Story for Glam_Bingo: A Christmas Wish
Title: A Christmas Wish
Prompt: AU: Magic
Pairing: Adam/Tommy, Adam/Brett (OMC)
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Disclaimer: I do not own the boys. This story is purely fictional and for entertainment purposes only.
Summary: Adam makes a Christmas wish.
Word Count: 3337
Author’s Notes: This story was written for glam_bingo. I thought that this story would be shorter, but it kinda took on a life of its own. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for reading. Feedback is always welcome.
December 24th, 2014
Adam was sitting alone in the small apartment he shared with his boyfriend of over ten years, Brett. He sat on the couch and stared at the Christmas tree. His life hadn’t turned out the way he had wanted at all. He had hopes and dreams that were all shattered now. There was a time when he dreamed of being a musician and an actor. Somewhere along the way, he ended up being a high school music teacher. It was an okay job, but he worked in a public school that was known for its troubled youth. On a daily basis, students were bringing weapons to school. They didn’t appreciate the music program and Adam feared that his job wouldn’t last through the year. He didn’t know what he was going to do if he lost his job. He hoped he’d be able to find another teaching position…maybe in a private school where violence wasn’t much of an issue.
Adam wasn’t very happy with his personal life either. He had been with Brett for nearly eleven years. He hadn’t been happy with him in a few years, but he was familiar and comfortable, so Adam stayed. Truthfully, Brett was a lot of the reason why Adam had stopped pursuing his dreams. Brett had never really supported them. He thought that it was okay for Adam to sing on weekends or do Community Theater as long as he held a regular job.
Adam had forgotten his dreams and concentrated on building a life with Brett. He thought that they would get married and have children. At first, that had been impossible. However, in 2011, gay marriage had been legalized. Adam waited for a proposal and never got one. He talked to Brett about it. Brett didn’t see a need or reason to get married. Adam let it go. He figured that Brett would come around to the idea eventually.
After awhile, Adam gave up completely on the idea of them getting married. Brett obviously didn’t want it and Adam really didn’t anymore either. However, Adam wanted kids. He always had. Brett had agreed to look into adoption with Adam. They had filled out the paper work and gone to meetings with different agencies. Brett never fully committed.
Everything had come to a head tonight. They had gone to Brett’s parent’s house for Christmas Eve just like they had been doing for eleven years now. Brett’s sister, Tracey, was there with her husband and three children. Adam spent the night playing with the children. He really loved them and was by far their favorite uncle. Being around the kids had made Adam think about having children of his own again. He and Brett hadn’t talked about it in awhile. Adam decided to bring it up when they got home. Brett didn’t even want to discuss it. He didn’t want kids and that was final. He had no interest in what Adam wanted. At times like this, Adam usually dropped the subject and went along with Brett. However, he was tired of just doing what he said, so they got into a huge fight. Brett had stormed out and left Adam alone.
As Adam sat and stared at the tree, he thought about his relationship with Brett. He couldn’t believe that he had let him have so much control over him. He couldn’t believe that his life had turned out so badly.
“I just wish that it could all be different. I wish that I had a different life.” Adam whispered out loud as he lay down on the couch and drifted off to sleep.
December 24th, 2004
Adam woke up from his sleep slowly. The first thing he realized was that he was no longer on the couch. He must have stumbled into bed in the middle of the night. He could tell that the spot beside him was empty. Brett hadn’t come home. Adam should have been sad or worried that his boyfriend was missing on Christmas morning, but he was relieved.
Adam staggered out of bed still half asleep. His eyes were barely opened. He made it to the bathroom and took care of his business. He stood at the sink and ran water. He splashed some on his face and looked up. He gasped in shock at the face staring back at him. He was at least ten years younger. His hair was grown out slightly and dyed black. He’d stopped doing that years ago when Brett had told him he looked silly with black hair. He took a closer look at himself. His fingernails were painted black. Another thing he’d stopped doing because of Brett. He was wearing rings on many of his fingers and bracelets. Something else Brett hated. As he looked at his face, he could see the remnants of make-up. He’d stopped wearing it when Brett told him that if he wanted to date a girl he would be with one.
Hindsight is 20/20, they say. Looking back, Adam could see how dysfunctional his relationship with Brett was. However, he had been blinded by love. He’d compromised himself and he wasn’t even sure why anymore.
“This is some weird dream.” Adam told himself as he splashed more cold water on his face.
Now that he’d had time to process it, Adam realized that he couldn’t possibly have gone back in time. He was just dreaming of a life he used to have.
“It’s not a dream.” An anonymous male voice sounded from behind him.
Adam spun around, but no one was there. He heard a giggle behind him. He turned and faced the mirror. There was a glittery male angel in the mirror. He appeared to be standing beside Adam, but when Adam looked no one was there.
“What’s going on?” Adam asked in shock.
“You made a Christmas wish and I’m here to grant it.” The angel explained.
“I…I don’t understand.” Adam stammered as he sat down on the toilet lid. This was all a little too much to process.
“Listen, honey, you wished that your life could be different and I’m here to help you.” The angel told him as he stepped out of the mirror and materialized in front of Adam.
“So you’re like my guardian angel or something?” Adam inquired as he looked the angel up and down. He wasn’t exactly what Adam had thought an angel would look like. He was wearing a pair of silver hot pants and a too tight white tank top. He was covered from head to toe in glitter. His wings were silver and sparkled.
“Something like that…Anyway, in case you haven’t figured it out yet, you’re in 2004. It’s December 24th. You have twenty four hours to change your future. You’ll wake up on Christmas morning 2014 in the new life you created for yourself…providing you make any changes at all. You’ll have twelve hours to decide to stay in your new life or go back. Do you understand?” The angel questioned.
“I think so, but how do I change things. Why did you bring me back to this time?” Adam quizzed.
“Sorry, honey, it’s not that easy. I’m afraid you have to figure this out all on your own. You’ve always had the power to have the life you want so now you’ve got to take some actions to get it.” The angel told him.
In the next instant, the angel was gone. Adam sat in the bathroom for a long time thinking about what to do. He was trying to remember exactly what was going on in his life in 2004.
Adam had been seeing Brett for just about a year. It was their first Christmas together. They were supposed to go to a party with a bunch of friends. Just as Adam was beginning to piece the puzzle together, his phone rang.
“Hello.” Adam spoke.
“Hey, babe.” Brett responded happily.
“Brett. What’s up?” Adam asked.
“Listen, I know you were excited about the party tonight, but I just got off the phone with my parents. They want us to come over for drinks and dinner and to meet some people tonight. I told them that we’d be there around six. I can pick you up. Please don’t go overboard with the make-up and jewelry and clothes. You know my parents and their friends are more conservative. Dressy casual, okay babe?” Brett asked without giving Adam any time to say anything.
“Yeah.” Adam replied quietly.
Suddenly, Adam remembered all of this. He had agreed to skip the party and go to Brett’s parents’ house. He had dressed conservative with no jewelry or make-up just like Brett had asked. He had charmed the other guests, but been miserable all night about missing the other party.
Before Adam had the chance to say anything else, Brett said goodbye and hung up. Adam went to his closet. He took out the outfit he had been planning on wearing to the party with their friends and the clothes he remembered wearing to Brett’s parents’ house. For a long time, he stared at the clothes and tried to decide what to do. He had a feeling that this was the decision that could change everything.
Brett showed up promptly at six. Adam walked over to the door as he smoothed his clothes. He opened it with a smile. Brett took one look at him and shook his head in anger.
“Adam, I believe I said dressy casual not glitter god. You can’t go to my parents’ house looking like this. Hurry up and change before we’re too late.” Brett commanded.
“No.” Adam declared.
“What?” Brett asked angrily. He wasn’t used to not getting his way.
“I’m not changing my clothes. I’m going to that party tonight with my friends.” Adam told him.
“But my parents are expecting us.” Brett replied as he stepped into the apartment and shut the door.
“Brett, let’s just be honest here, you and I don’t work.” Adam responded.
“What are you talking about? Of course, we work. I love you, Adam.” Brett spoke.
“You love the idea of me, but you don’t love me. You hate my hair, my clothes, my jewelry, and my make-up. Those are all part of who I am. You don’t love me if you want me to change those things. You hate that I want to be a musician and an actor. You don’t support my dreams.” Adam ranted.
“Where is all of this coming from?” Brett questioned.
“Let’s just say that I’ve seen our future and I don’t like it. I can’t be with you anymore, Brett.” Adam told him.
“You’re breaking up with me?” Brett inquired incredulously.
“Yes.” Adam said simply as he pushed Brett back out the door.
“Whatever, freak…but you’ll come crawling back to me. You need me!” Brett shouted as Adam slammed the door in his face.
Adam smiled. He felt better than he had in a long time. He didn’t know what would happen, but he knew that he was never going back to Brett.
Adam smiled and hummed to himself as he finished getting ready for the party. At seven, his friends, Allison, Danielle, Cassidy, and Alisan picked him up for the party. He was happy to see them. In 2014, he didn’t talk to them anymore. Another thing that Brett had taken away from him.
They met up with some other friends when they arrived at the party. Adam was having a great time. He remembered why he loved this life so much.
“Tommy, how is it going?” Allison asked a blonde man come over to their group.
“Good. How are you?” Tommy questioned as he gave her a quick hug.
“I’m good. Are you and the band playing tonight?” Allison inquired.
“We were supposed to, but our singer flaked out on us.” Tommy told her.
“That sucks…But maybe my friend, Adam here could fill in.” Allison offered as she gestured to him.
“You sing?” Tommy asked as he looked at Adam who was standing beside him.
“Yeah.” Adam replied as he was broken out of his thoughts. He’d been studying Tommy. He thought he was really attractive.
“Cool. Do you want to sing with us tonight? We have a pretty extensive list of songs that we play. I’m sure that we can figure something out. You should come with me to meet the rest of the band.” Tommy rambled.
“Okay.” Adam responded with a smile.
Adam followed Tommy to meet the rest of the band. There was Monte, Cam, and Isaac. Tommy was the bassist. Monte was the guitarist. Cam played the keyboard. Isaac was the drummer. They talked for a few minutes and made a set list. It was surprisingly easy.
When they took the stage, Adam heard his friends screaming the loudest for him. They played a few songs. It felt great to be onstage. Adam hadn’t done it for a long time. He was a little hesitant at first, but by the time they were playing their fourth song Adam was strutting around the stage like he owned it.
After their set, Adam found himself hanging out with the band and his friends. He couldn’t stop smiling. Monte, Tommy, Isaac, and Cam had unanimously agreed to ask Adam to join their band. He had accepted without a second thought.
“You were so good up there tonight.” Tommy told him when it was just the two of them left.
“Thanks. I loved it. I can’t wait to do it again.” Adam enthused.
“It was great tonight, but just think about when we have some more practice together. We’re going to be phenomenal.” Tommy spoke as he leaned against Adam on the couch.
Adam had already discovered that Tommy was very affectionate and cuddly. He had no problem with PDAs. He wasn’t like Brett at all. Adam couldn’t help himself when he leaned in and pressed his lips to Tommy’s mouth. Tommy tensed for a moment and Adam thought that he had read the situation wrong. He thought that he had totally screwed things up. However, Tommy sighed and relaxed into the kiss.
“I don’t want to move.” Tommy whispered when they broke the kiss. He settled back against Adam, rested his head on his chest, and closed his eyes.
“Me either.” Adam breathed as he wrapped his arm around Tommy.
Adam smiled and closed his eyes. In no time at all, they were both sound asleep.
December 25th, 2014
Adam woke up with a smile. He wasn’t on the couch at the party anymore. He was in a soft bed with a warm body cuddled up against him. He stretched and looked over. It was Tommy. He smiled even brighter.
“Merry Christmas, baby.” Tommy whispered as his eyes fluttered open and he saw Adam.
“Merry Christmas.” Adam replied as he leaned in and captured Tommy’s lips in a kiss.
As they kissed, all the memories of the past ten years came flooding into Adam’s brain. He remembered playing with the band and starting a relationship with Tommy. They had taken things slow. He remembered getting a record deal, recording the first album, touring for the first album. He remembered the rave reviews and the awards that they had won. He remembered the same for a second and third album. He remembered starring in his first movie and winning an Oscar. He remembered marrying Tommy in 2011 when it had become legal. He remembered everything and it made him smile even brighter.
“Daddy! PopPop! He came!” A little girl shouted as she jumped on the bed.
“Santa came, Daddy.” A little boy stated as he climbed into Adam’s lap.
“Did he?” Adam asked with a smile as he hugged his son and kissed his forehead.
Adam looked over. Tommy was holding their daughter’s hands as she jumped on the bed. The kids were four year old twins. Adam and Tommy had adopted them as babies.
“There are so many presents, PopPop.” Lennon, their daughter, told Tommy as she flung herself into his arms.
“Well, I guess we better go see what Santa brought you. Maybe the presents are for me and PopPop and not you.” Adam joked as he picked Jackson up and climbed out of bed.
“Oh, I bet they are. Daddy and I have been very good this year.” Tommy teased as he scooped Lennon up and carried her out of the room.
When they got to the living room, the kids squealed at seeing all the presents under the tree again. Adam and Tommy set them down on the floor. They sat down with them and reached for some presents.
“Let me see. This one says Lennon Michaela Ratliff-Lambert.” Adam read the tag.
“That’s me.” Lennon shrieked as she reached for the present. Adam handed it over with a smile.
“And this one says Jackson John Ratliff-Lambert.” Tommy stated as he looked at his son.
Jackson smiled and reached out for the present. He was definitely the calmer of the two children. Lennon was their wild child.
Less than an hour later, all of the presents were opened. Their living room looked like a disaster area. Adam wouldn’t have it any other way. He loved his family. The kids were excited about all their new toys. They didn’t know what they wanted to play with.
“Okay, I’m going to go make us breakfast. PopPop will help clean up all this mess.” Adam declared as he stood up.
Tommy smiled, stood up, and kissed Adam. Adam went into the kitchen to make breakfast. Tommy began cleaning up the living room.
“So what do you think?” A voice asked from behind him.
Adam turned around and came face to face with his guardian angel. He smiled.
“This is exactly the life that I always wanted. I’ve never been happier.” Adam told him.
“That’s good to hear.” The angel responded. “You still have about ten hours to make your decision.”
“I don’t need ten hours. I know right now. I want to stay here. I want this life. I don’t want to go back to the one I had before.” Adam declared.
“Okay. I’m glad that you’re happy. You’ll stay here in this life and once I leave you won’t remember any of this ever happened. You’ll only remember the life that you’ve had with Tommy. Brett will be a very distant memory.” The angel explained.
“I am very good with that.” Adam replied.
The angel smiled at him and touched his forehead. In the next instant, he was gone. Adam stared into space and tried to remember what he was doing.
“Who were you talking to?” Tommy inquired as he walked into the kitchen.
“No one…Myself I guess.” Adam responded coming out of his daze.
“I love that you aren’t afraid to admit when you are talking to yourself. I have the kids taking some of their stuff to the play room. Do you need any help in here?” Tommy asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee that Adam had made.
“I think that I have things under control. You should go play with the kids. You really aren’t much help in the kitchen anyway.” Adam teased as he kissed Tommy on the cheek.
Tommy pulled Adam in for a real kiss before leaving to play with Lennon and Jackson. Adam finished making breakfast. They sat and ate together as a family.
After breakfast, they all got dressed and waited for Adam and Tommy’s parents and other family members and friends to arrive. Adam and Tommy were hosting Christmas dinner this year. Adam had made the turkey and the ham. Everyone else was bringing something else for dinner.
Later that evening, Adam sat with his arm around Tommy. He watched as Lennon and Jackson played with the other kids. Tommy kissed his cheek and laid his head on his shoulder. Adam pulled him closer and kissed the top of his head. He was truly happy. He couldn’t picture a better way to spend Christmas.
Author’s Notes: I had Brad in mind as I was writing the angel. I didn’t name him though. The kids are named after John Lennon and Michael Jackson.