AN: Hey, I am really and truly very sorry about how long it has taken me to post this chapter! Between work, cleaning, and studying chemistry to prepare for college this fall, I've been extremely busy. I'm also trying to make the chapters longer. I gave you a treat at the end. JI hope that this repays you for you wait just a little bit. I will try to get the chapters out sooner, from now on. I am still including a lyrics at the end as a hint!

December 25th

Gabriel paces through the house. He walks into the kitchen, around the counter, into the dining room, through the living room, and back into the kitchen. Today is Christmas. It's the first Christmas since Sam died. Gave has been planning today since the end of October. He sent Sam out early today and told him to spend the morning doing something fun.

"How can I have fun, if you're not there?" Sam had replied with a pout.

Gabe had pushed him out the door anyway.

Now Gabriel is stressing. He feels so guilt because Sam was tortured by that bitch for so long. It's killing him. He still doesn't understand how he wasn't able to find Sam for so long. Seven months. That's how long she had him. Thinking about Lilith always makes Gabe's blood boil. Yes, she is dead, but it still doesn't help the waves of rage that run through Gabriel's body whenever he thinks about her.

Gabriel calms his breathing and focuses on his plan. Today will be prefect. It has to be. The archangel looks around the rooms as he continues his laps.

The kitchen is decorated in plants. Over both doors, two holly branches stretch toward two intertwined hearts mad from holly berries in two different shades of red. The center island has a ring of candles nestled inside a wreath made of poinsettias and holly leaves. White pine, Douglas fir, and blue spruce needles lie scattered on the kitchen counters and add their beautiful scents to the air.

Continuing into the dining room, the trickster looks around and makes sure that the food looks just right. Gabe made sure to include at least ten different varieties of cake, cookies, pie, and ice cream. Twenty bowls of mixed candies are also present, of course. Twelve red and green ribbons run across the room diagonally. Little cupcakes in all different flavors are cleverly attached to the ribbons. IN between each of the cupcakes a candy cane hangs down.

The living room has a very unique tree. It is a huge balsam fir tree, but Gabriel, being what he is, ha altered the trunk to hide an entire room inside.

He put the present Sam had for him inside as well as his present to Sam. Sam forbid him to examine his gift. So, Gabriel had moved the parcels telepathically. Thereby preventing himself from giving into the temptation to figure out what it is.

The living room has a lovely hearth with a crackling fire. A red plush love seat is set near the fire. The coffee table, in front of the love seat, has candy scattered across it artistically. The entire set up is perfect. Gabe is ready to call Sam home.

Gabriel opens their walkie-talkie connection. "Sam?" He thinks.

"He sweetie, are you ready for me to come home?" Comes the immediate response.

"Yep, but come through the front door," Gabe answers.

A second later a short knock raps against the door. Sam enters right away. He walks inside and then stops. He looks around their living room.

"Wow! Gabe, this is amazing!"

"This isn't even half of it," Gabe chuckles.

Sam takes his lover's hand. Gabriel pulls him excitedly into the kitchen. Sam smells the aroma of the kitchen and he loves it. Leaning over, he gives his archangel a quick kiss.

"Do you like it?" Gabriel asks nervously.

"No, I love it. Although there is one thing I'd like to change," Sam says.

The trickster gives his lover a sideways glance. His eyebrows raised in a silent question.

Sam snaps his fingers and Gabriel's shirt disappears. The archangel laughs and returns the favor. Now both shirtless, they walk lazily into the dining room. Gabe smiles at the look on Sam's face, when he sees all the food.

Sam steps toward one of the ribbons and uses his teeth to remove a cupcake. It's dark chocolate with strawberry filling. He eats all of it, but misses a small amount of icing that sticks to his nose. Gabe reaches up and licks the icing off of Sam's nose, causing a bright red blush to creep over Sam's face.

"Come on. Let's do presents!" Gabe exclaims.

"Okay," Sam says with a shaky breath. He is still getting reacquainted with Gabe's ways. He loves Gabriel and he missed everything about his archangel. It just was weird to be back with him and not being held by that bitch. He still dealt with horrible nightmares about her every night. Gabe was always there to hold him and remind him that he was safe.

Gabe leads them both back into the living room and over to the tree. With a wave of his hand, the hidden door into the magical room opens. Sam looks excited as they walk into the tree. They sit down on a comfortable blanket stretched out on the floor.

"I'll give you your gift first," Sam says with a smile.

He hands Gabriel the box and Gabe immediately starts to rip through the paper. When all the paper is off, a wooden box is revealed. Upon opening the box a beautiful iridescent blown-glass carrousel comes into view.

Sam turns to Gabriel and says, "I know there isn't much that can sneak up on an archangel, but there are a few things. This carrousel is enchanted to start moving and changing colors when someone is at the door, turquoise in that case, or someone is trying to get in the house by any other means, deep purple in that instance. You and I are exempt from the enchantment though."

'Wow, Sam, it's beautiful!" Gabriel says in awe, "I've got yours next."

Gabe hands Sam a box that has a large pink ribbon in a bow holding the box together. Sam pulls away the ribbon and opens the lid of the box. A puppy pops her head up and gives a small bark. She is a beautiful golden retriever. A small note attached to her collar explains that she was rescued from an abusive family. Sam looks at Gabe and smiles with tears in his eyes.

"I love you," Sam says as he pulls his archangel into a bone-crushing hug.

Gabe hugs Sam tightly and can't help, but think that he deserves none of this.

Sam sits up sharply. Shit. Gabriel thinks. I must have projected that thought loud enough for Sam to hear it! Fuck. He's going to be pissed.

"Gabe," Sam starts off slowly, "why do you think you don't deserve this?" He asks as he gestures between them.

"I…I couldn't find you, Sammy…" Gabriel tries to find the words to describe what he is feeling. "I tried…I…I really tried…but I failed you! I don't deserve you…I don't deserve anything!"

"Gabriel!" Sam is shocked. He never believed that Gabe felt this way. Sam takes a deep breath and tries to organize his thoughts.

"I need you to listen to me. Don't interrupt." Sam waits for a second, until Gabriel nods. "I don't blame you for what happened. I died to protect you. I would do it again in a heartbeat, even knowing what would happen afterward. I love you. You are perfect to me! Don't you dare ever see yourself as less than I see you. You mean too much to me for me to watch you beat yourself up over something that was outside of your control."

Gabe stares at Sam. The only emotions he can feel from Sam are love and determination. Gabriel feels overwhelmed. Sam loves him so much. It is still hard for him to process. He knows he loves Sam, but he just can't wrap his head around the fact that Sam feels the same way!

Sam pulls Gabriel into a kiss. It starts out tender and grows quickly. Sam pulls Gabriel on top of himself. Gabe grinds down on Sam as they continue making out. Sam slips his tongue into Gabe's mouth and gets a groan in response. When the need to breath becomes too much, Gabriel starts to plant open mouthed kisses down Sam's neck. Gabriel shifts his weight to free his hand. He snaps his fingers and their clothes disappear. Gabe grinds down on Sam and their erections rub against each other.

"Gabe…I need you." Sam moans.

Gabriel can't even wait for the time it will take to open Sam up. He snaps his fingers and Sam is ready instantly. Lining up at Sam's entrance, he pushes inside in one quick thrust. He waits a minute for Sam to adjust.

Sam bucks his hips up, "Gabe…damnit….move…now!" He groans.

Gabriel pulls almost all the way out, before he slams back in. Sam clutches at his back. Gabe begins to get a rhythm to his thrusts. Sam meets his rhythm eagerly. They are both reaching climax fast, but neither of them care, when it feels this good.

"Sam….I'm so close," Gabriel moans out.

"Me too," Sam responds.

Gabe reaches down and strokes Sam's erection. Only a few more seconds pass before Sam reaches his orgasm with a cry of Gabriel's name on his lips. Gabriel thrusts a few more times, before he follows Sam over the edge, calling out his lover's name.

Gabriel snaps them clean and with another snap puts them back in their bed. They cuddle close and soon fall asleep wrapped in each other's arms.

"Cuddle up angel/cuddle up my little dove/and we'll ride on down baby/into this tunnel of love/…/and the lights go out/and it's just the three of us/you, me, and all that stuff we're so scared of/ad we'll ride on down baby/into this tunnel of love"

-Tunnel of Love by Bruce Springsteen