isabel said carefully, "You crashed the tractor."
Nick grumbled.
"That tree came out of nowhere! A Geist was in it!"
"Yes dear, of course," Isabel sighed fondly, already picking up the keys.
- - -
In the central square of Radian, the marketplace was busy and bustling. Electronics wares from Atlas were sold alongside local furs and caps. But near the statue of Joan D'Arc, the Fire Maiden, was a big wooden chair decorated in red, gold, silver and green ribbons. A pair of sabers were crossed overhead, held by a protective wreath of holly. Under this, Jaune sat down like a barbarian king on a throne. Glynda stood alongside, ever vigilant... As children from across Gallia came to sit on the lap of Father Winter, and ask for gifts.
"What is your name, son?" Jaune asked.
"Alex!" The boy declared. Jaune nodded.
"Have you been good, Alex?"
"Y-Yeah... Mostly!"
"Mostly?" Glynda asked with a raised eyebrow. The boy winced. Jaune boomed in laughter, and patted Alex on the head.
"I'm sure he's done his best," he said, "What would you like for Aslanmas, son?"
"I... I want a sword like the Rusted Knight, F-Father Winter!" Alex said, "To slay Grimm with!"
"Oh? Will you use this sword like the Rusted Knight?" Jaune asked, "To protect the weak and innocent? To save those who need it?"
"Yeah!" Alex said, determined. "I won't let anything happen to them!"
Jaune grinned beneath his beard. Glynda hid a small smile.
"Then you will get it! Just remember to be careful, you don't want to cut yourself. That is a mark of shame for a swordsman."
"I won't, sir!" The boy swore. He got off and ran back to his parents, who were taking pictures with Scrolls. The next child was a little girl with a big smile and pigtails.
"And what is your name?" Jaune asked.
"I'm Suzie!" She declared.
"Well, have you been good this year, Suzie?" He asked.
"Yeah! My brothers are really mean though," she made a face, "They're all little and brats."
"They'll grow out of it," Jaune assured her, "Just means you need to be a good big sister to them!"
Suzie nodded.
"What would you like for Aslanmas, Suzie?"
"I want a-a mechashift sniper scythe like Lady Ruby's!" She enthused. "She's so cool! She saved the world!"
"Ah, but she built it herself," Jaune said. Suzie's eyes widened.
"How do you know?"
"Cause Father Winter knows everything," Jaune said firmly. Suzie frowned.
"Then why did you ask if I was good or bad?"
Jaune smirked.
"Because if you tell the truth, I'll consider you a good girl. If not? You're bad."
Suzie's eyes widened in understanding.
"Wow... So um... Could I get a kit to build a sniper scythe?"
"Sure! But don't make it the only weapon for you!" Jaune counseled, "You want to be your own kind of heroine!"
"Okay!" Suzie beamed. She posed for some photos with Jaune, then ran back to her parents.
"Next!"
Lilac Arc-Sith and her husband, Mercer Junior, approached with their twins, Castor and Polly. The boy and girl were barely three years old, and immediately began to tug on Jaune's beard when they sat in his lap.
"Heh, enthusiastic, aren't they?" Jaune chuckled.
"Cut that out!" Mercer barked. The twins winced and their lips wobbled. Mercer shook his head.
"Ohhh no! You're in front of Father Winter! Santa himself! You need to be polite!"
"Mercer," Lilac gently scolded her husband. Mercer grumbled and bowed his head.
"Well they should be," he muttered. Lilac smiled encouragingly at her twins.
"Go ahead you two. What do you want from Father Winter?"
Castor and Polly calmed down and looked up at their uncle in wonder.
"Choo Choo train!" Castor declared.
"Dolly!" Polly insisted.
"And have you been good?" Jaune asked, his eyes twinkling in amusement. The twins winced.
"Yeah?"
"Then good," Jaune said, "You'll get your gifts. Just be kind to your parents: They love you very much."
"And your aunt and uncle, who will be buying you more gifts if you behave," Glynda advised. The twins gasped happily.
"YAY! MORE TOYS!" They cheered, sliding off. Though not before Polly kissed Jaune's cheek. They rushed away giggling.
"Hey! Wait! We need to take your pictures!" Mercer cried. Lilac giggled.
"Oh, those two~!"
Jaune and Glynda shared a smile.
On and on it went. Each child came up and sat on Jaune's lap. Many of them cried. A few babies wet themselves. A few parents had to deal with temper tantrums, and yet, Jaune remained cool, calm, and collected. Glynda found herself spellbound by the boy turned man.
At last, the sun began to dip behind the horizon. The Yuletide market began to close up. Jaune relaxed in the chair, just looking up at the stars. Glynda walked up to him and handed him a mug of something warm and sweet. He smiled at her.
"Thanks." He sipped the hot cocoa. "Mmm..."
"This was quite the ordeal," Glynda chuckled. Jaune nodded.
"Mm... My dad did it every year, without fail," he said, "Every year. This year, well..." He sighed. "The injuries took their toll."
Glynda nodded slowly. It was clear there was more going on with Nick than Isabel had related. It wasn't that she was being shut out... Just hard to talk about.
"He's still Nick at heart," Glynda consoled, "He never gives up. And he lives every day like it's his last."
Jaune nodded, a sad smile on his face.
"Yeah... That's-That's why he was perfect as Father Winter. The spirit of Hope and Wonder. He always tries to bring a smile to every child's face, and make life better. I... I want to be just like that."
Glynda smiled lovingly.
"You are... You will be."
Jaune smiled back, and took her hand in his.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too," Glynda murmured back.
He made to get up, but Glynda reached out with her hand and pushed him back. Jaune blinked.
"Eh?"
"Lady Winter has a request for Father Winter too," Glynda said with a small smile. She then sat down in Jaune's lap, and snuggled up against him. Jaune smiled broadly and wrapped his arms around her.
"And what would that be, my lady?"
"That... That next year? We can bring..." She took his hand and rested it on her lower stomach, "Our child here, so he or she can experience that wonder and hope for themselves."
Jaune's jaw dropped. Glynda blushed and shrugged.
"I-I just learned this morning... Surprise?"
Jaune lifted his wife into the air and whooped for joy.
"BEST! ASLANMAS! EVER!"
Glynda laughed with her husband, and they embraced under the twinkling stars overhead.
"The first of many," she agreed.
- - -
@Insomnius wrote the first Glynda Glimpse. I hope he likes how I handled the second!
