A/N: Happy holidays everyone. This oneshot was actually based on real life events and I actually like how things came together.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh
Yami sighed as he and his five year old son, Yugi, worked together on putting up their Christmas tree. This year had already been a hard year and it wasn't looking like it would get any easier soon, his husband of eight years, Atemu, was proudly serving as a member of the military and he had been since shortly before he and Yami had married.
Life for their family in the military had been great. One of the perks was definitely being able to see the world together and Atemu made enough money that Yami was able to be a stay at home parent with Yugi, which he loved.
And while the perks were amazing there of course were down sides to being a military spouse and right now Yami was dealing with one of them. Atemu had been sent on TDY (Temporary Duty) and was due to spend six months in Saudi Arabia. And to make matters worse Atemu had left the very beginning of August. Which meant that he had missed Yugi's first day of school (even though Yami did take plenty of pictures for him), Yami's own birthday and was also going to miss the Christmas holidays. This just meant that Yami and Yugi were going to be on their own for Christmas, since Yami's own family and Atemu's both lived on the opposite side of the country and making the trip down to visit wasn't particularly feasible.
Yes, Atemu did call. He called once a week and the two did exchange emails but it was still very hard. But, as Yami said he and Yugi were making due. Yugi had the brilliant idea that Yami should video tape everything they did together for the holidays and that way when daddy got back home he could watch all the videos and it would be like he'd never missed anything. Yami chuckled at the thought, oh the sweet innocence of childhood.
"Mommy, can I put the star on the tree?" Yugi asked, drawing Yami from his musings.
Yami nodded, "Of course you can Little One." he said before he squatted down and allowed the five year old to clamber up onto his shoulders before he stood back up enabling Yugi to reach the top of the Christmas tree where he clumsily placed the star. Yami made a mental note to, as he often did, secure the star after Yugi had gone to bed that night. Otherwise it was bound to fall to the ground and who knew where their tabby cat, Pharaoh, would bat it off to.
Yugi was grinning broadly when he finally climbed off Yami's shoulders. "Take a picture mom!" Yugi said.
Yami chuckled but did take the picture of Yugi standing grinning beside their artificial tree. He made a mental point to send the picture to Atemu in his nightly email.
Yami glanced down at his watch and realized it was now almost nine o'clock. Decorating the tree did take a lot longer when it was just him and Yugi. "Alright Yugi, its time for you to go and pick out your pjs and brush your teeth. Then I'll be in to read you a bed time story and tuck you in." Yami said.
Yugi nodded before he scurried out of the room. That was one thing, Yami supposed, that did make this slightly easier. Yugi was such a well behaved little boy. Once Yami had gotten his son into bed he settled himself down in front of his computer and opened microsoft outlook to write Atemu his email.
Hey Ate,
Today Yugi and I put up the Christmas Tree. It took most of the day but Yugi is very proud of how the tree turned out He did scold me for cursing while I spent almost two hours fighting with the damn Christmas lights. I was reminded why I make you do the lights every year. Next weekend Yugi wants me to hang up our outdoor lights. I'm considering having either Joey or Seto come over to help with that. God I miss having you here Ate. But, I know that you're with us in your heart and in your dreams. For now that will have to be enough.
I love you Ate. Stay safe and I look forward to hearing your voice again when you call in two days.
-Yami
The email wasn't very long and Yami did make a point to attach the picture of a grinning Yugi standing beside the tree. Although, Yami took great care in making sure that he covered everything that had happened that day Yami knew Atemu was busy and didn't really want to overload him. They did have their twenty minute phone call scheduled for a few days from now that Yami was really looking forward to. He missed hearing Atemu's voice. Seeing his smile. Hell, he missed dealing with the sound of Atemu snoring or him stealing the damn covers!
He sighed. The house was quiet. Normally at this time of night he and Atemu would lounge together on the couch and watch whatever happened to be on TV. That or they would just talk. But, Yami just had to content himself that they would be able to do that once Atemu was back home in about 63 days, but really...who was counting?
Yami went bed early that night. He didn't really feel like watching TV, besides he'd have more than enough time to do that tomorrow while Yugi was at school. He would probably also get some Christmas shopping done. After all, it needed to get done and it wasn't like Atemu could do it for him.
The next day after Yami had gotten Yugi dropped off to school he'd made his way downtown heading to Walmart in the hopes of snagging that new must have toy that Yugi had not stopped talking about for the last week. Something dark magician related although to be honest Yami was a little bit fuzzy on the details. He'd hopefully be able to find a store associate that would take pity on him and be able to point him in the right direction.
Yami turned into the toy aisle and smiled when his eyes landed on the waist length blonde hair and signature high heel shoes, worn even with all the snow and slush, of his fellow military spouse Mai.
Mai turned around and she walked right up to Yami, pulling him into a tight hug. "How are you holding up hun?" Mai asked once she' finally released her hold on Yami.
Yami sighed, "I'm making do. Yugi is as hyper as ever and I'm taking lots of pictures that I email to Atemu and we do talk once a week..."
"But its still hard to not have your husband there. I know hun, believe me I know. It was hard enough on me when Joey had to go but he thankfully was back in September. I know Atticus and Alexis were overjoyed to have their dad home again." Mai said.
Yami nodded, "Right. I mean, its not like I didn't know this was going to come eventually. And its not the first time he's been gone. Its just..." Yami sighed.
"This is the first time he's been gone for the holidays. Like I said hun, I get it. Truly I do." Mai said.
Yami nodded as his gaze drifted down the aisle, "You wouldn't happen to know what the Dark Magician X happens to be, would you?" Yami asked.
Mai chuckled, "I take it Yugi has been asking about one?" Mai said.
Yami nodded once more, "Its been all he can talk about for the last week. He even mentioned it to Atemu when he called last, telling him that Santa was going to bring him a Dark Magician X. That phone call was the first I'd heard of it. And like I said...he hasn't stopped talking about it since. Almost made me sorry I asked him what it was." Yami said with a chuckle.
Mai chuckled once more, "Kids. But yes, I know what it is. I just happened to have picked one up last week for Atticus. I'll show you where it is." Mai said as she turned and headed down a different toy aisle leading Yami, unerringly to the right toy. "But yes, this is what you want." Mai said, pointing to the toy on the shelf.
Yami gave Mai a grateful smile when he picked up the toy and put it into his cart. "Thank you Mai." Yami said.
Mai shrugged, "I'm sure you would have found in eventually hun." Mai said.
Yami chuckled, "That's not all that I'm thanking you for. You and Joey have been great to me and so have Seto and Kisara. I don't know where I'd be without all of your help." Yami said.
Mai chuckled once more as she slung her arm around Yami's shoulders, "Us military families all stick together, you know that. God knows you and Atemu were there for me when Joey was TDY." Mai said.
Yami smirked, "I distinctly remember you standing on the counter screaming bloody murder while Atemu and I tried to catch a mouse that had wandered into your kitchen." Yami said.
Mai chuckled as well, "Yes. I remember that. I remember shouting at Kaiba on the phone to get someone down there now to get rid of the mouse otherwise I was going to bunk with him and Kisara. Colonel or not. I was not sleeping in that house with a mouse." Mai said.
Yami laughed. "Yes, and if memory serves me you were pregnant with Alexis at the time." Yami said.
Mai rolled her eyes, "Yes, I was. But seriously hun. If you need anything, don't hesitate to let any of us know. We're here for you just like you've been here for us." Mai said.
Yami nodded, "I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Now, not to cut this conversation short I need to get finish this round of Christmas shopping, get home and get the gifts hidden before I have to pick Yugi up from school." Yami said.
Mai chuckled, "Alright hun, I'll let you get to it." Mai said.
Yami nodded once more before he made his way down a different aisle, his eyes scanning over the different toys while he tried to think what Yugi would like for Christmas. He spent another hour shopping before he finally made it back home and got all the stuff put away. He briefly sank down in front of the computer and pulled up his email looking to see if Atemu had replied.
Yami frowned when he saw that Atemu hadn't. He knew Atemu was about ten hours ahead of him, so he should be done with duty for the day or at the very least Atemu normally would have replied when he'd taken his lunch. Yami closed out of his email before getting up and making himself some lunch. Then in an hour he'd have to go and pick Yugi up from school.
After Yami had finished his lunch and washed a load of laundry he headed down to pick Yugi up from school. Yami couldn't help but chuckle as Yugi babbled away in the back seat telling him all about what he'd learned at school today.
After he and Yugi got home Yami had decided it would be fun if they tried to make their own little gingerbread house. The pair had a ton of fun but the kitchen ended up being a total mess. Once Yami had finally managed to get Yugi bathed and in bed before heading back out to tackle the kitchen, dinner had been simple takeout to put the mess off until after he'd gotten Yugi to bed. It took Yami almost two hours before he managed to get everything cleaned up. Yami quickly logged on and sent Atemu a quick email as well as some pictures of his and Yugi's terrible 'masterpiece'. The damn thing was barely even standing.
Yami was a little concerned that Atemu still hadn't replied to his previous message but he put that worry aside. However, if Atemu still hadn't reached out to him by tomorrow Yami planned to reach out to Kaiba and casually inquire if everything is alright with Atemu.
Hey Ate,
I missed hearing from you yesterday but I do understand that you are busy. Today I did some Christmas shopping and don't worry I did manage to get Yugi the Dark Magician X that he had talked your ear off about. Other than that today Yugi and I made a homemade gingerbread house. Although, its not much of a house and more of a 'shack that should in all likelihood be condemned that is standing by sheer force of will'. But the important thing is that Yugi had fun.
I miss you Ate and I am looking forward to our phone call tomorrow night. As always, please stay safe.
I love you
-Yami
Once Yami had finished that it was almost eleven and Yami decided to head to bed. He turned out all the lights and snuggled in. Another day down 62 to go.
Yami's eyes snapped open. He glanced briefly over to his nightstand and saw that it was 231 am. Yami intended to roll back over and go back to sleep when he paused, his sensitive ears clearly heard the sound of his front door closing. Whoever it was was clearly trying to be quiet but Yami clearly heard it.
His heart was racing as he sat up in bed able to clearly hear what sounded like footsteps moving through the entryway and down the hall. Yugi's bedroom was on the corner of the bend in the hallway before you headed to the bathroom and Yami's and Atemu's room was on the end. Whoever this was was going to walk right past his son's room.
Yami slowly sat up in bed as his mind raced. He could try and call the police but what would be the point. Someone was in his house NOW! And with each passing second whoever it was was creeping closer and closer to his slumbering son. The police would be no help.
Yami listened as the intruder passed Yugi's room and continued to make their way down the hall. Yami felt the slightest sense of relief that Yugi's room had been bypassed before his eyes quickly glanced at the items on his nightstand. He needed a weapon. At this point anything would work.
He picked up a pyramid shaped paper weight that he and Atemu had bought years ago when they'd gone to Las Vegas for their fifth anniversary. He gripped it tightly in his sweaty palm while he prepared to take aim. As soon as this intruder stepped into this room Yami was going to throw this as hard as he could.
Yami heard as the intruder stepped into the doorway and Yami launched the paperweight as hard as he could in the direction of the door while he prepared to scramble out of bed and hopefully tackle whoever had broken in.
The paperweight found its mark, however Yami froze when he heard the intruder speak.
"What the fuck Yami?!"
Yami flicked on the lamp that was sitting on the nightstand and sure enough, standing in the doorway was Atemu currently rubbing his shoulder from where the paperweight had hit him. Yami slowly straightened up. "Atemu?" Yami asked.
"Yeah?" Atemu asked as he finally stopped rubbing his shoulder.
Yami scowled, "What the hell are you doing here?!" Yami growled once the shock of seeing his husband standing in the doorway had worn away.
Atemu sighed, "I was given the opportunity to come home early. And I had the brilliant idea to surprise you. Kaiba and Kisara picked me up at the airport and brought me home." Atemu said, he rubbed his shoulder briefly again, "clearly we miscalculated." Atemu muttered.
Yami frowned, "Miscalculated! Atemu you're lucky I don't have a gun or sleep with a knife nearby. I could have killed you." Yami said.
Atemu gave Yami a lopsided grin, "Aren't you at least happy to see me?" Atemu asked.
Yami rolled his eyes before he walked over and pulled Atemu in for a tight hug. "Yes I'm happy to see you but I swear don't you EVER scare me like that again." Yami muttered.
Atemu chuckled as he pressed a kiss to Yami's brow, "I won't beloved. I promise." Atemu whispered.
Yami leaned up and pressed his lips to Atemu's. Gods above he had missed this man. But he was dead serious, if Atemu EVER pulled something like this again Yami would murder him.