[Tennis] Rin, Rin
Title: Rin, Rin
Pairing: David Ferrer/Tommy Robredo
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own them, I make no money from them, it is all a product of my imagination. Apart from the bizarre Christmas traditions, oddly enough.
Summary: Their first Christmas together. ~2.5K
Tommy loved Christmas. He always had done, for as long as he could remember. As a child, Christmas had been a magical time, with the preparations starting towards the end of November and the excitement increasing until he was about ready to burst with expectancy by December 14th. His Mama oversaw everything carefully, making sure everything was done on the correct day and that it was re-done if it didn't meet her standards. Because he was an only child, Ángel and Dolors had made it their duty to ensure that their Tommy had the same level of build-up and anticpation as children from bigger families, and they had been so successful about it that he still felt like a ten-year-old in December even now, at twenty-six. This year, though, Christmas was going to be even more special.
This was the first proper Christmas he'd be spending with David. In their own home.
They had bought their first house together when they got back from the Olympics and officially moved in at the beginning of October, but this would be the first chance they'd had to spend any length of time together in it. They'd got back from Argentina a few days ago (Tommy had finally convinced David that he deserved his DC medal), and now it was officially December Tommy couldn't wait to get started on Christmas.
It would be the first Christmas he had ever spent away from home-no, he had to stop calling it home, this was home now-his parents' home. No matter where he had been, or what he'd been doing, he always took three weeks out for Christmas and New Year and spent it with his family. To him, Christmas was all about traditions, and while he felt a little sad to be missing some of them, he took comfort in the knowledge that he would be carrying his family's traditions forward to his new life with David
Except it didn't quite work out that way.
*
The first hiccup came with the start of the preparations. One Saturday, Tommy returned from a trip into Barcelona with bags full of decorations. He had chosen them all carefully, for maximum effect, and he hummed happily to himself as he unpacked them.
'What the fuck are you doing?!'
David wandered into the living room in a low-slung pair of pyjama bottoms, running his hand through what could only be described as bed hair, and Tommy momentarily lost his train of thought.
'I've-um, I've been shopping!'
'Shopping? Like… out, shopping? Tete, it's barely ten a.m., you're never up before midday!'
'Yes, but it's Christmas! It's time to put up the decorations!'
David's eyes snapped fully open, the bleariness dissipating. 'Christmas? It's only December 2nd!'
'Exactly. Christmas starts on 1st December, it always has. We put up the decorations and lights now, and we'll go and choose a tree together at the weekend.' Tommy continued organising as he spoke, heaping strings of lights and garlands in careful piles on the table.
'No. Christmas doesn't start until Nochebuena. Nothing goes up until the last weekend before Christmas, we've always don-wait. What's that?'
Tommy paused in his careful placement of characters in the Nativity scene he had put on the dresser. He slapped at David's hands when he picked one up.
'Stop it! They all need to be in just the right place! We need a caganer, Ferru-he'll bring us luck in our new home.'
'I'm not having a defecating anything in my house, Nativity tradition or no Nativity tradition.' David's tone was firm as he put the small figurine in his pocket. Tommy wanted to protest, but thought better of it on seeing David's expression.
In the end, they compromised on decorating the dining room only, and the Pessebre (without the caganer to fertilize the soil) was moved in there.
*
It didn't get any better. The language David used when he saw the external lights Tommy had spent the whole afternoon installing did not bear repeating (although the gist of it was that he found them a tasteless eyesore). David wanted them all removing; they eventually agreed that Tommy would take down the entire North Pole scene and leave only two strings of coloured lights along the roofline. Tommy put the rejected ones up in the stable block, as he knew David would never see them there, but it wasn't quite the same.
A few days later, David walked into the kitchen with a pen, a notepad and a determined expression.
'So, what are we getting for Christmas? We should allocate who's buying what so we don't end up with any duplicates.'
At Tommy's bemused frown David sat down and presented the list of things they still needed for the house.
'I'd like to get you the coffee maker and the towels, but I don't mind if you want to get those, I can choose something else.'
'Wait, what? Our Christmas presents are going to be stuff for the house?' Tommy's frown deepened.
'Well… yeah. It makes sense, doesn't it? We need this stuff, we might as well buy each other some of it, and then our families can get the rest. And that way we're not struggling to think of things to get each other.'
Tommy, who could think of at least a dozen things he wanted to get David-indeed, he'd already bought nine of them-found himself spluttering incoherently in his attempt to articulate his feelings on the subject.
'But… but-but David, we can't do that! We need to buy proper presents! Christmas is all about choosing the perfect presents for your loved ones to make them smile, and show them how much you love them, not… ticking things off lists.'
David patted him on the shoulder soothingly.
'I suppose it is a bit impersonal, but it's practical, tete. We need these things; it seems silly to buy each other frivolous gifts when there's stuff we actually need. Oh,' he added, further crushing Tommy's hopes, 'and we should set a budget. We don't want one of us spending a lot more than the other.'
Tommy just nodded; he didn't know what else to say.
*
The following weekend, having returned the presents he'd bought already and exchanged them for the practical things he'd been allocated, Tommy was writing a grocery list. He was distracted by David sneaking up behind him and nibbling the back of his neck. Arms slid around his waist, and Tommy was just about to turn round to indulge himself in some serious kissing when David's mouth stilled. He reached for the list.
'Lamb? Langoustines? Almonds? Tommy, what do we need all these things for?'
'For Christmas dinner, of course. What else?'
'But we're at your parents' for Nochebuena, and my family for Santos Inocentes and New Year: we won't need all this.'
Tommy pulled David closer and nipped at his ear. 'I know, but this is our first proper Christmas. I want to cook you dinner.'
'It hardly seems worth it, though.' David stroked Tommy's cheek. 'All that effort just for the two of us-we should go out, instead.'
Tommy blinked and wondered if David had the first clue what Christmas meant to him. He couldn't keep the hurt from his voice.
'You… don't want me to cook for you? You don't want our Christmas to be special?'
'No, silly, I just want to make it easy for you.'
'Well, I don't. I want it to be hard for me.' Tommy was so wrapped up in his own indignation that he didn't even notice David's eyebrow twitch at his choice of words. 'I've given in on a lot for you, David, but I'm not giving in on this. I'm cooking for you, whether you like it or not.'
*
It seemed as though the only thing upon which they agreed was music. Tommy had been surprised to come back from the stables one afternoon to find David singing along to Rin Rin and Dime Niño as he wrapped his family's gifts (had stopped in the doorway and watched for a moment, suddenly reminded of how much he loved him). The way things had been going, Tommy wouldn't have been surprised had David announced he would only listen to carols sung by the Vienna Boys' Choir; to find he loved the same cheesy, traditional songs made Tommy want to grab him and kiss him until they were both dizzy from lack of oxygen.
So he did.
These were the songs they played when they (finally) decorated the tree the weekend before Christmas. They sung along companionably as they hung ornaments they'd chosen together by flickering candlelight. For the first time, Tommy felt the fizz of anticipation in the pit of his stomach. He'd given up a lot, but maybe now he could get the Christmas he'd dreamed of. He hummed happily to himself as he went to get the angel he'd carefully selected for the top of the tree. This was his family's strongest tradition; the play on his papa's name meant that the Robredo family had never had anything but an angel on the top of their Christmas trees. When Tommy was nine he'd made one in school which his mama had used every year since, but this year he'd bought one that would be the basis of his own, new tradition.
Except, when he came back with it, he found David had already placed a star on top instead.
*
Tommy wondered if he would be losing every single one of his Christmas traditions. He tried talking to Juan Carlos about it in the vague hope that, as David's best friend, he might succeed where Tommy had failed and manage to talk some sense into him.
But it was too late; David had got to him first. All Juan Carlos said was that it was none of his business, and he and David needed to work out their own compromise. (All right, that's not all he said: there were clear indications of his irritation at them both using him as mediator-cum-marriage guidance counsellor, and strongly worded suggestions that they try talking to each other rather than complaining to him, but the gist of the conversation was that he was not getting involved.)
Things finally came to a head at Feli and Fernando's Christmas party. It was all going well (the drink was flowing freely, the food was good) until they started discussing their plans for the rest of the festive season, and Tommy mentioned that they'd be at David's parents' for New Year.
'So you'll be parading round in public in red underwear, then?' Feli enquired. 'Thank God Fer and I will be in Madrid, I don't think my eyes are up to that.'
'Shut up, López: you're just envious because you get yelled at to cover up when you try to go out in your underwear,' Tommy retorted. Then he noticed that David was shaking his head, vehemently.
'No. No, we won't be doing that.' He sounded adamant, and Tommy had had enough.
'For God's sake, Ferru,' he snapped, 'You've singlehandedly ruined my entire Christmas, and now this? You're such a fucking prude.' He got up and stalked off, ignoring the murmurs behind him and David's horrified face.
He was outside on the terrace, trying to cool off when he heard footsteps approaching. Refusing to turn round-still full of adrenaline from letting his frustrations out, and not yet ready to start taking them back and repairing the damage they'd caused-he was surprised when the voice he heard wasn't David's.
'He's not being deliberately obstreperous, you know. There's a valid reason why he doesn't want to participate in the New Year celebrations and, peculiarly enough, it doesn't revolve around you.'
Juan Carlos' tone was even as he perched on the low wall with his arms wrapped round him for warmth. His breath steamed in the light from the French windows. Tommy wouldn't meet his eye.
'A few years ago, ' Juan Carlos continued conversationally, 'I brought Marat back for our first Christmas. He got a bit mixed up and a lot drunk, and confused Santos Inocentes with New Year. He had us parading in our underwear and covered in flour. We were arrested before we'd gone three streets. David still can't talk about it.'
'Oh, he never… oh,' but Tommy still felt belligerent.
'Look, I know it's tough. Living together sounds so fantastic, but no-one tells you about the consistent compromises you're expected to make. You'll just have to decide what's more important to you: doing things your way, or doing them with David.
'Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back inside. I see no point in us both freezing our appendages off. If you've any sense, you'll join me.' There was no reproach in his tone, but Tommy felt the weight of it all the same.
The first thing he did when he went back inside was apologise. He grabbed David's hand, tugged him up from the armchair in which he was curled and led him into the hallway. Stationing them beneath the mistletoe, Tommy kissed him thoroughly.
'I'm sorry, Ferru,' he murmured when they came up for air. 'I've been stupid and selfish and stubborn and… I'm sorry.'
'I'm sorry, too,' David kissed him back, snaking his arms around Tommy's neck and pushing his hips into Tommy's. 'He talked to me, too. Tommy, I didn’t mean to ruin your Christmas, I just… didn't think. We should have talked to each other, huh?'
Tommy nodded, and David's lips grazed his ear. 'Oh, and by the way, I'm not a prude.'
'Really?' Tommy challenged with a smile. 'Prove it.'
David led Tommy upstairs to their guest room, and proceeded to give a practical demonstration of how extremely non-prudish he was.
When he'd finished, they talked about how they could fix their Christmas. By the time they were done, Tommy's excitement was back in full force.
*
On Christmas Day, their presents didn't get opened until well into the afternoon. In fact, they didn't get out of bed until after midday. Tommy was woken in the nicest possible way-the magical things David did with his mouth made Tommy clutch at the sheets and forget that it was only eight-thirty-and while he recovered from that David made them breakfast. They ate it leisurely in bed and David didn't once complain about crumbs getting everywhere. Once the croissants and eggs had gone, and Tommy had been fortified with two cups of coffee, they delved into the stockings that Santa had brought them. When David (with eyes like saucers) pulled body paint and a blindfold from his stocking Tommy declared that there was no time like the present to try them out. Despite David's blushing protestation, this was a great success. It whiled away a further two hours, and after that they both needed a nap.
When their tummies woke them then finally dragged themselves downstairs. Tommy cooked in the silk pyjama bottoms and red frilly apron he'd found his stocking that morning, and they fed each other roast lamb and turrón with their fingers. By the time the plates were empty, they were in dire need of a bath. On the one hand, they thanked their foresight in insisting their house had a bath big enough for two, but on the other, it was not conducive to fast bathing.
So it was about five-thirty when they finally got dressed and opened their gifts. Overseen by Tommy's angel from her new perch halfway up the tree, they both realised that neither of them had stuck to the rules. Amidst the pre-planned things for their home (which were opened with appropriate gratitude but no degree of surprise), there nestled a soft sweater that Tommy hadn't been able to resist buying David, and a series of first edition books he had spent ages locating and could not bring himself to return. The look of delight on David's face when he opened them was the best thing Tommy had seen all day. (All right, the second-best). For Tommy there was a large canvas of the Monet he'd admired in Paris two months ago and a velvety cashmere scarf which put a speculative glint in David's eye when Tommy unwrapped it. David blushed and hung his head when Tommy chided him for not sticking to their agreement either, but agreed that these gifts were much better.
Later that evening they cuddled up on the sofa and watched White Christmas, and Tommy decided this was his best Christmas ever. With one arm around David and the other hand swirling a glass of good brandy, he no longer felt bad about losing his family's festive traditions. Instead, between them, he and David had begun creating several more all of their own.
He couldn't wait to develop them still further next Christmas.
FIN
Notes:
Nochebuena is Christmas Eve, which is traditionally a big Spanish celebration
Santos Inocentes is a Spanish festival on 28th December in which practical jokes are played and all kinds of anarchy ensues. The running round in red underwear for New Year is specific to a single Valencian village, but I stretched it to fit my purposes. (The flour throwing is for Els Enfarinats; Marat got truly confused ;)
Caganers are real.
Rin, Rin and Dime Niño. Go on, the thought of the pair of them singing along to these is entertaining the hell out of you too, right?
Please note, all information has come from my possibly incompetent Googling; if I have misinterpreted or misrepresented anything I am truly sorry.
Pairing: David Ferrer/Tommy Robredo
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own them, I make no money from them, it is all a product of my imagination. Apart from the bizarre Christmas traditions, oddly enough.
Summary: Their first Christmas together. ~2.5K
Tommy loved Christmas. He always had done, for as long as he could remember. As a child, Christmas had been a magical time, with the preparations starting towards the end of November and the excitement increasing until he was about ready to burst with expectancy by December 14th. His Mama oversaw everything carefully, making sure everything was done on the correct day and that it was re-done if it didn't meet her standards. Because he was an only child, Ángel and Dolors had made it their duty to ensure that their Tommy had the same level of build-up and anticpation as children from bigger families, and they had been so successful about it that he still felt like a ten-year-old in December even now, at twenty-six. This year, though, Christmas was going to be even more special.
This was the first proper Christmas he'd be spending with David. In their own home.
They had bought their first house together when they got back from the Olympics and officially moved in at the beginning of October, but this would be the first chance they'd had to spend any length of time together in it. They'd got back from Argentina a few days ago (Tommy had finally convinced David that he deserved his DC medal), and now it was officially December Tommy couldn't wait to get started on Christmas.
It would be the first Christmas he had ever spent away from home-no, he had to stop calling it home, this was home now-his parents' home. No matter where he had been, or what he'd been doing, he always took three weeks out for Christmas and New Year and spent it with his family. To him, Christmas was all about traditions, and while he felt a little sad to be missing some of them, he took comfort in the knowledge that he would be carrying his family's traditions forward to his new life with David
Except it didn't quite work out that way.
*
The first hiccup came with the start of the preparations. One Saturday, Tommy returned from a trip into Barcelona with bags full of decorations. He had chosen them all carefully, for maximum effect, and he hummed happily to himself as he unpacked them.
'What the fuck are you doing?!'
David wandered into the living room in a low-slung pair of pyjama bottoms, running his hand through what could only be described as bed hair, and Tommy momentarily lost his train of thought.
'I've-um, I've been shopping!'
'Shopping? Like… out, shopping? Tete, it's barely ten a.m., you're never up before midday!'
'Yes, but it's Christmas! It's time to put up the decorations!'
David's eyes snapped fully open, the bleariness dissipating. 'Christmas? It's only December 2nd!'
'Exactly. Christmas starts on 1st December, it always has. We put up the decorations and lights now, and we'll go and choose a tree together at the weekend.' Tommy continued organising as he spoke, heaping strings of lights and garlands in careful piles on the table.
'No. Christmas doesn't start until Nochebuena. Nothing goes up until the last weekend before Christmas, we've always don-wait. What's that?'
Tommy paused in his careful placement of characters in the Nativity scene he had put on the dresser. He slapped at David's hands when he picked one up.
'Stop it! They all need to be in just the right place! We need a caganer, Ferru-he'll bring us luck in our new home.'
'I'm not having a defecating anything in my house, Nativity tradition or no Nativity tradition.' David's tone was firm as he put the small figurine in his pocket. Tommy wanted to protest, but thought better of it on seeing David's expression.
In the end, they compromised on decorating the dining room only, and the Pessebre (without the caganer to fertilize the soil) was moved in there.
*
It didn't get any better. The language David used when he saw the external lights Tommy had spent the whole afternoon installing did not bear repeating (although the gist of it was that he found them a tasteless eyesore). David wanted them all removing; they eventually agreed that Tommy would take down the entire North Pole scene and leave only two strings of coloured lights along the roofline. Tommy put the rejected ones up in the stable block, as he knew David would never see them there, but it wasn't quite the same.
A few days later, David walked into the kitchen with a pen, a notepad and a determined expression.
'So, what are we getting for Christmas? We should allocate who's buying what so we don't end up with any duplicates.'
At Tommy's bemused frown David sat down and presented the list of things they still needed for the house.
'I'd like to get you the coffee maker and the towels, but I don't mind if you want to get those, I can choose something else.'
'Wait, what? Our Christmas presents are going to be stuff for the house?' Tommy's frown deepened.
'Well… yeah. It makes sense, doesn't it? We need this stuff, we might as well buy each other some of it, and then our families can get the rest. And that way we're not struggling to think of things to get each other.'
Tommy, who could think of at least a dozen things he wanted to get David-indeed, he'd already bought nine of them-found himself spluttering incoherently in his attempt to articulate his feelings on the subject.
'But… but-but David, we can't do that! We need to buy proper presents! Christmas is all about choosing the perfect presents for your loved ones to make them smile, and show them how much you love them, not… ticking things off lists.'
David patted him on the shoulder soothingly.
'I suppose it is a bit impersonal, but it's practical, tete. We need these things; it seems silly to buy each other frivolous gifts when there's stuff we actually need. Oh,' he added, further crushing Tommy's hopes, 'and we should set a budget. We don't want one of us spending a lot more than the other.'
Tommy just nodded; he didn't know what else to say.
*
The following weekend, having returned the presents he'd bought already and exchanged them for the practical things he'd been allocated, Tommy was writing a grocery list. He was distracted by David sneaking up behind him and nibbling the back of his neck. Arms slid around his waist, and Tommy was just about to turn round to indulge himself in some serious kissing when David's mouth stilled. He reached for the list.
'Lamb? Langoustines? Almonds? Tommy, what do we need all these things for?'
'For Christmas dinner, of course. What else?'
'But we're at your parents' for Nochebuena, and my family for Santos Inocentes and New Year: we won't need all this.'
Tommy pulled David closer and nipped at his ear. 'I know, but this is our first proper Christmas. I want to cook you dinner.'
'It hardly seems worth it, though.' David stroked Tommy's cheek. 'All that effort just for the two of us-we should go out, instead.'
Tommy blinked and wondered if David had the first clue what Christmas meant to him. He couldn't keep the hurt from his voice.
'You… don't want me to cook for you? You don't want our Christmas to be special?'
'No, silly, I just want to make it easy for you.'
'Well, I don't. I want it to be hard for me.' Tommy was so wrapped up in his own indignation that he didn't even notice David's eyebrow twitch at his choice of words. 'I've given in on a lot for you, David, but I'm not giving in on this. I'm cooking for you, whether you like it or not.'
*
It seemed as though the only thing upon which they agreed was music. Tommy had been surprised to come back from the stables one afternoon to find David singing along to Rin Rin and Dime Niño as he wrapped his family's gifts (had stopped in the doorway and watched for a moment, suddenly reminded of how much he loved him). The way things had been going, Tommy wouldn't have been surprised had David announced he would only listen to carols sung by the Vienna Boys' Choir; to find he loved the same cheesy, traditional songs made Tommy want to grab him and kiss him until they were both dizzy from lack of oxygen.
So he did.
These were the songs they played when they (finally) decorated the tree the weekend before Christmas. They sung along companionably as they hung ornaments they'd chosen together by flickering candlelight. For the first time, Tommy felt the fizz of anticipation in the pit of his stomach. He'd given up a lot, but maybe now he could get the Christmas he'd dreamed of. He hummed happily to himself as he went to get the angel he'd carefully selected for the top of the tree. This was his family's strongest tradition; the play on his papa's name meant that the Robredo family had never had anything but an angel on the top of their Christmas trees. When Tommy was nine he'd made one in school which his mama had used every year since, but this year he'd bought one that would be the basis of his own, new tradition.
Except, when he came back with it, he found David had already placed a star on top instead.
*
Tommy wondered if he would be losing every single one of his Christmas traditions. He tried talking to Juan Carlos about it in the vague hope that, as David's best friend, he might succeed where Tommy had failed and manage to talk some sense into him.
But it was too late; David had got to him first. All Juan Carlos said was that it was none of his business, and he and David needed to work out their own compromise. (All right, that's not all he said: there were clear indications of his irritation at them both using him as mediator-cum-marriage guidance counsellor, and strongly worded suggestions that they try talking to each other rather than complaining to him, but the gist of the conversation was that he was not getting involved.)
Things finally came to a head at Feli and Fernando's Christmas party. It was all going well (the drink was flowing freely, the food was good) until they started discussing their plans for the rest of the festive season, and Tommy mentioned that they'd be at David's parents' for New Year.
'So you'll be parading round in public in red underwear, then?' Feli enquired. 'Thank God Fer and I will be in Madrid, I don't think my eyes are up to that.'
'Shut up, López: you're just envious because you get yelled at to cover up when you try to go out in your underwear,' Tommy retorted. Then he noticed that David was shaking his head, vehemently.
'No. No, we won't be doing that.' He sounded adamant, and Tommy had had enough.
'For God's sake, Ferru,' he snapped, 'You've singlehandedly ruined my entire Christmas, and now this? You're such a fucking prude.' He got up and stalked off, ignoring the murmurs behind him and David's horrified face.
He was outside on the terrace, trying to cool off when he heard footsteps approaching. Refusing to turn round-still full of adrenaline from letting his frustrations out, and not yet ready to start taking them back and repairing the damage they'd caused-he was surprised when the voice he heard wasn't David's.
'He's not being deliberately obstreperous, you know. There's a valid reason why he doesn't want to participate in the New Year celebrations and, peculiarly enough, it doesn't revolve around you.'
Juan Carlos' tone was even as he perched on the low wall with his arms wrapped round him for warmth. His breath steamed in the light from the French windows. Tommy wouldn't meet his eye.
'A few years ago, ' Juan Carlos continued conversationally, 'I brought Marat back for our first Christmas. He got a bit mixed up and a lot drunk, and confused Santos Inocentes with New Year. He had us parading in our underwear and covered in flour. We were arrested before we'd gone three streets. David still can't talk about it.'
'Oh, he never… oh,' but Tommy still felt belligerent.
'Look, I know it's tough. Living together sounds so fantastic, but no-one tells you about the consistent compromises you're expected to make. You'll just have to decide what's more important to you: doing things your way, or doing them with David.
'Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back inside. I see no point in us both freezing our appendages off. If you've any sense, you'll join me.' There was no reproach in his tone, but Tommy felt the weight of it all the same.
The first thing he did when he went back inside was apologise. He grabbed David's hand, tugged him up from the armchair in which he was curled and led him into the hallway. Stationing them beneath the mistletoe, Tommy kissed him thoroughly.
'I'm sorry, Ferru,' he murmured when they came up for air. 'I've been stupid and selfish and stubborn and… I'm sorry.'
'I'm sorry, too,' David kissed him back, snaking his arms around Tommy's neck and pushing his hips into Tommy's. 'He talked to me, too. Tommy, I didn’t mean to ruin your Christmas, I just… didn't think. We should have talked to each other, huh?'
Tommy nodded, and David's lips grazed his ear. 'Oh, and by the way, I'm not a prude.'
'Really?' Tommy challenged with a smile. 'Prove it.'
David led Tommy upstairs to their guest room, and proceeded to give a practical demonstration of how extremely non-prudish he was.
When he'd finished, they talked about how they could fix their Christmas. By the time they were done, Tommy's excitement was back in full force.
*
On Christmas Day, their presents didn't get opened until well into the afternoon. In fact, they didn't get out of bed until after midday. Tommy was woken in the nicest possible way-the magical things David did with his mouth made Tommy clutch at the sheets and forget that it was only eight-thirty-and while he recovered from that David made them breakfast. They ate it leisurely in bed and David didn't once complain about crumbs getting everywhere. Once the croissants and eggs had gone, and Tommy had been fortified with two cups of coffee, they delved into the stockings that Santa had brought them. When David (with eyes like saucers) pulled body paint and a blindfold from his stocking Tommy declared that there was no time like the present to try them out. Despite David's blushing protestation, this was a great success. It whiled away a further two hours, and after that they both needed a nap.
When their tummies woke them then finally dragged themselves downstairs. Tommy cooked in the silk pyjama bottoms and red frilly apron he'd found his stocking that morning, and they fed each other roast lamb and turrón with their fingers. By the time the plates were empty, they were in dire need of a bath. On the one hand, they thanked their foresight in insisting their house had a bath big enough for two, but on the other, it was not conducive to fast bathing.
So it was about five-thirty when they finally got dressed and opened their gifts. Overseen by Tommy's angel from her new perch halfway up the tree, they both realised that neither of them had stuck to the rules. Amidst the pre-planned things for their home (which were opened with appropriate gratitude but no degree of surprise), there nestled a soft sweater that Tommy hadn't been able to resist buying David, and a series of first edition books he had spent ages locating and could not bring himself to return. The look of delight on David's face when he opened them was the best thing Tommy had seen all day. (All right, the second-best). For Tommy there was a large canvas of the Monet he'd admired in Paris two months ago and a velvety cashmere scarf which put a speculative glint in David's eye when Tommy unwrapped it. David blushed and hung his head when Tommy chided him for not sticking to their agreement either, but agreed that these gifts were much better.
Later that evening they cuddled up on the sofa and watched White Christmas, and Tommy decided this was his best Christmas ever. With one arm around David and the other hand swirling a glass of good brandy, he no longer felt bad about losing his family's festive traditions. Instead, between them, he and David had begun creating several more all of their own.
He couldn't wait to develop them still further next Christmas.
FIN
Notes:
Nochebuena is Christmas Eve, which is traditionally a big Spanish celebration
Santos Inocentes is a Spanish festival on 28th December in which practical jokes are played and all kinds of anarchy ensues. The running round in red underwear for New Year is specific to a single Valencian village, but I stretched it to fit my purposes. (The flour throwing is for Els Enfarinats; Marat got truly confused ;)
Caganers are real.
Rin, Rin and Dime Niño. Go on, the thought of the pair of them singing along to these is entertaining the hell out of you too, right?
Please note, all information has come from my possibly incompetent Googling; if I have misinterpreted or misrepresented anything I am truly sorry.