AN: Thank you to all readers/reviews! Well, here's the final chapter. (Squilf is trying to persuade me to do yet a bit more fluff to finish, but we'll see... )

Christmas Day, and as Murphy would have it, a bad hair day. Marth looked at the half-awake, bedraggled creature in the mirror, and was glad that he'd woken up early in anticipation of this very problem.

Staggering downstairs he poured himself a glass of tomato juice and flung himself inelegantly backwards over the arm of the sofa to land in a heap amongst the cushions, miraculously not spilling any juice. It was a move he'd practised before.

"Elisse, leave my hairbrush alone!" he yelled peremptorily.

"I haven't taken it!" came the irritated reply.

"You were going to!"

"It's softer than mine!" she whined.

"You need a harsher brush! Your hair is thicker than mine!"

There was a long silence.

"Elisse?" He took another sip of his tomato juice. She'd better not use his hairbrush. As he finished his glass he began to get paranoid. He'd bought that hairbrush as a treat for himself a little while ago; it had a lovely engraved bird pattern on the back of the wooden handle. Putting the glass to one side he headed back upstairs. He needed to find something nice-looking but casual to wear for the party. He browsed through his wardrobe. Too big, too itchy, too wintry, to bright, too last season…

"Argh!"

"What is it?" Elisse poked her head around the corner into his room, holding his brush in one hand. Marth glared at her.

"That's my brush!"

"I'm just borrowing it–"

"I need it for my hair–"

"Not yet you haven't taken a shower–"

"It's mine!"

"It's just a hairbrush!"

Marth frowned. "You can borrow it if I can have your scarf."

"What?"

"The purple one with the stripes."

"No that's my favour–"

"That's my favourite hairb–"

"It's mine!"

"It's just a scarf!"

"Argh!" Elisse grabbed one of the pillows off his bed and thumped him with it. Marth jumped.

"Oi!"

"You silly, self-conscious twirp!"

"You thief!" Marth grabbed another pillow and thumped her back.

"Vain idiot!"

"Skiver!"

"Gay-boy!"

Marth froze. "What?"

Elisse landed a full blow to his face and sent him tumbling back onto the bed. Sighing, she threw the pillow to one side.

"Right. Fine. You can borrow the scarf."

"No, what did you say before that?"

"Huh?" She frowned, still recovering her breath. "I didn't say anything." Marth waited. Her eyes widened a little.

"Oh," she mouthed.

Marth swallowed, stunned. He hadn't told anyone.

"Do you mean the 'gay-boy' thing? I didn't mean to use it as an insult, I'm sorry. It was more of a…statement. You're not that offended, are you?"

"Er…"

"I know we've never really discussed it, but I didn't know if it was a sensitive subject. I've known ages." She shrugged casually.

Marth swallowed. "But…I…How did you know?"

"Marth, we were just arguing over a hairbrush."

Marth fell silent.

"Marth?"

"Do mum and dad know?" he asked at last.

"Nope, they're completely oblivious. Mum just thinks of you as a daughter I reckon, and dad is either ignoring it or just completely clueless." She smiled gently and sat down on the bed next to him.

Marth looked at her with big eyes. He'd wanted Ike to be the first to know, but Elisse had already worked it out.

"Would you like me to brush your hair for you?" Elisse offered, by means of an apology.

Marth nodded.

She helped him lay out his favourite outfits on the bed, and then sat him down and brushed his hair patiently as he fretted over which one to wear.

"Honestly," she commented at frequent intervals, "I don't think it matters."

Marth wasn't really listening to her. Normally he would be inclined to agree, but somehow each time he thought he'd settled for wearing one thing he would get paranoid again and choose another, only to wonder if the previous one had been better after all… It was Ike's fault, he knew it. Normally he wouldn't be half so bothered about how he looked. He could pinpoint its beginnings to the time last night when he had fussed over his hair waiting for Ike to arrive. When had his undying friendship for Ike evolved into an undying crush? And why did that make him so self-conscious? He knew that when his crush had been new and unsteady and more manageable, that was when he'd first considered telling Ike he was gay. Before any rumours could even think of starting. Before simply confessing his orientation got confused with confessing rather more…

"Marth?" Elisse prompted.

"Yes?"

"You've gone quiet."

But it didn't matter – Ike liked him too! The sudden remembrance made him smile.

"Oh, nothing. What do you think to the faded blue jeans, paisley pattered belt and soft turquoise top?"

Elisse sighed.

The party was to start at 6pm, and with hours of afternoon left to fret in Marth settled in to finish remaining bits of homework, only to find he'd finished it all already. It was perhaps the first time he wished he wasn't so organised. He reached for his copy of Wuthering Heights and began to read that instead, but his mind strayed repeatedly back to the party. It was to be held at a Spanish restaurant owned by Roy's father, who was opening the restaurant exclusively for the party as nowhere else would be open on Christmas day. Several mothers of those attending would be responsible for the food, a large mixed buffet that Marth was looking forward to. And it even had a balcony, a small one that looked out onto the streets at the back. It wasn't much of view from there, but Marth found the idea romantic. At night, when only the odd lamplight was visible amongst the dark shapes of the buildings and streets made softer by the dimming light, alone with Ike…

Woah. Since when had things got that far? Marth gave himself a mental shake. It was going to be a great party, that was all.

His mother gave him a lift to the restaurant when it was time. The building had an impressive front, painted in warm, inviting colours. Through the windows he could already see people meeting and talking, laughing and passing drinks. He wondered if Ike had arrived yet. He struggled embarrassingly for a moment with the heavy door, but Peach opened it from the other side with a grin and he stumbled inside.

"Hi Marth."

"Hi."

"Doesn't this place look lovely?"

It did. The lighting that had looked so inviting from outside enveloped him now that he was in its midst, welcoming him. There was a long table in the centre of the room ready for the buffet later but currently only bearing a large bowl of fruit which hadn't been touched.

"Hey, I've got some gossip for you." Peach nudged him. "Apparently Zelda isn't too pleased with Link."

"Oh really?" Marth replied automatically, his eyes scanning around for Ike.

"Yes. She says he hasn't been very happy recently and she's been trying everything to cheer him up."

"Uh-huh." He wasn't really listening. Where was Ike?

"Yeah." She glanced around. "Hey, Zelda!"

As Zelda made her way over Marth finally caught sight of Ike near the edges of the room by himself, looking around as if for someone to talk to. He turned and began to walk towards him when his progress was interrupted by Roy, who appeared out of nowhere.

"Hey Marth." Roy grinned. "Glad you could make it. Great snowball fight the other day, wasn't it?"

Marth nodded.

"It's all melted now though."

"There might be more," Marth muttered, trying to see over his shoulder as Ike slipped out of sight.

Roy, noting his distraction, commented, "I think almost everyone's here now."

"Yes." Where had Ike vanished to?

"Marth, what do you think of this top?" Zelda whined nervously, tugging on Marth's shoulder.

"Lovely…" He wanted to find Ike, and knew that he would be sparking a long discussion, but couldn't resist asking, "Where did you get it?"

"Well…"

The conversation went on even longer than expected. Some of the fruit on the table had actually been eaten by the time they had finished discussing the ridiculous prices at Debenhams, and there was an increasing rumour that the full buffet would be ready shortly. Marth, still unable to find Ike, resigned himself to talking to Zelda, and shortly after, Link. He remembered Peach's comment from earlier that apparently Link wasn't his normal chirpy self, but he seemed fine when Marth talked to him. The time passed, the buffet was laid, the food eaten. For a long time there was no sign of Ike and Marth assumed that he must have been caught up in conversation upstairs. When Ike finally appeared he remained at the opposite end of the buffet table with Mario and Luigi. Roy and Link distracted Marth from going over to talk to him. Increasingly frustrated Marth ate his food quickly and then followed Ike as he headed back upstairs. But as he was about to call out the simple beauty of the space he had just stepped into distracted him.

Candles, both as tall candlesticks and simple tea lights, were dotted around the edges of the room on small tables. Beautiful drapes of different coloured materials hung across the walls, giving the place a cosy, romantic feel. Or might have done. The lively chatter reduced it down to simply a nice ambience, and one mother stood in the corner watching carefully to make sure that the candles didn't start any fires. At the far end of the room glass doors opened out onto a tiny balcony, and it was there Ike headed, pausing and leaning over the railing thoughtfully. Marth advanced towards him but as he drew closer he hesitated, suddenly taken with nerves.
"Marth? Where are you going?"

Marth turned around and saw Link watching him curiously.

"I was just going to talk to Ike."

Link looked towards the balcony and on seeing Ike paused, a mixed expression passing over his face before he looked away.

"Why don't you come back downstairs? There might be deserts."

"No it's okay, I'll see you in a…" he trailed off as he spotted MetaKnight heading towards Ike, taking his chance away. He sighed.

"I think they have profiteroles," Link added, oblivious. Marth nodded, and turned to follow Link back downstairs. He would have to catch Ike later.

"Hello."

Ike turned around. "Hi Meta."

"What are you doing out here on your own?"

"Thinking." He sighed.

"Is it about Marth?"

His fingers entwined nervously over the railing, the thumbs tapping alternately on top.

"You should tell him," MetaKnight advised.

Ike shook his head. "I can't."

"He's your closest friend."

"Which is precisely why I can't." He stared down at the street below, feeling MetaKnight watching him.

"You remember what happened with Link," he muttered. "I told him I was gay and he just flipped out, like I was some sort of freak, or diseased or something."

"Marth will be different."

"Oh how do you know?" Ike spat, tense. "What good will it do me to tell him? He doesn't feel the same."

"What evidence do you have for that?" MetaKnight persisted calmly.

Ike hesitated. "There was a snowball fight a few days ago and he got pelted really badly. He was soaked and shivering but when I rubbed his arms to warm them he pulled away."

MetaKnight was silent.

"And then last night he was home alone because his parents got stuck out in the snow. I asked him if he wanted me to come over… though maybe I pushed the idea too hard…"

MetaKnight remained quiet, his eyes thoughtful.

"I thought it was okay at the time," Ike added helplessly. "At the end of the evening he hugged me and I hugged him back… I don't know what I was thinking… I didn't let go…"

MetaKnight's expression was sympathetic. "Marth wanted have wanted it too though if he hugged you first," he pointed out.

"He pulled away," Ike whispered.

There was a long pause.

MetaKnight shifted where he stood. "There's no reason why you can't go on as you were bef–"

"You don't understand!" Ike exclaimed passionately, clenching his fists. "You don't know… You don't know how close I was to –"

"Marth!" MetaKnight interrupted suddenly, both a greeting and a warning. Ike whirled around, freezing as he caught sight of the very person he had been discussing rapidly drawing within earshot. Marth smiled at him. Not knowing quite how to recover himself Ike stepped past him, turned abruptly and headed down the stairs.

Marth watched as Ike turned and walked away and looked to MetaKnight in bewilderment.

"Is he okay?"

"He's fine," MetaKnight reassured him.

"But…" He gestured weakly at Ike's retreating figure.

"Don't worry."

"What were you two talking about?"

"He'll tell you later," MetaKnight replied in an odd tone, which made Marth unsure if he would ever know at all. He joined MetaKnight on the balcony and looked out onto the street below. His optimism was fading worryingly. He hadn't been able to speak to Ike yet this evening, and now Ike had just avoided talking to him for some unknown reason. Maybe he wouldn't be able to talk to Ike about it tonight after all. After a while he felt MetaKnight's hand briefly tap his shoulder, and then heard his footsteps fading away. MetaKnight had always been more Ike's friend than his. He sighed. It looked like he had cut off his conversation with Link for nothing. He wandered back towards the stairs. On the top railing a few red balloons were tied, and on an impulse to cheer himself up he untied one and fiddled with the string absent-mindedly. He waited there at the top of the stairs, not knowing quite what to do with himself. Below the voices of people talking rose up to meet him, but not the people themselves. He felt strangely alone.

He lingered, dangling one arm over the rail, hoping for Ike to come back. At length he saw Ike's figure at the base of the stairs and quickly stepped out of view, fidgeting. A few moments later Ike began to come back up the stairs. Marth turned on the spot where he was, wanting for some ridiculous reason to hide but not knowing where to go. Ike stepped out in front of him.

"Sorry for um…vanishing just then."

"That's ok."

There was a short pause.

"Shall we, er… move? We're blocking the stairwell."

"Oh, right." Marth stood where he was, his brain failing to process the information. Ike gently took hold of his upper arms and manoeuvred him slowly backwards. It was a sort of dance, with only one synchronised move, but Marth still managed to stand on Ike's toes. Ike grinned at him as he let go.

"Sorry," Marth mumbled. "I wasn't thinking." He was so close to Ike… He wanted Ike to hold him as he had the night before, hold him close in the way that made him feel like he would never be truly alone again. Only after several moments did he realise one of his feet was still on top of Ike's, and he hadn't moved at all since Ike had let him go. Embarrassed he took a few small steps back, but then suddenly –

BANG!

Marth yelped and leaped back against Ike before his brain could register that his balloon had moved back over one of the candles, and subsequently burst. Ike jumped briefly too at the unexpected contact, and grabbed hold of Marth reflexively. As they relaxed there was a brief pause which for a moment seemed to extend, and might have extended further, but for different reasons they separated, awkward. Ike looked down at his feet.

"It was MetaKnight, actually, that sent me back up here. He pointed out we hadn't talked all evening."

Marth nodded. "Yeah…" So you didn't come back upstairs of your own accord, then. But he was here now.

"Shall we go out onto the balcony?" Marth suggested.

Ike shrugged. "I'd rather not. It's freezing out there."

So it wouldn't be the perfect setting. But he still wanted to say it, and perhaps it would be better to stay inside in the warm where he wouldn't add shivering to his shaking.

"Thank you for coming around last night," he began.

"That's okay." Ike shrugged again. "I just didn't want you to spend Christmas Eve on your own."

"It was great." Marth took a deep breath. And then another. "W-w…W-w-w…W…" His voice seemed to have seized up with nerves. 'When', for God's sake. Marth frowned, irritated with himself for feeling so jittery, and being unable to speak when it mattered most. Deep breath. Just skip to the next word.

"W-we…" Yes, come on Marth. "You know… hugged for ages –"

"I didn't mean anything by it," Ike rushed suddenly, interrupting him.

Marth froze, stunned. As the words sunk in he felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Ike must have realised how Marth had reacted to his embrace, and now he was making clear that he hadn't meant anything by returning Marth's hug. He had just been being nice.

"W-well…" Marth stammered. Why did he feel so disappointed? He'd got it wrong, that was all. He'd still wanted to tell Ike he was gay before last night. But secretly, he'd hoped so much…

Ike was looking away, his expression blank. He looked like he wanted to walk away again. Marth felt inclined to let him go. He didn't want to tell him anymore. There was no reason to fuss about him being the first to know, as Elisse already did. As for it being the Christmas party, it was only a false deadline…

"Did you finish the mince pies?" Ike asked.

"Huh? Oh – yes. Say thanks to your mum," Marth mumbled. He was lost as to what to say now. As he lingered, trying to save the conversation, Ike turned and slowly headed back towards the stairs, about to leave him again. But as he reached top of the stairs he seemed to stall, and turned back towards Marth. Their eyes met, and Ike looked quickly away. He half-turned back towards the stairs, his right foot moving out to take the first step down, but again he hesitated, somehow torn.

"We've…been close friends a while, haven't we?" he asked in an odd tone.

"Yes," Marth replied, confused.

Ike shifted where he stood, as if he didn't know how to go on.

"And that's…fine," he added oddly.

"Yes," Marth said again. Was Ike going to say that he'd noticed Marth's attention towards him? That he'd noticed the nature of Marth's attention? Ike went quiet, as if he might be leaving it there. Marth felt like crying. It was fine to be friends, but nothing more…

"But I wanted you to know…" Ike started.

Marth couldn't meet his eye. He didn't want to hear it…

"I'm gay," Ike finished.

Marth's eyes widened. "What?"

Ike's expression darkened, as if he had retreated into himself. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak, then changed his mind and disappeared downstairs.

Marth's heart began to beat furiously inside his chest like an electrocuted metronome.

"Wait," he mouthed breathless. And then stronger, "WAIT!"

He rushed after Ike, turning down the stairs and dashing into the room. It seemed Ike had vanished into the crowd.

"Ike!"

There was no response. No, Ike couldn't just leave like this – what was he thinking? He had to talk to him!

"IKE!" He yelled louder, drawing the attention of several people and holding it as he pushed past them, scanning around fervently.

"IKE! IKE!"

Finally he caught sight of him.

"IKE!"

Ike was ignoring him, but soon he was too close for Ike to pretend he wasn't there.

"IKE!"

Almost everyone was looking at him now. Ike slowly turned around, his expression dark and guarded.

"Are you really gay?"

Colour rose in Ike's cheeks and his eyes flicked first to the left and then the right of Marth. Marth, following his gaze, saw Link and MetaKnight respectively, but paid them no attention. Right now, Ike was the only person that mattered. Ike bit his lip and half-smiled self-deprecatingly, as if unable to believe he was going to answer this.

"Yes," he said in a low voice.

It was Marth's turn to blush. "Me too."

The words seemed to have struck Ike a physical blow. Shocked, doubtful, relieved – each expression flicked over his face in quick succession, conflicting. They watched each other, neither knowing how to continue. The rest of the room watched them. Slowly Ike's previous guardedness seemed to slip away; his posture changed subtly to become more attentive.

"You…"

Marth managed a weak smile.

"I thought…"

"Does this mean…" Marth whispered, barely audible.

Suddenly, shakily, Ike grinned. "There's no one else."

A hot shiver ran through him. "Ike…" With a sudden tremble in his legs he stumbled the few steps over to Ike, seized him around the neck and kissed him. Ike kissed him back passionately, blissfully.

In some part of his mind Marth was aware of the sound of MetaKnight clapping.