It began with a single, innocent question.
"Jane?" Garrus' curious tone draws her attention from her studious examination of his massive - when compared to her own - hand she holds in her own. "What's 'Christmas'?"
She pauses, quirking a brow he won't see in surprised confusion. Where the hell that came from, she has no clue, but she's sure as shit going to find out. Sitting up from where they were laying back against the pillows in their bed, she turns to better face him.
"Okay, my question first. What the fuck? Not that it's not a stupid question, but where in the world did that randomly come from?" She knows his intentions are good, though, and she tells him so with a smile and reclaims his hand to hold. "How did you even hear about it?"
He rumbles deeply and sits up as well, reaching for a datapad on the bedside table. "I've been looking up human things to do with or for the twins. I found that Christmas is a big human holiday for many and doesn't necessarily include religion. I mean, some celebration does, but I thought we could-"
She chuckles at his sweet gesture to include her people's cultures into their 'let's just wing it' child raising and raises a hand to still him. "Down, boy. Put on the brakes." She reaches for the pad, laying it on the bed beside her to free his other hand so she can take it in hers, squeezing. "While it may be my people, I have zero clue about Christmas beyond what I've seen in books and vids."
Her husband hums and smiles softly, leaning closer to touch his forehead to hers. "How about we learn together?"
Chuckling warmly, she nods against him and squeezes his hands. "Yeah. We'll make it the best damn Christmas we can." She releases his hands and spins on her ass to lay against the headboard. His arm wraps over her shoulder to hold her close as she grabs the datapad up off of the bed. "I say we start tonight."
"Sounds like a plan," he agrees with a deep purr and cups her hand around the datapad to help hold it up to he can see the screen.
"Tell me again how this thing works?" Jane pokes at the portable fireplace they had Harrot requisition for them as one of the many items they'd need for their Christmas. "We only have until tonight when EDI brings the twins home from school. And she's even distracting them with 'after school activities'."
She sighs in defeat and steps away from the electric thing, never one for tech. Turning to see how Garrus is coming along with setting up the tank they'd use for the two turtles they had shipped over on the entry way's platform between the two sets of ascending steps. He seems to be in a better place than herself, actually managing to follow the directions to prepare it for the animals and finally setting the two turtles loose in their new home.
For some reason, there was a Christmas song that called for turtles and doves, but like hell were they going to find doves and a way to house them in time. Then there was whatever a partridge was and the pear tree. The tree, they had managed to find an artificially grown version of - planter included! - and had it up in the corner of the dining area, but the partridge, whatever the hell that was, eluded them, but Jane remembers there was once a band that shared the name back in Earth history. With that in mind, she had Harrot find a holodisk of their songs and hung it up in the pear tree's branches.
Good enough.
"Can you get the fireplace running?" Walking over towards the banister right above him, she smiles and leans against it. "You're so much better at getting shit done apparently."
He chuckles and wipes his hands off on a disposable rag, stepping away from the tank to take the few steps up to her level. "Alright, alright. Because I love you." He smirks at her scoff and leans down to kiss the top of her forehead, just at her hairline. "How about you work on the tree? At least what you can reach?"
"Sure, make fun of the short woman."
"There's a step ladder in the closet," he says, as if not hearing her grumble, and approaches the electrically controlled fireplace. "There still some logs on the porch?"
She hums an affirmative as she grabs the short ladder from the closet and heads to where they have their tree already half decorated. Sure, it looked odd in the corner of their living room, higher than the ceiling and, thus, bent over so that at least half a meter hung over, but it was what they saw in an apparently popular vid. In it, the father had cut down his own tree and, even though it was too tall, insisted on putting it into the house, so Jane and Garrus figured they do the same. While they couldn't cut their own tree, they could have Harrot find them one, and, together, they spent most of this morning trying to get it into the house so that they can be done with their decorating before the twins came home.
"Did you remember to put all the lights on the house? Like in the movie?" According to the same movie, the goal was to cover every centimeter of the house in a light show of corded lights and Christmas figures. Except, unlike the movie, they made sure to check and double check to make sure everything lit up before hanging them and finding out there was a short somewhere. "Did you spell anything?"
"'Merry Christmas, Damocles and Cassia.' That's all I could get in one surface, but the rest of the front of the house and roof are covered completely." He chuckles as he pokes around inside the fireplace's panel and she grabs a box of round, shiny ornaments. "Everyone will be able to see it from orbit."
She snorts and starts to hang the large balls in a random pattern on the branches, starting where she could reach first. "What? Go out there and try again. I want them to see us from Earth."
Her mate laughs that rough - but beautiful in its uniqueness - sound of cheer as he stops and looks over his shoulder at her. "You're free to go out there and redo it."
"You kidding? That's what I have you for." Grinning at his laugh, she chuckles with his amusement before turning back to the tree. "Okay, so we finish up here, the peking duck" - again, something from another, yet separate movie - "whatever that is, is cooking. Mistletoe is up. Got the sexy leg lamp already together and we only need to turn it on. We also got the gingerbread house together and on the table, the fruit cake baked, candy canes with the gingerbread house on the table. Their presents are packed and the snow machine, we'll start right before they get here." She stops to go over her mental list. "Is that everything?"
"You cooking the other food in case this dinner is disgusting?"
She scowls at him and thinks for a moment about tossing one of the ornaments at him, but it's glass and she'd much rather not throw the delicate grenade his way. "Yes, honey, I have turian versions of the food ready too." Tossing aside the now empty box, she grabs another full of the glistening ornaments. "The last thing is your outfit." She chuckles at the idea of him in a santa outfit, which is odd considering the species difference. "You ready for that?"
"I don't have a choice, but I'll deal." His tone is full of amusement and he trills in what she's come to know as an 'ah-ha' moment. Glancing over, she catches him standing up victorious over the fireplace as a small fire begins to build. "Well, that's done." He looks over to her and grins smugly. "Need help?"
"I hate you, you tall bastard," she says as he takes the green ornament from her hand and hangs it high on the tree. "Be useful and actually help instead of flaunting your height over me."
Chuckling, he wraps an arm around her shoulders and pulls her into a hug. "I like you short. My tiny, little timebomb."
She waves away his attempt to kiss her in feigned annoyance and he rumbles, grabbing one of last boxes of ornaments. With his help, the tree begins to flourish with shining colors and Jane can't wait to see it when the lights she wrapped around it earlier are on. She holds the last box up for him, handing an ornament over each time he offers an empty hand. Scanning the rest of their hard work with a smile, she doesn't notice his last request for a new ornament until she hears him clear his throat exaggeratedly.
"If you're not going to hand it over, you might as well be within reach," he says with a chuckle when she snaps to attention. "Think they'll like it?"
"I sure hope so. This was hard work." She smiles at his raised brow, knowing that she's only joking and would do anything for their children. The small task of rushing to decorate the house in the time between when they dropped off the twins to school and then when EDI will bring them for the night. "I don't think the vids stack up to this."
"Because we went with our own improvisations?"
She snorts at his snark and tosses the box at him, it bouncing off his dense head. "Alright, smart ass. Time to get dressed. I'll double check everything."
"I'm still wondering about that." When she hears the confusion in his voice, she looks back to him from where she's collapsing the ladder. "Just why am I dressing as a strange man that supposedly breaks into people's houses, demands food, and gives unknown presents to children? I mean, we're trying to tell the twins not to take things from or talk to strangers. Isn't this the opposite of what we want?"
Her eyes widen at the realization that, fuck, he's right. "Holy shit…"
"And wouldn't my absence and the presence of this strange man scare them?"
"Fuck…" Putting her hand to her forehead, she taps her foot in effort to quickly think up something to fix this glaring error in their Christmas they've planned out so well. "Uh… Okay. I can do this…" She stops and looks over him, fringe to toes. "You should really dress and, uh… I'll think of something for when they get here."
Garrus is dubious but nods, giving her forehead a gentle nip before heading into their bedroom. Jane puts her hands on her hips and gazes over the room, examining their work. She smiles at what feels like a Christmas, even if they flew by the seat of their pants through the entire planning process. Still, she takes some solace in the fact that at least there isn't anyone around to walk all over the twins' enjoyment of the experience by comparing tonight to what should be.
With the short ladder put away, she climbs the stairs to the highest level and kneels beside the artificial snow machine. She knows this idea will leave a massive mess to clean up, Garrus and herself forced into sweeping up all the tiny flakes of fake snow, but what kind of Christmas would this be without the trademark snow? Hell, in every damn Christmas song she could find, the damn stuff is mentioned, so there's no way they're walking away from the idea, no matter the time it'll take to clean up.
She hums as she looks over the command console for the somewhat large machine, drumming her fingers along the metal surface as she reads and tries to understand. There's a list of commands for the type of downfall to simulate and Jane stares at the descriptions, never knowing there were so many damn ways to say 'snowing'. She knows she doesn't want a fucking blizzard, so she avoids the highest amount of snow and clicks the second to last command, 'flurry'.
Immediately, with a hum, the machine kicks to life. As she stands, Jane looks over the banister and watches tiny flecks of whatever the hell they use for fake snow begin to be thrown over the living room to drift slowly down. She figures she picked the right choice, as there are very few pieces being shot out of the machine, and she knows that, in no time, there will be enough to leave a layer down below. All that's left is the final touches of lowering the house's temperature just slightly and helping Garrus with his turian Santa Claus outfit.
Taking the stairs two at a time, her shit eating grin grows with each step as she runs in hope to catch him, have her time to laugh at how ridiculous he looks, and be able to collect herself for when the kids show up within the next hour. When she gets into the room, he actually doesn't look too bad, to her disappointment. "Ah, come on!"
That gets his attention and he finally turns away from the mirror and to her, brow plate raised in question. "What?"
"You aren't supposed to actually look good in it!" She walks over to get a better look of him.
Turian clothes based off a human celebration wasn't just hard, it was nearly impossible. In fact, they had to pay a high price for Harrot to go to a special seamstress to design a pattern and sew together a costume for a turian. The boots and red pants were easy, just get some red pants - not difficult - and some high, black boots that weren't combat boots - a bit more difficult given his tendency to always wear them.
The jacket, however, was a whole other story. How the hell were they supposed to find a long, red winter jacket with tufts of white fluff in a society where everything was utilitarian down to every detail? Even their winter wear looked like it was meant for a soldier to go into battle, not a mixed species gift giving, jolly old - and apparently magical - man. This specialty ordered jacket, however, looked really good on her mate. Sure, he was lacking the huge belly, but to the designer's credit, there weren't really fat turians. It just wasn't physically possible for the species.
The deep red cloth of the jacket covers him from just above his spurs, up his body to cinch at his waist with a wide, black belt with even a big, gold buckle to secure it just like in the stereotypical pictures and vids. It trails over his broad shoulders and down his arms, the cuffs hemmed with a thick collection of what looked like white fur, but was sure to be synthetic with the universal animal rights laws. Instead of a hat, however, the jacket rises over Garrus' cowl and pools at the base of his neck in a hood large enough to cover his fringe and still lay over his brows even with the same white faux fur that lined it.
He hums and tilts his head, holding his arms out to his sides. "Well? Do I look like I'd bring good boys and girls presents?"
Jane chuckles and comes over to him, looking at the bed to find that he's discarded the hat - good, considering that thing won't stay on his damn head like it would a human's - and, surprisingly, a beard. "Why'd that come with a beard? Turians don't have hair."
Garrus shrugs and grabs the curly, satin looking flock of hair and chuckles before holding it up to his face. "How do I look? Or." Shifting to lay it on his head, he adds, "How's this? Do I pass for human?"
Jane laughs, snatching it away and tossing it on the bed. "I think that seamstress was confused over what the hell we were asking for." Poor lady probably didn't have a clue what a 'Santa Claus' even was. "But, honestly?" She waits for his curious rumble and smirks, cocking a hip and motioning his person. "I was hoping you'd look more ridiculous."
He snorts and butts his head to hers before walking to the closet. "Well, I'd like to say the tables are turning." Unable to see what he's doing, she lifts a brow in intrigue before watching him turn around, box in hand. "I got you a costume too."
"If that's a Mrs. Claus outfit, I'm shooting you." She crosses her arms at the idea that he'd really expect her to dress like an old woman. "Most humans don't want to look old, so like hell am I wearing a white haired wig."
"Good for you, we already have one," he teases with a smirk and she scoffs, dropping her arms and looking for something to throw, grabbing a model of a geth cruiser. "Now, now." He's suddenly beside her thanks to that damn light walk he can do when he really tries, taking the model from her hand. "I don't want to have to put you on the naughty list." He growls that last bit, leaning down to her ear. "Well, unless you really want to see my punishment."
She shivers and swats at his shoulder with the back of her hand. "Alright, let's not traumatize the kids by smelling like sex right before their Christmas." He chuckles and nods, handing her the box. Taking it, she's smiling in amusement until she lifts the lid. "What the fuck is this?"
He laughs as she stares, utterly thrown, by the dark green and red outfit. She was ready to find some type of skimpy outfit meant for after the party and for their eyes only, yet here she is pulling out a - no, he didn't - elf outfit, striped stockings and curled, brown boots included. Holding it as far as she can from her body, she glares at him.
"Really? This is my present?"
Taking control of himself, he purrs and shakes his head. "No, you have more presents. This is because you should be dressed too."
"As an elf?! If this is another short thing-"
"What else would it be?" He ducks from her smack with the box, chuckling. "You're supposed to be my little helper, not my abuser."
"I don't know how Mrs. Claus can put up with you."
He hums, as if thinking, before smiling and rumbling. "I can deal without her if I have you."
"Oh no," she says as she waves his attempt at assuaging her with affection, though her smile is wide as she chuckles. "That won't work on me." Bouncing back a step, she walks from him and over towards the opposite side of the bed to examine just what he got her.
It's not too bad, with its red, puffed out underdress and dark green jacket that goes over it and hangs lower in the back with its own little collar of white faux fur. There's even a annoyingly cute hat to match that she, unfortunately, has a head shaped for and, thus, will have to wear. The stockings at least aren't only red and white like those damn candy canes in the other room with their small bands of matching green within the white. The shoes, though sporting that ridiculous curl, look comfortable at least, and it is only one night, right?
With a sigh, she jerks a hand towards the door. "Out. Or else you'll jump me the second I take off any of my clothes." She smirks at his chuckle and grabs the hem of her shirt, pulling it off down to her bra. "So off you go. Make sure I didn't miss anything outside."
He gives her a dejected sigh with a heave of his shoulders, but nods and steps out into the living room, closing the door behind him. Blowing air through her closed lips, Jane tosses her shirt away and starts to strip off her pants to get dressed.
EDI sends them a ping just moments before releasing the two monsters at the front door of the house. Despite their offer to come inside and see, the AI seemed to have understood the unspoken request for tonight to be the four of them, at least until they were comfortable with how to do it right to give the best to the twins. More people might add pressure they'd rather do without.
When Garrus straightens and pulls up his hood, eyes moving towards the front door, Jane assumes he's heard the twins at the door and follows suit, throwing on her hat. Hopefully, they don't scare the shit out the two three year olds, but maybe seeing their faces under all the frightening clothes will ease the panic.
Jane admits, her heart is pounding in her chest and stomach has somehow seemed to fill itself with a fluttering that makes her fidget. She now knows the excitement the kids have when they can't seem to keep still and hop from foot to foot, chirping and trilling. Jane can't make the noises they do, but she does have to tamp down the squeal pushing at her throat to be let loose and she bounces in anticipation.
She knows exactly when the door opens and the twins take in what sights they have from the entryway by their trilling gasp and Cassia's "whoa". Damocles, ever Jane's little copy, belts out a "what the fuck?!" and Garrus gives her an exasperated look that she merely grins at. 'Oh, let them have it for today, at least', her look says, but she knows him all too well to know his retort would be somewhere along the lines of them letting loose the occasional curse any damn day they want. Even Cassia has a few slips, but hers are much more tame than that her brother's.
Chuckling, Jane calls out. "Come up, guys."
"What're those?" Cassia asks, her voice rumbling.
"Turtles!" Damocles shouts in surprise as they find their first Christmas surprise Garrus set up at the platform that connects entryway to the higher living areas.
Seeing as how they aren't going to come see what she and Garrus have done without something to break their concentration on the reptiles, Jane walks to the banister right above then and smiles. "You guys want to see the rest?"
Their eyes widen in complete and utter confusion, but they nod slightly. Breaking the silence, Cassia is first to speak as she rounds the turtles' tank and bounds up the few steps. "What's it, mommy? Why you dressed like that?"
Snorting, she looks down to her daughter as Damocles jumps up the last step. "What? You don't like my new outfit?"
"Your shoes look funny," her son says, pointing just before he turns to whatever sight that's made his sister click her vocals, what's intended to be more interesting than the way their mother's dress. "Huh?" is all he seems capable of saying.
"Mommy!" Cassia hops and turns wide, happy eyes up to Jane. "What is it?"
Jane smiles as she hears the footsteps of her mate round the corner between their bedroom and living room. He, bless him, even tries for a deep 'ho, ho, ho'. Surprised, the two twins jump and cling to her legs just before recognition hits. Squealing in laughter, they run to their dad and hug him tight when he kneels down to their level. Still, she sees the question in their eyes when they let him pick them to his hips.
"Cassia, Damocles?" She smiles when they hold out their hands to catch the false snow in amazement. "We wanted to celebrate a human holiday, Christmas."
"What's Chrismas?"
Garrus chuckles and looks to their son. "It's a human holiday."
Jane nods and jerks a thumb towards the kitchen. "People had big meals, lots of family, a tree with lots of decoration," she says as she motions the massive fur before grinning and lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper as she leans in, "and presents."
They both gasp and kick in their dad's arms until he laughs softly and sets them down. "Easy, now. You have to get them from Santa and his little helper." The last, he adds with a playful smirk and she snorts, rolling her eyes.
"What's 'Santa'?" Cassia doesn't stop looking around for any presents, presents that they've managed to hide down in the locked armory. Knowing the twins, at least one of them would feign needing to go to the bathroom or something so they can search the house.
Little, devious bastards.
"Santa," Jane starts, humming to herself as she thinks of how to put it. Last thing she really wants is to freak their kids the fuck out by telling them is what her people apparently think is okay to tell to children. "Santa is the name for the pretend person daddy is right now." She chuckles and looks to him just as he grins and lifts his chin in pride before their twins' eyes. "And, when he pretends to be Santa, he brings presents." She holds up a finger to grab their attention. "But he only does it once a year on this day, and only when you both are a good boy and girl."
While not really the best idea, it seems to be good enough for their young minds and, as she looks up to her husband, it has seemed to assuage his worries because he gives her a smile and nod. Now, how long the twins will accept that reasoning, she doesn't know, but she doesn't give a damn right now. Let future Jane and Garrus figure it out.
"Mommy?" Damocles looks to her, holding his hand out and watching the white flakes land in his palm. "Is this snow?"
"But Miss EDI said it doesn't snow on Vimire," Cassia interjects, staring at them as if wounded for supposedly being lied to.
"It doesn't." Garrus takes this task to explain as Jane slinks away under the excuse of checking the food.
A glorious smell waft into the room, but, when she checks the duck - and whatever turian animal is the similar looking dish beside it in the oven - the skin isn't crispy like the recipe. Plus, when she checks, the inside is still really red, so she guesses it's still raw, closing the oven door. This will either be a great dinner, or a horrible disaster, but at least they have the presents to fall back on. Not really a way to go wrong with presents.
She comes back to the living room and leans on the column of their dining room, watching how the twins stare in awe at the tree and its ornaments. Garrus stands beside them with a smile, occasionally holding up a hand to stop them from touching and breaking the fragile, glass ornaments, but it doesn't take long before they look back to her, then him.
"Santa?" Cassia, poor girl, sounds completely confused of what to call her father. Still, Garrus gives her a gentle nod and she gains the courage to push through. "When will we get the presents?"
Jane laughs, their kids all too predictable. Shaking her head, she grins at her mate. "Well, we might as well. The food still needs a bit and it'd just be rude to make them sit around bored."
He chuckles and nods, standing tall and putting a hand on each of their twins' shoulder. "Go sit down while mommy and I go get your presents." They grin and practically dive bomb into the couch, leaving their father to shake his head as he rumbles. Waiting until they are stepping down the stairs and heading for the armory, he says, "Nice save with the Santa thing, though maybe we can just leave it out next year? I think we've already confused them enough. What's the saying, blew their minds out?"
Jane laughs a short sound of amusement before shaking her head. "It's just blew their minds. Like if something is so unbelievable their brain feels like it just overloads."
"What a strange saying from a strange species."
"Hey now, you're married to one of those strange aliens." She playfully jabs his waist and he snorts, grabbing her hand to squeeze it once before releasing. "Alright, let's get all this shit upstairs before they tear the house down in excitement."
Jane will admit, they could have gotten more presents from the kids if they had the time, but with Garrus and her idea to even do this so close to the day of Christmas, there just wasn't enough time to requisition everything. Hopefully, though, next year will be better with more time to prepare and, this year, they can impress the twins with what little she and Garrus managed.
They'd hate to disappoint the brightness in their lives by not giving them what they truly deserve.
Arms full to the point where they can barely see over the pile, Jane and Garrus climb up into the snow laden living room where Damocles and Cassia play with what's managed to collect on the couch cushions. Had Jane not been so elated about today, she'd have an aneurysm over the mess she'll have to clean tomorrow, but she just tells herself it's only one day. For one day of happiness, she can clean a mess of fake snow all over the living room.
Chirps and impatient rumbling fill the room as she and Garrus set down and start to separate the presents. She can't stop the chuckles at their complete amazement at, what seems to them, getting presents for no damn reason. Still, what's more entertaining is the look on her mate's face when she hands him a wrapped box, but that smug victory only lasts until he sets it down, steps down the stairs and brings back something.
Her mouth falls open when he climbs the steps with none other than a guitar in his hand, the white washed wooden instrument seemingly brand new. Eyes tearing up - but damn if she'll let them fall - she meets him halfway and cups his face, pulling him into a kiss. When she lets him go, she smiles and takes the present with a tender touch.
"There's more." He rumbles as he moves the opposite hand that, until now, she hadn't realized was hidden behind his back. Shifting and pulling it out, he shows her a thin, flat present. "Don't worry. It's not something for our eyes only, so it's okay for them to see you open it."
She chuckles and follows him back into the living room where the twins, devious as they are, are trying to peek under the edges of the wrapping without a sound to reveal their intent. "Alright, alright. You've held out long enough." Setting her guitar down against the wall beside the tree, she takes Garrus' offered hand to join him on the couch. She motions the boxes with a hand. "Have at it."
The twins could not have unwrapped their present fast enough even if they tried, attacking it like wild varren. Quickly, the room fills with shocked trills, excited chirps, and loud squeals of utter joy as they reveal all that their parents managed to find in order to make this celebration the best they could.
"Look!" Damocles lifts a box out from the pile of discarded trash, grinning with mandibles wide at the krogan action figure inside. "I got a krogan…" He grabs another box intended to be it's partner. "And a rach-eye!"
Jane smiles at her mate's warm and soothing chuckle at her side and looks to Cassia to see what she's found in her presents. As if feeling her eyes, their daughter looks up and smiles with a loud chirp. "Look, mommy! A Alliance Barbie and Specker Danila!" She points to the boxes, one a doll she's been eying and the other an action figure of her turian idea on her cartoons.
While their many toys of various species' superheroes and imaginary idols grab their attention, it's Garrus' next presents that really send the kids into a whirlwind of stunned and wordless vocal sounds. In long, heavy boxes is the very beginning of their 'training', as Garrus put it, an airsoft gun for each of them. She knows it's so very Garrus, and turian, to do, but she can't blame him when she's noticed the way the twins seem so entranced when she and Garrus practice out in the sand, shooting out over the water. Even with their age, she knows he'll take care of them, train them the proper ways of handling their weapons, and raise them to be the best damn marksmen around. She, however, will gladly teach them how to bash with those weapons, turning them into a club, but she knows she can't compare to the natural born instructor in her mate.
When she catches her husband's eyes, she shakes her head with a chuckle and reaches to take his hand, giving it a warm squeeze. "I know you'll raise them right. We don't want them shooting their eyes out or anything."
He purrs and leans down to kiss her cheek. "Don't worry. I'll take them from them and practice safe handling practices with them first. It'll be some time before they can shoot those things." He tilts his chin towards the two children, where Damocles is trying to get into the case. "They're locked to my tool." He raises his voice to be heard. "Not yet, Damocles. We'll start to practice tomorrow, after school. Okay?"
Though clearly disappointed, their son nods and turns to his toys, ripping at the packages with teeth and talons. Watching him for a moment, Jane just lays her head back against her husband's chest, smiling in the comfortable noise of the twins tearing at the barriers between themselves and their prizes. When Garrus shifts behind her, as if reaching for something, she leans up and turns to look at him, a question on her lips.
"I want you to open your gift," he says before she can speak, purring as he offers the thin package.
She smiles as she takes it, feeling its considerable heft for the size. "Only if you open yours. Well, the child safe one."
His brow plates raise at that before he growls softly and leans forward to kiss her. Ever the tease, he pulls away just as she parts her lips to deepen the kiss, chuckling at her frustrated pout. "Later. I promise."
"Tease," she jokes with a smirk and nudges him with her elbow before, finally, turning to her gift in hand. "You really didn't have to get me this too. The guitar is enough."
"No. It's never enough." He smiles when she glances his way, blushing at his words. "Now go on. You're turning me too soft with those looks."
Like that, it's gone as she snorts and chuckles. "You're such a mood killer."
"I try."
She'd swat him, but her body stills at yet another heartfelt surprise from him. Smiling as she runs her fingers over the leather surface of her newest sketchbook, Jane turns to him and kisses under his jaw, right on the tender hide of his throat. "Thank you," she whispers. "You're too good to me."
"I know." Still, his warm purr tells her enough of his own feelings towards that statement.
"Your turn." She glances to make sure the kids are still good, now playing with their new toys among the mountains of torn or shredded wrapping paper and packaging.
The box fits snuggly in one hand and, though she's sure he probably thinks it's just a mod, she truly hopes he likes what really lies in that tiny package. Sure, she can always fall back on the set of tools she got as a backup, but she doesn't want to, doesn't want to settle when she can give him so much more. An uneasiness settles in her belly as she watches him slowly unwrap the small, black box. When he opens it, he blinks in surprise and Jane has a moment where her heart drops before he starts to rumble deep in his chest. Picking out the treasure inside, Garrus flicks his mandibles in happiness as he turns the ring in his fingers so that the light glistens off its surface.
Feeling like she needs to explain, Jane plays with the hem of her dress as she flushes and speaks. "I've seen you often touching where your ring used to be… you know, when you still had that arm." She looks up to see his warm and soothing eyes looking into her own. "So… I got you a new one." He slowly smiles and she clears her throat, lifting up to point at the broad banded, silver ring and explain in attempt to get his attention off her, to stop that awkward fluttering in her stomach. "There's three stones here… They're birthstones, a human thing. We have stones for the month people are born. I figured, since the twins were born on Earth, they can technically have one for themselves." When he touches her cheek with his free hand, she swallows and finally looks into his eyes. "There's two emeralds for them and… a diamond for me," she whispers.
"Jane." His voice is so calming with its smokey tone and deep vocals, and she finds herself melting into his touch. "I love it. Never as much as I love you and the kids, but I love it." He leans in and nuzzles his mouth plates against her lips. "Thank you. And Happy Christmas."
She can't find it in herself to correct him as she covers his hand holding her and leans the last few millimeters in to kiss him.
They don't manage to get the twins to sleep until the two little brats tire themselves out to the point of just collapsing at whatever game they were playing together down in front of the fireplace. Jane and Garrus didn't mind the late hour or having to carry the two children up to their rooms. It was Christmas, after all, and the mess of faux snow, torn wrappings, and dirty dishes from dinner - which actually turned out pretty damn good, if a bit disjointed in her mind with so much sweetness from the candy canes, gingerbread, and fruity cake - could wait until tomorrow to become an actual problem.
Hers and Garrus' footprints to their room are the last of the night as she locks the door behind them, lowering the lights to a warm intimacy. Turning to him, she takes his hands in hers to stop them from removing the smooth, velvety fabrics from his body. He rumbles and tilts his head in question, but she silences any inquiry when she takes each hand to her mouth and kisses his knuckles in turn, the same attention paid to artificial and real alike.
His purr is soothing and warm as he presses his cheek to hers, caressing her jaw with his mandible before stepping away and back towards the bed. Taking a seat, he smiles and gives a slight nod that she takes as agreement to do whatever it is she has planned. She just hopes to hell that he likes it and doesn't make a complete fool of herself.
Closing her eyes, she pumps a hip first left, then right, building a rhythm. Smirking, she opens her eyes and slowly sways from her place near the door, hands caressing down the faux fur of that ridiculous elf's jacket. Raising her voice higher, she starts to sing with each bump of her hip.
"Santa baby, just slip a sable under the tree." She flicks a hand towards her chest. "For me." Running her hands down her chest, she lifts them to snap open the buttons of her jacket. "Been an awful good girl, Santa baby. So hurry down the chimney for me.
"Santa baby, an auto space convertible too. Light blue." She watches him tilt his head, not a reaction she figured he'd have, so she starts to bob her shoulders as she slowly slips the jacket down her arms to reveal the little red dress. "I'll wait up for you, dear." Standing before him, she leans forward and wiggles her chest so he can look down her cleavage. "Santa baby. So hurry down the chimney today.
"Think of all the fun I've missed. Think of all the fellas I haven't kissed." She smirks at his flick of mandibles, thinking she's got his attention now, and runs a hand under his jaw. "Next year, I could be, just as good. If you check off my Christmas list."
She stands up and reaches back to drag down the zipper ever so slowly as her other hand cups her breast for a split second in promise before sliding down to attract his eyes to her waist and hip. "Santa baby, I want a yacht and really that's not, a lot," she croons as she takes his hands up her hips before moving her hands to the top of her dress. "Been an angel all year." She shimmies the dress down over her breasts to pool at his hands to her words. "Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight."
She expects a growl, rumble, or purr as he helps her dress down over her swaying hips, but something's not quite right as he looks at her over with a completely lost look. As the exact opposite reaction, she can't help but let her shoulders drop as she hangs her arms. "This isn't working, is it?"
Garrus hums, his brow plates drawn down in what she's come to know, when coupled with that sound, as his 'thinking face'. Again, not the reaction she wants. "Why would you be asking Santa for things? I thought it was only for kids?" His eyes widen. "This isn't a children's song, is it?"
The frightened shock in his voice makes her chuckle, at least lightening the mood. "No, Garrus. It's not a children's song." She cups his scarred cheek and he leans into her palm. "That'd be very awkward and traumatizing for us all."
"Then-"
"Let's not question it anymore." She shakes her head at the disastrous attempt at being sexy for her husband. "How about we skip the strip tease?"
He rumbles with a smile and leans forward to nuzzle between her breasts. "It was nice if not for the song as distraction."
She laughs, her chest heaving against his face as it vibrates against her skin with his own amusement. "I'll remember that." Cupping his face, she lifts his head to smile warmly down to him as he releases her to let the dress fall. "How about she skip the strip show?"
"Well, You don't really have anymore clothes anyways, and pulling off socks isn't really all that arousing."
Snorting, she quirks her lip and playfully swats his shoulder. "Smart ass." She leans down and kisses him, slow and heavy with curling tongues and shared breath. When she draws away, she whispers heatedly against his ear. "Get undressed."
He growls and shifts their position so that its his rough, growling voice against her ear. "How about you take the chance to touch me before I turn the tables and take your control," he chuckles deeply as she shivers, adding, "then take you."
She sighs as she steps back and quickly kicks her shoes away somewhere where they'll probably trip over in the morning, but she could care less right now when he smirks at her, eyes growing dark. Reaching out for his dark red jacket, she claims his mouth and he immediately opens for her tongue as she pushes in, fighting for control while she has it. She knows that, once he's stripped and bare, the tables will turn, but it's a switch she'll gladly give up when it leads to his massive form freeing her from the binds of reality, of the world outside this room.
The thick belt and jacket's snaps quickly fall open at her insistent, blind tugging. Garrus relaxes his shoulders, letting go of her hips long enough for her to push off the offending fabric. She pulls back from his mouth for a surprised glance at his already bare chest, eyebrows raising. "You weren't wearing anything under?"
"Was I supposed to?" He nibbles at her ear. "Are you really complaining about whether or not I wore something underneath?"
Humming, she pulls the corner of her lip between her teeth and presses into the firm presses of mouth plates against her earlobe and tongue playing against the pearl earring it sports. "No," she says breathily, hands grabbing his pants' hem and tugging impatiently. "Stand up. These. Off."
He chuckles against her, the sound rumbling with his growing arousal, and stands to tower over her. She runs her tongue against the splits in his plates as his chest expands with each deep breath as her hands tug at the closures of his pants until they rest against the juts of his hips. It's then that he cups her chin and lifts her head.
"You need to remove my boots first." How his voice can be so calm, she has no damn idea, but she quickly gets her revenge for his composure as she runs her hands over the bulge in his pants on their way down this thighs. "Jane," he hisses, then purrs down to her as she gets to her knees. "Don't use your mouth. I want you alone."
While disappointing that she can't taste him, she can't complain at his want to focus entirely on being inside her. Hell, she's practically impatient to fuck and be fucked by him, so who is she to waste time swallowing him down when what he really wants is to join and spend all his energy taking her, making her weak. Still, she lets herself nibble and kiss against his thighs and straining length beneath the fabric of his pants as she loosens the pants around his spurs, pulls open the catches of his boots, and holds them as he steps out.
She loves the sound of his vocals now as loud as his voice as he says her name once more when she disobeys him to pull open his pants and run her tongue along his underside. Looking, she smirks and licks her lips when his nearly black eyes stare down at her in what looks like promise. She doesn't look away from those beautiful eyes as she roughly jerks his pants down his legs, over his spurs, and tosses them into some far off corner of the bedroom. When she tries to get in another disobedient lick, however, he hefts her up and into his arms.
Letting out a gasp as he easily cups her ass and spins to toss her on the bed, Jane immediately climbs up the bed without breaking their eye contact. He follows on hands and knees until he's directly over her, staring heatedly into her eyes with a loud crooning echoing from his chest. In this moment, she knows just how strong a hold he still has over her, and one that seems to only have grown through the years. The thought coupled with his sinister tongue being dragged up her neck that steals a long moan from her lips.
Her hands grip his waist in need, but he doesn't fall for the move of impatience as he shifts to lean on his metal arm, freeing the other to ghost down her neck and chest. Stopping at her breast, he cups one and circles her nipple with his thumb as he nips once on her ear before lowering his head to her opposite, lonely breast. Another moan falls from her lips as tongue and thumb circle each nipple before punching with mouth plates and fingers, working her into a needy puddle in tandem.
He must smell her growing arousal because he emits a sounds that is both groan and snarl when she presses her thighs together to ease that wet ache that's blossomed into a fiery inferno in her belly. Body screaming for action, she practically purrs when he slides his hand further down to stroke between her legs, easily finding her clit after so many years driving her insane. Her hips jerk against his palm as he teases her opening with a knuckle, never pressing in with caution for his sharp talons, but it's all she needs to bite her lip and jerk his head from her breast to kiss him hungrily. Garrus croons against her mouth, the hum vibrating through his tongue and against her own as they fight for dominance, demanding more from each other until she forces them to part for breath.
"Please," she whispers against his mouth, nibbling and licking the edge of his plates. "I want to feel you."
"You are." His tease earns him a glare, but he relents, nipping her lip as he pulls away his hand from her center to take her thigh. Shifting, he guides her legs around his hips as he kneels between them, the heavy weight of his length against her making her tremble in desperate anticipation.
Reaching between them, she guides him as he pushes home, dragging out a wanton whine from her. Her hands tangle in the sheets as she arches, breasts pressing against his plated chest and neck opening to his urgent and forceful nips and licks. While one hand supports his weight, he raises just enough to drop the other back to her breast, teasing her nipple as he slowly grinds to let her stretch around his girth.
When she grabs his fringe, needing more, dying for more, he finally starts to move. Pulling back, his hips snap forward as he thrusts into her. She moans with him, their voices tangling as he thrusts against her with enough force to cause their connection to create obscene, yet arousing, sounds of their combined fluids. Only his snarls and grunts against her slick skin can overcome the delicious sounds as he takes her with a force she knows too well from him - and she loves every moment and every thrust of it.
Shifting her hold to rub under his fringe in unison with his pinches of her nipples, she feels him shudder but never falter. It's when he drops his hand ever lower to her clit, circling it with the fast speed of his hips snapping forward, that she sutters in her own touches, pressing her face into his cowl. "Fuck."
"That's… what I'm doing…" His chuckle is forced, barely making it past his primal sounds of dominance and claim over her, and any retort falls from her lips as she bites onto him, body going completely rigid.
Like a taut string snapping under his overwhelming efforts to send her over the ledge, Jane lets out a mix of muffled scream and moan into his hide as she writhes uncontrollably. Electricity shoots through her limbs like a livewire she she digs her fingers into his back and feels more than hears him groan against her. His thrusts only continue for a few more bucks before he grips her hip tightly, probably bruising, and his heated seed fills her to the point that his knot causes some to leak out onto the bed sheets when it locks them together.
For minutes, the two just focus on breathing, chests heaving against one another. When he seems to find control of his limbs again, Garrus rolls them to their sides. While thankful his weight isn't on her for the time it takes them to unlock, she's a bit disappointed that the odd feeling of comfort that comes from him over her, pressing against her very form with nothing between them, is gone. Still, she can live with the closeness they have laying side by side in each other's arms as they are though.