Home For Christmas

XI

"Yeah." Newt laughed, leaning closer. "Old man." His eyes began to flutter closed as Hermann started leaning in as well. Their noses touched and Newt got ready to close the gap between them when every electric appliance in the house suddenly turned on at once. They both stepped back as the room flooded with sound and light. It was like the whole world started spinning again and they were thrown back into real life. The fantasy was gone; the dreamy haze that had filled the cabin was sucked out of the air and they were back in reality. Everything was real again.

"They must've fixed the power line." Hermann said looking around. He began to turn off everything that wasn't being used in order to conserve energy. They stood silently for a bit after that and soon found they were both looking the same place, the phone.

"I should uh- I should probably call a tow." Newt scratched at the back of his neck as he spoke. He glanced over at Hermann before focusing on the ground.

"And I could check out your car if you'd like." Hermann offered with a nod, looking at the ground as well.

"Yeah I'd..." Newt sighed and nodded. "I'd appreciate that." Neither of them moved. They met each other's eyes and Newt made his way to the phone. He put his hand on the phone and then pulled it back. "Do you know the number for a tow truck near here? Or do you have a phone book or something?" He turned to Hermann and was met with a curt nod.

"Yes I- I know someone." Hermann nodded and Newt handed him the phone.

"Right. Cool." He nodded.

Newt walked back to the fire, which was only half necessary at this point as the heater had already begun to warm the house. He wrapped himself in the blankets, which smelled like Hermann, and he took a deep breath, closing his eyes.

He didn't want to go.

"Your car should be here in half an hour." Hermann spoke as he entered the room. "Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"

"No you've already given me so much I-" He abruptly cut himself off and sighed. He couldn't say what he wanted to. He couldn't say I couldn't possibly ask for more, he couldn't say I already owe you my life, he couldn't say I can't trust myself to leave if I share one more meal with you. So he didn't. He simply pushed back his thoughts and opened his mouth. "I'll probably pick something up on the road." He nodded stiffly.

"Right." Hermann nodded in return. "You could call your family if you'd like." Hermann motioned back towards the phone.

"Nah nah, that's alright." Newt shook his head. He couldn't trust himself to take one more step. Not one step closer.

"Are you sure?" Hermann furrowed his eyebrows. Newt felt his heart stop, or maybe he felt it crack. He couldn't stay but he felt such a deep ache in his chest upon seeing Hermann's face so full of concern.

"Uh yeah." He said finally. "Yeah no I'm sure. They uh- They already think I'm on my way, so it'd be no use just telling em something they think they already know." He waved his hand dismissively and flashed a smile.

"Right." Hermann said again. They stood there silently before being brought back to reality by the ringing phone. Both of them flinched at the sound and they let out uncomfortable chuckles to ease the tension. It didn't work. Hermann was only on the phone for a moment before he reentered the room. "It was my..." He paused. "Friend." He quirked a smile and continued. "Apparently the roads were cleared fairly quickly so he'll actually be here in fifteen minutes."

Newt took a deep breath and nodded. He tried to think of something to say; Cool, nice, rad, awesome, but he couldn't bring himself to sound excited. So he just stood and nodded, staring at the floor. "Right." Newt looked away and then a small sad smile grew on his face. "Hey." He said softly.

Hermann looked over at him and saw he had his hand extended.

"Do you wanna, uh-" Newt stopped himself, smiling. He bowed with dramatic grace and flare, offering his hand. "Excuse me. May I have this dance?" He asked softly. The music had long been gone but the offer still stood.

Hermann took his hand and they hugged each other close, swaying back and forth.

"I'll be home for Christmas." Newt sang softly. "You can count on me, Please have snow and mistletoe, And presents on the tree." He felt Hermann bury his face in his neck and he closed his eyes wanting to savor the feeling of closeness. "Christmas eve will find me, Where the love light gleams, I'll be home for Christmas, If only in my dreams." He sang so incredibly slow, wanting to prolong this last dance as long as he possibly could. "I'll be home for Christmas, You can count on me, Please have snow and mistletoe, And presents on the tree. Christmas Eve will find me, Where the love light gleams, I'll be home for Christmas, If only in my dreams." They continued swaying after he stopped singing.

They stayed swaying in each other's arms until there was a knock at the door; they clung to each other tightly, eyes closed, holding their collective breaths. They let go at the sound of the second knock. Hermann walked to the door and Newt stood still.
He took a deep breath and gathered up his belongings, which were few. He only had the clothes that he had came in and Hermann's clothes, which he was wearing. He put on his coat and boots and held his clothes in his arms, walking towards the door. Hermann was standing in the doorway, waving at the man in the truck at he drove away.

"So..." Newton took a deep breath. "I should probably figure out what's up with my car." He said mostly to himself.

"We should make sure everything is in working order." Hermann agreed. "For your... safe departure." He added.

"Right." Newt nodded.

"Right."

They didn't speak meet each other's eyes on their way to the car, popping the hood in silence upon reaching it.

"So uh..." Newt bounced from his heels to his toes nervously. He thought maybe if he had something to concentrate on, things wouldn't be so bad. So he bounced. Heel to toe, heel to toe, heel to toe. "Do you know like... car stuff?" Heel to toe, heel to toe, heel to toe. Hermann laughed softly to himself and Newt smiled as he turned to him, stopping his shifting.

Hermann cleared his throat and nodded. "Yes, I know..." He paused to meet Newt's eyes and give a small smile. "Car stuff."

"Cool." Newt smiled as he nodded.

"Looks like it's just the battery." Hermann drummed his fingers along the front of the car.

"Soooo..." Newt knitted his eyebrows together in confusion. "Is it dead?" He offered a guess.

"No, not completely, but after this trip you should definitely consider getting it replaced." Hermann replied, taking a step back. "It should start up if we jump it." They both stood there staring at the engine. "So I'll just go get the cables." Hermann said turning around to move towards his own car.

Newt unlocked his car and threw his stuff in the backseat as Hermann pulled up. The front bumpers of their cars were about half a foot apart where Hermann stopped. He popped his hood and wordlessly hooked up the cables, motioning with his hand for Newt to try the ignition. It took three tries for Peach's little engine to roar to life. Newt let out a small cheer and smiled, clapping his hands together before the realization hit him.

This was it.