(no subject)

[stuckonyourheart]

There's a nebulous period that Patrick thinks is acceptable to have holiday gifts during, and for David, he picks a rough period that's close to Christmas, even though he knows that technically they could also be doing Hanukkah. And yet, he also remembers the big rush last year with Johnny deciding he wanted a big family Christmas.

Patrick's not complaining. There's no store to mine for decorations this time and thanks to the difference in time between them, Patrick also knows a perfect gift for them. He'd worked a few extra shifts doing math tutoring to buy it, which means that he's able to have it wrapped and ready when he comes home, carrying the large box with a bag on top of it. It fills him with absolute warmth as he steps over the threshold into their home, because it's more than he had at home. Here, this is their place, firmly together.

Back home, it had still felt like Patrick's, because David didn't love it the way that he should, not for a place that belonged to both of them.

Maybe at some point, they'll find something here that they both like. For now, he's happy to just be here with David. Peering just over the large wrapped gift, he tries to signal David with his eyes. "Can you take the bag?" he requests. "There's some cheese and wine inside." He's also not about to cook a whole holiday dinner, but he figures that he can do that much.

Comments

[very_uninterested]

"I sort of wish it was," David answers, his teeth pressed together in a grimace. "And there are caveats. First is that we have to make sure my wardrobe has its own place to go so it doesn't get covered in fur and second is that you will vacuum every single day."

There are other caveats, too. Less important ones. They can go over those things later, because right now David isn't sure if Patrick is just shocked or if he isn't interested in the whole thing.

"You look like you think I might be an imposter," he says.

[stuckonyourheart]

David absolutely doesn't look very happy about this gift, which has Patrick really intrigued. He watches him with an amused look on his face, and when he glances down at it again, it still says what he thought he'd read the first time. "David," he exhales, and it means so much to him.

There are some things he thought he'd never get to have, because David's a little picky about some things, and Ray had some rules about pets in the apartment, but he's always wanted a dog that he could go to the park with and play with, and this is...

"David, this is incredible," he shares, ducking in to kiss him, hard. "You have to admit, this is pretty shocking."

[very_uninterested]

"I know," David says. "I'm very generous and sweet, but also if we talk about it too much, I might start to regret it."

As long as Patrick knows this whole thing doesn't extend to the idea of children, because David very much does not want to think about what might happen to his clothes if some little monster decided to puke on them. Even the thought terrifies him and he has to shove it aside quickly.

"Nothing that chews," he adds. "So maybe... something older. Not a crazy little puppy. There's only so much drama I can deal with on a daily basis."

[stuckonyourheart]

"I can get on board with a rescue dog that's house-trained and knows all its commands," he promises, his eyes bright with the hope of actually getting a dog, which is something he'd ruled out when he and David had started getting serious.

The envelope goes down so Patrick can wrap his arms around David's neck, pressing kiss after kiss to his cheeks and lips, so buoyantly delighted and happy, and grateful. "You really are the kindest, sweetest, most incredible man," he says, and there's no sarcasm in those words, because he's genuinely touched that David would do this for him.

[very_uninterested]

"Ugh," David says, but he's smiling as he wraps his arms around Patrick in return, letting himself bask in the kisses as they lean back against the couch. The lights on the tree sparkle and he knows he's technically supposed to be celebrating Hanukkah, but it's not like his family ever really got all wrapped up in that. They had the annual Christmas party because an annual Hanukkah party just never seemed to have the same ring to it.

"Well, merry Christmas," he says, rolling his eyes, still fond, still struggling with his smile. ""I just... want you to be happy."

Which probably doesn't come as a surprise to Patrick, but at the same time, David knows he never would have expected the whole dog thing. He's glad to have been able to do something that was a legitimate surprise for their first Christmas here in Darrow and, for David, their first Christmas together.

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick loves it. He loves when David protests like that, because he can press flush against David, his fingers gently pressing into the skin at his hips, a possessive touch that isn't painful, and he brushes the tip of his nose to David's as he eases back, not willing to go too far.

"You're here, with me," he says, and it might sound soppy and romantic, but it's the truth. "I've told you before, David, that you make me feel right. Celebrating the holidays with you is the best thing I've done in years," he says truthfully, so glad that they're still able to have a home like that here.

"I promise that when we look for a dog, I will make sure it's one that fits in with our lifestyle," he vows. "And we can adapt a room into the dog room so if you want some time alone, the dog can take a nap or something."

[very_uninterested]

"Can you just... make a dog take a nap?" he asks, although it doesn't really matter. He figures if he needs time alone Patrick can take the dog to the park or David can disappear to Celeste's or something. It's not the same as bugging Stevie in the motel lobby, going to visit Celeste, but it's also not not the same.

"Okay, but do you like your watch?" he asks, trying not to grin as he speaks, knowing that isn't quite the best part of what he's given Patrick. Still, it's a nice watch, and he had saved up his crappy Darrow stipend to pay for it and he hopes Patrick actually likes it. "Because if you don't, we can exchange it for something else. I didn't engrave it or anything, just because I wasn't totally sure."

[stuckonyourheart]

"We can put the dog in a room with a bed," he says, "and if it's not a puppy, the chances are it'll sleep." He's trying not to get too visibly excited, still cautious about David's mood about the dog, because he doesn't want to scare him. He still carefully and reverently folds the little paper and tucks it into his pocket, because he doesn't want to ruin it.

And then he moves to the others, sliding his fingers over the watch. "It's beautiful, David," he says, and it looks expensive. Leaning up to reward him with a soft kiss to his cheek, he eases back. "We should go engrave it as soon as we can," he insists. "What do you think we should put on it?"

[very_uninterested]

"I don't know," David answers, feeling suddenly flustered, even if he's not sure why. This is the sort of romantic stuff that had made him so uncomfortable in the first place, when the cookie had made him feel as if everything was going to literally crumble around him and he was going to be left with nothing. Again.

He knows there's time between them. He wants to be better at this, be the David that Patrick had left behind, but it's not always easy.

"Maybe something simple like our initials," he says.

[stuckonyourheart]

That brings up something that Patrick actually hasn't even thought about back home. The engagement had been so fresh that details about the wedding had been distant, never mind the practicalities of being married.

Things like where they'd live, what they would do after, those things had been a distant thought. Also something that only occurs to him now? He doesn't know what name he's going to have, in the distant future, when they eventually do get married (because he's still determined that it's going to happen).

"If we're engraving it, we can wait," he says, patiently, but he still slides it onto his wrist, holding it up to see it reflecting in the light. "David, it's beautiful," he praises, and kisses his cheek fondly.

[very_uninterested]

"Obviously," David answers, rolling his eyes at the praise and trying not to look at pleased as he feels that Patrick likes it. "I have very refined taste."

He relaxes back onto the couch, the lights of the tree sparkling, and then he looks over at Patrick with a twist of a smile. Before Schitt's Creek, he'd never really had anyone who accepted him exactly as he is. Maybe Alexis and his parents would argue that they had and he guesses that's not completely wrong, but they hadn't spent much time together at all. It was Stevie who had been the first. Then Patrick.

And now here he feels more comfortable than he should.

"Ugh, we're really lucky Alexis isn't here. She would be banging down the door demanding to know what her presents are."

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick levels a fond smile on David after he adjusts the watch on his wrist, leaning in to press a soft kiss to the corner of his lips, staying there as he asks, "Are you honestly telling me that you don't miss that, even a little?" he whispers, because Patrick's come to love and appreciate the whole Rose family, for all their frustrations and quirks.

He reaches over for the envelope, holding it up. "I'll save this, if that's okay with you? I want to make sure we're really secure and settled before I introduce a dog into the equation."

[very_uninterested]

"Ugh, I don't know, maybe," he says, nodding when Patrick says he'll save the dog gift. That's actually preferable, because it means David gets a little more time to try and figure out how the hell he's going to actually live with a dog.

All he can think about is all his knits.

"I don't miss sharing a space with her," he says. "Because Alexis is filthy. She shoves everything under her bed and thinks that's being clean because it means it's not actively on the floor for me to step on."

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick can admit that he's also glad that David hadn't inherited that sloppy gene (apart from his clearly sloppy mouth, a feature Patrick frankly adores), and the relief shows on his face. "I don't even want to think about what your bathroom looked like," he admits, tucking away the envelope, and adjusting the watch a little.

He grins at David. "Do you want to, I don't know, have me put on the shirt and then install the espresso machine for us?"

[very_uninterested]

"Um, I don't know, maybe you should try it on, but if you're going to install the espresso machine, you could try doing that without a shirt at all," David suggests, his mouth twisted into a smile.

If there's a chance here to get his very sexy boyfriend half naked while he does something resembling manual labour, then David is absolutely going to try to make that happen.

"Consider it my Hanukkah gift," he adds. "The big one. Who cares if this is the wrong day."

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick raises both brows so he can stand and start to unbutton his shirt. This isn't a fantasy he knew David possessed, but he can't say he's upset about it, and seeing as he grins at him, he's pretty sure that they can make it work.

"In that case, how about you show me where on the counter you'd like our espresso machine to go," he offers, pushing his shirt off, and plucking at his undershirt to start pulling that up.

[very_uninterested]

David hadn't intended on getting up. He'd mostly intended on sitting here and watching Patrick from over the back of the couch while he works, so David just waves his hand in the vague direction of the counter.

And then he immediately realizes his mistake. If Patrick puts it in the wrong place, it throws off the entire aesthetic of the kitchen.

"Wait, no, over there," he says as he gets up and moves to stand in front of the counter. "There, in that corner."

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick's completely unsurprised when David changes his mind, but he smiles warmly, because he'd kind of been planning for it, and he heads over to clear the space that David's pointed to. He does go a little overboard, flexing and being ridiculous, frankly, but he thinks he's allowed a little bit of dramatics.

After all, look who he's marrying.

"I think I just also bought myself many mornings making coffee for you."

[very_uninterested]

"I don't get out of bed before ten," David replies, as if that information itself is enough of an answer. Which it is.

His words are a little distant, though, because mostly he's just watching Patrick move and flex, and it's all kind of ridiculous, but he's also completely certain he's never loved anyone like this.

Maybe he isn't ready to think about getting married, but the possibility of engagement isn't as terrifying as it had been when Patrick first got here.

[stuckonyourheart]

"I know," Patrick assures him, with a breezy confidence that comes of having been in bed with him until ten in the morning, and knowing exactly what time David likes to get out of bed, and he doesn't mind it in the least.

He smiles warmly, because that doesn't change anything, and he leans down to plug in the machine to at least get things heating up while he reads the instructions, very thoroughly. "Can you grab me a wrench from the second drawer?" he asks, knowing that he's going to go over these about ten more times, but best to keep David's fantasies somewhat alive.

[very_uninterested]

David goes to the drawer and returns with a pair of pliers, handing them to Patrick with the confidence of someone who's never held a tool in his entire life. He remembers watching Mutt build something once, that amazing cedar chest for his knits, but he hadn't exactly helped. Mutt had known better than to ask.

"What else?" he asks.

Usually he's not quite so keen on helping someone work, but in this case, he figures he's going to be reaping all kinds of benefits, so he might as well try to lend a hand.

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick gives him an appreciative smile, leaning over for a kiss, leaning back over the counter. "I think you're gonna need to open the counter from below, I need to connect some of the piping to the water so it can just draw from the sink."

Hopefully, that won't cause other issues, but this might end up being a project that's a touch longer than he'd expected.

"And I know this is supposed to be sexy, but I'm actually kind of cold," he admits. "Maybe a sweater?"

[very_uninterested]

"Okay, so I'm all here for espresso, but maybe we can worry about it tomorrow?" David asks, walking his fingers up Patrick's arm. "I didn't realize you would have to turn into a legitimate plumber to make it happen."

He had sort of just thought they would turn it on and it would start making coffee.

"Then you can put on a sweater or we can just get cozy under a blanket."

[stuckonyourheart]

Patrick lets the wrench fall into his waiting palm, his smile playfully growing as David starts to walk his fingers up his arm. "Tomorrow," he echoes, like he intends to consider it, but then he grins and nods. "I think we can make tomorrow work."

He sets it aside so he can wrap his arms around David's waist. "And until tomorrow, where do you want to get cozy?" he whispers.

[very_uninterested]

"Um, bed?" David asks, like it should be obvious. "Or the couch, I guess. Where else do people get cozy these days?"

He's not sure if they're using get cozy as a euphemism for sex, but either way, his answer is the same, because he's not as young as he used to be, according to his crow's feet, and he's pretty sure his back can't handle sex or cuddling on the kitchen floor.

And he would very much like to be able to stand up straight in the morning.

[stuckonyourheart]

"Bed," Patrick echoes with a fond grin and nods towards the bedroom, which just so happens to be in an actually different room, so it's already a step above what they had in Schitt's Creek. "And in the morning, I'll see what I can do with an internet tutorial, a few wrenches, and some determination to get you a coffee first thing."

[very_uninterested]

"Ugh, no wonder I love you," David says, the words coming easier than they used to. He takes Patrick's hand and heads for the hall, grateful all over again that he's not still stuck sharing a space with Alexis.

Private time had been tough to come by in Schitt's Creek.

"Merry Christmas," he says, pausing by the bedroom door to kiss Patrick.