Scott wasn't joking when he said Christmas Eve was... an event.

When I pulled myself out of bed, it was to find the blonde in the middle of the living room floor surrounded by boxes and ribbon and spools of shiny wrapping paper. There was some stop motion Christmas movie playing on the tv and he was humming along with whatever song they were singing.

I was able to look on in appreciation until Arty's arrival got his attention and he looked up with a bright smile. "Good morning! Oh! I want you to try something. Don't move! ...or sit if you want." He hurriedly got to his feet and rushed off into the kitchen. It wasn't until he returned that I realized he was wearing jeans and some ridiculous red sweater with Pluto as a reindeer and Mickey Mouse dressed in a santa suit. It was horrible and adorable all at the same time. Horrible/adorable was quickly becoming Scott's theme.

"I made you coffee. I know you're all mister "i like my coffee black', but just try it."

"You're so cheesy." I couldn't help but grin as I took the cartoonish snowman mug topped off with foam and what looked like sprinkles of some sort on top. I inhaled, smelling the peppermint and inwardly wincing, but I risked a sip anyway. Of course, what should have been a nightmarish peppermint/mocha abomination, turned out to be one of the most amazing things I'd ever tasted. I'd bet it had something to do with the expensive gadgets Scott's kitchen was equipped with, but I'm sure the excited boy had a little something to do with it.

"It's good, right?" He must have had a couple of cups already, because he was literally bouncing in his rudolph slippers.

"Yes, it's very good. Thank you." Mr. Cheer put a hand on my back and led me over to the couch. Arty wasn't far behind and hopped up right next to me in his usual spot. 

"Oh. I have something for you."

"Scott-"

"Nope. It's nothing major just... something to help you get into the Christmas spirit." He handed me a box covered in candy canes and took my coffee to set it on the table beside me.

I opened my present to find a bright blue sweater with a cartoon snowman that looked vaguely familiar and the words "Let's build a Snowman!" written in white. It was ridiculous and hit me straight in the heart. I'd never had an ugly Christmas sweater before...

"Thank you."

"It's Olaf!"

"Ok?"

"Frozen?"

I'd seen the advertisements and merchandise, but, for obvious reasons, I'd never seen the movie. "That was a movie, right?"

"Yes. One we're watching tonight, since you've been living under a rock and haven't-" His expression suddenly fell and I knew pity was about to outshine his happiness. "I didn't mean to- I just forgot- I mean I wasn't...  thinking. I'm sorry."

"It's ok." I shrugged it off with a smile. "It's something to look forward to."

His smile tugged up just a little.

"But do I HAVE to wear this?" I tried to make my fake whining as obvious as possible and he laughed, the awkward moment forgotten.

"Yes! It's tradition."

I raised an eyebrow.

"C'mon, Mitchy, pleasssseeee."

The pet name was another blow. This man had too many facets to count and far too many quirks to try and understand in the few days we'd known each other. Still, I couldn't say no to that pouty lip.

"Alright, alright."

"Perfect! So you finish your coffee and I'll finish my wrapping and then I can make breakfast while you shower and change."

"Who are all of these presents for, anyway? I thought you said your parents were in some city in France I can't remember how to pronounce."

"Well, some is for family.  I'll have to ship them after the holidays. Some is for my friends, but most of it is for the local shelter. I gave toys and stuff a while ago, but I thought some stuff for the adults might be nice too."

"You do this every year?" 

He blushed and chewed on his lip.  "No. I should have, but I just- I didn't think about it before...   I just..   wanted to do something." 

He was doing it because he'd met me.  I didn't know how to feel about that.  I knew it was too easy for people to forget that those less fortunate are out there alone and trying to survive, but I couldn't hold it against him. He had done more than his fair share already.

Whatever his reasons, his heart was in the right place and that's what mattered. 

"That's really generous. Can I help?" I really wanted to.

"If you want to. Are you sure you can sit on the floor?" 

"Yeah, i'll just lean against the couch if that's ok?"

He didn't answer, just helped me to the floor and handed me my coffee again.

He had to teach me how to wrap, as I hadn't done it in a very long time, but he didn't make fun when my first attempts were a little lumpy and had too much tape. I got the hang of it eventually and I did the wrapping while he handled the trimmings. It didn't take us long, but by the time we were done I was stiff from sitting on the floor and had to accept his help in getting to my feet.

"Alright, you go shower and I'll handle the food. Oh, and there's some pants and ... underwear in the drawer under the tv. I got a few different sizes because i wasn't sure. Just use what you need."

I rolled my eyes, but I was past the point of arguing with him about things he'd already bought for me. "What, no pants with dancing elves or snowflakes?"

He grinned. "Oh, there will be fun pjs for tonight. Just you wait."

"Of course there will be. Color me excited."

"You should be."

Arty, who had apparently decided to be my new shadow, followed me as I headed for the bedroom, my new Christmas sweater clutched to my chest.

~

The festivities continued after breakfast and soon the house smelled of vanilla and gingerbread while the sounds of cheesy Christmas music played through some invisible sound system he had set up.

Scott was a fan of getting his hands dirty and the two of us ended up with flour and sugar all over us and the kitchen. I was pretty good at following instructions, however my cookie decorating skills left much to be desired. Scott didn't seem to mind and even though I knew he was lying, he told me they looked great anyway.

"Mitch, you can't eat all the cookies!" He tried to sound stern, but the laughter that broke through nearly every syllable betrayed him.

"It's not my fault you're amazing at making them." I tried to appear matter-of-fact, but my smile was my own tell. I bit off the head of a reindeer shaped sugar cookie I'd just finished decorating and licked some rogue icing from the corner of my lips.

"You're going to make yourself sick. Besides you have to leave room for dinner and that's probably your tenth cookie." 

"Had to try one of each kind, didn't I? Plus I gotta make sure they're edible."

"You should go clean up and rest for a bit while I finish these up and heat up dinner."

"I'm not even that dirty. You're way messier than me." 

I watched as he slowly dragged a finger through the green icing he'd just spread onto a christmas tree cookie and then poked it right into the dimple in my cheek. "You were saying?"

My mouth dropped open and laughter bubbled out of me. "How dare you! Wasting a cookie like that."

"It was for a good cause." He laughed before shoving the cookie into his mouth. "Mmm.  You were right.  These are really good." 

I shook my head as he mumbled around a mouth full of cookie.  "Told ya."

I wanted to stay there with him in our happy little baking bubble, but he was right... I really needed to rest. I was pretty wiped, and I'd been having so much fun that I didn't want it to end, no matter the pain I was in or how tired I was. "Fiinnnnneeee. I'll just take a quick nap then I can help again." 

I cleaned off my face and my hands and looked to Arty who was sitting just outside of the kitchen waiting patiently. I quickly stole a cookie that hadn't been iced yet when Scott wasn't looking. As I hobbled towards my bedroom, I passed off the cookie to my furry companion and he carried it in his mouth like a prize then went to the corner to eat it.

"Weirdo. Like owner like pup, right?"

He let out a quiet 'woof' in what I assumed was agreement.

The rest of the day moved along in a blur of food and mirth. Scott had been right about too much sugar, but the desserts weren't the worst of my problems. It turned out that Scott normally had a chef that would cook for him and apparently she had prepared a few meals for Scott ahead of time with reheating instructions. Let's just say the food was so amazing that I got shamefully indulgent. Pizza was one thing, but I hadn't had an actual warm meal that wasn't junk, scraps or plastic tasting hospital food in years and I didn't want to waste a bite. I ate and ate and ate to the point of misery and sickness.

I expected him to make fun of me, but I could see that hint of pity in his eyes. It only reminded me of what I was and how different we were. Throwing up wasn't exactly the most exciting way to spend my Christmas Eve, and my poor ribs were definitely not responding to it any better than my stomach was, but still I kept imagining how much worse it could be and I knew I was lucky.

Scott only left my side when a couple of women from the shelter came to pick up his gifts and donations, but he was right back again the moment they left.

He really was a saint.

After he helped me get cleaned up, I changed (as per his instructions) into the fuzzy pajama pants with sled riding penguins all over them and the matching black tee with a penguin peeking out of the pocket. The penguin slippers were a bit over the top, but they were so comfy I didn't care how silly they were. We were quite the pair in our Christmas pjs as we huddled together on the couch to watch Frozen. He'd stretched out on the chaise end and he didn't seem to mind when I cuddled into him because Arty had decided to get comfy in the remaining space.

I tried to pay attention to the movie, I swear I did, but all I could seem to do was think of where I could have been at that moment... where I'd been for so many Christmases before... and I just wanted to memorize it all so I wouldn't forget any of it when it was all gone again. I never wanted to forget the cushion of the comfy couch or the soft fuzzy blanket we were huddled under. I never wanted to forget the sparkling reds and golds of the Christmas tree, or the calming effect of the fire. I didn't want to lose a single detail of my new furry friend, but most of all... I didn't want to ever forget him. I didn't want to forget his eyes, or his smile... or the way he mouthed the words along with a movie I had already lost track of.  I wanted to remember the way it felt to not be alone. 

Then it hit me. 

It didn't matter how much my body still ached from injury or stupidity. It didn't matter where I'd been or what I'd been through... at that moment I didn't care. For the first time in recent memory my brain began to slow down. I was content.

All of the fear that constantly plagued me went dormant. In that one moment I was finally at peace.

"Scott?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

He gently squeezed me a little closer. "You're very welcome."

"You were right. Christmas Eve is the best holiday."

His blue eyes turned to look at me and for a brief moment I swore I saw tears in them. "Well, tomorrow is Christmas. I bet it's going to be even better."

"I promise not to throw up again?"

He laughed and shook his head. "Well, I'd say that's a pretty good start."