Chapter Nine
Aiden
The smell of chocolate and baked goods drifted to his nose as the feel of soft lips and tickly whiskers stimulated his neck. Aiden slowly blinked his eyes open to the soft, early morning light.
“Good morning, sweet boy.” Daddy’s voice was still sleep roughened sending delicious goosebumps along Aiden’s skin. He was so focused on having his Daddy’s hands on him, warmth and love wrapping around him, that it took a moment for Aiden to remember what day it was.
Christmas!
Aiden’s excited gasp must have told his Daddy what he was thinking, because Rocky chuckled and pulled away slightly. “Ready to see if Santa came?”
Was he ready? Of course! It was Christmas!
Aiden sat up so quickly that he gave himself a headrush and probably a concussion if Daddy hadn’t been so quick to move, avoiding their skulls colliding.
“It’s Christmas!” Aiden finally found his voice and when he did it was much louder and more excited than he’d anticipated, making a blush spread across his cheeks.
Daddy’s clear joy over his excitement kept him from being completely embarrassed.
Still, he hadn’t expected to be so thoroughly thrown into the spirit of the day immediately upon waking up.
He guessed he shouldn’t be completely surprised. This was, after all, the first Christmas he’d be spending with someone else. Someone who encompassed the peace, warmth and unconditional love he’d always associated with the holiday.
Rocky stood and took his hand, helping him from the bed as he confirmed, “Yep, it's Christmas, baby. Let’s go see what we find.”
The twinkle in Daddy’s eyes told Aiden he already knew what they’d find.
That didn’t stop him from acting just as surprised as Aiden felt when they walked into the living room area of the suite and saw the tree Aiden had crafted standing on a table in the center of the room surrounded by a mound of gifts that Aiden’s Little heart squealed over.
Thoughts of how they’d get everything home tried to intrude on the pureness of the moment but Aiden pushed those concerns off.
He no longer needed to worry about things like that, because he knew in his heart that Daddy already had that figured out.
Instead of worrying, Aiden rushed to the tree and glanced at all the packages wrapped in colorful packaging, sparkling bows catching the light. His body trembled with the effort it took not to dive straight into the pile of gifts and begin ripping paper from them.
Aiden took a step back and sank onto the chair there, letting out an awed sigh. “I’ve never seen anything so magnificent.” It was true, he’d never experienced the feeling of wonder and joy this sight invoked in him. This...this was what everyone talked about when they spoke of the joy of Christmas.
Aiden had always found a quiet peace on Christmas, had always appreciated the holiday, but he’d never truly understood the wistful smiles, the softness and reverence that would paint the features of people reminiscing on seasons past. Because he’d never experienced it.
Until now. It truly didn’t matter if every box was empty and only for show, because he’d just found something even more precious than any material gift could ever be.
He didn’t realize he’d begun to cry until Daddy knelt before him, wiping his tears. Daddy didn’t speak, just let Aiden process, and Aiden’s tears flowed a bit more freely as gratitude for how well his Daddy understood him mixed with the wonder of his first real Christmas morning.
“Thank you, Daddy.” He whispered, his voice cracking under the sheer strength of his emotions. His arms wrapped around Daddy’s neck and clung to him as he lifted Aiden up, sat in the chair and placed Aiden on his lap.
“Anything for you, baby.” Rocky kissed the top of Aiden’s head and just held him as he processed everything he was feeling.
A while later, after Aiden had cried and snuggled, then eaten a breakfast of pastries and hot chocolate, after Rocky had sat back and given Aiden free reign to work his way through the gifts under the tree, with the sun high in the sky, Rocky’s eyes twinkled with merriment that could have rivaled old Saint Nick, himself.
“It’s a good thing we don’t have any pressing plans today. We’d never make it.” Rocky’s tone was laced with the kind of teasing that Aiden loved. The kind that was fond and enchanted rather than harsh and critical. He’d come to recognize the difference since becoming Rocky’s.
Aiden had once thought himself too weird and different to be loved.
Rocky had told him once that he loved Aiden because of his differences, not in spite of them.
Aiden hadn’t known if he could trust those words at the time, but Rocky had proven everyday since that the statement was one hundred percent honest.
Aiden carefully worked the scotch tape free of the paper beneath it. He took his time and focused on his task. He didn’t want to chance ripping the beautiful paper beneath. Despite his early thought that he’d love to tear into the presents he’d discovered himself incapable of such carnage.
He’d quickly discovered that his Daddy had in fact worked out the best way to give so many gifts while traveling.
All of the prettily wrapped boxes had contained a single photograph.
Each picture was different depicting a new toy, game, electronic, or other item placed in its new home in the playroom his Daddy had made him.
He couldn’t wait to begin the scavenger hunt in his room at home.
The gift he opened now though, was different.
It wasn’t practically weightless and as he moved to methodically reveal its contents there was a thunk that hinted at the item inside.
The tag Aiden had removed a few moments ago hadn’t read From: Daddy as the other presents he’d opened had.
This one had said From: Santa (It’s not exactly what you asked for but maybe it can help you get it).
Curiosity was a vicious beast clawing at him to hurry up and get the present open.
He’d known sitting on Santa’s lap that Santa couldn’t give him what he wanted.
Only Daddy could do that. But asking the big man for help had seemed like a good way to hedge his bets and tip the odds in his favor.
He’d never really expected anything to come of it though.
He shifted the box as he found, and worked off, a new piece of tape.
The thought of the item inside increased his impatience until his world seemed to rock on its access.
Why couldn’t he be like a normal person and just rip the paper.
It wasn’t like the world would end if he did.
But even as he thought it, he knew that would never happen.
Still, he worked his fingers faster, removing the last strip of tape and carefully, finally, removing the paper to reveal a plain brown box.
Only one strip of tape stood in the way of him and whatever it was inside the box.
With fingers that shook slightly in excitement he removed the tap, lifted the flaps of the box and. ..burst into loud, shocked laughter.
Santa, you naughty devil you!
Rocky
Aiden’s joyous laughter filled the room, surrounding him and settling something in his soul.
It had practically taken a Christmas miracle to get the information from Santa but the sound of Aiden’s laughter and the thought of finally giving Aiden the thing he’d been begging for made every bit of research, effort and bribery worth it.
Rocky hadn’t really meant to keep Aiden from what he wanted. He just got caught up in giving. Sometimes, he forgot that receiving could be just as much of a gift for Aiden. This was his attempt to do better. He wanted to make sure that Aiden never wanted for anything.
Aiden lifted the tube from the box, and showed it just as he had for every present before. “Look, Daddy! My favorite flavor!”
Playing it up to the max, Rocky pasted a shocked expression on his face. “That was from Santa?”
Aiden giggled and nodded his head, looking for all the world like an excited kid at Christmas.
One holding up a very adult bottle of cherry flavored lube.
As the irony hit Rocky he burst into his own fit of laughter.
His cheeks tingled, his abs sore with the intensity of the workout his laughter was giving them.
Maybe he’d miscalculated just a bit, but he knew he’d never regret this moment. It was a moment he’d never forget.
The day continued in the same fashion, silly moments that painted the day in joy, sweet moments that brought the day a sort of reverent innocence, that one that Christmas should bring everyone, and intimate moments that filled the air with the softness and soul-deep peace that comes from love.
Real love. The kind meant to last a lifetime and beyond.
They enjoyed a catered dinner of Ribeye roast, potatoes, and a corn casserole that was surprisingly delicious. Aiden played with the toys that were in the few boxes Rocky had wrapped and hidden since arriving.
Aiden had gifted Rocky with a paper saying that he’d gotten them both a new expansion for their favorite game and a promise of playtime with him when they got home.
They’d had a Christmas movie marathon with popcorn, Christmas cookies, and hot chocolate and had made love, right there on the floor beneath their LEGO tree.
It had surprised Rocky when Aiden had made no move whatsoever to get his Christmas wish, but he figured they’d both been caught up in the intimacy and sweetness of the moment.
That night, as Aiden had placed all his new gifts in their temporary homes, he’d taken Santa’s gift and placed it in a spot of honor in the center of the nightstand.
They’d snuggled down, literally, into the blankets holding each other tightly, as if they would never let go.
As Rocky fell into a deep sleep, his last thought was that he wouldn’t.
No matter what, he’d never let go of Aiden.
The next day brought a renewal of Rocky’s plan to show Aiden everything he could possibly want to see in their time in New York.
He’d scheduled sight seeing for every day leading up to New Year’s Eve.
He was careful to ensure that he planned in a way most likely to keep Aiden in a good mental place and allow him to enjoy the time they spent there instead of being anxious.
He wanted to show Aiden that making accommodations for limitations didn’t mean missing out.
He took Aiden to FAO Schwartz where he marveled at the massive building filled with endless toys.
They went to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, explored another section of Times Square, and one evening, Rocky took Aiden to a Broadway musical production of a favored childhood movie.
He’d have to find something special to do for Collin.
His friend had managed to score those tickets when Rocky hadn’t been successful.
Aiden’s excited chatter as they went to dinner after meant everything to Rocky and he’d certainly be doing something special for the friend who’d helped make it possible.
They’d gone to the memorial at the site of the Twin Towers and had both cried, mourning those who were lost and what could have been. To lighten the mood after, he took Aiden to a famous wax museum where they’d taken silly pictures with the wax statues.
They’d gone to Rockefeller Center, and the Empire State Building.
Rocky had packed as much as he could without overwhelming Aiden into their time in the city and they’d made memories that would last a lifetime.
Rocky would forever be grateful for having been able to give Aiden this trip.
He couldn’t imagine missing out of the pure wonder that was Aiden in his dream destination.