Christmas Eve Dinner

[lulu8889]

Who: Lulu, Moira, Clarice, Troy, Neil, Bod, Castiel Ianto (and if Ianto feels like inviting him, Jack), and Richie
What: Christmas Eve dinner + celebrations
When: Christmas eve, seven or eight PM ish
Where: The Lulu/Moira/Clarice abode
Rating: C for Christmas

Comments

[troyboltonav]

Troy gazed down a little at her flattery. "Thank you. Merry Christmas to you too! This party is awesome. Lulu sure knows how to do her thing."

He loved seeing her smile and he was surprised by her gift. He hadn't known whether or not she would get him anything but he hadn't necessarily expected anything. He grinned at her as he took the parcel. "Thank you! Wow, this is cool."

Troy waited to open his package until Clarice opened hers because he wanted to see her reaction. He absolutely beamed at her happiness reaching forward to give her a gentle hug when he saw the tears in her eyes. "I'm so glad you like it. I wanted to give you something for our first Christmas together. You know."

He opened her present, eyes widening as he saw the cover. "Oh, wow, Clarice, that's..." His voice trailed off as he flipped through the book and noticed the titles of the songs. Until he got to the very last page and Clarice's message to him.

Troy wasn't exactly the crying type but he could definitely agree that he could get pretty emotional, if he had tears in his eyes right now only he and Clarice would ever know. Of course to Troy that meant he was about to sing, so he leaned in close to Clarice and sang quietly for her alone, "All I want for Christmas is you."

And then he kissed her.

[never_blink]

That was what Clarice had wanted. The thing she couldn't ask for, but it didn't matter, because Troy had understood.

So she let him, and he kissed her.

If you kiss me, you might stay. If you stay, then I might love you... But they were doing things out of order, because she suspected she already did love him. Two tears escaped from her eyes unnoticed as she closed them, kissing him back, shyly but with all her heart.

[troyboltonav]

Troy could feel the promise in Clarice's kiss, the devotion and he met her promise with his own, eyes closed, arms around her. This was why he had come to Aternaville. No, not this. She. She was why he had come.

He pulled back from their kiss, faintly unwillingly, resting his forehead against hers gently. He wasn't sure how well received this would be, but he had to say what was in his heart, and this was the only way he knew to express it. "I love you, Clarice."

[never_blink]

Her hands gripped his arms with surprising force, the little box slipping from her fingers and falling to the floor, though the locket was still held tight in her fingers. Greatly daring, she rose up on her toes to reach him a little better, just before they pulled apart.

Her eyes fluttered open slowly, glowing faintly beneath their milky surface as she gazed up at him. Her chest felt oddly warm, her heart racing - until it did an odd stumble over his words.

"M-me too..." she whispered shakily, feeling suddenly happier than she'd ever felt in her life. "Troy... I love you, too."

[troyboltonav]

He hummed a little as she stood up on her toes, smiling and lingering for one more moment in their kiss before he pulled away. She looked so beautiful like this, up close, almost as if she was glowing. Of course Clarice might be glowing. Who knew what was possible?

Troy had expected her to pull away or maybe to explain how she couldn't return his feelings but what she did say made him realize just how badly he'd wanted her to answer him that way. His face lit up and he looked at her in sheer unrestricted delight.

"You do?" he asked, and there was such longing in his voice...and such hope and such joy.

[never_blink]

Why did he seem so uncertain? Clarice had always thought she was the uncertain one in this relationship, the one who could scarcely believe he wanted to be with her or even spend any time in her company. She was the lucky one here. What did he have to seem so surprised about? How could she not love him?

But seeing that uncertainty, written so clearly on his face that she had to believe it... she melted a little more inside.

"I think so." She gave a little watery laugh around her tears. "I really do."

[troyboltonav]

Troy's smile was radiant now, and he hugged Clarice close, closing his eyes. He wanted to remember this moment forever, how it felt when she first told him she loved him. He was sure there would be other special moments but the first one was extra special because it was first.

"I do too," he whispered. He could see her tears and wanted to comfort her, so he leaned in close and very gently kissed each place on her face where a tear had fallen. He hoped that now that they were together she would only cry happy tears.

[never_blink]

Clarice buried her face in his chest, her thin arms tight around his ribs. She wanted to remember this too, the blossoming warm bubble of joy inside her that made her want to laugh even through her tears. She knew she wouldn't ever forget it. Not this or any other moment she spent with him, because she'd never felt so unrelievedly happy before.

Then he was kissing her face, and she was laughing, a breathless, giddy, sort of embarrassed but delighted giggle. She ducked her head, pulling back just a little, and held out the locket which was still tangled around her fingers. "Would you please..?" she asked softly, eyes bright as she peeked up at his face.

[troyboltonav]

He totally loved the sound of her giggle. It was so real, so inescapably her and it was a sound he'd never heard before they were together.

Troy smiled warmly at Clarice, taking the locket in his hand so that his fingers brushed hers. "I'd love to." He waited for her to turn around, then he draped the chain around her neck, carefully hooking the clasp so that it would stay closed when he let go. "There you go."