A few nights before Christmas found Dorian attempting to light a fire in the fireplace and Reina off to find blankets. A snowstorm had rolled in, knocking out the power and forcing them to light candles and find other means of warmth. By the time he got a fire roaring, Reina had gone and gotten the comforter from his bed. She joined him on the floor after he scooted back, sitting down in between his legs as he wrapped the blanket and his arms around her. Gizmo and Felix both curled up on the edges of the blanket that they could find, contently snoozing and warm.
"What a way to spend a birthday," Dorian groaned, resting his chin on Reina's head.
"I would say at least it wasn't raining, but you like the rain, don't you?" she asked.
"Love the rain," he agreed. "Why do you think I didn't open my umbrella for our first kiss? There was no way in hell it wasn't going to start raining when we did...." She chuckled and shook her head. They fell into silence again, trying to enjoy the warmth of the fire and each other. "Well...I suppose there's still something we could do instead of waiting for the cold embrace of death...." He opened one side of the blanket, leaning over towards the small pile of gifts beneath the tree. Both his parents and Reina's mom had sent their gifts about a week ago with the usual chiding of to not open until Christmas Eve.
"We're not going to open those now," Reina stated, flatly. Dorian didn't answer but instead pulled back a small box wrapped in blue-striped paper with Reina's name on it.
"Most people open one on Christmas Eve, but I think that this is special enough to give you now...." She took the box from him as he wrapped the covers back around them, less tightly. "I considered waiting until your birthday, but...thought better of it...."
"What is it?" she asked, shaking the box and listening to the quiet rattling. He watched as she tore off the wrapping to reveal a necklace. A translucent blue crystal sat in a ring on a long chain. It was obvious that it wasn't really an expensive necklace, but it still looked wonderful. "Dorian...."
"I got it at the aquarium," he explained. "If I'd known how the night would turn out, I wouldn't have even considered it as a birthday present. Do you like it?"
"It's beautiful Dorian," Reina assured, setting the box in her lap and moving her hair up. "Would you do the honors?"
"Certainly...." He pulled the necklace from its box and clipped it around her neck. "How's that?"
"Perfect," she answered. She snuggled back into him as he tightened his hold around her waist. "I don't have anything for you...well...not to unwrap right now, anyway." Her cheeky grin was more than enough for him.
"Damn," he answered in mock sadness. "Well...I guess I'll just have to settle for this...." With that, and a modest amount of struggling, Dorian reached his arm over both of them with a sprig of mistletoe in his hand.
"Where were you keeping that?"
"Wouldn't you like to know, kitten," Dorian smiled. "I kept it nearby in the dark...thought it'd be nice and romantic by the fire."
"You're so cheesy," she smiled before turning her head to kiss him. "But it's still really sweet...." She got comfortable back into his arms, gently leaning on him as he held her close.
Dorian still wasn't quite sure how he found himself in this situation, but he honestly didn't really care. He knew that he loved Reina after their bonding through their shared interests, and was even happier that she returned the feelings. And maybe he was a little too quick and getting into this relationship after what had happened with his previous one, but he was hell bent on being a good boyfriend to Reina. After all...he'd had his heart strings tugged on before and no intention of causing someone else that pain....
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