I really can't keep my last story promise since I just finished the last book. So good! Anyways, here's a special Will/Horace Christmas one-shot to get everyone in the mood. Will also have traces of Halt/Gilan.

…

"Merry Christmas!" Horace bellowed, the sound echoing off the closed in walls of the cabin. He hefted his apprentice ranger boyfriend off his feet and swung him around. Will couldn't decide if he wanted to protest about his broken ribs or vomit all over the apprentice warrior's shoes.

"It's Christmas Eve," he gasped as Horace set him down. He couldn't tell if anything was broken, but his sides hurt from the bear hug he just got. He rubbed his sides briefly then turned to Horace, who was shrugging at him.

"Close enough," he replied easily. He glanced up. "Mistletoe," he said softly, gently gripping the smaller male's shoulders. Their lips melded together and they remained in their lip-lock until Gilan cleared his throat. "Oh hush up Gilan," Horace said, pulling away from the smaller male. "Did Will or I do that last night when you and Halt kissed under the mistletoe?" Gilan's face broke into a big smile.

"No, and I'm appreciative of the fact, considering it was our first kiss." Will's eyebrows shot into his hairline, a very Halt-like move. "Hey, don't give me that look," Gilan snapped good-naturedly. "Don't make me go get Halt." Will held up his hands in mock horror.

"I'm a threat now, am I?" asked Halt, who'd positioned himself in the back of the room and observed his former apprentice and his current apprentice interact. He smiled as he thought of Gilan as his former apprentice. He was obviously something more than that now. Horace stared at the three rangers and shrugged. He knew they were a close-knit group, and just being included was an honor. Staying in the cabin over a four day period was practically unheard of. To the surprise of both young males, Halt gave Will permission to invite both Horace and Gilan over for Christmas. Gilan had arrived last night, and Horace today. He was excited to spend his first Christmas with Will as boyfriends rather than friends or enemies.

"No Halt," Gilan said, making his way back to him and kissing his stubbly jaw. "Of course not." He smiled back at the boys, who tried to smother their laughter. "Get to work," he then added, gesturing to the tree waiting to be decorated. Will began stringing berries together while Horace hung up various handmade ornaments. "That's good boys," Gilan said, sitting comfortably at the small table, accepting a cup of coffee from Halt.

"Having one apprentice around is good. Having two around is even better," Halt commented lightly. Gilan turned to him, raising one eyebrow. Halt was completely straight-faced, but Gilan could've thought he made a joke. He shook his head and chased the thought away. Halt never made jokes. "Boys," Halt called calmly, causing Gilan to turn and look at them. "The task was to decorate the tree, not make out beneath it." Will waved his master's comment aside and the boys continued with what they wanted to do. Halt sighed and looked toward his former apprentice…boyfriend, he amended in his mind.

"That's what happens when you have two teen boys around," Gilan said, smiling at the happy couple. Both had stopped and now they were back to decorating the tree. Horace lifted Will up onto his shoulders so the boy could reach the top of the tree and slip the metal star on top. Halt smiled at the boys' natural connection. Neither seemed to have to try and impress the other. They just did what they normally did, and the other naturally loved it.

"That's what a real connection looks like Gilan," he whispered to Gilan. Horace slipped some packages under the tree and Will began to question him. But the taller male held up his hand and Will pounced on him, sending them both backwards. They laughed and wrestled around for a while, while Halt and Gilan watched with amused looks, perched side by side and holding hands.

…

"Can't we open just one present Halt?" Will asked, hopping from one foot to the other. He was already dressed in his bed clothes, and it wasn't that late, but it was Christmas Eve, and he wanted just wanted one present. Horace emerged from Will's room, dressed in a similar fashion. He shot his boyfriend an amused look, sitting in front of the fireplace. "Please Halt?" Will tried again. Halt rolled his eyes to the heavens and mumbled something less than pretty, then turned to his apprentice.

"If you must," he replied, but inside, he was smiling. His apprentice was always so eager. He loved that about Will. The boy ran to the tree and yanked four presents out from under the tree. He handed out three, then sat cross-legged next to Horace. "I'll go first," Halt said, glancing at the tag. "Gilan… I should've known." He opened up the top and peered inside. "Arrandi coffee… oh you shouldn't have." Gilan grinned. He knew his boyfriend's particular tastes.

"Me now," he replied, opening his gift from Halt. Inside was a carefully crafted pin, of a ranger's silver oak leaf, surrounded in a ring of gold. "Oooooh Halt," Gilan said, reaching in and fastening it to his cloak. "It's beautiful. Thank you." They laid on the couch together and watched as Will and Horace turned to face each other.

"Open yours Horace," Will said, bouncing in place. He'd thought long and hard about what to get Horace, and he thought he finally got the right gift. It was wrapped kind of crudely, but Horace knew that Will wrapped it himself, and for that he was grateful. He carefully removed the paper, and gasped when he saw what it was. It was a sword, but this one was definitely just for show.

"Will," he breathed, running his hands over the inlaid diamonds on the hilt, and the oak leaf on the pommel. "Will, it's beautiful. How did you?" He glanced at his boyfriend questioningly.

"I promised the sword smith a favor if he did this for me," the smaller male replied with a shrug. He began to unwrap the small package in front of him, but Horace lay a hand over his. "What is it baby?" Will asked.

"It's not as impressive as this, but…" He gestured for Will to open it, and the boy did so. Inside the tiny box was a necklace. It was a leather cord with beads of soft greens and browns threaded all around it, and in the middle was a piece of metal bent into a heart, with a W and H in the middle.

"This is even better than anything you could've given me Horace," Will said, wrapping his arms around the apprentice warrior's neck. "Thank you. I love you Horace. Merry Christmas Eve." Horace smiled and hugged him back, kissing his neck.

"Merry Christmas Eve Will. I love you too."

"Best Christmas ever," Gilan decided, as Halt wrapped one arm around his shoulders.

"Agreed," Halt replied.

…

Hope you liked it!