anachronos | (no subject)

Ripley had grown used to spending Christmas alone in Storybrooke. It seemed like so long ago his wife and daughter had been around to spend the holidays with him. So long he could not quite grasp how many years. It could not be as many as it felt. These past few years had seen him spending quiet Christmases with Wolf.

This year was going to be different. He had invited Graham for the Holiday and to his surprise, the sheriff had accepted.

Now he was staring at the box to the sad excuse for a meal he was throwing together and wishing Granny's would have been open. Why had he thought this was a good idea? Graham would have been possibly better of on his own but there was food at last and coffee and an overly affectionate dog.

And hanging betwen his stocking and Wolf's was one with Graham's name on it. full of sweets he actually enjoyed and coffee grounds from rhe cafe among other things. A box under the tree somewhat sloppily wrapped had his name as well.

All his night was missing was the sheriff himself.

And Ripleywould be lying if he said he was not nervously anticipating his arival.

He still wasn't sure if they were anything more than friends who had had sex, but he was happy with whatever it wasthey did have. there was no one he would rather spend the holiday with.

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Ripley about died at the sight of the tiny black creature in Graham's hand. All fluff and fur where it was curled up, woken by the sudden absence of all that surrounding warmth and peeking bleary little sleepy blue eyes at the bright waking world.

He lifted her carefully from Graham's grasp, tucking her against his chest with all the gentle movements of a mother cat as he brushed two fingers along her fur. She was a lovely little thing and his smile was brighter than the christmas tree behind him when he smiled at her.

"She's a beautiful little thing. Hello darling. Good evening. I know, I'm no where near as comfortably warm as he is, am I? Did Wolf wake you up with all his ruckus?"

He rubbed lightly under her chin and glanced over at Graham with really what could only be claimed as a dorky, happy grin.

"She's fantastic, Graham."

He was already side-tracked again a moment later as he crouched down, one hand surprisingly efficiently keeping Wolf out of direct reach for anything more than curious snuffles and licks.

"Say hello, boy. It looks like you are going to need to get used to not being an only child any more. Be nice to your baby sister, yeah?"

Graham was smiling too, happy that his gift had been well received.

He shrugged his jacket off and draped it over the back of Ripley's couch before sitting himself down, content to watch Ripley introduce the kitten to Wolf.

"So what'll you name her?"

Never trust a man who names a dog 'Wolf' to name a cat. Ripley brushed his cheek against the tiny kitten's fur with a smile, getting back to his feet as he did so, the narcoleptic barista moving to join Graham on the couch.

"She looks a bit like a mocha to me."

One long finger rubbed lightly under her chin and the tiny feline broke into a strong series of very loud purrs that made Ripley break into a large, ridiculous grin.

He couldn't help it. Only a few moments in his life and she was already adding more light to it.

"Thank you, Graham."

Such sincerity, and he set the kitten down in his lap, watching her sniff about and slightly-wobbly explore his legs. Wolf's big, heavy head pressing uncomfortably into Ripley's knee as the overgrown puppy wagged his entire lower half, a low whine in his throat.

"I have a feeling these two are going to become very good friends."