21st December 2013

Christmas tree

Joey is getting everything ready to decorate the tree he and the kids just got this morning. Joe-Joe is excited all day since not only will they decorate the tree, they also get to go to Matties birthday party later and spend the night there. She had enjoyed the last weekend at V's place, playing with Mattie as well as V. Apparently V had distracted her for a while to give the boys a bit of time to play something without a much younger little girl that knew all to well how to pull both boys strings and make them play the games she wants to play. Joey just hopes that V will do the same again.

During the last week Seth asked Joey to ask V for the perfect gift for Mattie and to mention that money doesn't matter since Seth would MAKE Seto pay for whatever Mattie could possibly wish for. V had smiled and replied "Tell Seth that Mattie is sentimental, so he will love anything someone takes the time to make or pick out for him, as long as its not some generic thing that could be given to anyone. He's all about the thought that goes into things."

Seth wasn't happy with that answer since it didn't help him with finding a present but by now he bought Mattie two dragon plushies, the same ones he and Joe-Joe had, to keep Mattie company when they weren't around. Joe-Joe is going to give him the white one and Seth the black one. Joey just hopes that Mattie will be happy about it because if not, Seth will be devastated.

It's probably just because Seth hasn't been able to make many friends yet and thus treasures the few he has more than other kids would. But Joey is still curious to see if Seth will act similarly when Jaden's birthday comes around which unfortunately will be some time from now. Jaden is a boy from Seth's school and the only other friend Seth had managed to find and Joey can hardly wait to see if Seth will be the same as he is with Mattie since Joey remembers all too well that V had mentioned something about Christmas shopping for Mattie's first crush. Since Mattie is about the same age as Seth it isn't too far off track to assume that Seth also might have a little crush, possibly on Mattie. But at least there is no reason to take this too serious since Seth is very young for a more serious relationship.

"Daddy?" Joe-Joe asks, "Can I put the star to the top?"

"Sure sweetie." Joey says, "But then Seth will do it next year. It's only fair if you switch, right?"

"I don't mind." Seth points out, closing Joey's laptop which he borrowed while Joey got all the decorations together. "I don't care who puts the star to the top, so she can do it next year too if it makes her happy."

"Then we'll ask Seto if he wants to do it next year." Joey insists, "Maybe it's important to him too?"

"No." Joe-Joe claims, "If he cared about it he'd be here instead of stupid work."

"His work isn't stupid and he needs to get a few more things done to have time over Christmas." Joey points out. "He's planning a great Christmas party for lots of kids for the second day of Christmas. There gonna be just as many kids as on Halloween."

"Will I get to go there too?" Joe-Joe asks excited.

"Of course." Joey replies. "Both Seto and I will be helping out that day and there wouldn't be any staff around to watch you two since I already said, that they can go to their families over the Christmas days."

"I assume Mattie will be present as well?" Seth replies a little more timid than usual and clearly curious about the matter.

"I guess so." Joey says, "All the employees that help are allowed to bring their kids to it and as far as I remember V offered to help as well since he has no prior engagements with family or such. You can ask them when you go there later though."

"Didn't Pappy do anything for the kids on Thanksgiving?" Joe-Joe questions surprised now that there wasn't a party on that day.

"He sent some food to them." Joey replies and added in a grumble, "This year he even got some homeless people some food too."

Even Seth has halve a grin at the memory of how that came to happen but adds to distract Joey from it again, "And Seto had his brother, sister in law and niece here so he couldn't just leave them. But Mokuba is doing a Christmas party for orphans in Germany too so they can't come anyway."

"I know a great present for Pappy." Joe suddenly chirped.

"And what is it?" Joey asks not sounding as excited as she since her ideas weren't as good as she thought them to be.

"We are." She says excited and after Joey just looks questioningly she adds, "You go get a ring and ask him to marry you and then you both adopt us."

Joey stares at her for another second but then smiles, "Even though I assume he would like the thought of being engaged to me, I still doubt that he would like to be asked. He's definitely the kind of guy who wants to be the one asking."

"Maybe." She partly agrees. "But he'd never say no to you."

"Probably not." Joey agrees with a blush. "But since I know that he'd rather be the one asking me I doubt that I should ask him."

"Then we give him vouchers" She suggests.

"For what?" Joey asks wondering what might come next.

"You give him a voucher for a Yes to whatever question he chooses." She suggests and Joey quickly disregards it since Seto might use it for a doggy costume not wanting to push Joey into a marriage he mightn't be ready for "and we give him vouchers for little things. Like I give him a kids free morning with his big puppy."

Joey just glares and asks, "I really hope you don't mean me."

"Of course I do." She replies, "Don't you remember how I got the idea to get him a dog in the first place? He always called you mutt the day I met him. And I really don't want to give him a voucher for a kids free morning with his mutt." After that she rolls her eyes and goes on. "Seth could give him a voucher for helping him on his business trip. He's so smart I bet he could help him a lot and then he won't come back stinky again."

"We'll I do think that the vouchers from you two are a nice idea." Joey points out. "Maybe you can draw one or two with V over the weekend and Seth can write them when he has some time."

"I make many with V." She cheers. "I bet he has great ideas for things I could give Pappy. And Mattie can think of things for Seth to give Pappy. Mattie is smart too. Not Seth smart but smart."

Joey had to smile at the term 'Seth smart' but says, "And I'll think of a few vouchers I can give him, like a dinner for two when you're sleeping over somewhere during the coming year."

"Can I get a voucher for helping you with dinner some time for Christmas?" Joe-Joe asks. And Joey actually likes the idea of all of them giving some vouchers every year. The big presents he and Seto are planning are going to be under the tree from Santa but Joey still wants the kids to give something to others and not getting anything from their parents, that isn't from Santa, might just confuse the little girl as to why she has to get something. Santa can get them their presents too right? Joey will have to talk about it to Seto though since he'll have to have something small for the kids as well.

"We'll see about it." Joey says, "But I really like your idea of giving each other vouchers. Especially if it's for something you can't buy with money since that really comes from your heart, right?"

Joe-Joe just nods and gets out the lights to start decorating the tree, happy that she has a present for her Pappy while Joey is wondering what kind of present he'll get Seto under the Christmas tree. Santa has to have something for Pappy too, right?

While Seth climbs up a letter to fix the lights that go further up Joe-Joe whispers to Joey, "I got a voucher idea for Seth too."

"What is it?" Joey asks in a whisper.

"One permission to go to Mattie without me." Joe-Joe mutters quietly, "I think he'll like that."

"I think so too." Joey agrees with a smile surprised that Joe-Joe caught on to it that Seth might want to spend some time with the other boy alone and even was okay to give it to him. Joey will however point out to Seth to think of a voucher for Joe-Joe too. That can't be too hard and won't give away too much, he might already assume to get one too and if not, he at least won't know what will be on the voucher. Considering from who it is, it might be for a make over. God Joey hopes that he won't get that one.

Once the tree is decorated and Joe-Joe put up the star at the very top Joey gets them some lunch before getting their bags packed and then getting them dressed for the big party right before taking them there. By now he learned to get Joe changed right before leaving and not a second sooner.

Once there V opens the door and Seth and Joe give a more or less polite welcome before going right towards Mattie to give their presents. "And did you think of something for grumpy yet?" V asks even though ever since grumpy is happily dating his puppy he isn't all that grumpy anymore.

"Not really. Joe had a great idea, to give him a voucher for a nice dinner for two when the kids are over here or somewhere else sometime next year but she's going to give everyone vouchers and wants one too so I guess we give the vouchers to each other and the other gifts will be under the tree so I still have to get Seto something for there."

"Did she have a good idea for that too?" V asks.

"A ring. To go with a certain question." Joey replies rolling his eyes.

"And what's stopping you?" V asks excited.

"That he would probably want to be the one asking." Joey replies.

"Great, then just give him the yes and I'll tell him to provide the question." V suggests excited.

"That still wouldn't give me something to wrap up and put under the tree." Joey just points out rolling his eyes yet again.

"Wrap up yourself." V says noticing that Joey didn't tell him not to tell Seto to provide a certain question. And not even mentioned that he doesn't want that yet.

"The kids will be there." Joey nearly grumbles. "I need a present. A real proper present like something he can touch, use and that most importantly is not alive!"

"That's gonna be a tough one." V replies, "How about a cooking book? As far as I remember from what you two keep telling me, he still ows you one home made dinner!"

"That's actually not a bad idea." Joey replies, "I doubt he'll actually like it but he could pick a dinner for me to make too so maybe he'll like it a little. And it definitely is better than nothing."

On his way back to the mansion Joey wonders if Seto is already waiting there for his return. He was still in the office when he left with the kids but Seto does know the time he's to drop off the kids at V's place and promised to be home earlier to spend some extra time with Joey on their kids free weekend. Joey quickly did buy a cooking book on his way back just in case he didn't get a better idea until the big day and in case he did get a better idea, he could still give Seto both presents or keep the book for himself.

He leaves the wrapped book in the car just in case Seto is home, which turns out to be a wise decision since Seto is already waiting beneath the Christmas tree, reading a book.

"Is the book very good or do you think I can distract you?" Joey asks once he sees his boyfriend.

"Screw the book." Seto replies.

"No thanks," Joey shrugs his shoulders, "I'd rather screw you."


Authors Note: Thanks to Angel Dove1, theabridgedkuriboh, dancing elf, sherabo and Violet-Eclipse for the review.

Next chapter will be out on the 25th of December. And you'll find out if V will tell Seto to provide a certain question so Joey can give him a yes. And if he does, what will Seto do about it?