Two hours later Spencer answered his apartment door and saw Aaron and Jack standing next to each other with their overnight bags. Spencer helped the two get settled in after he ushered them through the entryway. He had Aaron set their bags in his room and Aaron put on Christmas cartoons for Jack while he helped Spencer finish getting dinner ready.
Aaron looked over the spread that Spencer had prepared for just the three of them and said, "Thank you Spencer again for the invitation tonight. I don't know what I would've done except take Jack to our favorite diner for dinner and then back home for a Christmas story before bed."
Spencer looked at Aaron and said, "You're welcome but I had my own motives for inviting you two over as well. I was thinking of Jack and what he might find to be normal and then I was thinking that you might not have dinner or anything except presents so..."
"Spencer this is fine. Thank you. Now we won't be lonely and neither will you."
Spencer sighed and said, "You're right. Let's make plates so Jack doesn't think we're teasing him with all the food."
"Right." Aaron said as he shook his head to clear his thoughts.
Spencer chuckled and gathered plates for all of them and handed two to Aaron so he could get their plates made with the foods they liked. After they had their plates made and the three were at the table Jack asked, "Are we going to bake cookies for Santa or just use store bought cookies like last year?"
Spencer looked over at Aaron and then looked at Jack and said, "We can make a small batch of chocolate chip cookies for Santa and I have some fresh mini carrots and celery for the reindeer."
Jack lit up and said, "Cool. Thanks Spencer."
"You're welcome Jack."
Aaron looked at Jack's plate and said, "Eat up buddy. We need energy to make the cookies and to eat dessert."
Jack's face lit up and asked, "Pumpkin pie?"
Spencer grinned and said, "Yes pumpkin pie. It's a staple."
Aaron smiled as well and said, "Thank you again Spencer for planning this and inviting us over for the holiday."
"It's not a problem. I just thought we could start a new tradition..." Spencer trailed off as his words were catching up to him and he snapped his mouth shut.
"I like your thoughts Spencer. We'll talk more later and see if we're on the same page." Aaron let a grin appear and Spencer let out the breath he was holding.
A few hours later the two had Jack asleep on a cot and Spencer and Aaron were sitting on the couch - legs intertwined with a glass of wine each and Spencer set his wine down so he could give Aaron his Christmas present. He wanted Christmas morning to focus on Jack and his gifts plus he didn't know how Aaron would react to his present so he figured that now would be a good time.
He picked up his gift from the table and handed it to Aaron. Aaron took the box and said, "You didn't have to Spencer."
"I wanted to Aaron. Now open it."
Spencer watched as Aaron carefully opened the package and took the top of the box off. He saw a coin and once he got a better look at the coin his gaze snapped back up to Spencer's.
"How'd you know?"
"Know?" Spencer asked a frown forming on his face.
"I'm sorry Spencer. You wouldn't know about this particular coin. I love it by the way." Spencer smiled and Aaron indulged in the story behind the coin, "I had this particular coin as a boy in my collection. My grandfather gave it to me but when I reached the age of eleven my father took my coins and sold them saying I was getting too big to collect them. I didn't have to time to get this coin as he sold them while I was away at school."
Spencer reached out for Aaron's hand and said, "I'm so sorry. I only knew you collected coins but not that you were a previous owner of this particular coin."
"I have a gift for you too."
"You didn't have too."
"I know but I wanted too just like you did." Aaron got up and found his gift to Spencer and he gave it to him.
Spencer ripped through the packaging and opened the box to see a Tag Heuer Carrera chronograph watch. Spencer's jaw dropped and he looked up at Aaron and he said, "I can not accept this. It's way too much."
Aaron wrapped his hands over Spencer's hands and the gift and said, "No matter what we are to each other, you deserve this gift. You've been there for Jack and myself and I want you to have this." Aaron took the watch out of the box and set the correct time before he set it on Spencer's wrist that he wore his watches.
Spencer adjusted to the weight and said, "It's beautiful Aaron."
"I'm glad you like it."
Spencer looked over at the Christmas tree and the presents and then the kitchen with the leftover cookie crumbs and pieces of carrot and celery to show the reindeer were there. Once he knew that he and Aaron didn't need to stay in the living room anymore, he said, "Let's go to my room and talk."
Aaron stood up and he helped Spencer off of the couch. Spencer led Aaron down the short hall and into his bedroom. "Spenceā¦"
"Aaron please sit." Aaron sat on the end of the bed and Spencer paced a few times while he glanced at the watch Aaron got him. He knew that the two of them had been circling each other and that was part of the reason he wanted to invite Aaron and Jack to his apartment for Christmas. He just didn't realize Aaron was going to give him a five thousand dollar watch as his first Christmas present. Granted he had gotten Aaron a far more priceless gift with the coin but he was able to work the seller down with his negotiation skills.
Finally Spencer made his decision - forget talking, he'd ask one question. He stopped in front of Aaron and asked, "We're serious, aren't we?"
Aaron said, "I think we are."
"I need a definite answer Aaron."
"Yes Spencer, we are."
"Good. Now I can do this." Spencer cupped Aaron's face and kissed him deeply.
Aaron returned the kiss and pulled Spencer into his lap. He pulled away slowly and said, "I'm yours Spencer. Anything you want."
"Aaron." Spencer said before he took Aaron's mouth back into another kiss swiping his tongue and lapping at Aaron's mouth. He was going to treasure all of the moments they had together. Aaron laid back and pulled Spencer on top of him. Aaron moaned as they continued to make out and he ran his hands over Spencer's sides and grabbed the edges of his shirt to tug the t-shirt over his head.
When Aaron broke the kiss to take Spencer's shirt off, Spencer said, "Strip."
Aaron kissed him again before Spencer moved to the side and Aaron tossed his clothes and shoes on the floor before he scooted back onto Spencer's bed. Spencer stood and stripped with a confidence Aaron didn't know he had and Spencer crawled over Aaron and straddled his lap. He leaned down and kissed Aaron sucking on his bottom lip while Aaron trailed his hands down flesh he could now touch in an intimate way and he gripped Spencer's hips.
Spencer pulled out of the kiss and said, "Do you want me tonight?"
"I do but I want you to have me tonight. I meant what I said - I'm yours. I've been yours for so long and we've lost so much time because I was a coward and couldn't admit my feelingsā¦."
Spencer pressed a light kiss to Aaron's mouth and he shushed him gently. "You're not a coward. We lost a few years without this kind of intimacy but we were always there for each other when it counted and even when it didn't." Spencer reached for his side drawer and pulled out what he would need. "Knees or stomach will be best this time."
"I don't care if I hurt for a few days, I want to see you and feel you."
"I'll do my best to take care of you."
"I know you will."
The next morning found Aaron and Spencer tangled in the sheets and a loud shriek at the bedroom door startled them awake. "Santa came! Wake up!" Then he darted back to the living room.
Aaron was surprised that Spencer leaned over and gave him a deep kiss before he rolled out of bed and pulled on some jeans and a white button down shirt out of his closet. Spencer picked up his glasses and grinned at Aaron and said, "You have to get up sleepyhead."
"And I thought you'd be the one that'd still be in bed." Aaron muttered from his pillow.
"I'd still be in bed but it'd be with you and we wouldn't be leaving it unless we were hungry for food."
Aaron looked over at his lover and saw his hair mussed and Spencer in dress casual with the watch on his wrist and he wanted to pin him to a wall but they had to get through Christmas with Jack. "You're very sexy first thing in the morning."
"Only for you." Spencer smiled and then continued, "Now let's go see what Santa brought us last night."
"Spencer you didn't have to." Aaron protested lightly.
"I didn't. I bought you a now very priceless coin. Anything else, Santa brought."
"So you believe Santa exists?"
"Only for his cause, which he's never failed on."
"Okay. I'll see you guys in a few minutes."
"I'll have your favorite coffee ready and our breakfast going."
"Spoiling me already?"
"New traditions. Now get up so Jack can open his presents."
"I'll be right there."
Spencer left his room and found Jack sitting on the couch trying to contain himslef watching the Christmas lights. "Morning Jack."
"Morning Spencer. Santa came and he brought lots more presents than last year."
"He did, did he? You must've been a good boy this year."
"Last year we were sad. This year I've seen Dad smile more especially when he's with you. I asked something for Santa to bring but I don't know if he could."
Spencer paused and switched directions and knelt carefully in front of Jack. "What did you ask Santa to bring you?"
Jack's lip trembled and he replied, "You."
Spencer was confused and said, "But I am here."
"Do you love us?"
"You know I do Jack. What's going on?"
"When you come over and then you go home again Daddy's sad again. I miss you in the mornings too."
Spencer couldn't believe how in tune Jack was to his father and he pulled Jack into a tight hug and said, "I'm not going anywhere and I'll definitely be there in the mornings more often. This is very new for your Dad and I so do you think you can be patient with us?"
"As long as you don't leave."
"I'll try very hard not to. Now why don't you help me get breakfast started and after we eat we can open all of our presents?"
Jack smiled and said, "Okay Spencer."
Aaron had stayed in the hall when he caught the subject of the conversation and he didn't even realize Jack was affected by his and Spencer's dance into being a couple. He was glad that Spencer didn't freak out with the questions and in his own way told Jack they were together. He was glad Jack was okay with who he wanted to spend the rest of his life. It looked like not only his holiday wish but his son's as well was answered that year and they could take up a healing mantle and form the family they both wanted and needed.
