A Devilstone Christmas
There was no one to apologize to if Adam decided he wanted to kiss his man hard on the mouth, backing him up against the jamb between the parlor at the kitchen. There was nothing to interrupt them if Kris decided to bear Adam down onto the rug in front of the hearth, pulling off clothing piece by elaborate piece till they were both shameless and bare. No one could see into the frosted over windows either, should anyone have wanted to watch Kris as he slid hard onto Adam’s body, gasping and desperate for an entirely different journey than the one they had planned for this afternoon.
Kris bucked his hips hard, burning away the disappointment of the day like the trackless burns Devilstone. It was impossible to be upset when Adam was looking up at him, face at once determined and loving.
“Come on, Kristopher, come on.” Adam urged him on, and Kris forgot about everything except the feeling of the man inside him, of his knees grinding rough against the rug, of Adam’s smooth palm slicking over his cock. Kris could feel the sweat trickling down his back on his left side, too close to the fire, even as his right side tingled in the chilly air. He increased his pace, ignoring the ache in his muscles to soothe the ache that had settled low in his belly. It spread outward, filling even his fingertips with the driving need to feel Adam come undone, warm and wet inside his body.
It was close now, Kris could tell in the tensing of Adam’s hands, one still stroking at him, the other gripping his ass, fingers stretching towards the union of their bodies as if seeking proof, Adam ever the scientist. For Kris the feeling was enough, more than enough, beyond enough as he clenched hard around Adam, completely overtaken as the moment broke open. He collapsed against Adam’s chest, marveling in the warm glow of the fire feeling cold compared to Adam’s skin now as he rolled over and up onto his knees, leaving Kris to lay on his back
Adam angled him up and drove in again, pulling Kris’s hips towards him as though he could never get enough. Kris took it, limp beneath Adam’s hands except for the momentary tightening of muscle as the aftershocks of his orgasm blossomed with Adam’s redoubled effort. It didn’t take long. A minute more till Adam trembled and came, Kris’s name on his lips and the light of inspiration across his face the way it so often was in bed, just after his crisis came. Sometimes he shared his insight, other times he dressed and dashed off to the lab without a word, leaving Kris to laugh and fall asleep on his own.
This time, however, he just pulled Kris close, nuzzling his hair and kissing his head till the fire died down and Kris was forced to rise and feed it again, lest they lazily freeze to death
***
Adam knocked on the door as Glamour nickered angrily, stamping her legs in the snow and rolling her eyes. She hated the winter, but more than that she hated the cutter that was hitched behind her. Adam couldn’t help it, though, Conway was far too small to pull the small sleigh, so it had to be Glamour and Chocolate, who bore the duty silently and without complaint. Glamour tossed her head again, but stilled once Chocolate leaned over and nipped her on the cheek as if to say “stop being such a bitch.”
The door opened and Adam was pulled inside of the Sarver residence by two pair of hands, one set thick and strong while the other was dainty - if not quite feminine.
“Doc! Merry Christmas! If you, you know, believe in Christmas. Never seen you around the church. Thought maybe it were cause you never liked Reverend Gokey all that much but you seem to like him well enough now, after everything...”
“Shhh, honey. Just leave it at Merry Christmas.” Megan said, laying a hand on Mac’s shoulder. “Adam won’t take any offense.”
Adam grinned at his friends, happy that he could call them friends. Before Kristopher had arrived, he had barely interacted with anyone in Westport and now... now he could go visiting like anyone else and be welcome in any house in town.
“Actually, that’s why I dropped by. Christmas is in two days and I need some help. Kris and I were supposed to go back to Arkansas but the snow-“
“Trackless ain’t runnin.” Mac supplied as Megan ran to put the kettle on for coffee.
“Right. So I got it in my mind to give Kris a down-home Christmas, just like the ones he used to know. However, my experience in that department is sorely lacking so I set out today to gather some information, do a little research. “
“Well, I suppose you know about Santa.” Mac said, and Adam quirked an eyebrow. “Not that he’s real, you know, but you know that the spirit of Saint Nicholas is supposed to visit and bestow gifts onto all the children while they sleep.”
“Tell him about the orphans!” Megan called from the kitchen, and Mac flushed.
“Actually, Danny asked me to come by on Christmas morning and hand out gifts, dressed up like Santa Claus.” Mac reddened as Megan hooted in the kitchen.
“He’s a right jolly old elf!”
“She made me a suit and everything, complete with a stuffed belly.” Mac said, looking pleased and embarrassed at the same time.
“So, er. Santa. Got it. So I should sneak presents in the middle of the night and leave them where he’ll see them-“
“Beneath a TREE” Mac said, shaking his head. “Golly, I thought you were supposed to be some kind of genius.”
“We didn’t have Christmas in my family.” Adam admitted. “I grew up Jewish. My whole neighbourhood was Jewish. I went to Hebrew School and then off to university. I never really bothered myself with alternate belief systems. I mainly studied biology, chemistry...oh then there was geology and astronomy. Oooh, and physiology that was fun... Latin...”
“I don’t know what half those words mean, Doc, but they ain’t got shit to do with Christmas so you better put your listening cap on if you wanna do this right.” Mac interrupted, handing him a mug of coffee.
“In fact, I think there’s more to cover than the two of us can tell.” Megan said, settling down on the sofa. “Mac, honey, why don’t you go get Danny and Matt?”
“I oughta!” Mac agreed, rising fast. “That’ll be swell. Hell, with everything you two have done for us this is just the right thing to do. I’ll be right back. Honey, while I’m gone you should cover ornaments, popcorn balls, The Night Before Christmas, and stockings, alright?”
“And Mistletoe.” Megan said, quirking an eyebrow at Adam.
“What’s he need with mistletoe! They’re two men!” Mac guffawed, pulling on his boots. “Poor Kris is probably still heartbroke that the widow Jones didn’t stay around-“
“Times a-wastin, Mac!” Megan said, shooing her husband out into the cold. She turned to face Adam, laughing merrily.
“He’s a good man.” Megan shook her head. “A bit oblivious but a good man. So, where should we start?”
“Mistletoe sounds good. Let’s start with Mistletoe.” Adam returned her grin, settling back on the wing chair. It was good to have friends.
***
“But I don’t understand! Why aren’t you coming along?” It was Christmas eve and Adam had pressed a ticket to the Westport Children’s Fund Christmas Benefit concert into Kris’s hand.
“I have work to do in the lab.” Adam protested, handing Kris a clean white shirt and a cranberry colored waistcoat and tie.
“On Christmas Eve?” Kris whined, looking at the clothing curiously. “Where did you get this?”
“Oh please, Kristopher, you’ve had that for ages. I got it for you in Washington DC, remember?”
Kris didn’t remember, but he didn’t want to appear ungrateful so he mumbled “Oh Yeah.” And slid the outfit on. The trousers - he definitely would have remembered those trousers. They were gray wool with a cranberry hatch pattern.
“You look delicious.” Adam pronounced, and Kris looked himself over in the mirror. He had never been one to take pride in his appearance, but since meeting Adam…that had changed. He’d never be vain, but if he took a little longer fixing his hair or shaved a little more frequently it had a profound impact on they way Adam looked at him. Kris had decided he liked the hungry look in his lover’s eyes, and so he had begun to take a little more care in the way he presented himself.
“Thank you.” Kris said, fussing over the way his hair always wanted to stand up in back. He dipped his fingers into the pomade that Adam kept on the dresser and smoothed it over his hair, managing to tame the fuzz.
“You need your coat and hat.” Adam said, holding out a long gray wool over coat and a matching gray top hat. Kris looked at him quizzically - he had certainly never seen these accessories before, but didn’t question. “Oh. One more thing.” Adam retrieved a box from the top drawer of his dresser.
“I don’t know much about Christmas, but I was pretty sure there was something to do with presents.” He said by way of explanation. Kris felt his eyes pricking as he took the box.
“You didn’t need to get me anything, Adam. You got those plane tickets, and you pay for everything, all the time. And you don’t even celebrate Christmas.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t try.” Adam said, sitting on the bed and patting the comforter next to him. “Open it.”
Kris did, and gasped when he lifted the lid. Nestled amidst a cranberry silk handkerchief was a silver pocket watch. The lid was smooth, brushed metal with a single line of blue running vertically through the center, reminiscent of their rings.
“Adam…” Kris mumbled, taking the watch out and opening it. The first thing he noticed was the face, elegant copperplate numbers, silver on a black field. He looked again, though, and saw the inscription carved into the back of the lid.
More constant than time,
The beating of your heart
At one with mine.
A. L.
12-24-1886
Kris pulled Adam close and kissed him as though he could draw breath from Adam’s mouth alone.
“Shhh. You’ll muss your new Christmas outfit.”
“New?” Kris said, laughing.
“You caught me. Forgive the white lie. So far I like Christmas, by the way. You get dressed nice and throw yourself at me. Excellent holiday.”
“You’re sure you won’t come?” Kris begged, and Adam kissed him again on the nose.
“You need to be off if you’re going to make it in time to pick up Allison and Matt on the other side of town. Maybe I’ll finish up early and surprise you.”
“Assuming Glamour doesn’t run the cutter into a tree to rid herself of me.” Kris laughed, letting Adam shoo him out the door.
“Chocolate will keep her in line. Besides, I told her no oats unless you come home in one piece.” Adam teased, smiling fondly at the beautiful picture Kris presented, standing in the snow in front of the cutter. He tucked a warm blanket around Kris, ignoring his indignant protests that it wasn’t that cold out. “Stay warm. See you later.” Kris pulled him down for another kiss, this one soft and chaste.
“I love you.” He said simply, wondering what Adam could be working on that would keep him from Kris’s side.
***
The cutter was scarcely out of site before Adam was wading through the snow towards the lab, where he had been working feverishly on the formula for the perfect Christmas. He had a tree already cut and standing in a bucket of water. Strings of popcorn and cranberries were dangling from every rafter - he didn’t know how much he’d need. Megan had been unspecific.
He made several trips back and forth, decorating as fast as he could with unpracticed hands. All too soon, Lil arrived with enough food to feed an army.
“You sure he didn’t see you?” Adam said, wringing his hands as Lil unloaded apple pie after apple pie.
“I took the back way. Not to worry. Ugh. Lift this.” She handed him a large platter. “It’s a glazed ham. You need a ham or it’s not Christmas. Christmas is all about the food.”
“Ham. Pies. Got it. Will we have enough for everyone?” Adam said, looking over the feast now sitting on the table.”
“Honey, there’s more in the back. What kind of fool do you take me for? I had 5 widows and 4 little gals helping me all morning. Pick up that pot, that’s the cider. It goes on the hook by the kitchen fire.”
Adam hurriedly helped her unpack, and she took a few moments to rearrange some of the decorations in the parlor so that they made more sense.
“Mistletoe goes here.” She said, hanging it in the doorway.
“Oh, I see.” Adam said, leaning forward and pecking her on the cheek. “Merry Christmas, Mama Lil.”
“Never thought I’d see the day.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “Now we better be off. If I miss one note of O, Little Town those babies are gonna cry their eyes out.”
“Five minutes. I just need to change.” Adam pleaded, dashing to the bedroom to flip into his deep green and ivory suit.
“Adam, it was five minutes five minutes ago!” Lil hollered from the parlor, rearranging the gifts under the tree.
“I don’t know why this surprises you.” Adam shouted back, laughing as he stumbled into the room, still buttoning his waistcoat. “Do I look alright?”
“Like a Christmas Goose. Of course you look alright, Adam. You look happier than I’ve ever seen you.”
“Thanks, Mama Lil. I…I wish Scott could be here, though.” Adam said, looking around at the decorations a bit sadly. “All those years and I never thought to celebrate Christmas with the two of you - I just bought him a train ticket and didn’t think twice. I wish he could see all of this.”
“He is here, honey.” She said, patting his arm as they ventured out into the snow.
***
Kris had his suspicions when he was handed a small blue program, which looked as though it had been handwritten by a five year-old. It was quite possible that the five year old who handed him the program was the author as well.
“A Devilstone Christmas!” Was scrawled on the front, and beneath that there was a stick drawing of a man in a cowboy hat pointing a gun at some sort of wild beast, while a taller man in a top hat seemed to be waving his little stick-arms around wildly.
“You know anything about this?” Kris asked, holding the program up for Matt and Allison to see. They both shrugged and giggled, allowing themselves to be led away to their seats.
His suspicions were confirmed when he was led by a girl with long braids to the very front row.
“Our other special guest will be along presentsly!” She proclaimed proudly before running back to her post by the front door.
Sure enough, the same little girl appeared moments later, holding hands with Dr. Lambert, who looked a bit outlandish in his green coat and hat. Kris almost forgot himself when he rose, wanting to continue right where they left off and kiss him again, but Adam held out his hand for a cordial handshake.
“Doctor.” Kris said, nodding
“Arkansas.” Adam returned, taking the seat next to him. “Hmm, you think they could have drawn me in a more dignified manner since I funded this littler pageant. I’ll have to speak with Danny cutting their budget next year.”
“You funded a Christmas pageant?” Kris said, goggling at him.
“What’s Christmas without pageants?” Adam said, laughing. “Though I regret giving Matty artistic control already.”
“Oh…no…” Kris said, blushing. “If the whole town joins in singing “Krissy the Kid” I will kill him. I will ride him out into the Fragments and let the belltollers have him. Or The Crater. He can be a howler.”
“Shh. It’s starting.” Adam said, jostling him in the side as, one by one, the bluefire lights were removed from the room.
A little boy, no more than seven, took the stage in a brown vest and white hat, riding a stick-horse.
“Woooah there Conway!” The little boy shouted. “I think I see someone in trouble.” He looked off into the wings.
“I said I THINK I SEE SOMEONE IN TROUBLE.”
A group of kids wearing fur costumes entered from stage left, dragging a taller boy with dark hair and a top hat.
“LET ME GO, I’M WORLD FAMOUS SCIENTIST DR. ADAM LAMBERT!” The child shouted. “DON’T YOU HOWLERS KNOW WHO I AM?”
(“Very realistic dialogue.” Kris mumbled to Adam, who jabbed him in the ribs again.)
“PEW PEW PEW!” Little Krissy shouted, pulling wooden six-shooters from the holsters at his sides. They were not very good gunfire sounds, but it didn’t matter. The howler-children all obediently fell down, having been killed dead.
“Thank you, Thank you!” Little Adam said, trying to bow while Little Krissy untied him. “I would have been howler meat!”
“You’re safe with me, Dr. Lambert!” Little Krissy said, taking his hand. “I’m Arkansas the Gunman!”
“ARKANSAS THE GUNMAN!” Little Adam shouted. Little Adam had the propensity to deliver his lines rather loudly and dramatically. “JUST WHO I WAS LOOKING FOR. WE’VE BEEN ROBBED!”
“You’ve been robbed?” Little Krissy repeated. “By who?”
“I BETTER LET THE OTHERS EXPLAIN!” Little Adam said, with a dramatic flourish as Matty struck up the piano. The rest of the children filed on stage, dressed as various Westport Citizens. Kris recognized a little version of Mac Sarver, a gold star pinned to his chest, and a miniature Allison, with a wig made of pink yarn.
“Oh little town of West port
How still we see the liiiiie!
Because someone stole Christmas Eve
Didn’t leave a siiingle pie.
We asked good Dr. Lambert
A hero for to fiiind
So he set out a-looking
For one he had in mind!”
“Hold on thur, paaartner!” Little Krissy said, apparently only just remembering he was supposed to be speaking in accent. “Y’all said someone stole Christmas?”
“I’VE CALCULATED THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A HAPPY CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR. AND IT’S ALMOST NIL!”
(“They know you don’t really do the whole Jesus-thing, right?” Kris asked.
“Artistic license.” Adam mumbled. “It’s for fun, it doesn’t have to be realistic.”)
The play continued, with Little Adam being kidnapped half a dozen times until he finally infiltrated a secret camp and used some ingenious device intended to signal Kris from afar.
“I really should invent that.” Adam said, clearly admiring the children’s bold idea.
Then, Little Krissy and his band of Regulars charged the stage, fighting off the bad guys, who turned out to be more howlers. There was no explanation as to why the howlers would want Christmas, but it didn’t matter. However, the Christmas tree and all the presents got trampled in the fray.
“OH NO! NOT CHRISTMAS! WHAT SHALL WE DO?” Little Adam melodramatically fell to his knees.
“Christmas isn’t about trees or presents.” Little Krissy said, accent forgotten again as he walked forward to place his hand on Little Adam’s shoulder. “It’s about celebrating the blessings of the past year together, with all your loved ones.”
“NEVER IN ALL MY YEARS OF RESEARCH HAD I DISCOVERED THIS. THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME ABOUT CHRISTMAS, FRIENDS!”
The group of Westport Regulars joined Krissy the Kid in mobbing Little Doctor Adam in a group hug, knocking him to the floor. Then the entire cast stood up, dead howlers included, and sang “Angels We Have Heard on High.”
Adam gave Kris’s hand a quick squeeze, and Kris looked over at him, surprised to see Adam’s eyes glittering a bit.
“I’m still not going to church, but Christmas really is okay. Spending time with loved ones and all that.” Adam said, gesturing to the singing bunch of children. “I’m happy they can look back on this year and feel blessed, considering what they’ve been through.”
“It’s thanks to you, you know.” Kris said, standing up to applaud.
“You might have had something to do with it.” Adam admitted. “Obviously I can barely take a step without someone kidnapping me.”
“Oh, Shush, they love you.” Kris said, and they did. Danny dragged Adam up on stage, where the kids presented him with a card.
“Thank you!” Adam said, letting his voice rise above the crowd. “And I hope to see you all very shortly at my home for Christmas Dinner.”
“Dinner?” Kris asked when Adam returned. “What else do you have planned? I half expect there to be a sleigh outside pulled by eight reindeer.”
“Don’t be foolish, Kristopher, Reindeer aren’t indigenous to the Dakotas.” Adam said, rolling his eyes.
***
“I’m so full.” Kris said, spread out on the couch. “I think I’m more full than I ever have been in my entire life. Lil outdid herself. She should meet my mother.”
Adam laughed, adding a little more brandy to his apple cider.
“Did you have a good Christmas?”
“The best.” Kris said, sighing happily. “How did you …manage all of this?”
Adam laughed.
“Santa had a few of his special little faeries help him”
“Elves, Adam. They’re called Elves.”
“Whatever. It was fun. Nice to have everyone together again, especially in a non-life threatening situation. Wish The Snoop coulda made it, but there wasn’t the time to get him here from DC.” The Snoop had accepted a position with the Washington Post, and his social schedule kept him busier than Adam could keep track of.
“Agreed.” Kris said, rising up off the sofa and stretching. “But speaking of the Snoop, I hope you’re not tired yet. I need to give you my present.”
“You got me something?” Adam said, almost dropping his cider. “But Kris, I don’t even…Christmas isn’t my…”
“You don’t get to protest nothing, Adam Lambert. Not after all of this.” Kris held up a finger and dashed out of the room. He returned a moment later with a large, flat package, and gestured for Adam to sit next to him. “I had Anoop send me this a few months back. Thought we could hang it somewhere.”
Adam carefully tore the corner of the package and peeled it back to reveal a mahogany frame, elaborately carved.
“I, uh, made the frame. My dad was pretty good with woodworking, taught me a bit before he died. He woulda done better, but this was…well, it was a way I could introduce you to him, sort of.”
“It’s beautiful. I’m so glad he passed his gift on to you. Though I’m sure you’re more like him then you know.” Adam squeezed Kris’s hand once before continuing to unwrap the simple brown paper.
Behind the glass was a photo, taken just after the President had awarded Adam and Kris with their medals. They were standing on the steps of the capitol, with important dignitaries and historical landmarks all around them, and yet they were looking at each other, as though no one else was anywhere near.
“He said they didn’t use this shot in the paper, but he wanted me to have it. Said he’s having someone draw it for his book and that he hopes the artist can capture the way we’re looking at each other. Do you see?”
Kris was looking up at Adam, the love between them palpable to anyone that cared to see it.
“Of course I do.” Adam said. “I see it every day.”
The snow was falling gently, the fire crackling and the world was a perfect blur as Kris brushed his vision clear. It didn’t matter that Adam didn’t really believe in the whole Christmas story. What Christmas truly celebrated was love. God’s love for the world, yes, but also love for one another. That sort of love wasn’t something that could be proven scientifically, nor preached by any religion. It had to come from within, and Kris knew that he had found it at last.
Kris bucked his hips hard, burning away the disappointment of the day like the trackless burns Devilstone. It was impossible to be upset when Adam was looking up at him, face at once determined and loving.
“Come on, Kristopher, come on.” Adam urged him on, and Kris forgot about everything except the feeling of the man inside him, of his knees grinding rough against the rug, of Adam’s smooth palm slicking over his cock. Kris could feel the sweat trickling down his back on his left side, too close to the fire, even as his right side tingled in the chilly air. He increased his pace, ignoring the ache in his muscles to soothe the ache that had settled low in his belly. It spread outward, filling even his fingertips with the driving need to feel Adam come undone, warm and wet inside his body.
It was close now, Kris could tell in the tensing of Adam’s hands, one still stroking at him, the other gripping his ass, fingers stretching towards the union of their bodies as if seeking proof, Adam ever the scientist. For Kris the feeling was enough, more than enough, beyond enough as he clenched hard around Adam, completely overtaken as the moment broke open. He collapsed against Adam’s chest, marveling in the warm glow of the fire feeling cold compared to Adam’s skin now as he rolled over and up onto his knees, leaving Kris to lay on his back
Adam angled him up and drove in again, pulling Kris’s hips towards him as though he could never get enough. Kris took it, limp beneath Adam’s hands except for the momentary tightening of muscle as the aftershocks of his orgasm blossomed with Adam’s redoubled effort. It didn’t take long. A minute more till Adam trembled and came, Kris’s name on his lips and the light of inspiration across his face the way it so often was in bed, just after his crisis came. Sometimes he shared his insight, other times he dressed and dashed off to the lab without a word, leaving Kris to laugh and fall asleep on his own.
This time, however, he just pulled Kris close, nuzzling his hair and kissing his head till the fire died down and Kris was forced to rise and feed it again, lest they lazily freeze to death
***
Adam knocked on the door as Glamour nickered angrily, stamping her legs in the snow and rolling her eyes. She hated the winter, but more than that she hated the cutter that was hitched behind her. Adam couldn’t help it, though, Conway was far too small to pull the small sleigh, so it had to be Glamour and Chocolate, who bore the duty silently and without complaint. Glamour tossed her head again, but stilled once Chocolate leaned over and nipped her on the cheek as if to say “stop being such a bitch.”
The door opened and Adam was pulled inside of the Sarver residence by two pair of hands, one set thick and strong while the other was dainty - if not quite feminine.
“Doc! Merry Christmas! If you, you know, believe in Christmas. Never seen you around the church. Thought maybe it were cause you never liked Reverend Gokey all that much but you seem to like him well enough now, after everything...”
“Shhh, honey. Just leave it at Merry Christmas.” Megan said, laying a hand on Mac’s shoulder. “Adam won’t take any offense.”
Adam grinned at his friends, happy that he could call them friends. Before Kristopher had arrived, he had barely interacted with anyone in Westport and now... now he could go visiting like anyone else and be welcome in any house in town.
“Actually, that’s why I dropped by. Christmas is in two days and I need some help. Kris and I were supposed to go back to Arkansas but the snow-“
“Trackless ain’t runnin.” Mac supplied as Megan ran to put the kettle on for coffee.
“Right. So I got it in my mind to give Kris a down-home Christmas, just like the ones he used to know. However, my experience in that department is sorely lacking so I set out today to gather some information, do a little research. “
“Well, I suppose you know about Santa.” Mac said, and Adam quirked an eyebrow. “Not that he’s real, you know, but you know that the spirit of Saint Nicholas is supposed to visit and bestow gifts onto all the children while they sleep.”
“Tell him about the orphans!” Megan called from the kitchen, and Mac flushed.
“Actually, Danny asked me to come by on Christmas morning and hand out gifts, dressed up like Santa Claus.” Mac reddened as Megan hooted in the kitchen.
“He’s a right jolly old elf!”
“She made me a suit and everything, complete with a stuffed belly.” Mac said, looking pleased and embarrassed at the same time.
“So, er. Santa. Got it. So I should sneak presents in the middle of the night and leave them where he’ll see them-“
“Beneath a TREE” Mac said, shaking his head. “Golly, I thought you were supposed to be some kind of genius.”
“We didn’t have Christmas in my family.” Adam admitted. “I grew up Jewish. My whole neighbourhood was Jewish. I went to Hebrew School and then off to university. I never really bothered myself with alternate belief systems. I mainly studied biology, chemistry...oh then there was geology and astronomy. Oooh, and physiology that was fun... Latin...”
“I don’t know what half those words mean, Doc, but they ain’t got shit to do with Christmas so you better put your listening cap on if you wanna do this right.” Mac interrupted, handing him a mug of coffee.
“In fact, I think there’s more to cover than the two of us can tell.” Megan said, settling down on the sofa. “Mac, honey, why don’t you go get Danny and Matt?”
“I oughta!” Mac agreed, rising fast. “That’ll be swell. Hell, with everything you two have done for us this is just the right thing to do. I’ll be right back. Honey, while I’m gone you should cover ornaments, popcorn balls, The Night Before Christmas, and stockings, alright?”
“And Mistletoe.” Megan said, quirking an eyebrow at Adam.
“What’s he need with mistletoe! They’re two men!” Mac guffawed, pulling on his boots. “Poor Kris is probably still heartbroke that the widow Jones didn’t stay around-“
“Times a-wastin, Mac!” Megan said, shooing her husband out into the cold. She turned to face Adam, laughing merrily.
“He’s a good man.” Megan shook her head. “A bit oblivious but a good man. So, where should we start?”
“Mistletoe sounds good. Let’s start with Mistletoe.” Adam returned her grin, settling back on the wing chair. It was good to have friends.
***
“But I don’t understand! Why aren’t you coming along?” It was Christmas eve and Adam had pressed a ticket to the Westport Children’s Fund Christmas Benefit concert into Kris’s hand.
“I have work to do in the lab.” Adam protested, handing Kris a clean white shirt and a cranberry colored waistcoat and tie.
“On Christmas Eve?” Kris whined, looking at the clothing curiously. “Where did you get this?”
“Oh please, Kristopher, you’ve had that for ages. I got it for you in Washington DC, remember?”
Kris didn’t remember, but he didn’t want to appear ungrateful so he mumbled “Oh Yeah.” And slid the outfit on. The trousers - he definitely would have remembered those trousers. They were gray wool with a cranberry hatch pattern.
“You look delicious.” Adam pronounced, and Kris looked himself over in the mirror. He had never been one to take pride in his appearance, but since meeting Adam…that had changed. He’d never be vain, but if he took a little longer fixing his hair or shaved a little more frequently it had a profound impact on they way Adam looked at him. Kris had decided he liked the hungry look in his lover’s eyes, and so he had begun to take a little more care in the way he presented himself.
“Thank you.” Kris said, fussing over the way his hair always wanted to stand up in back. He dipped his fingers into the pomade that Adam kept on the dresser and smoothed it over his hair, managing to tame the fuzz.
“You need your coat and hat.” Adam said, holding out a long gray wool over coat and a matching gray top hat. Kris looked at him quizzically - he had certainly never seen these accessories before, but didn’t question. “Oh. One more thing.” Adam retrieved a box from the top drawer of his dresser.
“I don’t know much about Christmas, but I was pretty sure there was something to do with presents.” He said by way of explanation. Kris felt his eyes pricking as he took the box.
“You didn’t need to get me anything, Adam. You got those plane tickets, and you pay for everything, all the time. And you don’t even celebrate Christmas.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t try.” Adam said, sitting on the bed and patting the comforter next to him. “Open it.”
Kris did, and gasped when he lifted the lid. Nestled amidst a cranberry silk handkerchief was a silver pocket watch. The lid was smooth, brushed metal with a single line of blue running vertically through the center, reminiscent of their rings.
“Adam…” Kris mumbled, taking the watch out and opening it. The first thing he noticed was the face, elegant copperplate numbers, silver on a black field. He looked again, though, and saw the inscription carved into the back of the lid.
More constant than time,
The beating of your heart
At one with mine.
A. L.
12-24-1886
Kris pulled Adam close and kissed him as though he could draw breath from Adam’s mouth alone.
“Shhh. You’ll muss your new Christmas outfit.”
“New?” Kris said, laughing.
“You caught me. Forgive the white lie. So far I like Christmas, by the way. You get dressed nice and throw yourself at me. Excellent holiday.”
“You’re sure you won’t come?” Kris begged, and Adam kissed him again on the nose.
“You need to be off if you’re going to make it in time to pick up Allison and Matt on the other side of town. Maybe I’ll finish up early and surprise you.”
“Assuming Glamour doesn’t run the cutter into a tree to rid herself of me.” Kris laughed, letting Adam shoo him out the door.
“Chocolate will keep her in line. Besides, I told her no oats unless you come home in one piece.” Adam teased, smiling fondly at the beautiful picture Kris presented, standing in the snow in front of the cutter. He tucked a warm blanket around Kris, ignoring his indignant protests that it wasn’t that cold out. “Stay warm. See you later.” Kris pulled him down for another kiss, this one soft and chaste.
“I love you.” He said simply, wondering what Adam could be working on that would keep him from Kris’s side.
***
The cutter was scarcely out of site before Adam was wading through the snow towards the lab, where he had been working feverishly on the formula for the perfect Christmas. He had a tree already cut and standing in a bucket of water. Strings of popcorn and cranberries were dangling from every rafter - he didn’t know how much he’d need. Megan had been unspecific.
He made several trips back and forth, decorating as fast as he could with unpracticed hands. All too soon, Lil arrived with enough food to feed an army.
“You sure he didn’t see you?” Adam said, wringing his hands as Lil unloaded apple pie after apple pie.
“I took the back way. Not to worry. Ugh. Lift this.” She handed him a large platter. “It’s a glazed ham. You need a ham or it’s not Christmas. Christmas is all about the food.”
“Ham. Pies. Got it. Will we have enough for everyone?” Adam said, looking over the feast now sitting on the table.”
“Honey, there’s more in the back. What kind of fool do you take me for? I had 5 widows and 4 little gals helping me all morning. Pick up that pot, that’s the cider. It goes on the hook by the kitchen fire.”
Adam hurriedly helped her unpack, and she took a few moments to rearrange some of the decorations in the parlor so that they made more sense.
“Mistletoe goes here.” She said, hanging it in the doorway.
“Oh, I see.” Adam said, leaning forward and pecking her on the cheek. “Merry Christmas, Mama Lil.”
“Never thought I’d see the day.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “Now we better be off. If I miss one note of O, Little Town those babies are gonna cry their eyes out.”
“Five minutes. I just need to change.” Adam pleaded, dashing to the bedroom to flip into his deep green and ivory suit.
“Adam, it was five minutes five minutes ago!” Lil hollered from the parlor, rearranging the gifts under the tree.
“I don’t know why this surprises you.” Adam shouted back, laughing as he stumbled into the room, still buttoning his waistcoat. “Do I look alright?”
“Like a Christmas Goose. Of course you look alright, Adam. You look happier than I’ve ever seen you.”
“Thanks, Mama Lil. I…I wish Scott could be here, though.” Adam said, looking around at the decorations a bit sadly. “All those years and I never thought to celebrate Christmas with the two of you - I just bought him a train ticket and didn’t think twice. I wish he could see all of this.”
“He is here, honey.” She said, patting his arm as they ventured out into the snow.
***
Kris had his suspicions when he was handed a small blue program, which looked as though it had been handwritten by a five year-old. It was quite possible that the five year old who handed him the program was the author as well.
“A Devilstone Christmas!” Was scrawled on the front, and beneath that there was a stick drawing of a man in a cowboy hat pointing a gun at some sort of wild beast, while a taller man in a top hat seemed to be waving his little stick-arms around wildly.
“You know anything about this?” Kris asked, holding the program up for Matt and Allison to see. They both shrugged and giggled, allowing themselves to be led away to their seats.
His suspicions were confirmed when he was led by a girl with long braids to the very front row.
“Our other special guest will be along presentsly!” She proclaimed proudly before running back to her post by the front door.
Sure enough, the same little girl appeared moments later, holding hands with Dr. Lambert, who looked a bit outlandish in his green coat and hat. Kris almost forgot himself when he rose, wanting to continue right where they left off and kiss him again, but Adam held out his hand for a cordial handshake.
“Doctor.” Kris said, nodding
“Arkansas.” Adam returned, taking the seat next to him. “Hmm, you think they could have drawn me in a more dignified manner since I funded this littler pageant. I’ll have to speak with Danny cutting their budget next year.”
“You funded a Christmas pageant?” Kris said, goggling at him.
“What’s Christmas without pageants?” Adam said, laughing. “Though I regret giving Matty artistic control already.”
“Oh…no…” Kris said, blushing. “If the whole town joins in singing “Krissy the Kid” I will kill him. I will ride him out into the Fragments and let the belltollers have him. Or The Crater. He can be a howler.”
“Shh. It’s starting.” Adam said, jostling him in the side as, one by one, the bluefire lights were removed from the room.
A little boy, no more than seven, took the stage in a brown vest and white hat, riding a stick-horse.
“Woooah there Conway!” The little boy shouted. “I think I see someone in trouble.” He looked off into the wings.
“I said I THINK I SEE SOMEONE IN TROUBLE.”
A group of kids wearing fur costumes entered from stage left, dragging a taller boy with dark hair and a top hat.
“LET ME GO, I’M WORLD FAMOUS SCIENTIST DR. ADAM LAMBERT!” The child shouted. “DON’T YOU HOWLERS KNOW WHO I AM?”
(“Very realistic dialogue.” Kris mumbled to Adam, who jabbed him in the ribs again.)
“PEW PEW PEW!” Little Krissy shouted, pulling wooden six-shooters from the holsters at his sides. They were not very good gunfire sounds, but it didn’t matter. The howler-children all obediently fell down, having been killed dead.
“Thank you, Thank you!” Little Adam said, trying to bow while Little Krissy untied him. “I would have been howler meat!”
“You’re safe with me, Dr. Lambert!” Little Krissy said, taking his hand. “I’m Arkansas the Gunman!”
“ARKANSAS THE GUNMAN!” Little Adam shouted. Little Adam had the propensity to deliver his lines rather loudly and dramatically. “JUST WHO I WAS LOOKING FOR. WE’VE BEEN ROBBED!”
“You’ve been robbed?” Little Krissy repeated. “By who?”
“I BETTER LET THE OTHERS EXPLAIN!” Little Adam said, with a dramatic flourish as Matty struck up the piano. The rest of the children filed on stage, dressed as various Westport Citizens. Kris recognized a little version of Mac Sarver, a gold star pinned to his chest, and a miniature Allison, with a wig made of pink yarn.
“Oh little town of West port
How still we see the liiiiie!
Because someone stole Christmas Eve
Didn’t leave a siiingle pie.
We asked good Dr. Lambert
A hero for to fiiind
So he set out a-looking
For one he had in mind!”
“Hold on thur, paaartner!” Little Krissy said, apparently only just remembering he was supposed to be speaking in accent. “Y’all said someone stole Christmas?”
“I’VE CALCULATED THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A HAPPY CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR. AND IT’S ALMOST NIL!”
(“They know you don’t really do the whole Jesus-thing, right?” Kris asked.
“Artistic license.” Adam mumbled. “It’s for fun, it doesn’t have to be realistic.”)
The play continued, with Little Adam being kidnapped half a dozen times until he finally infiltrated a secret camp and used some ingenious device intended to signal Kris from afar.
“I really should invent that.” Adam said, clearly admiring the children’s bold idea.
Then, Little Krissy and his band of Regulars charged the stage, fighting off the bad guys, who turned out to be more howlers. There was no explanation as to why the howlers would want Christmas, but it didn’t matter. However, the Christmas tree and all the presents got trampled in the fray.
“OH NO! NOT CHRISTMAS! WHAT SHALL WE DO?” Little Adam melodramatically fell to his knees.
“Christmas isn’t about trees or presents.” Little Krissy said, accent forgotten again as he walked forward to place his hand on Little Adam’s shoulder. “It’s about celebrating the blessings of the past year together, with all your loved ones.”
“NEVER IN ALL MY YEARS OF RESEARCH HAD I DISCOVERED THIS. THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME ABOUT CHRISTMAS, FRIENDS!”
The group of Westport Regulars joined Krissy the Kid in mobbing Little Doctor Adam in a group hug, knocking him to the floor. Then the entire cast stood up, dead howlers included, and sang “Angels We Have Heard on High.”
Adam gave Kris’s hand a quick squeeze, and Kris looked over at him, surprised to see Adam’s eyes glittering a bit.
“I’m still not going to church, but Christmas really is okay. Spending time with loved ones and all that.” Adam said, gesturing to the singing bunch of children. “I’m happy they can look back on this year and feel blessed, considering what they’ve been through.”
“It’s thanks to you, you know.” Kris said, standing up to applaud.
“You might have had something to do with it.” Adam admitted. “Obviously I can barely take a step without someone kidnapping me.”
“Oh, Shush, they love you.” Kris said, and they did. Danny dragged Adam up on stage, where the kids presented him with a card.
“Thank you!” Adam said, letting his voice rise above the crowd. “And I hope to see you all very shortly at my home for Christmas Dinner.”
“Dinner?” Kris asked when Adam returned. “What else do you have planned? I half expect there to be a sleigh outside pulled by eight reindeer.”
“Don’t be foolish, Kristopher, Reindeer aren’t indigenous to the Dakotas.” Adam said, rolling his eyes.
***
“I’m so full.” Kris said, spread out on the couch. “I think I’m more full than I ever have been in my entire life. Lil outdid herself. She should meet my mother.”
Adam laughed, adding a little more brandy to his apple cider.
“Did you have a good Christmas?”
“The best.” Kris said, sighing happily. “How did you …manage all of this?”
Adam laughed.
“Santa had a few of his special little faeries help him”
“Elves, Adam. They’re called Elves.”
“Whatever. It was fun. Nice to have everyone together again, especially in a non-life threatening situation. Wish The Snoop coulda made it, but there wasn’t the time to get him here from DC.” The Snoop had accepted a position with the Washington Post, and his social schedule kept him busier than Adam could keep track of.
“Agreed.” Kris said, rising up off the sofa and stretching. “But speaking of the Snoop, I hope you’re not tired yet. I need to give you my present.”
“You got me something?” Adam said, almost dropping his cider. “But Kris, I don’t even…Christmas isn’t my…”
“You don’t get to protest nothing, Adam Lambert. Not after all of this.” Kris held up a finger and dashed out of the room. He returned a moment later with a large, flat package, and gestured for Adam to sit next to him. “I had Anoop send me this a few months back. Thought we could hang it somewhere.”
Adam carefully tore the corner of the package and peeled it back to reveal a mahogany frame, elaborately carved.
“I, uh, made the frame. My dad was pretty good with woodworking, taught me a bit before he died. He woulda done better, but this was…well, it was a way I could introduce you to him, sort of.”
“It’s beautiful. I’m so glad he passed his gift on to you. Though I’m sure you’re more like him then you know.” Adam squeezed Kris’s hand once before continuing to unwrap the simple brown paper.
Behind the glass was a photo, taken just after the President had awarded Adam and Kris with their medals. They were standing on the steps of the capitol, with important dignitaries and historical landmarks all around them, and yet they were looking at each other, as though no one else was anywhere near.
“He said they didn’t use this shot in the paper, but he wanted me to have it. Said he’s having someone draw it for his book and that he hopes the artist can capture the way we’re looking at each other. Do you see?”
Kris was looking up at Adam, the love between them palpable to anyone that cared to see it.
“Of course I do.” Adam said. “I see it every day.”
The snow was falling gently, the fire crackling and the world was a perfect blur as Kris brushed his vision clear. It didn’t matter that Adam didn’t really believe in the whole Christmas story. What Christmas truly celebrated was love. God’s love for the world, yes, but also love for one another. That sort of love wasn’t something that could be proven scientifically, nor preached by any religion. It had to come from within, and Kris knew that he had found it at last.