'Last Christmas, you gave me your heart'

Vince giggled as he twirled his way around the party, waving to a girl squealing his name excitedly in the corner. A man stopped him with a hand on his arm and slyly asked about the lack of mistletoe. Vince gave him a sunshine smile; passed him some of Naboo's special Eggnog and neatly sidestepped him. Tony Harrison was sidling up to a nervous-looking Saboo who was sipping his lemonade daintily and coyly looking the other way.

A girl in a long white dress with a gold halo shimmied up to Vince.

'Hiya, want to dance Noir?' she said brightly.

Vince spun her around before blowing her a kiss and continuing across the packed room.

His path was blocked by a snoozing Bollo, a pair of Nu-Rave glasses on his face. Vince carefully stepped over him, making a mental note to give all baked goods a miss.

Fossil swayed over to Vince, rubbing his chest and licking his lips.

'Vincey baby' he said 'are you going to visit my chimney huh?'

Vince pulled a face and yelled 'Hi Bainbridge' and pointed over Fossil's shoulder.

Fossil's eyes lit up as he turned around, and Vince made his escape.

Vince felt his eyes get heavy as he surveyed the landscape.

Suddenly his eyes lit up as he found what he was looking for.

'Hello' said Vince, standing on his tiptoes and whispering in Howard's ear over the noise. Howard turned and grinned at him, his hair in his face and the top button of his skirt undone. Vince's breath hitched. He unfurled his hand, and with his cheeks turning pink passed Howard a decoration off the tree. It was a heart.

'Santa Baby, forgot to mention one little thing - A ring'

Vince felt like he was about to faint, but it was somehow okay because Howard was hyperventilating quite loudly, and had neglected balancing on one knee to sit on the couch and breathe into a paper bag. Vince looked at him, his tiny eyes peering out from the bag every so often, filled with fear. His hands were shaking, and the crinkling sound against the bag seemed to echo in the small room. Vince was able to speak, after swallowing the lump in his throat.

'You want to be with me, forever?' he asked, quietly.

Howard nodded and put the bag down. 'Is there anyone else?' he said softly.

'Oh I don't want a lot for Christmas, this is all I'm asking for. I just want to see my baby, standing right outside my door'

Howard kicked the sofa miserably, wondering why Vince had booked a gig on Christmas Eve. I mean, an all-nighter on Christmas Eve for god's sake. He slumped onto the sofa, sighing dramatically before picking up the remote and flicking through the channels. Everyone on TV was celebrating with their families or cuddling up to a loved one. Howard frowned, no, it wasn't a wonderful life, it didn't snow on Christmas anymore, and Santa wasn't real. He turned to the tree and adjusted the angel at the top. Vince had customised it, so they now had a little Ziggy Stardust perched above the glittering lights and home-made decorations. Vince had threaded popcorn to put onto the branches, making Howard smile by sing-songing 'one for me, one for the tree'. At the base of the tree were presents, brightly-wrapped with ribbons and one that looked quite plain in brown paper with a single red ribbon. At the sound of the ticking clock Howard huffed as he saw the time, only 12:17am and turned off the TV, twisting to rest his head on a pillow. He closed his eyes and wished for morning to come.

Howard awoke to a loud buzzing noise, so with hazy vision and slow footsteps he looked blearily at the time, only 1:20am and moved to answer the door. Howard presumed it was Naboo and Bollo, back from the Shamen Council's Seasonal Potluck dance. Wondering briefly how Tony Harrison could dance he opened the latch and moved backwards to go back to sleep. But instead of a lisp or a grunt he felt two little arms encircle his waist and a cold face at his neck.

'Vince' sighed Howard drowsily; feeling himself be lead back onto the sofa, with Vince snuggled down next to him.

'He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!'

A figure, clad in bright colours snuck into the dark room, moving his sack onto his other shoulder with a small grunt. Adjusting his hat he tiptoed past the two beds, putting sweets, small toys and an orange into the stockings. One was neon green with diamante trim, with 'Vince' stitched onto the front in a slightly-crooked fashion. The other was more subdued, the man would hazard a melodious fawn shade with a little label with 'Howard' on it. Thinking he saw the smaller man move he stopped, the floorboard creaking as he held his breath and waited. However the breathing of the smaller man evened out, so he just fondly gazed at the two before leaving.

'See' said Vince triumphantly, jumping out of bed and gesturing wildly to his overflowing stocking. Naboo and Bollo stuck their heads round the door, to investigate the high-pitched squealing.

Vince sat back down on his bed, his mouth full of sweets. He chewed steadily, then half-grinned at Howard.

'Told you Santa is real' he said smugly.

Howard raised an eyebrow at Naboo, who just winked and took off down the hallway humming a carol. Well, it was Christmas.

Sinatra was swinging,
All the drunks they were singing
We kissed on a corner
Then danced through the night

'Come on' whined Vince, dragging Howard down the street.

'Where?' asked a bewildered Howard, trying not to stumble over the icy pavements.

'You'll see' said Vince, shifting slightly to shout over his shoulder.

Howard was sure his lungs were about to give up when Vince turned round a corner, screeched to a halt, in front of a pretty bandstand, with white fairy lights. The night seemed to shimmer, with the lights reflecting off of the band, perched merrily inside the bandstand, playing slow swing music. A few couples were slow-dancing on the icy grass, seemingly oblivious to the cold.

It was a truly magical sight, one that only ever seemed to happen at Christmas where you just shrugged at the corniness and instead embraced it.

Vince, surprisingly strong, swung Howard round to face him. Howard ended up face to face with a flushed, breathless Vince.

'Dance with me?' he asked, his blue eyes pleading.

Howard made a face, and went to stand back. 'I don't really' he began.

Vince stroked his hand gently. 'Please' he said softly.

Howard found himself saying 'Okay' under Vince's gentle touch.

Vince took his hand and placed it on his shoulder, before stopping and looking into Howard's slightly shocked looking face. Smiling affectionately he took his other arm and placed it around his waist, bringing them closed together.

Howard's eyes seemed twice the size as he glanced around at the other dancers, looking anywhere but Vince's face. He knew if he did, he would be lost.

'Howard' said Vince quietly, waiting patiently for Howard to look at him.

Howard looked down at Vince, and suddenly the whole world disappeared.

'Happy Christmas Vince' Howard said suddenly.

'Happy Christmas Howard' Vince replied, leaning forwards to rest his head on Howard's chest as they swayed together.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Vince finally closed his eyes, the candlelight making him seem like a waxwork, very pale with glittering tearstains. Howard wearily sighed and took off his jumper, placing it over Vince's chest. He walked towards the window and looked out, feeling his heart weigh heavy. The snow was falling more heavily now, the delicate snowflakes landing on the ground and forming a blanket of beautiful whiteness. The candle flickered and Howard turned to see it go out, a thin swirl of smoke floating towards the ceiling. Howard moved towards the kitchen, going to flick the kettle on before deciding not to, he tapped his hand anxiously on the fridge door before moving to the cupboard, opening it then shutting it again. Unable to stop himself he moved towards Vince. Upon sitting down next to him on the sofa Howard gently pushed his fringe out of his face. Howard kissed his cheek gently, and whispered, 'I will make it better Vince. I promise'. Howard then sat back, curled his feet underneath him and waited for morning.

I really can't stay - Baby it's cold outside
I've got to go away - Baby it's cold outside

'Okay, I am going to go and see Lester, like I promised' Howard said, trying to find his trousers and wondering what the time was.

Lester didn't wear a watch, it was a biological impossibility now, but he knew he would still complain.

'Don't go' said Vince, stretching languorously and smirking.

Howard didn't turn around. 'Can't' he said briefly, picking up a sock and tutting when he realised it was Vince's, complete with red pom-pom.

'But Howard' Vince said, slowly moving towards Howard, 'its so cold outside.'

Howard turned around to raise an eyebrow at Vince but instantly regretted it as he saw Vince, hair mused and biting his bottom lip.

'I'll wear a coat' he said, sounding only half sure himself.

Vince nodded, then tilted his head, 'but what if you get ill, you should really stay here with me, hmm?'

Howard found himself nodding along before laughing, 'Vince, stop it!'

Vince smirked, 'what? I'm not doing anything am I?' Howard wryly shook his head.

Vince moved closer and slung his arms around Howard's back. 'Its just so cold out, and its all warm here, warm and cosy like a kitten in a mitten'.

Howard went to say something but he faltered as he felt Vince softly kiss up his back to the nape of his neck.

'V…Vince' he said warningly. 'Yes Howard' said Vince, in between kisses.

Howard forgot what he was going to say as Vince slipped round from his back to onto his lap, curling his arms round his neck and gently playing with his hair.

'It is a bit cold' Howard said as Vince trailed kisses down his chest.

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