Christmas morning dawned crisp, bright and cold. Shannon roused herself earlier from sleep than she was used to, mindful of the promise she'd made to Andrew.
She was draped across Boone as usual; she'd been alone when she fallen asleep after securing his promise that he wouldn't be too much longer. She hadn't bothered to determine what his interpretation of 'too much longer' actually was, but suspected that it was much longer than hers. She disentangled herself from him carefully, and dressed quietly, pulling the door shut softly behind her and heading downstairs.
When they'd decorated the tree a few nights before, she'd been amused by the rituals the two of them had developed in her absence. Andrew had automatically put a traditional holiday DVD in the player, and Boone had made hot apple cider, lacing hers and his with a shot of brandy. She almost felt in the way what with how automatic their actions were, but they were both careful to include her, asking her opinion often, besides which Andrew needed more than a little help from her what with only one functioning arm. Sawyer had just sat in a chair in the corner, a whiskey in his hand, making snide comments now and then, a contemplative look on his face, like this was something he wanted for himself desperately, but felt he didn't deserve.
It was an artificial tree of course; tree-hugger Boone wouldn't have murdered a fir tree for his own holiday enjoyment if the existence of the world depended on it. The decorations were plain and simple, mostly made of natural materials; wood, cloth, papier mache, and a few looked as if they'd come from flea markets and antique stores. She imagined the two of them bonding over a quiet Saturday morning treasure hunt looking for them. They'd been packed away the Christmas before, as carefully as Boone did everything, tissue paper wrapped around the most delicate ones, everything in well labelled shoe boxes. The lights were miniature LED hydro saving ones, of course. He'd made edible cookie decorations as well, strung with red silk ribbons; those had gone on last. She shook her head again at how casually amazing he was. When she'd complimented him, he'd ducked his head shyly and dismissed it in embarrassment.
It was such a Norman Rockwell, or Frank Capra stereotypical Christmas that she couldn't help but laugh. She figured it was compensation for how different her brother's Christmases had been as a child, and her own as well once Adam had married Sabrina. There was no homey family gathering, they'd just go to school in the morning, and arrive home to a fully decorated tree, the household staff having erected it according to Sabrina's instructions in their absence. There were never any toys in the impeccably wrapped packages under the tree, toys might lead to clutter, and clutter would definitely mar the perfection of the carefully contrived ambience of the house. Instead they got functional gifts, which were to be put away immediately after the last one was opened. She remembered her first Christmas there, when she'd run down the stairs and ripped into the first one after getting permission. Boone had looked at her childish abandon like he was going to cry, as he carefully pulled off each piece of tape and removed the wrapping, folding it carefully before opening the box to reveal whatever was inside. As she'd watched him hand Andrew another ornament for the tree, Shannon had suddenly felt tears prick at her eyes at the loveless upbringing he'd been victim to, and had gone to him just holding him, more for her own comfort than his. He'd murmured in her ear and rocked her, knowing exactly what memories it was that she was reliving.
She entered the den and plugged the lights in; the tree glowed with the subdued luminescence of the low voltage bulbs. She regarded it for a moment, thinking that everything about the set up was so very, very Boone, before fetching the snow board from its' hiding place. It was too big and conspicuous to wrap, so Andrew had asked her to hide it and bring it out Christmas morning to ensure the surprise.
After she'd stood it in the corner, her curiosity got the better of her and she started examining the brightly wrapped parcels under the tree.
Andrew from Boone, Shannon from Claire, Boone from Sun, she read the tags, going through package after package, shaking some, squishing others; trying to determine what everyone was getting. Boone had done his own Christmas shopping for gifts for both her and Andrew, after all he'd bought by himself for the boy for the last six years, so he definitely didn't expect her to do the traditional 'mother' type thing and buy a combined gift from them both, so she had no idea what he'd gotten him.
She stopped as she abruptly realized that she hadn't come across a single present that read to Shannon from Boone. He couldn't have forgotten her, could he? No, that was just absurd, he wouldn't have forgotten, and there was no way he would purposely not have gotten her something. She pulled away from the tree thoughtfully, intrigued.
No longer interested in her adolescent-type present examination, she headed into the kitchen, filling the kettle and putting it on the stove. She got his mug out of the cupboard and put it on the counter next to the package of tealeaves. The coffee was next, she got the beans out of the freezer and put them beside the coffee maker, he made the best coffee ever, so she wasn't going to attempt to try and make it herself, she was just trying to make things easier for him, he already did so much for her. He prepared their meals, did most of the housework, ran their business, well that last one was going to change significantly in the New Year, she reflected.
She wondered if there was anything she could pull out for breakfast, but as she didn't know what he had planned, she shrugged her shoulders and headed back up to the bedroom. Maybe there was something else she could do for him.
She stripped off her clothes and got back into bed, propping herself up on her elbow, looking at him. His dark eyelashes stood out in contrast to his pale complexion, his cheeks constantly in a state of light pink flush. She tipped her head and brushed her thumb across them, then tucked his hair behind his ears. He continued breathing regularly, seemingly not awaked by her light touches.
Boone had slowly become aware of her scrutiny, as it brought him gradually out of sleep, he continued to feign slumber though, enjoying the moment for a while before speaking without opening his eyes, "Just what the hell are you doing?"
Shannon chuckled, "Just looking at what's mine."
He kept his eyes closed, "So, now I'm your property?"
"That's what it says on your arm." She reminded him.
He opened his eyes, and grinned at her, "Yeah, I can't possibly imagine just what I was thinking." He pulled his left arm out from under the covers and glanced at it, frowning a bit at the scars.
He was just about to stuff it back under when she reached out and grabbed it, sitting up she removed the bracelet, and pulled his arm towards her.
"No," he whispered, resisting.
"You're mine, shut up," she replied, softly. She looked at the marks; he'd once remarked to her, when all he'd had was the scars on his chest, that he was damaged goods, now he had these ones as well, and all of them because of her. She brought his wrist to her lips and kissed it.
"Don't, they're ugly, please, I was stupid, I'm always stupid when it comes to you." He pleaded quietly. "Shannon, stop."
"There's nothing about you that's ugly, Boone, especially not to me." She brought the other wrist up, and kissed it as well.
He moaned as if in pain.
She laced her fingers through his and pressed the backs of his hands to the bed, sliding onto him, she kissed the scars on his chest. They were almost invisible after all these years, unless you knew what to look for, which, unfortunately, she did, all too well.
She pulled back and looked at his face, he had his eyes squeezed shut, and was biting his lip, his brow furrowed. "You're never going to get Christmas morning sex, looking like that."
"Shan…" he started, sounding upset.
"Stop taking yourself so seriously." She ordered.
He opened his eyes and looked at her, taking a deep breath, he forced a smile. As she continued to smile back at him, his expression became less forced, and she could feel him relax. When she thought he was ready, she kissed him, he responded immediately.
"Let me love you, please," he pulled away and asked, after kissing her for a few minutes as their hands roamed each others' bodies. His sudden insecurity tied to her assertion that he was her property, his need to prove himself to her, somehow sad and pathetic.
She rolled off him onto her back and pulled him with her. "Boone, don't do this, you've been so much better the last few days; I thought we talked this out."
"I'm sorry, Shan. I'm such a mess. The holidays, I just get so fucked up. Please bear with me, there's a lot of shit going on in my head right now." They'd reversed their normal positions; he was pressed up against her side, his head on her shoulder, her arm around him.
"I know," Shannon responded, cupping his face and stroking his cheek with her thumb.
He smiled and kissed her, smoothly sliding on top of her, her legs parting to accommodate him. They made love slowly, his thrusts against her measured and controlled. She sighed his name into his ear as she came.
"You folks decent?" the knocking at the door accompanied by a southern drawl.
Boone pulled away from her, and took a couple of deep breaths, composing himself before responding, "Sawyer, what are you seven or something you have to get us up at this hour?" He glanced at the clock; was only eight.
"So's that a yes?" He pushed the door open without waiting for an answer. Boone rolled off her and looked towards the door in exasperation. "Damn, thought I'd catch myself a little sight of the action."
"God in heaven, Sawyer, so now you're a voyeur on top of everything else?" Shannon shook her head.
"Ain't like it's nothin' I ain't never seen you two do before," he commented. "I'm hungry, boy," he complained, frowning at Boone.
They got Andrew up and organized themselves. Coffee and tea, and in Sawyer's case, rum and eggnog, in hand, along with a pre-breakfast snack Boone had gotten ready the night before, they made their way to the den.
Boone stopped in surprise, startled by the presence of the snowboard. He wondered if Shannon had gotten it for Andrew. "It's for you, Boone." Andrew corrected his misinterpretation.
He walked over to it, amused, and pulled it out standing it on the carpet beside him. "I don't get it."
Andrew explained his idea about a ski vacation over March break. His cast would be off by then, so that wouldn't be an impediment. Boone was enthusiastic, until he realized that an airplane flight would be involved. "I can do this," he thought, before heartily endorsing the adventure. Andrew beamed, bouncing a little on his feet in his excitement.
They each opened one gift, before heading back to the kitchen for breakfast. Boone made his incomparable French toast, even getting a little tipsy as he had a few Mimosas, and some brandy in his tea.
After breakfast, back in the den, they continued to open their presents. Sawyer was touched at what they'd gotten him, he didn't say as much, but when Shannon ghosted her mind over his, she could sense his pleasure.
"Well I guess that's everything," Boone announced, looking at the devastation spread around him, wrapping paper and boxes everywhere.
"Just a minute, numb nuts." Shannon spoke up.
"What?" he asked in feigned innocence.
"Where the fuck's my present from you, you asshole?" she demanded.
"I figured just letting you rejoin the family after six years away would be gift enough," he shrugged, getting a well-deserved dig in.
"And I figured having me back after six years would be enough of a gift for you, but I still got you some other stuff!" Shannon responded.
"Really? Some stupid books and jeans I could have gotten for myself? Woo hoo!" He shot back.
They continued to fight good-naturedly with one another as Andrew and Sawyer enjoyed the show.
After a few minutes Boone reached in the pocket of his plaid sleep pants and pulled out a small box. He held it out to her on his palm.
She looked a little frantic, "No, no, don't do this." She'd expected a gift, but suddenly felt her chest constrict at what she was sure was in the little box, it was too much, too extreme.
He held the ring box out to her again, "Take it, please?"
She was breathing a little raggedly, "I can't."
"You don't even know what's in it." He commented.
"Yeah, I do. God Boone, why now?" She clenched her jaw and bit back a sob.
"Because you deserve it." He answered.
She knew very well that she didn't, but squared her shoulders and composed herself. "Then I deserve a proper proposal."
"I'm sure you got one," he didn't sound really sure about that.
"No, I recall more of a statement, or perhaps an order, that's it…it was more of an order." She nodded.
"You're kidding, right?" he asked.
She looked at him, taking it all in, running her eyes over his perfect features, "No I'm not kidding. I've been told I've been in love with you since even before I acknowledged it. Women fought over you Boone, but you ended up with me. I'd really like to hear you propose."
He hadn't anticipated this; it had just been a gift that he'd thought she'd like. He remembered her talking about engagement rings and fairy tale weddings when they were kids, certainly nothing like what she'd ended up with, stuck with him. He still felt like she'd only settled on him because of the baby, even though he knew the depth of her love for him. He felt so selfish that it had turned out in his favour, well except for the six years apart and his suicide attempts.
He blinked at her a few times; then got down on one knee while Sawyer and Andrew watched. "Shannon Elizabeth Rutherford, I've loved you since I was ten, you're the mother of my son, and the only one in my heart, please do me the honour of remaining my wife." He opened the box and held it out to her, pulling back the lid.
A perfect solitaire diamond ring was revealed. She suddenly felt like a schoolgirl on a date with her boyfriend. She just stared at the ring, too choked up to respond, she hadn't actually expected that he'd propose, even though once she'd asked, she knew he could deny her nothing.
Her shoulders heaved a bit at she looked at the ring, she bit her lip, "Of course, oh Jesus Boone, god how much I love you, of course," she continued babbling insanely as he knelt in front of her, smiling softly.