As they conversed, they made their way through their meal. With their plates emptied in about ten minutes, Koga stood and loaded the dishes into the dishwasher. When he returned to the table, he found Inuyasha had drifted back to sleep.

With a gentle touch, Koga carefully lifted him up. Inuyasha, even in slumber, instinctively clung to Koga, wrapping his arms around his neck. Koga then made his way out of the kitchen, across the foyer, and up the steps leading to the west wing.

Ten minutes later, he reached Scott and Inuyasha's room. Using his tail, he nudged the door open and stepped inside.

He laid Inuyasha gently onto the bed, tucking him in. He then settled into a chair by the bedside, continuing a project intended for his son.

Two hours later, the door opened to reveal Scott, who looked drained from a long session of paperwork.

Koga looked up, his voice soft, "Hey Scott, how was the paperwork? Did you get through it all?"

Scott raised a weary thumb in affirmation and, with measured steps, approached the bed. He carefully settled in, hoping for a short reprieve from his duties.

Three hours later, the aroma of food wafted through the hallway, rousing both Scott and Inuyasha from their slumber. Scott stretched and glanced around, noting Koga's absence. However, a note on the bedside table caught his eye. Picking it up, he read:

"Hey guys,

I had to leave due to a family emergency in my homeland. It appears that both my father and grandfather are hospitalized. Please don't fret about Adrian; he's with me. Unfortunately, we won't return until next week. P.S.: Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

With love, Koga."

After refolding the note and placing it back on the table, Scott made his way to the door. Opening it, he discovered two generous trays filled with an assortment of meats, vegetables, and fruits.

Beside them stood a small barrel brimming with water and juice. Scott first brought the barrel into the room, then fetched the trays and set them neatly on the bed.

Inuyasha, rubbing his eyes, inquired, "What did the note say?"

Scott sighed, "Koga and Adrian have left and won't be back for a few weeks. Koga's father and grandfather are unwell and hospitalized, so he'll be tied up with that. It means he won't be here for our Christmas dinner or to ring in the new year."

Concerned, Inuyasha responded, "Is that all? I hope we hear from him soon."

"Yeah, me too," Scott agreed.

As they resumed eating, the duo engaged in light conversation. An hour passed, and with both trays and barrels now empty, Scott reached for the bell and gave it a ring.

Moments later, a soft knock echoed in the room. Scott rose from the bed and opened the door, revealing Peter and Chris.

"You rang, gentlemen?" the duo inquired.

"Yes, we've finished with the food and drinks," Scott confirmed.

"Very well, we'll take care of it for you," they replied harmoniously.

Scott nodded in appreciation. Peter and Chris entered, collecting the trays and barrels. As they prepared to leave, they offered their respects, "Goodnight, my liege and mate liege."

"Goodnight," Scott responded.

With Peter and Chris gone, Scott shut the door and returned to the bed. He noticed Inuyasha had once again drifted off to sleep. Moving silently, Scott undressed himself and gently undressed Inuyasha before climbing into bed beside him.

Drawing Inuyasha close, Scott wrapped them both in the blankets. Thirteen hours later, the pair awoke, feeling quite groggy. As they sat up, the sound of cracking backs made them both wince.

"Next time, remind me to take a relaxing shower before bed, babe," Scott said, grimacing.

Inuyasha chuckled. "I get it. Going to bed without unwinding in a hot shower? You wake up regretting it."

"Absolutely," Scott agreed, rubbing his neck. "Anyway, how are you feeling today?"

"Good. Do you realize tomorrow marks the eleventh month of our relationship and our first Christmas as a married couple?" Inuyasha said with a bright smile.

Scott nodded thoughtfully. "So, any plans for today?"

"Let's head to Beacon Hills for some shopping while the staff prepares the feast for tomorrow," Inuyasha suggested.

Scott smiled and agreed. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, then extended an arm to Inuyasha. Although the latter rolled his eyes playfully, he let Scott cradle him towards the bathroom. Scott used his tail deftly to open the bathroom door, stepping inside with Inuyasha in his embrace.

After setting Inuyasha down, both of them quickly took care of their morning routines. Post that, they ambled towards the jacuzzi, intending to soothe their still-aching bodies.

Scott gently set Inuyasha in the tub before settling himself with Inuyasha nestled in his lap. Scott turned on the jacuzzi, adjusting the temperature. They both sighed as the warm water began to alleviate their soreness.

Scott gently placed Inuyasha before him and began to massage his shoulders and back, kneading away the tension. After a rejuvenating thirty minutes, with their bodies feeling invigorated, Scott reached over to shut off the jacuzzi.

He then moved in front of Inuyasha, offering his hands to assist him. With a grateful nod, Inuyasha accepted the help and stood up. Scott crouched slightly, slipping an arm under Inuyasha's legs to lift him.

He then reached over to a shelf, using his tail to retrieve two towels, passing one to Inuyasha. Towel-dried and refreshed, the pair made their way back to the bedroom.

Inuyasha placed the damp towel on the bed. Scott then set Inuyasha on the towel and began to dry them both. Once dry, Inuyasha moved off the towel, which Scott collected and placed in the bathroom hamper.

Returning to the bedroom, Scott approached the dresser and selected two sweaters, two pairs of boxers, and two pairs of pants, which he laid out on the bed. He first assisted Inuyasha with dressing before dressing himself.

Scott extended his hands to Inuyasha, who accepted and stood facing him. They shared a brief kiss before exiting the bedroom. Glancing at the clock, they realized it was already 1:35 pm, meaning they had relaxed for a whopping 15 hours. Their stomachs growled in unison, prompting them to make their way to the kitchen.

Inside the refrigerator, Inuyasha spotted a note from his brother, Sesshomaru: "Sorry I didn't wake you both earlier. After your exhausting day yesterday, I ensured there was some food left for you."

Appreciating the gesture, they retrieved the leftovers and, without warming them, quickly finished their meal. After placing the dishes in the sink, they began looking for Chris and Peter, eventually finding them after a short search.

"Good afternoon, sires!" Chris and Peter greeted them.

"Good afternoon," Scott and Inuyasha replied in unison.

"How can we assist you today?" Peter asked.

"We were hoping you could drive us to the city for some shopping," Scott proposed.

"You're in luck," Chris said, "Peter and I were just about to head out for some shopping ourselves."

"Perfect!"

The quartet grabbed coats from the rack and ventured out. Two hours later, they returned, bags in tow. Handing their shopping bags to Peter and Chris, Scott and Inuyasha instructed them to give them to the staff for wrapping and placing under the Christmas tree.

Later, seeking some outdoor activity, Scott and Inuyasha stripped down, shifted into their primal forms, and embarked on a running date, followed by a brief hunt. They returned after six hours, carrying their hunt–two deer. After shifting back to their humanoid forms, they feasted on the first deer.

Fully satiated, they affectionately groomed one another before redressing and heading back into the castle with the second deer heading to the kitchen and putting it into the meat locker for tomorrow. Once in their bedroom, they undressed and slipped into bed, allowing sleep to claim them.