A/N: Oop! So here it is, final part and all. I'm aware it's all kinda... jumpy... but it's sorta supposed to be. Anyway, hope you enjoy, and thanks for the reviews so far :)
Twelve Years of Christmas
Part 3: Years 9-12
Two years after their near break-up and after finishing college, Yamato and Taichi had an apartment of their own and were more than happy with the way things were. The apartment wasn't far from each of their parents' houses and they'd decided to spend that Christmas with their families rather than at their own house, basically just for tradition.
It was well acknowledged by then that Christmas was a rather important time for Taichi and Yamato's relationship, holding some of the most pivotal moments known to them. This Christmas however, could possibly be the most pivotal yet.
Taichi sat quiet and nervous in the front room of his parents' house. The multicoloured lights on the Christmas tree twinkled and flashed in the darkness, casting a colourful glow across the ceiling and floor. From the CD player in the corner, playing at just the right volume was a CD Taichi had made for Yamato consisting of all of the blonde's favourite romantic songs. There were a few flickering, dancing candles strewn around the room, adding to the warm, glowing effect. The dining table opposite the tree had been set up with a Christmas wreath in the middle, a bottle and two glasses of red wine and two places set opposite each other. Taichi sat in front of the tree in his usual present opening position wearing a red shirt and a pair of black trousers - possibly the most sophisticated outfit he'd worn to that day - and was clutching a small black box.
There was a gentle knock at the front room before Hikari slid in and smiled at her older brother.
"You all ready?"
Taichi looked up at her, the glow of the Christmas decorations and candlelight reflected in his eyes as he nodded.
"Nervous?"
He laughed gently, "A bit, even though I know I shouldn't be,"
She grinned, striding towards the brunette and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I can't believe you're actually gonna do this!"
"You know what? Me neither!" Taichi shook his head, hugging his sister back, "But you know what else? There's nothing I want more,"
"Good," She pulled away from Taichi and wiped the trace of a tear from her eye.
She was about to speak again when there was a knock at the front door. Taichi inhaled sharply, excitement and nerves coursing through his veins.
"I'll go get that," She whispered, "Me and mum'll get your meal ready in the next half hour or so," And she slid out without another word.
Taichi, heart beating in his ears, listened intently as Hikari opened the door to his boyfriend.
"Hey Matt, Merry Christmas,"
"You too Kari,"
Taichi could hear shuffling as Yamato removed his shoes and coat.
"Thanks. Taichi's in the front room. Go on through," Hikari said, barely keeping her excitement contained, then skipping off.
As Yamato approached the front room door, Taichi shuffled into a better position, keeping his eyes transfixed on the door as it slowly swung open.
"Merry Christma- Taichi? What's all this?" Yamato stared wide-eyed around the abnormally decorated room.
"Yamato," Taichi grabbed the boy's hand as the blonde strode towards him and stopped in front of him, "I've known you practically my entire life and loved you just about as long and even though we've hit down points, that's never changed. You're not only the most beautiful person in my life, Yamato, I'd bet good money that you're the most beautiful person in the world, inside and out. I've never been with anyone else, and I never ever want to be with anyone else. Put quite simply I can't imagine me without you. Tell me you feel the same, Yamato, and marry me?"
There was a brief silence as Yamato took in everything Taichi had said, then his eyes lit up and a huge grin spread across his face.
"Of course!" He beamed.
"Really?" Taichi jumped up, grinning widely, heart still pounding.
"Oh my god, yes!" Yamato said, wrapping his arms around his now fiancé.
"Oh wait, I forgot something," Taichi realised he was still holding the little black box in his hand, so he pulled back from Yamato and got back down on one knee. He opened the little box to reveal a thick silver ring, with some form of Celtic design carved into it, and small blue diamonds encrusted every so often.
"Oh, wow," Yamato murmured, completely fazed by the beauty of the ring.
Grinning madly, Taichi pulled the ring out of the box and slipped it onto Yamato's willing finger.
---
365 DAYS LATER
Yamato rolled over, waking up properly to see the sleeping form of his husband lying next to him. He grinned inwardly at the prospect of finally being able to actually call Taichi his husband. They'd been officially married for three days now, feeling it only natural to have the ceremony around Christmas time. Now they were on their honeymoon, spending the first week in Switzerland and the second in Paris.
The wedding itself had been magical; they'd held it outdoors in the ruins of an old Castle decorated with candles and fairy lights. It had been sophisticated, but not too much so and they'd had just the right number of guests - not so many they didn't get a chance to properly talk to everyone, but not so few that it felt secluded. They'd both been in crisp black and white suits - definitely the most refined thing Taichi had ever worn. To top off the wonder and romance of it all, it had even snowed lightly on them.
For both Taichi and Yamato though, the best part of it had been being able to stand in front of everyone they held dear and swear their love for each other, staring into each other's eyes and boldly stating the words 'I do', each knowing the other truly meant it and that they'd be together forever - and then sealing it all with a kiss.
The memories still sent overwhelming tingles through Yamato's body, which were only duplicated as Taichi woke up and looked him straight in the eye.
"Mmm, g'morning Mr. Yagami-Ishida," The brunette grinned, rubbing Matt's nose with his own. They'd chosen the name Yagami-Ishida for both of them, deciding it was fairer than just choosing one, and that it sounded slightly better than Ishida-Yagami.
"Mmm, Merry Christmas beautiful," Yamato said, pressing a gentle kiss to the tip of Taichi's nose.
"And you," Taichi returned the favour of the nose-kiss, "So what d'ya want to do today?"
"It's up to you," Yamato shrugged, snuggling into Taichi's body for warmth.
"Presents?!" Taichi beamed, "And then we could always, oh, I don't know, stay in bed all day?"
"Hmm, I'm down with that," Yamato smirked, "As long as you go and get the presents.
"Hm fine," Taichi rolled out of bed.
"Bring over the bag that's in the corner,"
-
And that's how they spent their Christmas day, lying in bed, opening each other's presents, which consisted of CDs, DVDs, books and all sorts, and lying in bed watching some TV, along with sharing plenty of kisses and more.
---
The following Christmas Eve, at a dinner party with all of their friends, Sora announced that she and her then fiancé Jyou were due a baby early that Summer. Whilst Mimi squealed and wrapped her arms around her best friend, and her husband Koushiro congratulated Jyou with an enthusiastic handshake, Taichi watched as Yamato inwardly sighed, before congratulating the couple himself.
Half an hour or so later, when Yamato excused himself to the bathroom, Taichi followed suit.
"You alright Matt?" Taichi asked, cornering his husband by the sinks.
"Fine," Yamato sighed completely unconvincingly.
"Hey, don't be silly. What's wrong?" Taichi squeezed his husband's arm encouragingly.
"Well, I mean… I want kids y'know? Not right now… but… I dunno it just hit home that Sora and Jyou and Mimi and Koush can have them so easily… and we can't," He sighed again.
"We can always try to adopt?" Taichi suggested, drawing his husband into his arms.
"You think they'd let us?"
"Yeah… I mean its not the first time. How about we get onto looking into it in the New Year?"
"Really?"
"Why not?"
"Okay, let's do it," Yamato grinned.
As soon as the festive season was over, they set about looking into adoption agencies and being interviewed.
--
FIVE YEARS LATER
Since they'd known each other, Taichi and Yamato had shared some simply wonderful Christmases, but this was by far the most perfect yet.
The happily married couple slept softly, as snow drifted down past the window of their dark bedroom. The red digital alarm clock on the bedside table flashed from 5:32 to 5:33. Everything in the house was silent, or was until Yamato and Taichi's sleep was rudely interrupted by the flickering on of the bedroom light and a five year old boy darted in, jumping onto Yamato and Taichi's bed.
"He's been! He's been!" The boy more commonly known as Yoshio shouted, clutching a full stocking.
Yamato and Taichi simultaneously rolled over and set up, Yamato yawning widely before turning to his son and grinning.
"He has? Well let's see then,"
Yoshio scrambled up the bed and sat himself between Yamato and Taichi, carefully pouring his stocking out on to the bed in front of him. Yamato and Taichi shared knowing, adoring glances as Yoshio opened the small stocking fillers, the magic of Christmas caught in his eyes.
He'd been with them for three years now, after the authorities had finally allowed them to adopt, and they couldn't love him more if they tried.
"Shall we go see if he's left anything downstairs as well?" Taichi suggested, once Yoshio had finished opening everything from his stocking.
"Yes!" Yoshio beamed, jumping up out of the bed.
"Wait for us now," Yamato warned, standing up and pulling his and Taichi's dressing gowns from the back of the bedroom door. They pulled them on then hurried downstairs and into the main room. In front of the Christmas tree a large sack of presents was waiting for Yoshio. On the dining table, where Yoshio, Yamato and Taichi had left a plate of mince pies and a full glass of milk the night before, there was now a plate covered in crumbs and a glass with a little trace of milk at the bottom.
"He's been here too!" Yoshio bounced over to the large sack.
"Hey now, wait a minute before you open them," said Taichi, "I'll go and make drinks for us all and bring in the camera,"
Yamato took a seat cross-legged near Yoshio and his presents, leaving a space next to him for Taichi, who came in five minutes later with a glass of milk for Yoshio and coffees for Yamato and himself. He passed Yamato his and kissed his cheek softly, whispering 'Merry Christmas baby' into his ear before turning back to Yoshio.
"Ready to open your presents now?"
Yoshio grinned, and without another word went delving into the sack, pulling out parcels and presents of all shapes and sizes. Taichi couldn't help but be reminded of himself as the five year old tore open the wrapping, glancing at the presents them stacking them in a pile to his left, ready to peruse them properly later.
The rest of the day went on just as smoothly, just as perfectly. At about 11.30 Yamato started preparing lunch and Taichi tried to help, but typically just ended up getting in the way, so instead sat and watched, passing Yamato ingredients every so often whilst Yoshio sat at the kitchen table playing with his new action figures, most of which had been given to him by his parents, though several of which he'd received from his best friend Teru.
After finishing cooking everything, but whilst it was still in the oven, Taichi and Yamato joined Yoshio at the table.
"You know what?" Taichi sighed happily, leaning back with a huge grin on his face, "This is all so perfect,"
"It is, isn't it?" Yamato smiled.
"Dad?" Yoshio piped up.
"What is it son?"
"Can we go see Teru today?"
-The End-
So there we go. The end. Reviews make me feel fuzzy inside.
And also:
Merry Christmas! Hope y'all have a good one and Santa's a kind lady to you. :) xxx
-- Even Gods Dream, Christmas Eve 2007