With the holidays in full swing it was rare for Eliot to get off early. Not that he was complaining. There were more customers and pretty good tips. He popped into the liquor store and picked up a couple bottles of wine before going to pick up the pizza. It smelled amazing and he was hungry. He was looking forward to putting the tree up and getting the cottage more festive and cozy for Christmas.
"I'm home!" Eliot called out as he made his way to the kitchen where he found Quentin. He sat everything on the counter then walked over and kissed him. "Hey, beautiful, how was your day?" He took off his coat and laid over a chair. Going to the cabinet he took down a couple of plates. "What do you want to drink? I'm starving and ready to eat then get to work on the tree," he smiled.
Quentin had indeed gotten off work and home before Eliot so he took some time to clean up a bit before he got the boxes of decorations out. He went through them to make sure none were broken or missing the hook or anything. He made sure the lights were all working and was sitting at the kitchen table untangling them when Eliot walked into the room.
He looked up and smiled against the kiss before shifting to his knees like a good boy. He waited for Eliot to acknowledge him before standing up to get the bottle of wine opened. "I was thinking wine would be good." Once he had it opened he left it on the counter then carried the mostly untangled lights out to the living room. He walked back in and looked at the pizza. "My day was good. Pretty calm, even if we seem to have lost a lot of folks recently."
Eliot would never tire of seeing Quentin kneel. He softly caressed his cheek before saying he could get up. "Wine sounds divine." Taking down two glasses he sat them beside the wine bottle then got out some napkins. "Yes, I know. The last disappearance list was a big one." Right in the middle of the holidays. He felt bad for all who lost someone. Especially Lan who had lost so many.
He didn't want to think about disappearance notifications though. He opened the pizza box and added a few slices to his plate. "I'm glad you had a good day. The city is definitely bustling more with the holidays. I'll have to make us some Hot Toddy's one night while we enjoy the fireplace. Maybe we can go skating one day."
Quentin smiled and nuzzled against Eliot's hand a moment before he moved to get to his feet. It had become a habit and it always helped him feel calm. He couldn't explain why, he just did. He poured them each a glass of wine then carried them over to the table. He moved to the box get himself a couple slices before walking back over to the table.
He just nodded at the mention of the list. He didn't really know anyone on it other than in passing. It had to be hard. Getting to know someone then having them disappear like that. "What about you? Super busy means good tips right?" At least that's how it should work. Especially when people could be extra cranky at the holidays. He had a couple bites then smiled. "Ice skating, then back here for cocoa in front of the fire place?"
Eliot took his plate and wine over to the table and sat beside Quentin. He took a drink of the wine and nodded. "I had a pretty good day. Busy, but such is the case this time of year. Yes, good tips which means I get to spoil my boy a little more." He leaned over and nuzzled against Quentin pressing a kiss to his neck.
Straightening up he started in on his pizza. "Sounds great to me. The ice rink in the city has extended hours with the holiday. Maybe we can go on Sunday if we feel up to it." They had no in stone plans so it shouldn't be a problem unless they didn't feel like going. Sometimes lazy days were a beautiful thing.
As he started on his second slice Eliot remembered something he wanted to mention to Quentin. "I told my co-workers and boss I'd make some cookies for everyone. Would you want to help me with that?"
Quentin leaned his head to meet that nuzzle. "Your boy likes being spoiled." He needed to find something special he could do for Eliot to spoil him right back. He deserved it.
He took a sip then started on his pizza. Sauce was good, just the right amount of cheese. It wasn't as good as his favourite place, but nothing ever really was. He thought a moment then nodded. "Sunday sounds good." Then again lazy Sunday mornings also sounded good. They could play it by ear.
"Of course. What kinds do you want to make?" Yes, he said kinds. Plural. One simply never made only a single variety of cookie at the holidays.
"Good, because I like spoiling you," he smiled. He couldn't help it. Eliot liked making Quentin happy, spoiling him and trying to make life easier if he could. He took a few more bites of pizza followed by more wine. "Then we have plans for Sunday, my dear." The more he thought about the more the idea of gliding around on ice like he was flying sounded perfect.
"Well, we definitely have to make some sugar cookies and ice them. That in itself can take a long ass time. I'll make that dough ahead of time and we can make those first. One of my personal favorites Hershey's peanut butter kiss cookies bka Peanut butter blossoms. Oatmeal, chocolate crinkle cookies, pecan snowball cookies, Italian Christmas cookies, peanut brittle and yes, there will be peanut butter fudge because you can't do holiday baking without making it. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I'm a whore for peanut butter." He smirked then chuckled. Quentin knew of his love for peanut butter and chocolate.
He finished off his pizza then drained his wine glass. "Are you ready to get going on the tree?"
Quentin nodded and finished off his first slice. He continued eating as he listened to the list of things Eliot wanted to make and then laughed softly. "When did you say you'd have them done by? That's a lot of baking." Not that he was complaining mind you. He was looking forward to this particular adventure. "Do you have all the recipes you need already or should we look some up after we get the tree finished?"
He finished off his wine then eyed his last half slice. "Almost." He smiled then finished off the last few bites. He carried their empty plates and glasses to the sink and quickly washed them before turning back to Eliot. "OK. now I'm ready." He leaned up to steal a quick kiss then made his way into the living room where he had the ornaments and tree ready to go up.
"Oh, I'm not going to make all those," he laughed. "That would take forever." As much as he liked cooking he didn't have the time to make so many different kind. "I'll pick three, maybe four to make and get some cute containers to put them in for everyone. I didn't say when I'd have them done, but I'd like to get them to them by the end of next week. I'll make the sugar cookie dough this weekend and make sure I have everything to start making them next week."
Eliot put away the leftover pizza away. "Thanks for cleaning up, beautiful. Come on, lets get started on the tree." He took Quentin's hand giving it a squeeze as they walked out into the living room where all the boxes were. "Lets do this!" He grinned and opened the box with the tree and took it out. Once it was put together. "Okay, this part is very important. We have to fluff the tree making sure it's nice and fluffy with no bald spots." He chuckled and began to fluff out the branches. "Wait! We need some music." He went to the TV and turned it on to the crackling fireplace with Christmas music. "There. Better." He smiled at Quentin then went back to fluffing the tree.
Quentin definitely looked relieved at the greatly reduced number of baked goods. "Sounds good. We can make enough for me to take some to the office too maybe." Was Christmas really only a few weeks away already? Where did the time go?
"You're welcome, sir." He smiled over at him as they made their way to the boxes. He helped get the tree put together and wondered why he hadn't suggested a real tree. Then he remembered all the mess and clean up that came along with real trees. Just not worth it. Maybe he'd get a wreath with fresh branches to have the smell around, but less mess. "I promise not to sing along" He laughed and set about helping fluff out the tree branches. Of course he only got through one song before he started to sing along without realizing it. "I am almost done with my Christmas shopping. Finally. "
"Of course we can make some for you to take to the office. Is there a specific cookie or cookies you want us to make for them?" He was up for anything really.
"What fun is it if you don't sing along?" Eliot smiled as he went back to fluffing. Besides who could resist? At some point everyone sang along. He peeked around the tree to look at Quentin when he began singing and grinned to himself. He sang along as well. "Feels good to get it done early, doesn't it?" This may have been the earliest Eliot had ever finished his shopping and he loved the freed up time. "There. All nice and fluffy. You look lovely darling, but we need to add some lights and get you more dolled up with ornaments." He chuckled and winked at Quentin.
"Alright, lets get these lights on." He picked up a strand of lights and together they began weaving them around the tree. "I want to get some poinsettias. I'll have to magic them up so the girls don't chew on them."
Quentin thought about it a moment. "I was thinking chocolate chip. It's a classic for a reason. And maybe you can just make enough sugar cookie dough to for my office too?" Two types should be enough.
"But I can't really sing." Which wasn't entirely accurate. He just didn't think that he sounded very good when he sang. That only ever stopped him for so long. Eventually he couldn't help it. They were just so catchy! "I think this might be the first time I was done before the twenty-third." Though he'd hate to admit how many times he was rushing to get things done and wrapped on Christmas Eve.
He laughed and stepped back away from the tree to get a better look at it. "Looks good." He turned to where he'd put the lights and held them out to Eliot. "Alright. Start at the top?"
"Of course chocolate chip is a classic. And I'll make plenty of sugar cookie to make some for your work, my work and some here at home." Eliot was looking forward to making all the cookies and bustling around the kitchen while listening to Christmas music.
"You're singing is fine. Don't fuss about it." It was about having fun and enjoying their time together. "I still have to wrap mine, but I plan on doing that sometime this weekend. No peeking into my room when I'm doing that!" He laughed, teasing Quentin.
"Yes, the top." Together they wound three strands of lights around the tree to make it glow colorfully. "I love it!" He went to pull over the boxes of ornaments. "Hang them at will! Except this one..." He walked over to the bar and took a bag from beneath it. It was the 'Our First Christmas' ornament they had bought when out shopping a few weeks ago. It had a couple holding hands, standing beside a Christmas tree and it said our first Christmas 2022. Eliot had been surprised to find gay couple ornaments, but given Vallo's openness he probably shouldn't have been. "You can hang it," he smiled lovingly. "It needs to be right in front."
"Oh we have to have enough for the house. Just not too many. I'll just eat cookies all day every day if you made enough of them." He was mostly kidding. He might do it for a day or two but after that he would definitely be bored of cookies and want something with more substance.
"No peaking in my closet either, sir." He tried to give him a stern look but he couldn't manage it for more than a second or two. "You'll have to wait to shake the wrapped boxes like you know I will." He stepped over and leaned up to steal a quick kiss before they got started on the lights.
It was so much easier with someone who was really tall around to reach the top branches. Once it was lit he stepped back again then eyed it as Eliot collected the ornaments. Quentin smiled and took the ornament carefully. He didn't want to break it like he broke so many things. After eyeing the tree a moment he walked over and put it so that it was more or less in the very center of the side that people would see most when they were in the living room. "Does this spot look good?"
"If you ate them all day everyday you'd get a big belly like Santa!" Eliot chuckled but knew that wouldn't happen. Even with the leftover and sale Halloween candy they were both over it in about three days.
"You better put a hell of a magic ward on your closet then. Now that I know where they are..." He smirked then just grinned. He wouldn't really peek. Probably. "Hey, no shaking boxes allowed." He gave Quentin a look, but his lips were curving into a smile. "Unless I'm not here to see it."
"It's perfect." He came up behind Quentin and slid his arms around him, nuzzling his neck. "I'm so glad you're here." He had thought he would be spending this holiday alone. "Lets get the rest these put on." They began placing them on the tree with Eliot being sure to get the backside. He sang a little louder with the Christmas music and even danced around the tree a little.
"Would you still love me if I Got fat?" Not that he planned on it. Or even wanted to. But it was just the first thing that came to mind for some reason.
Quentin laughed and shook his head. "You're horrible!" He was of course teasing, but he was also going to put a ward on his closet so Eliot couldn't get in so easily. Though he did figure the man would figure a way around it if he really wanted to. "I promise no shaking unless you're at work."
He grinned and leaned back into the embrace. He brought his hands up to lace their fingers together. I'm glad I'm here too. With you." He shifted to sneak another quick kiss to his neck then pulled away to get one of the boxes of ornaments for himself. He started putting them on the tree, careful not to overload any one spot.
Once they got all the ornaments on the tree he collected the boxes together then stood back to look at it. "I love it."
"I would love you if you got as big as the house." He knew he'd always love Quentin no matter. Even if he somehow hurt him in the worst way possible he'd love him deep in his heart and soul.
"Yet you still love me. Besides this time of year brings out a bit of the kid in all of us. I won't really peek. I might see if I can get through your ward, but I won't peek. Promise." And he meant it. He gave Quentin's hands a squeeze when he laced their fingers. It was a nice little moment. "Me too, beautiful." He had no idea how very happy he was to have him there with him. Eliot pulled Quentin back to him after the quick kiss for a bit of a longer kiss. Those short kisses weren't cutting it.
They went back to hanging the ornaments and in no time they were finished. He stood back and smiled. "It's beautiful. I love it. We done good," he smiled. "Now it's time to turn off all the lights and cuddle by just the light of the tree." He went to turn out the lights then pulled Quentin over to the couch.
"Good to know. Not that I plan on that or anything." He winked. He honestly knew the answer as soon as he'd asked the question, but it was still nice to hear it. "And I will love you forever. No matter what happens." He knew that to be true in his soul. He'd known it since he'd gotten his memories from Old Fillory back.
"That's the best part about the holidays. Feeling like a kid again." He knew he'd have to work out an extra strong ward. Give Eliot a real proper challenge. A real proper kiss always made him want more, but they had to finish the tree.
Quentin stepped back and wrapped his arm around Eliot's waist as they just admired the tree. He let himself be led to the couch then settled in against his side. He couldn't stop looking at that one special ornament. Our First Christmas. First of many he hoped.