Road To Happiness ✔

EXTRA - Christmas Special

He stopped when he caught sight of something small and pale. A tiny box that appeared to have no opening, but sat calm and serene on the shelf. Stefan frowned down at it, reading the label with curious eyes. A noise machine, designed to calm someone when they're trying to sleep.

Immediately, Stefan remembered all the nights Hugo would wake up from nightmares, eyes wide and face pale. He would have to sit and watch the TV for a while, unable to handle the silence that came with the night. Maybe something like a noise machine would help. It wouldn't be a solution, but he might be able to sleep a little easier.

The time between paying for the little box and making it back to his car was a blur. Relief flowed through him as he sat in the front seat, staring at the gift he would spend far too long wrapping that afternoon. Renee would laugh at him, probably tease him for buying something so tiny, but at least he had bought something.

-

Christmas Eve came faster than he expected it to. He had been lucky to get the time off from work, although that had taken more of an argument than he would have liked. His boss was a jerk, and that was being polite.

The tiny amount of gifts they'd bought sat under their old tree. Hugo's weren't there yet, but he hadn't even arrived to drop them off. Last time Stefan had heard from him, he'd been on a cramped train trying to get there. He wouldn't arrive for another twenty minutes or so, leaving Stefan to pace awkwardly in the middle of the room.

Renee sat on the couch, typing away on her laptop and occasionally glancing at him in irritation. "I swear to God, Stefan," she muttered and shot him a glare. "It's Christmas Eve, we're supposed to be happy and celebrating. Stop your pacing. It'll be fine."

"What if he doesn't like it?" Stefan asked, voice soft like a child's.

"Then you take him out during the Boxing Day sales and get him to pick what he wants. Problem solved," she replied, as if it wasn't a big deal. It was a big deal. What was he supposed to do if the person he loved didn't enjoy their first Christmas together?

Renee sighed and patted his shoulder, a small smile on her face. "It's going to be fine, I promise. I don't think you could ever disappoint him," she said.

As if the universe heard her words, the buzzer to their apartment went off. Stefan stayed planted to the couch, anxiety gnawing at his stomach still. Renee waved at the tiny camera near the door and shot a sly grin Stefan's way. He could have groaned and flipped her the bird, but he was too busy keeping in the contents of his stomach.

There was a knock at the door barely a minute later. Under the tiny Christmas tree sat the hastily wrapped gift he bought and once again, he thought it wasn't enough. He'd bought it at the last minute, as if Hugo were nothing more than a friend he had forgotten about and not the man he loved.

Then Hugo was in front of him, frowning down at him in concern. He hadn't even heard Renee open the door, let alone hear her greet their friend. She was no longer in the room either, probably disappeared into her bedroom to give him a free moment to stop being a dumbass.

"Renee said you weren't having a good day," Hugo signed as he sat down on the couch next to him.

"I'm just a bit anxious, that's all," he replied and huffed a laugh. "I didn't even hear you come in."

Hugo was still frowning. He should have been smiling, should have been his usual, stunning self that Stefan had a hard time looking away from. "We could do this a different day, if you're not feeling up to it," he told him.

"No!" he exclaimed, wincing when Hugo startled. That was the last thing he wanted. Hugo knew him well enough by now, and knew to give him space when he was in a bad mood so that neither of them would have to deal with Stefan's temper. "I want you here. Stay, please."