Title: Home For Christmas
Author:
courtsDisclaimer: I do not own David Cook or David Archuleta and Santa Claus is not real;. I'm sorry to shatter all of your dreams in one day.
Rated: PG-13
Summary: Wherein Cook gives a gift and receives a gift.
Notes: Written for the
Cookleta Holiday Song!Fic Challenge. My prompt was Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy by David Bowie and Bing Crosby, rated PG-13.
Thanks: To
poppyfields13 for beta reading for me. You're awesome, babe!
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David Cook was nervous.
It was a week before Christmas and he was on his way to the airport to pick up his boyfriend, who was getting in from an overseas tour just in time for the holidays. Actually, David's tour was supposed to last until the day before Christmas but he'd apparently put his foot down, insisting that he had to be back stateside before December 20th. Cook was well aware of the reason; the younger man wanted to be there for Cook's birthday. He'd informed David that it was unnecessary; they could celebrate his birthday later. But, David was undeterred and soon he'd called back to inform Cook that he'd be arriving at LAX on December 18th and could Cook maybe pick him up from the airport? The older man couldn't think of anything he'd rather be doing.
So, it was late afternoon on a Friday and traffic was ridiculous, but Cook had somehow managed to navigate the 405 and arrive at the pick-up area just as David was walking out. No one knew that he was coming in, and David had gotten pretty good with disguises, so the lack of fans trailing along after him told Cook that his young boyfriend had managed to avoid being recognized.
Jumping out of the car, Cook stood by the curb and waved enthusiastically, drawing the younger man's attention and immediately earning him a wide grin. David rushed over, his large, wheeled suitcase trailing behind him, and practically collided with Cook. The suitcase clattered forgotten to the ground as David wrapped his arms around Cook's middle, his baseball hat getting slightly dislodged as he buried his head against Cook's chest and whispered, "Gosh, I missed you."
Cook returned the hug with equal vigor, not repeating the words only because he didn't think crying in the airport pick-up zone would be such a great idea. Instead, he pulled back enough to see David's face and they locked eyes, shining hazel meeting shining hazel, and the smiles on both of their faces were more than enough.
Cook helped David haul his massive bag into the car and then they were off. "So, how was Thailand?" Cook asked as he merged back into the grueling afternoon rush hour traffic.
"Same as it was everyday when I called you on the phone," David teased.
Cook smiled and nodded as he said, "Yeah, our phone bills are going to be astronomical, huh?"
David reached over and laced his fingers with the hand Cook didn't have on the wheel as he said, "Totally worth it." Squeezing the younger man's hand, Cook had to agree.
"So, I got you an early Christmas gift," Cook told him.
"What? I haven't even had time to shop yet," David protested.
"Well, it's something I've been wanting to get for you for a while, actually, so Christmas was a good excuse." The truth was, they'd been together for nearly a year, pretty much since David had turned eighteen and Cook had finally been able to admit to himself that the feelings he had for his young friend were more than brotherly. They'd spent the previous winter and spring working around Cook's tour, then the summer and fall working around David's. Now, it was winter again and they were finally in the same city for an entire month, not counting the two days they'd agreed to spend in Utah and the two days they'd be in Blue Springs, and Cook wanted to do everything in his power to make their time together unforgettable.
"You know, you don't have to buy me gifts," David told him.
"I know that, but I wanted to," Cook said. "Besides, there was something I wanted you to have and this seemed like as good a time as any to get it for you."
David gave him a curious look, but accepted the answer and didn't ask for any hints. Cook knew that the younger man liked surprises.
By the time they pulled into the garage at Cook's house, Cook could tell that David was a little excited about what gift the older man had in store for him. They got out of the car together and walked to the door, but Cook stopped and turned around when they'd reached it. "Okay, close your eyes," he instructed.
David looked like he wanted to protest, but ended up sighing and doing as he was told. Cook then led him into the house, stopping occasionally along the way to check that David's eyes remained closed. They walked into the living room and Cook went to stand behind David, placing his hands on the younger man's shoulders as he finally said, "Okay, open em up."
He knew that David had obeyed by the gasp that he made. Cook followed his gaze across the room to the huge, black piano that sat in front of the bank of windows in the living room. "Oh wow," David said softly as he stepped forward, seemingly drawn to the beautiful instrument. "It's . . . it's . . ."
Cook smiled and asked, "Do you like it?"
"Oh my gosh, like it?" David repeated as he ran a solemn hand over the shiny finish. "I . . . I love it," he finally said. "Gosh, thank you, Cook, I . . ." His voice caught and Cook came around to wrap his arms around David from behind, hugging the younger man to his chest.
He rested his chin on David's shoulder and whispered, "I thought you should have one here. I want you to feel at home." He could feel David's breath catch again at those words and he added, "You always have a home with me, Arch."
David spun around in Cook's arms, put his hands behind Cook's head and dragged him down and into a long kiss. They were both breathless by the time they parted and David, forehead pressed to Cook's, said, "Thank you. I love it. And I love you."
The piano had to be tested out, of course, so they ended up sitting together on the black, padded bench. David's fingers glided across the keys and their voices blended easily above the melody. They sang Little Drummer Boy and a few other Christmas carols that David loved. Cook couldn't take his eyes off the younger man's beaming face the entire time.
Finally, Cook could see David drooping and he got up, urging his boyfriend up as well. David was reluctant to leave the piano, but he was also exhausted, so he eventually conceded and rose to follow Cook up the stairs.
"My bags are still in the car," David reminded him as Cook pushed gently on his shoulders to coax David to sit down on the edge of the bed.
As he knelt to remove David's shoes and socks, Cook waved off the words, saying, "We'll get them in the morning."
"It's seven o'clock at night," David protested as Cook pulled his shirt over his head, then had David rise so he could remove his jeans. "We can't go to bed yet."
"Says who?" Cook asked. He'd gotten David down to his boxers and eased him back onto the pillows and, despite his protests, the young man yawned loudly and rubbed at his tired eyes.
Cook smiled fondly, elated to finally have David back within his reach. He hadn't realized he was capable of missing someone so much until these last few weeks away from David. He was sure he'd never be able to be apart from him for this long again.
Stripping down to his own shorts, Cook crawled into the bed and snuggled up to David, pulling the blankets over them both. "You can't be tired this early," David said, punctuating the words with another huge yawn.
"I'm fine," Cook assured him. "Just close your eyes, baby."
"You don't have to stay in here with me. Go out, have fun," David mumbled, his voice already slurring with the exhaustion of jetlag and a days worth of travel.
"I'm not going anywhere," Cook said softly. He pulled David tighter against him, bending to kiss his shoulder, then buried his face against the warm skin of David's neck. David's breathing evening out into sleep was the last thing that Cook remembered before he let himself sleep as well.
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The first thing that Cook was aware of was that someone was watching him. He could feel it, even without looking. He slowly opened his own eyes and, sure enough, there was David, looking back at him.
David smiled sweetly, his hair still tousled and sticking out at weird angles, his eyes still heavy with sleep. "Good morning," he said in a slightly rough voice.
Cook grinned back and stretched as he replied, "Morning."
"I missed you," David said suddenly.
Cook looked back at him, surprised by the words. After all, he'd been home for almost an entire day and they'd said those words at the airport and on the way home and, well, it wasn't so much the words themselves as the way David said them. There was desperation in his voice, like he was afraid that their reunion might just be a dream or something.
"I'm here," Cook assured him.
They ended up making love that morning for the first time since David's return. And it felt like coming home, like they were finally right back where they both belonged.
Afterwards, as David lay curled up on Cook's bare chest, tracing invisible patterns across his skin, he said, "Thank you again for my gift. I really do love it."
Cook smiled, stroking the small of David's back with his thumb as he replied, "And I love you. I just want you to be happy."
"I couldn't be any happier than I am right now," David assured him. He leaned up to kiss Cook's lips, adding, "Merry Christmas."
Cook touched David's cheek with his free hand and replied, "Merry Christmas, babe."
And, at last, they were both home.
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The End
December 8, 2008
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