M I L E X {oneshot compilation}

12 Months of Christmas

A/N: Hey everyone! This is the first Milex story I've had the courage to publish - as it is I'm all nerves about finally posting this one, so please be kind! - but i was inspired by all the other wonderful stories on here, so here it is! These two beautiful lads are the light of my life, so I hope ya'll have a sweet tooth because what you're about to read is absolutely shameless fluff. I'm serious, it's gonna be like a pink cloud of fairy floss. Also, just a disclaimer: I am not from London (or even the UK) nor have I ever been there (yet), and though I've tried my best to research I'm sure there will be some details that are a bit off and I have based some aspects of the story on how things are done in my country. I don't think there's anything in here that you need to be warned about apart from a bit of cursing, a couple food mentions and very, very brief mentions of alcohol however if you do find anything please let me know. You'll notice that I've tried to write their accents (I'm well aware that I've missed bits here and there so I'm sorry about that too) so I apologise if you're Northern and I've gotten it totally wrong. Lastly, this story is set in 2008 if Alex and Miles had both moved to London from their respective hometowns and met there. I think that's all you need to know!

Alright, this note has been way too long so here goes! I really hope you enjoy! Arrrgrggh!! (that's me screaming with nervousness)

GG xxx

Christmas had to be, without a shadow of doubt, Alex's favourite time of the year. Better, even, than his birthday or Easter (though he was a lover of chocolate). He didn't vocalise this fondness specifically, lest his bloke-ish childhood mates and fellow band-members find some sort of humour in it, but the quite visible shift in his demeanour during the festive season spoke volumes about his love of Christmas and everything that went with it. It seemed, however, that the more time he spent with Miles, his boyfriend of two-and-a-half years, the less he cared about his over-excited twittering when the tree was hauled out of the cupboard, or what his enthusiastic carolling as the two of them strung multi-coloured lights about their apartment might say about his personality. It was as though an internal switch had been flicked the second the clock ticked over into December.

Miles had been left confused and a little suspicious for some weeks in the lead-up to their first Christmas together after he had come home from university to an Alex-free apartment more than a few times, only for the boy to march through the door anywhere from 10 minutes to a few hours later than usual, empty-handed, pink-cheeked in a way that lead Miles to believe it was as a result of more than the wintery London breeze and, when prodded to explain where he had been, decidedly secretive about his activities. It wasn't until Miles, upon returning tired, frustrated and disappointed from what could have been the least-successful prac of his not-yet-started career in veterinary science and not at all in the mood for games, had lost his temper somewhat with the boy when he had happily skipped around Miles' exasperated interrogation that Alex had sullenly revealed a small, near-hidden compartment above their front door, accessed from the hallway outside and containing bags and boxes of presents.

"I know how yeh can be a snoop, so I didn't hide your presents in the apartment in case you found 'em before I 'ad the chance t' wrap 'em,' Alex had said in a small voice once he had reluctantly revealed his secret, his Christmas cheer severely dampened from being told off. Miles, on the tips of his toes, observed the stash with a growing sense of shame in the pit of his stomach.

"Oh...oh," was the best he had been able to come up with, choosing to stare into the fibres of the worn carpet rather than Alex's face, which would surely contribute to the feeling of vague illness he was experiencing. "A-and they're...they're all fer me?"

"Mm-hm."

Miles had managed to make it up to Alex through many, many kisses and cuddles and emotive explanations of why he'd been in such a foul mood that day, and no, of course he hadn't been accusing Alex of anything sinister, and yes, he knew Alex took great pleasure in seeking out and collecting gifts for his loved ones. That and a copy of 'Edgar A. Poe's Poems - The Complete Poetical Works' dating back to the 1920's under the tree come Christmas morning, among other such thoughtful gifts. The slight pretence of guilt they carried with them as Miles gladly handed them over to the energetic boy had been immediately overshadowed by the delight with which Alex had carefully unwrapped each, and his subsequent enthusiasm and happiness about what each package contained. Any residual annoyance seemed long forgotten as overjoyed kisses were planted all over Miles' face - and were returned in kind.