The halls of the imperial palace glittered with the usual opulence, festooned with gold wreaths, shining ornaments, and lavish tapestries, yet there was a quiet hum in the air — one that you hadn't noticed before. Christmas was nearing, and while the imperial court buzzed with its usual political events, you and your husband, Emperor Geta, had made a decision. This year, for the first time, you would step away from the obligations of court and spend Christmas together. Just the two of you.

It wasn't a grand public gesture. It was simple, unadorned — the idea of Christmas was small but meaningful, tucked away in the corners of your hearts. You wanted it to be different. Not as the emperor and consort, not as figures of political importance, but simply as husband and wife, sharing something personal and unspoken.

The morning of Christmas Eve came, and you were both prepared to escape the overwhelming expectations of the palace. With only a handful of trusted servants to keep the palace running in your absence, you and Geta slipped quietly from the imperial residence, leaving behind the ceremonial grandeur of your life.

---

The air outside was crisp and sharp, the cold bite of winter carrying the promise of snow, though it had yet to fall. You walked side by side with Geta through the cobbled streets of Rome, the usual crowd having thinned in anticipation of the upcoming holiday. The shops and stalls were decorated with festive cheer, selling everything from spiced wine to intricate little wooden trinkets. But today, none of it was for display. Today, it was just you and him.

Geta, dressed in simpler, less regal attire than usual, looked like a man who had left his emperor's duties behind. He wore a warm cloak, a scarf wrapped around his neck, his hair tousled by the wind. He looked different, not in the way of a ruler, but as the man you had married — quiet, gentle, and yet full of something you hadn't noticed before.

As you walked, he kept glancing over at you, his expression soft and full of affection. "You know," he said, his voice a little playful, "I've always wondered what it's like for the people of Rome during this time. The streets are calm, the festivals simple, but there's a warmth here that's... hard to find in the palace."

You smiled, feeling the warmth of the moment in your chest. "I think we both know what the palace is like," you teased gently, feeling a mischievous glint in your eyes. "Cold, distant, full of politics and whispers. It's nice to be away from all of that for a while."

He nodded, his smile a little more pronounced. "Exactly. It's nice to be just... us. For a change."

You continued walking, passing by a stall where a merchant was selling small wooden animals, each hand-carved with care. You stopped and picked up a small wooden horse, its dark grains carved with intricate details.

"I remember my childhood Christmases," you said, running your fingers over the smooth surface. "Simple gifts like these were the most cherished. They weren't expensive, but they meant something because they were given with thought, not obligation."

Geta, standing beside you, nodded thoughtfully. "I never had much of that," he admitted, his gaze turning inward for a moment. "Christmases at the palace were always grand, but they lacked something... warmth, I suppose. It was always about appearances. I never knew what it meant to truly celebrate until I met you."

Your heart fluttered in your chest, the simplicity of his words taking you by surprise. There were so many layers to Geta that you hadn't yet uncovered, and every time he opened up, you felt as if you were learning a new, softer part of him.

You handed the small wooden horse to him. "I'll take this as a gift," you said playfully. "Though, I suppose I shouldn't expect a grand gesture from you, should I?"

Geta smiled, his gaze warm. "You deserve far more than I can give. But I can promise you this—tonight, there will be no expectations, no responsibilities. Only us."

The two of you walked further through the streets, enjoying the quieter side of the city as the evening sky slowly darkened. The first snowflakes began to fall, gently at first, dusting the streets in soft, white powder. You found a small, quaint inn where the fire burned brightly, and the tables were filled with people laughing, celebrating the season in their own way. The food was simple but hearty — roasted meats, bread, and fresh fruit, accompanied by mulled wine that warmed you from the inside out.

—-

Later, after dinner, Geta led you to a small park outside the inn. The snow was thick now, and the world felt hushed as the flakes fell gently around you, each one catching on your hair and shoulders. It was so quiet, so peaceful, that you almost forgot who you were — the Emperor and his consort — as the reality of just being together took over.

He stopped near a fountain that had frozen over, the ice shimmering in the moonlight. Turning to you, he took your hands in his, his fingers warm despite the chill in the air.

"Y/n," he said softly, his voice low and sincere, "I've spent so many days living for the empire... for duty... that I almost forgot how to live for something else. I know it's not always been easy for you. I've been... distant. But tonight, I want to give you something real. Something that belongs only to us."

Your heart skipped a beat, the weight of his words sinking in. You saw him, truly saw him, in a way you hadn't before. The man behind the emperor — the husband who had quietly and patiently waited for you to warm to him. Tonight, it wasn't the power he wielded that mattered. It was the man who wanted to share something with you, just you.

You squeezed his hands, a soft smile pulling at your lips. "This is all I need, Geta," you whispered. "This time with you, just the two of us."

He smiled, and without another word, he pulled you close, wrapping his arms around you as the snow continued to fall around you both. You could feel the warmth of his embrace, the way he held you as if nothing else in the world mattered. It was the first time you truly felt what it meant to be loved by him, not for your title, not for your role, but simply for who you were.

The world outside the park seemed distant, like a dream, and for the first time since your marriage began, you felt completely present, completely here. There were no obligations, no plans, no weight of the empire on your shoulders. Just the quiet, gentle snow, the soft warmth of Geta's embrace, and the undeniable sense that, for once, you were both exactly where you needed to be.

As the snow fell silently around you, you and Geta stood there, entwined in each other's arms, your hearts beating in perfect rhythm with the season of peace and renewal.

And for the first time in a long while, you both felt free.