Under The Mistletoe

Part 15

Photograph

"It was fine. He is very sweet. I definitely see the similarities. Did you guys have a good talk?" I reached for his hand.

"Yes. We always do. He's a very good big brother. I am so lucky to have him. Did you guys have a good conversation?"

"We did. He thinks you have good taste." I giggled. "He basically gave me big brother advice about you and your mom." I squeezed his hand. "Oh, I also took a picture of the tree and sent it to mom, dad, and my brothers. And I posted it on Twitter and Instagram."

"Can you see our monogram ornaments in it?"

I shook my head. "The lights are dimmed and the picture is far enough away and they are turned slightly." I pulled up the picture to show him. Just then a text came in from my mom.

That is not your living room. You don't have a fireplace ;)

I giggled and turned the phone to him. "Oops. What should I send her back?"

I tried not to panic, her mother wouldn't know who's living room it was and she didn't ask, but it still gave me a fright. "No, it isn't. Sounds like a fair answer. Send that."

I laughed. I sent the text. "Done." I then got the picture pulled up again. "See?"

I scooted closer and looked at her phone. "Yeah, you can't see them. Did you want me to take some of you with the tree? I would like more than the selfie I took. Would you mind?"

"Not at all. I would love for you to take some." I looked down at my blue and black plaid pj pants and my long sleeved black t-shirt. "Do I look okay?"

"You know what I think." I smiled at her and reached for her phone. I gave her the once over and a small 'I want you look', before encouraging her to go stand by the tree.

I stood up on my toes and kissed him before standing by the tree. "How do you want me?"

I just smiled and held up her phone and started taking pictures.

I rolled my eyes and stood next to the tree. He took a few pictures and then stopped for a moment. "What?"

"Oh, nothing. Keep doing what you are doing." I smiled and switched phones. We were going to need to get around to her taking my picture very soon. "OH, We need photos of both of us. Be right back." I jumped up and ran off to fetch my camera and tripod, dropping my ringing phone on the couch. I was not answering that call.

He didn't answer his phone which wasn't all that uncommon. I laughed and waited for him to come back. I turned my attention to the tree and straightened some ornaments and the ribbon in some places. I didn't even hear him come back.

Candid shots are always going to be the most amazing shots that you can take. I took several dozen of Lizzie while she adjusted the tree, all from an angle that hid the letters on the little balls. I looked at several and chose two to give to her before she noticed I was there and what I was doing.

"Oh! You are back. Did you want me to take your picture in front of the tree?"

"In a minute." I set about setting up the tripod and setting the frame. "Best birthday present ever." I held the little timer in my hand as I stepped beside her. "You ready?"

I smiled and nodded. "As I'll ever be." I was curious to see what kinds of pictures he wanted. I wrapped one arm around his waist and put my other hand on his chest.

I put my hand over her hand, counted out and snapped a few pictures. "Okay let me set the timer. It will take several shots and we can do whatever we want. The little red light right here will blink slowly then rapidly as it counts down to the first shot." I set the timer, looked up, nodded and rushed back over to her side. I stood beside her for a second then turned her to me and kissed her gently. I touched her face and smiled.

I was a bit surprised. He had done that before, but it always took me off guard when he did. I giggled. "That's the one I should send my parents." I smiled up at him and put my hand over his as I heard the next click.

I laughed and kissed her forehead, "Not on your life, little princess. I have several you Need to send them though."

"Okay. We still need to skype with them." I kissed his nose and he pressed his forehead to mine. "Soon."

"Ack. I am trying. My parents only know because they caught us out together three times and then caught me kissing you. Yeah, I know. I didn't tell you about that. I'd have waited until later to tell them. They are very protective right now, especially after all that mess. I want to give you a date, but I am not prepared to do that yet. I'm working on it."

"Okay. I love you. We can wait until you are ready." I held both of his hands in mine and looked around. "We don't have any Mistletoe."

"I'm sorry. I forgot to get it. You know, we don't have to do things completely on my terms, though of course, I like that. You can't keep just giving all the time, you are gonna lose yourself in me. I don't think getting that lost is a good thing. It's okay to push me sometimes. I'll let you know where the line is. You haven't found it yet. I find that I have an abundance of patience and understanding where you are concerned, but that still worries me." I smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "We don't need mistletoe, do we?"

I shook my head. "This is uncharted territory for me. I have never been in a relationship with someone and not able to tell the world about it. I know how important your privacy is to you, but I need to be able to talk to someone about you. It's been six months."

I pulled her over to the couch to sit and talk. "I understand. It's not that I don't want to talk about us. It's not that I want to 'HIDE' you. It's not that I am not proud. God knows that I am. I am just scared as hell. I don't want to lose you. I wouldn't let you go without one hell of a fight. It's not even the people, though they are often mean and cruel. It is so much more. I don't know your family or your friends yet. I know you. I trust you, I get that you trust them. They scare the hell out of me. You want to use my name when you talk about me instead of saying My Boyfriend?"

"I would love to. I just want to be honest with them. I can't show them pictures or give them names. It's hard."

"We'll get there. I promise to keep working towards it. I may never be completely comfortable sharing personal information such as that. I can only promise to try. Are you okay using the words My boyfriend selectively knowing that they are going to know his name eventually"

"Yeah, that will work. I don't mean to be difficult, I'm just so happy, and I want to share the happiness."

"You are not difficult. Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Why? Why my name?"

"I guess it wouldn't have to be your name, but it would be nice to give you a name. I could say my boyfriend, Benji."

"No, thank you. That is not my name. When the time comes, my name will be fine. This is about us, about being a couple?"

"I am happier than I have ever been. People have noticed. They ask why. I say I am dating this amazing guy. They ask who. I feel weird saying just a guy because you are so much more than just a guy."

"Yeah. I am your guy. Just yours." I smiled and touched her chin. "Yours."

"Mine. And I am yours, only yours." I met his eyes. "Always." I bit my lip. I was trembling a bit. These moments always made me need him.