“Good.” Tuesday beamed. “Because… I love you too.” He kissed Ozzie passionately, curling all around him.
“Ew!” Samantha squealed. “Why are they kissing!”
“Gross gross gross!”
Gena took a deep breath and smiled. “So, uh… is everyone ready to open presents then?”
Tucker blinked. “Uh, honey, aren’t we going to talk about the monster or the alien?—”
“Presents,” Gena snapped, her voice hitting a shrill note. She lowered her voice and said more calmly, “I am going to get a broom and clean up this mess, you and the boys are going to get everyone eggnog, and then we’re going to open presents.”
“I can’t unwrap mine in front of my family.” Ozzie smirked and brushed some of Tuesday’s hair back from his face.
“Later.” Tuesday batted his lashes. “When we get home then.”
Hope bubbled up in Ozzie’s chest, and he asked as casually as possible, “So, does this mean you’re staying?”
“Baby, I’ve been all over the universe and back again.” Tuesday chuckled. “Nowhere’s felt like home until I sat on your damn couch, smoked a bowl, and watched that hot-ass Daddy dwarf flirt with that skinny little elf.”
Ozzie kissed Tuesday again, his heart full and racing away. Somehow, he’d gotten exactly what he’d always wanted, and now he just couldn’t wait to be alone with Tuesday to show him exactly how grateful he was.
“What’s a bowl?” Samantha asked loudly.
The entire family groaned.
“We’ll tell you when you’re older. Much, much older.” Ozzie grinned sheepishly. “So, uh, right. Who wants eggnog?”
“I’m gonna egg your nog,” Tuesday whispered slyly.
“Shh. Later.”
“Promise, baby?”
“Promise.”
ten
Defeating an intergalactic douchebag with fruitcake was sure to go down as the most memorable Christmas in the history of the universe.
Once the house was tidied up and eggnog was served, the family had a zillion different questions about Tuesday, the existence of aliens, and the apparent dangers of tartaric acid to intergalactic life forms. Ozzie did his best to help explain, with Tuesday’s assistance, and Granny took it upon herself to swear everyone to secrecy on pain of slow, agonizing death.
She reasoned that Tuesday couldn’t eat her fruitcake if he was locked up in a government laboratory somewhere, and after what everyone saw her do with that golf club, no one questioned it.
Besides, they were all too happy for Ozzie to let anything happen to his new boyfriend.
His boyfriend the alien, who had the best smile, a great laugh, and he was head over heels in love with.
The most incredible part of all was that Tuesday loved him too.
As exciting as the holidays had been, Ozzie couldn’t wait to get back to his regular schedule. He was certain he’d had hisfill of peopling and parties, and he was looking forward to life returning to normal.
Well, as close to normal as it could be with Tuesday.
Work was still going to be difficult, his grocery bill would definitely be higher, but he wouldn’t trade a second of his life now for anything. Even mundane trips to the grocery store were an adventure, and he got to fall asleep and wake up next to a beautiful alien…
An alien who he couldn’t imagine ever being without now.
One who had changed his life so drastically in such a short amount of time, and for the better. Though Ozzie was still going to be a tad grumpy and would never be a fan of people, the only person he really cared about didn’t mind one bit.
