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English
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Part 14 of A round of ACGAS Advent Shorts 2025
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A Very ACGAS Advent 2025
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Published:
2025-12-16
Words:
732
Chapters:
1/1
Comments:
11
Kudos:
30
Hits:
266

To the Moon and Back

Summary:

Day 14: sky

It’s December 1969 and old people are still in love.

Work Text:

“What are you doing out ‘ere? You’ll catch your death you daft old man!”

Siegfried had known it wouldn’t be long before she found him. These days she tended to keep him on a (welcomed) short leash after a particularly nasty fall the year before. It was something he rather liked, her being close at all times, even if he did pull her leg a little about it.

“The skies clear tonight, and as you no longer allow me to smoke in the house, where else can I enjoy my allocated one pipe a day?”

“Hmmmm.” 

She sounded annoyed, but he knew she wasn’t. A feeling bolstered by a blanket being draped over his shoulders and her body huddling in next to him. Her warm arms then slipped under his cardigan and found purchase on his cooler skin just like they always did.

“You can see all the constellations. Look, there’s Ursa Major-.”

“The bear.”

“And its stars - Mizar and Alcor.”

“The double star.”

“Indeed… and just look at that moon! Big and beautiful. A Cold Moon, I suspect.”

“As bright as a button.”

“Slightly larger than a button my love. Can you believe people have walked on it?”

“Well… I still don’t believe it…”

“Oh you aren’t going to start that again are you? You saw the footage!”

“Well I heard about it… what with you and our Mary’s fella standing in front of the telly, no one else got a look in! Not even Neil ruddy Armstrong had as good of a view as you two.”

Siegfried huffed lightly, a smile forming around the stem of his pipe. “You’ll never forgive me (or him) for that will you?”

“Unless I seen it with me own eyes-!” 

If he didn’t know her better he would think his love was still angry with him. But he did know better and pulled her body against his so there was no gap between them. For good measure he kissed her forehead and let his hand drift down to her arse before giving it a good squeeze. It may have been a little fuller these past few years but he didn’t care. She was still the most beautiful and ravishing woman in the county.

“Marry me.”

“Oh Siegfried…”

“I know we said we wouldn’t, there was no need… but it feels right…now. We have grandkids, we share a bed, house and business. All we don’t share is a last name.”

He’d shocked her, he could feel as much by her body’s reaction to the question. The last time the question (or discussion) had arisen within their family they both had said there was no need. “Well, what do you say?”

“I… at our age?”

“We’re both still in the prime of our lives!”

“I’m not sure the both of us pushing towards our late 70’s is exactly prime…” she replied sharply. But any notion she was angry with him for springing the question on her was gone when he felt her chuckling against his chest. 

“Please marry me Audrey, it doesn’t matter how old we are-.”

“Oh shut up, of course I’ll marry you, you old fool.” She answered, peppering kisses on his jawline. “You can be the one to tell our Mary though. She’d been waiting for us to get wed for years. She still doesn’t understand why you call me Mrs Hall when you want some nonsense or other sorting out.”

Unable to stop himself he laughed loudly and pulled her body in closer. “Arh well, we’ll keep that reason to ourselves shall we? Our granddaughter doesn’t need to know about that.”

“Hmmm no she doesn’t,” she replied before pausing. “I love you to the moon and back, Siegfried Farnon.”

“And I love you to the moon and back too my darling. But I think it’s time to go inside.”

“Tea and bed?”

“Tea and bed it is my love, standing out here in the cold - as beautiful as the night sky is, it’s doing nothing for my old bones.”

“Well, you best keep those bones in good order now you’ve asked me officially or you’ll never make it through our wedding night…”

“I’ll have you know Mrs Hall soon to be Farnon, my bones will be in perfect working order for that…”

“Just get inside!” She giggled, ignoring the wink he gave her. 

“As you wish my dear as you wish!”

 

 

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