Let the Rain Come Down - ch7

This chapter is unashamedly schmaltzy and I make no apologies for it. If you can’t write fluff at Christmas, then when can you?

Merry Christmas from myself and the boys. Have a wonderful holiday and we’ll see you back here in the New Year for the next instalment.

Disclaimer: All characters owned and created by Stephenie Meyer.

This chapter is unbeta’ed – any errors are mine and I apologise in advance.

~o.O.o~

Chapter 7

Edward’s POV

Over the next couple of days I watched Jasper getting brighter in himself, but his chest was still not healed, and he at times struggled to breathe. With a handful of quarters in my pocket, I went to a payphone and rang the clinic to ask for their advice. The doctor I spoke to was the same lady as before, and I explained our situation to her. When she remembered who we were, she asked questions about what had happened to cause his chest to worsen. I told her the truth, that he had tried to return to work and made himself sick again. 

I heard her sigh.

“Didn’t I tell you both that he had to stay inside?”

“Yes, doctor, you did. He had almost finished the course and wanted to help with the money situation, thinking he was feeling better. If I had been home I would never have allowed him to leave the house. He knows he did a stupid thing. He is feeling a little better, but his chest is still noisy. Should I bring him back in to see you? I don’t want him to get worse – he’s finally feeling like himself again. His appetite is improving too.”

“Is he inflating that lung properly? Taking deep breaths?”

“Yes, he is. After being outside without adequate clothing, his chest rattled for a day or so and his cough came back. It scared me. I’ve kept him warm and inside ever since.”

“Can you come to the clinic? I’m willing to give him another course of meds to make sure his lungs fully heal. Could you be here later today? I’ll have them ready for you to collect.”

I looked at my old watch. “I need to check what time the bus runs, but I can be there in the next hour if that’s okay?”

“Very well, Mr Masen. Please give your details to the receptionist and she will come and find me.”

“Thank you, doctor. You’ve set my mind at ease. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

The buses ran more often than I realised, and after telling the guys at the market that I was going out for a short while, I checked my pockets for change and made my way to the stop to wait.

The doctor was good to her word, handing me another two week course of pills with firm instructions. Worried, I asked about our little trip to see the lights, promising I would make sure he had layers of warm clothes on, plus a scarf over his nose and mouth. She said it was okay, provided he was bundled up, but not to overdo it. I left feeling lighter and more positive than I had in a while.

Jasper wasn’t pleased initially that I had gone behind his back, until I explained I had rung for advice on whether it was okay for us to go out on our Christmas date. He forgave me when I showed him the meds, explaining what the doctor had said about a second course often being necessary if the infection had gotten a good hold. I got him started on them straight away, not wanting to waste any time.

~o.O.o~

The days sped by, Christmas approaching at a gallop. My work at the market had picked up more and more, and I was busy most of the time now. It was mentioned that some customers had even remarked on how helpful I was, which made me blush a little. I hoped that after the holidays people’s goodwill would remain, and they would still remember to tip me a few cents.

When Christmas week rolled around, Tanya called me for more shifts, her regular walkers having gone home for the holidays leaving her short-handed. Now I was walking several of the smaller dogs too, four at a time, their excitement and energy meaning I spent most of my time untangling their leashes. After the first walk with them I worked out who liked to be next to who in their ‘pack order’, and arranged them accordingly. I had no problems after that. I had to walk slower to compensate for their little legs which gave me a bit of a rest too for which I was grateful. Jupiter’s owner wasn’t working and so he wasn’t there to greet me. I missed him a great deal, having grown so close to him over our time together, and found myself looking over to his enclosure while I was settling the little ones back in.

Alice heard me return and came to see how it had gone. I kept her updated with any issues or anecdotes from our walks while I checked water bowls and hung up leashes on their hooks. Each got a little treat once I was done, the air filled with the happy sounds of crunching and slurping.

“Missing Jupe, eh?” She had caught my side glance.

My embarrassed laugh said it all.

“I really am. He’s such a great dog. These guys are fun too, but it’s not the same.” I rubbed their ears, unlocking doors to put them back into their pens. “A little bit of me wonders if he misses us too.”

Alice crouched next to me, watching Fritzy circle on his bed before collapsing down with a happy groan. “Honestly, I think he does. He loves attention and when he’s with someone who keeps him in line, he seems so much happier. He enjoys knowing who is in charge. When he’s left to his own devices without a firm hand in control, he gets confused and then trashes things. It’s not ideal.” She patted my shoulder. “He’ll be back after Christmas, don’t you worry. He’ll probably want long walks to get him back into his routine too, so that’s something to look forward to for you. If business keeps up like it is, you may end up with more shifts. I hope so because they all really like you.” We both watched the tired little dogs splayed on their beds, hearing loud snores coming from Buster’s pen, the little pug already spark out.

“Alice, is this place closed for Christmas Day? It’s just that I have plans for that day and I can’t make it.” It sounded so strange to my own ears to say that I was unavailable for work.

Her laugh tinkled around me. “No, that’s one day we are closed. All these guys will be home for Christmas where they belong. We open up again on the 27^th, so we might be needing you then if you’re free?”

I grinned and nodded. “Oh I’ll be free. Thanks Alice. I better see Tanya and then get to my next job.” Standing up, I hovered awkwardly.

“Merry Christmas, Alice. See you soon.” Without hesitation, she stood on her toes and pulled me into a hug that I returned more than happily.

“Merry Christmas, Edward. I’ll see you soon.”

My wages safely tucked into my pocket, I headed to the busy market.

~o.O.o~

With only a couple days to go until the big day, I headed off to the community kitchen for more essential supplies. This time I had a better idea of what to do, it was just a case of seeing what was on offer when I got there.

The shelves were well stocked with holiday staples, lots of ingredients to make Christmas dinner for those with families. I looked carefully, selecting items that were the most suitable to our situation. I also selected a large bag of basic rice and one of plain pasta to add variety to our meat dishes. One last look proved fruitful – two jars of a tomato based pasta sauce were added to my box along with some decent coffee. I added our basic toiletries and made my way to the counter where I unpacked the box into the plastic carrier bags I had brought with me, thus making it easier for me to carry this time around.

The walk home seemed longer than ever after an exhausting day, but I told myself that it would be worth it because I had earned enough money for us to buy some hot food on our walk that night. I would have time to rest up a little first, maybe have a slice of bread and peanut butter to boost my energy, and then I would be ready to go. I staggered in and set the bags down with a groan, bending and stretching my arms to get the blood flowing into my extremities. The room seemed warmer than usual, but I attributed that to the fact that it was absolutely freezing outside. It was then I noticed that the bath was half-full of steaming water.

“Welcome home, love. I thought you could use some pampering this time, so, if you’d like to climb in, I’ll take care of you for a change.” Jasper stood, sleeves rolled up, ready to go, and my face must have been a picture because he just grinned and nodded at the inviting water.

I shed my coat and boots, unbuckling my jeans and stepping out of them, folding them over the back of the chair. He turned away, allowing me a moment of privacy to finish undressing and climb into the blissful heat. I lay back, resting my head against the porcelain, and allowed Jasper to pour water over my chest, my eyes closed at the sensation. He took his time much as I had done for him, running his soapy hands up and over my chest, paying attention to my aching arms, massaging the overworked muscles up and around my shoulders. I all but wilted into his healing hands, letting them ease away the day. His fingers ran up my neck, thumbs working into the muscles under the base of my skull until I could no longer contain the moan of pleasure that escaped my lips.

“Does that feel good, love?” His voice was soft and low in my ear, turning my body to melted butter in his talented hands. “I’d wash your hair, but we’re going out later and I don’t want you catching a chill.”

I tilted back my head. “Why don’t you come in here with me? While it’s still hot.”

He didn’t need asking twice. Sitting in the warm water, wrapped around each other like ivy on an old oak tree, it began to feel a lot like Christmas.

~o.O.o~

Later that evening, wrapped up in layers against the cold, we walked around the neighbourhood, gazing at trees both inside and out that twinkled in the darkness. Homes were decorated with all manner of lights and designs, the world a triumph of colour and joy. I pointed out my favourites to Jasper, the glittering icicles strung along walls, gardens full of brightly lit snowmen, reindeer on the roofs. I noticed that the more animated I became, the more Jas watched me rather than the decorations, his fond smile obvious even beneath a scarf. In the darkness, I reached for his hand, and we walked five blocks to the pizzeria that served slices late into the evening, smelling the glorious aroma before we turned the corner to the restaurant. Pushing open the door, we were assailed by a wave of welcome heat and delicious scents that made my stomach growl. Checking the price board, I saw that basic slices were $3.99 each.

“What would you like?” I looked at Jasper who was reading the choices with wide eyes. I had just brought him to cheese heaven and now he was expected to choose just one. I grinned, realising his dilemma and enjoying it just the tiniest bit. He looked at me just to be sure and I nodded.

“I’d love pepperoni and sausage.” His tongue peeked out between his lips at the mere thought.

“That sounds awesome. I think I’ll have that too.” Checking the money in my pocket, I read the board again. “So the good news is, we can either have an extra topping each, or buy a third slice to share.”

He answered without hesitation. “Let’s share.”

I nodded, sucking my lip. The server came to the counter and I placed our orders, noting that there was a charge to eat-in. He looked around the almost empty room.

“The place is quiet tonight, so if you guys want to sit in and eat, I won’t charge you. I won’t say anything if you don’t.”

I brightened. “Thank you! We’ll do that.” I pointed to a table. “We’ll be over there.”

The server smiled and nodded, and we made our way to a table by the heater, shrugging off our coats to enjoy the toasty warmth in the cosy booth. Our food arrived shortly afterward and we ate slowly, enjoying every last bite. I could tell that Jasper was holding in a groan of appreciation at each cheesy mouthful. When he finished his slice, I offered him the extra piece to take a bite before taking one myself, making sure we both had our share. I split the crust in half and we finished it, sitting back feeling warm and full. I’d never eaten at a restaurant before and it felt wonderful to do something that others took for granted. For that one night we were just two people grabbing a bite to eat before perhaps heading off to a Christmas party, or out for drinks on the town.

Shrugging our coats back on, we shouted our thanks to our server who was in the back, and heard him wish us a good night. With smiles a mile wide, we stepped out into the icy air to catch our bus home.

Jasper snuggled up to me, his lips at my ear.

“Best first date ever.”

~o.O.o~

Waking up on Christmas Eve, I felt inexplicable happiness settle over me like a zephyr wind over pure white sands. Jasper still slept and I gazed at him, at the way his long lashes fluttered when he was dreaming, his hair mussed from the pillow, his face smooth and worry-free. Unable to get out of bed without waking him, I contented myself to lay there, hearing his quieter, regular breathing, unable to stop myself from stroking his hair back from his face. He murmured in his sleep, responding to the caress, making the slow journey toward waking. When his eyes flickered open, I watched them crinkle into a sleepy smile and moved in to hug him good morning.

I wasn’t going to waste a moment of the day. With it being Christmas Eve, the market was packed, people panic buying groceries they could hardly carry, meaning the vendors pointed them my way. Some folk were stressed and thoughtless, barely grunting thanks, but some were grateful, pressing dollar bills into my hand when I had loaded their bags into cars for them. The atmosphere was one of joyful frenzy, the vendors cutting prices to move stock they didn’t want to store after the holidays.

I loved every minute of it. Christmas was all around me and I intended to enjoy every moment.

When the market was closing and I was finishing up, more than a few dropped coins pocketed from the dirt, I heard my name and turned to see Mike calling me. Setting my broom down, I headed back to his food truck, seeing a small group of vendors standing with him including my friends Tony, Sam, Eric and Lauren.

“What’s up, guys?” I pushed a hand through my hair, nervous. Mike spoke, a smile on his face.

“Hope you don’t mind, but we had a little whip round for you to say thanks for all your hard work. Merry Christmas, Edward.”

He held out an envelope and, with a shaky hand, I took it, looking at them all in some confusion. Sliding open the unsealed flap, I pulled out a greetings card that had a snowy Christmas scene on the front, Santa and his reindeer flying in the sky. Inside it had signatures from all the vendors that I had befriended, plus a small plastic card that, on closer inspection, turned out to be a Goodwill gift card for $50. I swallowed hard, not able to find the words to thank them all for such selfless generosity.

“I-I…” I stared at the figure on the card. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you, all of you, so much from me and Jasper. This is unbelievable. You really didn’t have to do this.”

Tony spoke up, his gruff voice unusually quiet.

“We thought maybe you boys could use some warm clothes and some things for your house.” He shuffled his feet. “This way you get to buy what you need.”

I looked at him and nodded, an unspoken understanding between us. Mike was grinning.

I looked around at the familiar faces. “Thank you. You really have no idea how much we appreciate this. Merry Christmas to you too.”

The others dispersed, passing me with friendly claps to the shoulder. Mike hung back.

“Didn’t want to embarrass you in front of the others, but I can’t refreeze the leftover hot dog buns and they’ll be thrown out tonight. Are they of any use to you?”

My eyes widened.

“Sure! That would be awesome!” I followed him to the back of his truck and he handed me a pack of hot dog buns in a plastic bag. I took it, noting that the package was unopened. “Thanks, Mike. This is really decent of you.”

He waved away my thanks with a smile.

“You best get off home. See you after Christmas!” He waved and so did I, my smile a mile wide.

Stopping by Tony’s stand, I collected a healthy-sized bag of fruit and vegetables. According to Tony, they wouldn’t keep past Christmas and I was doing him a favour. On my last stop I procured a jar of honey for Jasper and, throwing caution to the wind after such a good week’s takings, I also bought a decent sized wedge of cheese along with a slice of cake for us to share – the good kind with cream and frosting. However, when Rachel handed it to me I noticed there were two good-sized pieces in the box. She told me that it was the last of it and I might as well take both for the same price.

I could hear the rain outside and knew I would be drenched by the time I got home. Setting down my bags, I pulled up my collar and almost squeaked with fright when someone came up behind me and pulled a hat onto my head, right down over my forehead and halfway down my ears. Looking round I saw Emily giggling, and I felt my head, realising it was her fluffy Santa hat that I now wore. I blushed, my cheeks almost the colour of the fabric. She handed me an old umbrella.

“You can borrow this – I keep it here for emergencies. Merry Christmas, Edward!” With a huge smile, she turned and carried on packing up her stock.

“Merry Christmas, Emily.”

I didn’t know if she heard me. I found the button and the umbrella flicked open. Picking up my bags, I made my way out into the wet, dark evening, heavy sleet stinging any exposed skin it could find, smiling despite the weather.

When I got home, hardly wet at all, Jasper and I discovered that all the food I carried was fresh, the pack of bread showing a use by date of a week in the future, the fruit and vegetables crisp and firm. 

My friends had made sure we had enough to eat for the holidays while the market was closed.

~o.O.o~

The sleet was skittering across the window, the wind whipping it around like rice thrown at a wedding. I heated some water and washed my hair, finishing up with a sponge bath to be fresh after my busy day. Jasper had already bathed while I was out, and I found him dressed in his favourite jeans and blue sweater, looking lovelier to me than any model in a store window.

My clothing options were limited, but Jasper had laid out my clean jeans and the festive sweater, reasoning that at least it was the time of year for it. So, scrubbed clean and dressed in our best, we waited like little boys told not to get dirty before dinner.

I told Jasper all about my day, and showed him the gift card from my friends at the market. He gaped.

“I can’t believe they did that!” He read the Christmas card before standing it on our shelf. “That’s my first ever Christmas card since living here. It almost looks out of place, doesn’t it?” The bright message sparkled from its spot, a tiny holiday beacon in the half-light. “We should make a list of what we need and go together after the holidays.” His eyes were fixed on the greetings card. I went to stand by him, my chin resting on his shoulder, arms around his thin waist.

“We will. They said they did it so we can buy warm clothes and whatever else we need. I’m thinking a kettle if they have one, and a frying pan, but mainly a thick coat for you. Yours isn’t enough in this weather.”

He looked down at my feet. “You need boots, too. We’ll worry about everything else once we have the essentials, plus we don’t know how much things cost. I haven’t been shopping in over two years.”

The only shopping I’d ever done was from the broken clothing bin.

“We’ll go and see what we can find. Maybe they will have lots of donations after Christmas when people get new items as gifts.”

The corner of his mouth curved up. “Let’s hope so, love.”

I had asked Esme to honk the horn if it was wet so that she didn’t need to come in and fetch us. Hearing the sound, we donned our coats and scarves, and headed out to her small silver sedan, greeting her with happy smiles.

She lived a good mile or so beyond the market, and I watched the unfamiliar neighbourhood pass by the window, more upmarket and well-kept than the area we lived in. Here whole housing blocks were decorated, signs in gardens announcing their house had won the ‘Best Holiday House’ award that year. Jasper nudged me.

“That would so be you, if we could decorate.”

I beamed. One day. One day we would live somewhere nicer, and I would make it beautiful for us.

Esme nosed the car into a driveway in front of a modest, but pretty white house in a cul-de-sac.

“Come on in, boys. I’m sure someone’s dying to see you.” She unclipped her seatbelt and opened the door, sleet blowing into the warm interior.

We did the same, climbing out into the wet, following Esme to the small front porch. From inside came loud barks and the sound of scrabbling claws on a wooden floor.

“Only me, Rosie!” The barking immediately turned to whining, a lashing tail visible the minute the door cracked open. Warmth and light escaped the room, welcoming us in. Esme nudged a dancing Rosie back so that we could both squeeze in and close the door. She turned the lock and make a fuss of her panting dog who was in ecstasy at having visitors to play with. I spoke to her and she whipped around to bump into my legs, circling with joy. I knelt and gave her a huge hug, hot breath blasting my face, whimpers of happiness filling my ears.

“Rosie? Say hi to Jasper!”

He bent down to her level and held out his hands. She all but bowled him over in her enthusiasm, her body wriggling with excitement. I laughed at the sight, Jasper giggling at her antics. She turned to me, then to Jasper, then back to me, not knowing where to go first. I heard Esme from the kitchen.

“Rosie! Go lie down and let the boys in for goodness sake!” Obediently, she scampered off, her claws tapping out a melody on the flooring.

We took off our boots, hung our damp coats on the hooks by the door and walked towards her voice and the smell of roasting meat that wafted from the hot kitchen. Esme was setting pans of vegetables on the hob to boil, checking the meat through the oven door. The small kitchen diner was painted a sunshine yellow; to me it reflected Esme’s warmth.

“I hope you like beef. I thought as we’re having turkey tomorrow, you might like something different.”

Jas and I hung back in the doorway, nodding and watching with envy. I was beginning to enjoy the cooking process, but I knew that Jasper would love a proper kitchen with a cooker and hob.

“Smells amazing.” It was hard not to be food oriented when the acquisition of one basic meal was your goal every single day. “Is there anything we can do?”

She turned, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Nothing – everything is on schedule. Shall we go sit down?” She led us down the hallway to her cosy lounge room. The first thing I noticed was the tree in the corner, brightly lit and sparkling with tinsel garlands and glittery ornaments. Jasper watched me for a moment, taking my hand.

“I know you wish we had one. We will one day, I promise.”

I nodded, transfixed for a long moment. Tearing my eyes away, I sat down on the squashy chocolate-brown sofa, imagining how wonderful it would be to sleep on something so comfortable. Looking around, I took in the rich cream walls and drapes, the room tasteful with feminine touches in the deep velvety-red cushions and rug, the vase of flowers on the side table. The room was warm and I was too hot in my thick sweater; I shrugged my arms free, pulling it off over my head, leaving me in my worn tee shirt. I smoothed it down, making sure I was tidy. After a moment I noticed Jasper did the same. It felt good to not be confined beneath so many layers for once. Rosie snuck up to us again and this time a paw was placed on my knee in a blatant bid for attention. Unable to refuse her anything, I leaned over and hugged her, rubbing her sides and neck until she collapsed against me to allow me better access. Jasper chuckled.

“Should I be jealous?”

In response, Rosie’s tail thumped and she leaned towards his voice, unashamedly begging for more.

“Oh, Rosie!” Esme laughter drifted over to us from the door. “You won’t have a minute’s peace – she’s shameless! Feel free to put the TV on – the remote’s on the table.”

Jas and I looked at each other, and he reached for it, examining the buttons before clicking ‘on’. Adjusting the volume down so we could all still talk, we found a movie and settled in to watch, laughing when the ghost of Christmas present, dressed as a fairy, started kicking the heck out of Scrooge to teach him a lesson. Without thinking, I leaned back into Jasper, his arms finding their way around me. We were warm, comfortable and happy to be alive.

When Esme walked back in we didn’t move; knowing that she accepted us for who we were was the best gift of all. I could hear the affection in her voice when she spoke, perching on the edge of her chair to watch a bit of the movie with us.

“Dinner’s almost ready.”

I turned to face her. “Would you like me to set the table?”

“No need, sweetheart, all done. Come through in a couple of minutes and we’ll eat.”

My stomach reminded me it was hungry. I had temporarily forgotten, what with being so warm and relaxed. Evidently Jasper felt the same way. When Esme headed back to the kitchen, he leaned in and kissed me.

“I never knew I could be this hungry. Let’s go and see if there’s anything at all we can do to help.”

I nodded, and we trotted through to the kitchen. The radio was playing carols very quietly in the background. The table was laid with a festive embroidered cloth, a cracker sat by each plate, a candle within a decorative wreath of holly sprigs flickering in the centre of the table. Esme had put the vegetables out for us to help ourselves, and was lifting the meat from the oven. My mouth watered. She transferred it onto a serving dish and closed the oven door.

“Now – I’m not very good at carving so I was hoping one of you could give me a hand?”

Jasper stepped in straight away and began to carve the beef into even slices, looking at Esme to see when to stop.

“Have as much as you’d like. There’s no portion control here! How many slices would you like, Edward?”

I dithered, not wanting to appear greedy. At the soup kitchen, we got two or three small slices of meat when it was a roast. However, Esme took the meat fork and placed a pile of meat onto each of our plates.

“There’s more if you want it, so don’t be shy about asking, okay?”

Mine and Jas’ faces registered bewilderment before bobbing our heads in silent agreement.

“Help yourselves to potatoes and side dishes – the beef gravy’s coming.”

We sat down and took some from each bowl. The roasted potatoes looked amazing and I couldn’t wait to try them. When our plates were loaded, we added the gravy and all sat down together to eat. The beef was divine, the potatoes crispy, the mash buttery. My world was reduced to the plate of food before me and I ate slowly, savouring and experiencing the meal to its fullest. Jasper was doing the same – I could tell by the way his eyes closed when he discovered a new flavour. About a quarter of the way through, I set down my cutlery, took a sip from my glass of water, and had to say something.

“Esme, this is incredible.” Jasper nodded in agreement, his mouth full.

“I’m glad you like it. I have to admit, it’s lovely to have a proper meal at home and company to enjoy it with.”

“I wish we could return the favour. One day we will, I promise you.” I met Jas’ warm eyes and knew he agreed.

Esme cocked her head, set down her knife, and reached across to rub my wrist.

“I know you will. I have no doubt about that.”

I ducked my head, catching Jas’ eye. He too set down his knife and fork, and picked up his water glass in a toast.

“Esme, we haven’t known each other for very long, but I want to thank you for looking out for Edward when I couldn’t, and for extending the hand of friendship to us. I know Edward has thanked you, but it’s important to me to say it too. Bless you for your kindness. When we have a proper home of our own, you will be the first person invited over, I promise you.”

“Hear hear!” We all lifted our glasses and clinked, and I leaned across to peck a kiss to his cheek, turning him from brave to bashful in a heartbeat.

When we had done and all plates were empty, we pulled crackers and read bad jokes to each other, giggling. Paper hats sat on our heads, small prize gifts before each of us. I thought the little sewing kit from my cracker could come in quite useful. Esme fetched a large biscuit tin and set it on the table, throwing a cheeky smile at Jasper that confused him until she removed the lid. Inside sat his favourite cake and his face was alight with happiness for a moment until it dropped.

“Love? What is it?”

His voice was a whisper. “I’m really full. I don’t think I can eat any.” He sounded so distraught that I wrapped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him into me. Esme replaced the lid with a chuckle.

“Don’t worry, Jasper. I’m so happy you enjoyed your dinner – it’s a lovely compliment. Now, how about a coffee? I reckon after a movie or a board game you’ll have a bit of room for cake once your dinner’s gone down. In fact I know you will. I’ll cut us some later – we don’t want Rosie stealing it from the plates, and she would!”

Hearing her name, paws approached, stopping at the kitchen door.

“In a minute!” Esme called out to her and was answered with a wag.

I stood up. “Let me help you clean up. I can wash.” I looked around at the clean kitchen, confused, no signs of cooking evident.

“No need. Everything is in the dishwasher. I just need to switch it on once we’re done in here.”

“Oh… is there nothing I can do?” I felt bad for not pitching in in some way.

“You can make yourself comfortable and relax. That’s all you need to do tonight.”

I swallowed and nodded. “Okay – we can do that.”

She led the way from the kitchen and then paused, remembering something.

“You boys come with me and let me show you to your room.” She led the way to the end of the hallway, opening a door at the end. The small room was furnished in soft blue, a double bed covered with a duvet and a comforter in the centre. The room was toasty warm, a radiator on the wall beneath the window. “I hope you’ll be comfortable. And here…” she opened the next door along, “is the bathroom. I took the liberty of stocking it with a few things for you.” She pointed to a large washbag sat on the side. “You should have everything you need. The shower heats its own water, so there’s no danger of running out.” 

My eyes took in the shower cubicle, knowing I would have to try that out. To wash in a warm room was too great a temptation. We both gaped like children before stuttering our thank you’s which she brushed off in that sweet way of hers.

Back in the lounge room the tree sparkled in the dimmed light, the room full of chatter and laughter. We sat on the floor around a scrabble board trying our hardest to outwit each other. Neither of us had played before, but we took to it like pros. Despite wanting to win, Jasper helped me when I got stuck, the two of our heads together, scheming. Rosie lay at my side, her head on my knees. The game was eventually won by Jasper who got lucky with a triple word score on his last play. Even he admitted it was a fluke, but took great delight in his win regardless. I was proud for him.

When we packed the game away, Esme suggested a movie. We had no idea what to choose so she put on a favourite of hers called Miracle on 34^th Street and we settled in to watch. Halfway through, she disappeared into the kitchen and returned with coffee and big slices of Jasper’s favourite sponge cake. We discovered we were hungry enough now, and the cake disappeared quickly, both of us licking our fingers to not waste a scrap. Esme’s knowing smile could not be contained when she collected the plates. By the time the movie ended, Jasper and I were curled up together on the sofa, revelling in being warm and dry. There was a Christmas show on the TV with lots of singing, and I know I dozed off for a little while, my belly full and content. When I woke I could feel something warm draped over me, some kind of soft blanket, and gentle fingers in my hair. I heard talking, but kept my eyes closed, drifting, snuggled in Jasper’s arms.

“…he works so hard. Until you two met, he was working all day for us on nothing more than an apple and water. I still don’t know how he kept going, but he never complained. He just said he had to try harder. I’m so proud of him, of how much he’s achieved all on his own. I wouldn’t have made it without him. Did he tell you he rang the doctor and got me more meds? I was an idiot, but he made sure I would be okay, just like he always does.” I felt a kiss on my head. “He’s my Christmas miracle.”

To hear Jasper talking so openly was new. It meant he trusted Esme like I did, and felt able to tell her things about our life together that no one else knew. No matter what the future held for us, he had learned to accept friendship, and I knew how hard that was when your life was based on survival, when trust was impossible because on the street, no one’s motives were pure.

I stirred, and heard Jasper’s soft drawl.

“Hey. Look’s who’s back.” I opened my sleepy eyes and tilted my head. With a secret smile just for me, he pecked a kiss to my lips, making me blush. Esme didn’t seem at all perturbed, her expression so fond that I wished she too could have what we had.

~o.O.o~

Being so warm and snug meant it was hard to fend off the yawns that threatened to break our jaws. A little after ten we admitted defeat and said goodnight to Esme, each giving her a hug on our way to bed. In the bathroom I took a look in the bag Esme had left for us and found razors, deodorant, shower gel and shampoo, toothpaste and brushes. I brushed my teeth and washed my face, leaving the door ajar for Jas. When he was done, we closed the door to get undressed, realising that for once we didn’t need to wear layers, only our underwear. Before we climbed into bed we heard whining at the door and grinned, cracking it open to let Rosie in to say goodnight.

Slipping beneath a duvet was a new experience. I was used to feeling weight on me when I slept and I was glad to have the comforter. Soft, plump pillows cradled our heads, a clean laundry fragrance wafting around us. It was as it we were sleeping in a cloud. Another new experience for me was something I had dreamed of – the feel of Jasper’s warm, bare skin against mine, being enveloped in him when his arms pulled me close. The sensation was so intimate I couldn’t speak, wanting to drown in his eyes. My hands moved of their own accord, exploring the muscles of his back down to the swell of his ass, nudging his nose until I could capture his lips.

His hands mimicked mine, stroking my back, but avoiding going beyond it. My leg crooked around his, holding him close against me and I felt his body stir, my eyes widening in realisation. He felt me freeze and pulled away just enough to murmur against my lips.

“Love, its fine. You know I don’t expect anything from you, and especially not here, in someone else’s home. It’s just feeling you almost naked next to me is beyond anything I expected…it’s perfect. You’re perfect.”

The lump in my throat was making it impossible to speak. His lips slid to my jaw to nuzzle my neck and a wave of unexpected heat coursed through my body. I clung to him, my body responding to his, crying out for his touch. It was too much and we slowed it down, our lips lazily brushing over each other’s to calm our breathing, hands stilling, revelling in the heat of newly discovered intimacy. I slept that night with Jasper spooning me like he used to, holding me close and keeping me safe, whispering declarations of love in my ear.

When I woke I forgot where I was for a moment, looking over at Jasper who lay watching me, a lazy grin on his face.

“What time is it?”

“Early, around seven I think. I don’t think I’ve ever slept so well.”  I knew what he meant.

My face flushed at the memory of the previous night, not regretting a moment. “I wish it could be like that every night.” My eyes lowered. I like sleeping skin to skin, it feels…”

“Right?”

I let out an embarrassed chuckle. “Exactly that. I’ve thought about it for some time now. Never thought I’d get to do it… at least not until the summertime. I always sleep well in your arms - I slept better without clothes in the way too.”

“I’ve missed holding you.” His forefinger skated along my jawline before he dipped his head to kiss me good morning. I sank into it, having no control around my boy.

“We should get up, maybe have a shower. Hot water!” His face was excited at the prospect. I nodded then, knowing we should get up, but wanting to stay with Jasper in this warm cocoon for as long as I could.

“One more kiss first?” My voice was sleep-rough and Jasper seemed to melt, only able to nod. Scooting over, he gently pinned me to the mattress, capturing my lips and kissing me long and deep, his tongue touching mine and sending shudders all the way to my toes. We finally parted, intoxicated and panting, huge smiles on our faces.

“Happy Christmas, love.”

“Happy Christmas, love, always.”

Dragging ourselves out of bed, we took a shower, one at a time, using every product Esme had provided. The towels were dry and warmed, and I dressed while Jas finished up in the bathroom. Our hair still a bit damp, we made our way to the kitchen to make coffee. I heard clicking behind us and saw Rosie was up and ready for some attention and breakfast.

“You’ll have to wait, Rosie Rose – I don’t know where your mistress keeps your dinner.” She stayed close while we made three cups of coffee, taking ours through to the lounge room to enjoy.

Esme appeared a few minutes later, looking relaxed and lovely.

“You’re up! Merry Christmas, boys!”

We grinned and returned the sentiment.

“Coffee’s in the kitchen, Esme, and Rosie wants breakfast. If you feed her, we can take her out for you.”

I heard her filling Rosie’s bowl and refreshing her water. She returned holding her coffee, placing it on the table to rummage under her Christmas tree. We watched, not paying too much attention after the lovely evening and sleep we had had, and so it was a shock to see her pull out three parcels, a big grin on her face.

“I know you don’t want charity, but its Christmas and I decided I had the right to buy you a present if I wanted to. And, being Christmas, you can’t say no!”

She looked really pleased with her reasoning and I shook my head.

“You’re too much, you know that?”

She cocked her head and handed us each a similarly shaped package, bearing labels that simply said ‘with love from Esme’. Looking at each other, we set down our coffee and slowly tore the paper to reveal hot water bottles in soft, warm covers. Something so simple that other folk no doubt took for granted, but without any heat in our room it was so very hard to get and stay warm. These were perfect. It meant she hadn’t failed to notice the temperature when she came over, but was too polite to say anything.

“Are they okay?” She was biting her lip. “It’s going to get so cold and I want you both to keep warm. Which leads me to this one which should come in handy.” She pushed over a larger box that had both our names on with the same sentiment as before. I picked it up and placed it between myself and Jas to open together. When the first strip of paper tore away, I gasped, stopping. Jasper did the same when he realised what she had done. The box showed a picture of the item inside, but we still opened it carefully, thinking it too good to be true. When the lid opened to reveal the contents, I felt happy tears run down my face.

That dear sweet lady had bought us a kettle to go with the bottles. Unable to speak, I pulled her into a tight hug that she returned every bit as fiercely, releasing me only to hug Jasper too. Trying to stop the tears in her eyes from falling, she sniffed hard.

“It’ll be faster and cheaper than using your hotplate all the time too when you want drinks.” She dabbed her eyes and Jas and I hugged each other tight. “Plus it allows you to spend your money on those boots you need instead. Merry Christmas, sweethearts. So – what would you like for breakfast?”

Once we had eaten slices of hot buttered toast and finished our coffee, Esme stood, seeing Rosie come trotting into the room looking for us.

“Right, so I believe you mentioned giving this girl her morning constitutional? It’s not raining this morning either which is good. She’ll enjoy a good run. I’ll start getting ready for the soup kitchen. By the time you get back, we’ll be ready to make a move. The early shift will already be getting a start on the turkeys.”

She fetched Rosie’s leash and I clipped it on, watching her skip with excitement. Bags ready in my pocket, Jasper and I headed for the door to fetch our coats, scarves and gloves, before stepping out, hand in hand.

The cold hit us, a slap in the face after the warmth we had enjoyed. For a while we just walked, Rosie sniffing at everything in her path.

“So this is Christmas. I always wondered what all the fuss was about.” Jasper’s tone was light, almost disbelieving, and I squeezed his hand.

“I wish there was something we could do for her. I tried so hard to think of something all yesterday, but I don’t have anything to offer her.”

“There must be something, some way we can thank her for the amazing food and the even more amazing bed. That was the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had.” I knew what he meant. Feeling properly rested was a wonderful feeling not to be underestimated.

“We’ll stay warmer if we wear hats to bed. We should add those to our shopping list. I heard you lose a lot of heat through the head.”

He nodded, watching Rosie look up at me while we walked.

“This is nice, I can see why you enjoy doing it. She’s a lovely dog, aren’t you, girl?” Rosie’s ears pricked, knowing she was being talked about. “She certainly likes you. Dogs can sense when someone is kind.”

I nudged him with my shoulder and we walked on, hearing squeals from within the houses, Santa having delivered to them all.

~o.O.o~

When we arrived back at Esme’s, she was loading her car with boxes for the kitchen. I spotted the biscuit tin with the cake and smiled – Jasper would hopefully get a second slice with his lunch that day. Offering to help, she let me bring out the box of gifts for the attendees, and also packed away our gifts into a corner of the trunk in a separate bag for when we went home afterwards. I noticed there were other items in with our things, but I guessed they were for her friends at the kitchen, rather than for the attendees. When the car was all packed and Rosie was inside with a chew toy to keep her entertained, we were ready for the off.

The drive to the kitchen was short – the roads were all but devoid of traffic. The kitchen wasn’t open for another few hours and so I thought we might as well pitch in and help the other volunteers. There was a real tree in the corner, covered with lights, its fragrance filling the space. Esme sent me over with a box of decorations, while Jasper was introduced to the other cooks and set the task of peeling pounds of potatoes. He took to it with gusto, impressing the other workers. Christmas music was playing from an old boom box by the window, and I heard the scraping of chairs and tables being set up for the masses. They were expecting a big turn out today, and so there were far more places needed. The volunteers were all in good spirits, singing and humming along to the music, and I thought to myself that if I was going to bring Jasper here for his first meal, I couldn’t have chosen a better day.

When I had finished with the tree, I hung garlands along the serving line to add some additional festive cheer to the day. The room was starting to fill with the scent of roasting turkey. I helped peel and chop alongside Jasper, the two of us making a good team. The knives we were using were certainly a lot sharper than ours, I noted.

Time flew by. I helped lay the tables with festive paper cloths, sprigs of holly in jars dotted along the centres. Three boxes were stood at the end of the food line, marked ‘girl’, ‘boy’ and ‘child’. These were then filled with the gifts provided by the volunteers. Esme’s were brought in from the car and placed into the ‘boy’ box.

When everything was ready, and we had cleared away peelings and dirty utensils, the food line was set up ready for serving. I carried the plates over to the start of the line, Jasper carrying the trays to their spot just inside the door where customers first came in. The turkeys were out of the oven and covered, ready to carve, the side dishes laid out ready to serve. Then there was nothing more we could do.

When the doors opened, a queue had already formed. The volunteers served Jasper and I from behind the line, thanking us for our help, and we took our food and drink to the nearest table and sat down to enjoy our first ever Christmas lunch. With the carols playing in the background, the lights twinkling on the beautiful tree, and gifts being handed out to each customer, there was an air of jollity that I had not witnessed before at the kitchen. Those with so little came together in the spirit of Christmas, to eat, be with their fellow man, and be thankful for what the day brought.

When it was time for our gifts, I saw Esme pick two from her donations and place them on our trays with a knowing smile.

Opening them, we each found we had been given a warm beanie hat – exactly what we had wanted.

It was enough to make you believe in Santa.

~o.O.o~

Let the Rain Come Down - ch6

Okay, so I may have underestimated how much story there was between the end of the last chapter and Christmas. As a result, rather than post one enormous chapter, I am breaking it up into two. The second one will be posted on Christmas Eve as soon as it’s ready.

The church group mentioned in this chapter is based on a rather well known organisation that, in Britain at least, will not help people who do not conform to their views on family and relationships. I speak as someone who has witnessed their discrimination first hand. However, please do not assume that I am tarring all other religious organisations with the same brush. This is fiction after all.

Disclaimer: All characters owned and created by Stephenie Meyer.

This chapter is unbeta’ed – any errors are mine and I apologise in advance.

See you tomorrow! (Never thought I’d be typing THAT).

~o.O.o~

Chapter 6

Edward’s POV

Jasper was so happy when I told him about my day, and about Jupiter.  When I tried to explain about how people had looked at me differently, he had pulled me into a hug and just held me, understanding how monumental it was for people like us to be treated like normal citizens just going about their day. If only we could make people see that just because we occupied the lowest rung on the ladder of society, it didn’t mean we didn’t crave acknowledgment. The best Christmas gift they could give us was to see us and not look the other way.

The news about Christmas dinner had made Jasper as excited as it had me. He would be coming with me and we would spend the holiday together, in a warm place with food and company and holiday spirit. Truly what the season was all about.

December had arrived, Christmas lights were everywhere and the daylight seemed to be fading by the time I ate my lunch. On average, I was getting two shifts a week at Happy Tails, mostly with Jupiter which suited me just fine. He and I had bonded, and he was an obedient and exceptionally intelligent dog to have as a companion. One day I hoped to own one just like him.

That week was a flurry of activity for me. With Christmas approaching, the market was busier than ever and I earned extra cash just by being a spare pair of hands. I stayed near my friends’ stands and they made sure my services were offered at every opportunity to carry bags and goods. I had no time to be bored and was tired and hungry by the time I headed home each night, my pockets heavier with coins than usual. Squirrelling away every cent I could meant the rent was covered and we could supplement our meagre food rations with extras such as the biggest jar of Jas’ beloved peanut butter that I could afford. When our rations ran low, I planned to visit the community kitchen again to get us through the holiday season. The market would be closed for a few days and with no work, I needed to make sure we had enough food at home.

Jasper was feeling much stronger and was getting out of bed to walk around and get a little exercise. Our room was so cold that the only way he could keep warm the rest of the time was to stay in bed despite wanting to do more. Much as I didn’t want him going outside in the cold when the doctor had said he shouldn’t, he insisted on a few minutes outside each day to get some fresh air, making sure he was well wrapped up while I fussed like a clucky mother hen. I saw his grin and knew he secretly loved the attention, not arguing when I bundled him back inside. I didn’t want him overdoing it now.

One afternoon I made my way to the second soup kitchen across town to see if we could get some additional help. When I arrived, the people in charge spotted me as someone they hadn’t seen before and asked me where I was staying. I said I had lived rough and now slept in an unheated room with my friend who was sick and couldn’t work. I explained that I had a part time job – after all, there was every chance someone could have seen me at the market on any given day and I wasn’t about to pretend. I said that we had no money left for food once we had paid for our room and I hoped that we could have a little food to fill our stomachs in this bitter weather.

I was told that we needed to attend to get food, and so I asked if I could take some food home, but they said no, that wasn’t the arrangement here. My face fell. I didn’t want to eat without Jasper, it wasn’t right to fill my belly and have his empty. I thought about accepting their offer and hopefully pocketing any bread or cake that came from my meal to take home, but then something happened that stunned me. A man came up behind the woman I was speaking to and muttered something in her ear, staring at me the whole time. Her face changed then, and I saw that the offer was no longer on the table. The man spoke.

“I’ve seen you before, with a curly haired boy. You were on a bus. I clearly saw you kiss him and hold his hand. We are a church group as I’m sure you know, and that sort of lifestyle is simply unacceptable. We won’t support it or you. Please leave.”

And there we were thinking it would be Jasper’s job they objected to. Instead it was Jasper and me that horrified them.

I turned and left with my head down, walking home feeling sickened and a little shaky. All we had asked for was to be treated like humans, but discrimination came in many forms and I knew that nothing would change their blinkered view of the world. We had somewhere we were welcome and could get a meal, and we would be fine. I tried to cheer myself up, but the day hadn’t done with me yet.

When I arrived home to tell Jasper the news, the room was empty as was the bathroom. I kept on my coat and headed back out, expecting to see Jasper somewhere outside getting a little air, but there was no sign. I walked a little farther down the road to where I had first met Jasper and that’s when I saw him, mercifully wearing his, albeit unbuttoned, too-thin jacket, getting out of a station wagon. When it had pulled away out of sight, I watched him sag against the wall and ran to him, fear burning my chest.

“Jasper!”

He saw me and his face fell. I saw then a real sense of self-loathing, something I had never seen in his eyes before. Jasper was a proud man, refusing to be apologetic for the things he did, but now I saw it, clear as day. I reached him and pulled him into my arms for support, his breathing laboured without a warm scarf across his pallid face.

“Love, what were you thinking? Come on, let’s get you home.”

He clung to me and I walked him inside, flicking on the heater to take the edge off the chill, and sat him down in the chair in front of it to soak up as much warmth as he could. At least constant activity kept me feeling warm, but to go from being in bed for weeks to standing outside not wearing nearly enough clothes was insanity. I fetched the blanket from the bed and wrapped it around him, hugging him to me until the heater was hot. I put some water on to boil, and crouched in front of him.

“I’m sorry.” His voice was quiet, his head down. “I just wanted to help with the money.” His chilled hand touched my face, his words a crackling whisper. “You work so hard all day, sometimes for nothing, and I knew that I could really help if I got back to work. But I swear I never wanted you to see me with a client, ever. It makes what I do too real. I can forget when it’s just me, but then I saw your face…” His wan face and noisy breathing told me the rest. I gripped his hands.

“It was too soon, Jas. Don’t frighten me like that. You’re not better yet, and you can’t risk getting sicker. I can’t bear the thought of that. I need you. Everything I do is for us, to make our lives better.” I shrugged, feeling helpless. “So I work long hours for not very much, but it won’t always be like this. I’m just getting started and I couldn’t have done it without you, so I need you to promise me, right now, that you will get better properly before you even think about going back out there again.”

My voice wobbled. What I wanted to say was that he was not to do that anymore, and that I would find a way of supporting us if need be so that no one could ever use him again, but I knew that wasn’t my choice to make. It was Jasper’s way of life and had been for some time now. He maintained he had control, that he made the decisions about what happened to his body, and I knew he was right. What I had been through coloured the way I saw his work, and it meant I struggled to come to terms with it, knowing that he derived no pleasure from the acts he performed; in that way at least our experiences paralleled. I also understood that it was up to him to choose when and if he wanted to stop.

I realised that whereas he had worked every day since we had met and I had had no choice but to accept it, now that he had been away from the streets for several weeks I loathed the thought of him going back out there. For me, his work had been fading into the distance, something to be consigned to the past where it belonged.

Reality was a harsh and cruel mistress.

To hold myself together and stop thinking about it, I looked at his hands, turning them over, inspecting them for grazes. He knew what I was doing.

“It’s okay, he fucked me in the back of his car. At least it was warm in there. Better than the alternative.”

“Did he hurt you?” My eyes were squeezed shut when I uttered the words, my fingers still holding his.

“It was okay, love. I had some lube and he used it. He didn’t have much time and wasn’t in the mood to be patient, let’s just say. Could have been worse. I’ve had much worse.”

I nodded, unable to speak for a moment. Pushing myself up through the balls of my feet, I leaned in and kissed his chilled lips, lingering to warm them, knowing that no one got to touch them but me.

“I’ll go boil more water and we’ll get you into a warm bath, okay?”

He nodded, letting go of my hands and reaching into his jacket.

“For better or worse, we have another sixty dollars for rent.” He handed me the money and I took it, adding it to the notes under the mattress. “Are we okay for this week?”

I nodded, showing him the money we had. His eyes widened. We had enough for the following week as well. My extra time at the market had paid off with the busy shoppers taking full advantage of having a pack mule to fetch and carry. The best part was that the spirit of the season that opened their pocket books as well as their hearts, and I was getting tipped in dollars rather than cents. Plus two shifts a week from Tanya had boosted funds when every cent was precious. With Christmas coming up, there would be days where I wouldn’t be earning and rent still needed to be paid.

“You earned all that? I had no idea.” He shook his head. “Did you at least get something to eat this morning at the other place? I was hoping they might have given you a sandwich or something if they wouldn’t let you take food away.”

I didn’t want to tell him. I didn’t want to ever give him bad news. My back to him, I busied myself with the hot water, pouring it into the bath and boiling more, the steam filling the air around us and misting up the window. The wall beneath it was streaked with what looked like years’ worth of water marks.

“Edward? What is it?”

I turned, fingers raking my hair, and dragged my eyes up to meet his.

“They threw me out.”

“What? Why?” I watched tiny dots of angry pink rise in his cheeks. “They wouldn’t let you eat because of me? Because of what I do? Is that it?” His indignation cut off into a rasping cough. I swallowed hard and shook my head, filling a glass of water and passing it to him. He sipped at it, trying to ease his throat. I hoped we had some honey left.

“No, that’s not it. I told them the barest minimum and they asked a lot of questions, unlike the other place. But then some guy came up and said he saw us on the bus when I took you to see the doctor. He said our lifestyle wasn’t something they were prepared to accept and he told me to leave. I’m so sorry, Jasper. I tried.” I cleared my throat. “I really thought…” I felt my eyebrows knit together, the humiliation of the event taking more of a toll than I had envisaged. “Anyway, we’re okay, we don’t need their ‘acceptance’. We have food, and we’re always welcome at the kitchen where Esme volunteers.”

The water began to burble and I poured some into mugs, adding coffee to mine. Scrabbling around on our one shelf I found the honey jar and added a teaspoon of the remaining contents to Jasper’s mug. The rest of the water went into the bath and I refilled the pan and set it down to boil again, the simple action helping to channel my anger and hurt.

I wasn’t angry with Jasper. He had done what he thought was best, thinking he felt well enough. Getting into an argument would serve no purpose because he already felt ill, having realised his own mistake. If it meant a couple of extra days in bed then so be it – lesson learned. Right now all I cared about was warming him up and washing him clean as a newborn again before we went to bed. With no way of cooking a meal while I was boiling water for the bath, I used some of the water to prepare two of the instant noodle snack pots from our dwindling supplies, stirring them until they were ready to eat.

He slurped his noodles and sipped his hot honey, warming up in front of the heater while I filled the bath with enough water to do the job. When it was ready, and we had eaten our meagre supper, I helped him undress and get into the water, seeing his discomfort when he sat down before the warm water soothed his body. I rolled up my sleeves and soaked a washcloth, squeezing water over his shoulders and back, running the cloth across his smooth skin. The soap slithered between my hands, finally forming a thin lather. I ran my slippery hands around his shoulders and neck, using my fingers across his tight muscles and trying to loosen them a little. I was a clumsy novice, but Jasper’s eyes were closed, his head drooping forward with each rhythmic stroke of my thumbs. I worked my way down his back with gentle motions before reaching around and soaping his chest and abdomen, his head now resting back on my shoulder. The only sounds in the room were the crackling of the soap suds, the gentle splash of the cloth into the water and the pitter-pat of droplets dripping back into the tub. It was peaceful and I relished moments like this. I rinsed off the soap from his body with my hands, wetting the cloth to wash his face, holding the warm cloth to his cheeks and forehead until the blood warmed beneath my fingers and his skin regained a little of its healthy pink hue.

I kissed his temple before whispering into his ear:

“I’m going to wash your hair.”

The soft hum of agreement made me smile. He loved it when I washed his hair, and I knew it. His head tilted back into my hand, I wetted his curls with cupfuls of water before clicking open the shampoo bottle and squeezing a small amount onto his crown. The action of massaging it into his hair felt comforting, my thumbs rubbed circles into his scalp, my nails scratching ever so slightly, and Jasper’s body went limp, little moans caught in his throat on each breath out. I supported his head while I rinsed the suds from his curls, making sure to get him squeaky clean, squeezing the water from his locks. I reached for a tiny hand towel and dabbed his face and neck dry, rough drying his hair.

His sleepy eyes cracked open, and I leaned in and kissed him then, feeling his lips capture mine. I caught my breath when the kiss broke and I held up a larger towel for him to wrap himself in and get himself dry and dressed for bed. I hung up the wet towel over the curtain rail to hopefully dry in the still warm air of the room, and flipped off the heater before getting Jasper into bed to conserve the heat from the bath.

A last minute change of heart had me climbing into the lukewarm water for a quick scrub down and hair wash before joining him in bed, our hair still a little damp, pillows covered with our one other, very threadbare, towel. He looked at me for a long moment, yellow light filtering in from the street through the window above our bed, casting a pale glow into the room. His words were unexpected yet staggering.

“You let me see you tonight. When you bathed. That’s the first time you haven’t closed the curtain. I’m sorry that I looked, but have you any idea just how beautiful you are?”

My mouth opened and closed, my brow furrowed and my brain scrabbled in its cage trying to formulate a response. He watched me, saw my confusion, and touched his thumb to my cheek in reassurance.

“It’s okay, Edward. If you don’t want me to look, I won’t. I get it, I do.”

I shook my head and, with a dry mouth, I asked the question I had wanted to ask for so long, my eyes pinched shut with embarrassment while I stumbled over the words.

“Have-have you ever had any… experience… sex… with someone you cared about? Someone important? I just… I just want to know if it feels different. If it’s…good?”

He pushed himself over onto his side and winced a little, looking down at me. I was so insecure and scared that he would wonder why I asked him such a thing. Instead he kissed me, soft and slow, no agenda, and I melted into it, wanting nothing more than to kiss him forever. I felt almost dizzy when he pulled away, his tongue giving a gentle flick to mine that made me jolt in surprise, my eyes wide.

“You tell me - was that good?” His whispered question danced across my skin, his eyes, dark in the dim light, adding to the intimacy of the moment. I nodded, still a little dazed from the kiss. His thumb traced my cheekbone and my head leaned into the caress. “Kissing’s one element of sex, an important one for me at least, and there are many others to explore. In a loving, intimate relationship, you do what you and your partner enjoy, what feels good. If your partner cares for you, loves you, they should always want to make you feel good. No one should ever be forced into doing anything that feels wrong, hurts them or makes them afraid. That’s not love.” He paused before continuing, his eyes downcast. I was mesmerised by the sweep of his eyelashes against his cheeks. “I was in a relationship once and, for the short time we were together, we cared for each other a great deal. It was good - nothing at all like the soulless things I have to do now to make money. What I do is a transaction; while I’m with them I completely switch off. It’s like I go numb inside.”

His low, husky voice bared the rawness of his soul, holding me in thrall. His gaze dropped to my lips for a moment before sliding back up to look at me, something akin to wonder in his eyes. I nuzzled my face into the warm hand now cupping my cheek. “Edward, until I met you, I didn’t know just how much I had missed being kissed. It’s something I’d never do with a client, not that they ask. Kissing is special and it’s the most wonderful feeling in the world when you kiss me back. I always want you to feel safe and cared for with me, because… I’m completely in love with you.”

His words swirled and spun like snowflakes in my head, my mind useless as an old flickering television set with a broken antenna.

I couldn’t breathe. He loves me. He really loves me. I had known it, but the words… the words were something neither of us had yet articulated.

Jasper was watching me for my reaction, his face so open that I felt pain lance my heart from the strength of his feelings. Something inside me slotted into place.

“Jasper…” My breathing erratic, unable to look anywhere but at him, I felt my eyes sting. He saw my struggle and didn’t pull away. A scalding tear ran down into my ear before I found the words to make sense of my feelings. “I love you too, so much, and one day, when I’m ready… I want to show you... properly.”

He nodded, mute, perhaps understanding that I had no idea when that day might be, but that letting him seeing me naked that night had moved us a step closer.

“Love, nothing happens until you want it to. I promise I will never rush you or touch you anywhere that makes you uncomfortable, and you can ask me anything you want in the meantime if it sets your mind at ease. I know there are things you may never want to do, and I understand that. You’re such a huge part of me now and all I want to do is make you happy.” His nose nudged mine before he dipped his head to kiss me again.

My hand slid around to the back of his head, playing with his curls, feeling his warm lips move with mine, nudging my mouth open enough to allow his tongue to stroke my own, gentle flicks that made my heart race and my blood pound in my ears. My skin tingled, goosebumps flaring that for once had nothing to do with the temperature of the room. My body felt itchy and hot on the inside, Jasper’s talented kiss awakening something I hadn’t even known lay dormant. I was too innocent then to recognise it as sexual desire, having only ever associated sex with fear and pain. All I knew was that I wanted to be touching Jasper, holding him, kissing him, whenever I could.

We lay kissing for the longest time, unable to get enough, Jasper refusing to rest until he was exhausted, his chest noisy, lips swollen by the countless kisses we had shared. It was with great reluctance that I persuaded him to turn over and get comfortable, my body settling in behind him, never wanting to be far away, a moth to his bright flame.

~o.O.o~

I woke the next morning to find Jasper tired, weak and in pain from being outside in the icy cold the day before with his poor chest all but exposed to the elements. He had little appetite, although I persuaded him to eat a little cereal and milk which was easier for him to swallow. I had no shifts booked with Tanya, and so I stayed home until it was time to go to the market, keeping him warm and hydrated, but mostly to keep him company. The meds were making it a little harder for him to sleep more than a few hours at night, and so whereas he used to nap when he first became ill, now he was awake and struggling. The books were a great help, but company was better.

I made up stories to keep him entertained, stories of us and how our lives would be one day when we were rich and living in an amazing apartment with every luxury a person could want. I told fanciful tales of faraway lands we would visit and, together in our bed, we made plans to travel the world. With my fingers running repeatedly through his hair, he fell into a light sleep, lulled by the hypnotic motion, and I held him to me, lying awake and listening to him breathe.

I decided that if he wasn’t getting better again in the next couple of days, I would call the doctor for more meds. The clinic number was on the label, and I could go there after I had walked Jupiter unless they wanted to see Jasper, in which case I’d get him there somehow.

The rest of the day was uneventful, and when the rain started to fall we were grateful to be inside and together. I got wet through getting to the market, and having to spend my shift in a constant draught wearing wet clothes was a recipe for disaster. I just had to hope that my immune system was strong enough to cope. That evening I made my way home, wet and miserable, looking forward to the following day and our hot meal from the soup kitchen.

I stripped off my wet coat and jeans, arranging them over the back of the chair before switching on the heater. I wrapped myself up in a big sweater and Jasper’s second pair of jeans and made a start on supper. I made a simple meal of vegetables with a small tin of Spam between us, and in no time we were eating, listening to the relentless rain lash against the window. The phone rang and, startled, I almost spilled my overfull mug of coffee. 

When I answered, it wasn’t who I was expecting.

“Edward? Hello, it’s Esme. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

I smiled. “Hi. No, of course not. Is something wrong?” Please don’t tell me Tanya is letting me go.

I heard her intake of breath and realised she sounded a little unsure of herself.

“Well, as you know its soup kitchen day tomorrow, and, well, the weather is going to stay like this for the next few days. You’re going to get soaked to the skin trying to get your food home. I don’t want to impose and of course you can say no, but I was wondering if you’d be willing to let me bring your food to you? At least that way it will still be hot for you both. I have my car and it would only take me a few minutes.”

Her words had tumbled out so fast that, when they stopped, the silence was tangible. I held the phone to my leg and spoke to Jasper, telling him the suggestion.

“It’s your choice, love, not just mine. Would you be okay with Esme coming here?”

He frowned, his eyes flicking around the room, and I understood his concern. It would mean showing someone how we lived, and showing was a lot different to telling. Our room was clean, but sparse, cold and hardly the most inviting environment for guests. Jasper was proud, not wanting pity or charity, and I wouldn’t want to make him uncomfortable in his own home. He had only come around to the idea of us asking for free meals out of necessity. He was gnawing the edge of his lip, an inner battle raging. Meeting my eyes, he acquiesced, nodding his agreement.

“Tell her thank you, we appreciate it. And I’d love to meet her.”

I felt my face light up then. No matter the circumstances, it would be good to have them meet and put faces to names. Each had heard so much about the other over the past weeks.

“Hi Esme? That’s so kind of you. If you’re sure, that would be wonderful. Jasper’s looking forward to meeting you.”

I heard her relieved sigh, a soft chuckle drifting down the line.

“Tell him ditto. So, if you tell me where you are, I’ll bring lunch to you.”

I rattled off our address, explaining which room we were in, and to ring if she had any problems. With that, we ended the call and Jasper and I looked at each other in silence. It was me that broke it in the end.

“I would have loved for you two to meet at the kitchen, neutral territory if you like, just in case you don’t take to her. Don’t worry - I’ll make sure we’re tidy and my clothes are put away at least. I want to make a good impression.”

Jasper’s apprehensive shrug had me on edge. I sat down, waiting for him to verbalise what was on his mind. He picked at the blanket before smoothing it out again, his brow furrowed, eyes so desolate that I wanted to call Esme back and say no, I’d come and fetch the food like always. I didn’t want to see that look in his eyes and know I had ever made him unhappy or ashamed.

“I’d never had a visitor before I brought you here. I was a bit embarrassed back then about showing this place to you. I guess people will always form opinions about us, judge us about how we live.”  His whispered confession hurt my heart. “I know we don’t have much, but it’s ours. It’s dry and safe. Most importantly, we have each other. Your Esme will see that, wont she? I think she will, at least from what you’ve told me about her and the things she’s helped us with.”

I nodded, a huge lump in my throat at his desperate tone. I did my best to reassure him.

“She will, she absolutely will. She knows all about us and she wants to help us get back onto our feet. She won’t judge. I think she might worry about us – I see her face sometimes when she thinks I’m not looking and she looks so sad. She just wants good things for us. She’s lovely and she cares. How many people can we say that about?”

He nodded, his lips white. I had had no idea how scared he was at the thought of someone seeing our life.

“Jas, I never told you this, but when you brought me here that day, I was scared. No one had ever been kind to me and I didn’t trust it. I didn’t know you, but you had someplace warm to go and I was so hungry that I was willing to risk it. I remember how my stomach had gnawed at me. If you hadn’t brought me here I don’t know what would’ve happened to me. I wasn’t doing so well on my own.”

The memory hurt. He looked at me then, distress etched on his face, his eyes huge in the gloomy darkness. I needed him to know this.

“You saved me. You gave me a home and a life, and hope. I’m not ashamed of how we live because we both know that the alternative is so much worse.”

He nodded. “I know. You’re right.” A wry chuckle brightened his face. “How did I manage before you came along? You make everything better.” A genuine smile lit his eyes and I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him in for a much needed kiss.

~o.O.o~

When I woke the next morning, I looked around the small room, taking it in, trying to see it as a stranger might. My clothes were drying still, my heavy coat still damp. There was nothing I could do about that. The floor was swept, the plates and mugs on their shelf. I looked at the water marks on the wall and knew that no amount of wiping was going to remove them. I drew the curtain around our bathing area, and set to making us coffee and breakfast. Rummaging through the bag from Tony, I pulled out a couple of bananas and sliced them on top of a cup of cereal and the last of the long-life milk. When the coffee was ready, I carried breakfast to bed and kissed Jasper awake, nudging his nose until he stirred.

His chest still sounded rough, but not as crackly as the day before, and I counted that as a blessing. He pushed himself up without pain and took his coffee, blowing on it, appearing deep in thought. He looked around the room in the dull morning light, coming to the same conclusion that I had.

“There’s really no way to pretty this place up, is there.” He sounded resigned to the fact. I took his coffee and set it down so he could eat.

“There’s not much we can do, no. I pulled the curtain around the bath, and I’ll wash up the breakfast things when we’re done, but that’s it.”

The warm air from the heater had long since dissipated, and there was a hint of vapour in the air when we spoke. It would be icy outside, the heavy rain likely to have frozen on the sidewalks overnight. It was hard to stay upright with empty hands, but I had to admit that balancing our lunch in my arms and negotiating slippery surfaces underfoot was not a thrilling idea. Hopefully, if he stayed inside until then, Jasper would be well enough to come with me next week and we could eat there.

We were both nervous, agitated, and unable to settle while we waited for Esme. In my heart I wasn’t worried about what she might think – she had a fair idea of how we lived already. It was reassuring Jasper that everything would be okay without having to say it. He was up and dressed, needing to make a good impression for his own sake. I understood that. I’d been there when I first went to the kitchen, and again at Happy Tails. This was the first time in a while that he had had someone to impress, and I could tell that it meant a great deal to him that this went well.

For the first time I could remember, I wished we had a radio in the room, something to cover up the anxious silence that enveloped us. It had never seemed so quiet. We both lay on the bed, Jasper trying to read. In the end he gave up, turning his book face down on his chest and reaching for my hand. I took it and rolled over, snuggling into him, the way we always had before he got sick. His fingers found my hair, carding through it in that way that made my whole body relax. I moaned, the sound muffled in his sweater, and felt him kiss my head. I wanted to arch against him like a cat, lost to pleasure. His fingers moved in a slow rhythm and my eyes drooped despite the sleep I’d had, my body curling up into a tight ball for warmth. I must have drifted into a light sleep because I woke to a gentle knocking at the door. Jasper stroked my cheek, and my eyes cracked open.

“Wake up, love. Esme’s here.”

“Oh! Okay.” I rubbed my eyes, and climbed off the bed, hearing Jasper’s feet hit the floor behind me. Crossing the few steps to the door, I unlocked it and pulled it open to reveal Esme, her hands full. Pushing the door wider, I took the plates from her and invited her in. I set them down by the hotplate and turned to make introductions. Esme closed the door and hovered, waiting. My smile came easily, just as it always did in her presence.

“Esme, this is my partner, Jasper. Jas, this is Esme, our guardian angel.”

Esme blushed to the roots of her hair.

“Oh hush, Edward.” She stepped into the room, and looked to Jasper, who still looked worried. “Jasper, it’s so very lovely to meet you. Edward talks about you all the time and, to be honest, I was a little nervous about meeting you.” Her smile did indeed look not unlike Jasper’s, anxious and trepidatious. She held out her hand and Jasper shook it, a genuine smile beginning to break across his face. His manners could always be relied upon.

“We have a lot to be grateful for, ma’am. I can’t thank you enough for sparing Edward from the rain today. He was soaked to the skin twice yesterday.” He looked ruefully at my coat, now hanging, still damp, on the back of the door.

“You boys should eat. It’s cheesy pasta bake with chopped frankfurters today. Cookies for dessert.”

The food smelled amazing and I forgot all about our surroundings. I beckoned Esme over to the chair, inviting her to sit. I unwrapped the piping hot food, and brought a plate to Jasper, folding a towel for a potholder so he didn’t burn his legs. I quickly ran some water into the pan and set it to boil for coffee before carrying my food over to sit with Jasper as we usually did. The pasta bake was something I’d never had before and it was delicious and filling. I could see that Jas was enjoying it, being a cheese lover, and for a few minutes we said nothing while we dug in. I kept an eye on the water, but noticed Esme doing the same and so I relaxed and ate. When I was halfway through, I set down my fork.

“This is so good. You won’t get into any trouble for bringing it to us, will you?” The last thing I wanted was for there to be any repercussions for her kindness.

She shook her head. “No, I told Matt that one of our regulars wasn’t able to come and it was imperative he got some food. He knows me well enough by now not to argue.” Her chuckle was a welcome sound.

“I don’t know why, but I expected Rosie to be with you. Thinking about it, of course she isn’t, with it being kitchen day. I guess I’m just used to seeing you both together.”

Her hands fluttered in the air. “If she knew where I was she would’ve wanted to come, no doubt about that. You’re her favourite playmate; she looks for you whenever we go past the market. I’ve started to notice that she takes me to where you eat your lunch in case you’re there. She’s too clever for her own good.”

I noticed that Jasper had stopped eating and was listening to us chat like the friends we were. Esme and I had only gotten to know each other in the first place because of the soup kitchen, and if Jasper had not have fallen ill, none of this would have happened. I realised that it must be strange for him to watch. I told him everything that happened each day when I came home, what Esme and I talked about and all the silly anecdotes I could to keep him up to date, but he must feel left out. I nudged his shoulder.

“Wait ‘til you meet her. You’ll love her. She’s a big cuddle bug.”

Esme watched us, a fond look on her face.

“Jasper – do you like dogs too?”

He set down his fork, swallowing his food before answering.

“Yes, ma’am, I do. I’d love to have a dog one day. I think Edward would too.” He nudged me back and I grinned.

“Yeah, I would. I adore Rosie, and Jupiter is so much fun. Plus it’s lovely to be outside and have people acknowledge me, like I’m someone. Having a dog seems to invite people in. It’s like you belong to a club or something.” I took a bite of my food and chewed slowly, making it last.

“I never thought about it like that.” Esme stood up and switched off the now bubbling water. “Rosie is my best friend and fabulous company. You can’t be lonely when you have a dog, and like you say, they make you socialise because they need to be walked. I wouldn’t be without her, that’s for sure.” She reached up and took down the mugs from the shelf. “I’m guessing you boys are having coffee?”

We both turned our heads at the same moment, surprised. It was Jas that spoke first.

“Uh… yes, ma’am, we are, but please - you needn’t do that.”

I swallowed my mouthful of pasta.

“It’s okay, Esme. I can make it. Would you like one?”

“That would be lovely, and I don’t mind making it at all.” She reached to the back of the small shelf and found a chipped cup, the partner to the one we used in the bath. Holding it up, she asked, “Is this okay?”

I nodded. “Of course. It’s the least we can do. We don’t have milk or sugar though, I’m afraid. We drink it black.”

“Sounds good to me.” She unscrewed the jar. “How much do you take? A spoonful?” Her hand hovered over the jar.

“Half a spoon each would be great, thanks.”

She made quick work of the drinks, bringing ours over to us and setting them down on the floor. It was a surreal image, seeing this lovely lady holding a chipped cup of coffee in our home, sitting on our only chair. She looked so out of place, yet seemed comfortable enough. She hadn’t made her excuses and left our cold little room at the earliest opportunity at least.

The only sounds for a few moments were the scraping of plates, not a scrap of food left. I gathered them and the cutlery, and took them to the sink to wash them using the rest of the hot water. Esme would take them back with her.

“Well that’s a nice sight – two empty plates!” She sipped her coffee with a grin. “Don’t forget your cookies. Made them myself so I know they’re good!”

“Do you make the cakes too?” Jasper’s curiosity came to the fore. “I hadn’t had cake before Edward started going to the kitchen. I’m definitely a fan.”

She laughed, Jasper’s question taking her by surprise.

“I do make some of them, yes. May I ask which ones you like the best? I do like positive feedback.” Her head was tilted on the side and she looked positively mischievous.

Jasper thought for a moment. “There was one that had cream and jelly in the middle… that one was good.” I was trying to hold my laughter in check because Jasper had waxed lyrical about that cake. “The chocolate one with cream in was pretty good too, well they all are. I’m not fussy.”   

I rummaged in the bag for what turned out to be a chocolate chip cookie. I handed the other to Jasper who brightened at the sight. Over the top of my steaming mug, I sneaked a look at Esme to see her response.

“Well, Jasper, if the one you’re referring to was a sponge cake with cream and raspberry jelly in, then yes – I did make that one. And thankyou – it is lovely to have your food appreciated. I’ll have to make it more often.”

Jas’ face lit up and I knew that he was won over by her easy going nature. Esme sipped her coffee and I could tell see had something on her mind, her finger tapping the rim of the cup. I waited. She shuffled on her seat, seeming to pluck up the courage.

“I hope this isn’t too forward, but I really wanted to ask if you’d both come to my house for dinner with me and Rosie on Christmas Eve. It’s always just the two of us and it would be so lovely to have company for once. I know Rosie would love it too. It would give me an excuse to decorate for Christmas and cook a nice meal – I don’t tend to bother when it’s just me, what with helping out with cooking dinner at the shelter on Christmas Day. What do you say?”

She bit her lip, looking from me to Jasper, seeming anxious that her invitation would be declined. Having learned more about her past, I could see that this was a big deal for her. Her cheeks were a delicate pink, her eyebrows raised above wide eyes. Jasper cleared his throat and sipped his coffee.

“Is there anything we can bring? I wouldn’t want to come empty handed.”

Esme’s face glowed and I fought the urge to pull Jasper into a hug. “Honestly, no, there’s nothing I need apart from the two of you. I’ll provide the food if you provide the company and conversation. I dare say that you could walk Rosie for me while I’m preparing the food. That would be really helpful, and stop her trying to steal anything within reach!”

She chuckled which set me off too, imagining Rosie helping herself behind Esme’s back.

“Thank you, Esme. We’d love to spend the evening with you. It’s so kind of you to offer.”

Her head tilted when she smiled.

“Are you working Christmas Eve, Edward?”

I nodded.

“I have my shift at the market – according to the vendors, we’ll be closing a bit earlier that day so I should be home in good time for us to come to you.”

She set down her empty cup by the sink. “I was thinking that I could come and collect you both. That way you won’t have to make the long walk in the cold. Especially you, Jasper, while you’re healing. I can bring you home after, or… or if you’d like to you can stay over and go home after Christmas lunch at the kitchen. I have a spare room that hasn’t been used in forever. I warn you though – you’d have to let Rosie in to say goodnight or she’ll whine outside the door. She hates being locked out.” She smoothed down her hair, a sign of nervousness if I was reading her right. “Of course, if you decide you’d rather come home after dinner then I will of course respect your decision. Anyway, you let me know.” She checked her watch. “I’ve taken up enough of your time. I should get back.”

I jumped up and gave her a hug. “Thank you so much for coming, and bringing the food of course. It means a lot to us. I’ll see you at the market during the week, most likely. Give Rosie an ear rub for me.”

She hugged me back, how I imagined a mother would if I had had one. Her smile was so warm that you couldn’t fail to return it. She rubbed my shoulders before letting me go.

“Let me know what time I can come pick you up. It might well be snowing by then, so the lift is non-negotiable.” She gave us both a fake stern look, one eyebrow raised, before collecting the clean plates, her face breaking into a radiant smile. “Thank you for the coffee and the hospitality. So lovely to finally meet you, Jasper. Edward has told me so many lovely things about you that I can see are all true. Take care of each other and I’ll speak to you soon.”

With a small wave, she opened the door, a rush of cold air blasting into the room, dispelling the warmth that Esme’s company that provided. The door closed behind her with a rattle. Jasper spoke.

“Is she for real? I didn’t know there were people like her in the world.”

I pulled him close, wrapping an arm around him. It was so cold already and still early. I was impressed that Esme hadn’t commented on it or our room; she had managed to win Jasper’s friendship and respect, and I was thrilled.

“She’s special, that’s for certain. Thank you for accepting her invitation – think how wonderful it will be to have a home cooked meal with friends, and a warm room for a night. She doesn’t judge us, she just wants to offer a little support where she can. I think we’re going to have a wonderful Christmas.”

“I didn’t know what to expect to be honest, but everything you said about her was true. I don’t know how I feel about staying over with someone I hardly know, but I trust your judgement. After all, like you said, you trusted me when you didn’t know me, and this place isn’t exactly warm and inviting, especially for our first Christmas together.” His downcast expression twisted my insides. I hated him feeling that way, feeling beaten down by circumstance. “Just my luck that I couldn’t be a high class escort and get to sleep in fancy hotels all the time.” He looked at me then, his fingers tracing my jawline, his gaze holding me hostage. “Then again, if life had gone that way I wouldn’t have you in it, so that means I got the better deal after all.”

Hypnotised by the soft drawl of his voice, I leaned in and kissed him, thanking whatever lucky star had brought him to me. I would never stop sending thanks for him. The kiss lingered, my blood humming in my veins. Pulling away was sweet pain and I softened the ache by telling him my idea.

“Love, I had a small Christmas surprise planned for us, but when you got sick I ditched it. Now that you’re getting better, would you like to go for a little walk, take a look at all the Christmas lights, and maybe even stop off for a slice of pizza? I have enough money for us to catch a bus back home after we eat so you don’t overdo it. I had originally planned to take you to the tree lighting ceremony on the Mile, but we could still go for a walk at least, get us into the spirit.” I bit my lip, not sure if it was something he would be interested in.

“I’ve never done that.” He looked surprised, but keen, and a little kiss-drunk. “I’d love to. I get to see Christmas through your eyes.” His fingers interlaced with mine and I felt my soul sing. “If it’s not raining, let’s go the evening before Christmas Eve and make an occasion of it. No cooking for once either!” He grinned, pulling me in for another kiss that I returned with my whole heart.

~o.O.o~