Work Text:
7: Prompt: Hanukkah:
“You OK down there babe?” Jim called out from the upstairs bedroom, hearing his young guide and lover moving around and muttering to himself, almost too quietly for even sentinel hearing. Stopping in his tracks, Blair turned to grin up at him, his beautiful eyes bright with affection even if his expression and response was a little diffident.
“Ah, I’m fine, lover. Just had a thought and wanted to check it out. See, I know I’m not a practising Jew, but I thought that maybe this year I should at least make an effort to honour my ancestry,” and he held up a beautiful antique menorah for Jim to see. “Um, would it be OK if I placed this in front of the glass sliders? To be honest, I’d almost forgotten I had it, but since this year we’re making more of an effort to get with the festive season, I wondered if it be OK to add it to the loft’s decorations?”
Trotting down the stairs, Jim smiled as he held his hands out to take the object in his hands. “Hey, it’s really lovely, babe,” he murmured sincerely. “How long have you had it? I don’t recall seeing it before!”
Blair grinned happily, pleased with his lover’s positive reaction. “It’s been a couple years now, Jim. Naomi sent it to me when Grandpa Sandburg passed. As you know, she had long since severed relations with her parents, but when her mother contacted her to tell her of her father’s passing, she also sent the family menorah to pass on to me. I guess that neither Naomi nor myself had much idea as to what to do with it then, although I admit that I was very touched, even if I’ve never met either of them. I’d like to think of it as kind of a belated olive branch, maybe? Whatever. Anyway, for some reason I think it’s time I did something about recognising and accepting my roots. It’s all about family, after all, even though as far as I’m concerned, you and Naomi are my family now. Is that OK with you?”
Jim smiled fondly as he returned the piece to his guide’s hands. “I think that’s a great idea, babe! And absolutely fine with me. As far as I’m concerned, you’re my family too, and I’d be honoured if you were to include me in your traditions.
“So, do you want to do the whole Hanukkah thing? Because if so, I’m good with that too.”
If anything, Blair’s smile grew even brighter. “Um, yeah. I think I’d really like that, Jim. It might have been a while, but I’m pretty sure I can remember all the prayers and stuff. And the first night is tonight. OK with you?”
And at Jim’s affirming nod, he placed the menorah on the small table set in front of the glass sliders. He couldn’t have put it into words for once, but something deep inside him settled and smiled in appreciation. This was right, and Jim’s ready acceptance had made it so.