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It didn't take long at all for Clive to come looking for Joshua, finding him in a nook between the bookshelf and the piano.
"What are you doing here? Are you alright?"
"I'm okay."
"Then what's up?"
Clive squatted down so he was closer to Joshua's eye level. Joshua hugged his knees and chewed his lip nervously.
"Clive. Do you know what they say about the mistletoe?"
"What do you mean, about the mistlet—"
His eyes followed as Joshua looked up towards the flower arrangement sitting in a vase on top of the piano, one particular branch sticking out in a fashion that Mother would never let slide. A mistletoe branch that just so happened to reach over the edge of the instrument, right above the spot Joshua had chosen.
"You know what you're supposed to do, right?" Joshua asked, his cheeks burning with anticipation. Of course Clive would know, Clive knew everything.
There was almost no hesitation in Clive's expression before he smiled and bent closer to Joshua.
"Silly."
A touch of lips on Joshua's cheek, a dousing of the flames of ardent expectation as he realised that was all he was going to get. Childishly, he grabbed Clive's sleeve.
"You didn't do it right."
"Joshua, that's—"
"It's the rule! When there's a mistletoe…"
"Someone could see."
"There's no one here now."
Clive glanced over his shoulder, and the doorway was indeed empty. He swallowed, eyes darting between Joshua, the mistletoe and the way out a few times.
"…Okay. Just this once."
Joshua's heart raced when Clive leaned in again, this time going for Joshua's lips. It was nothing more than a peck, and it was over so quickly that Joshua was already clamouring for another in his mind, but he knew he had lost his chance for now when Clive began to stand.
"Come on, Mother's looking for you."
"Clive? Are you here?"
Joshua joined his brother in the backyard porch, away from the merriment of the party inside.
"Everything alright? Maeve's punch didn't get to you or anything like that?"
"I'm fine," Clive chuckled, "just getting a breath of fresh air."
"It's much livelier than at home, for sure," Joshua nodded in understanding.
Their first Christmas together in eighteen years. It was…hard to describe the feeling.
"Actually, I was hoping you might come find me," Clive said and took Joshua's hand in his.
"Oh?"
Joshua crooked an eyebrow and it was only then that he noticed it: a very particular ornament hanging from the porch roof.
"I suppose it can't be helped, then," he said, not bothering to hide his giddiness. "On the cheek, I assume?"
Clive cringed.
"You still remember that."
"Of course I do, I was devastated!"
Clive looked so chastened that Joshua hurried to stroke his face with his free hand.
"I know a way you could make it up to me, though."
And he kissed him once, twice, thrice.