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87- Christmas Presents

Present time. Ryan was all but forgotten with those words as the kids swarmed around Howard, eager for whatever trinkets had been prepared for them. Gail put on some festive music as packages were distributed, and boxes were exchanged. Damien was the only one who didn't run off with the other kids. He was still busy at work with his picture.

"Damien! Damien! Look! You got a present too!" Sophie came bounding back over with two little packages, handing one to her brother before taking him by the hand and dragging him off. "Come on, let's go open them together!"

"They're some good kids," Ryan sighed wistfully, admiring his newly colorful bandages.

"You did very well with such a large group of kids. I'm impressed." Scott leaned in to steal a kiss.

"I like kids well enough, I just don't get much opportunity to interact with them."

"Well, either way, I believe my father announced it was time for presents?" Scott fished a small, wrapped box out from seemingly nowhere and handed it over. "I know it's only Christmas Eve, but I couldn't resist getting you a little something."

Ryan accepted it with curiosity. "What about all that other stuff you've already given me? Didn't you claim that was all 'early Christmas presents' too?"

Scott gave him a sly wink. "We'll just call those 'pre-Christmas' presents. Go on, open it!"

Ryan gave him an incredulous look, since surely Scott was trying to spoil him too much. Still, after a little bit of struggle, he finally got the little package open. "Cuddle Bug… Is this what I think it is? It's beautiful…"

Inside was a locket charm, in the same white gold as his engagement ring and the chain it was currently hanging from. It was shaped like a square, and had of all things engraved into it, a pixelated heart.

Scott offered his explanation behind it. "I figure after we get your ring resized, you could wear it on that chain if you wanted. Maybe it's a bit silly, but do you like it…?"

Ryan made a beckoning motion with his finger, giving Scott another kiss once he got close enough. "Of course I love it. How could I not love something you put so much thought into? Can… can you go ahead and put it on the chain for me…?"

Scott was quick to oblige, removing Ryan's chain, stringing on the locket, and replacing it around Ryan's neck with ease. "I haven't put a picture in it yet, but we can get whichever one you want printed, just let me know."

Ryan pulled him in for another quick kiss, and as soon as they were done they were both handed their gifts from Scott's parents. Ryan had to get a little help opening this one since it was well wrapped, but they ended up being a matching set of mugs, one with the "omega" symbol, and one with the "alpha" symbol. Ryan thanked them profusely, and gave Gail the awkward kind of half-hug he could manage while sitting down.

The two of them ended up with a decent little pile of presents in the end, mostly holiday themed snacks and those pre-packaged gift sets most stores started carrying this time of year. They even got not one, but TWO tins of popcorn. Ryan had always seen them fly off the shelves when he worked at the grocery store, so he was looking forward to seeing for himself how good they were.

With the present exchange from his extended family was over, Scott was surprised by receiving a second present just for him. It was beautifully wrapped by his mother, but addressed from Ryan. He looked over at Ryan for clarification, since surely he'd been unable to do any shopping on his own, so just how did Ryan manage to get him a gift?

"Now before you open that," Ryan warned, "I want you to know that I tried, and that I'm totally up for trying to make something better once I can use my wrists again. It's okay if you don't like it, and you don't have to use this at all if you don't want to."

That caught Scott's attention even more! He opened the package with all the excitement of the children scattered around with their own presents. He opened the lid of the box with hands that almost shook. Nestled inside, padded with crinkle paper, was a lopsided little dish. He pulled it out gently to admire the craftsmanship. It was supported by little figurines that were obviously meant to be his favorite video game characters based on their shape and colors. Ryan made this for him. Bandaged as he was, Ryan sculpted and painted this just for him…

Ryan was getting nervous. Scott hadn't said anything yet, he just kept turning the gift this way and that with an unreadable expression. Did he not like it? Looking at it again, especially after Gail put that varnish on for him, it really looked absolutely awful. Scott probably hated it and was thinking of a way to let him down gently. He was just about to open his mouth to let Scott know it was okay if he didn't like it, when he saw a single tear run down Scott's cheek.

"Wait-! It can't be that bad!" Ryan defended. "It can't possibly look weird enough to cry over!"

Scott clutched the dish to his chest and wiped at his eyes with a sniff. "I love it- I love it so much… How did you even have time to make this without me knowing…?"

Ryan sat dumbfounded for a second. Did Scott really like it all that much? "Um… Remember a few weeks ago when we had that 'incident' at the mall…? Your mom helped me out with it. I painted it the day after while you took a nap before we went home."

Scott very reverently put his present back in the box and set it aside for safe keeping before moving to lean over Ryan's wheelchair and give him a very long, and very tender, kiss. Some of the adults "aww"ed, most of the little girls giggled, and at least one of the little boys made it a point to very loudly exclaim, "EWWW!!!" One of Scott's relations even said something about making sure they got an invite to the wedding. Ryan was blushed about as bright as he could manage.

"Cuddle Bug, there's children watching…" Ryan muttered under his breath, embarrassed, but not giving any indication whatsoever about being displeased by Scott's reaction to the gift.

Scott moved from Ryan's lips to plant a single quick kiss on Ryan's forehead. "Thank you for my present, Hot Stuff. I can't wait to use it every single day. There's a perfect spot on the counter near the door, and it's the perfect thing to put my keys in."

"I'm glad you like it." Ryan couldn't stop his grinning.

With presents done and every child having some sort of small new toy, most weren't as eager to get back to Elizabeth's room to play video games anymore. Mostly, they hung around in the front room playing with their newest treasures. Ryan was enjoying watching their little antics and games of make-believe, when Damien made it a point to come show off his new superhero toy.

He tapped at Ryan's arm and held out the doll proudly, pretending to make it fly. "Superhero! Woosh!"

Ryan gasped with appreciation. "He's so cool! Is that your favorite superhero? You've got him on your shoes too!"

"Shoes?" Damien looked down to double check what Ryan said. "Superhero shoes!"

Ryan couldn't help but chuckle at the attempt at contortion Damien was pulling off so he could get a better look at the character on his shoes. Then, Damien seemed to make up his mind he was going to get on Ryan's lap.

"Up!" He demanded, putting his toy in Ryan's lap and trying to climb up on his own.

Scott was quick to try and stop him, not wanting the kid to hurt Ryan on accident, but Damien's parents were quicker and scoop him up before he could put too much pressure on Ryan's legs.

"Sweetheart, Uncle Ryan has some booboos, remember? I'm afraid he can't hold you right now," his mother chastised.

Damien was quick to get fussy, reaching out to Ryan with grabby little fingers.

"I really think it'll be okay if someone puts him in my lap," Ryan suggested. "I wouldn't mind holding him for a little if that's what he wants."

Scott looked at Ryan dubiously. "Are you sure?"

At Ryan's confident nod, Scott retrieved the wiggling, fussy Damien and gently placed him on Ryan's lap. Almost instantly the kid calmed down. Now in a more advantageous position, he couldn't resist giving Ryan a better look at his superhero shoes.

Now, it was no secret Scott loved Ryan to bits. But, sometimes he caught Ryan doing something that made his heart flutter like a teenager with their first crush. His Ryan, holding a small child, talking about superheroes… If they had kids someday, would Ryan look just as beautiful as he did now?

From across the room, Gail gave her husband a knowing look. Now, both of them knew about Ryan not being able to carry his own children since he'd been so chatty on morphine, but looking at their son and son-in-law right now, it was easy enough to imagine they wouldn't have to wait too many years for their first grandchild. You could practically see the little heart-shaped bubbles floating around Scott's head.

As the day wore on and the sun began to set, the festivities were gradually brought to a close. People trickled off a few at a time with warm goodbyes, those with younger children and longer drives leaving first. Damien's parents made a strategic exit, waiting until he'd fallen asleep in Ryan's arms. His equally sleepy, yet refusing to admit it sister made sure to give her Uncle Scott and new Uncle Ryan a hug before they left.

Scott and Ryan were the last ones to leave, since Scott insisted on helping with the cleanup. Ryan made sure to thank Scott's parents profusely for hosting the gathering. He already couldn't wait until next year when he'd actually be able to help out, especially with the baking since it brought back many fond memories for him. Howard made sure to point out that mixing batter and kneading dough would probably make excellent physical therapy, and that he was welcome to get his fix anytime. Besides, seeing how popular the ma'amoul cookies were at the party, he was thinking about adding them to the bakery's menu and he wanted to make sure he was getting the recipe correct, one hundred percent from the source.

The last thing after Ryan was loaded into the car, was that Gail gave her son a little wrapped box, making him promise not to open it until tomorrow. Ryan was pretty sure he knew what was inside, but he wasn't giving any hints. He knew it'd be a nice surprise.

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On Christmas morning, settled down with their breakfast of leftover cookies and pastries from yesterday, Scott finally got to open the last gift from his parents.

"See? It didn't make sense to open it until today, right?" Ryan asked after seeing Scott's starry eyed expression at the little 'Our First Christmas' plaque.

"I swear, you and my mom and all your surprises…"

Scott rubbed his eye. He definitely wasn't trying not to cry or anything, he just got something in it. That's when he hit Ryan with a surprise of his own, pulling out a present he had tucked away just for today.

"You really got me another gift? You've already given me so much, are you sure?"

"Well, I couldn't exactly give you this one yesterday, and this is something we can both use so… Go ahead and open it!"

It was in a bag to make it easier, so with curiosity getting the better of him Ryan went ahead and fished out the contents. Once he got the tissue paper out of the way, it was clear why Scott would want to wait until they were alone to give him this. Scott was grinning absolutely mischievously from across the table. The gift was a "his and hers" set of hands-free vibrators, complete with separate remotes. Ryan couldn't help but laugh at the eager look Scott was giving him.

"First Christmas or not," Ryan said with mock sternness, "Even I know you have to finish breakfast before you can play with your new toys!"

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