Kleo opened his eyes to light filtering through the part in his window curtains. Everything was still and quiet as snow fell lazily outside, bringing a chill to the air. The warmth of his bed and Alexei beside him was more than welcomed. He felt at peace for the first time in a while. He didn’t have a nightmare that he could remember and for once, he didn’t feel as stressed as he had been lately. At that moment, he didn’t care about the issues with his powers or those guys who took Effie. Even the realization that his grandmother was alive and didn’t know he existed failed to unsettle him then. He wondered if the fact that Christmas was only a day away attributed to the calm that he was feeling.

He glanced at Alexei to make sure he was asleep before carefully turning on his side and reaching into nightstand to find a small blue gift box. He felt the bundle of nerves form in his stomach as he reached in to pick it up but stopped as he felt a hand wrap around his side and a kiss placed to the back of his neck.

“Good morning to you too,” a smile formed on his lips and he closed the drawer before letting Alexei pull him close.

“Morning,” Alexei responded, voice gruff with sleep. He wrapped his arms around Kleo’s waist and hid his face in the crook of his neck where lazy kisses were then placed, causing Kleo to squirm.

“What are you doing?” Kleo laughed, trying to move his neck away for fear of being tickled again.

“What? I can’t kiss my boy?” Alexei said, a smirk forming on his lips as he went in to kiss his neck again, blowing a raspberry on his skin.

“You are the worst!” Kleo laughed, turning in his hold.

“Oh? Am I?” Alexei chuckled, pulling Kleo close again.

“Mhm,” Kleo hummed, taking him by the waist and laying him on his back. Kleo hovered over him for a moment, letting his eyes slowly drag up towards Alexei’s face. “You’re already blushing,” he said in a whisper, lifting a hand and moving a strand of hair out of Alexei’s face before resting it on his chest. Alexei took a quick breath, placing his hands on Kleo’s waist. His thumbs rubbed against his skin and a smirk formed on Kleo’s lips. He leaned down, nuzzling his face in the crook of Alexei’s neck before dragging his teeth gently on the skin there. He felt the grip on his waist tighten as Alexei hummed, rolling his head back to give him more space.

Kleo lowered his body to rest against Alexei as he continued his ministrations, only to be interrupted by the vibrations of an incoming phone call. Electing to ignore it and let whoever go to voicemail, Kleo continued his work only for it to start up again. Alexei chuckled, gently pushing him away.

“It’s okay, answer it.”

Kleo groaned, picking himself up so he can reach his phone to see who would be calling him in the first place. Alexei just laughed again as he watched him and began to patiently wait. Kleo grabbed the phone, seeing that it was Sean who was calling him and answered.

“Hey, I didn’t hear the phone. What’s up?”

“Sorry, did I wake you?” Sean asked with a chuckle. “I just wanted to know if you guys need anything last minute for today? Everyone’s headed over for 4 pm, right?”

“Yeah, no I think we’re good?” He questioned and Alexei nodded in confirmation. “Yeah, we’re meeting at 4. Pretty sure the Crows might show up a little earlier though with the food they made.”

“Cool, then I’ll talk to you later. Don’t sleep in too late!”

“No worries, talk to you later,” Kleo said before hanging up and setting the phone back down. Alexei slipped his arms over his shoulders and smiled at him.

“Now, where were we?”

***

“Alright little guy, I’m gonna sit you here,” Kleo said as he sat the elf down on the bar and began to roll up his sleeves. “You’re gonna have to work with me so I can help you, okay? Is that what you want?” He asked, looking at the elf who just sat there, motionless. Kleo closed his eyes and tried to reach his magic out to him to see if he could connect that way only to be met with a wall. Kleo groaned and threw his hands up. “I don’t get why he would help me and then just become so closed off?” Kleo said, taking a step away from the elf.

“Who knows, but it seems like it’ll take time for him to open up again,” Nox said from where he sat on the counter.

“Maybe he’s shy,” Alexei offered with a shrug and Kleo looked at him, already annoyed with the elf’s closed-off attitude. “How about we just take a break and get back to preparing for later? I still have gifts I need to wrap for my parents.” They were in the kitchen and supposed to be cleaning out the fridge to make sure there was enough space for anything Alexei’s parents or Sean brought for Christmas dinner. Alexei was currently tossing out some old leftovers and piling the dirty dishes in the sink. “I’m gonna move the cheesecake to the top so it’s out of the way and we can take it out later after dinner,” he explained and Kleo went to help him by getting the dirty dishes cleaned.

“That’s fine,” he said and looked at his watch to check the time. They still had a few hours before everyone would start showing up. The two of them got into a rhythm of cleaning and making sure everything looked nice and ready. It wasn't long before they needed to put on more presentable clothes for the holiday season.

"Must I wear this," Nox questioned as Alexei put a little bowtie around his neck.

"What? You don't like it?" He questioned and gave him once over. "I think you look rather charming," he smiled and Nox let out a puff but left it on anyway.

"They're here!" Kleo called from downstairs and Alexei met them to help bring in the food dishes they brought.

"Wow, you guys really decorated the place," Alexei's dad said after hanging up his coat.

"Did you not believe me when I said we did?" Alexei asked, giving his mom a hug before going to do the same to his dad.

"Oh honey, you never were the one to really get into helping me decorate for the holidays," his mother said before going to Kleo. "I swear, you seem taller every time I see you," she said, pulling his head down to her level to place a kiss on his forehead. "I hope my boy is treating you right, is he?" She whispered not so quietly and Kleo chuckled.

"Mom," Alexei said sternly and she only laughed, waving him off.

"I'm kidding!" She said and Alexei saw his father shake his head.

"Angela," he said and she simply waved him off as well. Kleo just smiled and shook his head.

"Thank you guys for bringing the food. Alexei and I did try our hands at making a cheesecake that's in the fridge," Kleo said, going to check something in the kitchen and she smiled at him.

"Oh, of course! Selfishly, I just thought it would be a nice change to have you guys host this year. It's been so long and we hadn't had a chance to see how your old home was redone," she explained. "I'm glad to see you both are taking care of the place and haven't turned it into some sort of man cave or something.”

“Mom, please,” Alexei said and ushered his parents to the living room.

“Honestly, your mother has a point,” his dad said and patted him on the back. “Your home looks very nice. I'm proud of how you both are handling yourselves,” he smiled at him.

“Thanks dad,” he smiled back. “Do you guys want anything to drink or anything?”

“Oh, we brought a bottle to have for the night. I think Kleo put it in the fridge to keep it cold,” his mom said as she sat down on the sofa just as there was another knock on the door.

“Merry Christmas everyone!” Sean said as he let himself in. Kleo took the covered food from him to set down before they said their hellos.

“Sean, you made it” Alexei’s dad said, standing up to greet him.

“It’s been a while Chris,” Sean shook his hand before going to greet Alexei’s mom. “Angela, you’re looking as lively as ever.”

“As do you,” she smiled.

Alexei left the parents to have their conversation and joined Kleo in the kitchen with a sigh. Kleo looked at him and chuckled.

“You okay?” Kleo asked and he waved him off.

“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just been a minute since the three of them have been in the same room,” he said and Kleo grinned, petting Nox where he sat on the counter.

“It’s nice having them all here. I keep getting this sort of weird deja-vu feeling actually,” he explained as Alexei leaned against the counter beside him. “It makes me think of how we would all celebrate when we were younger.”

“Yeah, I can see that,” Alexei said, resting his head against Kleo’s shoulder. “I agree though, it is pretty nice.” He smiled and Kleo looked to him before leaning in for a quick kiss.

***

"I'll text you when we get home, alright? And we'll see you both for new years," Alexei mother said, holding his face in her hands and placing a kiss on his forehead. He smiled at her and nodded.

"Drive safe," he said with a wave as they walked away. He watched them go before locking up the Apothecary doors and heading back upstairs to help Kleo put everything away but was surprised to see that it was already done. "Kleo?" He called out when he realized he wasn't on the main floor. He climbed the stairs past Kleo's room when he realized that it was also empty and came to the glass doors that opened to the roof. He spotted Kleo sitting in one of the stone benches that circled the fire pit outside and watched as he produced a flame in his hand to light it.

Quickly, he went back downstairs to grab a blanket from his room and spotted his gift for Kleo sitting on his nightstand. He felt the ball of nerves forming in his stomach and wondered if waiting to give him the gift until after their parents were gone was the best idea. Sure, he'd have been nervous either way but he hated that he was nervous at all. He grabbed the bag and took a deep breath. This shouldn't be so hard, right? It's not like he hadn't gotten him gifts before, so why was this so different?

Alexei gathered his courage and climbed the stairs once more to join Kleo out on the roof.

"Are you not cold?" He asked, catching his attention as he walked over to join him. Kleo looked up to him with a smile on his face before making room for him to sit beside him.

"A little, but I was thinking this would help," he said, gesturing to the pit and Alexei nodded. He sat the gift down to his side before spreading out the blanket for them to share.

"What brings you up here tonight?" Alexei asked, wondering if there was something on his mind.

"I don't know really," Kleo sighed softly before looking up towards the night sky. "I think I just wanted to see the stars for a bit and maybe clear my head." Alexei hummed in response and looked out to the stars as well. They were quiet for a moment before Kleo spoke up again. "I have my gift for you," he said and Alexei looked to him as he pulled a small gift box out of his pocket.

"I have yours too, actually," Alexei said, picking up the bag. They sat there for a moment as a shared feeling of awkwardness spread between them. “This is weird, right?”

“Weird?”

“Not in a bad way.” He quickly said and tried to think of the best way to word it. “Weird, but in a good way I guess? Or a guess, a normal type of weird? I'm not making sense.”

“I think I know what you mean,” Kleo said and he nodded.

“We’ve known each other for years, have bought gifts for one another on so many different occasions that I can’t even begin to count them all, but this time…” He said all in one breath before stopping.

“This time?”

“It’s different,” he said with an exhale and looked down at the little gift bag in his hand. “I never thought that it would be so difficult to find a gift for you. It was like suddenly, there was this expectation for it to be super meaningful or something. Not to say that it isn’t, but it was so strange. I know what you like. I have never had a hard time figuring out a gift for you until now.”

“Well, we’re still new to this thing, you know?” He looked at him. “I mean, I definitely understand how you feel, a hundred percent, but I think it’s because we’re still new to this being together thing. This is our first Christmas as a couple, so I can see why we’re kind of nervous about it,” Kleo gave him a small smile.

“Yeah, that makes sense,” Alexei smiled back and looked back down to the gift bag in his hand before giving it to Kleo. “This has meaning I suppose, but it’s also sort of cheesy,” he explained and prompted for Kleo to open it. He watched as Kleo opened the bag and carefully pulled out two paper crane charms. “I don’t know if you remember when we were younger and we tried to do that paper crane wish thing.”

“I remember,” Kleo chuckled. “I don’t even think we got a quarter of the way through them before giving up.”

“Yeah, we weren’t even close to finishing,” Alexei smiled. “But I never told you my wish back then.”

“Yeah, you were pretty stubborn about that. I just thought you thought it wouldn’t come true or something if you said it out loud,” Kleo said, taking his hand.

“Well, I don’t know about all that. I uh, I was really happy when we became friends. I didn’t know many people when my parents and I moved to Safehaven and even though I ended up liking it here, I didn’t really get close to anyone until I met you. Back then, I wished that we could be friends forever, but I have sort of a different wish now. That I can be there for you and by your side for as long as I can, no matter what crazy magical things come our way. I love you and I don’t want to stop loving you.”

"Lexi," Kleo whispered and Alexei felt him gently wipe under his eye. He didn't even realize he had started tearing up and he didn't know where all this emotion was suddenly coming from. He took off his glasses and wiped at his other eye.

"Sorry, I don't know where all that came from," he said before Kleo pulled him closer.

"Don't apologize," Kleo's voice was soft as he spoke. "I love the charms and their meaning," he said, handing Alexei the blue gift box he was holding. "It seems we both went the sentimental cheesy route this time."

"Yeah?" Alexei smiled and loosened the bow so that he could open the box. Inside was a necklace with two gems beaded through. One purple and the other green. He quickly recognized the purple one to be amethyst but couldn't quite place the other. "Is that my birthstone?" he questioned, picking up the amethyst, and Kleo nodded.

"My mom wore a necklace like this that she said my father got for her. It had both of their birthstones on it and I thought I could do something similar," he said and Alexei looked at him. His cheeks were red and he looked off to the side. "I charmed these though, for luck and protection. Flora sort of helped me figure that out," he started to ramble, going on about his concern about whether Alexei would like a gift like that or if it was too feminine or not but Alexei cut him off, placing his hand over his mouth. His smile widened as Kleo looked back at him, surprised.

"I love it," he said before pulling his hand down. "It's very thoughtful, and no, it's not too feminine," he chuckled and Kleo smiled back before sighing in relief.

"Good," he said then took out his phone, carefully attaching one of the charms to his case before holding out the other one to Alexei. "It's a matching set, right? That way we can both have that wish because I want that too," he smiled and Alexei smiled back. "I want to be by your side, Lexi, and to never stop loving you."