SWAT KATS CHRISTMAS TALES

Chapter 2: Gifts From the Heart

(Trembling on the Edge of Sanity)

WARNING: Same Sex alert but no sex.

He glanced at the clock and saw he barely had an hour left to finish his surprise.

It had been a rough three years. They had to overcome so much to make it to this point where they were finally happy and well.

The first year Feral had been captured by Dark Kat and brutally abused and tortured. The second year was spent getting his head back together with the help of a SWAT Kat. Falling in love hadn't been in the cards but by the end of that hellish year they had formed a deep attachment for each other.

The past year was nearly as bad when Uly began to suffer continuous bacterial infections that nearly took his life. A cure had finally been developed and he was it's first recipient. To everyone's relief it had worked.

Now it was their fourth year together and he couldn't be happier. They had managed to stay alive and well despite their extremely hazardous jobs. The Christmas season was here and T-Bone wanted it to be very special.

He'd spent all day cleaning the house, putting up a tree, and decorating their hidden home. He'd bought an already made Christmas dinner and it was staying warm in the oven.

It would be just the two of them on this special night. Razor had met someone special earlier in the year and was spending Christmas with her.

His gift was something he'd thought about for months and with his partner's blessing he would give it to his lover tonight on Christmas Eve.

As he added the final touch, lighting two red taper candles on the beautifully set table, he heard his lover's vehicle pull into the garage.

Nervous, he quickly looked around once more to insure he hadn't missed anything then hurried to the door in the kitchen that lead to the attached garage.

Ulysses was tired but happy that nothing had come up to prevent him from getting home on time. He sensed T-Bone was excited about something and he had a suspicion it had to do with the season.

He'd taken a lot of time picking the perfect gift and making it happen. All the pieces had come together just in time for Christmas. He was nervous about how T-Bone would take it but he felt it was the right thing to do for someone who had given him his life back all those years ago.

His Sergeant suggested wrapping it up in pretty paper and had done the deed for him and now he carried it into his warm, welcoming home.

As he stepped into the kitchen, he could smell something good and his lover was standing there with a big smile on his face waiting for him.

With a warm smile of his own, he set the gift on the counter and pulled his lover into his arms for a passionate kiss.

When they parted they were panting and grinning at each other.

"I see you have been busy, love." Uly said, sniffing the air.

"Oh, that's not all. Come into the living room!" T-Bone said, behaving like an excited kitten.

Smiling at his lover's excitement, Feral obliged and walked into the living room.

He blinked in shock, stopping in the doorway to just stare.

T-Bone had set up a beautiful tree and decorated it near the window that looked over the bay. Around the room were other Christmasy touches, garland over the windows, fragrant evergreen boughs strew about on table tops, lights around the tree and windows. It was amazing.

Then he noted the beautifully set table to one side of the room. Candles glowed warmly in the center of it.

He turned with tears hovering in his eyes. "Ohhh love, it's fantastic surprise!" He said, his throat tight.

"I'm glad you love it. I've been working on it all day. I wanted this Christmas to be extra special. After the nastiness of the last three years, this was the first year where we were safe, happy and well." T-Bone said smiling giddily.

"What a wonderful thought." Feral said hugging his lover tightly.

They stood there looking around the room for several minutes, just drinking in the ambience.

"Well, how about helping me set the table and we can eat?" T-Bone sighed, pushing his lover away reluctantly.

"Sure, just let me get into something more comfortable." Ulysses said then hurried from the room to strip quickly and put on simple slacks and polo shirt, opting to go barefoot. He was back ten minutes later and helped T-Bone set the table.

They relaxed, traded information on how their day went and enjoyed the delicious food. Ulysses helped clear the table and washed the dishes as T-Bone put on Christmas music on their stereo.

He came into the kitchen as Ulysses was hanging the dish towel up. Smiling, T-Bone went to the fridge and pulled out a small cake and a bottle of wine. Grinning, Uly helped him serve up then they took their dessert to the living room to enjoy.

They sat on the couch and laughed as they fed cake to each other.

When they were done, T-Bone shivered nervously. It was time to give his gift.

"Uly, I have something important I want to give you as your Christmas gift. I thought about this a lot and asked Razor too before deciding to do this." He said, his demeanor serious and nervous.

Feral licked his lips and sat up tensely. He could tell whatever his lover had to say it was gravely important to him.

T-Bone took a deep breath and let it out as he reached up and untied his mask and let it fall.

Ulysses gasped and tears filled his eyes. 'I knew it! But I never expected him to give his identity to me freely.' He thought, choked up at this incredible gift.

He had no words to express how much this meant to him so he did the only thing he could think of. He pulled Chance Furlong into his arms and kissed him senseless.

When he finally released his lover, Chance was blushing and tears were in his beautiful green eyes.

"I take it you love my gift?" He said cheekily.

"You could definitely say that. Now I have a gift for you. I'm afraid its going to be anticlimactic to yours but......anyway." Uly got up and retrieved his small package from the counter.

He came back into the room and handed it to Chance.

The tabby opened it and stared in shock. He looked up at his lover in amazement.

"You knew?!!!!" He blurted.

"Yes, for about a couple of years." Uly murmured quietly.

Chance looked down and pulled out an Enforcer award for bravery in the protection of the city with his true name on it, a second one was there for Jake as well and some papers. He carefully read the official document and choked in disbelief. It was the paid receipt for the debt he and Jake owed. He could see the rest of the amount due had been written off.

"How.........?"

Feral shrugged and blushed a bit in embarrassment. "Oh, I just called in a few favors. It's legal. So what do you two want to do now?"

"I.....I don't know.....it's a lot to take in yet. I guess Jake and I will have to talk about it some. I do know we won't stop being SWAT Kats." Chance said firmly, flashing his lover a look of defiance.

Feral just grinned and relaxed back against the couch. "I wouldn't have it any other way, my love."

Chance grinned widely. "Merry Christmas, Ulysses."

"Merry Christmas, Chance."