Chapter Text
“Trip? Would you mind checking the turkey, please? And – oh gods, clean that mess, please!” The Brit stumbled over the floor as he nearly lost his balance, thanking his fast reflexes that he didn’t actually fall but instead could break his fall. However, the little boy in his arms started crying at the initial shock of falling uncontrollably.
Malcolm gently brushed his fingers over the little boy’s back, humming a soft melody.
“You okay?”
“Sh- Yes! Now go check the turkey or do you fancy burned meat?”
“Uhm, no…Gee, sorry!” Trip couldn’t suppress the sarcasm, bothered by his partner’s harsh tone. He could hear Malcolm hissing sharply, probably suppressing the urge to cuss and curse at Trip. So be it, Trip thought, still offended, as he bent down to look at the coal oven where the turkey was roasting.
“Smellin’ good, lookin’ fine…”
“I wish you’d say that to me, Tucker, it’s been a while…” Malcolm set down Charlie, gently caressing his little red cheeks, feeling his burning hot forehead. He leant over the little boy, whispering softly, “Shhh, baby, it’s going to be fine…”
“Are you trying to piss me off completely?” Trip shot, turning the oven off and glared at his partner with a furious glance. Malcolm just smiled wryly while tilting his head to little Charlie.
“Sorry, I forgot Charlie is an apology to insult my dignity.”
“Trip, are you kidding me? He’s got a fever, please, he needs a bit of quiet! Don’t make this all about yourself!”
“Well, if he needs some quiet, just bring him to bed, he’s got all the quiet in the world there!”
“Family time, Trip. Please. Just stop making an exhibition of yourself, okay? And get the turkey over here, please.” Malcolm saw that Trip was desperately urging to fight back and let his anger take over but he seemed to give in when he put on oven mitts, carefully pulling the turkey out of the oven and placing it on the table. Malcolm in the meanwhile got the gravy from across the room. When he returned to the table, he noticed that Trip was leaning onto the doorframe instead of sitting down at the table.
“What are you doing? Why don’t you sit?”
“Because, a) I didn’t clean the mess I was supposed to clean. And b) I hurt you. And I can see it in your eyes…”
“I’m fine, Trip.”
“No, you’re not. Now let me clean this sh- stuff! And I’ll give you a proper apology afterwards…” The Southerner grabbed a handkerchief and knelt down, carefully cleaning the floor while looking up at his lover. Malcolm simply seemed perplex by what Trip was doing and thinking. While the Brit was still trying to process the words and deeds of his partner, Trip stood back up, wiping the dust off of his trousers.
He then proceeded to walk towards his lover, grab his waist and pull him closer.
“May I say, my love, that you look absolutely stunning today?”
“Trip, I-!”
“No, shush…” Trip noticed the light blush on his lover’s cheeks as he cautiously placed his index finger on Malcolm’s lips. He noticed the surprise and curiosity in his stormy grey eyes, the dark shadows under his cheekbones, the small cuts from stressfully and hastily shaving. He noticed the mess in his hair, the trembling fingers.
“Oh dearest love…Oh my…”
The Southerner entwined his fingers in the loops of his lover’s trousers, caressing Malcolm’s hips with his thumbs, gently placing a kiss on his cheek. He could hear a soft surprised moan from his lover, then swiftly turned him around and placed his hands on his shoulders, starting to knead the sore muscles.
“Trip, I…Oh, damn…”
“Shush, language…You really needed this, didn’t you? I’m sorry, love…” Trip placed another kiss on Malcolm’s neck before leading him to a chair and daring him to sit down.
“Now, let me take care of all this, okay? You eat. I haven’t seen you eat that much lately…”
“I wasn’t hungry, darling…And what about Charlie? And – oh, Madeline said that she’ll call soon!”
“Mal, shush now. You stay here and eat. Please. I’ll take care of Charlie and when she calls then so be it. If it’s bad timing we’ll wish her merry Christmas and say we’re busy!” Trip picked up little Charlie who was nearly falling asleep already, whimpering at every little move. He placed a small kiss on the boy’s forehead before he sat down on a chair, taking Charlie in his lap and carefully rocking him back and forth.
“Shhh, it’s okay, baby boy, it’s okay…I know it hurts, baby…It’ll be fine.”
“Trip…?”
“Yes, love?”
“I love you…I love you from the bottom of my heart…I don’t know what I’d be doing without you…”
“I love you too, darling…And you’d be lost without me, I know!”
“Trip!”
“Just kidding, just kidding…” The Southerner pulled little Charlie closer to his chest as he noticed that the little boy was slowly falling asleep. And just as he thought that the toddler was snoring a little, the comm. panel chirped, announcing the expected call from Madeline Reed…
*