"What do we need… What do I need?", Daniel said to himself and disappeared behind another shelf packed with miniature Christmas trees.
"Well I need a break", Joey said.
For three hours Daniel and Joey had driven around different stores and bought Christmas decorations. Daniel had done most of the picking, while Joey had pushed the cart around. And after that much time on his feet Joey really needed to sit down. Daniel then appeared with his hands full of pinecones and a can with fake snow. He placed it in the cart and looked at his watch.
"Oh, sorry Joey, I think I got carried away. I just want everting to be perfect Christmassy before I have to leave, so you don't have to bother", Daniel said, grabbed the cart and headed for a coffee place in the store.
Daniel is very creative and was always responsible for the Christmas decorations. This year though, he did not get to enjoy his creation throughout December, as he was leaving for a job in France from the 10th to the 24th. At first, when he got offered the job, he was going to turn it down since it both was Christmas and his birthday in that period, plus he wanted to be there for Joey and help getting ready for the baby. But Joey insisted that he should take the job, since he knew how much it meant to him and also to give him a break from taking care of him all the time.
On the 10Th of December Joey woke up in bed, and still with his eyes closed moved his hand towards Daniel's side of the bed to put it around him. Joey's arm fell flat on the bed. He opened his eyes and saw that Daniel was gone. He then sat up, rubbed his eye and stretched. At the same time, Joey felt the baby move quite a bit, it was like the baby was doing a stretch of its own, followed by a nice morning workout of kickboxing.
"Good morning to you two", Joey said as he rubbed his belly.
"Joey, are you up?", Daniel suddenly yelled from down stairs.
Up and up, Joey thought to himself. It had become more of a struggle for Joey over the last few weeks to get up from the bed, chairs, etc. by himself. It was beginning to irritate him, since he then felt more helpless. On the other hand, he had started working out more with Daniel, so today might be a day, where it would be easy to get up.
"In a minute I will be", Joey yelled back at Daniel.
Joey then swung his legs over the side of the bed, put his hands on the edge and tried to pushed himself up. He didn't get more than ten centimeters of the madras before he lost balance, and had to sit down on the bed again. The bed was to soft and Joey's center of gravity was shifted at the moment. Joey sighed and then looked up to find Daniel standing in the doorway.
"Sure you don't need more than a minute?", Daniel asked.
"Yep, I can to this", Joey said and tried to get up a couple more times before giving up and giving Daniel a defeated look.
"Come here sweety", Daniel said and grabbed Joey's hand.
Daniel then pulled Joey up in one quick motion. Joey's face ended up only a few inches away from Daniel's. They stood for a moment and stared into each other's eyes.
"You just love to be the big hero that saves me, don't you?" Joey said as he briefly looked down before again meeting with Daniel's green eyes.
"For as long you need a hero I will always answer your calls", Daniel said with a smirk on his face.
Joey smiled at Daniel and gave him a quick kiss. He then went to the closet and got a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. Before he could exit the room, Daniel stopped him.
"I need you to close your eyes", Daniel said. "I got a surprise".
Joey closed his eyes and took Daniel's hand. Down stairs Daniel placed Joey in the middle of the living room. Joey could hear the sound of candles being lit and the room was filled with a smell of freshly baked bread and hot chocolate. As he got permission from Daniel to open his eyes, he was met by a wealth of colors. Green branches, red bows and twinkling lights. The big Christmas tree had been sprayed with fake snow and glitter, which made it look like it had just been brought inside from a frosty forest, and no shelf or surface was left empty.
"Welcome to our winter wonderland", Daniel said and hugged Joey from behind.
"When did you have time to make all this?", Joey asked.
"A lot of it was in the craft room, where I said you couldn't go, plus you fell asleep really early last night, so I put it all up before going to bed", Daniel answered. "We are having cinnamon buns and hot chocolate for breakfast, I thought I would treat you one last time before I leave."
It suddenly struck Joey what day it was, and that Daniel was leaving in a couple of ours. He turned towards Daniel.
"This is so beautiful, but if I could exchange all of it for you to not leave today, I would do it", Joey said as a tear appeared in the corner of his eye.
Daniel looked at Joey and placed one hand on the side of Joey's head. He dried of the tear, which had reached Joey's cheek. Daniel moved his hand from the cheek and onto the backside of Joey's head, gently grabbed his hair and pulled him in close. First their foreheads met and slowly Daniel moved to one side of Joey's cheek before softly kissing him several times. They both backed up a bit a looked at each other.
"You know I don't mean it, I'm just gonna miss you so much", Joey said and sniffed.
"You do mean it", Daniel said quietly. "You are just a very loving person. You can set aside your own feelings to make other people happy."
"I just wish I could go with you", Joey said.
"I think I know a little someone, who won't be pleased with the long flight", Daniel said and moved one hand to the side of Joey's stomach.
Joey placed his hand on top of Daniel and smiled as they both felt the baby do a little kick.
"What do you think she is trying to say", Daniel asked.
"I think HE is saying goodbye as well", Joey said. "And properly also that he is hungry because I am starving".
Daniel poured the chocolate and topped it off with some marshmallows. They then went to sit by the fireplace, where they curled up in each other's arms and talked a while before it was time for Daniel to go. Storm and Wolf had been taken to a daycare while Daniel was away. Joey could not give the dogs as much exercise as they needed on his own anymore, and even though Joey had planned getting a lot of friends to come and be with him while Daniel was gone, he would not force them to walk the dogs. As Daniel's taxi pulled up he gave Joey a long warm hug and a kiss before heading out the door. Joey waved at the taxi as is drove down the enlightened road.
Joey had made a plan for what he was going to do, while Daniel was gone. He both needed to decorate and furnish the nursery, but not get all done with it, as he knew Daniel would love to help set up the room as well, and plan a big Christmas party on the 24th. Before he left Joey tricked Daniel into believing, that he wanted a peaceful Christmas eve with only the two of them, but instead the house would be filled with a lot of their friends. But Christmas morning Joey and Daniel would have all to themselves.
The days then started to go by, and the first days Joey both had visits from Megan and Coleen, who helped pick out some pictures and furniture for the nursery.
It didn't take long before it was Daniel's birthday, and Joey had planned to give Daniel a call as soon as he woke up, as it then would be evening in France. On the morning of the 16th Joey woke up at about 9 am. The first thing he did, was to grab the phone and call Daniel. Joey had not heard from Daniel in six days, as he was very busy with work, so he was very excited to finally hear his voice again. The first call to his cellphone went straight to voicemail, so Joey tried to phone the hotel Daniel was staying on instead.
"Come on pick up… pick up", Joey said impatiently.
"Hello it's Daniel", Daniel said as he picked up the phone while he was in the midst of getting dressed.
"Hey Danny boy", Joey said with a silly voice. "How is it going with my birthday boy?"
"Joey! Oh sweety I miss you so much, and time fly so quickly here. I'm about to do a night shoot, well evening shoot, and then afterwards we are heading out to celebrate my birthday, so just ignore any weird messages you get from me later", Daniel said and giggled.
"Hope you have a wonderful evening, I would really have loved to be there", Joey said.
"And you are the person I want most to be here", Daniel said.
"Now go enjoy the night. I love you", Joey said softly.
"I love you too. See you soon", Daniel said.
Up to the 24th Joey had a lot of planning to do, to make sure the Christmas party would become a big success. A lot of friends like Connor, Shane, Hope and others help with extra decoration, inviting guests, grocery shopping and cooking. The last part was not Joey's strong side, and since food is a huge part of Christmas he left that part for some of his friends. When the 24th finally came, everything was ready and the only thing missing was Daniel. All the guests were in the kitchen, were the light was switched off. Daniel opened and walked through the front door, and all he was met by was darkness, except a few light chains, which hang from the decorations.
"Joey?", Daniel said quietly and turned on the light in the hallway. "What is happening here? Joey!"
Daniel then really confused continued into the kitchen and turn on the light.
"Merry Christmas!", everyone yelled.
Daniel stood paralyzed for a moment before understanding what was happening. He started greeting all of his friends and was also handed a cup of hot eggnog. After Daniel had settled down, he realized he had not seen Joey yet.
"Sorry but where is Joey", Daniel asked Coleen.
"I actually don't know. He went upstairs just before you entered", Coleen answered before turning around, reacting to the sound of creaking wood.
"Ho, Ho, Ho! Who have been good this year?" Joey said while he walked down the stairs in a Santa suit.
Everybody had a smile on their lips as Joey after a bit stood in the kitchen. Daniel walked over to him and leaned in for a kiss.
"Oh, wait a minute", Joey said, took Daniel's hands and moved him about a meter to the left. "Perfect".
Joey then looked up, which made Daniel do the same. Over the top of their heads hung a dark green mistletoe with a red bow in it. Daniel and Joey looked into each other's eyes and both leaned in for a sweet little kiss.
"Welcome home", Joey said.
"You look gorgeous, even as Santa", Daniel said.
"Well this year it fits perfectly", Joey grinned and straightened the suit.
"It's good to be home with my baby again", Daniel said and laid a hand on Joey's belly. "Both my babies".
Daniel gave Joey another kiss. They then both returned to the party, which lasted for hours and everybody was enjoying themselves. Every plate and cup was empty when they all went home.
The next morning Joey woke up early, he always wakes up early on Christmas day. He turned to Daniel and looked at him, hoping he would wake up as well. Joey was very impatient and started stroking Daniel's hair. Daniel opened one of his eyes and exhaled deeply.
"Every year Joey", Daniel mumbled.
"I'm sorry I just can't wait" Joey whispered.
Daniel got up from the bed and reached out to Joey, who took his hand and got up as well. Together they went downstairs, took a couple of blankets and sat down under the Christmas tree. Joey handed a little silver present, with back ribbon on, to Daniel.
"Merry Christmas".
- And happy new year.