Day 12 – 25 December (Christmas Day)

It was finally Christmas day. Hong Kong had just opened his Christmas present from his parents – a toy train set complete with railway tracks. Arthur was helping him set it up to play with it for the first time in the living room.

Meanwhile, Yao had retrieved Arthur's Christmas present from where he had hidden it in the storeroom. He hoped Arthur would be happy with it.

When Arthur had finished setting the train set up and Hong Kong was happily playing with it, Arthur stood up and dusted himself down.

Yao took this opportunity to give Arthur his gift. He shuffled towards Arthur and motioned for him to take a seat on the couch.

Arthur glanced curiously at Yao, but nevertheless, did as Yao wanted him to. Yao collapsed onto the sofa next to Arthur. He pulled a black bag from his side and placed it on Arthur's lap.

"What's this?"

Yao looked at Arthur lovingly. "Merry Christmas, aru."

Arthur looked at the bag. It was obvious that this was Yao's Christmas present for him. "Can I open it?"

"Of course."

Arthur opened the bag and pulled out a brand new laptop. "Whoa," he gasped. It was very sleek and light; it seemed to be the latest technology. Yao must have spent a lot of money on it.

"I've installed all the programs you generally use on the PC, aru," Yao told Arthur. "So you can immediately use it."

Arthur looked at Yao in amazement. "How did you know I wanted a new laptop?"

Yao sniggered. "I hear you cursing your computer whenever you work. It's about time anyway. How old is your old laptop, aru?"

"Four years old," replied Arthur.

"That's pretty old for a computer, in today's standards."

"Well, thanks," said Arthur, leaning forward to kiss Yao on the cheek. "Now it's my turn to give you your last Christmas present of the year." He stood up and made his way to the kitchen.

When Arthur came out of the kitchen, he was cradling in his arms a bouquet of roses. He took his seat next to Yao and gently transferred the bouquet into Yao's hand. "I will stop loving you when the last rose dies," he said to Yao.

When the last rose dies? Yao was confused. They would all die eventually, so why…? Then it was clear – in the centre of the bouquet was a fake rose. So, all in all, Arthur had given Yao twelve roses, eleven real ones and one fake one. The fake one wouldn't die, so Arthur was saying that he would love Yao forever.

Yao leaned his head onto Arthur's shoulder. "Thank you for a memorable Christmas," he said quietly. "Thank you for planning the twelve gifts on the twelve days, aru."

Arthur's face reddened considerably. "It… it was nothing… I just wanted…"

Yao didn't let him finish. He placed the roses on the couch beside him and pounced onto Arthur, kissing him passionately.

It was a great Christmas.