Andy’s Gift

Part Two: The Awakening

HONK! HONK!

HONK! HONK! Chris and Andy shot out of bed as the beautiful winter stillness was shattered by the arrival of Chris’ older sister and her family. “Bleeding Christ!” Chris swore as he and Andy collided in their disoriented rush to get to the window. “They’re early!”

“Uncle Chris! Uncle Andy!! Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!” Ding Dong! Ding Dong! Pound! Pound! Pound! In a state of panic Chris and Andy both started for the shower.

“Wait!” Chris grabbed Andy’s arm, and his partner stopped, looking at him with bleary, confusion filled eyes. “Someone has to go down and let them in! You shower and I’ll go!”

“No,” Andy ran his hand over his face trying to clear away the sleepiness, and then took his jeans from the back of the overstuffed blue armchair where Chris had neatly hung them. “I’ll go,” he started to pull them on, not bothering with his underwear.

“Don’t be silly,” Chris started.

“I’ll go!” Andy insisted. “Once they get hold of you, they’ll never let you go again today.”

Andy grinned, and Chris smiled a little in return as he looked at his partner’s tousled hair, flushed face and sleepy eyes. ‘How was it possible to love someone this much?’ he thought.

“Uncle Chris! Uncle Andy!” Chris’ nephew and nieces were still banging on the door.

“Give them a chance, Jacob! We’re early, Honey! We probably woke them up.”

“UNCLE ANDY! UNCLE CHRIS! WAAAAKE UP! IT’S CHRISTMA. . . . OWWW! Mom!”

“I told you, don’t!” she hissed loudly.

Andy grinned again and looked at Chris with sparkling eyes as Chris scowled.

“That one’s yours!” he pointed his finger at his partner.

“Merry Christmas, Baby,” Andy smirked, patting his still flustered lover on his naked bottom and pecking his lips as he started for the stairs.

“Yeah, Merry Christmas,” Chris ran a hand through his rumpled hair and in a daze made his way towards the shower. ‘Andy WAS more equipped to deal with this first thing in the morning,’ he thought with a yawn. His partner’s infinite patience and endless capacity for affection made him a natural with children, and Andy never got tired of them, not even the huge handful that was his nephew, Jake. In fact Andy and Jake seemed to have a bond that no one else in the family quite understood, and of anyone Andy had the best success controlling the young rascal. When everyone else was at their wits end, one quiet word from Andy would bring Jake to his side, and they would disappear for a while, going for a walk outside or popping in a movie that they had both seen a million times. Whatever they did the rest of the family was grateful for what they all regarded as Andy’s sacrifice, but to Andy, Chris knew it was a pleasure.

As much as all of Chris’ family adored Andy, he adored them, and he had become as integral a part of the family as Chris was. In fact, as far as Chris’ nephew and nieces were concerned, Chris teased with playful jealousy, Andy was the favorite uncle.

Chris knew how important it was for Andy to feel accepted and loved by his family, especially because he had no real family of his own. His father had never really been in the picture, having walked out when Andy was still little more than a toddler. His mother had done the best she could, raising two children on her own, and Andy especially had been her pride and joy.

When Andy was twenty-one she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She had struggled long and hard, but had ultimately lost the battle not long after Andy turned twenty-three. The loss was devastating to Andy who had been going through a rough time himself, and he had turned to Chris as the only person left in his life who he loved and trusted. Andy and his older sister had never been close. To begin with, she regarded his homosexuality as a life choice, an experimental phase that he would grow out of. Whenever he tried to talk to her about Chris, she tuned him out or quickly changed the subject. She was preachy, self-righteous, and resentful of Andy’s close relationship with their mother. She had never accepted Chris as part of the family, and to this day entertained the idea that her brother would grow out of his homosexual tendencies.

She had been extended an invitation to the party, but much to Andy’s dismay had refused, claiming a prior engagement. Chris knew how hurt Andy had been, though he had tried to pretend it didn’t matter. He had spent most of the afternoon, the day the RSVP came back, in the spare bedroom that was their “office” and had emerged with red, swollen eyes.

‘Sod the woman!’ Chris thought as he stepped under the hot stream of water and felt his muscles relax. ‘She didn’t even have the decency to call.’ He pushed his hands through his hair and bowed his head letting the hot water run over his neck, wistfully wishing that he could be holding Andy in his arms right now. ‘Sod Eliza too!’ he thought grumpily of his own sister. ‘Why can’t she ever stick to the time on the invitation?’ He wasn’t seriously put out though, and as the water continued to run he felt his excitement grow. His sister lived about four hours away and he didn’t see her or her family that often. ‘Thank God for my family,’ he mused, thinking gratefully of how open and loving they all were. Next year, if they had the party again, he would just have to tell Eliza 7:00pm, and then maybe she wouldn’t get here until 2:00pm. He couldn’t help smiling a little, and found all of a sudden that he couldn’t wait to see his sister. ‘It really is Christmas!’ he thought excitedly, and he hurriedly began to shampoo his hair.

Andy didn’t mind being left on his own to greet Chris’ family. In fact, he was happy to do it. Unlike Chris, his youthful excitement over the holiday had taken hold the moment his eyes were open, and it was only the left over grogginess caused by their abrupt awakening that kept him from bouncing down the stairs.

“MERRY CHRISTMAS!!” Andy swung the door open and was immediately bowled over by what felt like the equivalent of a ton of bricks as Jake threw himself into his arms, and all his nieces crowded around them. “Uncle Andy! I missed you!” Jake exclaimed. “Merry Christmas!”

Happy tears filled Andy’s eyes and he hugged his nephew tighter. “I missed you too, Bud! Merry Christmas! How is my favorite nephew anyway?” he teased.

“Uncle Andy,” Jake looked up and informed him seriously, “I’m you’re only nephew!”

“Oh,” Andy pretended the light was just dawning, “that explains it then.” He grinned and Jake grinned too as Andy hugged him again. They never got tired of this game, and Eliza smiled as her three daughters clamored for attention.

“All right, all right! Let him up for air, you lot! Go on now! Help your father with the bags please!” Eagerly, the children flounced back through the newly fallen snow to where their father was already opening the trunk of the car, and finally Eliza got her turn. She took in Andy’s somewhat disheveled appearance with dismay as she wrapped him in her arms and held him tight. Andy snuggled close. Eliza truly was the big sister his own had never been.

“Oh Honey,” she started apologetically, “we woke you up! I’m so sorry! We would have gone to the hotel first, but check in’s not till eleven. I knew we were going to be early, but I didn’t think we would be this early, the roads were much better than I had anticipated and there was hardly any traffic. We shouldn’t have left so early, but this one . . .,” she popped Jake on the butt playfully as he passed her, his arms loaded with presents.

“Hey!” he squealed.

“ . . .was driving me crazy . . . and . . . .” Andy had been cuddling close, just enjoying the sound of Eliza’s anxious and rambling tones, but now he looked up at her and grinned.

“Eliza, stop!” he laughed. “It’s not a problem! Not at all! It’s very good to see you. I missed you!” Eliza paused, looking into Andy’s eyes to ascertain the truth of his words, and finally satisfied, she grinned too and folded him in her arms again, hugging him hard.

“I missed you too, Baby!” she assured. “Where’s my grump of a brother? I’ll take bets he’s not as happy to see us as you are!”

“Of course he is,” Andy smiled again as Eliza finally let him go. “You know Chris. He just finds it a little hard to get going in the morning. A shower, a cup of coffee, and he’s a new man!” Andy simpered affectionately as he thought of the befuddled expression on his partner’s face a few moments ago. Caffeine was going to be a major must have this morning. “Come talk to me while I get the coffee started,” he coaxed. “I want to hear all about your trip.” Eliza smiled and willingly followed Andy into the kitchen, already regaling him with tales of their four hour adventure.

The presents were safely deposited under the tree, the coffee was percolating merrily, the girls were involved in some shrieking game no one seemed to know the name of as they ran circles around the tree and Andy, with Jake tucked comfortably into his side, was involved in deep conversation with Eliza and her husband by the time Chris made his way down the stairs. Chris paused a moment to take it all in. It was a picture that made him smile and it was one he would never forget.

“Hey there he is,” Eliza greeted her brother warmly, throwing her arms around him and kissing him as he entered the kitchen. “It’s good to see you, Honey!”

Chris held her tight, smiling a little into her shoulder. “Yeah it’s good to see you too, Liz,” he murmured. “Thanks for sticking to the time on the invitation.”

Eliza pulled back disconcertedly and looked up only to meet her brother’s teasing grin, and she smiled sheepishly. “I suppose I ought to be grateful Andy was the first one down.”

“Yeah, you got that right anyway,” her brother’s grin widened, and he pulled her to him again, kissing her head.

“Jim,” Chris extended his hand as he and Eliza parted, to the quiet man who was sitting contentedly across the table from Andy, “It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too, Chris,” Jim rose and took his hand firmly. “Glad to finally be here!”

“Long trip?” Chris asked.

“No. Not at all,” Jim rolled his eyes as his three daughters rushed in, screaming.

“Uncle Chris, Uncle Chris!” Chris laughed and opened his arms, scooping the youngest one up, and holding her on his hip as she threw her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek. She was only five and she adored Chris. Still holding his littlest fan, Chris dutifully greeted his two other nieces, and then turned his attention to his nephew who was still snuggled up to Andrew.

“Hey Jakey,” he greeted.

“Hi Uncle Chris,” Jake pressed closer to Andy, feeling shy all of a sudden.

“I don’t get a hug?” Chris feigned disappointment.

“Of course you do!” Jake responded guiltily, leaving Andy’s side at last to throw his arms around his other uncle’s waist.

Chris squeezed his shoulder, holding him close as Jake pressed against him. “It’s good to see you, Bud,” he said softly, hoisting Bonnie higher on his hip.

“It’s good to see you too,” Jake looked up at him and smiled, still a little shyly. Jake and Chris were very fond of one another, but as previously mentioned Jake was a bit of a rascal, and since Chris was a bit of a stern disciplinarian, they were at times naturally at odds with one another.

“Want some coffee, Hone?” Andy asked as Chris released Bonnie and the girls went running off again.

“I would love some! You’re an angel!”

Andy smirked and got up from the table, pouring his partner a cup of the freshly brewed substance. Jake ran off after the girls and Chris made his way over to Andy, slipping his arm around his waist and nuzzling his head with his lips. Andy breathed in the fresh clean scent of soap and aftershave and smiled as he handed Chris his mug. Greedily he took in the sight of the dark blue sweater that brought out Chris’ eyes, and the tight jeans that so nicely accentuated his well toned body. He placed his hands against the soft material, finding it hard not to pounce then and there.

Chris gazed at his partner with laughing affection, kissing his forehead and swatting him on the butt lightly to remind him they were not alone. He really couldn’t imagine what had gotten into his normally docile partner, but something was bringing out these latent tiger like tendencies and Chris liked it. He was only sorry he was not in an immediate position to explore the issue further.

“Thank you, Love, for the coffee,” he whispered. “Why don’t you go get yourself a shower now, and I’ll take over here.”

“Yes, my love,” Andy replied somewhat flippantly, and Chris swatted him playfully once more, stealing a kiss as Andy excused himself to Eliza and Jim and headed for the stairs.