Lakeside

Y is for Yuletide [ alphabet soup challenge ]

         Tom gives a little shake after stomping some of the snow and ice from his boots, trying to rid himself of the light layer of rapidly melting flakes. He forgoes shucking out of his jacket. There are still a few bags left in the truck, after all, but right now he wants to find Ryan and see if he can't convince her that staying over the holidays is the best idea. She's been putting off packing so – there's a chance... so he hopes.

"Ry? Babe?"

"In here!"

He keeps the box wrapped with a bow carefully tucked against his torso as he seeks her out, finding her exactly where he'd left her a few hours ago. Her laptop sits abandoned on the cushions beside her, a blanket tucked up around her legs, a notepad of 'things to do' tossed onto the makeshift coffee table. There's the hint of cocoa in the air – so the mug she sets down when he enters the room must be hot chocolate. He makes a mental note to replenish their stash the next time he checks in with Tori at the store.

"I was starting to think you got lost." Ryan's smile falters when she sees the package in his arms, one eyebrow raising, "I thought we said no presents till I got back."

"Maybe I don't want Austin to upstage me."

Ryan exhales a quick sigh as she rolls her eyes. "Tom."

It's been a months-long debate between them – her determination to return to the city to stay with her cousin until the new year, just like she'd done the year before. She didn't overwinter well, at least not in a place that didn't plow the layers of snow and ice from sidewalks and drives to maintain movement from place to place. His city girl was slowly acclimating, but Tom still had a ways to go with her, yet.

"I know – I know." His boots squeak against the floorboards as he circles to stand between her and the fireplace, the heat of the fire a welcome warmth compared to the chilled layers he's yet to remove. If he's not careful the surprise will be revealed simply for his change in routine. "Arrangements have been made."

"Mmhmm."

He takes a step closer, shifting the present in his arms, "So let me have this?" He waits a beat, but then doesn't want to risk a prolonged silence. "I promise I won't say another word about Christmas."

That wins him a grin and a shake of her head as she laughs, "Liar. But – this is unfair..." She shifts a little on the cushions as she watches him step around the makeshift coffee table and settle onto it in front of her. "I'm opening something, and you aren't."

Tom shakes his head, carefully holding the box in place between them, steadying the oversized package on his knees. "Maybe it's totally fair. Maybe it's a present for both of us. To share."

Those emerald eyes he adores drop to the red and green box before lifting again to study his face, her expression narrowing as her suspicion grows. "That box is way too big for lingerie."

He tips his head back as he laughs, and then gives her a wink, "Unless it's a box inside of a box inside of another box..."

"You're an idiot." Ryan beams at him, tipping forward as she holds out her hands. "But unless you plan on teasing me all afternoon – come on. Hand it over."

"Teasing is half the fun."

"Only half? Oh!" Ryan makes a face at him as he places the box in her lap, carefully keeping his hands in close proximity to steady the box – just in case. It wasn't so much the weight of it – though that was likely a factor – but likely the movement from within. "Tom..."

He nods encouragement even as she hesitates, airing his name in warning. "Open it." He'd made sure to wrap the box in such away that all she needed to do was lift the lid.

Ryan presses her lips together, an expression he knows so well after this past year they'd spent getting to know one another, as she works the lid free of the lower half of the box. "It's... is it... what did you do?" The puppy pops his head up as soon as she works the lid free of the box, wiggling with delight as she squeaks in surprise. "Oh! Oh, Tom. Did you – a puppy!"

He waits until she's scooped the puppy out of the box and into her arms before setting the box aside on the floor, grinning as he watches her cuddle the wiggling pup. "The adoption paperwork went through this morning. Couldn't wait, after that. Do you like him?"

It was a silly question, not that that stopped him from asking. She's got tears in her eyes and the flush on her cheeks isn't from the cozy warmth of the log fire. There's another question he wants to ask – somewhat related to staying for Christmas, to staying in his life forever – but he's not worked up the nerve, yet. Soon. Eventually. If Tori doesn't give up patiently waiting and follow through with the threat to ask Ryan for him.

"He's adorable, Tom. I love him."

"Good." It's all he can think to say as she lifts those sparkling eyes to lock onto him again, the puppy wiggling and squirming to try to litter her with kisses – or escape and explore. He'll never get used to the way she can spear him with a look, seeing into the depths of him seemingly without even trying. It doesn't itch the way it used to, though, now it hits him like a cool breeze on a sweltering summer's day.

She shifts her focus back and forth over his features before dropping her attention back to the pup trying to wriggle his way out of her lap. "Does he have a name?"

Tom watches her scratch behind the puppy's ears, her fingers shifting to the collar clasped around the puppy's neck. "Well," he hems, finally tugging his jacket off and setting it aside. "The name on his paperwork was Baxter but I was thinking we could pick something out together."

Ryan nods, letting the puppy explore the gap between her and the closer armrest of the sofa. "Hmm. Ok. Did you have any ideas?"

He'd thought of several during the drive as he tried to keep the pup nestled safely in the box in the passenger's seat. The little devil had nearly tipped out of it and spilled into the floorboards more than once. Vet visits will definitely require more than one person – a driver and a pup-wrangler. "Maybe."

His comment wins him another suspicious stare, though she can't quite wipe the joy entirely from her features. She echoes his statement before blinking, something else seemingly occurring to her, "Maybe... oh! What about his food? And leash and – things?"

Tom grins, straightening his spine a little, "Out in the truck. Didn't want to ruin the surprise. Or risk dropping him on the way in."

Ryan leans forward, wordlessly drawing him in for a kiss with nothing more than a look. She exhales, resting her forehead against his, keeping her eyes closed. For a moment it's just the pair of them anchored together. "I guess you win, after all."

"Hmm?"

She flutters her eyes open, settling back just enough that he can focus on her face. "There's no way I'm going to Austin's, now." Ryan turns her head, her soft smile faltering, surprise giving way to what would almost be a comical double take if it weren't for her alarm. "Tom... where is he? Where's the dog?"