Light gazed around the attic, shoving aside stacks of boxes. He could faintly hear Watari moving about on the floor below him.
"Have you found it,Light?" The old man called.
"Not yet, I'm still looking, there's a lot of boxes up here." Light replied.
"Yes,Well I'm fairly sure you'll find it in the back somewhere." Light sighed heavily,staring at the tower of boxes in front of him.
"This is going to take til next Christmas." Light grumbled to himself.
"I highly doubt that," L said, joining him. "It's the only long box up here." Light smiled.
"I've been up here all morning going through Christmas boxes and-"
"Then you're not looking hard enough. I can see it from here."L moved to the long white box,pushing it toward Light who crossed his arms.
" only because I cleared the way for you." He teased. L gave him a sideways glance as he continued to the stairs,dragging the object with him. Light reached out, pulling the dark haired man close.
"I love you." Light said softly, kissing L lovingly. When the kiss was broken, the detective rested his head on Light's shoulder.
"I love you too." He replied.
"Our first Christmas together, it's going to be amazing."
"It will be quite a change,Watari and I usually have the day to ourselves. One of our traditions is Watari reading Christmas stories to the children."
"Which one was your favorite?" Light asked.
"I had many. Watari has always been kind to me, he used to make up stories only for me. I recall one about an elf who was no bigger than a person's thumb who achieved great things when everyone around him thought it impossible. These stories were very special to me and taught me many lessons. I was a bit small for my age at that point."
"Well,you are his son,what father wouldn't want to encourage their child to succeed?" L pulled away,turning back to the box.
"We should bring this to Watari. I'll come back to get the decorations." He said taking hold of the box and beginning to pull it down the stairs carefully. Light took the other end of the box and the two carried it down to the living room.
Watari met them at the doorway.
"I see you've found the tree at last. He said. " Take it over there to the corner and get the branches ready, Love, that's your job,Light,you and I will untangle the Christmas lights and bring down the train.
"...Will you set up the town as well?" L asked.
"Of course, I thought maybe you would like to help with it." L opened the box pulling out the tree.
"I would like that very much."
"We used to have a train around our tree." Light said. "We had a dog when I was little, it ran around the tree trying to get the train and been it finally did it chewed one of the wheels off and ate one of the cars." L sighed heavily.
"What's wrong,Love?" L didn't reply.
"When L came into my care,I had a dog. German Shepard. Love wasn't sure what to make of Watson at first, but it wasn't long before they became inseparable. Watson was an excellent guard dog and would follow Love anywhere."
"I hate to ask but what happened to him?" Light moved closer to L.
"He got old,got sick and just before we came here in Japan, Love had to say goodbye to him. He did live beyond his expectancy but it's never easy to say a final goodbye to ones we love." Watari explained.
"I'm sorry, Love. It must've been hard for you." Light comforted.
"It still is." L continued to unbend the branches.
"Maybe you should think about a new dog,we could get-"
"No. No more pets." L said softly.
"I understand. We don't have to." Light pulled him close.
"Light, I forgot to ask you but I was thinking that we should ask your family over for Christmas, is there anything specific I should make for them?"
"Are you sure you're both okay with this,I mean I know it's been a huge adjustment to make, a new place, new house,it'll be great to have everyone together but I don't want you to feel like you have to do all this."_
"Your family has welcomed me with kindness and not a second thought. After all have done I didn't deserve such a welcome. Your father particularly has every right to hate me."
"Dad doesn't hate you,Love. He never did, he just didn't like some of the methods that were used. If he hated you, he wouldn't have supported our relationship." Light said. "Mom and Sayu love you, but don't push yourself if you need more time, they understand."
"I told you,I will never try to keep you from them. it wouldn't be fair to ask you to chose to be away from them when they live so close. It seems like a good way to thank them,to have them over." Light kissed L lightly.
"Thank you, I know you have a lot going on right now, it means a lot to me." L rested his head on Light's shoulder.
"You've given me so many gifts all ready, " he whispered. "You gave me a second chance, stayed here with me, now you're doing your best to step out of your comfort zone for me. I haven't given you much of anything."
"In taking the chance I offered, you've given me more than you realize. The choice was there in front of you and you decided I meant more to you." L replied before quietly.
"Of course you do,you're my everything and there's nothing I wouldn't do for you."
"These lights aren't going to untangle themselves." Watari called. "And the tree isn't going to put itself right."
"Yes,Watari." L said pulling away. Light smiled as he watched L get back to work. This,he thought was going to be an interesting experience.