Silver Bells of Joy and Grace (8/?)
Alright, here we are, the next chapter, plenty more fluff to go around! Slight Christian themes in this chapter, just a quick warning. Please review, I love you guys!
Silver Bells of Joy and Grace
By Blossomcup
Rated PG, rating subject to change in later chapters
Pairings: Drew/Greg, Ryan/Colin, Chip/Brad, Jeff/Wayne
Summary: It’s the beginning of the holiday season, and Greg has a surprise for his love. What unfolds is something that will last the test of time…
NOTE: This is wifeless AU. Reviews make my day, so please give me some feedback!
Chapter Eight
Benevolent Spirits of Calm and Peace
“God bless us, every one!” said Tiny Tim, the last of all.” - Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
Drew quietly walked into the church and took an empty pew, sitting down and reaching for his old, tattered Bible beneath his jacket. He took a look around and saw people whispering, people praying, lighting candles, saw the stained glass windows, including a portrait of the man who was the reason for the holiday.
Drew always found a great feeling of peace whenever he went to church as a child, and now that he was a grown man, this feeling was no different. Greg was a believer but he never really had interest in going to any services. Drew understood, but on occasional Sundays he would wake up early and attend a service to calm him down.
He took the time to think about what was going on with his life. He and Greg were getting married. Ryan and Colin were still happy and more in love than ever. Chip and Brad, longtime friends, had now found love within each other. And Wayne had found a new love blossoming, within a man who had a condition that would scare most others away.
Wayne was one of Drew’s dearest friends, and though he was still worried for the possibilities of what might happen, he was very proud of his friend for seeing past what had already happened and was willing to live for what was now. As Jeff portrayed in his theatre act, there was no day but today.
Everything seemed to be weaving together, like an heirloom quilt that was just being sewn to be passed down generation through generation. They were all bound into a family that could never be torn apart by anything the world might cast.
Drew closed his eyes and put his hands together as he started to silently pray. Nobody in the church heard him, but he was certain that Heaven knew that he intervened, to give thanks for his love and happiness thanks to his family.
Drew exited the church and started walking down the street, shivering a bit at the chill of the winter wind. He felt a hand on his shoulder and quickly spun around to see Greg smiling. “So this is where you were headed.” Drew smiled and slid his hand into his. “Didn’t think you wanted to go.”
Greg shrugged. “You should’ve asked, I would’ve liked to go with you.” Drew looked at him, his eyebrows raised delicately. “Really?”
“Yeah. I’ve been feeling the need to get in touch with my inner spirit, after all, if it can bring about something like this, it can’t be all bad.” They looked up once they noticed it was starting to snow. Drew gazed at his lover, that deep hot glow in his eyes coming back. “You’re right, Greg.”
Hand in hand, they started to walk. Greg stole a sideways glance at his lover, wondering how in the world he got so lucky. Drew was a good man, kind, gentle, loving, a bit shy, generous, loyal almost to a fault. He had only seen him get angry once, sometimes he got annoyed or shocked, but not angry. The time he had gotten angry is when someone insulted him. Drew was kind to everyone, but could get furious if anyone threatened anyone he loved.
Greg felt a warm feeling of admiration for Drew, how he was humble enough to still remember to give thanks for what he had. Not all people remembered that, himself included. Sacrilegious as it may seem, he always thought of Drew as something pure, something that should never be tarnished, like a worldly guardian angel that had come to protect him. How he deserved him, he would never know.
He gently squeezed Drew’s hand and stopped at a street corner, looking at Drew with a loving, awed gaze. Drew looked at him and smiled a bit confusedly. “What?”
Drew’s eyes were still bright and they were wide with childlike wonder, filled with love and cheerfulness, pure and unwavering. Greg lifted their twined hands to his lips and kissed them. “Nothing.” He said quietly, his heart growing even warmer at the sight of Drew’s blush.
“Okay, your turn.” Wayne said, handing Jeff the dice. They were sitting in Wayne’s apartment playing a game of Monopoly. Jeff rolled and moved the top hat. “One, two, three, four, five, six. Community chest.” He picked up a card and grinned. “You have won second prize in a beauty contest, collect ten dollars.”
Wayne handed him the bill. “Wow, ten dollars, you must be real pretty.” He jibed with a grin. Jeff smirked. “Pretty enough to own your sorry butt. Roll.”
Wayne rolled and moved the car. “One, two, three. HA!” He said, picking up the money in the middle of the board. “Free parking, loser!” Jeff smacked the table in frustration, but they both ended up laughing. Wayne shook his head. “Sorry, I get a little excited during board games.”
“No, it’s fine, I like good competition.” Jeff said, still grinning. He picked up a tin. “Candy cane?” Wayne took one and thanked him, unwrapping the cellophane and letting it disappear within his lips. They continued to play, with Jeff winning the game. They picked up the pieces and put the game back into the closet and sat down again to cuddle on the couch.
They were like lovesick teenagers, so infatuated with their new love that they were sweet to the point of being sickening. Wayne continued to suck on his candy cane until the red stripes were all rubbed off, then he started to chew. Jeff slowly put a hand on his face and leaned in for a kiss, tongues sweeping within each other’s mouths. Jeff could taste the peppermint and it was like ambrosia, he would always associate the taste of peppermint with Wayne now.
Once they broke apart, Jeff smiled at him. “So, what do you want to do now?”
Wayne shrugged. “Candy Land?” He suggested, seeing the game through the open closet door. Jeff frowned. “That’s such a kids game, I got that from the hospital.”
“What are you chicken?” Wayne teased. “Bet I could beat you.”
Jeff stood up, never backing down from a challenge. “You’re on!” He called playfully, getting the game out of the closet with glee.
“Yes, I’d like to order product number 9847…yes, with silver buttons please…yes, my card number is…” Brad was in the bathroom trying to keep his voice low as he ordered the gift for Chip. The jacket cost a pretty penny but he knew that clothes weren’t cheap, and besides, he wanted to get him something special. Once he placed the order he snapped his phone shut and flushed the toilet to try and throw Chip off the trail a bit more.
He walked out of the bathroom and Chip was leaning against the cabinet with his eyes closed. Brad walked over to him. “Tired?”
Chip nodded, not opening his eyes. Brad put an arm around his shoulders and helped him walk. “C’mon, let’s get you into bed. You need your rest.”
Chip let him lead him into the bedroom and undress him, slipping him into his warm flannel pajama pants and a t-shirt. Brad did the same and they crawled under the covers together, Chip’s head pillowed on Brad’s shoulder. “Thanks.” Chip mumbled, slowly becoming incoherent with sleep. Brad rubbed his back gently, beginning to feel tired himself. “No problem. Get some sleep.”
“Love you…” Chip whispered before he finally fell into slumber. Brad yawned and settled back against the pillow. “Love you too…”
Ryan let out a loud curse as he burned his finger on the tea kettle. He quickly ran over to the sink to run cold water over it and Colin looked at him with a shrug. “You’d better watch your language, Santa’s watching you, you know.”
Ryan glared at him, shutting off the water. “Just because you never swear is no reason to threaten pain of naughty list on me.” Colin smiled and went to hug his lover. “Awww, c’mon, Ryan. Let’s go watch TV. They’re re-playing Stephen Colbert’s Christmas special.”
Ryan grinned. “I love that one, it’s fast becoming a classic.” They sat down and had a good time laughing at the antics of the fake news pundit and his friends. After the special was over, Colin picked up a book and started to read. “What are you reading?”
“Dickens.” Colin said quietly. “He’s a good read for this time of year.” Ryan settled his arm about the couch and started to read over his shoulder. He didn’t change position, but he started to realize what a perfect scene this was. He was in a warm, comfortable home with the man of his dreams, having everything he wanted right here with him. He felt very blessed to have what he had, especially after going to the hospital had opened his eyes.
He didn’t want to get up, he was very content to just sit here and savor the moment. Time was still passing by just outside his window, but he didn’t care. Reality could wait. Now was now, he wasn’t ready for it to become a memory yet. He wanted to live it first, with the love of his life beside him.
-To be Continued…-