Fic: Mistletoe (or, Sam's Best Christmas Ever)
Title: Mistletoe (or, Sam's Best Christmas Ever)
Author: Mary (stillxmyxheart)
Beta: Lindsay (nylana)
Rating: G
Genre: Fluff, tiny bit of UST
Word Count: 5,616
Characters/Pairings: Sam, April, Simon, Nathan (Sam/April, Simon/April)
Summary: Sam spends Christmas with the Gates family.
A/N: Merry Christmas, guys! This is an expansion of a scene from Catching Up, the last Christmas before the events of the main arc, which Sam spends with Nathan and Simon and April. This is pure holiday fluff, apoca!fic style, and I would also like to point out that this is our 50th posted fic! I hope you guys enjoy it, and have a wonderful Christmas (or a fantastic weekend, if you don't celebrate) ♥
Sam hurries up the steps to Nathan's porch, scowling as he hands the small bag in his hand to one of the agents behind him and brushes snow from his hair. He jabs the doorbell with his finger and tugs his scarf from around his neck, shaking it out and swiping a hand over his shoulders, sending more white powder to the floor of the porch.
His eyes are on his shoes when the door opens and the very first thing he sees is a pair of bare feet with bright red painted toenails.
His eyes drift up legs clad in black dress pants and over a red curve-hugging sweater before his gaze reaches April's face and he raises an eyebrow at her wide grin.
"What are you doing in bare feet in the middle of winter?"
She gives him a look. "Shut up, I'm inside."
Sam smirks and takes the bag from the Secret Service agent as April opens the door wider for him to come inside.
He sets the bag on the table beside the door and turns to hang his coat and scarf next to the ones already on the wall, and when he turns back to face April she steps forward and slips her arms around his neck.
"I'm glad you came," she says, her voice slightly muffled by his sweater.
He grins, overcoming his surprise and hugging her back, his fingers disappearing momentarily into the soft curls that tumble down her back and relishing the feel of the silky strands.
"Where else would I be?" he replies, taking a breath and inhaling the scent of her perfume. There's something else mixed in, something warm and vaguely spicy. "Harrison's out in California with Evan and Penny, getting to know the in-laws."
April grins as she pulls away and Sam immediately misses her nearness.
"You smell like cinnamon," he says as she lifts the bag from the table and carries it into the living room.
April laughs, glancing back over her shoulder at him. "You can still smell it? I baked the pies today, but that was hours ago."
Sam just smiles and watches as she pulls the presents out, kneeling to add them to the ones already under the tree. He stares at the way her sweater rises up, revealing the smallest hint of bare skin. There's a vague sort of tingling in his stomach and he closes his eyes for a moment, shaking his head and thinking that now is definitely not the time.
April straightens and adjusts her sweater, pulling it snug over her hips as she walks back to Sam.
"C'mon," she says, "Frick and Frack are in the kitchen."
Sam snorts laughter and April grins as they start down the hall.
They can hear the sounds of arguing as they get nearer to the kitchen and walk in to see Nathan waving a towel at Simon as he snatches a bowl away from him.
"For Christ's sake, son, dinner will be ready in less than twenty minutes, can't you wait?"
"No," Simon says mulishly.
"Don't you feed him?" Nathan asks, turning his gaze to April.
"Only when he behaves," she replies, grinning as she steps forward to lean against the island.
"So that's a no, then," Nathan says, smirking as he turns his attention to a pot on the stove.
Simon grabs a fork and leans across the island, stabbing it into the casserole dish of dressing.
April shakes her head warningly just as Nathan turns around and she raises a hand to her mouth to stifle her giggle as Nathan brings the wooden spoon in his hand across the back of Simon's.
"Ow!" Simon exclaims, the fork slipping from his fingers with a clatter.
Nathan just gives him a look and Simon looks beseechingly at April.
She shakes her head again, holding up her hand. "Don't look at me. He told you not to."
Simon scowls and April grins as she extends her hand, reaching for Simon's discarded bite of dressing.
Nathan stops what he's doing and watches the progress of April's hand as she brings it to her mouth. He raises an eyebrow at her and she smiles sweetly as Simon makes an indignant noise.
"Okay, how come she doesn't get smacked with a bloody wooden spoon?" he asks irritably.
"There's a point," Nathan says, advancing towards April.
She shakes her head, pointing a finger at Nathan. "Don't you dare," she says, starting to back away.
Nathan's quicker than she is and grabs hold of her arm at the same time as he brings the wooden spoon across her backside. April jumps and squeals and then dissolves into giggles as she pulls away from Nathan, swatting his arm as he steps away from her, laughing too.
"Happy now?" he asks, raising his eyebrows at Simon.
"Not exactly," Simon replies wryly.
April grins and walks around the island towards Simon as Nathan turns to look at Sam, who has been watching the display before him with an arched eyebrow and a not small desire to be the one with the wooden spoon.
"It's like having two children instead of just one," he says, shaking his head.
"Which makes that really quite disgusting," Sam replies, smirking as April leans forward to touch her lips to Simon's.
"Whose side are you on?" April asks, twisting to look at Sam as Simon slips an arm around her waist and pulls her to him for another kiss.
"I'm like Switzerland," Sam says demurely, and then pauses. "If Switzerland were still around," he adds.
Simon and April laugh as the corner of Nathan's mouth lifts in a grin. He gives a pot on the stove a quick stir before stepping over to the oven and cracking the door.
"Why don't you make yourself useful, old man, and set the table?" Nathan says, glancing at Sam as he moves back to the stove.
Sam rolls his eyes, ignoring Nathan's grin as he steps from the kitchen.
He opens the china cupboard in the dining room and pulls out four place settings, setting them carefully on the table before opening a drawer to take out some napkins.
He glances up when he notices movement and watches as April sweeps into the living room, leaning over the coffee table to pick up two mugs. He freezes in the act of laying a knife down as her hair falls over her shoulder and she transfers the mug in her right hand to her left so she can toss her hair back. It catches the firelight, glowing brilliantly, and Sam feels his breath hitch in his throat as he stares at her.
She straightens to move back to the kitchen and Sam lowers his eyes to the table, frowning slightly as he tries to focus on the task at hand.
He's just about to set down the last fork when he hears footsteps again and looks up to see Simon and April walk into the living room. There's a slightly playful look on Simon's face and Sam watches as April turns to face him.
"I thought you wanted to wait," she says, lips twitching as she tries to keep from smiling.
"Changed my mind," Simon replies, extending a small wrapped package to her and grinning when she takes it.
There's a muted tear as she tugs the paper off and she drops it onto the coffee table before she opens the box. A bright smile crosses her face and Sam feels a small pang in his heart.
"Oh, Simon, it's beautiful," she breathes, reaching into the box and pulling out a necklace. Sam can't quite make out the shape of the pendant from where he is, but it sparkles brilliantly in the light as April holds it up.
Simon smiles and takes the necklace from her, moving to stand behind her. He carefully lifts her hair out of the way and drapes the necklace around her neck, a small frown knitting his brow as he fiddles with the clasp.
"This is sort of why I wanted you to wear this sweater," he says, his face clearing once the chain is securely fastened. He lets her hair go, carefully running his fingers through it before moving back around to face her.
He grins down at her just as Nathan calls from the kitchen, and Simon starts to move away but April grips the front of his shirt, pulling him back to her. She tugs him down and presses her lips to his, her grip relaxing on his shirt as his hand rests on her hip.
She smiles when the kiss breaks and raises her hand to Simon's cheek, resting her forehead against his.
"Thank you," she whispers, just loud enough for Sam to hear. Her smile widens. "I love you."
Simon grins and touches his lips to hers once more before he replies. "I love you too."
April's hand slides down Simon's arm and their fingers weave together as they turn to head back to the kitchen.
Sam looks down at the fork in his hand, staring blankly at it for a moment before he finally lays it down.
He can feel jealousy simmering within him, low and deep, and he gives an impatient sigh.
"Stop it," he hisses irritably to himself. "Just stop it right now."
He gathers together the four glasses on the table and carries them into the kitchen to fill them with water.
"There's wine, if you and April want it," Nathan says when he enters.
"Sounds about right," Sam mutters under his breath as he begins to fill the glasses.
Once he's finished, he takes the bottle and tucks it under his arm before carefully pinching the edges of the water glasses between his fingers, two in each hand, the corkscrew hooked over his pinky and clinking gently against the side of a glass.
"Do you want some?" he asks April as he starts to leave the room.
She nods, smiling at him, and then frowns slightly. "Let me help you."
Before he can protest, she steps forward and eases two of the water glasses from his hand, leaving him free to walk to the dining room without the threat of breaking Nathan's good glasses and possibly shattering a bottle of wine all over his floor.
He reaches the dining room a second after April does, but she's already set her glasses down and is reaching into the china cabinet for two wine glasses.
He sets the last two water glasses in front of their plates and then busies himself with opening the bottle of wine. The cork slips free with a squeaky pop and Sam sets it on the table before taking the wine glasses from April.
He fills them both halfway and sets the bottle down, handing one glass to April while keeping one for him.
He takes a sip of the deep red wine and raises an eyebrow.
"Nathan may not be able to drink it anymore, but he still knows how to pick it," he murmurs appreciably, glancing up at April when she laughs softly.
He can see her necklace now, a delicate gold heart with small rubies fixed to one curved side, and he has to give Simon credit for his taste as well.
Nathan calls from the kitchen again and Sam and April set their glasses down as they turn to leave the room.
A short while later the four of them are seated at the table, Nathan at the head with Simon and April on one side and Sam on the other.
"Are you happy now?" April asks, watching Simon load up his plate.
Simon nods, smiling broadly, and April grins as she leans towards him to press a kiss to his cheek.
The conversation bounces from Evan and Penny's recent wedding, to policy changes to be enacted in the New Year, to the recent whispers of the possibility of someone attempting to force Harrison into a reelection; the last of these April summarily disregards as bullshit, eliciting smirks from all three men.
A heavy silence soon descends over the room and Nathan leans back in his chair, lacing his fingers together on his stomach and frowning lightly at the table.
"I know I made too much food when there's still some left over." He turns his gaze to Simon. "You feeling all right?"
"Shut up, Dad," Simon says, laughing as he drops his napkin onto the table.
April giggles and Nathan laughs, and Sam smiles complacently as he watches the three of them, so much like family that he'd think anyone who tried to deny it was probably blind, or just completely dense.
April's sitting with one leg pulled up against her body, leaning towards Simon slightly, her glass of wine held in one hand while her other is under the table, and Sam knows she and Simon are holding hands.
Every time he's around Simon and April, he's always reminded, quite forcibly and whether he wants to be or not, of how much they love each other. It's written all over them, in the air around them. It's in the way they both light up whenever they see each other and the way they always seem to gravitate to each other when they're in the same room, in the way he looks at her sometimes, like he almost can't believe she's real, and in the way she leans so heavily against him, trusting implicitly that he won't let her fall. It's big things and little things, and he thinks the only two people he's ever seen before who loved each other that much were Nathan and Emily.
It's a trait Simon shares with his father, that capacity to love so deeply and so intensely, and Sam has to admit that he's glad April has that, because it's everything she deserves.
Sam's pulled from his thoughts when Nathan stands, taking a breath as he stares at the table.
"Who wants dessert?" he asks, and laughs when April groans, pressing her face to Simon's arm.
Sam shakes his head when Nathan looks at him, and is utterly unsurprised when Simon lifts the hand that's holding April's, looking hopefully up at his father. April giggles, tugging Simon's hand down as Nathan shakes his head.
"We'll clear the table and open presents so that those of us with normal metabolisms can have a chance to digest, and then we'll do dessert. Okay?"
Nathan raises his eyebrows at his son and Simon heaves a sigh. "Fine."
April grins and slips her arm around his shoulders, giving him a squeeze as she leans over to kiss his cheek.
They clear the table and then move into the living room, where Nathan settles in his usual chair while Sam and April sit side by side on the couch and Simon perches on the edge of the coffee table to pass out presents.
Almost as soon as Simon sits down Nathan jumps up and excuses himself, disappearing for a moment before returning with a small envelope in his hand, which he gives to April.
She looks at him, mildly confused, and he nods at her as he sits back down.
"Open it," he says.
The corner of her mouth lifts slightly as she slips her finger under the envelope flap and pulls out the card. The cover is blank and April frowns slightly as she glances up at Nathan. A smile plays on his lips and he nods to her again.
Sam and Simon have both abandoned their current gift opening pursuits in order to watch what's going on and as April opens the card, a picture flutters to her lap.
She picks it up and stares at it for a moment before raising her gaze to Nathan again.
"Okay, I give up. What is it?"
Nathan laughs slightly and points to the picture. "That is your new office. New desk, new chair, paint on the walls that's not been there twenty years already. It's ready and waiting for when you come in on Monday."
April looks down at the picture and then back at Nathan, seemingly at a complete loss for words.
"I have been asking Harrison for this for years," she says finally and Nathan laughs again.
"I know. I figured it was about time you had it."
April stares at the picture for another moment before standing and stepping over to Nathan. She bends and slips her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
"Thank you," she murmurs.
Nathan smiles when she pulls away and raises his hand to her face, his fingers disappearing momentarily in her hair as he presses a kiss to her forehead.
Sam and Simon exchange a look as April returns to her seat, and Simon clears his throat once she's settled beside Sam again.
"This -" he begins, but April interrupts him, staring intently at the picture.
"Wait, this is a picture of my office, right?" she asks, and Nathan nods. "So where are all my files?"
Nathan grins. "You see all those filing cabinets against the back wall there? That's for you to go through all of those files and clean them up and put them where they belong."
"So I think what he means," Sam says, turning a sly grin towards April, "is that you should use organization the rest of us can understand."
Sam and Nathan laugh and April's cheeks color as she nudges Sam's arm, smiling sheepishly. She looks at Simon, who's grinning broadly, and points a warning finger at him.
"I was only going to give you this," he says, laughing and trying to look innocent. "It's from Sam," he says, handing her a rectangular package that's about the same size as a book, though she can tell immediately that it's not once she takes it from him.
"I don't suppose it's as nice as a new office," Sam says, throwing Nathan a look and receiving one in return, "but I hope you like it anyway."
April smiles as she tears at the paper, pulling it free to reveal a small box. She pulls off the lid and lays the tissue paper aside, and a gasp of delight escapes her when she sees what's inside.
"Oh, Sam, it's beautiful," she says, setting the box aside as she pulls out the emerald green cashmere scarf. "And my favorite color, too," she adds as she raises it to her cheek, her smile widening as she rubs the soft fabric over her skin.
"I know," Sam says simply, smiling at her obvious pleasure and feeling a tiny fluttering in his chest when she leans over to hug him.
"I thought red was your favorite color?" Simon says abruptly. "Like me."
April pulls away from Sam to look at Simon, noticing the frown creasing his brow.
"I like red," she replies, "but I like green just a little bit more."
"Oh," Simon says, his frown deepening and threatening to become a scowl.
"Hey," April says, leaning forward and tugging him to her by the front of his shirt. "I like both. Who says you can't have two favorite colors?"
Simon's expression relaxes and April kisses him before letting him go. He turns his attention back to the tree and April grins at Sam, running her fingers absently over the scarf in her lap as she shakes her head. Sam has to raise a hand to his mouth to stifle the laugh that threatens to escape and Nathan just shakes his head, smirking.
"This one's from, um, us," Simon says, handing Sam a heavy wrapped package and tugging on his earlobe, a dead giveaway that April is the one who bought it and Simon just added his name.
Not that this bothers Sam. He and Simon have never been particularly close, even when Simon was a kid and especially not during his years of delinquency and addiction, and Sam would've been surprised to receive a gift that was just from him.
He takes the present from Simon, tearing the paper and tugging it off, revealing a brown leather book with the upcoming year inscribed on the front and his name scripted in the lower right corner.
"It's a datebook," April says, smiling a little nervously as she watches Sam. "I thought maybe you'd like something a little nicer to keep track of all of your appointments and meetings and - and everything."
He runs his fingers over the soft leather cover and brushes his thumb over the inscription of his name, knowing how much thought she must have put into this and feeling such an unbearable swelling of love and longing that he can't quite look at her.
"Do you like it?" she asks, and he can hear the uncertainty in her voice. "If not, I can -"
"No," he says quickly, finally glancing up at her. "It's wonderful, thank you, April. And Simon," he adds, turning his gaze to the younger man.
Simon flashes him a smile, still tugging on his ear, and waves his hand.
"I think that's all the presents," Nathan says a few minutes later once the activity's died down, pushing to his feet. "Think it's time for pie."
"Yes, now that you've ruined any gift we might ever give to April in the future," Sam says sardonically, eyeing Nathan as he leans forward to carefully place the datebook on the coffee table.
"Yeah, Dad," Simon agrees, looking a little put out.
"Stop it, the both of you," April says, folding her scarf and laying it back in the box, placing the card and picture from Nathan on top. "I love everything you guys gave me. I wasn't aware this was a competition to see who could give me the best gift."
"But if it were -" Nathan begins, a cheeky grin spreading across his face.
"You just hush," April interrupts, pointing a finger at him and raising her eyebrows.
Sam and Simon laugh as Nathan pretends to look indignant for a moment before he grins, reaching to touch Sam's shoulder.
"Come help."
Sam nods and stands, following Nathan to the kitchen.
"So you had her entire office redone," Sam says, watching as Nathan pulls the pies from the microwave.
Nathan shrugs, pulling a knife from a drawer and nudging it closed with his hip.
"She's had that other stuff since she started, and it wasn't new then. It's been almost eight years; I figured it was about time she got a decent looking office."
"You spoil her," Sam says, leaning against the island and staring intently at his friend.
"Oh, like you wouldn't," Nathan retorts, frowning as he slices into each pie.
Sam opens his mouth to speak but finds he doesn't know how to respond and Nathan smirks as he glances up at him.
"Go see if they want coffee," he says, licking a bit of apple pie off of his thumb as he turns towards the cupboards.
Sam nods and pushes off the counter, glancing back as Nathan adds, "And tell April I'm out of cream."
Sam nods again and turns his head just in time to see April moving down the hall towards him, her head turned slightly as she listens to something Simon's saying.
They collide and Sam grips April's arms, taking a step back in an effort to keep from knocking her over. She stumbles a little and her fingers grip his sweater as she tries to maintain her balance.
She looks up at him when they're finally steady, an apologetic grin on her face.
"Sorry," she says.
"It's all right," Sam replies, smiling at her.
They let go of each other and step away, both starting to move out of the doorway when Nathan speaks.
"Wait a minute!" he exclaims, and Sam and April look over at him. Nathan gestures wordlessly with the knife in his hand, raising his eyebrows as he points to the doorway.
Sam and April look up and there's a sinking feeling in Sam's stomach when he sees the mistletoe affixed to the top of the frame.
"Really, Nathan?" April says, glancing over at him.
"I don't make the rules," he says, raising his eyebrows and placing his hands against his chest as his shoulders rise in a shrug, feigning innocence.
April shakes her head and looks back up at Sam, her lips curved very slightly.
"You don't have to," he says quietly.
"I know," April replies, and then smiles as she places her hand on Sam's shoulder, rising on her toes to press a soft kiss to his cheek.
He feels the flutter in his heart again and it's all he can do to keep his hand from rising to her waist and pulling her to him.
April sinks back flat on her feet, though her hand remains on Sam's shoulder, and looks at Nathan. "Happy now?"
"Enraptured," he replies with a grin, and April rolls her eyes.
"You and Simon want coffee?" he says, glancing over at the brewing pot.
April nods and starts to go when Nathan tells her about the cream.
"Milk's fine," she says, and turns to leave the room, smiling up at Sam as her hand leaves his shoulder. Her fingers brush against his and he has to resist the urge to catch them with his own.
He's not aware of moving until his back hits the door frame and he closes his eyes for a moment, trying to calm the pounding of his heart.
He looks over at Nathan when he hears him laugh softly and shakes his head at his friend's knowing grin.
"Oh, shut up," he says, the corner of his mouth rising as he steps back into the kitchen.
It's sometime later that Sam's on the couch, having been shooed out of the kitchen when he tried to help clean up. The TV's on, airing the 2035 remake of It's a Wonderful Life. It's not a particular favorite of Sam's, but it's turned into one of those Christmas traditions that he can't find a good enough reason to argue with, and he can't be arsed to get up and get the remote anyway.
He hears soft footsteps and looks up to see April step around the couch.
"Mind if I join you?" she asks, smiling down at him. "Nathan kicked me out too. Simon's still in there, sneaking leftovers under the pretense of helping."
Sam laughs slightly. "Not at all," he says, returning her smile and shifting so she can slip through the space between the coffee table and his legs.
"See you've gone back to wine," he says once she's settled beside him, one leg tucked underneath her, nodding at the glass in her hand.
"So have you," she replies, raising an eyebrow at him.
He laughs softly. "Well, it'll just go to waste."
April grins and nods. "You'll have to take the rest with you, though. I think this is my last glass," she says, and then stifles a yawn as if to elaborate her point.
Sam smiles again and they slip into an easy silence to watch the rest of the movie.
It's just before the credits roll that April's head drops onto Sam's shoulder. He startles and glances over at her, almost afraid to breathe when he sees that she's sound asleep. She's so very close and he can see each individual eyelash, long and dark against her fair cheeks. Her lips are parted very slightly, full and red, and if he were a lesser man, and if Simon weren't in the other room, he would give in to the sudden urge he has to kiss her.
He looks away and takes a slow, steadying breath, trying to decide if he should wake her or not. He's not really in any rush to leave, especially not now, and he can hear the sound of talking and the clink of dishes from the kitchen, and it doesn't sound like Simon and Nathan are winding down either.
His arm is stretched along the back of the couch and he wonders if he would be crossing a line if he put it around her shoulders.
He's still mulling it over when he hears footsteps and looks up to see Nathan enter the room.
Nathan takes one look at the two of them and a broad grin appears on his face.
"I'd wake her up if I were you. She's a bit clingy, that one."
Sam gives Nathan a look and his grin widens as he bends and picks up Sam's empty wine glass from the coffee table.
"You're about to end up with wine in your lap, and I'm not washing your pants," he says, pointing to the glass tipping precariously in April's hand before striding from the room.
Sam eases it carefully from her fingers and leans forward to place it on the coffee table, and as he's settling back in his seat, April shifts suddenly. She pulls her other leg up, tucking it underneath her as well, and curls into his side as her arm slides across his stomach. She burrows her face into the space between his shoulder and his neck, sighing contentedly as she settles.
Sam stares at her, his heart pounding in his chest as he once again contemplates waking her.
Not that he isn't thrilled to have her this close, pleased that she's so comfortable with him that she can let herself be this vulnerable around him, but his damn sense of propriety has a habit of getting in the way and right now it's telling him to try and loosen her hold on him, to wake her up and reestablish the boundary he's always so careful to keep between them.
He contemplates her a moment longer and then the corner of his mouth curls upward.
"To hell with it," he says quietly and lets his arm settle around her, holding her to him and smiling when her fingers lightly grip his sweater.
He realizes he's dozed off when the loud clang of a pot being dropped in the kitchen startles him awake. He frowns, annoyance flashing through him, and April shifts against him, making a sleepy noise of protest.
He's prepared to go back to sleep, the wine and the heat from the fire still burning low in the fireplace making him feel heavy and dozy, but April shifts again, her hand sliding across his stomach as she pushes herself up.
Her eyebrows are knitted together and she still looks half asleep as she looks at Sam, and then a moment later a sheepish smile spreads across her face.
"I fell asleep on you, didn't I," she says, giggling softly as she runs her fingers through her hair.
"It's all right," he says, smiling at her. His arm is still around her and he's reluctant to remove it, even though he knows he'll have to soon.
"Wonder what they're doing in there," she says, glancing in the direction of the kitchen.
"There's no telling. They've been awfully quiet up until now."
April grins and unfolds her legs, lowering her feet to the floor as she sits up properly. Sam's arm slips from her shoulders and he sighs inwardly at the loss of contact.
"Guess I should see if Simon's ready to go," she murmurs, yawning and stretching her arms up over her head, somehow unaware of what this silhouette is doing to Sam. "My bed is starting to sound really good about now."
Sam laughs softly and nods, pulling his eyes from her body, and April looks over at him and grins.
"Not that you don't make a very comfortable pillow," she says, tongue poking between her teeth as her smile widens.
Sam laughs again, louder this time. "I'm glad."
They stand and walk to the kitchen, where April makes a beeline towards Simon. She leans into him, pressing against his chest, and he laughs as he slips his arms around her.
"You look sleepy," he says, bending his head to see her face as he combs his fingers through her hair.
"I am sleepy," she replies, yawning into his shirt.
Sam stares at them for a moment, watching as Simon smiles and presses a kiss to the top of her head, one hand absently rubbing her back.
He sighs very softly and looks at Nathan. "I suppose I should be going."
Nathan glances at the clock on the stove and grins. "I should say so; it's well past your bedtime, old man."
Sam rolls his eyes. "Will this 'old man' stuff ever get old to you?"
"Nope," Nathan replies cheerily, and Sam smirks.
Nathan makes up a plate of leftovers for Sam to take with him and Simon announces his and April's intentions of leaving as well. He starts in on what leftovers he wants to take home and April steps away from him, grinning as she walks over to Sam.
"This could take a while. I'll walk you to the door."
She sets his things on the table beside the door to help him with his coat, and she's smiling when he turns to face her.
"I really am glad you came," she says softly. "I would've hated the thought of you spending Christmas alone."
"I'm glad I came too," Sam replies quietly. "I had a really good time."
April's smile widens as she looks up at him and then she places her hand on his shoulder, rising on her toes once again to touch a kiss to his cheek.
Her arm slips around his neck and his circles her waist as he hugs her back, and her voice is almost a whisper when she speaks again.
"Merry Christmas, Sam."
Author: Mary (stillxmyxheart)
Beta: Lindsay (nylana)
Rating: G
Genre: Fluff, tiny bit of UST
Word Count: 5,616
Characters/Pairings: Sam, April, Simon, Nathan (Sam/April, Simon/April)
Summary: Sam spends Christmas with the Gates family.
A/N: Merry Christmas, guys! This is an expansion of a scene from Catching Up, the last Christmas before the events of the main arc, which Sam spends with Nathan and Simon and April. This is pure holiday fluff, apoca!fic style, and I would also like to point out that this is our 50th posted fic! I hope you guys enjoy it, and have a wonderful Christmas (or a fantastic weekend, if you don't celebrate) ♥
Sam hurries up the steps to Nathan's porch, scowling as he hands the small bag in his hand to one of the agents behind him and brushes snow from his hair. He jabs the doorbell with his finger and tugs his scarf from around his neck, shaking it out and swiping a hand over his shoulders, sending more white powder to the floor of the porch.
His eyes are on his shoes when the door opens and the very first thing he sees is a pair of bare feet with bright red painted toenails.
His eyes drift up legs clad in black dress pants and over a red curve-hugging sweater before his gaze reaches April's face and he raises an eyebrow at her wide grin.
"What are you doing in bare feet in the middle of winter?"
She gives him a look. "Shut up, I'm inside."
Sam smirks and takes the bag from the Secret Service agent as April opens the door wider for him to come inside.
He sets the bag on the table beside the door and turns to hang his coat and scarf next to the ones already on the wall, and when he turns back to face April she steps forward and slips her arms around his neck.
"I'm glad you came," she says, her voice slightly muffled by his sweater.
He grins, overcoming his surprise and hugging her back, his fingers disappearing momentarily into the soft curls that tumble down her back and relishing the feel of the silky strands.
"Where else would I be?" he replies, taking a breath and inhaling the scent of her perfume. There's something else mixed in, something warm and vaguely spicy. "Harrison's out in California with Evan and Penny, getting to know the in-laws."
April grins as she pulls away and Sam immediately misses her nearness.
"You smell like cinnamon," he says as she lifts the bag from the table and carries it into the living room.
April laughs, glancing back over her shoulder at him. "You can still smell it? I baked the pies today, but that was hours ago."
Sam just smiles and watches as she pulls the presents out, kneeling to add them to the ones already under the tree. He stares at the way her sweater rises up, revealing the smallest hint of bare skin. There's a vague sort of tingling in his stomach and he closes his eyes for a moment, shaking his head and thinking that now is definitely not the time.
April straightens and adjusts her sweater, pulling it snug over her hips as she walks back to Sam.
"C'mon," she says, "Frick and Frack are in the kitchen."
Sam snorts laughter and April grins as they start down the hall.
They can hear the sounds of arguing as they get nearer to the kitchen and walk in to see Nathan waving a towel at Simon as he snatches a bowl away from him.
"For Christ's sake, son, dinner will be ready in less than twenty minutes, can't you wait?"
"No," Simon says mulishly.
"Don't you feed him?" Nathan asks, turning his gaze to April.
"Only when he behaves," she replies, grinning as she steps forward to lean against the island.
"So that's a no, then," Nathan says, smirking as he turns his attention to a pot on the stove.
Simon grabs a fork and leans across the island, stabbing it into the casserole dish of dressing.
April shakes her head warningly just as Nathan turns around and she raises a hand to her mouth to stifle her giggle as Nathan brings the wooden spoon in his hand across the back of Simon's.
"Ow!" Simon exclaims, the fork slipping from his fingers with a clatter.
Nathan just gives him a look and Simon looks beseechingly at April.
She shakes her head again, holding up her hand. "Don't look at me. He told you not to."
Simon scowls and April grins as she extends her hand, reaching for Simon's discarded bite of dressing.
Nathan stops what he's doing and watches the progress of April's hand as she brings it to her mouth. He raises an eyebrow at her and she smiles sweetly as Simon makes an indignant noise.
"Okay, how come she doesn't get smacked with a bloody wooden spoon?" he asks irritably.
"There's a point," Nathan says, advancing towards April.
She shakes her head, pointing a finger at Nathan. "Don't you dare," she says, starting to back away.
Nathan's quicker than she is and grabs hold of her arm at the same time as he brings the wooden spoon across her backside. April jumps and squeals and then dissolves into giggles as she pulls away from Nathan, swatting his arm as he steps away from her, laughing too.
"Happy now?" he asks, raising his eyebrows at Simon.
"Not exactly," Simon replies wryly.
April grins and walks around the island towards Simon as Nathan turns to look at Sam, who has been watching the display before him with an arched eyebrow and a not small desire to be the one with the wooden spoon.
"It's like having two children instead of just one," he says, shaking his head.
"Which makes that really quite disgusting," Sam replies, smirking as April leans forward to touch her lips to Simon's.
"Whose side are you on?" April asks, twisting to look at Sam as Simon slips an arm around her waist and pulls her to him for another kiss.
"I'm like Switzerland," Sam says demurely, and then pauses. "If Switzerland were still around," he adds.
Simon and April laugh as the corner of Nathan's mouth lifts in a grin. He gives a pot on the stove a quick stir before stepping over to the oven and cracking the door.
"Why don't you make yourself useful, old man, and set the table?" Nathan says, glancing at Sam as he moves back to the stove.
Sam rolls his eyes, ignoring Nathan's grin as he steps from the kitchen.
He opens the china cupboard in the dining room and pulls out four place settings, setting them carefully on the table before opening a drawer to take out some napkins.
He glances up when he notices movement and watches as April sweeps into the living room, leaning over the coffee table to pick up two mugs. He freezes in the act of laying a knife down as her hair falls over her shoulder and she transfers the mug in her right hand to her left so she can toss her hair back. It catches the firelight, glowing brilliantly, and Sam feels his breath hitch in his throat as he stares at her.
She straightens to move back to the kitchen and Sam lowers his eyes to the table, frowning slightly as he tries to focus on the task at hand.
He's just about to set down the last fork when he hears footsteps again and looks up to see Simon and April walk into the living room. There's a slightly playful look on Simon's face and Sam watches as April turns to face him.
"I thought you wanted to wait," she says, lips twitching as she tries to keep from smiling.
"Changed my mind," Simon replies, extending a small wrapped package to her and grinning when she takes it.
There's a muted tear as she tugs the paper off and she drops it onto the coffee table before she opens the box. A bright smile crosses her face and Sam feels a small pang in his heart.
"Oh, Simon, it's beautiful," she breathes, reaching into the box and pulling out a necklace. Sam can't quite make out the shape of the pendant from where he is, but it sparkles brilliantly in the light as April holds it up.
Simon smiles and takes the necklace from her, moving to stand behind her. He carefully lifts her hair out of the way and drapes the necklace around her neck, a small frown knitting his brow as he fiddles with the clasp.
"This is sort of why I wanted you to wear this sweater," he says, his face clearing once the chain is securely fastened. He lets her hair go, carefully running his fingers through it before moving back around to face her.
He grins down at her just as Nathan calls from the kitchen, and Simon starts to move away but April grips the front of his shirt, pulling him back to her. She tugs him down and presses her lips to his, her grip relaxing on his shirt as his hand rests on her hip.
She smiles when the kiss breaks and raises her hand to Simon's cheek, resting her forehead against his.
"Thank you," she whispers, just loud enough for Sam to hear. Her smile widens. "I love you."
Simon grins and touches his lips to hers once more before he replies. "I love you too."
April's hand slides down Simon's arm and their fingers weave together as they turn to head back to the kitchen.
Sam looks down at the fork in his hand, staring blankly at it for a moment before he finally lays it down.
He can feel jealousy simmering within him, low and deep, and he gives an impatient sigh.
"Stop it," he hisses irritably to himself. "Just stop it right now."
He gathers together the four glasses on the table and carries them into the kitchen to fill them with water.
"There's wine, if you and April want it," Nathan says when he enters.
"Sounds about right," Sam mutters under his breath as he begins to fill the glasses.
Once he's finished, he takes the bottle and tucks it under his arm before carefully pinching the edges of the water glasses between his fingers, two in each hand, the corkscrew hooked over his pinky and clinking gently against the side of a glass.
"Do you want some?" he asks April as he starts to leave the room.
She nods, smiling at him, and then frowns slightly. "Let me help you."
Before he can protest, she steps forward and eases two of the water glasses from his hand, leaving him free to walk to the dining room without the threat of breaking Nathan's good glasses and possibly shattering a bottle of wine all over his floor.
He reaches the dining room a second after April does, but she's already set her glasses down and is reaching into the china cabinet for two wine glasses.
He sets the last two water glasses in front of their plates and then busies himself with opening the bottle of wine. The cork slips free with a squeaky pop and Sam sets it on the table before taking the wine glasses from April.
He fills them both halfway and sets the bottle down, handing one glass to April while keeping one for him.
He takes a sip of the deep red wine and raises an eyebrow.
"Nathan may not be able to drink it anymore, but he still knows how to pick it," he murmurs appreciably, glancing up at April when she laughs softly.
He can see her necklace now, a delicate gold heart with small rubies fixed to one curved side, and he has to give Simon credit for his taste as well.
Nathan calls from the kitchen again and Sam and April set their glasses down as they turn to leave the room.
A short while later the four of them are seated at the table, Nathan at the head with Simon and April on one side and Sam on the other.
"Are you happy now?" April asks, watching Simon load up his plate.
Simon nods, smiling broadly, and April grins as she leans towards him to press a kiss to his cheek.
The conversation bounces from Evan and Penny's recent wedding, to policy changes to be enacted in the New Year, to the recent whispers of the possibility of someone attempting to force Harrison into a reelection; the last of these April summarily disregards as bullshit, eliciting smirks from all three men.
A heavy silence soon descends over the room and Nathan leans back in his chair, lacing his fingers together on his stomach and frowning lightly at the table.
"I know I made too much food when there's still some left over." He turns his gaze to Simon. "You feeling all right?"
"Shut up, Dad," Simon says, laughing as he drops his napkin onto the table.
April giggles and Nathan laughs, and Sam smiles complacently as he watches the three of them, so much like family that he'd think anyone who tried to deny it was probably blind, or just completely dense.
April's sitting with one leg pulled up against her body, leaning towards Simon slightly, her glass of wine held in one hand while her other is under the table, and Sam knows she and Simon are holding hands.
Every time he's around Simon and April, he's always reminded, quite forcibly and whether he wants to be or not, of how much they love each other. It's written all over them, in the air around them. It's in the way they both light up whenever they see each other and the way they always seem to gravitate to each other when they're in the same room, in the way he looks at her sometimes, like he almost can't believe she's real, and in the way she leans so heavily against him, trusting implicitly that he won't let her fall. It's big things and little things, and he thinks the only two people he's ever seen before who loved each other that much were Nathan and Emily.
It's a trait Simon shares with his father, that capacity to love so deeply and so intensely, and Sam has to admit that he's glad April has that, because it's everything she deserves.
Sam's pulled from his thoughts when Nathan stands, taking a breath as he stares at the table.
"Who wants dessert?" he asks, and laughs when April groans, pressing her face to Simon's arm.
Sam shakes his head when Nathan looks at him, and is utterly unsurprised when Simon lifts the hand that's holding April's, looking hopefully up at his father. April giggles, tugging Simon's hand down as Nathan shakes his head.
"We'll clear the table and open presents so that those of us with normal metabolisms can have a chance to digest, and then we'll do dessert. Okay?"
Nathan raises his eyebrows at his son and Simon heaves a sigh. "Fine."
April grins and slips her arm around his shoulders, giving him a squeeze as she leans over to kiss his cheek.
They clear the table and then move into the living room, where Nathan settles in his usual chair while Sam and April sit side by side on the couch and Simon perches on the edge of the coffee table to pass out presents.
Almost as soon as Simon sits down Nathan jumps up and excuses himself, disappearing for a moment before returning with a small envelope in his hand, which he gives to April.
She looks at him, mildly confused, and he nods at her as he sits back down.
"Open it," he says.
The corner of her mouth lifts slightly as she slips her finger under the envelope flap and pulls out the card. The cover is blank and April frowns slightly as she glances up at Nathan. A smile plays on his lips and he nods to her again.
Sam and Simon have both abandoned their current gift opening pursuits in order to watch what's going on and as April opens the card, a picture flutters to her lap.
She picks it up and stares at it for a moment before raising her gaze to Nathan again.
"Okay, I give up. What is it?"
Nathan laughs slightly and points to the picture. "That is your new office. New desk, new chair, paint on the walls that's not been there twenty years already. It's ready and waiting for when you come in on Monday."
April looks down at the picture and then back at Nathan, seemingly at a complete loss for words.
"I have been asking Harrison for this for years," she says finally and Nathan laughs again.
"I know. I figured it was about time you had it."
April stares at the picture for another moment before standing and stepping over to Nathan. She bends and slips her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
"Thank you," she murmurs.
Nathan smiles when she pulls away and raises his hand to her face, his fingers disappearing momentarily in her hair as he presses a kiss to her forehead.
Sam and Simon exchange a look as April returns to her seat, and Simon clears his throat once she's settled beside Sam again.
"This -" he begins, but April interrupts him, staring intently at the picture.
"Wait, this is a picture of my office, right?" she asks, and Nathan nods. "So where are all my files?"
Nathan grins. "You see all those filing cabinets against the back wall there? That's for you to go through all of those files and clean them up and put them where they belong."
"So I think what he means," Sam says, turning a sly grin towards April, "is that you should use organization the rest of us can understand."
Sam and Nathan laugh and April's cheeks color as she nudges Sam's arm, smiling sheepishly. She looks at Simon, who's grinning broadly, and points a warning finger at him.
"I was only going to give you this," he says, laughing and trying to look innocent. "It's from Sam," he says, handing her a rectangular package that's about the same size as a book, though she can tell immediately that it's not once she takes it from him.
"I don't suppose it's as nice as a new office," Sam says, throwing Nathan a look and receiving one in return, "but I hope you like it anyway."
April smiles as she tears at the paper, pulling it free to reveal a small box. She pulls off the lid and lays the tissue paper aside, and a gasp of delight escapes her when she sees what's inside.
"Oh, Sam, it's beautiful," she says, setting the box aside as she pulls out the emerald green cashmere scarf. "And my favorite color, too," she adds as she raises it to her cheek, her smile widening as she rubs the soft fabric over her skin.
"I know," Sam says simply, smiling at her obvious pleasure and feeling a tiny fluttering in his chest when she leans over to hug him.
"I thought red was your favorite color?" Simon says abruptly. "Like me."
April pulls away from Sam to look at Simon, noticing the frown creasing his brow.
"I like red," she replies, "but I like green just a little bit more."
"Oh," Simon says, his frown deepening and threatening to become a scowl.
"Hey," April says, leaning forward and tugging him to her by the front of his shirt. "I like both. Who says you can't have two favorite colors?"
Simon's expression relaxes and April kisses him before letting him go. He turns his attention back to the tree and April grins at Sam, running her fingers absently over the scarf in her lap as she shakes her head. Sam has to raise a hand to his mouth to stifle the laugh that threatens to escape and Nathan just shakes his head, smirking.
"This one's from, um, us," Simon says, handing Sam a heavy wrapped package and tugging on his earlobe, a dead giveaway that April is the one who bought it and Simon just added his name.
Not that this bothers Sam. He and Simon have never been particularly close, even when Simon was a kid and especially not during his years of delinquency and addiction, and Sam would've been surprised to receive a gift that was just from him.
He takes the present from Simon, tearing the paper and tugging it off, revealing a brown leather book with the upcoming year inscribed on the front and his name scripted in the lower right corner.
"It's a datebook," April says, smiling a little nervously as she watches Sam. "I thought maybe you'd like something a little nicer to keep track of all of your appointments and meetings and - and everything."
He runs his fingers over the soft leather cover and brushes his thumb over the inscription of his name, knowing how much thought she must have put into this and feeling such an unbearable swelling of love and longing that he can't quite look at her.
"Do you like it?" she asks, and he can hear the uncertainty in her voice. "If not, I can -"
"No," he says quickly, finally glancing up at her. "It's wonderful, thank you, April. And Simon," he adds, turning his gaze to the younger man.
Simon flashes him a smile, still tugging on his ear, and waves his hand.
"I think that's all the presents," Nathan says a few minutes later once the activity's died down, pushing to his feet. "Think it's time for pie."
"Yes, now that you've ruined any gift we might ever give to April in the future," Sam says sardonically, eyeing Nathan as he leans forward to carefully place the datebook on the coffee table.
"Yeah, Dad," Simon agrees, looking a little put out.
"Stop it, the both of you," April says, folding her scarf and laying it back in the box, placing the card and picture from Nathan on top. "I love everything you guys gave me. I wasn't aware this was a competition to see who could give me the best gift."
"But if it were -" Nathan begins, a cheeky grin spreading across his face.
"You just hush," April interrupts, pointing a finger at him and raising her eyebrows.
Sam and Simon laugh as Nathan pretends to look indignant for a moment before he grins, reaching to touch Sam's shoulder.
"Come help."
Sam nods and stands, following Nathan to the kitchen.
"So you had her entire office redone," Sam says, watching as Nathan pulls the pies from the microwave.
Nathan shrugs, pulling a knife from a drawer and nudging it closed with his hip.
"She's had that other stuff since she started, and it wasn't new then. It's been almost eight years; I figured it was about time she got a decent looking office."
"You spoil her," Sam says, leaning against the island and staring intently at his friend.
"Oh, like you wouldn't," Nathan retorts, frowning as he slices into each pie.
Sam opens his mouth to speak but finds he doesn't know how to respond and Nathan smirks as he glances up at him.
"Go see if they want coffee," he says, licking a bit of apple pie off of his thumb as he turns towards the cupboards.
Sam nods and pushes off the counter, glancing back as Nathan adds, "And tell April I'm out of cream."
Sam nods again and turns his head just in time to see April moving down the hall towards him, her head turned slightly as she listens to something Simon's saying.
They collide and Sam grips April's arms, taking a step back in an effort to keep from knocking her over. She stumbles a little and her fingers grip his sweater as she tries to maintain her balance.
She looks up at him when they're finally steady, an apologetic grin on her face.
"Sorry," she says.
"It's all right," Sam replies, smiling at her.
They let go of each other and step away, both starting to move out of the doorway when Nathan speaks.
"Wait a minute!" he exclaims, and Sam and April look over at him. Nathan gestures wordlessly with the knife in his hand, raising his eyebrows as he points to the doorway.
Sam and April look up and there's a sinking feeling in Sam's stomach when he sees the mistletoe affixed to the top of the frame.
"Really, Nathan?" April says, glancing over at him.
"I don't make the rules," he says, raising his eyebrows and placing his hands against his chest as his shoulders rise in a shrug, feigning innocence.
April shakes her head and looks back up at Sam, her lips curved very slightly.
"You don't have to," he says quietly.
"I know," April replies, and then smiles as she places her hand on Sam's shoulder, rising on her toes to press a soft kiss to his cheek.
He feels the flutter in his heart again and it's all he can do to keep his hand from rising to her waist and pulling her to him.
April sinks back flat on her feet, though her hand remains on Sam's shoulder, and looks at Nathan. "Happy now?"
"Enraptured," he replies with a grin, and April rolls her eyes.
"You and Simon want coffee?" he says, glancing over at the brewing pot.
April nods and starts to go when Nathan tells her about the cream.
"Milk's fine," she says, and turns to leave the room, smiling up at Sam as her hand leaves his shoulder. Her fingers brush against his and he has to resist the urge to catch them with his own.
He's not aware of moving until his back hits the door frame and he closes his eyes for a moment, trying to calm the pounding of his heart.
He looks over at Nathan when he hears him laugh softly and shakes his head at his friend's knowing grin.
"Oh, shut up," he says, the corner of his mouth rising as he steps back into the kitchen.
It's sometime later that Sam's on the couch, having been shooed out of the kitchen when he tried to help clean up. The TV's on, airing the 2035 remake of It's a Wonderful Life. It's not a particular favorite of Sam's, but it's turned into one of those Christmas traditions that he can't find a good enough reason to argue with, and he can't be arsed to get up and get the remote anyway.
He hears soft footsteps and looks up to see April step around the couch.
"Mind if I join you?" she asks, smiling down at him. "Nathan kicked me out too. Simon's still in there, sneaking leftovers under the pretense of helping."
Sam laughs slightly. "Not at all," he says, returning her smile and shifting so she can slip through the space between the coffee table and his legs.
"See you've gone back to wine," he says once she's settled beside him, one leg tucked underneath her, nodding at the glass in her hand.
"So have you," she replies, raising an eyebrow at him.
He laughs softly. "Well, it'll just go to waste."
April grins and nods. "You'll have to take the rest with you, though. I think this is my last glass," she says, and then stifles a yawn as if to elaborate her point.
Sam smiles again and they slip into an easy silence to watch the rest of the movie.
It's just before the credits roll that April's head drops onto Sam's shoulder. He startles and glances over at her, almost afraid to breathe when he sees that she's sound asleep. She's so very close and he can see each individual eyelash, long and dark against her fair cheeks. Her lips are parted very slightly, full and red, and if he were a lesser man, and if Simon weren't in the other room, he would give in to the sudden urge he has to kiss her.
He looks away and takes a slow, steadying breath, trying to decide if he should wake her or not. He's not really in any rush to leave, especially not now, and he can hear the sound of talking and the clink of dishes from the kitchen, and it doesn't sound like Simon and Nathan are winding down either.
His arm is stretched along the back of the couch and he wonders if he would be crossing a line if he put it around her shoulders.
He's still mulling it over when he hears footsteps and looks up to see Nathan enter the room.
Nathan takes one look at the two of them and a broad grin appears on his face.
"I'd wake her up if I were you. She's a bit clingy, that one."
Sam gives Nathan a look and his grin widens as he bends and picks up Sam's empty wine glass from the coffee table.
"You're about to end up with wine in your lap, and I'm not washing your pants," he says, pointing to the glass tipping precariously in April's hand before striding from the room.
Sam eases it carefully from her fingers and leans forward to place it on the coffee table, and as he's settling back in his seat, April shifts suddenly. She pulls her other leg up, tucking it underneath her as well, and curls into his side as her arm slides across his stomach. She burrows her face into the space between his shoulder and his neck, sighing contentedly as she settles.
Sam stares at her, his heart pounding in his chest as he once again contemplates waking her.
Not that he isn't thrilled to have her this close, pleased that she's so comfortable with him that she can let herself be this vulnerable around him, but his damn sense of propriety has a habit of getting in the way and right now it's telling him to try and loosen her hold on him, to wake her up and reestablish the boundary he's always so careful to keep between them.
He contemplates her a moment longer and then the corner of his mouth curls upward.
"To hell with it," he says quietly and lets his arm settle around her, holding her to him and smiling when her fingers lightly grip his sweater.
He realizes he's dozed off when the loud clang of a pot being dropped in the kitchen startles him awake. He frowns, annoyance flashing through him, and April shifts against him, making a sleepy noise of protest.
He's prepared to go back to sleep, the wine and the heat from the fire still burning low in the fireplace making him feel heavy and dozy, but April shifts again, her hand sliding across his stomach as she pushes herself up.
Her eyebrows are knitted together and she still looks half asleep as she looks at Sam, and then a moment later a sheepish smile spreads across her face.
"I fell asleep on you, didn't I," she says, giggling softly as she runs her fingers through her hair.
"It's all right," he says, smiling at her. His arm is still around her and he's reluctant to remove it, even though he knows he'll have to soon.
"Wonder what they're doing in there," she says, glancing in the direction of the kitchen.
"There's no telling. They've been awfully quiet up until now."
April grins and unfolds her legs, lowering her feet to the floor as she sits up properly. Sam's arm slips from her shoulders and he sighs inwardly at the loss of contact.
"Guess I should see if Simon's ready to go," she murmurs, yawning and stretching her arms up over her head, somehow unaware of what this silhouette is doing to Sam. "My bed is starting to sound really good about now."
Sam laughs softly and nods, pulling his eyes from her body, and April looks over at him and grins.
"Not that you don't make a very comfortable pillow," she says, tongue poking between her teeth as her smile widens.
Sam laughs again, louder this time. "I'm glad."
They stand and walk to the kitchen, where April makes a beeline towards Simon. She leans into him, pressing against his chest, and he laughs as he slips his arms around her.
"You look sleepy," he says, bending his head to see her face as he combs his fingers through her hair.
"I am sleepy," she replies, yawning into his shirt.
Sam stares at them for a moment, watching as Simon smiles and presses a kiss to the top of her head, one hand absently rubbing her back.
He sighs very softly and looks at Nathan. "I suppose I should be going."
Nathan glances at the clock on the stove and grins. "I should say so; it's well past your bedtime, old man."
Sam rolls his eyes. "Will this 'old man' stuff ever get old to you?"
"Nope," Nathan replies cheerily, and Sam smirks.
Nathan makes up a plate of leftovers for Sam to take with him and Simon announces his and April's intentions of leaving as well. He starts in on what leftovers he wants to take home and April steps away from him, grinning as she walks over to Sam.
"This could take a while. I'll walk you to the door."
She sets his things on the table beside the door to help him with his coat, and she's smiling when he turns to face her.
"I really am glad you came," she says softly. "I would've hated the thought of you spending Christmas alone."
"I'm glad I came too," Sam replies quietly. "I had a really good time."
April's smile widens as she looks up at him and then she places her hand on his shoulder, rising on her toes once again to touch a kiss to his cheek.
Her arm slips around his neck and his circles her waist as he hugs her back, and her voice is almost a whisper when she speaks again.
"Merry Christmas, Sam."