Theo had memories, distinct ones that seemed a million years away. Memories of sweaty palms and shaking knees and feeling like he was simply going to collapse from the stress of meeting Gabe’s parents for the first time and he couldn’t help but laugh at himself when thinking about the tizzy he’d gotten himself into. Now, it was habitual to wrap his arms around his, suddenly smaller, father in law and plant a kiss on his mother-in-law’s cheek while she cooed and ran straight towards his son. He was truly blessed and it was god he found himself thanking, and staring down the Christmas table at his in laws, he had become a little misty eyed. Beside him, of course, his soon to be /husband/, Gabe, handsome and devoted as ever. His mother-in-law, constantly running around the house and heaping plates with food, her hair in her signature messy chignon. Gabe’s father, quiet and observant and polite and hardened, his rough facial features unable to disguise his satisfaction with the family. Gabe’s sister, the one who had given then the greatest gift of all, rosy cheeked and laughing, poking fun at Gabe incessantly under the table, and her husband who was all-american but incredibly polite and sweet. And the kids, at the opposite end of the table.<p>
Arguably Theo’s favourite people, Elliot was sandwiched between now ten-year-old Piper and her seven year old brother, Noah. They were laughing at something, (who knew what? Probably playing with their food.), and Theo could have spent the entire night watching Elliot mimic his older cousins, wide eyed and meek, letting out riffs of shrill laughter when someone made a joke he understood. Theo, himself, was being teased, as Charlotte tried her best, phony French accent. Theo was blushing, deep red, and waving his hand at her and Gabe chorused in, his own accent flawless and natural and everyone erupted into laughter and Theo jokingly cursed them, scrunching up his nose. <p>
Elliot was put to bed with the rest of the children, all three of them tucked into bed in front of the living room fireplace, like tiny beetles snugged close. The parents took a moment to coo at them, snapping cell phone pictures before spending the rest of the evening chatting and drinking around the table, nibbling on cookies and chocolate and the crust from dessert. The West parents disappeared into their bedroom first and Theo could hear them giggling, the water running, as they put themselves to bed. He had a moment of sadness, thinking of them going to sleep in this big house all alone. He had a hard time imaging Gabe here, as a restless teenager, thundering in and out of the mudroom and bringing home girls and yelling at his father from the bottom of the stairs. Things had changed so much and Theo was thankful, not only for their newfound maturity but in the security he had. Charlotte and her husband disappeared somewhere and Gabe and dragged Theo to bed. Unwilling, Theo could have spent all night watching his son and niece and nephew sleep in that beautiful orange glow.<p>
Completely as with his character, Gabe had clicked the door shut and squirmed out of his shirt and Theo was yawning, rubbing his hands through his own hair and undoing his belt, sitting on the edge of his bed. Before long, Gabe was kissing him, hands on his chest and nuzzling his face into him unsurprisingly /wantonly/ and Theo found himself laughing, pressing his palms to Gabe’s cheeks and wiggling his face away. Like a disappointed child, Gabe furrowed his brow and stuck out his bottom lip and sat back on his heels. “Theo!” And Theo giggled, shrugging.
“Charlotte’s basically next door! Your parents are upstairs!” Gabe whined, touching the nape of Theo’s neck and Theo bit his lip. After a beat, Gabe said, as if he were shocked by the brilliance of his own statement, “It’s not like I’ve never brought a girl home before.” And Theo sighed, dejected and won over, and pressed a kiss to the skin in front of Gabe’s ear, and then just below his jaw, and then pressed his face into his warm hair and made a big, melodramatic groan. “This is a Christmas present.” And Gabe squeaked, happily, helping Theo lazily peel off his shirt.
Paris - Kate Nash
I don’t know everything about you, would you like to spend time with me?
Said you’d lend me anything, I think I’ll have your company
