Found Light in the Shadow (Solangelo)

Chapter Twenty-One

Nico

It was actually a pretty nice day here for Christmas, we were used to having snow on Long Island. Will was actually comfortable in his new shorts and flip flops. I held my baby's hand as we walked the road across the city and then over to the camp. When we got to the Principia, we found that the door was already unlocked. After letting ourselves in, we found the stairs that led to the second floor. We could smell the ham cooking in the hallway. I could feel my mouth salivating as Will knocked on the door to Reyna's apartment.

Rachel opened the door wearing an apron that looked like it had been through a kitchen war and had lost. She was still smiling as she invited us into their apartment. Rachel had been living with Reyna for a month now, ever since they came out. We followed her inside, kicking off our footwear and putting our bags down on the bench inside the door. I hung my new jacket on the coat hook above the bench. Rachel led us through the living room, where they had a very nice Christmas tree by the fireplace, and into the kitchen.

Reyna was checking on the food that was in the oven, her apron looked as soiled as Rachel's. After closing the oven door, she came over to us. "Merry Christmas my boys. You'll have to excuse me for not giving you guys a hug right now, we had a slight mishap with the mashed potatoes and the gravy. The good news is, we got everything cooking. So, if you two can help clean up some while we go change, it would be greatly appreciated."

My, barefoot in the kitchen, husband answered her. "You girls go change, we got this."

Reyna thanked us as her and Rachel went to their bedroom to get cleaned up. I started working on the dishes while Will started wiping everything down. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but they definitely made quite the mess. It was as if they had the mixer on the wrong speed when they were whipping the potatoes. There were specs of mashed potatoes all over the place. The gravy incident seemed to be just isolated to the stove itself. By the time that we had most of the mess cleaned up, the girls came back out of the bedroom in fresh clothes.

When Reyna and Rachel came over to us this time, we gave each of them a hug. It was nice to see that they were becoming more comfortable as a couple. I remember how hard it was for me to relax when Will and I first got together. It took me a while adjusting to being myself in an accepting society. I still had some of the social intolerances in my mind from when I was still a kid. Of course, this was definitely a different day and age than when I was little.

Reyna said, "thank you for cleaning up our little mess. I'm going to go check on dinner and get us some hot chocolate while we are waiting. Why don't the three of you have a seat in the living room and I'll bring the hot chocolate over?"

"Sounds good Reyna."

Rachel, Will, and I went into the living room and sat down. Rachel sat on the love seat while Will and I sat on the couch. There was a nice little fire going in the fireplace, just enough that you could feel some heat. They had chips and nuts on the coffee table, but neither of us were really into junk food. However, Will did help himself to some of the nuts. I was going to say something to him, but nuts are kind of healthy except for all of the salt. Reyna came back over and handed us our cups before sitting down on the love seat beside Rachel.

"So how was your Christmas morning," she asked?

We gave her a run-down of what we got each other, then Reyna and Rachel told us about their presents. Some of the presents that they gave each other were still laying under the tree. Reyna got up from the love seat and walked over to the tree. When she came back, she was holding two small packages.

Reyna continued, "we still have a little bit of time before dinner will be ready, so I think that we'll give your presents now. The legion has decided to make both of you honorary members." Will and I each looked at one another with half worried looks. "You can both relax, we decided to forgo the customary branding."