FIC: A New Christmas
A Zach/Shaun fic in which the two talk about new traditions for Christmas. (Shelter, PG-13)
Title: A New Christmas
Author: sleeper6
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1345
Disclaimer: From Shelter. Not my characters.
Summary: Zach and Shaun are starting their own Christmas traditions.
Notes: For the shelter_diner holiday challenge.
“So what do you usually do on Christmas?”
Zach tilted his head up from where it had been resting on Shaun’s chest for the past half-hour. He’d arrived home after his last day of classes for the semester at Cal Arts and a five-hour shift at the small art store he was employed at. Shaun and Cody had followed a few minutes later after spending part of the day at an indoor ice-skating rink-Shaun’s idea because he wanted Cody to experience some semblance of a wintery holiday season in the midst of the sunny, seventy-five-degree California climate.
“For Christmas?”
Shaun turned off the TV and tossed the remote aside as he looked at his boyfriend’s face, his left arm still securely wrapped around Zach. “I asked Cody how you guys usually celebrate Christmas but all he mentioned were toys.”
Zach laughed. “Of course he did. Why does it matter, though?”
“Well, it’s Cody’s-and your-first Christmas with me. You two are in a new home in a new city, and I want you to have some familiarity so it doesn’t feel so strange. I want it to be just like every other Christmas.”
Zach sat up quickly and faced Shaun. “Actually, I’d prefer that it isn’t like every Christmas we’ve had.”
“Why not?”
Zach sighed. “Since my mom died, every Christmas-every holiday, actually-hasn’t been as lively as it should. Not for me and definitely not for Cody.”
Shaun looked curiously at Zach. “Tell me.”
“It’s always me, my dad, Cody, and Jeanne with her man-of-the-week sitting around making small talk and trying to pretend we’re all beyond thrilled with our gifts or the food. Well, Cody’s always happy with the gifts-toys, you know-but anyway, somehow Jeanne and my dad will argue or I’ll argue with her and then there’s tension and anger and the whole day is spoiled. So I won’t mind if this Christmas is different than Christmases past,” Zach said, smiling weakly.
Shaun held firmly onto one of Zach’s hands. “I’m sorry.”
Zach shrugged.
Shaun sat up from where he’d been lying against the bed’s headboard. “Let’s make this Christmas special, then. We’ll start our own traditions with none of the fighting or crummy presents or strange, random men in our home. What do you say?”
Zach raised an eyebrow. “What do you have in mind, dude?”
“We’ll do things you haven’t done, the three of us together. Me and Cody skating, for one-you can join us next time. That’ll be our thing-the way to kick off the holidays around here,” said Shaun with a wide smile.
Zach returned the smile. “That sounds like fun.”
“It is fun.”
“What else?”
Shaun tapped his chin. “You know how gift buying is hard? What if we both decide not to get each other anything so we won’t be stressing out and fighting the crowds searching all over for the perfect present?”
“But I already got you something,” Zach said quietly.
“You did?” asked Shaun, his face brightening.
“Yes.”
“Yeah, me too,” said Shaun, squeezing Zach’s hand.
Zach grinned. “How about we have a Christmas breakfast as soon as we wake up?”
“I don’t know if Cody will partake in that; you said he loves his gifts. Opening and playing with them are the only things he’ll want to do that morning.”
Zach agreed. “True.”
“How about a pre-Christmas dinner?” suggested Shaun. “A Christmas Eve dinner. We can get all fancy and go out to eat.” He leaned toward Zach. “And then you and I can have our own Christmas breakfast . . . in bed.”
“Right after Christmas morning sex,” said Zach, his eyes twinkling.
“Mmm, you read my mind,” Shaun said, his lips briefly meeting Zach’s.
“And since Cody will be occupied with his presents, we won’t be interrupted,” Zach added, his nose nuzzling Shaun’s face.
“In that case, let’s get him toys. Lots and lots of toys.”
Zach pulled back and groaned. “Oh, no, what if Gabe shows up? He texted me yesterday to say that he might drop by on that morning.”
Gabe, Shaun’s younger brother, always spent Christmas with his parents; ever since finding out about Zach and Shaun living together, though, Gabe vowed to spend quality time with them on the important holidays, mostly because he loved Shaun and Zach (they were like family, Shaun obviously more than Zach) but also because he was very curious of how Shaun and Zach were like when they were together.
“Let’s get him lots and lots of toys, too,” said Shaun.
This time Zach leaned in and kissed Shaun. Both men intensely and passionately kissed until Shaun broke them apart. He looked at Zach with a lopsided grin. “I think we should also have pre-Christmas sex.”
“I like that idea.”
Shaun cocked an eyebrow. “Right now?” His hand trailed up Zach’s arm.
Zach laughed. “Shaun, Christmas is still a week away.”
“Hey, it’s our tradition. Think of it as early pre-Christmas sex,” Shaun explained.
“Shaun.”
“Okay, okay, let’s have regular non-Christmas sex, then.”
“Shaun.”
“What?” asked Shaun, not understanding why Zach wasn’t agreeing.
“Let’s finish coming up with ideas for our new Christmas first,” Zach said, patting Shaun’s shoulder.
Shaun snapped his fingers. “How about I rent one of those machines that makes fake snow and create a winter wonderland outside?”
“We live in a condo. What about the neighbors?”
“I’m sure they won’t mind. Everyone likes snow,” Shaun said casually.
“Isn’t it expensive?”
Shaun tapped Zach’s nose. “I thought we didn’t discuss things like that.”
“But it’s still expensive,” Zach argued.
“Nothing ever is for you two; you know that.”
“What if we just buy ice, make some snowballs, and then have a mini-fight outside?” suggested Zach. He knew Shaun would do-and buy-anything for him and Cody, but he still felt a bit weird having Shaun give them everything, no questions asked.
“Ice balls?”
Zach laughed and nodded.
“That could work,” Shaun agreed.
“Oh, and Cody’s always wanted to see The Nutcracker, but Jeanne never wanted to take him. I think she feared she’d be bored. Maybe we can find a theater here that performs the play on Christmas Day.”
“That’s a fantastic idea. I’ve seen that play a hundred times and I could still see it again. Cody will love it.”
“And I definitely think one of us should dress up as Santa,” Zach said.
“You,” both men said simultaneously as they pointed at each other.
“You’re taller,” Zach said.
“Am not; we’re almost the same height,” Shaun protested.
“You’re bigger.”
Shaun pretended to be offended. “Are you saying I’m fat?”
Zach giggled. “No, no, of course not. You’re just . . . healthier?”
“What?” asked Shaun as he laughed.
“You know what I mean.”
“Let’s have Gabe dress up as Santa-he’s got that whole ‘jolly’ thing going on all the time,” Shaun said.
“Just make sure he’s not drunk,” Zach piped in.
Shaun snorted.
“Candy!” Zach exclaimed. “Jeanne never let Cody have more than one candy cane all season. I want to get him lots of candy canes-the peppermint ones and the colored ones. And chocolate Santas. And caramel Santas. And marshmallow snowmen. And-”
Shaun laughed. “Are you sure the candy’s not for you?”
Zach blushed. “I like candy too.”
“Of course you do.”
Zach scooted closer to his boyfriend and wrapped one arm around his neck. “Thank you.”
“For?” asked Shaun, sliding an arm around Zach’s waist.
“For thinking of us. For wanting to make our Christmas special. For everything.”
“You know why I do it,” Shaun said softly.
“I know,” Zach whispered. “And me too.”
“I know.”
The two kissed gently, both men tenderly cupping each other’s faces.
“So,” Shaun said as he pulled back slightly with a big grin, “what about having the pre-Christmas sex now?”
“Well, since it’s now our tradition, I guess we better,” Zach replied, falling on top of Shaun. “We want to do them all, don’t we?”
“I love Christmas,” Shaun murmured against Zach’s lips as he held him tightly.
*****
Happy Holidays!
Title: A New Christmas
Author: sleeper6
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1345
Disclaimer: From Shelter. Not my characters.
Summary: Zach and Shaun are starting their own Christmas traditions.
Notes: For the shelter_diner holiday challenge.
“So what do you usually do on Christmas?”
Zach tilted his head up from where it had been resting on Shaun’s chest for the past half-hour. He’d arrived home after his last day of classes for the semester at Cal Arts and a five-hour shift at the small art store he was employed at. Shaun and Cody had followed a few minutes later after spending part of the day at an indoor ice-skating rink-Shaun’s idea because he wanted Cody to experience some semblance of a wintery holiday season in the midst of the sunny, seventy-five-degree California climate.
“For Christmas?”
Shaun turned off the TV and tossed the remote aside as he looked at his boyfriend’s face, his left arm still securely wrapped around Zach. “I asked Cody how you guys usually celebrate Christmas but all he mentioned were toys.”
Zach laughed. “Of course he did. Why does it matter, though?”
“Well, it’s Cody’s-and your-first Christmas with me. You two are in a new home in a new city, and I want you to have some familiarity so it doesn’t feel so strange. I want it to be just like every other Christmas.”
Zach sat up quickly and faced Shaun. “Actually, I’d prefer that it isn’t like every Christmas we’ve had.”
“Why not?”
Zach sighed. “Since my mom died, every Christmas-every holiday, actually-hasn’t been as lively as it should. Not for me and definitely not for Cody.”
Shaun looked curiously at Zach. “Tell me.”
“It’s always me, my dad, Cody, and Jeanne with her man-of-the-week sitting around making small talk and trying to pretend we’re all beyond thrilled with our gifts or the food. Well, Cody’s always happy with the gifts-toys, you know-but anyway, somehow Jeanne and my dad will argue or I’ll argue with her and then there’s tension and anger and the whole day is spoiled. So I won’t mind if this Christmas is different than Christmases past,” Zach said, smiling weakly.
Shaun held firmly onto one of Zach’s hands. “I’m sorry.”
Zach shrugged.
Shaun sat up from where he’d been lying against the bed’s headboard. “Let’s make this Christmas special, then. We’ll start our own traditions with none of the fighting or crummy presents or strange, random men in our home. What do you say?”
Zach raised an eyebrow. “What do you have in mind, dude?”
“We’ll do things you haven’t done, the three of us together. Me and Cody skating, for one-you can join us next time. That’ll be our thing-the way to kick off the holidays around here,” said Shaun with a wide smile.
Zach returned the smile. “That sounds like fun.”
“It is fun.”
“What else?”
Shaun tapped his chin. “You know how gift buying is hard? What if we both decide not to get each other anything so we won’t be stressing out and fighting the crowds searching all over for the perfect present?”
“But I already got you something,” Zach said quietly.
“You did?” asked Shaun, his face brightening.
“Yes.”
“Yeah, me too,” said Shaun, squeezing Zach’s hand.
Zach grinned. “How about we have a Christmas breakfast as soon as we wake up?”
“I don’t know if Cody will partake in that; you said he loves his gifts. Opening and playing with them are the only things he’ll want to do that morning.”
Zach agreed. “True.”
“How about a pre-Christmas dinner?” suggested Shaun. “A Christmas Eve dinner. We can get all fancy and go out to eat.” He leaned toward Zach. “And then you and I can have our own Christmas breakfast . . . in bed.”
“Right after Christmas morning sex,” said Zach, his eyes twinkling.
“Mmm, you read my mind,” Shaun said, his lips briefly meeting Zach’s.
“And since Cody will be occupied with his presents, we won’t be interrupted,” Zach added, his nose nuzzling Shaun’s face.
“In that case, let’s get him toys. Lots and lots of toys.”
Zach pulled back and groaned. “Oh, no, what if Gabe shows up? He texted me yesterday to say that he might drop by on that morning.”
Gabe, Shaun’s younger brother, always spent Christmas with his parents; ever since finding out about Zach and Shaun living together, though, Gabe vowed to spend quality time with them on the important holidays, mostly because he loved Shaun and Zach (they were like family, Shaun obviously more than Zach) but also because he was very curious of how Shaun and Zach were like when they were together.
“Let’s get him lots and lots of toys, too,” said Shaun.
This time Zach leaned in and kissed Shaun. Both men intensely and passionately kissed until Shaun broke them apart. He looked at Zach with a lopsided grin. “I think we should also have pre-Christmas sex.”
“I like that idea.”
Shaun cocked an eyebrow. “Right now?” His hand trailed up Zach’s arm.
Zach laughed. “Shaun, Christmas is still a week away.”
“Hey, it’s our tradition. Think of it as early pre-Christmas sex,” Shaun explained.
“Shaun.”
“Okay, okay, let’s have regular non-Christmas sex, then.”
“Shaun.”
“What?” asked Shaun, not understanding why Zach wasn’t agreeing.
“Let’s finish coming up with ideas for our new Christmas first,” Zach said, patting Shaun’s shoulder.
Shaun snapped his fingers. “How about I rent one of those machines that makes fake snow and create a winter wonderland outside?”
“We live in a condo. What about the neighbors?”
“I’m sure they won’t mind. Everyone likes snow,” Shaun said casually.
“Isn’t it expensive?”
Shaun tapped Zach’s nose. “I thought we didn’t discuss things like that.”
“But it’s still expensive,” Zach argued.
“Nothing ever is for you two; you know that.”
“What if we just buy ice, make some snowballs, and then have a mini-fight outside?” suggested Zach. He knew Shaun would do-and buy-anything for him and Cody, but he still felt a bit weird having Shaun give them everything, no questions asked.
“Ice balls?”
Zach laughed and nodded.
“That could work,” Shaun agreed.
“Oh, and Cody’s always wanted to see The Nutcracker, but Jeanne never wanted to take him. I think she feared she’d be bored. Maybe we can find a theater here that performs the play on Christmas Day.”
“That’s a fantastic idea. I’ve seen that play a hundred times and I could still see it again. Cody will love it.”
“And I definitely think one of us should dress up as Santa,” Zach said.
“You,” both men said simultaneously as they pointed at each other.
“You’re taller,” Zach said.
“Am not; we’re almost the same height,” Shaun protested.
“You’re bigger.”
Shaun pretended to be offended. “Are you saying I’m fat?”
Zach giggled. “No, no, of course not. You’re just . . . healthier?”
“What?” asked Shaun as he laughed.
“You know what I mean.”
“Let’s have Gabe dress up as Santa-he’s got that whole ‘jolly’ thing going on all the time,” Shaun said.
“Just make sure he’s not drunk,” Zach piped in.
Shaun snorted.
“Candy!” Zach exclaimed. “Jeanne never let Cody have more than one candy cane all season. I want to get him lots of candy canes-the peppermint ones and the colored ones. And chocolate Santas. And caramel Santas. And marshmallow snowmen. And-”
Shaun laughed. “Are you sure the candy’s not for you?”
Zach blushed. “I like candy too.”
“Of course you do.”
Zach scooted closer to his boyfriend and wrapped one arm around his neck. “Thank you.”
“For?” asked Shaun, sliding an arm around Zach’s waist.
“For thinking of us. For wanting to make our Christmas special. For everything.”
“You know why I do it,” Shaun said softly.
“I know,” Zach whispered. “And me too.”
“I know.”
The two kissed gently, both men tenderly cupping each other’s faces.
“So,” Shaun said as he pulled back slightly with a big grin, “what about having the pre-Christmas sex now?”
“Well, since it’s now our tradition, I guess we better,” Zach replied, falling on top of Shaun. “We want to do them all, don’t we?”
“I love Christmas,” Shaun murmured against Zach’s lips as he held him tightly.
*****
Happy Holidays!