Author note:
Continuation of Clay and Emma's first Christmas. Hope you all enjoy! I want to wish all of you that are celebrating, a wonderful, peaceful Christmas!
CH 28-Christmas Future
As evening approached, Clay and Emma got cleaned up and left for Ray and Naima's church. Jameelah was playing an angel in the Christmas play and she wanted to be sure her favorite Aunt and Uncle would be there. They pulled into the parking lot an met her family on their way in. They found the pew that Ray and Naima had reserved and sat down. It looked like the whole team had made it to support their youngest "family."
The service was quick and Jameelah looked adorable. Emma had taken RJ so that Naima and Ray could give their full attention to their daughter. Jason glanced over and saw Emma snuggling the baby on her shoulder while Clay rubbed his little back with one hand and stretched the other arm around Emma. Jason shook his head. He felt like he had flashed forward and was catching a glimpse of the future. He felt tears pricking at the back of his eyes, but never let on to anyone how the scene affected him.
The couple stayed to greet Jameelah and give her the proper accolades. Then they headed back to the apartment for a late dinner. Clay had requested her lasagna. She put it in the oven before they left and went to check on it as soon as she walked in the door.
"It smells delicious Em."
"I think it's done. Could you get the plates and everything?" Soon they were seated at the table with glasses of wine and even a candle.
"Merry Christmas sweetheart. This is the most amazing Christmas I've ever had honey. I love you."
"I love you Clay." They leaned in and shared a sweet kiss. As they started eating, they discussed how cute Jameelah had looked in her angel costume. They finished up and before Emma could even clear away the dishes Clay dragged her into the living room asking, "Is it time for presents yet?
"You're worse than a kid, you know that?" But she we excited too. She hoped Clay would like what she had come up with. "Go ahead. You go first."
He reached eagerly for the bag that had his name on it. Inside were several individually wrapped packages. They were numbered. He pulled out the one marked with a "1" and tore off the wrapping. It was a framed photo of them that Hannah had taken at Homecoming. They were dancing and Emma had her head resting on Clay's shoulder while he pressed a kiss into her hair.
Clay worked his way through the bag. Each wrapped present was a picture of them, or Emma alone. Some were sweet and others were funny. The last few took his breath away. They were black and white shots of Emma. In one she was kneeling in his bed wearing one of his "Bravo 6" shirts and a lace thong. The next was her in the lacey set she had worn at Homecoming. In the last, she wore nothing at all. But she was positioned in such a way that besides her face, arms and legs, only the curve of her breasts and buttocks showed.
She sat there holding her breath. He hadn't said anything. "Don't you like them?"
"Honey, I don't know what to say. You are gorgeous."
"You said you wanted some pictures for here and for your cage on base, so…"
"These are amazing. You are so sexy Emmie. Thank you, sweetheart, these are perfect." He thought to himself that the hoped that she hadn't had these developed at some drugstore. She was his and he didn't want to think of any other man seeing her like that.
"Is it my turn to give you your gifts yet?"
She nodded and Clay handed her a small box with a gold bow. She opened it and saw a key laying inside. She looked at him for an explanation.
"It's a key to the apartment."
"But I already have a key."
"Not to the new place."
"New? What do you mean?"
"My lease is up at the new year, so I found another place. It's still here in this complex, but it's bigger. The master suite is larger with a bigger closet and the bathroom even has a soaking tub. There's even a bigger kitchen."
"It sounds great."
"I hope you think so Em. It's more than just a key. Emma, I know you and Jason have been trying to figure out your arrangements for college next year, and I know you have to be at home until you graduate…but after that, would you… would you move in with me?"
"You want to live with me?"
"God yes Emmie! Will you?"
She dissolved into tears. "Yes, Yes. I would love that more than anything." She fell into his arms and he held her tight.
"Do you want your other gift?" She nodded and sat back up. He held a small jewelry box in his hand. Her eyes went wide.
"It's not what you're thinking babe. Well, not exactly anyway."
She flipped open the lid to reveal a sparkling, tear-drop shaped, diamond pendant. "Clay, it's beautiful!"
"The stones are from my Grandmother's wedding ring. It's the only thing she ever had that was worth anything. She gave it to me and said to give it to the woman I fell in love with. Now, I know we're not ready yet, and I know that you have a lot of things you want to do first, so I had them put into this necklace until…well, someday we can put these into a setting you like."
He pulled the chain out of the box and moved to fasten it around her neck. Her tears wouldn't stop. Clay cradled her face in his hands and kissed her gently.
"Merry Christmas Emmie."
"Merry Christmas Clay."
