Christmas Eve dinner had been feasted upon. The night was drawing to a close, and as Dio flicked off the television Giorno scurried off to his room returning with a small book clutched inside his small hands. He asked for it to be read and Dio agreed sitting in a chair beside the lit Christmas tree. With the child nestled close Dio read the story aloud enjoying how calm the evening had been.
With their second Christmas Eve spent together the vampire felt some anticipation over what tomorrow would be like. Before caring for Giorno Christmas had been a meaningless holiday, something to be disregarded as archaic. Now seeing the little one's excitement over Christmas Dio too had become filled with excitement over the holiday.
When Dio finished the story, The Night Before Christmas, Giorno said,
"Can I wait here for Babbo Natale?"
"If you can stay awake then yes," he replied with a smile. There was no denying the joyful look that sparkled in the child's blue eyes. Giorno beamed then made himself even more comfortable in his father's lap staring eagerly at the Christmas tree. A few presents were already piled underneath but it would be a grand sight to behold to see more being put under.
Dio chuckled softly to himself, and to help pass the time he hummed a few Christmas songs most of which were learned many years ago. Within a few minutes Giorno was rubbing his eyes, fighting to stay awake, and eventually within an hour the child fell asleep. Carefully Dio picked him up and carried him off to bed.
After tucking Giorno away he went back to turn off the lights on the Christmas tree looking thoughtfully down at the presents a few of which were from Pucci. Then using his vampiric abilities Dio passed silently through Giorno's room to his own where he retrieved a few more presents that were stowed under the tree. A job well done he let his yellow eyes wander over to the glass doors that led outside to the back garden.
The moon not yet full its light managed to cause a few shadows to spring out across the garden. Against the back wall where Dio knew the moon flower vines grew he thought he saw a human shape creeping about. Narrowing his eyes on it he lost any visible trace of movement. The vampire listened for any more signs of intrusion but upon finding nothing he turned and went to his room. Dio lay on the bed waiting for morning when Giorno would come excitedly barreling into the room after seeing the added presents.