Archive of Our Own ^beta

Part 12: Prompt: Christmas Eve:

It was late in the evening of Christmas Eve, and Jim and Blair sat cuddled together in front of the fire, relaxing at last after a busy day. Smiling down at his lover, who was dozing beneath his arm, Jim relished the opportunity to spend a while quietly enjoying the moment and savouring his good luck in finding the other half of his soul.

They had spent the day at the PD, enjoying the festive atmosphere and partaking of the potluck buffet Rhonda and Megan had arranged – with Blair’s help, of course. His guide could always be relied upon to volunteer what little time he had spare for any good cause, his sunny and generous nature never allowing him to sit back while others did all the work. Jim had to admit that it sometimes irritated him immensely since Blair had a tendency to take on too much and run himself ragged, but it was what it was, and Jim had learned to accept it. As he had also learned how to help his guide relax in the best possible way when exhaustion threatened.

His smile deepening at the thought, Jim gazed around him at the loft’s colourful interior, because yes, somehow Blair had managed to find the time to decorate their home with sentinel-friendly festive greenery and home-made decorations. He had even found a small, beautifully-trimmed living tree to complement Gina’s wreath that hung on the door. It never ceased to amaze him how much richer his life had become since Blair burst in on it with such passion and generosity, and at this time of year it was all the more apparent what a gift he held in his arms.

Grinning when Blair started to snore softly, he tightened his arm around the young man’s shoulders, cuddling him even closer for a while although he knew that soon he would have to wake him gently, enough, at least, to get them both upstairs to bed for a proper rest.

The good thing was that Jim had exercised his seniority this year, and for once had taken Christmas Day off as holiday, so that they could spend the day together relaxing and replenishing their energy levels. Not that they didn’t have a commitment to go to the women’s shelter Major Crimes supported – thanks to Blair’s introducing it to them as a worthy cause a couple of years ago. They had offered to drop by in the morning to deliver the gifts their friends and colleagues had gathered to distribute to the kids there, but it was hardly an onerous duty, and they had the rest of the day to themselves. Jim was looking forward to just kicking back with his lover, watching TV and no doubt making out lazily on the sofa, having enjoyed a Christmas dinner at the shelter, compliments of its grateful managers and the women who enjoyed its protection.

As his gaze rested on the small tree, Jim noted the small, gaily-wrapped packages beneath it. He knew that this year they had both agreed to exchange small, personalised gifts rather than anything large and expensive, because in all honesty, they had already received the best possible gift in their commitment to each other. But there was one other thing that had made this Christmas even more special for them both, and Jim couldn’t help but smile as he recalled what had occurred only that morning.

When they had arrived at the PD, Simon had called them into his office. Intrigued, and not a little wary, they had entered only to be greeted with a huge grin on their boss and friend’s face. He had proceeded to tell them that he had been working on their behalf to secure an official position for Blair now that he had achieved his doctorate, and as long as it was what the young man wanted, he could start the new year as an official consultant to the PD, with special dispensation to ride with Jim as needed. Stunned speechless for long minutes, Blair had only been able to gape at him, but as soon as the news had sunk in, the beatific smile that had spread across his face had been dazzling in its glow.

“Oh, man! Oh, Simon, thank you so much! It’s more than I could ever have expected even though I did want to ask you if such a thing might be possible. It’s great, man! Fantastic, and I can’t thank you enough!”

Jim had added his own heart-felt thanks, his senses telling him that Blair’s excitement was entirely genuine, thus laying to rest any faint suspicion that his guide was giving up alternative career choices just to please his sentinel. This was what Blair wanted, and it couldn’t have been more welcome, or appreciated. And both men had ensured that their captain knew it.

Feeling a slight movement against his side, Jim gently raised his young lover until he could stroke a be-whiskered cheek, grinning down into the bleary eyes that blinked sleepily at him.

“Time for bed, babe,” he murmured softly, eyes betraying his deep affection as he noted the tiny but genuine grin that stretched Blair’s generous lips. “Let’s get some proper sleep so we can enjoy tomorrow to the full. It’s going to be a great Christmas Day, babe.”

And so it was.

The End.