“Starsky,” Hutch examined his undercover outfit with dismay. “Maybe we could trade roles? I’ll take the photos…”
“Nope. We did rock, paper, scissors, and you covered my rock–” Starsky had the nerve to look delighted and sexy at his double-entendre. “You won the part.”
“It’s just…” Hutch touched the soft fabric. “Not my thing. You’re the one who loves all this holiday cheer.”
“Hey!” Starsky gave him a quick kiss in consolation. “You’ve made such progress from actin’ like the Grinch since that year we got Pete.”
“We never ‘got’ MollyPete.” Hutch shook his head. “She came into our lives and made them better, in my opinion, but she gained a family in the Ramoses.”
“And us. I like to pretend I have a daughter.” Starsky grinned and held out the jacket. “Time to get dressed, big fella.”
“I like to think I have a daughter, too.” Hutch reluctantly took the jacket and buttoned it up. The fur collar tickled his neck.
“Isn’t it amazing to think that a tiny cell–” Starsky measured the space of millimeters between his finger and thumb, “getting it on with a sperm makes a baby? And they grow up to be people.”
“That is how it works,” Hutch said, doing his best to sound dry and cynical. It was amazing. He picked up the red velvet pants and pulled them on, adjusting the cuffs to cover his ankle holster. Just because he was supposed to be a jolly elf didn’t mean he wasn’t going in unarmed.
“All those babies and little kids are gonna come up and sit on Ol’ Kris Kringle’s lap and whisper what they want for Christmas,” Starsky continued. “And when Martina Vogle arrives with her boy, the kid will sit on your knee, the Feds are gonna sweep in and arrest her for kidnapping, and his dad will be there to take the son.”
“Lousy reason to come see Santa,” Hutch sighed, looking at himself in the mirror. He plopped the red cap on his head. He made a miserable Claus if he did say so himself.
“You look great!” Starsky said staunchly with a bright smile. He stuffed the fat pad into Hutch’s pants, taking the opportunity to cop a feel with gleeful abandon.
Hutch laughed. It wasn’t a ho-ho-ho, but it was a start. He clamped his long fingers around Starsky’s groin, feeling the swelling begin simply from his friction. “Still, this will ruin that kid’s Christmas.”
“Maybe he really wants to be with his dad, ever think of that?” Starsky sounded sadder than he had seconds ago. “Maybe–”
Hutch pulled Starsky into his arms, kissing him. “There are two sides to every situation. His mom took him from his dad, and your dad died, leaving you with a mom…”
“Who sent me to her sister, who loved Christmas,” Starsky took a step back as if pushing aside the bad memories. “Time to shine, Santa!”
“You are and always will be my Christmas present, Starsk,” Hutch said sincerely, hooking the beard around his ears.
“Past, present and future, babe.” Starsky grinned and handed him a candy cane.
What a fantastic picture for the story, elves! Merci.
I’ll pass it on. Thanks!
That was cute, Dawn. Makes perfect sense that the grinch has to play Santa. 😏
I agree, that is a most awesome picture! And the caption under it. 😁
Hee hee, yep, Starsky’s always going to be the elf, imo. thanks.
Ooops. Never noticed the caption. Our bad — but it is funnier… Advent Elves
🤣 🤣 🤣
Aww that was cute!
hohoho, thanks!
This is lovely! Thank you so much!
Starsky’s going to sit on Santa’s lap once their case is solved. thanks for reading.
This was great. I bet Starsky would definitely get a kick out of the irony of Hutch having to play Santa. He’d probably tell him to remember that kids won’t appreciate finding a tree in the stockings lol
You’re right. the stockings should be near the tree. lol
Oh- a lovely bittersweet story wrapped in a Santa costume! I like S “pretending” he has a daughter and H “thinking” he has a daughter- somehow there’s a difference. And I hope the poor little boy at the heart of the story has a happy Christmas. Thank you.
I know! After the fact, I started to worry about poor young Vogle. Thank you.
Ah–I laughed and then I felt–I don’t know–melancholic, thinking of that poor little boy. I hope he really does want to be with his dad–I’m pretty sure he does. Maybe he even tells Santa Hutch that what he wants for Christmas is his dad again. Yep–that’s what’s gonna happen and the kid will always believe in Santa and Christmas miracles.
I love the MollyPete being their honorary daughter. And Starsky’s amazement/wonder at how people really come to be. It is something wondrous. But Hutch’s dry reply totally cracked me up!
I had recently read/heard on the news of a story where one parent had kidnapped the child and the other parent was the one who had raised him/nutured him far better. Yes–exactly what you said!
Thanks for the smiles this piece gave me. And great I’ll, too.
Merci! A smile early in the day is always a gift.
That was simply adorable!
Merci, madame! Joyeux Noel avec Starsky and Hutch.
Thanks for the nice story, complete with Starsky not missing a chance to cop a feel.
But of course he ‘frisks’ Hutch. Thanks for reading.
Awww…Thanks Dawn!
Happy holidays with our favorite Bay City duo.
Thanks, Dawn. Sweet, always enjoy a mention of Molly/Pete!
I like to toss her into a story every once in a while. Thanks!
“You are and always will be my Christmas present, Starsk” – You bet he will! Thanks for the lovely story!
Thank you for reading.
‘and you covered my rock–’
How long did it take you to come up with that line? OMG!
I love the thought of Hutch being Santa. Hearing all those Christmas wishes would get anyone in the holiday mood…
This was–if I recall–a twenty minute fic, so probably it popped out without my thinking much about it at all. Sometimes the stories just write themselves. Thanks.
Aww, I love seeing our boys reflect on parenthood, even when it’s melancholy like this.
I seem to end up with kid fic so much of the time! Thanks.
Haha! Funny…
Danke!
Cute story. I love the image of Hutch as the reluctant Santa.
Hutch isn’t quite the jolly elf, is he?
Excellent!
Thanks. ;-D
Great story, Dawn. Christmas is both happy and sad for some people. KUDOS Thank you!!
So true–we all have so many emotions attached to the holidays.
So cute, and I love how they get all sentimental about MollyPete.
And the illo is gorgeous!
I just know a photo of Hutch in that outfit is going to be Starsky’s holiday card next year 😉
Great fic, I like how you tempered the fun banter with their discomfort of using a child’s Christmas treat to trap their parent. It makes for a nice balance.
Thank you, Mat—yeah, I was worried about the little boy.
Wonderful piece! Love the way you blended some sweet, funny and some slightly melancholic into one piece. And the ending line about ‘ past present and future ‘ was perfect. Thank you 🙂