Leaning close, she rubbed his back, wishing that he could let go of his worries. "I love that you're talking to me like this. You have a tendency to clam up and disappear. If I don't watch you sometimes, you just walk away."
Wincing, he leaned into her shoulder. "I'm sorry I do that. Sometimes I just get wrapped up in my head and I don't think about anything else. Or something makes me feel panicky. I talked to Duncan today and he gave me some ideas about getting on track and staying focused. But I want you to know that you are my priority. I love you. I really, really do. I can't imagine where I would be without you."
The tears were back. "I love you, too, Gabe, and whatever you need us to do to keep straight, we'll do."
He gave her a rueful smile. "I have a feeling that if we've made it through this year we'll make it through anything."
Julie laughed, knowing he was exactly right.
"So," he said, smacking his knees with his hands and pushing up from the couch to walk over to the little Christmas tree. "To that end, I got you some things. I know we had talked about waiting till this weekend, but I don't think I can wait. I want to see your face when you open these."
Julie laughed as he drew a laundry basket full of hand-wrapped gifts out from behind the tree. There was one big box, then several other oddly shaped- and even more oddly wrapped- packages. In spite of herself, excitement surged through her. Hopping up, she ran to the bedroom to get the purple canvas Thirty-One bag full of his presents. She tore off her dirty scrubs and pulled on a long sleep shirt, then headed back out to the living room.
Though she was tired, sharing this experience with him was much more important than sleep. And the fact that Gabe had initiated their celebration had her heart soaring.
As they alternated opening gifts, she felt that connection strengthening, reaffirming itself between them. Gabe's lean face expressed joy and humble pride as he opened his last gift, a shadow box for the Silver Star he had received 'for valor during intense urban fighting' he'd been part of in Ramadi. That's what the presidential letter said, anyway. Gabe hadn't told her what he had done because it was still classified, but she'd seen footage on the news. It had been a devastating series of conflicts, and she was amazed he'd come home at all.
"I thought that since you were retired now," she said softly, "you wouldn't mind displaying it. If I'm wrong, we can put it in the closet until you're ready."
He shook his head, eyes unfocused and lost to memories. Deliberately, she reached out to rest her hand on his thigh, and he jerked, his gaze finding hers. He blinked a couple of times, his focus sharpening. "I would … I do want to display it. Thank you, Julie."
Gathering her in his arms, he wrapped himself tightly around her, sharing strength. Julie knew that he needed this more than she did, so she settled in, not moving until he did. "I love you, babe," he told her finally. "I will cherish it. Never doubt it. It was hard fought but deserved. Several of us on the Team got the same award at the same time."
Julie knew he wouldn't say anything more about it, but she reveled in the fact that he had turned to her for comfort, rather than away.
A few seconds later he prodded her off his lap and pushed the big box to her. "Maybe not as emotional, but I hope you enjoy it."
Julie tugged at the misaligned paper, loving that he'd taken the time to wrap everything himself. Even the silver snowflake paper was new. When she revealed the picture on the box, she gasped. Then she ripped the paper away in a frenzy. "This had better not be a box you found on the street to use for my gift."
Gabe laughed, leaning back against the front of the couch. "It's not, I promise. Is that a good machine?"
Julie turned to him incredulously. "Hell, yes. I've been looking at these for a while but I couldn't justify spending the money on it. I'm not good enough to use it yet."
"Well," he told her smiling, "now you have motivation to get better."
Julie fell into his arms again. "I can't believe you knew I wanted this."
"Well," he admitted, "I kind of didn't. I mean, I had a vague idea. But I have a new girlfriend that works at Jo-Ann's, and she apparently knew your type very well, though she's never met you. Her name is Kate and she's amazing."
Laughing, Julie tugged him down for a kiss. "Am I going to have to fight her for you?"
"I don't know," Gabe told her, frowning. "I mean, she's every bit of sixty, sixty-five maybe, but she looks like a scrapper. Maybe you should just protect me from here."
He sprawled across the floor, tugging her down over top of him. "Think you have one more Christmas present for me? Maybe?"
Grinning, she leaned down to press her lips to his. "Oh, yes, as a matter of fact I do."
Zeke
Chapter One
Christmas Eve
Zeke wrapped his arm around Ember's shoulders, pulling her to a stop.
"I k-know you're on a mission, but j-just stop for a minute and look around."
With a dreamy grin, she nestled under his arm. "I know. I was talking to Dad about this earlier. I can't believe how very lucky we are … blessed."
Drew played over by the Christmas tree with Mercy, Chad and Lora's little girl. The two of them had their heads together, dark and light. They'd become fast friends, even to the point of sending secret messages to each other via cell phones they'd snagged from their parents.
"I d-d-don't know what they're brewing up, but it looks important."
Ember looked up at him with a grin on her mobile face, and he wondered for the five-millionth time what he'd ever done to deserve her. Her left hand was curled protectively beneath her chin, engagement ring hidden.
Anxiety pressed at him. "Is the r-r-ring okay?"
Ember turned to him and cupped his gnarly face in her soft palms. She'd never minded his scars. "My ring is beautiful, and exactly right. I would have chosen the very same."
He leaned down to meet her kiss. Normally, he was a little more sure of himself, but an engagement ring was such a big thing. "I t-t-took Chad with me to choose. Since he'd al-al-already done it. Dragged Duncan along with us, t-t-too."
Her dark eyes smiled up at him. He loved how they creased at the corners when she smiled up at him. Hell, who was he kidding -he loved everything about her.
"It will take me a little while to get used to it. And I already worry about the stone. I can't help it."
She shrugged in the cage of his arms and leaned her head against his chest. Again, Zeke wrapped his arms tighter around her, wishing they were back home so that they could celebrate.
"Don't worry about the stone, the ring's insured. Hey, think we can s-s-sneak back to the office?" he whispered.
Ember looked at him, a scandalized look on her face. "No, we can't go back to the office," she hissed. "You are so bad!"
But her cheeks had flushed, and he knew if there weren't thirty other people in the bar she would let him tug her back there. Happily.
When the party started breaking up, he wasn't too concerned. It had been a nice party, but the weather was moving things along. Drew's eyes were heavy lidded, and he would be a bear in the morning. Actually, since tomorrow was Christmas, maybe he wouldn't be.
Zeke thought of the work he had to do yet tonight. 'Santa' had gotten Drew several items that needed to be assembled. He had at least a couple hours of work ahead of him tonight … hmmm, maybe his dark-haired elf could help him.
By the time they'd waved everybody out and readied the bar for the next opening, the night after Christmas, it was creeping on toward midnight. Drew dragged his feet on the way to the truck, and was asleep in his booster seat within minutes. When they got to the house, Ember moved to wake him but Zeke shook his head. "I'll carry him in."
Drew didn't make a sound as he was carried into the house and up the stairs to his room. Zeke laid him upon the mattress softly, and he didn't rouse. He pulled the little sneakers off, and the lights in the soles glittered in the dark room as they thumped to the floor.
Zeke shook his head. He'd have killed for kicks like that when he was a kid, no lie.
Ember took care of her son better than she did herself. Her work shoes would fall apart before she bought herself new ones. He understood that she'd gotten used to saving money when she'd been living alone, but jeez.
Drew could sleep in his jeans and T-shirt tonight. More than likely he'd be up in just a few hours anyway. Tucking the Captain America sheets and comforter around him, Zeke pushed to his feet.
Ember passed him in the hallway, grinning up at him as she hauled a black plastic trash bag full of toys toward the front room. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
"I'll be down in a m-minute."
She nodded, tiptoeing on down the stairs.
Zeke headed to their bedroom, feeling tiredness dogging at his heels. After working all day, then catering the party, the last thing he wanted to do was stay up for hours putting together crazy ass toys for the boy. He had asked Ember why they had to do it, and not Drew.