((Credit: Cups_fangirling24 for the fanart! Cute <3 ))

Vincent spent the rest of the night chilling around the Christmas tree. Seeing as Scott was busy introducing Linda to everyone in the house, Vincent was left entirely to his own devices. He'd given out all of his presents... save Scott's. He wanted to wait until he and Scott were alone together. At least, then, he could say the night didn't go entirely to waste.

He decided to go make himself another cup of hot chocolate, even though that would make his fourth. Hey, what's the point of Christmas if you don't enjoy yourself? Most of Mike and Fritz's friends were already slurring and wobbling around the place, flirting with inanimate objects or sobbing in the corner. He was pretty sure one of them was sleeping in the shower, too, and there was almost certainly some kind of sexual activity going on. Jeremy had come alone, but he and Scott's friends got along quite well, and Linda had pretty much taken it upon herself to look after the little guy.

Walking into the kitchen, Vincent turned on the stove and pulled out the milk and chocolate powder. He got out a saucepan and poured the milk into it, turning the heat up.

"Hey."

Vincent looked around, confused when he saw that Scott was standing across from him, and Linda was nowhere to be seen. He pointed to himself, "You're talking to me?"

"Yeah," Scott said, "Look, I'm really sorry about ditching you. I'll be honest, I was really looking forward to hanging out with you tonight."

"Really?" Vincent asked, his eyebrows raising slightly.

"Yeah," Scott said again, then shrugged slightly, "I mean, it's Christmas. Y'know, a time for friendship..."

"And gifts," Vincent was reminded of the parcel he had been withholding for the right moment, "Speaking of which..." He pulled the gift out of his sweater and handed it over to Scott.

Scott's eyes widened a little bit, "Oh, are you sure? Honestly, I have nothing to give back..."

"I'm not going to use it," Vincent replied, "Open it. It's yours."

Scott looked at him and smiled, then gently unwrapped the paper. He didn't rip it or anything. Wasn't that half the fun?

Inside the parcel was a beautiful pocket-sized sketch book, with a pretty paper-brown cover on it. Scott opened the first page and found a little inscription.

To Scott,

Keep drawing forever.

Vincent

~

"Awwww," Scott closed the book again, putting it into his pocket, "That's so sweet. Thank you so much."

"Maybe this time you can draw me without devil horns," Vincent said, smiling slightly, "Oh, yeah! Also..." He held out his right arm. On his wrist was a silver bracelet with what looked like a shark tooth. He unfastened it and handed it to Scott, "I know we wanted matching bracelets, but.. this was the best I can do. It matches my necklace." He pulled his shark-tooth necklace out of underneath his sweater and let it rest on top.

Scott's eyes widened, he cradled the bracelet in his hands, "Oh my gosh... are you sure? There's no way I can take this... that's just too kind."

"Please," Vincent said, "Take it. It'll be a reminder of the times we had, right?"

Scott gave Vincent that same soft, gentle smile he'd given him on the porch that night when he'd apologised. This time, it was genuine. He fastened the bracelet around his wrist and sighed, "You know... there is something I've been meaning to tell you."

"What is it?" Vincent asked.

Scott smiled a little more, "I just..." He sighed, "Vincent... since I came out, everything's been going right for me. I got a boyfriend, I met a really cool Mexican guy, I've had my first kiss, been on dates..."

"What're you saying?" Vincent asked, tilting his head curiously.

"When you first told everyone I was gay, Boss told me to look for the silver lining. He told me some things happen for a reason..." Scott sighed and met Vincent's eyes, "I think I've found that reason."

Vincent blinked, a little bewildered, "You mean...?"

"I forgive you," Scott shrugged. "I know you didn't mean it, and while I still think it was a really cruel thing to do... maybe it really was for the best."

"Scott..." Vincent stared at him for a while, then a huge grin appeared on his face. He didn't wait for Scott to react, he just stepped forward and hugged him tightly, "Thank you."

"It's okay," Scott said quietly, hugging him back for just a second before letting go, "You know, when all this is over, I think you and I could become great friends."

Vincent felt his heart stop. That, right there, was a friendzone. Scott just friendzoned him. Scott just Sparta kicked him right into the middle of friendzone, "Um, yeah. Great friends."

Scott smiled again, "Yeah. I think we'd have a really cool friendship."

Vincent grinned uneasily, "Yep. You and me... best friends forever..."

Mike walked- no, staggered, into the kitchen, "Oh, hey Shcott! And Vinshent!"

"Hey, Mike," Vincent rolled his eyes. Hopeless drunkard.

"Actually, I've been meaning to ashk you, what happened to your big plan, huh?" Mike frowned slightly, still sober enough to think and talk correctly, only slurring.

Vincent stiffened slightly and laughed, "Shut up, Mike."

Scott looked curiously from Vincent to Mike, "Plan?"

"Yeah!" Mike exclaimed, "You've been planning it for weeksh and weeksh! Your huge roman-"

"Shut up, Mike!" Vincent snarled, taking a step towards him.

"...tic geshture...?" Mike finished, looking confused.

Now it was Scott's turn to feel his heart freeze up. Romantic gesture?  Vincent, planning a romantic gesture? Could it have been possible that Vincent had planned something for tonight? Scott felt fear creep into his bones. Could it be possible that Scott had just completely ruined Vincent's idea, and broken his heart?

Vincent froze in place, looking for a second that he might attack Mike again, but instead, he just went limp, "The plan's off, Mike."

Mike looked from Vincent to Scott and back again, then took a few steps back towards the door of the kitchen, "Um... I'll, uh... leave thish to you fellash to short out..." Hurriedly, he turned around, grabbing a bottle of beer before scuttling out of the kitchen again.

There was silence for a long time, only interrupted by the bubbling of the milk on the stove, which was slowly burning.

"Vincent..." Scott whispered finally, "Oh, Vincent... did I screw everything up?"

"You didn't screw anything up," Vincent said, not looking him in the face, "It's my fault. I know you're not interested in me, and it was stupid of me to expect that I could... make you think differently."

"I..." Scott swallowed, then looked at his feet, "I never said... that I wasn't interested..."

Vincent's eyes widened, he looked up at Scott, "What?"

Scott blushed slightly, blinking at his shoes, "I... It's not that I'm not interested in you... I just... I'm not sure if... I can do it."

"Do... what?" Vincent asked.

Scott blushed darker, "I-I mean... it's what all couples do, right? So... if I didn't want to do it with you... You might... be really upset with me... I don't want to be a tease, I mean, so..."

Vincent's eyebrows raised in concern and surprise, he took a step towards Scott, "Scott... I..."

"Look, never mind it," Scott said, "I don't want to hear it. Like I said, one day, we could be really good friends. For now, that's all it can be. I'm sorry." Scott turned on his heel and walked out of the kitchen.

Vincent blinked at the empty space where Scott had been, then he stormed out after him, "Scott, wait!"

Scott was halfway across the room by the time Vincent caught up to him, grabbing him by the shoulder and forcing him to spin around and face him.

Scott's eyes were wide, he looked nervously at Vincent, "I told you, I'm sorry, okay!"

"No, Scott, you don't understand," Vincent said quietly.

"I do understand," Scott wrenched free from Vincent's grasp, "I do understand, that's why I'm letting you go."

"Scott..." Vincent put his fingers to Scott's face, stroking down his jawline to his chin.

"W-What're you..-" Scott was cut off as Vincent gently began pushing his head back. Scott gasped a little, feeling extremely vulnerable. What is he doing?!  They were in the middle of the room, and Scott could feel every single eye trained on him. He can't act like this in front of my friends, in front of my sister! What on Earth does he think that he-

His eyes shot open as Vincent's lips pressed into his, and all his doubt melted instantly away.

Something exploded deep inside of Scott. He felt like he was on the world's most exhilarating roller coaster. All the chills, the fire works, the goosebumps that Mike talked about... they were all there as Vincent kissed him. Scott's eyes fluttered drowsily shut, a gentle electricity ebbing through his body.

Scott felt the pressure on his lips lessen, and then Vincent pulled slowly away.

Scott's eyes felt as though they were glued shut. A single hand raised up, and he brushed his fingers over his tingling lips.

The entire room was in a shocked silence. Not a single person spoke until Mike put two fingers in his mouth, wolf-whistled loud enough to burst anyone's eardrums, and said, "C'mon guys, show your support! Love has no gender!"

The room erupted into half-hearted claps and shouts of support.

Scott pulled his eyes open slowly and gazed into Vincent's.

"Scott," Vincent whispered, "Whether you're ready to sleep with me or not makes no difference to how I feel about you. All I'm asking is that you give me a chance. What do you say, Scott? Will you go out with me?"

Scott stared at Vincent for a long time, considering. Considering the grape-cola incident. Considering the bandage that was still wrapped around Scott's chest. Considering the beautiful Christmas presents Vincent had given him.

Scott smiled, wrapped his arms around Vincent's neck, and captured his lips in another long kiss.