Tinselitus
"Tinsel?" Severus exploded.
"Yes!" Hermione adjusted one of the glass icicles on the tree.
"You want me to go out now, in the snow, on Christmas Eve, to get more bloody tinsel?"
"Yes!" Hermione glared at him. "This tree has to be perfect and it needs more tinsel! Everything has to be perfect."
Hermione seemed overly stressed and about to either cry or throw something at him… or both so Severus rugged up and traipsed out into the snow.
When he returned, his hair was messy, his best boots were scuffed, and the tinsel was slightly the worse for wear.
"What happened to it?" Hermione exclaimed looking at the sorry excuse for tinsel and ignoring the sorry state of her irate husband.
"Christmas Eve," Severus simply replied through gritted teeth as he shook the snow off his coat. "I had to fight a large woman for it."
Without warning, Hermione burst into tears.
Losing his ire, Severus rushed over to her. "Hermione, what's wrong?" He gathered her into his arms and let Hermione sob on his shoulder. "I think the tree looks lovely," he tried to console her.
"It has to be perfect," Hermione sniffed.
"Why does it have to be perfect?" Severus asked gently.
"Because… because… I don't know." She pulled away and wiped her eyes.
Severus watched her, feeling very confused.
"I just want everything to be perfect. I want the house to look nice… and welcoming…"
"And why's that?" Severus prompted.
Hermione sniffed and gave him an apologetic smile. "Because I'm pregnant and everything has to be perfect."
Severus' eyebrows met his hairline. "Pregnant?" He echoed.
Hermione nodded. "Surprise." She felt nervous, wondering what he would say.
Severus pulled her to him again and kissed the top of her head. "Hermione, I think you're perfect."
Hermione smiled and relaxed for the first time in a long while. "I love you, Severus," she whispered. "Thank you for the tinsel."
I've been writing a lot lately whilst bored at work. Unfortunately, they are all Christmas fics and none of my WIPs. I'm still around though. Merry Christmas everyone!