Title: Here With Me 28/?
Author: Anorien and Sairalinde
Type: RPS
Pairing: Craig/David
Rating: NC-17
Warning: None this chapter.
Beta: Ourselves
Disclaimer: This never happened. This was written in fun that's all.
Feedback: Yes please send to sairalinde @ hornofgondor.com
or thechroniclesofosgiliath @ yahoo.com
Archiving: OEAM, Mirrormere, The Chronicles of Osgiliath, Saira's Library, CxD Archive, other's ask.
Summary: A.U. Two University Professors try to overcome their pasts and find love and healing.
A/N: This is A.U. and it is the world we wish really did exist.

// Indicates thoughts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

David rolled over and smiled when he looked at Craig. // So beautiful. // He reached up and ran his finger along the side of Craig's face just enjoying watching him sleep. He hadn't had a chance to ask Craig the night before about going out today to look for a Christmas tree...he hoped Craig didn't still have a backlog of papers to grade. David normally didn't bother with a tree, unless Diana forced him to, but this year he wanted one...after all he had someone to share it with. He hoped it would be the first of many Christmas tree's that he and Craig would share together. David glanced out the window at the snow. // What if he'd rather not go out in the snow? What if he doesn't want a tree? Why do I always do this to myself? Just ASK him...when he wakes up.// David smiled and snuggled closer.

Craig sighed and leaned in to his lover’s touch, even in his sleep. He felt David stir next to him and his eyes fluttered open, a smile on his face before he was even fully awake. It sometimes seemed to him that he hadn’t really stopped smiling since he met David…the man he loved with all his heart and the man who loved him in return. Biting his bottom lip, he snuggled closer and gave a contented sigh. “Morning, gorgeous,” he murmured happily, trailing his hand lightly over David’s chest. “Sleep well?”

"Morning, love," David said softly and hoped one day he wouldn't blush every time Craig gave him a compliment. Sighing softly as Craig's hand moved over him he tangled his fingers with Craig's other hand and lifted it to his lips pressing soft kisses against them. "I slept very well...because I was next to you," he grinned. "I think it snowed again."

Craig’s smiled widened and he thought he could never get enough of these mornings…waking up to David, just relaxing and being together and feeling….happy. Happier than he’d ever thought he could be. His thumb ran softly over his lover’s bottom lip and he moved to stretch luxuriously, his body sliding alongside David’s. “’Mmmm….snow,” he murmured. “Love snow.”

David kissed Craig's thumb as it moved over his lip. // He loves snow...well either he loves to *look* at it, or maybe he likes to get out in it too? // "Umm, funny you should say that you love snow...umm do you mean to look at or...or go out in?" David asked knowing that Craig would guess he was hedging at something.

Craig propped up on his elbow and studied is lover. “You’re up to something, aren’t you?” he grinned. “Planning to ambush me with a snowball attack if I say I love to go out in it? Or are you planning on trading me in for a snowman? Because if that’s the case, I may as well warn you….snowmen don’t cuddle half as well as I do. Very messy they are….”

"Hmm?" David asked blinking innocently and then laughed. "No can't say I'd want to cuddle with a snowman...no I was wondering...well...if you'd like to go with me today to find a Christmas tree?" David asked tracing a pattern on the sheet with his fingertip.

Craig’s eyes lit up and he practically bounced up and down on the mattress. “Christmas tree?” he grinned. “As in a real-honest-to-God-live tree and not one of those hideous things in a box? As in put-on-our-boots-and-hold-each-other-close-as-we-play-in-the-snow-and-look-for-a-tree-tree? I’d *love* to! When? Where? Now?”

David began to laugh and rolled back pulling a nearly bouncing Craig on top of him. "Yes...well not *now* this very minute...but today, yes. I'd like to go out and get a tree today, I meant to ask last night but ummm...I got a little side tracked," he grinned up at his lover blushing as he remember how he got side tracked. "So...I was thinking...we do that today, go find us a nice big tree, and spend the day decorating it. If you want to...I know you said you were a little behind on papers though...if you need to do that we can put it off till next weekend or something."

“Papers?” Craig asked innocently. “What papers? I’d rather have a tree than papers any day….besides….they’re all really connected in some obscure tree/papery kind of way, so it’d be the same thing, actually.” Sliding his arms underneath David’s head, Craig nuzzled into his neck. “Hmmm...side-tracked…yes, I do recall something about being side-tracked. It all started when you started doing *this*…” Nibbling playfully on his lover’s ear, he grinned. “Then, you did *this*….” He moved down and began to lick and kiss the warm skin of David’s neck. “And, yeah, we REALLY got side-tracked after that…”

David laughed at Craig's explanation about papers and trees though his laughter slipped into a soft gasp as Craig's lips found his earlobe. "Hmm, yeah...we really...um we are really going to get sidetracked *now* too if you don't stop," David said smiling happily.

“Oh,” Craig said softly, licking a slow trail across his lover’s collarbones, “you want me to stop? I’m so sorry, love. You’re right….we need to go get that tree….” His body slid against David’s, hips pressed to hips, chest against chest, as he placed soft kisses over his lover’s shoulders. “Give me one more minute, then I’ll stop…”

"One more minute and I'll..." David began and then bit his bottom lip in embarrassment feeling himself flush all the way to the tips of his ears. He'd never said anything like *that* much less thought it.

Craig moved back to attach his lips just below David’s other ear, and smiled. “You’ll what, love?” he whispered. “Tell me what you’re going to do in one more minute….”

David swallowed and said a bit uncertainly, "I...I almost said...um," David cleared his throat, "I'll roll you over and fuck you through the mattress," he said closing his eyes and feeling his face turn even more red. He'd *never* said anything like that before.

Craig’s grin was so wide it almost hurt. He loved this side of David so much. Even though he could feel the warmth that practically wafted off David’s face as he said the words, he was thrilled that he’d actually *thought* them, let alone *said* them. “How about I help you out there a bit?” he whispered, moving to quickly flip over and reverse their positions so he was underneath his lover. “*I’ll* roll us over, then you can feel free to fuck me into the mattress all day long.” Wrapping his arms and legs around David’s body, he grinned up at him. “My part of the deal is finished. So…..”

David still felt his face burning but smiled down at Craig, "My turn eh?" he grinned laughing softly before leaning down and capturing Craig's lips beneath his own. Kissing his lover deeply David shifted his hips slightly causing his arousal to rub against Craig's. Pulling back from their kiss to catch his breath, he reached over to the nightstand for the lube. Sliding down Craig's body he began kissing and licking a trail down to his lover's rigid shaft, licking a slow path from base to tip. He smiled feeling himself grow even harder as Craig moaned softly. Slicking his fingers David’s hand traveled down to cup and caress the heavy sac before sliding lower and pressing a slick finger against the tight entrance. Licking at the hard shaft David looked up, "So is this a good start on my part of the deal?" he asked huskily.

Craig’s hands curled into the sheets as he bit at his bottom lip. “I think you’re off to a stellar start,” he said in an unsteady voice. His legs spread further apart and he took a deep breath. “Don’t stop,” he pleaded as his lover’s tongue slid maddeningly up the length of his arousal. “Please don’t stop.” He leaned up to look directly into his lover’s eyes. “Fuck me, love. Fuck me hard.”

David felt his stomach muscles clench as Craig said that, he'd never been turned on at all by saying things like that or hearing them...until now. Shifting on his knees his mouth slid down his lover's cock until his nose met soft curls and he pressed his finger forward sliding into tight heat slowly. Twisting his finger slightly and curling it, he brushed over the tight bundle of nerves just as he swallowed around his lover's shaft.

Craig felt his arousal engulfed in the warmth of David’s mouth at the same time the delving finger rubbed across his prostate, causing him to moan and arch his head back into the pillow. “God, David,” he moaned, completely lost in his lover’s touch. His body clenched around David’s finger, his arousal began to leak, and he knew he would be forever grateful that David could be this way with him. And he’d tell him too…….later. Right now, all he could focus on was the sensation of warmth around his cock as it twitched in his lover’s mouth, and the finger buried inside him as it brushed repeatedly over his sweet spot. “ Please,” he whimpered. “Please, love.”

Sitting back on his heels David slipped his finger from inside Craig, and leaned forward again pressing his aching cock against the tight entrance. Pushing forward slowly he paused for a moment before sliding deep inside his lover where he paused again to catch his breath. "Oh God, Craig," he gasped as he gazed down into beautiful sparkling eyes.

Feeling the exquisite stretch of muscle as David slid into him, Craig held his lover’s gaze and wrapped his legs around his waist. Tightening the muscle around the thick length buried inside him, he reached up to caress David’s face, trying to keep from moving.

David leaned down and kissed Craig tenderly. He drew his hips back and slid forward again setting a slow and steady pace that gradually built, faster and faster. "You are so beautiful," he whispered as he stared into gorgeous eyes. Sliding his hand down his lover's body his fingers wrapped around the leaking hard length between them and began stroking it in time with his thrusts.

Craig’s body arched up to meet each deep thrust and he gave a low moan as David’s fingers closed around his arousal. They moved together for long minutes, and the sounds of their low moans and murmured pleas filled the room and wrapped around them. He was already close to the edge, and each stroke of David’s hand and nudge against his sweet spot drove him ever closer. “Coming,” he moaned, only moments before he felt his entire body tense. With a final thrust into the hand surrounding him, he felt himself spill hot and sticky between their bodies, his fingers clenching around David’s broad shoulders.

David's eyes never left Craig's as he moved into and with his lover feeling himself getting lost in their beautiful blue depths. The tight heat surrounding him was driving him closer to losing control. As Craig moaned his release David thrust deeply one last time unable to hold back any longer. Crying out Craig’s name, his release spilled deep inside his lover. Shuddering David slowly lay down against Craig trying to catch his breath. "I love you," he whispered kissing Craig's neck.

Trailing his hand over David’s damp back, Craig held him tightly and closed his eyes. “I love you too, sweetheart,” he whispered, nibbling softly on the damp skin of his lover’s neck. Unable to resist, he grinned and ran his fingers through soft red hair. “I *do* feel fucked into the mattress, come to think of it,” he chuckled. “I hope this isn’t a one time deal? Cause I really, really loved it.”

David rose up and looked at Craig smiling, "Well, if you loved it then...no not a one time deal," he said laying his head back against Craig's chest for a moment taking a deep breath. Shifting his hips he slipped from his lover's body and rolled to his side beside Craig. "Once we umm...catch our breath I guess we can get dressed and go hunting for a tree?" he asked grinning as he ran his fingers through Craig's hair.

Craig laughed and closed his eyes, enjoying his lover’s gentle touch. “Yes,” he grinned. “Anything you want. The biggest, most beautiful tree in the forest awaits us. It’s starting to shake down to it’s very roots because it *knows* we’re coming.” Leaning up to kiss full, kiss swollen lips, he fluttered his eyelashes. “And, maybe we can find some mistletoe? I’ve never kissed anyone under the mistletoe before, and I think this is the year I’m going to give it a try. The first year of MANY, that is, because I plan on sharing the holidays, and every other day of my life, with you forever.”

David laughed at the image of a shaking tree. He smiled happily, "Mistletoe sounds good...and...you know I love it when you say forever?" His fingers trailed down the side of Craig's face. "I really love it."

“Good,” Craig said softly, “because I love saying it, and knowing that it’s real and that I’ve finally found the man I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

"Funny seems I've found the man I want to spend the rest of my life with too...odd how that happened." David grinned kissing the tip of Craig's nose playfully.

Leaning in to catch his lover’s bottom lip between his teeth, Craig grinned. “So, my gorgeous tree-slayer, shall we go find that tree and put it out of its misery?”

David began to laugh as Craig called him a tree-slayer. "Oh God, don't say it that way love...I'll end up going to the store for a fake one," David said scooting back and sitting up.

“Will tree-wrangler work better?” Craig asked, sliding off the bed and heading for the bathroom for a clean towel, feeling as if his heart would burst with happiness. He walked back and gently cleaned his lover as he continued, trying to get his mind back on the conversation he was currently carrying on…with himself. “Tree-acquirer? Forest-herder? Procurer of Christmas trees?” Standing up, he cleaned himself and looked quizzically at David, trying to keep a straight face. “Anything you like, as long as you promise *not* to get one of those awful fake ones… anything!”

David chuckled softly at each of the monikers Craig bestowed on him and shook his head, "All right...no fake ones," he laughed softly. Sliding off the bed he pulled Craig up with him and kissed him softly. "I love you...so very much," he whispered. "Now lets see if we can get dressed...and maybe scrounge up a bite to eat before we go traipsing through the snow," he said smiling happily. No one had ever made him laugh and feel this happy before; Craig was amazing, and beautiful and absolutely perfect.

Wrapping his arms around his lover, Craig gazed into the beloved blue eyes that sparkled back at him. “I love you too you know,” he said softly. “Never doubt that.” Pulling away reluctantly, he ran his hand down David’s chest and gave a wistful sigh. “I hate to cover this gorgeous body of yours up, but I guess we *do* need to find a few layers of clothing.” With that, he turned toward the chest of drawers behind them and started dragging out socks and warm clothes. “Wouldn’t want anything to get…. frostbitten.”

David laughed, "Umm yeah think I agree," he said walking to the closet and pulling out and a pair of black jeans. "Jeans?" he asked Craig as he looked at his side of the closet. As Craig answered yes David looked through them and found a nice dark blue pair he liked on Craig. Really liked how he looked in those jeans actually. Pulling them out and pulling out a pair of black jeans for himself, he walked over and handed them to his lover with a kiss taking a dark red sweater and a pair of his socks Craig had set on the dresser. "Thanks love," he grinned.

“Thank *you*,” Craig said, reaching out to gently squeeze David’s hand. Taking their time, they shared soft kisses and sweet endearments as they dressed. When they’d finally finished dressing, Craig reached down and tangled his fingers with David’s. “Let’s grab some lunch, then go on our tree-quest, shall we? Then you’ll just have to promise to indulge me and let me cuddle the hell out of you when we get back and need some warming up.”

David sat down on the edge of the bed tying his hiking boots and smiled as he watched Craig dress. He never thought he'd find someone he was this comfortable with...someone who completed him and someone who made him feel more loved than he'd ever felt in his life. As Craig turned to him and tangled their fingers together David smiled up at him. "Sounds wonderful...and yes I wouldn't mind curling up on the couch with my cuddle monster and some hot chocolate," he said grinning.

Craig laughed and leaned down to place a soft kiss on his lover’s lips. “Your cuddle monster can’t wait,” he chuckled. Reaching out his hand to trail gently down David’s cheek, Craig simply smiled and let his eyes travel over the beloved face for long moments. Realizing that *this* was the way they’d gotten sidetracked earlier, he gently pulled away and tugged on David’s hand until he was standing, then wrapped his arms around his waist. “You keep looking at me like that and we’re *never* going to get that tree you know,” he grinned.

"I can't *not* look at you like this, I love you...you are just going to have to build up an immunity to it," David teased kissing Craig's nose. "Come on, love, we better go," he said taking Craig's hand and leading him downstairs.

Half an hour later, they headed out the door, full from their quick dinner, armed with ropes and axes, and wrapped in thick coats and gloves. “Where’re we going anyway?” Craig asked, his nose turning red and cold almost immediately as he jumped in place to try and stay warm.

"See the woods at the edge of the clearing past the stable?" David asked pointing. As Craig looked and nodded he continued, "There is a spot that has nothing but fir trees. We always used to get our trees there when I was a kid and would help my grandfather," David explained taking Craig's hand even though all he could feel was gloves. As they trudged through the snow David laughed at D'Artagnan who ran ahead of them chasing snowbirds away. "I'll need to go up in the attic when we get back, wanna help with that too?" David asked as they neared the tree line.

“Of course,” Craig smiled. “Hey, it’ll be our first Christmas together, you know,” he said as they made their way past the stables. “My Christmases have been spent alone with a book for the past few years,” he said softly. “And…this is the first time in years I’ll be buying gifts. I know *just* what I want to give you too….I hope you’ll like it.”

"Well...I'm sure I will love it...because it will be from you...and I already know exactly what I'm getting you too," David grinned. "And no more lonely Christmases for either of us. Ever again," David said smiling and feeling incredibly warm inside for it being so cold outside because he knew it was true. There was one thing more he'd like...he'd love...but...well for now he'd just enjoy the rumor that they were married. Another first too the first time he'd actually liked a rumor about himself! Smiling as they stopped at the tree line David looked at Craig, "Well...here we are...about thirty feet in we'll come to a small clearing and then on the opposite side you'll see all the fir trees. It's a great place to come in the spring for picnics too."

Craig grinned, hoping that it wasn’t too soon to be thinking about buying David the one thing he wanted to get him….and the one thing he wanted to *ask* him. Just thinking about it made him feel happy and lucky and wonderful….and nervous as hell, just in case David said no. But he had a month to figure it out. And to worry. And, knowing him, to obsess. As they came to the clearing David mentioned, Craig pictured how beautiful it would look in the springtime. “Sounds like a date for next spring, then,” he smiled. “As I recall, our last picnic was….quite……memorable.”

David coughed and laughed when Craig mentioned their last picnic. "Umm, yeah...it was...VERY memorable," he laughed blushing hotly as his mind suddenly thought of chocolate covered strawberries and a very naked Craig. "So um...let's see...the ceiling in the den is about 15 feet high so we can get a fairly tall one if you want. You pick," David said gesturing toward the trees.

Craig grinned, loving the way David blushed when he thought of………certain things. It was one of the many things Craig adored about him – and the list grew every day. He looked around at the tall, full trees, then back at David. “Let’s pick together,” he suggested.

"Ok," David said taking Craig's hand and leading him over toward a small group of trees. "What do you think? This one is nice," he said as they circled around it to see if it really was nice on all sides. "Or...that one over to the left there?" David asked looking from one tree to the other. They were both beautiful. One was just rounder and a bit fuller than the other one.

“I like the second one,” Craig nodded. “It looks perfect. I can just see it sitting there in the corner, all decorated with Christmas ornaments. He sniffed and rolled his shoulders. “I think we can take it, if we sneak up on it vewwwwy quietly.”

David laughed and shook his head, "I dunno...with all his friends around we might need some back up," David teased in return. He walked over to the tree and reached into the center of it grabbing the trunk. "I know this looks nuts, but it's what my grandfather always did," David said making a face and shaking the tree and knocking the snow off the branches. "Said he didn't shake his first tree and when he started chopping it snow fell down his collar...said it was not a pleasant experience," David laughed. "Grandma however thought it was hilarious."

Craig laughed and watched as the snow fell around them. “Fraid I’d have to agree with your grandma there,” he said. “Trees fight dirty, or so I’ve heard.” When the snow finally stopped falling he looked over at David and nodded. “Shall we take turns or go at it together? I’ve honestly never cut down a tree before.”

"Well...we used to take turns, honestly you could be the most helpful by holding back the branches," David said eyeing the tree, "at least until I get a start on it, and then we can switch?" David brushed a bit of snow off his shoulders that had fallen on him from shaking the tree.

“You got it, love,” Craig said, grabbing an armful of branches and yelping as some leftover snow landed squarely on his upturned face. Giggling and shaking his head as he spit out the snow, he sputtered a bit before trying again, this time keeping his head firmly down. “Ready when you are,” he called.

"Oh!" David said trying not to laugh as snow landed on his lover. Once Craig giggled though he couldn't help himself and giggled too. As Craig held the branches out of the way David crouched down and began chopping at the trunk, working as fast as he could he cut about half way through and stopped. "Ok, your turn?" he said walking around to the opposite side of the tree and pulling the branches back. "Goal is to have your cut meet mine in the middle and hopefully I'll let go before it falls and takes me with it," he said laughing.

“Um…yeah…not a bad goal, I think,” Craig said with a grin. He set to work with the axe and minutes later heard a sharp crack as the tree finally gave way.

Releasing the branches as the tree fell over David smiled at Craig, "We cut down our first tree together," he grinned. "Now's the fun part...getting this bugger back to the house," he said picking up the coiled rope he'd dropped when they started cutting the tree down. Tying the robe around several parts of the trunk with Craig's help, David leaned across the tree and kissed Craig quickly. Their noses were both like ice but it was still a sweet kiss. "Ok...you take one and I'll take the other," David began, handing Craig one of the ropes and starting to laugh as D'Artagnan bounded up and looked at him expectantly. "No, you can't help boy," he said laughing. As they pulled the tree across the snow toward the stable David thought about how things had changed. Last year he wouldn't have been in the woods chopping down a tree. Last year he didn't do anything for Christmas...at all.

Craig looked over at his lover, wondering what he was thinking as they trudged back toward the house, pulling the tree along behind them, and stopping to rest every hundred feet or so. // I hope you’re loving this as much as I am, David. I hope you want this as much as I do.// They finally made it to the front door, sweating underneath their layers of clothing despite the cold weather. As they struggled to get the tree inside, a very hyper D’Artagnan made things as difficult as possible, causing both men to laugh. Craig immediately took off his coat, then reached for David’s. Hanging them both in the closet, he couldn’t help grinning at his lover. “Yeah, I think this is *definitely* something we need to do every year….except maybe for the face full of snow that is. *THAT*, I could do without.”

David laughed as Craig reminded him of what had happened, "Yeah...I'd love to do this every year too...though the snow in the face...yeah think we might want to avoid that next year...we'll shake it harder next time first," he grinned. David looked at the tree standing in the corner where they'd leaned it up. "We'll need to dig around in the attic for all the ornaments and the tree stand," he said tilting his head. “Want to get a drink first and then go up to the attic?” David asked holding out his hand to Craig and smiling happily as their skin touched instead of gloves. He hoped to do this every year, for the rest of his life...with Craig always at his side.

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Craig said, closing his fingers around David’s. He looked at his lover’s hand for a moment; picturing a gold wedding ring on his finger and getting a soft, hopeful smile on his face. He looked up and shook his head, trying to focus and tugged David’s hand toward the kitchen, D’Artagnan darting ahead of them at full speed. “Something hot or something cold or do you have something particular in mind?”

"Hmm...something cool now...I have something planned a little later, one of the very few things I can actually make without screwing up," David grinned. He wondered what Craig was thinking when he smiled at him as he looked down at his hand. "I was thinking of making us hot chocolate later on," he said leaning against the kitchen counter.

“Hey, now,” Craig said, looking at his lover with a frown. “The man I love does *not* screw anything up. He’s perfect, and I don’t like for him to ever think otherwise.” He kissed David’s knuckles softly and turned to grab a glass, knowing that David had been told he’d screwed things up in the past and hating the very thought that anyone could be so cruel and hurtful to him. “However, hot chocolate sounds perfect,” he continued, finally releasing his lover’s hand. Filling the glass with ice, he took the tea pitcher from the refrigerator and held it up. “Share a glass of tea with me now?”

David smiled and looked down at the counter his smile fading as he wished he could forget all the times he was told he couldn't do anything right. Looking back up at his lover he nodded, "Tea sounds great, twenty five degrees out there and I broke a sweat dragging that thing." Sitting down at the bar he watched Craig fill the glass and set the pitcher back in the refrigerator. He realized he was staring a bit but he often would find himself just watching Craig, sometimes just watching him read, or watching him sleep. It was as if he was a perfect dream that might disappear in an instant if David looked away for too long.

Craig set the glass in front of his lover on the countertop and moved to stand in front of him. He wrapped an arm around David’s shoulders and placed a soft kiss on his temple. He hadn’t missed the way David’s smile had faded for a moment before he looked back up and he hoped that the day would come when his lover could completely forget all the painful memories and replace them with nothing but good ones – ones of laughter and happiness and joy. “I was sweating too,” he teased, “but don’t think that little fact will get you out of a post tree-decorating cuddle. A promise is a promise you know. True cuddle whores…..I’m sorry, cuddle monsters, as you so aptly put it…don’t mind a little sweat.”

David wrapped his arm around Craig's waist and laughed softly, "Yes...a promise is a promise, and I don't mind a little sweat either...besides I never even knew I needed a cuddle monster until I found you. Now I don't know what I'd do without you," he said softly, and though the words were playful...he meant them completely. Leaning forward he placed a kiss against Craig's lips, soft and loving, as he ran his fingers through his hair. "We...we better go up to the attic and get those decorations," he said softly knowing if they stayed like this too long they'd probably end up forgetting all about the tree.

“Well,” Craig smiled, returning the gesture and running his fingers through David’s hair, “you’ll never have to worry about it, because you’ll never be without me.” He closed his eyes for a moment, just enjoying his lover’s touch before he sighed and shifted away, taking a long sip of tea. “Drink up, love, and we’ll hit the attic. We’ve got a huge tree to decorate, you know.”

David laughed, "Yeah, couldn't really tell how big it was till we got it in the house!" He took a drink of his tea and looked out the window for a moment knowing as long as he lived he would never forget this Christmas with Craig.

“Well, you deserve only the best,” Craig smiled, watching as his lover stared out the window, wondering what he was thinking, hoping he wasn’t remembering other Christmas’s with anyone else, and feeling strangely jealous. He *had* had other relationships, Craig knew that much was true. // No matter what, love, this will be the best Christmas I’ve ever had. Even if you don’t want to marry me, just being here with you is more than I ever dreamed of.//

David laughed and nodded. He had the best now, he thought as he looked back at Craig. "You know I was just thinking how no matter how long I live...I'm never going to forget this Christmas...I've never had anyone to spend Christmas with before. Um...well Richard didn't *do* Christmas as he put it...so the only way I really had a Christmas the last few years was if my Aunt forced me to do something with her," David said softly. He hadn't even realized till the season started approaching this year that he had missed the holidays so much. It wasn't like he could go home for them. Not with the way he and his father got along. It would just ruin it for his mother so David always stayed away, claimed he had plans. Only Diana knew the truth.

Craig shook his head and reached out for David’s hand, pulling him to his feet and wrapping his arms around his waist. He wasn’t the least bit surprised that Richard didn’t *do* Christmas, and it hurt his heart to think of David sitting at home alone during the holidays. He could just picture him at home, staring out the window, holding a book and talking to D’Artagnan. “You will *never* spend another Christmas alone again, I promise you that,” he said softly. “And this *will* be a Christmas to remember. In more ways than one.” This last part was added cryptically, and slid out before Craig even knew it. He quickly did the first thing he could think of and placed his head on David’s shoulder, holding him close and pulling him into a slow dance. He buried his face in his lover’s neck and closed his eyes, praying that David didn’t see through him, and figure out what was going on. “Um…..attic?” he said weakly. “Guess we need to go, huh?”

David smiled as Craig said he'd never spend another Christmas alone again. He hoped that would always be true. As Craig pulled him close and swayed with him David laughed trying to figure out what Craig was up to, "Um...yeah, unless you just want a naked Christmas tree," he teased.

TBC