Business [because I can't remember for the life of me if I said this here] - I own Heirverse, Foxes and hellish voice. And that's all I own. Also if you like what I do please consider buying me a coffee on ko-fi so I can make books, keep myself stocked with caffeine, and support my illustrator.

Summary: Aizen and Gin celebrate their first christmas since growing back together after the affair.

a/n: A little late but a Christmas special for 2018. I'm trying not to think about this series being 10 years old in 3 months time... [hopefully the pack and I will be dropping an anthology, so ALL the herverse spam in March :D ]

Notes: post cwst so late phase 2. Happyfluffy/sappyshippy, and FFE [Foxes Fix Everything] and SGS [silenced gunshots] if you reeeeeealllyyy look. CWST spoilers [duh]. References to Game. Flower language. And WAFF... mostly Waff... okay all waff... cavities for all.

Enjoy. Much love. See ya'll in 2019 :)

Yule

Ever since Gin had heard about the little human world custom of giving gifts in December for something called Yule the Seireitei had adopted, he'd wanted to try it. It had seemed to him like a magical holiday. Trees all decorated, roasting chestnuts, mulled wine, the tradition of giving gifts to loved ones... it seemed like the perfect holiday for him and Ran, who'd shared his childlike excitement at the prospect of the holiday.

But that had paled in comparison to the excitement he'd felt at his and Sousuke's first Yule – or as it'd become known, Christmas – celebration living under the same roof. Particularly when they'd decorated the tree together. With the foxes 'help', of course. Which consisted of running around with stray bits of tinsel, pinching baubles, and generally causing mayhem. Just like every year, really. Every year they got out the tree Gin had made Sousuke buy – because to Gin's horror Sousuke hadn't even had a tree when he'd moved in – and they spent an evening decorating it together. And cuddling by the fire afterwards.

It had been the same this year. Of course, he didn't count the six years since Momo, but... things were better now. And Gin wanted his christmas gift to reflect that. He hoped it would. He also hoped Sousuke wouldn't find it stashed away in the bottom of his drawer in his bedside table. Sousuke was quite nosey when he wanted to be.

. . .

Gin woke up early when the day came. Much earlier than he normally would on a day off. Just so he could wrap up Sousuke's present in secret.

He rolled over in bed when the alarm went off, wide awake despite the ridiculously early hour. He turned it off quickly and, very carefully, slipped out of the bed. Avoiding disturbing his still sleeping partner beside him. Looking very peaceful in his sleep. Gin had to resist the urge to reach out and touch him, to trace the curves and lines of his face.

Gin yawned quietly and stretched his arms above his head. Cherry lifted her head from the bed, where she was curled up with her mate Tsuku, and joined him in yawning and stretching. Smacking her lips as she jumped off the bed and nosed Gin's leg.

Gin smiled down at her and stroked her head gently, before picking up the hot mug of tea from his bedside table that'd been waiting for him. What utterly ridiculous hour in the morning his husband had even woken up at to even make it for him Gin had no idea. But it was very early, or very late, and there was no way of knowing because it was kept warmed by a kidou spell anyway. Either way, Gin wasn't going to question it. He just took his mug without complaint and headed downstairs. Sousuke's Christmas gift in hand and Cherry at his heels. Leaving Sousuke to sleep in peace, snoring away quietly in bed with Tsuku. The pair of them like two snoring bookends.

. . .

Gin yawned again as he settled on the living room floor by the tree, ready to start wrapping Sousuke's gift. Scissors and sellotape on hand and ready to get down to business.

Gin caught Cherry sniffing one of the baubles on the tree and Gin called her away, a quiet warning in his voice.

"Che-Che, come 'way from th' tree!"

Cherry looked at him sheepishly, and trotted back over to him. Looking wide eyed and innocent.

"Doncha look a me like that." he told her. "I know what yer thinkin' 'bout. Ya aint ta touch the tree."

Cherry huffed softly and lay down beside him. Gin just smiled and stroked her head.

"You know how long it took t'untangle ya from them fairy lights."

Cherry sighed again, as if to say 'killjoy'. Clearly not happy she couldn't play about with the pretty baubles and fairy lights on the tree. Gin smiled and shook his head at her.

"Here," he said, reaching for a small piece of tinsel off the tree and tying it around her neck as a glittery makeshift collar. "Have this instead."

The fox yipped happily at him, pleased with her new accessory, and sat wagging her tail at him.

"There now. That better?"

Cherry barked at him again and Gin stroked her soft fur again. "'kay. Now, le'ss get Sou's present wrapped up, ne?"

Cherry thumped her tail on the floor and pawed the roll of wrapping paper, eager to get helping. Gin just laughed affectionately at her antics as he picked up the sellotape and rolled out the wrapping paper. Which Cherry promptly jumped on and tore up. Much to Gin's frustration and amusement. Though mostly frustration. Because it took several attempts to get the gift wrapped up.

But eventually he got it done, and under the tree with the others. Cherry sniffed it when he added it to the pile, so he picked her up before she could 'help' deliver it to Sousuke, and carried her back up to bed for a few more hours of sleep. Hoping Sousuke would like his present.

. . .

Sousuke woke slowly, groaning as his body pulled him into wakefulness. He shifted his limbs to lie more comfortably in the bed and sighed softly. Steadily opening his eyes to spy Gin lying beside him. For once, wide awake before him.

"Mornin'," Gin smiled.

He returned the Cheshire Cat like grin. "Good morning. Enjoying watching me sleep?"

Gin's face flushed a delicate shade of pink at the question, and he chuckled softly.

"I can't help it if yer pleasin' t'look at." Gin quickly countered, laying and gazing at him seductively.

Nice recovery. It seems you've been taking notes, haven't you, Gin?

"I guess not." Sousuke answered, giving his Gin a quick kiss. "Come on, let's go downstairs. I'm sure you're itching to go open your presents."

Gin just answered him with a light-hearted laugh. "Ah, ya got me there, Sou."

Sousuke just smiled softly at him. Because really, they both knew Gin was a big kid when it came to the holidays.

"Race ya downstairs?" Gin asked mischievously.

Sousuke shook his head. "You go. I'll be down in a minute."

Gin kissed him again and called Cherry-chan after him as he went down the stairs.

"C'mon, Che-Che!" he laughed, and the little white fox tore after him, all yips and happy tail wags all the way down.

When he was sure Gin wouldn't be coming back up, he got up quietly and retrieved the little box he'd wrapped up the other day, gently nudged Tsuku awake, and then followed Gin downstairs.

I hope he likes it, he thought.

Kyouka Suigetsu just gave a long-suffering sigh.

. . .

Gin was already on the floor by the tree, holding back a very impatient Cherry from just diving into the pile of presents – admittedly though most of them were for her and Tsuku though, but that was beside the point. The point was she had to wait, and she didn't like it.

Sousuke laughed at the sight. Cherry was wriggling and struggling in Gin's arms, whining piteously.

"Che-Che, no!" Gin told her firmly. "We gotta wait for Sou and Tsu-kun."

Sousuke chuckled. "Well, we're here, so release the beast Gin."

Gin turned suddenly and grinned up at him. "Sou!"

And at that Cherry saw him, leapt up from Gin's arms and launched herself at Sousuke. Landing awkwardly in his arms as he held onto both her and the box. Though thankfully the gift was small. And he'd had a lot of practice in carrying foxes around the house. Tsuku meanwhile padded sedately over to Gin and made himself comfortable in Gin's lap. Quietly enjoying the cuddles he was receiving from Gin.

"Shall we open the presents now, or is that a silly question?" Sousuke asked, a broad smile on his face. Gin beamed up at him and shot him a tender look. And then Cherry yipped and leapt onto the floor again, sticking her nose into the pile of presents under the tree.

"Che-Che says 'silly question'." Gin laughed. Which in turn made Sousuke laugh. Because laughter was infectious and happiness tended to spread like a forest fire.

"Better get started then, ne?"

. . .

The four of them spent the morning together, unwrapping the presents. Cherry tearing hers open and charging around the living room with a various assortment of treats from her many friends in the Soul Society. Tsuku opened his a little more calmly, though he still made a lot of mess with the paper. He joined in on the fun with chasing Cherry, too. Wearing a collar made from glowing fairy lights. Making Gin and Sousuke both laugh as the fluffy foxes picked up their new toys and set off chasing each other around the house. Yipping and growling playfully.

"Oh right, I forgot," Sousuke said, handing over his carefully wrapped up box to Gin. It wasn't a very big box. Quite small in fact. But like Gin always said, size didn't matter. "This is for you."

He watched Gin blink in surprise and smile brightly at him. "Oh, thankyou."

He watched Gin open it carefully.

"It's a box." Gin said.

"Open the box."

Gin did as instructed and opened the little cardboard box, and reached inside with his fingers.

"It's... round?" Gin mused aloud, slowly pulling out the object inside, while Sousuke waited with subdued eagerness. Somewhat nervous.

"Oh," Gin gasped. "Oh, it's lovely."

Sousuke just smiled and watched Gin admire his gift. In his hand was a little cactus in a white ceramic pot. Encased in a kidou bubble to protect both it and Gin's lovely fingers from damage. He'd learnt the hard way how dangerous those desert-dwellers could be. But the look of awe and wonder on Gin's face was worth all the finger pricks. And the recon trip to Huecco Mundo to dig it up.

"Do you like it?" Sousuke asked. Somewhat redundant after Gin's reaction but, it was still nice to confirm it. "It's a night blooming cereus. Also known as Queen of the Night."

Gin grinned at his gift. Admiring it still. "I love it," he said, kissing his lover on the cheek. "Wait, you said it blooms- does that mean-"

Sousuke handed him his flower dictionary, which Gin took, while blushing furiously.

"You sure you aint a mind reader?" Gin asked teasingly.

"Just very prepared." Sousuke answered, still smiling as Gin flicked through the dictionary that by all rights should have been burned years ago – had it not been for Cherry hiding it and bringing it to Rangiku. He took the plant off Gin while he looked it up.

"Le'see, cactus... cactus... cac- oh."

Sousuke smiled. "Have you found it?"

"Warmth."

"And?" he prompted. Still a teacher gently easing his student into a lesson.

Gin's cheeks coloured further. "A-ardent love."

Sousuke smiled and re-offered the plant to him. Gin lifted his eyes from the book and looked back at him. Smiling tenderly as he took the cactus. A perfect mirror of his own expression. Fingertips gently brushing against his as they had so very, very long ago.

"Thankyou," Gin said softly.

Sousuke kept smiling even as Gin set his little cactus, still inside its protective bubble, onto the coffee table.

"I have something for you, too." Gin said, getting up and walking over to the tree, returning with a thin, flat package of his own. He held it out to Sousuke with a shy smile. "Here. Hope you like it."

He took the gift gently, smile still on his face. Particularly as it looked like cherry had 'assisted' in the wrapping of this package. Given the little claw mark punctures in the paper. "Oh, you know I'll like anything if it's from you." he answered. He probably shouldn't have said that though, because the monster inside his head stirred.

Ha, as if you weren't enough of a weak, sentimental sap, the voice hissed at him. But gin's smile was grounding him, plugging his ears up. And he felt no inclination to listen to it. Not today.

Shut up, he told it calmly.

"Be careful, it's fragile," Gin added, almost as an afterthought. Sousuke was just wondering what it might be, but by then he'd already opened it and the gift was staring him in the face. Killing any words that might have been on their way out of him.

In his hands was a framed photograph, six by four inches, of him, Gin, and their two foxes, all together. Posing for a family photo. All smiling. All happy.

Sousuke had to swallow the very large lump in his throat. "Oh, Gin..."

After a moment to compose himself again, he lifted his eyes from the photograph to Gin's face, catching sight of the loving smile there.

"Do you like it?" Gin asked, hopeful and nervous both at once.

"I love it." Sousuke said softly.

The voice spat at him. Sentimental fucking sap.

Fuck off, was Sousuke's succinct reply.

"I figured since the one we had of us and Che-Che got..." Gin began, pausing to clear his throat. "Destroyed," Gin looked away for a moment, and Sousuke was glad Gin hadn't added the 'by me' on the end of that. "That you might want a replacement." Gin finished. Beaming at him again. "What do you think? I thought it mi-"

Sousuke had set the photograph on his lap while Gin was talking and cut Gin off mid-sentence by pulling him into a very warm, very unexpected embrace.

"It's perfect," he whispered. "Thankyou."

He didn't have to see Gin's face to know his darling was smiling.

"Anytime, Aizen-sama." Gin answered softly. Making warmth rush through Sousuke's whole body and a small, tender smile bloom on his face.

Pussy. The voice spat. And again, his succinct reply was, Fuck off.