AN: Sorry guys, I know I've been putting warnings at the top of the chapters but I forgot for the last chapter. Anyway, this one is totally clean.

It was late December, the air was uncharacteristically warmer than in years past. Diamond was cooking dinner for Pearl that Christmas Eve and he had been doing a lot of thinking since the last time he had seen Pearl. He was ready to move forward, push the boundaries and perhaps get a bit more physical. But presently he felt like a house wife cooking for his husband and hardly like a sexual deviant. As he stood at the stove he stirred the soup, round and round, oh the monotony. Like my life… he thought frustrated.

Life seemed so complicated and simplistic these days for Diamond. With his free hand he massaged his temple. He really wanted things to work out for him and Pearl, he wanted to be exclusive but he wasn't sure what you would call their sexually frustrated relationship at the moment.

Pearl entered the house swiftly and was peeking over Diamond's shoulder in the next instant. The soup smelled heavenly and it looked like a whirlpool of flavors from the stirring. Pearl rested his head on his tense friend's shoulder.

"Smells great, Dia but why…" He began rubbing his shoulders, "So anxious?"

His friend's voice was soothing and he let a relaxed sigh escape his lips. "I'm sorry; just have a lot on my mind. I'll be done in a few, if you want to seat yourself at the table."

Pearl obeyed and sat at the table, trying to suppress his continuous desire to move around. It felt like old times on the road, Diamond cooking for everyone but this time he wasn't trying to rush his friend because there wasn't anywhere they needed to be anymore. Waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting… This past month or so has been nothing but waiting.

Diamond served soup and rice and he watched amusedly as Pearl ate at a record pace. Diamond seated himself next to the boy and leisurely conquered his meal. The kitchen was well lit and the table cloth had some festive embroidery embezzled on it that complimented the centerpiece nicely. Through the window opposite the table Diamond could see snow blowing off the roof. It hadn't snowed in days and most of the icicles had fallen already he noted.

He averted his attention from the window to look at Pearl; his angelic blonde locks fell perfectly into place every time he saw him and the fluorescent lighting did his eyes no justice. Diamond had seen those eyes sparkle like embers and burn like flames with excitement and triumph but now they just looked restless and unsettled. He wasn't the only restless one but Diamond had to shrug, he hardly ever had the answers he or anyone was looking for, at least not without serious deliberation on his part.

"That was delicious, thanks for dinner, Dia," Pearl slouched in his chair, dreamily content to have a full stomach. "How did you come to be such a great cook?"

Diamond thought hard about the question. "You know, I really don't know. Just have a thing for it I suppose."

"Oh." He toyed with the holiday salt shaker, feeling the raised features on its porcelain face with mild interest. They made eye contact a few times, awkwardly staring and smiling a bit as they averted their gazes. He drew some salt from the cap between his fingers with a lethargic sigh before smirking a bit. "So what did you ask Santa for for Christmas?"

Diamond laughed, smiling wide as he rubbed his neck. "I didn't ask him for anything. What did you ask him for?"

"For him to bring you whatever you asked for…" He smiled halfheartedly.

Diamond smiled, reaching out to take Pearl's hand. "The only thing that could make me happy is you."

Pearl let his eyes travel up from their hands to Diamond's face. He was always wearing that hat but his sky blue eyes couldn't hold his gaze. Pearl felt his stomach drop but tried not to show his frustration. He strummed his fingers on the table, muscles tensing as he furrowed his brows pensively. The words dancing about his subconscious were yet to form the question he wanted to ask and he hesitated, though he wasn't quite sure why. With a grounding sigh, he sat up taller and tried not to fidget with his fingers as he slowly braved the silence.

"I want to take you somewhere for New Year's. Want to go to Jubilife with me?"

Diamond blinked at him, rubbing the back of his neck nervously as he mulled the words over in his mind a few times. He was apprehensive to chance the question it beckoned, especially considering the time they'd be going out and the atmosphere they'd be in. He shyly fought a smile as he raised a brow questioningly.

"…Like a date?"

"Yes, like a date… with me." He smiled hopefully, trying not to blush.

Diamond's eyes lit up and he felt beautiflies flutter in his stomach. "I- Yes, of course I'll go with you."

Pearl allowed himself to breathe again and smiled triumphantly.

"Good." Ready or not, here I come…

The boys sat on the couch for hours together holding hands and watching movies. They laughed and joked around and it felt good to be just like kids again with love far from their conscious. After a while they found themselves snuggled under a blanket, Pearl's hands once again at Diamond's hips where he lay in front of him. They watched movie after movie, sipping cocoa and eating cookies as they lay together, chancing caresses along inner thighs and hips and chests. It was heavenly, something that definitely showed that Diamond cared and Pearl loved his "present" or date night of sorts that it turned out to be. But it was starting to get late and Pearl decided to go home. He laced his shoes and Diamond leaned in the doorway looking down at his friend sleepily. Pearl messed up the loops a few times. Maybe it was because he was tired or too fast or maybe because he didn't want to leave, Who knows?

As he rose Diamond put his arms out for a hug and Pearl practically tackled the boy. After a few moments and a firm squeeze the blonde attempted to pull away but was restrained. He looked shyly at Diamond who held him close. He tried to push against his friend's chest to get away but to no avail.

He looked at Diamond, looking into his eyes were like trying to find depth in a brick wall which is precisely the reason why he didn't want to kiss him now. Diamond is characteristically apathetic most of the time but Pearl knew him better than that. No, Diamond wasn't easily read, to just anybody that is. He's bluffing and he knows it. Giving half a second of thought he proceeded to teach Diamond a lesson of sorts.

"No one likes a tease…"

Pearl let his lips graze Diamond's and planted a light kiss on his neck gripping at his shirt to pull him closer. Diamond turned a dark red and with difficulty swallowed hard. He couldn't say he was expecting that. He had a fleeting moment of spontaneity which died shortly after. He had intended to kiss him but choked miserably. He released his hold on Pearl, but he didn't let go. He clung to him possessively. His eyes burned into Diamond's, such fire was more than he could handle at the moment and his lips moved as to say something, anything but nothing escaped. Pearl kissed his neck over and over, hot breath wafting over his skin as Pearl leaned him into the wall. After what felt like an eternity of shock and deepening lust, Pearl at last ceased his torture as he took Diamond's hand in his own and watched him smugly as he met his flushed face met his stare breathlessly.

"I will see you Friday and Diamond," he planted a kiss on his cold fingers.

"Merry Christmas."

Really happy with the story thus far after all the millions of revisions I've done. I appreciate the feedback I've gotten thus far so keep it coming guys. We're nearing the first official sex scene (Chapter 9) and that will conclude the first part of the story. In my mind, I see the story in three acts if you will. The first part is setting it up and them getting together, the second is them being together, and the third is the turning point where 'something unforgivable' happens everything completely changes and the other pairings come in and all that great stuff until the ending. So get your noise makers ready people, the next chapter is their New Year's Eve date.