Of Flowers and Fire

Chapter 17

Christmas Eve approached rapidly, consuming everything in it's path. Diego hadn't realized how busy the flower shop would be around the holidays, but had committed to spending most of his time in the floor room of the shop, working the front desk -- because Sawyer had asked him to. (Shut up.) They'd worked out a routine together. One that resulted in Sawyer cutting back store hours from 6 to 9 to 8 to 7 - Diego was... appreciative to say the least. He threw himself into his work, designing flyers for community affairs and menus for a few restaurants in town, and he threw himself into Sawyer.

Nearing the 24 and 25, Sawyer became a frenzied workaholic (even more so than usual.) He required constant tea refills and encouragement, so Diego became a regular fixture. It was a common sight to enter Coming Up Roses and find Sawyer bent over a vase of poinsettias, glasses smudged and threatening to fall from his face, and Diego perched behind the counter, one pencil tucked behind his ear and another pinched in his left hand poised to write orders and times.

It was December 24th when Diego arrived at a completely dark storefront at 7:30 sharp.

Diego paused in front of the door, leveling the 'Closed, sorry!' sign with a glare more threatening than Vesuvius. The windows were dark and covered in a thin layer of crisp, winter frost. Diego transferred the bag in his left hand to his right and pressed the buzzer next to the door. In a moment, the light over the staircase in the corner flipped on and Sawyer emerged, hair wild, on the top step. The wrinkle between his brows relaxed and he took the stairs quickly,  hitting the door and pulling it open to accommodate Diego.

"Hi there," Sawyer said through a smiley yawn.

"Hey," Diego answered, smile flitting across his mouth. Sawyer closed the door behind Diego and swept an arm as to welcome him on upstairs.

"Shop's closed today and open tomorrow, it's how I operate things on holidays," Sawyer explained sleepily, "I thought I told you. I'm sorry. You didn't have to come in today or tomorrow."

Sawyer's apartment, at this point, was starting to take on characteristics of Diego's own. It was neater, for one thing - Diego had managed to slowly whittle away at Sawyer's hoarde of outdated Food Network and Paula Dean magazines. And it smelled a bit like Diego, for another. Most days, Diego didn't go home, he just stayed with Sawyer. Upstairs, tucked away together, laying until their breathing had synced and they felt as one.

"It's Christmas," Diego said, "I wanted to see you." The smile that took over Sawyer's face gave Diego goosebumps. "Stop that," Diego reprimanded, setting the bag down and drawing Sawyer close.

Sawyer kissed him deeply, hands circling his neck and breathing him in. "I missed you," Sawyer murmured. Diego laughed openly, he was still getting used to the sensation.

"You saw me ten hours ago," Diego said, hands folding around Sawyer's waist. Sawyer shrugged and grinned and kissed Diego again. "What's today's plan?" Diego asked when Sawyer pulled away and headed for the kitchen.

Diego leaned against the door and watched Sawyer move around the kitchen. "Well," Sawyer began, reaching into a cabinet for two matching mugs, "I hadn't planned on much." Sawyer glanced over at Diego, smile growing when he found Diego watching the pull of Sawyer's shirt. "I thought you'd be with your mom."

"Madre and I do things on the 25th," Diego said with a shake of his head.

Sawyer set a tea bag in one mug and began brewing a single serve coffee and boiling water for his tea. Diego studied his movements appreciatively. He moved with ease and grace and beauty. Now that Diego thought about it, he realized that he had been captivated by him from the start. Sawyer turned and pulled himself up on the counter to sit. Diego didn't go to him immediately, prompting Sawyer to raise an eyebrow.