Doctor & Nurse

Chapter 34

Tobias shakes me awake, "Wake up, Tris, it's Christmas!" He says excitedly into my ear. I groan, rolling over, "Tobias, it's too early to be up!" He sings, "Get up! I already made your favorite pancakes and hot chocolate." His words hit my ears, I jump out of bed, laughing, "Okay! I'm up!" I follow Tobias in his matching Christmas PJs, and nearing the end of the stairs, he grins turning to me, "Close your eyes!" I ask, "Why?" Annoyance filling my voice. He smirks, "Because, I said so!" Rolling my eyes at him, "That isn't an answer," I pout at him. He leans muttering, "Please, trust me." My eyelids slide shut, and he leads me down the rest of the stairs, he sits me on the couch in the living room. The fire is crackling, I can feel the heat on my face, and Christmas music plays softly in the background. Pancakes permeate through the house with the smell of pine, which makes my stomach growl. The couch moves next to me, he whispers, "Open your eyes," I open my eyes, and look at the plate sitting in front of me. The pancakes are shaped like different cookie-cutter images. A smile tugs at my lips, "These are adorable. How did you manage to make them?" He grins laughing, "I'm glad you like them, they were a pain in the ass to make." I giggle at the image in my mind of Tobias attempting to cook these, he asks, "What's funny?" I smirk, "Nothing," stuffing a piece of pancake into my mouth. Tobias and I eat breakfast together and enjoy our hot chocolate. Finishing his cup of hot cocoa, a look of excitement fills his eyes, he smirks, rubbing his hands together "Okay, present time!" He takes off before I can say anything. Walking to the tree, I grab his presents from under it. For several moments, my mind drifts reminiscing of Christmases past, this one is very different. Normally, I spend the day with mom, if I was asked last year if this Christmas would have been any different, I would have said no. Tobias walks back into the room with a little bundle of fur nestled in his arms, he whispers, "Merry Christmas, Tris!" Glancing at the crook of his arm, I see a black and white kitchen with a red bow around its neck. "It's adorable Tobias! Where did you find it?" I ask curiosity lacing my voice. He laughs, "First off, the kitchen is male, and Lauren's cat had a litter of kittens. She was looking for forever homes for them, I offered to take one, I figured you both could keep each other company when I am on-call at the hospital. What do you think you want to name him?"

"Why don't we name him Patches?" I smirk, saying the name out loud makes me feel like a two-year-old is naming my kitten. My cheeks burn, but before I can say anything else, Tobias smiles, "I like that, it fits him, he sort of looks like he has patches on him." Tobias hands me the kitten, I cradle the ball of fur in my arms, a huge smile spreads across my lips, "Thank you, I love him. I always wanted a cat growing up, but mom never wanted to commit to animals." Tobias walks to the tree while I'm speaking, removing more presents handing them to me, "You got me more! You are spoiling me rotten!" I laugh, he responds, "I didn't get you too much. I know how you are about presents. I wanted to get you more, but I had to restrain myself." He hands me the presents, and I open them, eyeing him the entire time. Tobias got me a snowflake necklace, a long sleeve dress, dress boots, and a gift card to get my nails done. I leap at him, landing in his lap, my lips press to his as I hug him, whispering against his lips, "Thank you for everything, Tobias, you really got me too much. I love it all though."

Handing him his presents, he slowly opens the paper. He opens the watch first, and a smile lights up his face, "Thank you, I needed a new one!" Opening up the ring, his eyes appear glassy, I shrug my shoulders, saying, "I figured you could wear it like a promise ring, it would be a way to say, 'ladies, I'm taken, maybe everyone will get the hint to stop flirting with you.'" Tobias quips an eyebrow, asking sweetly, "What ladies flirt with me beside you? I don't notice anyone else." I smile, "You are sweet and obvious, everyone talks about you at the hospital." He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, grinning, "No one matters to me, but you," pressing his lips to mine.

I help Tobias pick up the paper from the table when we are done opening the presents, and we get dressed for the day into comfortable clothes. We spend the day watching Christmas movies and playing with Patches. He loves to chase yarn and mice, he is energetic, running around the cabin with endless energy. When he becomes tired, he curls into a ball on the couch, falling asleep while Tobias and I go to the pool.