2.
Sebastian groaned as he felt something jump onto his abdomen, or rather someone. The impact had woken him from a fantastic dream in which his parents had had some kind of revelation and were home for Christmas. He blinked a few times and scanned the room – no such luck. His eyes finally met his little sister, who was crouched on his stomach, her face watching intently as he woke up.
"Merry Christmas 'Bas!" she shouted and he winced, it was way too early for this, and he had never been a morning person.
"Merry Christmas 'Mi, what time is it?" Sebastian ran a hand through his hair and wiped the sleep from his eyes, knowing that he would not get to go back to bed until Naomi did later that night.
"It's…6:30am. See, I'm good with numbers. Just like I know that you're 14 and I'm 6"Naomi smiled widely, proud of herself for remembering from the homework Seb had helped her with.
"That's right, well done sweetheart, now can you get off my stomach?" Sebastian winced, 6:30am? That's earlier than he got up for school!
"Oh right, sorry" Naomi giggled, jumping off the bed and throwing Sebastian's comforter off him in an effort to get him out of bed.
"Ok ok I'm up I'm up!" he groaned once more, before getting to his feet and grabbing a robe from the side, sliding it on to his slim form. "Let's go see if Santa's been" he held his hand out, and the six-year-old eagerly took it, dragging him down most of the stairs. They rushed straight through to the lounge at the back of the house, Naomi's excitement quickly rubbing off on Sebastian. The Christmas tree they had decorated together stood tall and proud, as did the homemade angel who sat on the top (who's name was, of course, Naomi) and beneath it were an array of presents in different colour papers and bags. Sebastian smiled at the look of surprise on Naomi's face, and she immediately detached her hand from his and rushed towards the biggest ones. Sebastian yawned, he'd stayed up too late to set all this up, and, knowing his sister, she'd be through them in less than an hour. Naomi went through the presents, unwrapping clothes and a new Barbie doll and paints and lip glosses and games for her computer and a jigsaw and a new horse-riding hat and ballet shoes, all the things a six-year-old girl could ever want and more. Sebastian forgot his exhaustion and simply reveled in the happiness of his little sister. Once the underneath of the tree was looking much emptier, Naomi jumped and ran into the next room without a word. Sebastian's brow furrowed in confusion as she returned, holding a few wrapped gifts in her arms.
"These are for you" she smiled, placing them on the floor before Sebastian. He pushed back the lump in his throat as he looked from the pile and then back to his sister.
"You didn't have to get me anything sweetie" he leant over to kiss her head before picking up one of the presents.
"I know, but I wanted to. Rosie helped me" Sebastian nodded knowingly, now the quizzing by their nanny/maid/friend made a lot more sense. Sebastian unwrapped DVDs and CDs and new socks and a framed picture of him and Naomi, and was struggling to hold back the tears when he got to the last gift. It was simply a piece of card that read 'FOLLOW ME'. He looked up to see Naomi had held her hand out to him with a grin, and he obliged willingly. She led him all the way back upstairs, past their dad's study and to the spare bedroom. She swung the door open and Sebastian gasped at the beautiful piano that awaited him.
"Nae…"he began, stepping towards it, reaching his had out to press down a key.
"I don't know if it's tuned but it's Grandma's. She can't play anymore 'cos of her arthritis, so I guess this is kinda from her too" Naomi smiled and shrugged, "I just missed hearing you play". Sebastian winced, remembering the argument with his father in which he was told to 'take up a sport and stop with the 'faggy' music'. But his father was never home now, and what he doesn't know won't hurt him.
"I love it Nae" he whispered, now forcing himself to choke back his tears as he opened his arms up for a hug. For the rest of the morning Sebastian played the piano while Naomi completed her jigsaw or tested her new colouring pens or danced. As they descended the stairs to prepare Christmas lunch together, they were surprised to hear the phone ring. Sebastian ran to answer it as Naomi shrugged, switching on the TV.
"Hello" he said, confused as to who would be calling on a private number on Christmas day.
"Sebby, darling, merry Christmas, have you had a good morning?" Sebastian winced at his mother's attempt at caring.
"Merry Christmas mom, it's been lovely, Naomi and I are having a great time"
"Well that's wonderful dear, now I need you to take Naomi to the airport and get her on a flight to Paris to join us" Sebastian felt his heart sink
"What?"he managed to choke out
"Well after what happened last year your father has decided you're not welcome here, not worth the hassle you see, but Naomi has to be with her family on her Christmas"
"I'm her family, I'm the one as good as raising her!" Sebastian's voice was dangerously low, not wanting to alert his sister to the fact that something was wrong.
"Sebastian Smythe, you do not talk to your mother like that. Now get your sister on a flight and then get yourself back to Dalton, as soon as you get over this'phase', you'll be welcome to return to Paris"
"So as long as I'm gay, I'm worthless to my own family on Christmas?" he spat, ignoring the tears that had now brimmed over onto his cheeks. There was a pause from his mother, which was the confirmation he needed.
"Tell your sister we'll meet her at the other end" she replied curtly before hanging up the phone. Sebastian's knuckled whitened as he clutched the phone, trying to stop himself from punching something.
"Sebby? Why are you crying? It's Christmas" Naomi's small voice quivered, she knew her parents had done something to upset her brother – again.
"I'm fine sweetie, but you need to go get dressed and packed – you're going to Paris! How exciting!" he watched Naomi's face light up.
"Yay! Are you coming too, 'Bas?" her eyes looked so big, so hopeful, so full of dreams.
"Not this time sweetie, I've got work to do back at Dalton, but I promise I'll see you when you get back" he leant over to kiss her head and hugged her for a moment, before helping her upstairs to pack, knowing full well that she was the only person who actually cared about him.
