Chapter Text
Rhys awoke, utterly sated and enveloped in warmth. It was dark when he opened his eyes, despite the clock telling him it was eight. He yawned, smiling as he did so. Rolling over, he was surprised to not find Jack lying beside him. He stroked a hand across the empty space. It was ever so slightly warm.
“Jack?” he croaked into the apartment. Silence. It was then that Rhys noticed the piece of paper on the nightstand.
Hey babe, I had to go. It’s Christmas Day! Can’t miss starting it without my Angel. We’re having Christmas at her apartment this year. Have a great day with your family, last night was a blast. I’ll see you soon.
Oh, and Merry Christmas, Rhysie.
J
P.S. You looked damn gorgeous this morning, kitten. Can’t wait to ravish you again.
Rhys couldn’t help the broad, beaming grin that grew on his face. The squeal that escaped his lips should have been embarrassing but no one could hear it so he didn’t care in the slightest. Still smiling, he climbed out of bed and crossed the room to the window. It was snowing heavily. A perfect white Christmas.
*
“Ah, shit!” The car refused to start for the tenth time. Swearing again, Rhys smacked the steering wheel hard. “Stupid piece of junk car! What use are you?!”
He had no idea how he was going to make it to his mom’s. The snowstorm outside was getting progressively worse; so much so that he could barely see a foot in front of the hood. Filled with rage, he opened up his phone and with freezing, quivering hands he found his mom’s number.
“Merry Christmas, Rhys!” his family cheered when they answered the phone. Rhys couldn’t help but smile sadly, swallowing.
“Hey guys. Merry Christmas!”
“Are you okay, sweetie? You sound miserable!” His mom had the phone now. He missed her so much and he hated what he was about to say.
“Um, I have some bad news.” Rhys took a deep breath. “I can’t make it. My car...it’s dead.”
The few moments of silence had Rhys’ heart hitting the car seat. He could almost hear his mother’s happiness deflating, but what he did hear was her sigh and cough lightly.
“That’s a real shame.”
Rhys rolled his lip under his teeth, holding back tears with all his might. “I know, Mama. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I hate myself for this happening-“
“Oh Rhys, don’t be silly,” she tutted, cutting him off. “It’s not your fault, munchkin. I’ll just have to give extra helpings of dinner to your sister, lord knows she needs it.” Rhys chewed hard on his lip, tears trickling down his cheeks. “It won’t be the same without you, my darling.”
“No it won’t,” he replied, squeezing the phone. “I...I guess I’ll have to spend Christmas alone this year.”
“Isn’t there anyone who can take you in?”
“Sasha, Fiona and Yvette all live on the other side of the city. Vaughn’s visiting his folks in Alaska.”
“No one else?”
*
Shuffling from foot to foot, Rhys rubbed his arms and pressed the doorbell. It rang and in under ten seconds, the door flew open to reveal a grinning Jack, holding his arms out for Rhys.
“Hey, kiddo.”
With a whimper, Rhys threw himself into the embrace and held Jack tightly, allowing himself to shed a few tears before wiping them on the back of his hand and stepping away. Jack closed the door behind him.
“Hope it wasn’t too hard for you to find the place?”
Rhys shook his head, letting Jack take his coat and scarf. “No not at all. Jack, you don’t know how much I appreciate-“
Jack cut him off with a kiss, smiling against Rhys’ lips and squeezing him softly. Rhys was slightly stunned for a moment, but slowly lifted his hands to Jack’s cheeks. The older man pulled away.
“Can you not put your freezing hands on my face? Thanks.”
Rhys giggled. “Sorry.”
Jack led him upstairs and into Angel’s apartment. The scent of cooking turkey and cranberry sauce wafted through the air, the Christmas tree in the corner haphazardly decorated with what looked like hand-made decorations. Angel waved at him from the kitchen, moving herself using the countertop.
“Hey!”
“You’re walking!” Rhys gasped, beaming.
Angel shrugged. “It’s Christmas. I wanted to be a miracle.”
Jack strolled past Rhys, picking up a bottle of wine from the table and pouring a glass. “She’s taking it easy,” he added warningly, glancing at his daughter with meaning in his eyes. He looked back at Rhys and passed him the glass. “She’s not quite ready to go frolicking about the place.”
“Oh but you are, aren’t you Dad? Frolicking about all over Rhys’ place.”
Rhys almost dropped his glass and the colour drained from Jack’s face. Angel sniggered and rolled her eyes.
“Oh come off it. I’m sixteen not a freaking child. You think you can waltz in here at seven in the morning humming and singing to yourself and think that I wouldn’t know what or,” she looked at Rhys, wiggling her eyebrows, “sorry who you did?”
“I-“
“By the way, I was totally betting that you nerds wouldn’t get your shit together and realise you love each other. I mean it was getting tiring watching your blatant feelings get washed aside for some stupid reason or another. Thanks for being selfish and losing me my ten bucks.”
The word ‘love’ fluttered through the air from Angel’s lips, settling on Jack and Rhys like an elephant squatting on their shoulders. Rhys blushed deeply, looking down and fumbling with his glass. Jack rubbed the back of his head, eyes wide as he stared at his smirking daughter. Neither of them had mentioned, let alone thought, about love.
Yet as Rhys thought about it, he couldn’t deny that the feelings he had for the man in front of him were anything short of it. He’d never felt anything like this for anyone else. Lifting his eyes, gazing at Jack through his lashes, Rhys smiled a small smile. Jack glimpsed at him, looking back at Angel before glancing back, this time looking at Rhys properly. He noticed the smile and felt a strange tightness in his chest.
He smiled back.
*
Stomachs full and eyes heavy, Rhys curled up on the couch under Jack’s arm. Angel was at the piano in the corner, playing one of her recent exam pieces, and the lulling music was sending Rhys off to sleep.
Jack nudged him, kissing him on the top of the head.
“Merry Christmas, kitten,” he whispered, lips against his ear. Rhys smiled, leaning up into the touch. He stretched and closed his eyes.
“Merry Christmas.” His voice slurred from the wine and the exhaustion of the day. “Thanks for everything.”
Jack was quiet for a while. It seemed that he’d gone back to listening to the music until he pulled Rhys into his lap and kissed him gently. He leant his forehead against Rhys.
“Will you stay tonight?”
Rhys smirked. “At your daughter’s apartment?”
Jack shrugged. “Doesn’t need to mean anything happens. Just...you know...stay?”
“I’d love to.”
So Rhys stayed with Jack and Angel that Christmas night.
He also stayed for a hell of a lot longer than that.
He stayed for good.