Author's Notes: Thank you to all my reviewers!! Noone, you need to change your name! Your review does count! If I get 4 reviews for this chapter I'll update. (giggles in anticipation)

Also, just an fyi, although he will be discussed more and more in the coming chapters, Sirius will not be making a physical appearance until chapter 36. (Yes, I do have the rest of the story finished, with some polishing still to do) Sorry! :-) But I will be including some of his viewpoint when he does appear.

This is another short chapter, the next one is longer, but no sex again until Chapter 29. :-)

Chapter 27 Presents!

Remus settled back in his chair on Christmas morning. The full moon was that night so Remus was feeling achy and weak. Tabby had tucked him into his chair with a blanket and a cup of warm milk before sitting in her own chair. It was tradition, at least when Tabby was home, that they opened presents first, then had a big brunch. Then Stevens always came for tea and dinner and they all watched a movie. When Tabby wasn't home, Remus and Cassius lounged in bed all morning, only getting up when they were finally too hungry to have sex again and then they opened presents.

Remus was always amazed by the restraint Cassius showed when opening a present. He didn't just rip open the wrapping, he carefully managed to get the ribbon off, without untying it, then peeled off the tape carefully and slowly unwrapped presents, never tearing the wrapping paper. He would smooth the papers and fold it before opening the box. It drove Stevens crazy and consequently he never wrapped his presents for Cassius. Remus, Tabby and Moody always wrapped theirs because they knew how much Cassius enjoyed the process. Cassius had spent almost an hour unwrapping his presents from the Malfoys which were mostly clothes because everyone knew Cassius refused to shop for clothing.

Tabby had already unwrapped her presents from Remus and Cassius. Remus gave her a new cookbook of Greek vegetarian food and some of her favorite candy from Honeydukes. Cassius gave her a new set of knives and the big serving platter she'd been hinting about for months.

Remus had just unwrapped a sweaters, some wool socks and slippers from Tabby. He pulled the sweater on over his pajama top and slipped his feet into the slippers. "Tabby, I'll never be cold in Hogwarts again with these. Thank you."

"You're welcome." Tabby smiled.

"Wicked! Thanks, Tabby! Remus, it's a first edition of Hogwarts: A History" Cassius held the heavy book up to show Remus.

Remus smiled, he'd helped Tabby to pick the book out. "Wow." Cassius nodded and opened the book starting to read it. "Cass, you've still got a couple presents to open."

"Oh, yeah." Cassius reluctantly put the book down beside him and reached for another box. "This one is for you from Moody." He levitated the box to Remus then reached for another one. "And this is for Tabby from Moody." He handed the box to Tabby.

Remus ripped open the wrapping paper. "Oh, it's new briefcase." Remus had been using the one that his parents' had given him for graduation, but it was falling apart.

"Doesn't look like a new briefcase." Cassius crawled over to look at it more closely.

"It's charmed to look old on the outside." Remus said as he opened it, "And it's huge inside. I'll be able to put all of my coursework in it. That was very thoughtful of him."

"What'd he get you, Tabby?"

"Some new canisters for the pantry." Tabby answered, a blush staining her cheeks.

"Where's his present for you?" Remus reached out and stroked Cassius's cheek.

"At work. He gave it to me a few days ago, before he left for his holiday."

"And what is it?"

"A charmed dictionary. So I can look up words I forget how to spell." Cassius moved back over to the two unopened presents. "The only ones left are from you, Remus, you don't have anymore to open."

"Really? Where's your present for me?"

"Oh…I forgot." Cassius's face flushed. "It's in the kitchen."

"Let's finish opening the presents here, then we'll go into the kitchen to eat and Remus will get his present then." Tabby suggested as she handed Cassius one of the two presents from Remus.

Seven minutes later… "What is it?" Cassius turned the bottle upside down watching the liquid inside of it slosh around.

"It's cologne."

Cassius's nose wrinkled. "I don't wear cologne."

"I know you don't but I thought you might like this." Cassius looked at the bottle skeptically. "Cassius, would you just try it, please?"

Cassius opened the bottle reluctantly and gave a tentative sniff. Remus watched as the green eyes swerved over to look at him. "It smells like you."

"I know. Took me ages to make it."

"You made this?" Cassius sniffed it again. "It smells just like you." He placed the stopper back in the bottle and crawled back over to Remus. "How'd you make this?"

"A very long and drawn out process, I can show you the book I used." Remus smiled as Cassius crawled up into his lap and buried his face in Remus's neck.

"It's like you bottled up part of you and gave it to me." He murmured as his long fingers tightened on the bottle.

"I'm glad you like it." Remus hugged him tightly.

"What's my other present?"

"You have to open it and find out." Remus took the bottle from Cassius and set it on the table next to him. Cassius reached out and accio-ed the last wrapped present from under the tree. He opened the big box revealing a new pair of black Doc Marten boots. "Thanks, Remus!"

"You're welcome. Tabby told me your old boots were getting worn through."

"Uh huh." Cassius picked up one of the boots. "And you already laced them."

"Of course I did. Last time it took you over an hour to do it." Remus laughed.

"That's only because you were distracting me at the time."

Remus laughed. "All right, off, you're crushing me." Remus pushed at Cassius. "And I'm hungry."

"I'm comfy right here." Cassius dropped the box on the floor with a thud and wound his arms around Remus. His mouth was almost touching Remus's when he pulled back. "Oh! Your present. Come on!"

Remus was pulled out of his chair and dragged towards the door. Cassius stopped in the doorway to kiss him under the mistletoe. A moment later, Remus felt himself hit the wall as Cassius pressed hard against him.

"Mmmm." Remus tangled his hands in Cassius's hair. Maybe he'd have to reconsider cutting it, having something to hold on to was good, especially when his knees felt like they were going to give out at any moment. "Cass." He gasped as Cassius rubbed against him.

"I love you so much." Cassius pulled away, breathing hard. "Come on, you have to see your present. It's not wrapped though because I couldn't figure out how to wrap it." Cassius pulled Remus back against his chest, put his hand over Remus's eyes and walked them into the kitchen. "Now, open your eyes." Cassius's hand lifted away.

Remus stared at a large clock hanging on the wall. Instead of numbers, there were locations written around the face of it: Out of the Country, Home, Work, Mortal Danger. Remus noticed the two hands on the clock: Cassius and Remus. Remus stared at it, feeling tears prick his eyes.

Cassius shifted, scuffing his foot against the floor. "Do you like it?"

"Oh, I love it!" Remus flung his arms around Cassius, kissing him. His parents had had one but he'd been forced to sell it to buy food a year before he and Cassius had started dating. "Thank you!"

"I know you wanted one for ages but it took a bit to figure out how to charm the hands without going to the Wizard Clock Shop. And I wanted to do it all by myself." Cassius said with a touch of embarrassment.

"I love it. And it means even more that you did it yourself." Remus rubbed his nose against his mate's. Cassius smiled.