The Christmas Surprise

[Maira]

It had been fifteen months since the confrontation with his ex-wife, nine months since their divorce was finalized, and six months since his life-changing trip with Sorin to a tropical island. Sorin didn't know it yet but he was about to, finally, get what he wanted from Kiyo.

The leopard had left that morning for work as usual but Kiyo only went to the shop for a couple hours to finish up some year end paperwork and to hand out the Christmas bonuses to his three employees. once his work was finished, Kiyo closed up the shop. It wouldn't re-open again until after the New Year.

As he drove away toward home a knowing grin worked it's way onto Kiyo's face. By the time he reached the big house he was practically bouncing in his seat. Sanura had taken the three children and Sorin to his twin sister Riko's house to make Christmas cookies, so he knew he had the entire afternoon to get the house ready for his night with Sorin.

*****

Riko was in her kitchen singing slightly off key along with the Christmas muse that was blasting over the radio when she saw her brother's truck pull into the drive-way. With a yell to her guests that Kiyo had arrived, she put the last tray of cookies in the oven.

The trio of trouble makers, Kiyo's twins and Sanura and Sorin's daughter, were the first to make it into the kitchen. When Kiyo walked in the door they all three threw themselves at his legs, nearly tripping him, and started chattering on and on about making Christmas cookies with Auntie Riko. Kiyo ruffled their hair affectionately and listend intently until Sanura and Sorin entered the kitchen.

He smiled warmly at both of them, the cheeta had the gall to wink back at him, and Sorin smiled back at him. As soon as the children let go of him Kiyo made his way to Sorin's side, kissed his cheek and then whispered his and Sanura's supposed plan to him. She would keep the children at Riko's overnight so that he and Sorin could wrap the mountain of presents waiting for the children at home. Kiyo couldn't help but smirk at Sorin's grumblings. If only the man knew what was really in store for him.

After sampling one of each type of cookie, at the demand of the children, and sharing a small dinner with his family, Kiyo excused himself and Sorin to "go work on a car". The fussed minimally, after all they wanted their fathers to stay and watch Christmas movies with them, but in the end they caved and let the men leave with hugs and kisses all around.

Conversation on the drive home was casual, mostly about the family's plans for the next day. When they arrived home, the Christmas lights were shining for them and Sorin looked at Kiyo slightly askew. With a laught the leopard answered the look with, "What? I turned them on before coming to Riko's, I like coming home to the lights on." Sorin was still looking at him funny so Kiyo just stuck his tongue out at the older man.

Once they were inside, Kiyo took both of their jackets and hung them in the closet while Sorin wandered through the house. When he came back into the foyer, where Kiyo was taking off his shoes and stashing his scarf and gloves, he was looking at him funny again. This time, a smirk snuck across his features as he once again answered the funny look. "Wrapping presents tonight would have gotten in the way of your Christmas surprise so I did it earlier today after I got home from work." Now Sorin was looking really confused and Kiyo just couldn't stop the smirk from turning slightly wicked and more than a little self-satisfied.

"There is an envelope on the tree with your name on it. Bring it here and then open it, I want to see your face when you read it." The letter in the envelope had been obtained behind Sorin's back but Kiyo really hoped that it wouldn't anger the vampire. He'd asked his older sister Saiyuri's ex-husband and his lover for help in getting an audience with the vampire Council. He'd explained the situation and while the grumbled a bit about it being a non-vampire making the request, they still granted it. Sorin, if and when he chose, was allowed to Turn Kiyo with the Council's blessing. As Sorin had been hinting at it for the past six months, Kiyo really really hoped that it would be a good Christmas present for him.

[Demeter]

The damn Leopard was planning something. Between the whispered conversations between Kiyo and Sanura, along with the knowing looks Sanura and Riko kept shooting at him, Sorin knew that the Leopard was planning something. He just couldn't pin down exactly what that something was. Every single time he got within hearing range, everyone would shut up. As such, he'd been called a Grinch several times this holiday season. By his own daughter, no less. Well...see if Santa stayed up all night assembling the doll house, complete with confusing instructions, that she'd wanted.

When Kiyo appeared and effectively pulled him from Riko's house, Sorin's brained started to go into overdrive. What was that damn Leopard planning?

When he saw heaps of wrapped presents standing beneath the nine foot douglas fur, his poor brain just exploded. He listened to Kiyo's explanation, quite sure that smoke was pouring from his ears. He went, found the letter and, after fighting the tree for the envelope, returned to Kiyo. He quietly read, the words not quite sinking in. So he read the letter and second time and his poor, abused brain started to get the picture. Kiyo was agreeing to be turned, by Sorin, at whatever time was deemed right. Turning, in Sorin's mind, was a damned personal thing when conducted in his manner. And that meant something else to Sorin. Kiyo was willing to give them a chance...

Sorin normally prided himself on his self control. He managed to get control of himself before he burned the letter. The letter drifted to the floor, forgotten, as Sorin leapt forward to pin Kiyo against the wall. "You sure do know how to find just that right present, don't you?" he muttered before kissing the man.

In the past six months, there'd been plenty of kissing. In fact, he'd very nearly gotten the Leopard out of his clothes a few times. A fascinating habit that had been occuring more regularly of late was that Kiyo was starting to wrestle with Sorin's clothing, muttering about damn button flies before he realized just what he was doing and bolting.

"You do realize that I'm not letting you escape this time, yes?" he asked Kiyo while hauling him towards the stairs.

[Maira]

Kiyo had to admit he was incredibly pleased with the baffled look on Sorin's face as he read the letter not once, but twice, before letting it drift to the floor. Even though he was mostly expecting it, the reaction after Sorin dropped the letter took Kiyo's breath away. He'd been wanting this for weeks but, in keeping with his plan to surprise Sorin with the letter, he'd made sure to keep the vampire thinking he didn't. It had become increasingly difficult the closer they got to this night but now he knew it was going to be totally worth the wait.

Once Sorin got him upstairs, not that he had really had to drag him, Kiyo led the way to Sorin's bedroom. He had to admit, he was a bit nervous about taking this next step with the man, but after all the preparations he'd done earlier in the day he wasn't about to bolt like he'd done every other time in the past. The fact that there were candles spread generously around the room, and Sorin's favorite champagne sitting in a bucket of ice next to the bed gave pretty clear hints that Kiyo wasn't planning on running this time.

As soon as the door was shut behind them, Kiyo held Sorin out at arm's length and looked at him. He smiled warmly at the other man before saying, "I'm yours, I will be yours until you are done with me." He wanted to say more but suddenly he was reduced to silence. The look in Sorin's eyes left him speechless. He'd wanted to have a bit of a talk before whatever activities were bound to ensue but he was beginning to think that the talk would have to wait.

[Demeter]

Sorin had waited far to long for this moment. Talking would have to wait until he was once again sane. "No talking now, Kiyo. Talking requires thinking and I don't want to think right now. Just feel. For now, just feel," he steered Kiyo towards the bed, working on his shirt at the same time.

Over the years he'd had fantasies about that first time with Kiyo. In some, the actions were hard and fast and filled with passion. In others, the movements were slow and tender and still filled with passion. In the end, as he lay panting next to Kiyo, Sorin thought he'd reached some sort of devine mixutre of the two.

He pulled the champagne out of the bucket, poured a couple of flutes and nuzzled Kiyo. "So very glad that you suggested letting the kids terrorize your sister. Couldn't make love to you in front of the fireplace with those three sneaking around."

He could only grin as Kiyo groaned.

In the morning, well after the two had returned to Sorin's bedroom, they were dragged from sleep by the sound of children shouting that Santa had come. Sorin, not quite awake until his first cup of coffee, shoved at Kiyo until the Leopard woke. Together, they stumbled down the stairs where Sanura pressed coffee mugs into their hands. After that first swallow and jolt of caffine, Sorin grabbed up Kiyo's hand before they walked into the living room. Kiyo knew what he wanted, and Sorin didn't doubt that Sanura and Riko knew that, but showing it was a whole 'nother ball game.

[Maira]

The night had been long, and exhausting, yet utterly fulfilling. Sleeping with Sorin, once they'd gotten to it, hadn't been nearly as scary as Kiyo and always worried it would be. Sure, when the vampire shoved at him to wake him up he groaned at the idea of having to use stiff muscles and at the idea of even being conscious. He'd never been quite so delightfully worn out in his entire life. Who would have known that all those years of keeping him at bay would give Sorin such an insatiable appetite for Kiyo's body. At that thought, the leopard couldn't help but grin weakly.

Crawling out of bed was a bit painful but once he retrieved his pajamas and robe that he'd stashed in the older man's bathroom, much to Sorin's surprise, he was easily led downstairs to the rucus being raised by three very excited munchkins. The coffee that Sanura pressed into their hands when they reached the bottom floor was very welcome and Kiyo sipped at the hot beverage eagerly. While he was taking those first few sips, Kiyo couldn't help but notice the knowing smirk on Sanura's face and he just ignored her.

What he couldn't ignore was that as soon as they started walking toward the room where the children were practically bouncing off the walls as they waited to open their presents was that Sorin had grabbed his hand. He smiled once at his lover and squeezed the other man's hand reassuringly. He wasn't going to run away anymore, like he'd told Sorin the night before, he was his now and would be for as long as the vampire would have him.

When they entered the room, Kaylie, Nolan and Amirah all bolted toward them. The group hug around Sorin and Kiyo's legs was warm and loving but didn't last long. The girls quickly ran back to the presents under the tree, Nolan took a moment longer as he eyed the clasped hands of his father and Sorin. He smiled once at both of them then he too ran back to the tree. Kiyo didn't realize he'd been holding his breath while Nolan contemplated them until Sanura walked up beside him and whispered, "Breathe Kiyo."

Letting out his breath, he looked again at Sanura and thanked her softly, "Thank you for taking the children to Riko's last night, everything worked out like we thought it would." Sanura looked pointedly at his hand still gripped in Sorin's and answered, "I'm not blind silly boy." Kiyo laughed and Sanura walked over to the tree to help the children sort out their presents. Luckily for her, each child had their own color paper and it was very easy to do. It was a trick Kiyo had picked up from his own family.

While Sanura separated the presents, Kiyo went and took down the stockings hung on the fireplace mantel. He gave each person's stocking to them and then took up a spot on the couch with Sorin. He wanted to be near the man for various reasons, among them being the new closeness they shared, but also because he wanted to see Sorin's reaction to the two letters in his stocking. One was from Kiyo and one was a second letter from the vampire council. The one from Kiyo was the leopard thanking Sorin for everything he'd done for him and his children, for taking them in and making them family even though he wasn't in any way obligated to do so. It also thanked him for having the patience to live with Kiyo as he had adjusted to the idea of sharing his life with a man. The last line of Kiyo's letter was a bit different though, a bit cryptic really. It read, "Most of all, I want to thank the Council for giving me the piece of mind I needed to make the commitment to you that I did last night. When you read their letter I hope you understand just how whole heartedly I am giving myself to you."

The letter from the Coucil, though it was addressed to Sorin and Kiyo jointly, had been placed in the vampire's stocking as the second part of the man's gift from Kiyo. Months ago, on their vacation to the tropical island, Sorin had first brought up the idea of Turning Kiyo. At the time Kiyo hadn't been ready. He still wasn't sure if he was ready to be Turned just yet but he was ready to commit to the idea of it happening someday. Because of that new readiness he had gone behind Sorin's back to the vampire council for not just one reason, but two. The first had been relatively easy to get the coucil to agree to, it was the second part that had been trickier. After all, it involved minor children. He had asked the council to pre-approve his children to be Turned if and when they decided they wanted to be Turned. He had told Sorin months ago that he wouldn't ever be able to make the decision for himself to be Turned unless he knew his children would be guaranteed that choice as well when they came of age.

[Demeter]

Sorin sat on the couch with his back braced against the arm with Kiyo snuggled up in front of him. He sipped his coffee and sorted through his stocking. He’d already discovered the two letters and, with the chaos the munchkins were creating, was able to read them in peace. He’d squeezed Kiyo and kissed the back of the man’s neck before turning to watch the children.

Later, when all three munchkins were snoozing on the floor after being up so early, the adults sat in the kitchen. Riko and ‘Nura were working on dinner while Kiyo was assembling some toy that Nolan had gotten. Sorin sat back and just watched his little empire. When it figured everything was under control and he could escape, he got Kiyo out to the garage where his present waited for him. He handed Kiyo the keys to a brand new Vanquish and wished the man a very Merry Christmas.