Lights Should Twinkle
The Christmas lights on the tree always seemed extra bright before coffee. Regulus watched them flicker on and off in different patterns, creating tiny shadows and warped images over some of the glass ornaments.
Benjy had insisted on blinking lights that year. "This way they look twinkling" he said. "Christmas lights should twinkle." And he had been right. Regulus had sat on the couch every morning for two weeks, coffee in hand, just watching the lights move across the branches, as if presenting a spotlight onto each ornament and bauble in turn.
Since he'd moved in 6 years ago they had made it a point to pick out a new item to hang on the tree every Christmas. The first one had been a spur of the moment purchase during a stop off at the store for milk. There at the checkout line was a small assortment of ornaments and holiday trinkets. Benjy picked up one that said Baby's First Christmas and held it up with a grin.
"Aww look Reg! This is perfect for us" he giggled.
"Last I checked we didn't have a baby? Unless you know something I don't..." he poked Ben's belly playfully, sticking out his tongue.
"Haha no..." he laughed and put it back, turning to pull him in for a peck on the lips. "But you're my baby, and this is our first Christmas as a family."
Family.
Benjy had said it so easily. So... confidently. It shook him to the core. He loved Ben, and Ben loved him. They were in it together; a family.
Regulus returned to the store the next morning before work and bought the ornament. Looking back now it might be the best dollar bill he'd ever spent. The way Benjy's eyes lit up, and the way his nose wrinkled a little when he laughed... was worth a million of them.
It had quickly become tradition after that. Some of them were nice, like the tiny framed group photo they all took together the year Harry was born, but most of them were silly. They didn't match and were so random it would make no sense to anyone else, and that's what made it so great.
He took a long sip of his coffee and hummed happily. As his eyes roamed from ornament to ornament, he wondered just how many would fit on one tree. He imagined what it would look like thirty years from now. Fourty years....
He wanted that.
"Merry Christmas" a sleepy voice croaked behind him.
"Merry Christmas" he returned. "You're up early."
"Well, all my warm blankets decided to get up before the sun" he said, rubbing one eye and gesturing to the couch where Regulus was cuddled up with Stormy and Eap. "I got cold."
He pulled back the blanket and sat up a little, patting the tiny space of couch next to him for Benjy to sit. They stayed there for a while, quietly sharing the tepid second half of Regulus's coffee as the sun slowly peeked through the curtains, threatening the magic of the twinkling lights. Benjy was giving Stormy little scratches behind the ear while Eap snored on the end of the couch, covering their feet.
If his heart hadn't been racing, he might have fallen asleep. Part of him wished they could stay there all day, just the two of them, the cat, and the dog. But it wouldn't really be Christmas without driving out to see the whole family at Effie and Monty's. And his coffee cup was empty.
"I love the lights. The blinking ones were a good idea."
"All my ideas are good" Benjy said simply, snuggling closer in protest as Regulus made to get up.
"I need more coffee" Regulus laughed, shaking the covers off a little. "And we should open presents before we start getting ready to head out."
"Alright" Benjy sighed deeply, making a real show of getting up and following him into the kitchen.
They poured fresh cups, made toast with jam, and laid out food for Eap and Stormy before heading back into the livingroom. Benjy got to the tree first and pulled out his gift to Reg, holding it out with a grin.
It was the new iPhone he had been contemplating getting for the last weeks. It came with a nice phone case that was all black except for a small black and white photo on the bottom right corner.
It was a picture of the two of them from that first party before he had even moved to New York. Regulus was holding the crappy little trophy Sirius had given them for winning beer pong. Benjy's arm was thrown over his shoulder, and they were both smiling as if the photo had been taken mid laugh.
He remembered James taking the picture, but had never actually seen it. The flashback brought tears to his eyes suddenly, and he reached out to hug Ben tight around the neck.
"James was deleting stuff from an old phone so he could put games on it for Harry, and found that picture" Benjy said, smiling happily. "I couldn't believe it. It's been so long I thought for sure it was gone forever."
"I love this." Regulus breathed, putting the case on and rubbing a finger over the print. "And I love you."
"I love you too."
They smiled at each other for a moment, and Regulus wondered if any part of him was hoping for what would be coming next.
"Ok now you" he said, pulling a shoebox size gift from the back of the tree and handing it to Benjy.
He tore the paper off quickly, an excited glint in his eye.
Inside the box was another box, and he laughed as he pulled it out and began tearing the paper off. But inside that box was, again, another box. Then another.
Then, inside the very last box, was a little note taped to the bottom. Benjy leaned in to read the small, slanted handwriting. Regulus's heart was beating in his ears.
This note is just a distraction to give me time.
Benjy looked up from the box, a little confused, then let out a breathy "ohh" as his brain caught up to what he was seeing.
Regulus was on one knee, a tiny open box cradled in his shakey hands.
"I told you I loved you, and you asked me to never take it back. Do you remember?"
Ben nodded, eyes shining brightly with unshed tears as he cleared his throat a little.
"I never have, and I never will."
Benjy wiped away a tear that had started to make it's way down his cheek, breathing out a choked sob that was part laugh.
"Will you marry me, Ben?" He asked after a beat, voice barely more than a whisper.
The words were simple, but they were everything. Everything he had ever wanted, everything he could ever need. It was Benjy. Benjy was his everything.
"Yes."
The word punched out of him. As if he had been holding it inside him for years. And maybe he had been.
"Yes" he repeated, saying it again and again as they hugged, and as Regulus slipped the band on his finger.
"Yes. Yes I will marry you."