☆

He only did this because he was expected to, because of his unfortunate weakness of not being able to say no to his father, giving in to his urges to take part in the competition for the good of the family.

He cursed himself for it.

Not only was Talon very much not interested in marrying someone that he didn’t even know - prince or not. He also didn’t like the whole concept of the competition he found himself in.

This wasn’t just some fun feast activity, nor a tournament for fortune and fame - they were fighting over an actual person.

One that probably had as much of a say in this arrangement as Talon had in competing in the tournament.

No one knew for sure, but rumors from within the palace walls said that the prince was not exactly happy about his family’s plans for him.

That makes two of us, Talon thought. This was going completely against his morals.

He felt sorry for the boy. And for himself too.

It’s not that he thought he would win, after all he had quite some competition and even though he was a fairly good fighter, there surely were people more talented, more determined than him.

But even just participating felt wrong. And the thought of putting all this effort in for nothing - and he had to put in effort, his father would immediately recognize it if he held back on purpose and scold him - was tiring as well.

Though he was probably expected to, the prince himself wasn’t at the arena to witness the start of the competition. And he most likely wasn’t going to turn up later either, if one believed the rumors.

Watching a couple of people in armor participate in fights and challenges in order to win your hand in marriage - a marriage you (allegedly) didn’t even want - didn’t seem really appealing.

So Talon couldn’t blame him, he wouldn’t have shown up either in his place.

His disgust over the whole situation would probably outweigh his curiosity about the possible marriage candidates.

Maybe the prince felt quite the same.

⚔️

The first round had already weeded out quite some competition. Much to Talon’s dismay, he himself was still there.

Now he waited for the next round. Single entry. And he thought things couldn’t get any worse.

While the other contestants mingled with each other, Talon stayed for himself. He preferred it that way.

The other contestants were all spoiled children of nobles and he never quite enjoyed the company of those.

“You’re a spoiled son of a noble yourself,” his friend Maya had teasingly retorted as he told her that once.

She was right, and maybe that was part of the problem.

Either way, he was content with staying where he was. He preferred observing the people around him anyway.

Most of them had normal conversations, some joked with each other, discussed the happenings of the competition so far and, of course, talked about the prince.

But then there were also the ones that took the whole thing way too serious.

Of course, all of them wanted to win over the prince (all except for Talon) but these people acted like they already won and worst of all, like the prince was a medal they wanted to pride themselves with.

Talon found that quite impertinent.

Already from the distance, just watching them act and hearing their loud voices, he could tell that most of these contestants were not really the kind of people that you’d want to marry.

Poor prince.

Unfortunately, those were exactly the people that were high up in the ranks of the competition right now.

The worst was a guy in dark armor, a mountain of a man that had impressive fighting skills (that Talon had to admit) but the personality of a particularly annoying rash.

Kilian, if Talon caught his name right. Not that he needed to know that.

He boasted about his own skill and looks (though in Talon’s opinion there wasn’t much to boast about with the latter), talked about how he would wipe all of his “rivals” out and “make the prince his”.

That claim was followed by quite some nasty stuff he said about the prince and Talon felt sick.

He was tempted to go over to put that guy in his place, but he didn’t want to start a fight behind the scene. There were enough of those already, silly quarrels like those of kids fighting over a toy.

Besides, Kilian was already called to the start for the next round. With a complacent grin on his face and practically glowing with arrogant confidence he made his way back outside the arena.

Talon was tempted to trip him up as he passed him, but refrained from it.

This guy would probably kill him if he did it and if he didn’t, Talon’s father sure would if he found out about it.

Instead, Talon let his eyes wander through the room again.

He paused when his gaze caught a guy not too far from him that he’d seen backstage before, but hadn’t payed much mind to.

He wore brown leather armor that was far more simple than the armor of the other contestants, Talon’s included.

He still wore the ceremonial helmet each of them had to wear during the tournament, even though most participants had taken it off behind the scenes.

It covered half of his face, hiding away most of his defining features except for his eyes and mouth.

The latter was currently tugged into a small smile as he was kneeling next to a rather distraught looking girl, talking to her in a quiet voice while soothingly rubbing her back.

Talon recognized her as one of the girls that provided for the contestants, bringing them food and water and helping them with their armor.

Some young woman had yelled at her earlier for spilling wine on her armor by accident.

The sight of the foreign knight consoling the poor girl made Talon feel a twinge of sympathy for someone in this place for the first time since the tournament had begun.

The guy, as if sensing he was being watched, turned towards Talon and for a moment their eyes met.

Talon felt himself nod to him, why he couldn’t quite tell and he didn’t question it. Neither did the knight apparently, because he simply returned the gesture before turning back to the girl.

Talon wondered who the guy was and why he hid his face behind his helmet. Because Talon was pretty sure he wore it for exactly that purpose: to hide.

Maybe he didn’t want to be recognized. But why? Talon had no clue, the only thing he knew was that this guy was different than the other contestants.

He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but there was definitely something there.

Maybe it was the kindness he showed to the girl just now, a kindness Talon had not seen in any of his other competitors, who treated the maids like air or something to look down upon.

But before he could ponder on all these thoughts too much, his name was called and he had to ready himself for his big entrance in round three.

With a sigh he stood up, put on his ceremonial helmet and grabbed his sword.

On his way outside he passed the unpleasant guy from earlier, Kilian, who had just finished his challenge.

Given the applause and screaming of the people and even more so the self-satisfied smile on his face, Talon reckoned it went quite well.

What a shame.

“Good luck,” the guy said. “You’ll need it to compare to me.”

Talon only rolled his eyes at that.

⚔️

When he came back, Kilian was still boasting with how well he did during his challenge. Talon wanted to leave right then and there.

He should’ve let that animal he needed to fight just now eat him or something.

But he didn’t let it happen and he didn’t perform bad enough to be immediately kicked out of the competition, so instead he sat back down on the very same bench he had occupied earlier, taking off the helmet and unsuccessfully trying to drown out the boasting.

“That guy is horrible, isn’t he?” A voice next to him suddenly said.

Talon flinched, looking to the left, only to find the knight in the simple leather armor from earlier, the one who consoled the maid, standing next to him.

Talon could only agree. “The worst. But he himself thinks he’s the greatest man alive, I fear. His ego is so big it could fill up the whole arena.”

The knight chuckled at that. “That sounds about right. May I?” He gestured to the place on the bank next to Talon.

Talon nodded. Though he didn’t care much for socializing with the other contestants, for this one he would make an exception.

He seemed to be the most decent person here.

“Thanks.” He sat down next to Talon. “I saw you fight just now. You’re good. Better than lord big ego over there.”

Talon didn’t know why, but that compliment made him blush. Just a little, but it did.

He hoped the knight didn’t notice, but given by his smirk he probably had.

“Thank you.”

The knight nodded.

Talon still couldn’t see his face because he wore the helmet, but from up this close he at least got a good look at the other’s eyes.

They were of a brown as warm and deep as he had ever seen them, mirroring the kindness of his smile.

Talon cleared his throat. “So why do you wear the helmet all the time, you’re the only one I’ve never seen taking it off.”

Due to his helmet one couldn’t really tell, but Talon swore the guy raised an eyebrow at that.

And then there it was again. That smirk from before. “Have you been watching me?”

Talon looked away quickly, hoping he could blame the pink of the tips of his ears on the effort from his last challenge (he could not).

“I’ve been watching all of you. It’s just a simple observation.”

“Trying to weigh out the competition, huh?” the knight asked.

Talon wasn’t sure if it was amusement or mockery that he heard in the other boy’s voice. Either way, the implication in it was clear and it was also clearly wrong, so he shook his head.

“I have no interest in winning this tournament, so weighing the others out is of no use for me.”

That seemed to surprise the knight. “You don’t want to win? Then why are you here?”

Good question, Talon thought. He sighed.

“Because my father made me. Personally I want to compete just as much as the prince wants to get married to one of us, probably. I just want to please my father and hope someone turns out to be better than me. More worthy of the prince, too, though the prospects for him are probably not the best, looking at who’s competing - no offense.”

The knight remained quiet for a long while.

He just looked at Talon, head tilted, those intense brown eyes of his unreadable. For a moment Talon thought he had indeed offended the knight, but then the other boy’s eyes softened.

“I wear the helmet because I fear of being recognized. I’m not like you or the other contestants.”

Talon had noticed it too. He was different - in a good way. And he was correct about this too: the knight indeed wanted to hide.

“I’m not of noble blood - well, not exactly. People would not like to see someone like me to compete for the hand of a prince. I am very much acting against the will of many people and some of them are here and would know that I’m doing it if they saw me - they’ve met me before, even if they don’t know me that well. So you understand why my true identity has to remain a secret.”

That sounded to Talon like the knight was the illegitimate child of some nobleman . Or maybe a civic-born guard. Both of those were not allowed to compete, apparently in the eyes of their law only legitimate noble-blooded people were suited for a prince.

Which was stupid, Talon knew many men and women of that status that were very noble, even more so than most of the people in this room.

So now that secret was revealed. Only one question remained. “Why are you telling me this?”

The knight shrugged. “Maybe because I’m a little nervous about keeping this secret and sharing it with someone eases my mind. And because I’m sure you won’t give me away like the others would’ve done.”

The knight was right with that. Everyone else would’ve run to the guards, glad to be able to get rid of a competitor. But Talon had nothing to gain from it. Quite contrary, because after all he could need every strong opponent he could get.

Telling on the other would put both of them in an unfortunate situation. The knight understood that. He was smart, Talon had to admit. He liked him.

“Your secret is safe with me.”

The knight smiled. “See? I knew I could count on you.”

⚔️

They kept talking after that.

First about the tournament and the other contestants, but then about all kind of other stuff. About fighting techniques, weapons, about their lives and families - though the knight kept his stories very vague in that regard.

Talon found the boy to be easy to talk to. He was pleasant company. Only once did they interrupt their talk so that Talon’s new acquaintance could face his own challenge of the round.

Talon snuck a view on the other’s skills from the sidelines and was very impressed.

That boy was an incredible archer. He never missed a target, leading the bow with such grace and control it seemed like it was an extension of himself. He was good. Very good.

It only confirmed to Talon that despite not being of noble blood, he surely had had something akin to military training. And it made some of the self-centered competitors look pretty old.

⚔️

“Your skill is impressive,” Talon told him as he returned and the two sat back on the bench, waiting for someone to come and confirm the end results of this round.

“Thanks.” The knight bit his lip, seeming a little on edge. “I hope it was enough.”

Over their newfound companionship he had almost forgotten, but these words brought the reality of their situation back to Talon.

The young man next to him, much like everyone else (or well, almost everyone else) was here to win and gain the prince’s hand in marriage.

He was just as determined as the others, even if it was a softer determination, one that didn’t seem as smug as that of competitors like Kilian, the massive guy with the even more massive ego.

“I need to win this,” the knight continued, voice dropping to a whisper. “It might be my only chance of a good life. It’s not about the marriage or the prince or the power, really. It’s about me. About my freedom. And it’ll seem selfish to you- and by the gods, maybe it is, but I think it could be an opportunity for him, too. So please don’t condemn me for wanting this.”

Talon didn’t know what to say to that. Part of him was disapproving of the other boy’s ways but part of him also understood his motivation.

He couldn’t blame him for wanting a good life. Who didn’t want to be free? And though Talon might define freedom differently than the knight, he still thought it was something he deserved, like everyone did. Even if his way of fighting for it was unusual.

The other boy looked at Talon, waiting for him to say something. Anything.

Talon gave him a small smile. “I can’t say I full agree with you, but I understand. Everyone here wants to win the hand of the prince, except for me. And you have a good reason, it seems, So I can’t blame you, really.”

The knight seemed relieved to hear that. He reached out to squeeze Talon’s hand lightly, his touch warm and gentle. “Thank you. I had hoped you’d understand.”

Talon could feel the other’s touch even after he had already long removed his hand.

Trying hard and probably failing to hide the blush that started to paint his face red (again! how embarrassing!), Talon was glad that the other boy had moved his attention away from him and towards the announcer that had appeared in the middle of the room, reading out the names of those who had made it to the next round.

The knight’s name (probably fake, Talon realized) was among them.

And Talon’s too.

Great, he thought, just great.

For a moment he thought about quickly using his opportunity to tell the announcer that he would quit, leave the arena and pretend in front of his father that he hadn’t made it.

But the boy next to him was so relieved about reaching the final that he pulled Talon into a hug that made his brain short-circuit for a while and when it functioned again, the announcer had already disappeared into the arena to read out the names of the finalists and announce a quick break.

Well, there went his chance. At least now he could spent some more time in the pleasant company of his new acquaintance. Talon didn’t mind that at all. It was almost enough to make him forget that he didn’t want to be here in the first place.

⚔️

“So, why don’t you want to marry the prince? Do you think he’s that bad?”

The question caught Talon so off-guard, he almost spit out the water he just drank from their shared (yes, shared, Talon could hardly believe it himself) flask.

Why would he think that? He had no aversion towards the prince, none at all. If anything, Talon’s sympathy for him was one of the main reasons he disagreed with the ambitions of the other contestants.

He must’ve stayed silent for a little too long, because the other boy rowed back immediately.

Talon could’ve just been imagining it, but he swore the knight flushed slightly. It looked pretty and Talon wanted to slap himself for thinking that just now.

“I mean, I’m just curious,” the other said, sheepishly. “You said so yourself. Everyone here wants to win the hand of the prince, except for you. There must be a reason for it?”

Talon felt like that question wasn’t as light as it seemed, there lay some kind of importance in it, but what was important about it, he couldn’t grasp.

“Yes,” he finally said. “But the reason is not that I don’t like him. I barely know him - who does, really - but he seems quite alright. It’s because… it feels so wrong, you know. All of it. The prince is a boy just like us. He shouldn’t be a trophy to be won, he should be free to choose who he will marry for himself.

And so should I. I don’t want to marry just for status and I certainly don’t want to marry someone who had no choice, who’s with me because he has to be and not because he chose me freely. We both deserve better.” He sighed. “Maybe I should just quit. Mess up on purpose.”

His father would be mad about it no doubt, but at this point Talon didn’t even care all that much. He’d get over it eventually. Better that than risking to win.

The knight smiled. “Well, the way I see it, the prince wouldn’t have if all that bad if you won. You seem quite alright too. Far more decent than some of the other choices.”

He looked over to where two other contestants were just getting into a fight over who was the better archer, his mouth twitching into an expression of distaste.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he added. “I’d still very much prefer to win myself. I’m selfish like that, but like I said, it’s important to me for personal reasons and I think the prince would approve of it. I know it sounds insolent and you may forgive me for that, but I’m pretty sure it’s true. Just as I am sure he would like you.”

Talon really wondered how he wanted to know that.

“You speak like you know him personally.”

The knight seemed amused. “I do, actually. Dare I say that I know him better than most people.”

“Are you two friends?”

The knight smiled.

“Something like that.”

“Lovers, then?”

That would be an explanation. Talon wasn’t sure how to feel about it though. Not in a million years would he admit that the thought stirred a little bit of jealousy inside of him. And not because of the prince.

The knight laughed. “Well-“ But before he could say whatever he wanted to say, a voice announced that the final round was about to begin, calling for the contestants to come to the arena.

The knight stood up, resting a hand on Talon’s shoulder while he did so. It made Talon freeze right in his tracks.

“Don’t mess up,” the knight said, adjusting his helmet. “You have potential. If somehow I won’t make it, I’d be glad to know that there’s at least a chance that a good guy like you wins this competition.”

He clapped Talon’s shoulder. “Good luck.” Then he left. Talon was too stunned to follow right after him. Or to reply with a good luck of his own.

You have potential.

That small sentence shouldn’t make Talon feel the way it did. He didn’t know what he’d do once he stood out there with his last opponents. With him. He didn’t know what would happen. But it would be interesting for sure.

After a short moment of recovery, he sighed and made his way back into the arena.

⚔️

The last challenge was a classic. A fight. Last one standing won.

Talon stood there with his sword in his hand, and his helmet pulled down low in his face and would much rather be back behind the scenes, having a nice chat with the knight in the simple armor.

Who now stood not too far from Talon, glancing towards him for only a split second before the starting signal sounded.

Talon had no time to question it, because there was already another opponent running towards him, ready to attack. It was Kilian.

Unfortunately, his sword was just as big as his ego. Wonderful, Talon thought. Just wonderful.

That guy would tamp him to the ground. If he wasn’t quick enough that is. Luckily he was pretty deft and that other guy moved with the agility of an overweight bear.

Talon dodged him just in time. A constant back and forth of parried attacks and clashing swords ensued.

While Talon had a great deal of trouble with Kilian, not too far away his new acquaintance had already wrangled his opponent to the ground. Talon shouldn’t have risked the glance, because Kilian used his inobservance to push him to the ground.

The big guy grinned and Talon braced himself for the inevitable.

They were not supposed to hurt each other, just to activate the amulet that got attached to their harnesses beforehand, which would release the spell that would keep the defeated opponent from standing up. But Kilian looked like he was out for blood.

The expected blow never came, though, because suddenly someone jumped on Kilian’s back, tearing his head back and making him tumble backwards. It was the knight.

Perplexed about the fact that his new acquaintance had come to his rescue, he watched Kilian trying to fight the other boy off. As Talon watched him struggling to hold on, he finally remembered to move again, getting involved in the fight of his last two opponents.

And so, Talon and the knight fought Kilian together.

For outsiders, it looked like Talon was trying to get involved in the fight with the intent of bringing one of them down, but attentive watchers might’ve noticed that all he did was help out the knight.

Talon wanted him to win. He finally had a plan. Make sure the knight defeated their last opponent and then let him defeat Talon as well.

And then, finally, the knight managed to activate Kilian’s amulet, which made the other scream in anger.

Breathing heavily from the struggle of that fight, the knight stood up, turning around to face Talon.

He was tired, Talon could see it in his eyes. He wasn’t used to this kind of effort in the way that Talon was, who was a fully trained guard and well-tried in combat.

If Talon wanted to, he could’ve beaten the other, that he was sure of. He could, but he wouldn’t. They both knew that. Fast as a deer on the run the knight came running for Talon, who barely made an effort to stop him, letting him pin him to the ground.

The other boy leaned over him, looking right into his eyes with an expression so tender that from now on, it would certainly hunt Talon in his dreams.

“Thank you,” he whispered. Almost gently he pressed the tip of his knife against the amulet on Talon’s chest, breaking it.

The unleashed spell washed over Talon like a gentle blanket. A fanfare sounded of, announcing that there was a winner of the tournament. The crowd cheered.

Talon was glad it was finally over.

As the spell lifted, he let out a sigh of relieve. He took the hand that the knight offered him to help him up. The other boy was smiling brightly and it made Talon smile, too.

He was just about to open his mouth to congratulate him, when both their attention was taken off of each other by the voice of the queen sounding through the arena.

“Very well fought, my dear finalists. Come closer,” she said, standing up from her place on the balcony.

And come closer they did. She asked the winner of the tournament to step forward. Talon next to him noticed that the knight’s hands were shaking a little.

If out of fear or excitement or nervousness about his identity soon to be revealed he didn’t know. But he guessed it was a mixture of all three.

Talon for one couldn’t wait for him to finally take off that helmet, to finally see his face. A face that soon he’d only be able to admire from afar, but that he would admire for the rest of his days nonetheless.

The knight took a deep breath, and as the queen asked him to take off the helmet, his hands had stopped shaking.

He stood a little taller - proud almost - reached for the helmet, took it off and made the whole arena gasp - Talon included.

The unknown knight with the brown leather armor and the kind smile - the one that had captivated Talon in only such a short amount of time - was no one less than Prince Aiden himself.

The one for whose hand they’ve all been fighting all along. He was here after all, in the arena, among the contestants. And he had just won his own hand in marriage.

I need to win this. It’s about me, about my freedom.

Now Talon understood the true meaning of those words. And he understood the other’s motives. The prince had been competing for the right to win his own hand in order to be free of an arranged marriage with whoever else might’ve won this tournament if he didn’t interfere.

Talon couldn’t help but admire the prince’s courage. He really didn’t want to be in his position now though. His grandmother, the queen, didn’t look all too happy about this turn of events.

She was clearly shocked, like all of them. Well, most of them. Only the crown prince, Aiden’s older brother Henry, didn’t look surprised at all.

A proud smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he looked down on his brother. He must’ve known too.

The queen had yet to find back her speech, it seemed, so Aiden quickly used his chance. He bowed deeply in front of his grandmother.

“My queen, I, Prince Aiden from the House of Crows, hereby ask of you for my own hand in marriage. I have won. Like it was purpose of this tournament, I have proven myself worthy. Worthy of myself. So now I ask for the right of free choice. I want to determine myself who I want to be with in the future.”

He spoke with such passion and confidence, hope sparkling in his brown eyes. Talon wondered how anyone could ever say no to him when he was like that.

Well, shit. He might’ve developed a little crush on the prince of all people.

“That is against the rules,” someone loudly proclaimed. It was Kilian, who Aiden had clearly defeated fair and square and who, to no one’s surprise, really, was now throwing a tantrum.

“It is a violation against the conditions of the tournament, your majesty! I demand a rematch. This is unacceptable.”

The only thing unacceptable in Talon’s eyes was his behavior right now. No one liked a sore loser.

“With all due respect,” Prince Henry came to stand next to the queen to tell the big guy off. Judging by the cold tone of his voice, said respect must’ve been close to none (and Talon could only silently agree with it).

“Technically it is not a violation. Nowhere in the rules does it say that it’s forbidden for a prince to compete in a tournament, even if it’s one for his own hand. Every acknowledged noble has a right to participate. And Aiden, as your prince, is one.”

Her other grandson’s comment seemed to get the Queen out of her state of shock. She whipped her head around to face him. “You knew of this, didn’t you?”

The older prince grinned. “What do you think who trained him?”

The queen sighed, massaging her temple. “You boys just love to make things hard for me, just like your mother,” she mumbled.

Then she turned her attention back to Aiden. “Well, despite this rather unusual outcome,” there was a scolding undertone in her voice as she spoke.

“A win is a win and a word is a word. Prince Aiden, you have beaten every one of your suitors. We all witnessed that and it was truly admirable. Everyone who saw it has to admit that. And therefore - even though I would appreciate it if you don’t publicly pass me over like that in the future…“

Talon wasn’t sure if he interpreted it right, but something akin to pride mixed into the strict tone of her voice. Prince Aiden scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

“… I acknowledge your win and give in to your request.”

Gasps and whispers were heard from the crowd. No one expected the queen to let her grandson’s deceit slide, and no one dared to speak out against her.

Surely there were gonna be people who would be outraged. Conservative nobles like Talon’s father and noblemen furious their child didn’t win the hand of the prince (also probably like Talon’s father) would at least try to change the mind of the queen, but they wouldn’t dare to do it in public. They remained dead silent.

Others, who supported the prince - and there were many, because he was fairly popular - started to cheer. They were happy for him, it seemed. And Talon was too.

Never in a million years had he thought the tournament would end like this, but it was the best possible outcome. Though, now that he got to know the prince a little, even if unbeknownst to him at the time, he found that he wouldn’t have minded it all too much after all if he had won the tournament.

The prince himself smiled brightly. He bowed to the queen, thanking her. She returned the smile, even if only slightly.

That was the first time Talon ever saw the queen smile at all, he didn’t know she was capable of that.

“However,” she said, and the crowd went quiet again. “I have a condition for you.”

“Yes, my queen?”

“You get to choose your future spouse freely - among the contestants of this tournament. I understand and accept your wish of choosing a partner for yourself, but I expect them to be of a suitable status.”

Another fit of reactions rang through the crowd at the announcement. Everyone waited for the prince’s reaction.

He remained quiet for a while.

Talon turned to look at him, just as curious about his reply as everyone else (maybe even more), only to find him already looking back at him.

As their gazes met, Aiden smirked. His eyes not leaving Talon’s, he replied “I’m sure that won’t be a problem.”

No, never had Talon thought the tournament would end like this.

But as he left the arena side by side with the prince and their hands kept brushing, he found that he didn’t mind it.

He didn’t mind it at all.

⚔️

When they came back from their little ice skate date, the house of Aiden’s family was empty.

“Where is everyone?” Talon asked.

Not that he minded having some more alone time with Aiden, but it was so unusual.

Strange how quickly he got used to the sounds of a family life.

Talon had almost forgotten how that was like. He should come home more often.

Then again, the house was mostly empty anyway these days.

“Dad is at physiotherapy and Henry and Callan took Celene to the town to see Santa. And to visit Amalie afterwards.”

Aiden chuckled.

“Celi told me she’ll ask Santa for a sibling for Christmas. I wonder how Henry and Callan will react. But in all honesty, I think they have considered it before already, so maybe she’ll get one for her birthday instead.”

He winked at Talon, who laughed.

“My mother said my sister wanted the same. They told her Santa came by earlier to drop me off when I was born.”

“Aw, that’s cute! Hey, should I make us dinner? I consider it a rehearsal for Christmas Eve.”

Talon was surprised. “You will make the Christmas dinner?”

But thinking about it, it did make sense. Talon has only tried Aiden’s pancakes yet, but those were proof enough that he was really good at cooking.

“Me and Callan together, yes. It’s our tradition by now. My brother can’t cook to save his life, so he’s not allowed in the kitchen, but I don’t think he minds that all too much. He’s just glad we get along I guess. It wasn’t always easy, you know?”

He opened the fridge.

“Anyway, what do you say? Hungry?”

Talon nodded. “Very.”

“Good. Do you want to help me?”

Talon scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “Cutting vegetables is about all I am capable of, but if that helps?”

Aiden laughed. “So another kitchen expert.”

“My talents lie elsewhere.”

Aiden hummed. “I can imagine that. Though you didn’t do as bad as you claimed with the cookie dough either.”

He chuckled at the memory.

“But yeah, cutting vegetables is at least a good start. Please don’t cut into your finger, though, I don’t want your blood in my kitchen.”

Talon laughed. “Okay I’ll try.”

He did not cut into his finger.

He also managed to help Aiden with the potatoes.

As for the rest, Talon much preferred just watching Aiden do it and he felt like Aiden preferred it too.

He looked so in his element as he prepared their dish and Talon couldn’t help but smile.

“What?” Aiden asked, head tilted to the side.

“I just thought about how happy you look. It’s cute.”

Aiden smiled. He put aside the spoon he was holding, letting the water in the pot boil a little.

Cleaning his hands on his apron (yes he wore an apron, which made him look even more adorable - and reminded Talon of their first real meeting), he made his way over to Talon.

As he stood behind him, he put his hands on his shoulders and leaned forward to kiss his cheeks.

“I am happy,” he said. “I don’t know what the future holds, but right now, I have all I need.”

He smiled as he squeezed Talons shoulders.

Talon took one of Aiden’s hands and kissed it.

He tried swallowing down the feeling of guilt, but it kept coming back up, like it often had these past days.

Soon you’ll have to tell him the truth.

The rope Talon had tied around his own neck with his feelings for Aiden and the secret that he kept from him kept getting tighter.

His father was breathing down his neck. He expected Talon to show results and he didn’t back down from his plan to sell the property to that rich asshole that wanted to get rid of the farm.

There was no other alternative since the man wanted exactly this bit of land.

Why, Talon didn’t know.

Not even the value the Christmas tree farm had for the towns around got Talon’s father to reconsider.

“As long as it’s not radioactive ground, is plagued by earthquakes or has some birds that are under wildlife conservation, we’re not giving up this good of a deal.”

So Talon didn’t have much of a choice, he needed to tell Aiden the truth, before his father personally showed up at their doorstep to blow his cover.

And Talon would not put it past his father to do so.

“Talon?”

The worry in Aiden’s voice brought him back to reality and he realized he still had his lips pressed to the back of Aiden’s hand.

He let him go and Aiden’s equally worried face entered his field of vision. “Is something wrong?”

Talon shook his head. “No it’s just…” He sighed. “I really like you. A lot. You know that right? Nothing is gonna change that.”

He needed this reassurance, even if it would be a lie.

Because he knew Aiden and he knew once he found out that Talon lied to him…

“Of course I know, stupid.” He kissed Talon’s cheek again before walking back to the stove. “You made it really clear those past days.”

He smiled and Talon tried his best to return it.

Luckily the sauce demanded his attention so he didn’t notice what a sorry excuse of a smile it was.

A little later the food was done and Talon found himself in front of a plate full of roasted beef with potatoes and vegetables.

“You’re too good to me.”

And for me, he thought but didn’t say it.

He really didn’t deserve Aiden. Or his food. Which was amazing by the way. Only his mother’s food could rival this, really.

Aiden chuckled. “And that is just the light version, you should see the dinners me and Callan do on Christmas Eve. Last year we tried duck. This year it’ll be turkey. And for dessert this time we try something really good, we-“

“Aiden,” Talon interrupted him. “Please stop talking about Christmas dinner or I get jealous. My Christmas dinner last year was reheated vegetable pasta from the day before.”

Talon had to laugh at the disgust on Aiden’s face.

“You poor thing! Did you even celebrate? No wonder you hate Christmas!”

“I don’t hate Christmas.”

Dislike would describe it better. Or used to. That was definitely in the past.

“And no, we don’t really do that anymore since… you know.”

Aiden became more serious again. “I understand. But it’s so sad. You’ll stay here over Christmas right? Surely you would’ve told me if you’d leave like tomorrow or something, wouldn’t you?”

“I’m not leaving. I’m expected back at work on January Second, no one will care what I do till then. My mother and sister are on vacation during Christmas this year anyway and my father, he… will be working.”

“Well, then it’s good that you are here. This way you can spend Christmas Eve with us!”

Talon almost choked on his food. “I… really? You want me to… spend Christmas Eve with your family?”

Talon tried his best not to tear up, really, he did. It was stupid.

He shouldn’t be as touched about this invitation as he was. But it made him happy. And it made him sad, too.

“Of course.” Aiden grabbed his hand from across the table. “I’m not letting you celebrate Christmas all alone, or even worse, not at all. I want to have you here. With me. And I’m sure my family won’t mind either, they like you.”

“Thank you,” Talon sniffed. “If you’ll have me, I’ll gladly come.”

He smiled at Aiden, squeezing his hand, holding on to it even as he continued to eat.

“Especially when the food is this good.”

They laughed and Talon felt content.

“Where are we going?”

“I told you, it’s a surprise.”

Aiden walked through the forest determinedly, dragging Talon with him, hand in his.

He was taking Talon to some unknown location and though normally Talon would hate that (he wasn’t really someone for surprises - or someone who liked to give up control) he didn’t mind it, because it was Aiden.

Maybe love really changes people.

Further proof for this was that Talon was now in the possession of his very own woolen hat and pair of gloves.

Aiden had shoved him into the local tailor’s shop right after dinner with his family that one day, asking Hazel, the daughter of the shop owner (and another friend of Aiden - he really knew all the townspeople it seems) for a fixture matching his coat and - most importantly - the red scarf.

So here he was now.

Dressed up appropriately for the cold for the first time since he got here and letting someone else take the lead for once.

Halea would be so proud once she’d hear about it.

She had all but screamed into his ear out of excitement when she learned the news.

“I told you! You got your own little Christmas romance! You are never allowed to make fun of me for liking those kind of movies again!”

Talon felt like Halea would hold this story over his head for as long as they lived.

But Talon was okay with it, after all she had to endure all his whining.

He should probably buy her something nice for Christmas, too, as thanks for her trying to calm his father, who was really mad at this point.

Maybe Aiden could help him find one.

“Are we there soon?”

“You sound like Celene again.” Aiden chuckled. “But yes, we should be there any minute.”

He stopped in front of a tree with low-hanging branches. “We’ll just have to get through here to the other side.”

He shoved some branches to the side and held them back like one would a curtain.

“After you.”

Talon raised a brow, but he did what he was told.

As he reached “the other side”, he stood in front of a boardwalk that lead into a lake. A very frozen lake.

It looked really pretty and it was heavenly quiet. No other soul was here.

“Surprise!” Aiden said as he came to stand behind Talon, wrapping his arms around the other’s waist.

“Do you like it?”

“It’s beautiful,” Talon said quietly.

Aiden smiled. Talon couldn’t see it, but he just knew.

“I take that as a yes.”

He let go of Talon and went on ahead, heading down the boardwalk. Talon followed him.

“Have you ever ice skated?” Aiden asked him over his shoulder.

“Forever ago. At an ice rink. But never like this. Isn’t it dangerous?”

Aiden shook his head, laughing.

“Not when the ice is as thick as it is now. It’s safe, trust me, I checked. Do you wanna try it?”

“Of course I want to try it. But I warn you, I’m really bad at it probably.”

Aiden turned around, smiling at him. “Well you’re lucky, I’m quite good at it, so I can help you.”

He got a pair of ice skates out of his bag and held them up. “So let’s give it a try.”

Turns out, Aiden really was good at this. Like, actually good.

Unlike Talon.

Talon moved over the ice with the grace of a toddler learning to walk.

Barely managing to hold himself upright, he slid forward, while Aiden made his rounds around him.

He came to stand next to Talon. “See, you’re figuring it out.”

And just in that moment Talon lost balance.

He would’ve landed on the ice rather inelegant, if Aiden wasn’t there to catch him in his arms in true romance movie manner.

Talon blushed. “Thank you.”

Aiden grinned, helping Talon to stand upright again. “No problem.”

“I don’t think that I’m really good at this.” Aiden laughed. “Maybe not. But you can be, with a little practice. Wait, let us try something.”

He took Talon’s hand. “Here and now let’s move together. Slowly.”

They made their way over the ice of the frozen lake slowly but surely and after a while Talon didn’t waver with every move anymore.

Still holding his hand, Aiden performed a little half-spin so that he skated in front of Talon, backwards.

He grabbed his other hand as well and they kept moving like that, both hands joined and Aiden skating backwards while Talon let him lead him.

“Show-off,” he said.

Aiden smirked. “I just wanted a nicer view.”

While Talon’s head started taking a color similar to his newly acquired hat, Aiden threw his head back and laughed and how he didn’t fall because of that was beyond Talon.

“Why are you so good at this?”

“Because I’ve been doing this every year since I was like three.”

Aiden let go of one of Talon’s hands. With the other one, he tugged Talon’s arm upward and performed a little spin like one would when dancing the waltz.

He smiled at Talon then and Talon smiled back.

“I would kiss you right now, but I’m afraid I’ll make both of us fall then,“ Talon admitted.

“Then maybe we should take a little break.”

That was all the warning Talon got before being pulled to a stop, half an arm length apart from Aiden.

“Think you’ll be able to kiss me like this?”

Talon rolled his eyes at the smug tone in his voice, tugging Aiden closer. “I think I can manage that.”

And so he did.

“Thank you,” Talon whispered after they parted. “This was nice.”

Aiden chuckled. “The kissing?”

A laugh escaped Talon’s lips. He leaned forward until their foreheads were touching.

“That too. But I meant your surprise.”

“I’m glad you liked it.” Aiden pulled back. “But don’t think we’re done here, I wanna get you to at least do one round on your own.”

Talon pouted. “But I liked it when we were doing it together.”

“Me too, we can do that afterwards. But now get going,” Aiden said, slapping Talon on the back with a little too much force, like a trainer probably would.

Talon laughed. “Yes, sir.”

In the end, their training paid off and Talon actually managed to skate on his own and quite steady at that.

It was nice, though Talon still preferred skating hand in hand with Aiden afterwards.

As the house came in sight, Talon started to get a bit nervous.

Aiden still hadn’t let go of his hand yet.

“So, what are we gonna do now, tell them?” he asked.

Aiden chuckled. “Believe me, that won’t be necessary.”

Talon stopped walking, hand losing contact with Aiden’s because the other man kept walking.

They knew?

Getting over his shock, Talon caught up to Aiden again, joining their hands once more.

“They know?” he repeated his question, out loud this time.

“Callan had a suspicion already, he kept questioning me about it on the first day they came here already and since at least this noon, I think he had all the confirmation he needed.”

Talon remembered the knowing look in the eyes of Aiden’s in-law.

So he had been right about him, he did know.

“And by now he totally told Henry about it, too. Easing him into it, hopefully, not that my poor brother gets a heart attack.”

He chuckled.

Talon gulped. “Will he be upset? About, you know… us?”

Aiden shook his head. “Henry… can be a bit protective sometimes. But only because he wants me to be happy. He won’t say anything, I promise.”

He squeezed Talon’s hand before letting go.

“What I can’t promise you though is that we won’t be teased about it. I mean, you already got a taste of that earlier today.”

He winked, then he dragged Talon up the stairs of the porch.

They had barely reached the door when it was already pulled open.

Callan stood in the doorway, a box like those decorations are stored in in his arms. Behind him stood Celene, wearing a glitter garland like a stole.

“Right on time, boys! We just finished decorating.”

Aiden scratched the back of his head. “Yeah, I didn’t have the time to do that yet.”

“That’s why I thought I help you and do it now!” Callan said cheerfully.

He thrusted the box into Talon’s arms.

“Could you bring this to the shed, please? And you could take this one, Aiden.”

He pointed at the box that stood in the hallway by the door.

“And then come in and look, you’ll love it!”

And just like that, Callan went back inside, Celene in tow.

Aiden only chuckled at that. He nudged Talon’s shoulder with his own. “Come, let’s bring those to the shed.”

As they returned, the inside of the house was almost not recognizable.

Talon and Aiden stood in the doorway of the living room, watching the scenery, and Talon was amazed how a little bit of Christmas decoration could change a room so much.

It really looked like in a Christmas movie now.

Talon slowly started to accept his fate as the protagonist of a real life Christmas romance.

What happened next only further proofed it.

“Careful where you’re standing, boys,” Callan said as he passed them in the hallway.

Talon looked back at him just in time to see him wink, then looked at Aiden in a silent question, only to see Aiden looking upward, cheeks tinted pink.

Following his view, Talon looked at the ceiling above them.

Of course. A mistletoe.

Well, he might as well embrace the Hallmark movie lifestyle.

He leaned over to Aiden, whispering close to his ear: “Why so shy, all of a sudden?”

When Aiden’s head whipped around at that, Talon smirked, placing a quick kiss on his lips.

He pulled away, but was pulled back in as Aiden put his arms around his neck and kissed him again, deeper this time.

Talon gave in to the desire of running his hand through Aiden’s hair, something he wanted to do for quite a while now.

A squeal that sounded like something between surprise and excitement was what made them break the kiss and pull apart faster than necessary.

Celene looked up to them, looked at her uncle first and then over to Talon, mouth agape.

Then she smiled brightly, turning on her heels and running towards the kitchen.

“Papa, daddy, uncle Aiden and his friend kissed,” she shouted.

Talon wanted to die right then and there.

He was positive that he was about to meet his end, either through embarrassment or the hand of Aiden’s brother.

Aiden next to him giggled, but the color of his cheeks gave away his embarrassment still.

“Well, now they definitely know.”

“Do you think we traumatized her?”

“No, she’s used to that from Henry and Callan already. I think she got excited, she’s a little romantic.”

“Good to know then.”

As they made their way into the kitchen, everyone was already looking at them.

Talon considered running away, but Aiden took his hand tightly and pulled him inside the room with him.

“You put that mistletoe there on purpose, didn’t you?” he asked Callan as he sat down at the kitchen table, pulling Talon down next to him.

The grin on Callan’s face was answer enough.

“He put them everywhere, he always does,” Henry said.

“Case in point,” he pointed up to the ceiling light over the table with an amused smile.

And indeed, there was another mistletoe.

Great, Talon thought, but before he could decide if he really dared to follow the tradition in front of Aiden’s entire family, Aiden had already pecked his cheek.

It was an innocent gesture but it made Talon blush almost more than the kisses they shared before.

“And it works every time,” Callan said, taking the seat next to Henry, leaning in his direction expectantly.

Henry rolled his eyes fondly at him, but he leaned to the side to give his husband a quick kiss on his lips.

“Can I get a kiss, too?” Celene asked from her seat at the head of the table and everyone laughed.

Henry and Aiden, both sitting within the little girl’s reach, leaned towards her and pecked one of her cheeks each, making her giggle.

“See?” Callan asked. “It’s a nice tradition. By the way, congrats you two! I remember when me and Henry-“

“Callan,” both Henry and Aiden said in unison and Callan laughed.

“Talon?”

“Yes?”

“We have to do something about your cold hands if you keep touching my face like this.”

“I can stop doing that if you want.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“Then come here and let me kiss you a little more, we can do something about it later.”

“Mhm, okay.”

It took Aiden some persuasion, but in the end even Talon had to admit that they would probably both catch a cold if they didn’t stop making out in a pile of snow.

Maybe they could continue that somewhere warmer.

“Your fingers are even colder than before,” Aiden scolded as Talon took his hand on their way back.

“We’ll definitely have to get you a pair of gloves and a hat. And a scarf maybe.”

“Nope,” Talon shook his head.

With his free hand he reached for the red scarf around his neck.

“I’m keeping this one. Forever.”

He meant it. He wanted to hold on to it for as long as he could.

Just like he wanted to hold on to Aiden as long as he could.

Sooner or later he needed to find a way to tell Aiden the true reason he stayed in Woodside in the first place.

And hope that he didn’t hate him after, though that chance was probably pretty small.

But for now, he pushed the thought aside.

He knew it was selfish.

But if this was all he’d ever have with Aiden, he wanted it to last at least longer than half an hour.

“You are lucky that you look so cute with it. It’s one of my favorites and I wouldn’t part with it for just anyone.”

Talon put a hand over his heart. “I feel honored.”

Aiden smiled. “You should.”

He tugged at Talon’s hand to put him to a halt, just like before their kiss.

“What, got another confession to make?” Talon asked amused.

“No,” Aiden said. “Just that I really really like you.”

He got in his tiptoes to kiss Talon’s nose.

“Thought we established that already when we made out earlier.”

Aiden laughed. “That’s true. So you’re not gonna say it back?”

“It back.”

“Very funny, Talon, did Celene teach you that? Cause that’s really-“

Talon cut him off with a kiss and Aiden shut up immediately.

“Of course I like you,” Talon said as they pulled apart, caressing his cheek. “I like you really damn much. In fact, I think you are my own personal Christmas miracle.”

Aiden smiled widely at that. “I’m flattered. If you could please be so kind and take your cold fingers off my face now.”

Talon shoved him playfully. “Yes, sir. Can I at least hold your hand?”

Aiden looked like he considered it.

What a brat.

“I think in this case I can make an exception… wait! I have an idea!”

He pulled off one of his own gloves and offered it to Talon.

Frowning in confusion, Talon pulled the glove over his left hand.

It fit, luckily, sitting only a little tight at his fingertips.

Proof that Aiden’s hand fitted perfectly in his, it was only a little smaller.

Aiden watched him with a pleased smile, then he took Talon’s now gloved hand in his own.

“Better,” he said, hiding his glove-less hand in the pocket of his winter jacket and continued to walk.

“Put your hand in your pocket, too, we can’t have it freeze off,” he instructed.

“Yes, sir,” Talon mumbled and did as he was told.

The next morning, Talon woke up to the smell of coffee and the sound of someone working in the kitchen.

As he walked into the room, he found Aiden making pancakes and Celene sitting on the table in her Christmas pyjama, happily chatting along with her uncle while sipping on her hot chocolate.

“Morning!” she called as she saw Talon.

Aiden looked over his shoulder at that, smiling. “Good morning! Coffee is over there!”

Talon greeted them back and got over to the coffee maker to fill a cup for himself. Then he walked over to the table, where Aiden just served his niece her breakfast.

He topped off the pancakes with syrup, cinnamon and walnuts and Talon was sure he never saw pancakes that looked that delicious before.

“Want some, too?” Aiden asked as he noticed Talon eyeing the pancakes. “I made extra.”

Talon nodded, maybe a little bit too eager, because Aiden laughed. “Sit, then.”

The rest of the morning Talon spent on the rug in front of the fireplace, watching both Frozen movies with Celene, while Aiden went about his usual work.

He went to check on them from time to time, singing along to songs with his niece and staying just a little bit longer at the scene where Elsa saved Anna.

They were almost through with the Christmas short film (Aiden had joined them completely for that one) when the door opened.

“We’re back!” a cheerful voice sounded.

Celene jumped up from where she sat immediately, running towards the hallway.

“Papa! Daddy!”

A moment later she was carried back into the room in the arms of a man that was no doubt Aiden’s brother.

While they did look different, their way of carrying themself was the same.

Closely behind him followed a man with hair as white as the snow outside and ice blue eyes that jumped on Talon immediately.

Talon felt awfully exposed under his knowing look, especially since he wore a hoodie Aiden had lent him after Celene accidentally spilled syrup on his sweater this morning.

The man grinned then and Talon was sure that he knew what was going on.

“Hello you two!” Aiden greeted, unfazed by all this.

Or maybe he didn’t see the look of his brother in-law.

“Hey!” Henry greeted. “Sorry for being late, we got lost for a while. Wrong street.”

“You got lost,” said the other man, amused. “I told you we needed to take the other street but you insisted this way was faster.”

He patted his husband’s arm fondly as Henry grumbled something about “how was I supposed to know they closed off the street.” and let Celene down, who immediately went to her other father and clung to his legs, demanding his attention.

Only now did Aiden’s brother notice him and the raise of his eyebrow made Talon sure that his worst fear would come true, that he knew him and would expose who he really was.

And kick him out of his house while he was already at it.

“And you are…?” he asked.

It wasn’t unkind, but there was a certain caution in his voice.

“That’s Talon,” Aiden answered for him.

Talon was glad he did, cause he wasn’t sure if he would’ve managed to utter those words.

No recognition of that name passed Henry’s face, luckily, and so Talon found the courage to say: “Nice to meet you.”

Before Henry even got the chance to answer him, his husband chimed in.

“Oh, so you’re the Talon.”

Talon could see from the corner of his eyes how Aiden facepalmed as Callan made his way over to them and shook Talon’s hand enthusiastically.

“I’m Callan. We’ve heard so much about you already, right dear?”

He looked over his shoulder to Henry, who looked like he felt a little out of place.

Talon could relate.

It only took a few seconds and a keen look from his husband for Henry to overcome his frozen state.

He smiled. “Right. Nice to finally meet you.”

He too offered Talon his hand. “Our daughter speaks very highly of you. And Aiden too.”

Aiden made a sound of protest to which Henry responded with an amused smile, his eyes softening as he looked over at his brother.

“Thank you two for looking after Celene, she said she had fun.”

“SO much fun!”

Celene confirmed, outstretching both of her arms. That made everyone laugh and just like that, the moment of awkward introductions was over.

Some time later, Aiden dragged Talon outside, away from the teasing of his brothers and Celene’s begging to be allowed to come outside and “play with them”.

Talon was almost glad for the sudden quiet, not used to this kind of thing anymore.

“I’m sorry,” Aiden said. “I love them all, but sometimes they can be a bit much.”

They were walking aimlessly through the snowy woods, shoulders brushing occasionally with how close they were.

Talon was still captivated by the sight of it all.

It was truly a winter wonderland.

They didn’t have snow like this where he lived, never.

There it was only ever a weird mixture out of snow and rain that turned into an ugly gray sludge within the span of a day.

Here however, the snow was as pure and white as it can be.

Talon had thought he would grow tired of the snow here soon enough, but that never happened.

The glistening of the white blanket that wrapped everything in its embrace was as beautiful to him as it has been on the first day.

If anything, it seemed even brighter today. But maybe it was because of his company.

“It’s okay,” he reassured Aiden. “They are nice.”

They really were.

“I think they like you,” Aiden smiled.

He tugged at Talon’s wrist to get him to stop.

They stood across from each other now, so close that Talon could see the length of Aiden’s eyelashes and feel the warmth that radiated from his body.

Aiden fixed Talon’s scarf - the scarf that belonged to Aiden - before his hands found their way to Talon’s chest.

Talon was sure Aiden would be able to feel the quick drumming of his heart even through the layers he wore.

“I’m glad about you getting along. But I’m also glad that I get to have you for me alone now.”

A pause. Then:

“Talon, I…”

He was blushing, not looking at Talon, even though Talon wanted nothing more than to see his face.

He didn’t know when he reached out to hold Aiden’s face in his hands, making him look up to him, but he did.

And he was rewarded with the most lovely sight of it all.

Aiden’s face made even the glistening white of the winter wonderland around them seem dull in comparison.

“Yeah?” His throat suddenly felt dry.

Aiden was about to open his mouth for an answer, when the call of a bird that sat on the tree they stood under stopped him.

The bird took flight then, shaking up the branch it was sitting on in the process and Talon stumbled backwards, pulling Aiden with him to keep them both from being attacked by a pile of snow from above.

And then - of course - he lost his balance.

He landed backward in the snow, Aiden on top of him.

Talon was very aware of how cliche this situation was once again and groaned.

Aiden, who lay in his arms and had his head buried in Talon’s shoulder, was shaking and Talon realized that it was because he was laughing.

Aiden lifted his head and now he could hear it, too. His wonderful laughter.

And he couldn’t help but to laugh too.

“You were saying?” he asked once they both caught their breath.

They were still giggling like little children, though.

Aiden only looked at him, eyes dropping to his lips.

When he leaned in, Talon already met him halfway.

He cupped Aiden’s cheek with his fingers, tilting up his head to deepen the kiss, while Aiden’s hands still rested against his chest.

A little sound escaped Aiden’s lips as they parted and Talon knew that he needed to kiss those lips again.

And again and again.

For as long as Aiden would let him. But there was one thing still on his mind.

Well, several things, but this was the one that needed to be cleared up now.

“What about Maya?”

Aiden seemed confused, watching him with a tilted head. “What about her?”

“Aren’t you two… you know?”

Aiden’s eyes widened. “You really think me and her…?” He started to laugh again.

“Talon, I’m not dating her. That would be like dating my sister. She’s my best friend since I know how to walk.”

He shook his head. “I can’t believe that you thought… wait till she hears that.”

Great, now Talon felt like an idiot.

“Oh,” he said.

“Yeah, oh.” Aiden caressed the side of Talon’s face.

“Maybe I should worry though, I kiss you and the first thing you think about is Maya.”

Talon could tell that he was just teasing him by the smirk tugging at his lips, still he got flustered.

“No, I- All I’m thinking about is you.”

And that was probably the most earnest thing he had ever told Aiden.

“Good,” Aiden leaned closer. “Me too.”

They kissed again and believe it or not (Talon certainly wouldn’t have believed it just a few days ago) it started to snow just in that moment.

Tiny, glittering snowflakes that danced through the air and got illuminated by the winter sun.

“Do you need a blanket or something?” Aiden asked Talon. “You look cold.”

“That’s cause I am.” Talon deadpanned.

“Oh, are we getting grumpy?” Aiden asked with a grin.

Celene giggled behind her cup.

“Maybe you should sit by the fire a bit,” Aiden suggested.

“Yeah!”, his niece jumped up from her seat, almost knocking over her mug. “Let’s do that!”

She ran to the fireplace and sat down on the fuzzy rug in front of it. Aiden rolled his eyes fondly.

“Come, Mr. Snowman, let’s warm you up.” He grabbed both his own mug and that of Celene and made his way over to the fireplace.

Talon followed him, grumbling about how he was definitely not grumpy.

They sat there by the fire for a while and he had to admit, it was really nice. After a few minutes he felt a lot warmer already.

When Celene announced loudly that she finished up her drink, Aiden stood up to put all the mugs away and go check on his father.

“Come,” Celene said, pulling on Talon’s hand as she stood up. “We’re gonna build a snowman!”

Talon laughed, letting himself be dragged along. “Alright, alright. I’m on my way.”

“You are already ready I see.”

Aiden came into the hallway just when Talon helped Celene to close the zipper of her winter boots.

He had his father with him, dressed up warmly and with a blanket around his legs.

Celene nodded excitedly, putting on her woolen hat, pulling it deep into her face in her hurry.

“Grandpa, I’m gonna build a snowman!” she announced then, running over to him to grab his hand.

Milan looked tired, yet he smiled down at the little girl. “That’s nice, sweetheart,” he said quietly.

Once Aiden got into his outdoor clothes (Talon helped him into his coat), they made their way outside.

While Aiden pushed his father’s wheelchair, Celene grabbed Talon’s hand with her smaller one and all but dragged him outside, throwing herself into the snow pilled up in front of the porch.

“Watch out, princess. If you’re not careful you’ll turn into a snowwoman yourself and we can’t build one anymore,” Aiden called.

He stood next to Talon now, putting a hand in his shoulder. “Ready to start?” he asked with a smile.

Talon returned it. “Yeah.”

And so the three began their work, Aiden’s father watching them from out of his sheltered spot on the porch.

Celene looked like she had the time of her life, helping to form the piles of snow into the body of not one but several snowmen in different sizes and given Talon and her uncle instructions.

“A little bit bigger, please!” she demanded, as if the snowman’s body wasn’t already almost as big as her.

“She will grow up to be in a leading position, no doubt.” Talon said quietly, which made Aiden laugh.

“Taking after her father, then,” he said, grinning.

When it was time to give the snowmen faces, Aiden had to lift Celene up to even be able to reach one of them, that’s how big it was.

A total of four snowmen stood on the yard now.

A small one with pink gloves on its stick arms and big round stones for eyes, a tall one with a hat and scarf and a long carrot nose, a chubby one with a big chubby nose and a Santa hat (Snow santa, how Celene named him) and one that compared to the others looked almost a little scrawny, a pair of earmuffs on its head.

The last one looked a bit grumpy when you looked at it too closely.

“That one looks like you,” Celene said, tugging at Talon’s sleeve and pointing to before-mentioned snowman.

The cruel honesty of little children. Awesome.

His niece’s comment lead to an actual laughing fit for Aiden, that brat.

He laughed so much he fell into the snow. Sadly not face first. He would’ve deserved that for laughing at him, Talon thought.

“You know,” Aiden said after he was done laughing, wiping away a tear. “She’s not wrong.”

He regarded the snowman for a while, arms crossed. “It might look a little grumpy, but it’s clearly the most handsome. I like it.”

He looked over to Talon, grin spreading on his face. It only grew when he saw the red blooming on Talon’s cheeks.

The worst thing was that Celene noticed, too.

Luckily her innocent child mind blamed it on the cold and she asked him to pick her up and lay her little gloved hands on his face in an attempt to warm him.

And it did warm him, inside and out.

Just like the look with that Aiden regarded him and Celene, all soft and happy.

Soon, Celene demanded to be put down. She ran over to her grandfather and climbed into his lap.

Talon and Aiden watched from afar as she asked him about his opinion on the little ragtag group of snowmen on his yard.

Milan listened carefully, talking to his granddaughter in a quiet voice that contrasted her own loud one.

He put his arms around her to secure her in his arms and keep her from falling off due to the wild gestures that accompanied the excited rush of words leaving her mouth.

And though it was hard to tell from afar, it looked like he smiled.

“She’s good for him,” Aiden commented. “He smiles more when she’s around.”

He sounded so sad. Talon took his hand and squeezed it. “She’s really cute.”

A smile tugged at Aiden’s lips. “That she is.”

He tugged at their joined hands, hiding them in the pocket of his coat.

“You have ice fingers,” he commented.

They stood there for a while then, silent, joined hands warming up in Aiden’s pocket as they watched Celene getting comfortable in her grandfather’s lap, head leaning against his chest as she continued to talk to him.

After a while, he returned. “All set up, now. I also lay out a pyjama that should fit you.”

Talon nodded. “Thank you, Aiden.”

There was quiet between them, neither of them really knowing what came next.

Talon only knew he didn’t want the day to end yet. He wanted more time with Aiden.

“Hey,” he said. “How about we go sit out on the porch for a bit?”

Aiden smiled. “Didn’t have enough cold for the day yet?”

Talon shrugged. “I don’t mind to get some more fresh air before I go to sleep. You know, us city slickers don’t really get the chance to inhale that sweet sweet country air that often, so I have to use the opportunity while I’m still here.”

Aiden laughed. “Persuaded. I’ll get us a blanket, you take the tea. Deal?”

“Deal.”

The blanket in question was a big, lined patchwork quilt in various red and green shades.

It looked self-made, like someone put lots of work and love into it and it warmed them up perfectly as they sat out on the porch, huddled together on the bench.

For a while, neither of them spoke much, just enjoying the quiet of the night and each other’s company.

Talon listened for the sounds of the Christmas tree farm at night, fascinated with how much he could hear, out here in the quiet, away from city bustling and traffic noises.

“You really don’t get nights like this in the city…” He said into the silence.

“It’s really different, isn’t it? Living there?”

Aiden was born here, he had grown up in this little town on the country side. He had no idea how it was to live in a big city.

Talon was sure that Aiden would hate it.

“I don’t think you could stand being there very long. It’s pretty loud when you’re not used to it. There’s no quiet nights or clear skies. You can’t even see the stars with all those city lights.”

He told Aiden about living in the city. He told him about work, too, without getting too much into detail. Luckily Aiden didn’t ask questions about what kind of company his father lead.

The more he talked about it, the more he realized that he wasn’t as content with his city life as he always thought he was.

Hasn’t been in quite a while.

“Being here, it feels a little like taking the first breath after you’ve been kept underwater for too long,” he closed his narration.

“Then you should probably come here more often,” Aiden said.

Talon could only agree.

But once Aiden found out the truth he’d probably take that statement right back.

“You know,“ Aiden said before Talon could get lost in his worries again. “My mom wasn’t from here either. She came here by chance.”

Talon tilted his head in curiosity. “Really?”

Aiden hadn’t really mentioned his mother before. Talon knew from his research that she was dead, but that was really all he knew.

Aiden nodded.

“She was twenty and had just fled her hometown to get away from her ex. That guy was an utter asshole and one day she had enough of him mistreating her. So she took their three-month-old son - my brother - packed her backs and left.

She drove until she ran out of gas, right here in this town. Or, well, shortly before it. It was supposed to only be a temporary stay, but winter flew by and she didn’t leave like she had planned to.”

“Why’s that?”

“She fell in love.”

He smiled, gaze fixed on his hands that were playing with the blanket.

“First with this place and then with my dad. And so she stayed.”

He looked up at Talon. The vulnerability in his eyes made Talon want to reach out and touch his face, but he didn’t dare.

“She loved this place, this farm. To her it was the most beautiful place in the world. The home she wanted her children to grow up in. The home she wanted to grow old in…”

“What happened to her?”

“She died in a car crash when I was eight. During a snow storm. My dad drove the car. He survived, but she didn’t and he has never been the same ever since.”

This poor family.

“That’s horrible. I’m sorry, Aiden.”

Aiden smiled at that, thankful. “Thank you. It’s been so long… I just miss her so much around this time of year.”

Talon understood that all too well. Aiden didn’t know how well…

“A couple years ago, my favorite uncle passed. It was in December.”

Talon hadn’t spoken about that in ages. Actually, Aiden was the first person he told about it at all.

“We were close - as close as you can be with someone you only saw during school breaks and family gatherings. He called me every week and we spent Christmas at his place every year since I can think. He taught me to play the guitar. And violin, too. He was composer. When he died…“

He didn’t finish the sentence.

When he died, Talon’s mother stopped singing in the shower.

When he died, Christmas as Talon knew it was forever gone.

When he died, Talon buried himself in studies to not feel the pain.

“I’m sorry.” Aiden said.

It was all there was to say. He leaned his head against Talon’s shoulder.

Talon rested his head on his. “Thanks.”

Silence fell between them again.

Aiden’s hands kept playing with the blanket relentlessly, crumbling the fabric beneath his fingers and smoothed it out again and again.

“Mom made this blanket, you know?” he went to explain as he noticed Talon watching his movements silently.

“It was originally a baby blanket for me, made of parts of the baby blanket of my brother. But as I grew, she kept adding on to it and ended up turning it into this blanket instead.”

He smiled. “After she died, when missing her grew unbearable, I wrapped myself in it and it felt like she hugged me. It sounds stupid, looking back now.”

Talon reached for Aiden’s fidgeting hand.

They did that a lot lately, holding hands. None of them commented on what that might mean, they just did it and it gave Talon a sense of comfort each time.

Their hands fit so well together.

“It’s not stupid. I used to wear my uncle’s favorite sweater, too, until it was so worn out my mother needed to mend it.”

And she did. She also let him wear the sweater every night without commenting on it.

Talon only now registered that it was her way of helping him through his grief.

He needed to thank her for that one day.

“That’s nice. It’s good to have something that makes us remember them.”

“Yeah.”

He was right with that. The sweater was still in his possession.

In fact, he took it with him to Woodside, wrapped around his favorite book to protect it from potentially getting damaged.

“I understand her,” Talon said after a while.

Aiden lifted his head to look at him in question.

“Your mom,” Talon specified. “This place really makes one fall in love.”

“Yeah,” a smile spread on Aiden’s face. He leaned back against Talon’s shoulder.

Talon didn’t see Aiden the next day.

Aiden’s brother Henry and his family were coming and Talon really didn’t want to interfere.

Also, part of him was a little nervous about meeting Henry, worried he might recognize him.

After all he learned that Aiden’s older brother, his husband and their little daughter lived in the same city Talon came from.

So the possibility of that was very real and the idea of being discovered frightened Talon for more reasons than just one…

It was only a day and yet Talon couldn’t help but to miss Aiden a little.

It was strange how he got attached to the Christmas tree farmer after this little time.

Talon did have crushes and relationships before, but never did he catch feelings so fast.

Halea called it a “Christmas miracle”.

Before he came here, he would’ve told her to shut up, but now he was almost inclined to agree.

There must be some magic at work, why else would he be willing to go against his own father’s will, something Talon never dared before.

But the thought of Aiden and his father, no, of the whole town to lose the Christmas tree farm made his heart want to break.

He couldn’t let it happen. He didn’t have a solution yet, but he was working on it.

The day after that, Sunday, Woodside did its Christmas magic again and Talon, out on a walk that subconsciously lead him into the direction of the Christmas tree farm, ran right into Aiden.

It was nothing new at this point and by now it filled him with excitement rather than with annoyance.

“Talon! Hello!” Aiden greeted him brightly as he saw him.

He was dragging something behind him, but Talon was too distracted by his smile to even register what exactly it was.

“We are on our way to go sledding, do you want to join?”

Talon raised an eyebrow. Not just at the request but at the word “we“.

He looked past Aiden at the thing he was dragging behind him and realized it was indeed a sleigh.

And on the sleigh sat a little girl (if Talon had to guess about four years old) with an adorable puffy little rose-colored snowsuit with faux fur hood collar and big light brown eyes that watched him with curiosity.

Talon waved at her and the girl squeaked, covering her face with her hands.

Aiden laughed. “Why so shy, princess?”

He let go of the sling of the sleigh to walk over to the girl to pick her up.

Then he turned to Talon.

“Excuse my manners. This is Celene, my adorable-“ he kissed the girl’s cheek and she let out a delighted squeal. “little niece. And this is my friend, Talon. Say hi, Celi.”

At her uncle‘s gentle request, Celene turned her attention towards Talon.

“Hello,” she said quietly and held out her hand to Talon like she probably saw grown ups do when they greeted each other before.

Talon had to smile at that and took the little hand, shaking it lightly.

“Nice to meet you, Celene.”

He bowed a little, then, like one would to a princess and it made the little girl smile.

And her uncle, too.

“So back to my question. Do you want to come with us? I’m sure Celene would like that, right princess?”

Celene nodded.

How could Talon say no to that?

“Sure,” he said. “Let’s go sledding.”

“Great!”

Aiden kissed his niece’s cheek again, then he sat her down on the sleigh.

“Hold on tight, princess. The sleigh express continues!”

In their way to the quote Aiden “best sledding place there is” he asked Talon about how his Saturday was.

Talon only gave a short answer, asking about Aiden’s day in turn to distract him and it worked.

Today, Aiden told Talon, his brother and his husband were visiting a friend and left Aiden with the honorable task of looking after their daughter.

Aiden loved his little niece and he was excited to spend the day with her.

“And with you,” he added with a wink.

“I know what you mean. I like spending time with my nephew, too.”

Trevor was older than Celene and Talon didn’t see him as often lately, always busy with work.

But he liked spending time with him, it always reminded him of the time he spent with his own uncle.

He should pick him up for a day off once he came back home…

“Tell me about him,” Aiden said softly and Talon gladly did. He had to admit that he did miss his family a little.

When they arrived at their destination there were already quite some people there, mostly children.

Seeing them play got Celene all excited, wiggling around on her sleigh so much Talon worried she might fall.

Talon however felt a little overwhelmed. That was a pretty steep hill.

“You want to sled down there?”

Aiden, who was just adjusting Celene’s snow suit, laughed.

“Yeah, why? Nervous?”

“No.”

Yes.

“But isn’t she a little too small for that?” Talon questioned, pointing at Aiden’s niece.

“I’m not small,” she protested with a pout that very much resembled that of Aiden.

Talon wondered if those ran in the family.

“You heard her!”

Turning to Celene Aiden said: “You know princess, I think Talon is a little afraid of sledding with us.”

“Hey,” Talon protested, but it all was forgotten when the little girl went over to him to hug his legs and looked up to him.

“We’ll look after you,” she said, determined.

Aiden came over as well, putting an arm around Talon’s shoulder.

“She’s right, we’ll make sure you don’t fall off.”

He grinned.

Adorable. Both of them. Let Talon tell you that much.

“Okay, then let’s try it.”

And that was how he found himself on a sleigh at the very top of a - for his liking a little too high - snowy hill, holding on to Aiden for dear life, who in turn secured Celene in his arms.

As they made their first trip down the hill, Celene screamed in delight and Talon screamed a little too, though in terror, and no he would never admit that.

And if Aiden told anyone Talon would murder him.

All that mixed with Aiden’s laughter and after the first initial shock (in his defense, Talon didn’t go sledding in ages and he couldn’t recall ever sledding down a hill that was that steep) Talon had to admit that it wasn’t too bad.

After the third time he actually started to have fun.

This time it was him who held Celene, Aiden’s arms secure around his own waist and Talon felt a little like a child again.

This time, he too laughed as the sleigh made its way down the hill and he laughed even harder when shortly before they reached the bottom of the hill they scraped a stone or something that made Aiden fall off the sleigh and into the snow.

First Aiden had been pouting a little (yes it definitely ran in the family), more about being laughed at by his niece and Talon rather than about his actual “fall”, but soon he started laughing too.

“Hello everyone.” Aiden began to speak and everyone was listening.

Thilda was right, Aiden was really good at giving speeches.

He thanked everyone for coming and for leaving donations, he cracked little jokes that made everyone laugh, he talked about the farm, his family, their community and their beloved Christmas tradition in a way that made people wipe tears from their eyes (Talon included - and he wasn’t even ashamed to admit that).

Letting his eyes wander around for a bit, Talon examined the expressions of the people around him - people that were Aiden’s friends, his neighbors, his customers - people that saw Aiden become the man he was today.

And he saw how fond they all were of him, how important he was to them, how beloved he was.

And Talon swore right then and there that he would find a way to get his father to leave Aiden’s family alone and maybe even find a way to help them out.

“So anyway, I think I talked more than enough and surely you’re all waiting for me to shut up and let you roast marshmallows in peace-“

The people laughed at that and Aiden grinned.

“So that’s what I’m gonna do. Let’s celebrate! Let’s raise our glasses- or marshmallow sticks. To Christmas. To the children that will get lots of lovely presents - all thanks to you guys. And to you. All of you. To friends, old - and new.”

He looked at Talon when he said that. Or maybe Talon only imagined it.

“And family. United by blood or by choice.”

The applause that followed the end of his speech was loud, just like a speech like this - and a guy like Aiden - deserved it.

The band started to play Christmas songs.

Aiden let himself be pulled into a long hug by Maya, then one by each of the twins, before making his way over to his father.

He hugged the woman that was with his dad, then he squatted down in front of him to take his father’s hands in his.

The man smiled and this time it was one that did reach his eyes and Talon understood where Aiden got his smile from.

As Aiden stood up, he turned around and scanned the masses, as if looking for someone.

Like earlier during his speech, his eyes found Talon’s and he smiled. He walked over to him and Talon met him halfway.

“That was a good speech, you are really good at this,” he said, after Aiden had pulled him into a hug as well.

“Thanks,” Aiden scratched the back of his neck bashfully.

He grabbed Talon’s hand with both of his, holding it up and starting to play with his fingers.

“Hey, I really am glad that you came. And that you helped me out earlier. And… thanks for just being here with me, I guess.”

A nervous laugh escaped him and he let go of Talon’s hand. “Excuse me, I think I’m a little sentimental after this evening. It’s stupid…”

Talon lifted Aiden’s chin with a finger to make the other look at him. “Hey, it’s not stupid.”

His gaze flickered to Aiden’s lips, like it often tended to these days. “I’m glad I’m here with you, too.”

Before Talon could give in to his desire to lean down and capture those pretty lips with his own, the band started playing the instrumental version of “Last Christmas” in a volume that made the two of them flinch apart.

They laughed, then, partly out of surprise, partly out of embarrassment and Aiden dragged him over to where his friends and family have gathered.

“Too bad Henry and his family are only coming here tomorrow and couldn’t hear your speech, I bet him and Callan would’ve been so proud,” Theo teased.

Aiden made a face. “Oh hell no, I would’ve died out of embarrassment if they were here. No doubt they’d have cheered way too loud.”

Everyone laughed at that and much more laughter followed, as the night passed on and the Christmas bonfire celebration truly began.

Hours later, way into the night, most people had gone home.

Aiden had seen the last bunch of them off, thanking them and waving them goodbye.

Only a handful of people remained, all gathered around the fire, all people Aiden considered friends or family.

His father had gone to bed by now, but Maya, the twins, Mrs. Greta and a couple others all sat next to each other, letting the fire warm them.

Some had hot drinks in their gloved hands, some talked to each other in hushed voices.

Mathilda had her head rested on her brother’s shoulder and Maya shared a blanket with Mrs. Greta.

It was peaceful, quiet, and Talon was right in the middle of it all. And though he wasn’t from here, he didn’t feel like an outsider.

He felt like he was part of the community.

Aiden’s warmth returned to his side as he sat by the fire beside Talon with almost no space left between them.

“Connor forgot his guitar here,” Aiden said into the quiet, holding the guitar in one hand.

“Typical,” came someone’s reply and Aiden chuckled.

“Well, we should make use of that. Anyone here that can play the guitar?”

The people all shook their heads.

“Actually,” Talon spoke before he could stop himself. “I do.”

Aiden looked at him in surprise. “You do?”

Talon shrugged.

“I’m better with the violin, to be honest. But I learned to play the guitar too. My… my uncle taught me.”

Aiden seemed to notice the shift in his tone when he mentioned his uncle, but he didn’t comment on it and Talon was thankful for it.

“Will you play for us, then?” Mrs. Greta asked. “Singing by the fire reminds me of my childhood.”

“Yeah, play for us,” Maya chimed in and soon they all asked for him to do it.

So Talon gave in.

He brought this onto himself after all.

And some of those people had given him so much that this was the least he could do for them.

“Alright.”

He let Aiden give him the guitar. “But it’s been a while.”

“We won’t mind,” Aiden reassured him, leaning his head into his hand as he watched from the side as Talon’s fingers danced over the chords.

Once he got used to the feeling of the guitar and played a few tones, he looked into the round.

“What song do you want me to play?”

“A Christmas song, obviously,” someone said with a laugh.

“You can choose whatever you like,” Aiden said, ignoring the person.

He wanted the give him a way out, because he knew Talon wasn’t too fond of Christmas and that it probably applied to Christmas songs, too.

But Talon was sure Aiden would like to hear him play one of those.

So he played one, the first that came to his mind - because it used to be his uncle’s favorite.

He hadn’t played nor heard it ever since Kieran had passed, but he knew the words and notes by heart.

He began to sing “Mistletoe and Holly” and with every note he could feel the warmth of nostalgia flood him.

There was a tint of sadness, too, some bittersweet undertones caused by memories he had pushed away for too long and yet he felt at ease, comfortable.

Playing the song again was like feeling a warm hug and seeing the delight in the faces of the people - Aiden especially (god, the fondness in his face) - made it even better.

As the song was finished, it was quiet for a while, before everyone applauded.

“That was very good, Talon. Thank you,” said Mrs. Greta.

The others gave their quiet agreement.

“You really have talent,” Aiden said, knocking his knee against Talon’s own. “You should do this more often.”

Talon could only agree, he really should.

He had more or less abandoned this part of him after his uncle died, had buried it under studies and work just like his old love for Christmas.

And maybe it was time to dig both of those parts of him out again, because he could remember how happy it once made him.

Right here, in this town that looked like out of a Christmas postcard, he could finally remember.

Right now, he broke ground.

And it was all because of this place and because of the young man sitting next to him, leaning against him ever so slightly to whisper: “How about a second song?”

And Talon played a second one.

And a third.

And a fourth.

After their second hot chocolate (and luckily no more awkward moments between them) the two decided to stroll through the market together and check out the other booths before Aiden had to leave to prepare for the bonfire.

They chatted with Maya a little, who already sold quite a lot of their cookies.

“Keep up the good work,” Aiden encouraged her. “The more money we raise, the better for the kids.”

Maya smiled at that. “Yes, sir.”

Then she turned towards the next customer and Talon and Aiden moved on.

“There’s so many unique things you can buy here,” Talon commented as he examined a little wooden figure of a reindeer.

It looked pretty, like most of the things sold at the booth.

The delicate details of the piece and the care with that it must’ve been made fascinated him.

What really caught his attention though was the red scarf the reindeer wore. It was a corny detail, but it did little to undermine the realism of the animal itself.

Also, it looked like the scarf as the one Aiden gave him. That fact alone made him want to buy it.

“How much for this?”

But it wasn’t Talon who asked it, though he had just opened his mouth to do so.

It was Aiden, who snatched the figure from Talon’s hands.

Talon looked up at the seller and almost took a step back when he recognized him.

It was the old man he saw on his first day here, the one that caused him to collide with Aiden.

He had seen him around town more than once since then, but seeing him here surprised him.

The man winked at Talon, then he turned to Aiden.

“For you, my friend, I’ll make a good price…” he told Aiden the price and Aiden handed him the money.

“Aiden, I-“ Talon opened his mouth again, this time to protest, but Aiden shushed him.

“Keep it.” He smiled, holding the figure out to Talon, who was too stunned to take it.

“Think of it as an early Christmas present. As keepsake for when you go back to your big big city.”

He patted Talon’s chest. “Now stop standing there like an ice figure and just accept the present.”

He shook his hand with the figure a little, careful not to accidentally break it. Talon took it, bringing it close to his chest.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

Luckily Aiden heard him anyway. The soft smile on his face only added to the wave of fondness crashing over Talon.

He wanted to kiss him so bad in this moment. But he didn’t.

“What you mentioned to Maya earlier, about raising money for the kids, what exactly did you mean by that?”

Aiden didn’t answer right away, instead he was motioning for Talon to follow him and made his way through the masses of people.

Talon had to be quick to not lose him in the crowd and as he reached him he grabbed his hand.

Only to not lose him of course, no ulterior motives, none at all.

And since Aiden didn’t protest, Talon figured he was fine with it.

“Each year on this Christmas market, we collect donations,” Aiden started to explain after a while.

“Almost all of the booths here donate parts of or even all of their earnings to enable children of families with less fortune to celebrate a proper Christmas - with a feast, presents and of course, Christmas trees.”

Talon couldn’t see it from behind him but he was pretty sure Aiden was smiling.

“My parents started this tradition and now I’m continuing it. We donate the Christmas trees, obviously. And I personally supervise the present tree.”

Talon raised a brow in question. “Present tree?”

Just in that moment Aiden came to a halt, tugging Talon forward by his hand until they stood in front of a gigantic tree that had whole piles of presents standing all around it - under the tree itself, on tables near it, even little presents hanging on the branches.

A young couple just knelt down in front of the tree to add another big present with a green ribbon to the pile.

A woman in her sixties was handing over a present to the young man that Aiden brought in Maya’s tree with the other day - Theo if he remembered right.

A little bit to their left a girl that had a truly striking similarity to Theo was talking to a young boy who held a big fuzzy teddy bear with a bow on his head out to her.

She took the bear and placed it to the other presents on one of the tables. She waved when she noticed Aiden and Talon in the crowd.

“Additionally to the money,” Aiden explained as they made their way over to the girl.

“Visitors of the market today are bringing presents that then get donated - many of them to the children’s hospital.”

He looked at Talon over his shoulder and grinned brightly. “That was my brother’s and my idea when we were younger.”

Talon was at a loss of words. And just when he thought Aiden couldn’t possibly be even more perfect.

How can a man like that exist?

Talon was tempted to go back to his original theory of Aiden being a come-to-live Christmas romcom protagonist.

“If that’s not our little saint,” the girl greeted Aiden as they came to her.

A short laugh escaped Aiden. “You’re flattering me, Thilda.”

The girl slapped his shoulder playfully. “Stop undermining yourself, I’m simply saying what we all think, am I right?” She turned to Talon.

And how right she was, Talon couldn’t have found a better word to describe this man next to him.

Despite being in desperate need for money himself, he collected donations for children in need.

Some people could use him as an example. Talon was one of them.

“Yes,” Talon looked at Aiden and smiled. He squeezed his hand before letting go of it. “You’re right.”

Aiden blushed, hiding his face in his hands.

“You guys, stop making me all emotional before my speech.”

“That’s only fair,” Thilda said, hugging his side. “You will make me cry with your speech, just like last year and then we’re even.”

“A speech?” Talon asked.

Thilda nodded. “The opening speech of the bonfire. Ever since Henry moved away, Aiden is in charge of giving the speech and he’s really good at it. Moved me and others to tears last year.”

Talon had no trouble believing that.

“Speaking of bonfire, do you need my help here? Otherwise I’d go make other preparations now,” Aiden asked.

Thilda shook her head. “Most of the donations are already in, I don’t think there’s still gonna be much to do. Theo and I will hold the fort. Am I right, brother dearest?”

An affirmative sound was heard from behind a pile of presents.

Aiden laughed. “Alright then, thank you guys! We see each other at the bonfire.”

Then he turned to Talon. “Will you help me with preparations?”

Talon smiled. “Gladly.”

As they went to the shed to get some of the supplies they needed, Talon spoke up about something that’s been on his mind ever since he learned about the donations.

“Aiden, can I ask you something?“

“What is it?”

Talon stopped to look at him. “Why don’t you guys try to raise money for your farm?”

He felt like such a goddamn hypocrite just asking that, but he wanted Aiden to at least consider the possibility.

“You can use all the money you can get, you said so yourself. And I think the people would be willing to give it to you. Look at them all, they love this place.”

Aiden looked away.

“We could never raise enough money for that, Talon. If one of the donators doesn’t happen to be a millionaire, it would be a losing game. And then there’s still that guy and his dogs breathing down our neck.

It can only be a matter of time until they try to talk us into selling the farm again. And I think we have no choice but to agree…”

Talon’s heart stung at Aiden’s words. If only he knew.

The dog they sent is me, I just don’t want to bite you even though I’m supposed to.

Talon almost spilled the truth right then and there.

“I’m sorry, Aiden.”

That wasn’t a lie. He felt even more like a hypocrite for speaking that truth, though.

He put a hand in Aiden’s shoulder. “I’m sorry I can’t help you, either. I wish there was a different solution.”

Oh how much he wished it. He hoped Aiden didn’t catch on to the guilt lacing his voice as he said it.

Aiden still didn’t look at him. Talon squeezed his shoulder lightly.

“I shouldn’t have brought this up, it’s none of my business anyway. I apologize.”

He wanted to remove his hand from Aiden’s shoulder, but Aiden gripped it to keep it in place.

“You only meant well.”

He looked up at Talon and smiled sadly. “And I appreciate that. No need to apologize.”

Aiden looked so miserable all of a sudden that Talon was struck with the strong need to wrap him in his arms.

So he did.

Aiden seemed to appreciate it, holding on tightly and sighing into Talon’s neck.

“Thank you,” he whispered as he pulled back. “I think I needed that.”

Talon couldn’t help but to reach out and brush aside a stray strand of hair from Aiden’s forehead.

Talon couldn’t remember the last time he ever baked.

He must’ve been a kid back then, helping his mother and sister with Christmas preparations. He hadn’t done that in a long time.

He was no talent in the kitchen, but as he told Aiden and Maya, the two had told him not to worry about it.

“Making cookies is easy, everyone can do it.”

Besides, they said, he had two experts with him.

“Baking is literally part of my job,” Maya reminded him. “And Aiden here has been helping me and my mother with making the cookies for the Christmas market ever since we were children.”

When Halea would find out that Talon was helping to bake cookies, she’d probably fall off her chair laughing.

She was absolutely convinced that her friend could set fire to cereal and she had more than one reason to believe that.

Luckily he wasn’t as much of a disastrous baker as he had anticipated.

He would lie if he said he wasn’t at least a little daunted when he was sat in front of a massive bowl and told to make a portion of dough all by himself, cause apparently they needed so much of it that that one bowl - or even two - won’t do.

But beside the fact that the flour he dumped into the bowl left behind a cloud of dust that made him cough and covered half his face, which resulted in Aiden clinging to Maya in laughter, it all went rather smoothly.

Okay, maybe Talon did throw some flour at Aiden about laughing at him and maybe that did result in a little flour battle that Maya later scolded them for, even if it was in a fond tone that gave away she wasn’t actually mad.

Nearly the whole countertop was covered in rolled out Christmas cookie dough.

As they started to cut out the dough in the form of stars and Christmas trees Talon was sure that they could feed the whole town plus reindeer population with the amount of cookies they were making.

“That’s the goal,” Aiden said laughing, when Talon voiced his thought to the other two. “They’ll be sold at the Christmas market after all. You’d be surprised how fast these cookies are gone.”

They chatted about this and that while they cut out the cookies and Talon had to admit to himself that he indeed had fun, something he didn’t expect.

Though he should’ve guessed, because with Aiden everything turned out to be more fun than he expected it to.

He was just fun to be around with his jokes and stories and the occasional friendly touches that never failed to make Talon’s heart react to it - and it made Talon feel content.

In fact, he hasn’t felt as good, as happy in a long while (if you left out the big elephant in the room, that was).

After the first few batches were in the oven. Maya excused herself because of an appointment she apparently forgot about.

“I’ll be back in an hour or so,” she had told them. “Remember to melt the chocolate for the topping, the first load should be done in a while. And Talon, make sure the chocolate actually ends up on the cookies and not in Aiden’s stomach instead.”

With that last warning she was gone.

Aiden pouted. “Killjoy.”

Talon laughed. “Come on, let’s do what she told us. Maybe I’ll let you have some of the chocolate if you tell me how we’ll best get it to melt.”

Now it was Aiden who laughed. “Deal.”

The batches were done right on time as they finished melting the chocolate.

They got them out of the oven, put in the next few batches and once the cookies had cooled down a little, began to decorate them with the chocolate and all kinds of other stuff.

As most of the melted chocolate was spread out on the cookies, Aiden took a spoon and began to scrape up the rest that was still in the bowl.

As he found Talon looking at him, he chuckled. “What? You said I could have some of the chocolate.”

He offered Talon the spoon full of chocolate. “Or do you want some, too?”

Instead of answering, Talon simply leaned forward and took the offered spoon into his mouth. Aiden’s eyes widened in surprise, but he held the eye contact Talon maintained throughout it all (in strange rush of confidence) until Talon leaned back into his seat again.

“Thanks,” he said with a grin on his face. “That tasted good.”

Aiden swallowed, then he nodded. Loading the spoon with chocolate once again, he lifted it to his own lips this time, not at all seeming to mind that this was the same spoon Talon had in his mouth seconds ago.

Talon couldn’t stop his eyes from staring down at Aiden’s mouth as he licked the spoon clean.

Oh, he was so gone for this boy, who was he even trying to kid.

Aiden’s gaze flickered up to Talon watching him and for a moment they only stared at each other, spoon and chocolate and everything else around them forgotten.

Talon could swear Aiden was leaning forward slowly and he was pretty sure he did the same when suddenly the ringing of the oven startled the two and the moment was over.

“I’ll get the cookies,” Aiden said, clearing his throat.

Was he blushing or did Talon only project his own bashfulness onto him?

Would they have kissed if the oven didn’t disturb them?

Or did he maybe inhale too much flour?

But ever since that moment there was a certain tension in the room and Talon was almost glad when Maya came back and he wasn’t alone with Aiden anymore.

He suspected that Maya could feel it, too.

When Talon excused himself later, claiming that he had an important call to make, she let him go without much complaint, thanking him for his help.

And Aiden, too, didn’t try to get him to stay.

Maybe he was just as shaken about their almost-kiss or whatever you would call the moment they shared as he was.

Talon left, taking the scarf with him despite his better judgment. He had barely sat a foot into his room when he already dialed Halea’s number.