Title: Here With Me 29/?
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh for heaven's sake," David said looking at the dog hiding under
the coffee table and then looking at Craig. "Some watch dog, he's
afraid of Santa Claus," he laughed. David picked up the Santa and
set it up on the console behind the couch. "That better you big
coward?" David asked as the dog slowly crept out from under the
table, giving the Santa one last wary glance before curling up on
his pillow by the fireplace. "So...start with the lights?" he asked
turning to Craig.

Craig had never had more fun getting ready for Christmas than he was
having now. This was perfect - absolutely perfect. He grabbed a
string of lights and handed one end to David, then reached down to
plug the cord into the nearest outlet.

It was nearly two hours later before they finally finished testing
and changing out bulbs. They were sitting on the floor, chatting
contentedly as Craig plugged in the last set. "Break time!" he
grinned, as he turned and rested his head in David's lap.

"Live for break time don't you," David teased smiling happily. Today
had been perfect and it wasn't even over yet. Leaning over, he
kissed Craig tenderly. Drawing back he ran his tongue over his
lover's bottom lip. "You know I promised you hot chocolate too," he
said softly.

Craig smiled, sucking gently on his lover's tongue and wrapping his
arms around his neck. He arched his back, stretching out muscles
tensed from sitting on the floor for so long. "I do seem to
remember something about chocolate, you sweet talker you."

David almost decided to just forget the tree as Craig sucked on his
tongue and arched his back. //God he makes me absolutely crazy...in
the best possible way...but I'll never get ANYTHING
accomplished.// "Hmmm...well then I'll have to get right on that, I
know how much you love chocolate," David said kissing Craig
playfully. "And...my hot chocolate is one of the only things I'm
proud of that I do in the kitchen," David added kissing him again
though not exactly making a move to get up.

"Hmmm," Craig murmured, pulling his lover closer and deepening the
kiss. "I do love chocolate, but I think you'll have a damn hard
time making it taste any sweeter than you taste right now."

David felt himself almost get dizzy from the deep kiss and the
somewhat awkward position. "If I don't go soon...I won't...so I
probably should," David paused kissing Craig again, ".should go," he
paused again kissing him quickly. "Yeah...I'm...I'm going," he
said, finally pulling away. As Craig sat up David smiled at him
lovingly and said, "I'll be back soon, love."

Craig reached out and brought David's hand to his lips for a soft
kiss. "I'll help," he smiled.

"If you want...I don't mind the help, though for once it would be
nice to do something for you...so why don't you just come keep me
company like I always do you?" David asked smiling.

Craig grinned and stood up, keeping his fingers wrapped around
David's. "I'd love to," he said. "And maybe we could play some
Christmas music?"

"That sounds like a great idea," David said smiling. "You get the
music and I'll get started in the kitchen." He pulled Craig's hand
up to his lips and kissed it. He'd not felt this good about the
holidays in years. Reluctantly releasing Craig's hand so he could
get the music David walked to the kitchen and started gathering a
few things he needed. He smiled as he heard //White Christmas//
start to play and set the chocolate bar on the cutting board just as
Craig walked in.

"*Homemade* hot chocolate?" Craig asked, his eyes widening. Unable
to stop smiling, he sat on the stool and propped his chin in his
hands. "And I get to sit here and admire the sexy chef and listen
to Christmas songs. Ah.*this* is the life." Grinning at David,
Craig gave a contented sigh and started singing almost
absentmindedly. This really was the life he wanted; he knew that
beyond a shadow of a doubt. A life with David, filled with laughter
and happiness, going to sleep in each other's arms every night and
waking up the same way each morning.

"What.I was going to make a big deal about something that came out
of a pouch?" David teased and smiled as Craig started singing with
the music. He loved hearing Craig sing...he loved everything about
Craig. My grandfather taught me how to make this," David said
smiling at the memory while he worked. Breaking off a larger piece
of the chocolate bar, he leaned across the counter and held it up to
Craig's lips. "This is really, really good chocolate," he said
smiling.

Craig thought about David's explanation of why he didn't cook very
often. Not surprisingly, yet another little `gift' from Dickhead.
Pushing the thought aside, he parted his lips, sliding his tongue
out to lick at the chocolate, lapping it over David's fingers in the
process. "Perfect," he murmured. "And the chocolate's not bad
either." He reached over and broke off a piece himself and offered
it to David. "Sweets for the sweet?"

David stared at Craig as his lips and tongue moved over his
fingertips. Swallowing and clearing his throat he nodded as Craig
spoke. Looking back down at the counter he glanced back up as Craig
offered him a piece of chocolate. Smiling he leaned forward slipping
his lips over the confection and running his tongue teasingly along
Craig's finger tips before leaning back knowing that his face was
glowing red, but not caring. Looking down at the chocolate he'd
chopped he raked it all off into the double boiler to melt over the
stovetop.

Craig grinned as David blushed, and decided to make an effort to
stop *trying* to make him blush so often. But it was just so damn
adorable! He leaned back and regarded his lover for a moment,
unconsciously licking his lips. // So gorgeous. And maybe,
hopefully, the man that will be my husband in a few weeks? // He
kept quiet and watched as David finished making the chocolate,
determined to behave..for the moment.

As the chocolate melted, David added the other ingredients and
before he realized that he was doing it, he'd started to sing along
with the //First Noel//, his grandmother's favorite Christmas song.
Stirring in the milk and turning everything to simmer for a few
minutes he turned back to face Craig and stopped singing
immediately. "Sorry," he nearly squeaked grabbing a towel and wiping
the counter quickly to try and hide his embarrassment. Craig made
him so comfortable he hadn't even thought before he'd started
singing along with the song.

"Hey," Craig said as he stood up and walked around the counter.
He'd loved the fact that David was singing - that he was happy
enough and comfortable enough to sing. As soon as he stopped and
apologized, Craig knew he had to do *something*. Making sure David
knew he was coming, he moved behind him, wrapping his arms around
his lover and resting his head between David's shoulders. "I
thought we sounded pretty damn good together. Sing the rest with
me? Please?"

David hung his head and laughed, "Are you serious? Craig I know I
don't sing that well," he said, embarrassed. Squeezing Craig's hand
on his waist he tentatively began to sing the rest of the song
feeling silly at first but starting to relax once he heard Craig
begin to sing with him. After the song ended David turned in Craig's
arms and kissed him. "Thank you for not laughing, I know I don't
have the best voice," he said softly before reaching over and
stirring the hot chocolate. "I don't think I've ever held someone in
my arms and tried to stir something on the stove before...kinda
fun," he grinned kissing Craig's nose. "This is ready by the way,
you wanna grab the mugs?"

"I think your voice, like you, is positively perfect," Craig
smiled. Leaning in to kiss David's chin, he gave him a final quick
hug and released him, grabbing the mugs from the cabinet next to the
stove. He sat them in front of his lover and smiled. "I'm
serious. I love to hear you sing. I find it *very* sexy."

David laughed and shook his head as he poured the hot chocolate into
the mugs, "I never knew you were tone deaf then," he teased. "No, if
it makes you happy then I will...I just...never had done that
before. Only person I ever sang with was Jonas when we were young,"
David explained sprinkling cinnamon in the mugs and then putting
whipped cream on top. "Here you go," he said sliding it across the
counter a bit. David quickly cleaned up a bit and set the dirty
dishes in the sink for later.

Craig smiled as he sipped the chocolate. "Mmmmm.this is
delicious." He'd opened his mouth to say that it was the sweetest
thing he'd ever tasted other than David, but remembered his promise
to stop..well, cut back.on making his lover blush. "What now? Up
to tackling the tree?"

"Yeah I think so," David said smiling and sliding his arm around
Craig's waist. "We can drink this while we decorate...sort of a
Christmas energy drink," he joked. As they walked back into the den
David set his mug on the coffee table and took Craig's setting it
beside his own. "Let's see...lights first then?"

Craig looked up at the tree and shook his head. He *really* didn't
remember the tree being this big when they were out in the woods.
Singing loudly, he hoped David would join him again as they set
about the task of adding the lights, laughing as D'Artagnan tried
to `help', but kept casting suspicious glances in the general
direction of Santa Claus.

As Craig began to sing David smiled and decided to join him as they
worked to get the lights on the tree. Once they were finished, he
plugged them in and smiled up at Craig. "Looks nice just with the
lights," he said softly, "Can't believe we had to use that many
strands of lights though...much bigger than I thought it was," he
said scratching his head and slipping his arm around Craig's
waist. "It's gona be really pretty once we get everything on it ya
know?" David said smiling not remembering the last time he'd enjoyed
himself this much. Turning slightly he kissed Craig gently, "I love
you," he whispered. "Don't think I've said that in a while...just
wanted to remind you."

Craig kissed David back, feeling his heart speed up at once. His
smile widened and he looked into blue eyes that sparkled back at
him, filled with love and happiness. "I love you too," he smiled,
renewing their kiss and pulling his lover closer. "Feel free to
remind me all you like. I can never hear you say that often enough."

"I will then, every chance I get," David said softly. "So...what
next?" he asked sitting on the edge of the coffee table and taking
Craig's hand as he smiled up at him.

Craig gently squeezed David's hand. Pulling out the first of the
carefully packed ornaments, he handed it to his lover. "You get to
put the first ornament up and make a wish," he grinned. "Anything
you want, and it's supposed to come true by Christmas."

David stood up taking the sparkling blue ornament and walked over to
the tree. "Anything I want?" he asked grinning. Reaching out to
place the ornament, he closed his eyes. //The only thing I want is
to be with Craig, forever. I'd really love for that rumor to be
true. I'd love to be his husband one day. // David opened his eyes
feeling silly. There was no way his wish would come true by
Christmas...but maybe one day. Maybe one day he could get the
courage to ask Craig. David released the ornament and turned to
Craig smiling. "First one down," he said softly.

Craig watched as David closed his eyes and made his wish, thinking
that he would give anything to know what he was wishing for. "Only
a few hundred to go," he said with a smile.

Laughing, sipping chocolate, and stealing kisses, they worked for
over an hour adding ornaments and tinsel. Finally stepping back
with a satisfied grin, Craig stood in front of David and leaned back
against him. "What do you think?" he asked.

"Almost perfect," David grinned kissing Craig's cheek and then
walking over to a box he'd set on the couch. "We'll need the step
ladder one last time," he said handing the box to Craig. "I'd like
you to do the honors," he said pulling the top off to reveal an
angel dressed in gold and white.

Craig grinned as David asked him to put the angel on top. It had
always been his father's job when he was little, and something he'd
always wanted to do, even now as an adult. "Thank you," he
whispered, pulling the delicate angel carefully out of the box.
Giving his lover a quick kiss, he felt absurdly happy over being
asked to do this. He quickly climbed the ladder as David held it
and gently sat the angel on top. "How's that?" he asked.

"Now it's perfect," David said though his eyes didn't even seem to
be looking at the tree. All he could see was Craig smiling down at
him, all he *wanted* to see. Still holding the ladder with one hand
he held the other out to Craig, helping him down until he stepped
off the last rung and David slid his arms around his waist. "I love
you," he whispered kissing him softly. "So now, our tree is
decorated...hot chocolate is all gone...and there is a warm fire
going...I'm thinking a cuddle on the couch before dinner would round
out a perfect day?" David asked running his fingers through Craig's
hair.

Craig locked his arms around his lover and smiled. "I will never,
ever, say no to a cuddle with you," he said, closing his eyes and
kissing the soft skin just below David's ear as they settled on the
couch and curled up together. It *had* been a perfect day.the first
of many, he hoped, as he thought about his future with David.

David smiled and pulled Craig toward the couch, half reclining
against the arm and spreading his thighs so Craig could sit down and
lay back against him. Pulling the blanket over them from the back of
the couch, he wrapped his arms around Craig and leaned forward to
nibble at his ear. "So how's this? Up to cuddle monster standards?"
he grinned.

"Oh," Craig chuckled, "this is about the best cuddle I've even been
a part of. I do believe you've been a closet cuddler, you know."
Tangling his fingers with his lover's, he leaned back and rested his
head on David's shoulder. "You make me feel so happy...and so very
loved," he said softly.

"That's because you are," David whispered against Craig's
ear, "Very, very loved." David then kissed him tenderly on his cheek
and then wrapped his arms tighter around Craig he rested his cheek
against Craig's temple. Looking over at the tree and the fire
glowing in the fireplace David took a deep breath. "It really is
beautiful," he said softly. David felt warm, and happy, and content.
Things he hadn't felt before meeting Craig.

Craig smiled and sighed happily, running his fingers over his
lover's arm as he too stared into the fire. "How about a nice
dinner, then we call it an early night?" he asked softly.

"Dinner sounds nice...but not quite yet," David said softly, he
leaned his head back against the couch and took a deep breath
enjoying holding his lover. He could stay like this forever.
Glancing toward the window he smiled, "It's snowing again," he
whispered.

Craig turned and stared out the window, content to simply snuggle up
to the man he loved and watch the snow fall. His mind wandered and
he tried to imagine Christmas day. He hoped it would be snowing,
and peaceful, and perfect..just like today had been. But most of
all, he hoped David would agree to marry him.*if* he got up the
courage to ask.

TBC