Ch8. A FESTIVE ENGAGEMENT - PART 3

SOO here is the final part for the Christmas fic! Sorry it's taken slightly longer than anticipated but hey, it is still a day to go before Christmas! Anyway, MERRY CHRISTMAS HAVE FUN I LOVE YOU ALL (PS. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS FAVS AND REVIEWS XXX)

Ed was awake long before Oswald. In fact, Ed had hardly slept at all that night; lost in thoughts of Oswald and that he had actually said yes. Oswald lay motionless beside him and Ed listened to his calm breathing and the silence that surrounded them; and he stared through the slight opening in the dark drapes that adorned great, leaded windows, until soft light began to spill into the room. A smile spread over Ed's face and he turned away from the window and rolled toward Oswald. "Os." He whispered delicately. Oswald breathed deeply and turned toward Ed, wrapping his arm over Ed's waist. "Os, wake up." He urged.

"What... What time is it?" He mumbled.

"I fly when I'm born, lie when I'm alive and run when I'm dead. What am I?" Ed stared at Oswald eagerly.

"What?" Oswald didn't even open his eyes.

"Well?"

"Really Ed? Riddles?"

"Yes Oswald. Do you give up?"

"You're insane. My fiancé is insane."

"Fiancé." Ed's smile widened as he echoed Oswald's words.

"Yes." Oswald grinned, eyes still shut tight.

"Oswald, are you-"

"Ed, Eddie, please. I know you're excited. Can we-"

"No Oswald, wake up!" Ed demanded impatiently, throwing back the black, satin, bed sheets and balancing on his knees beside Oswald.

"Okay, yes!" Oswald laughed as he forced open his eyes and looked at Ed, who was beaming down at him, a child-like grin stretched over his face.

"A snowflake. The answer is a snowflake." Ed stared eagerly at Oswald, who simply smiled and dragged himself up, so that he came to rest on his elbows. Ed bounded out of bed and toward the windows, pulling back the drapes to reveal the softly settling snow outside.

"Ed, come back to bed." Oswald insisted, squinting as light flooded into the room.

"No Oswald. Look, it's snowing. It's Christmas day and it's snowing." He stared across the glittering whiteness that stretched out beyond the leaded windows. "In Gotham!" He added enthusiastically. Oswald sighed and, admitting defeat pulled off the remainder of the covers and perched on the edge of the bed. He rubbed his eyes and ran a hand through tousled hair. Ed removed himself from the window and composed himself. Taking a seat beside Oswald he smiled calmly. "Sorry, Os." Oswald frowned.

"Eddie," Oswald placed a hand on Ed's thigh and head on his shoulder. "It's okay." He laughed softly, knowing that Ed was excited to be celebrating his first proper Christmas in years; That Ed had always spent his Christmases alone. But now he had Oswald and he was determined to enjoy every moment of his day.

It came as a bitter shock when that first snowball hit Oswald square in the jaw; and he was quick to duck out the way of the second one, much to Ed's disappointment. It didn't take long for Oswald to reciprocate the gesture, balling up his own handful of snow and throwing it in Ed's direction. Ed moved quickly, avoiding the snowball but subsequently slipping and falling flat on his back. Oswald laughed and Ed frowned at him, although his frown quickly became a grin as Oswald stumbled through the snow toward him.

"Serves you right." Oswald chuckled as he offered out a hand to Ed. Ed smirked, taking Oswald's hand and before Oswald could react Ed had pulled him down on top of him. "Ed!" The objection was unconvincing; Oswald simply laughed as he fell on top of Ed. "Ed, I-" Ed pressed his lips against Oswald's, silencing him in an instant. Oswald didn't protest as Ed wrapped his arms around his back and held him tightly, instead placing his hands on Ed's cheek and kissing him back, returning the enthusiasm. Ed didn't even care that Oswald's hands were cold; he moved his own hands so that his fingers became tangled in Oswald's dark hair; pulling him into a deeper kiss. After a minute or two, Ed reluctantly pulled away from Oswald.

"Os, it's getting kind of cold." Oswald hadn't noticed, being as he was laid on top of Ed. He brushed snowflakes from Ed's forehead.

"Yes… Perhaps we should go inside." Oswald suggested, smiling at Ed. "Olga should have dinner ready by now, I imagine." Oswald rolled away from Ed, who stood quickly – delighted by the thought of Christmas dinner – and then held his hand out to assist Oswald. The two men grasped each other's hands firmly, keeping hold of each other as they returned inside.

Olga had outdone herself, Oswald concluded, deciding to give her the rest of the afternoon off and signing a cheque for a generous Christmas bonus as she hurried out of the door, leaving the pair to enjoy the delicious feast she had prepared for them.

After they had eaten about as much as they could manage, Ed and Oswald found themselves spending the remainder of their day sitting comfortably in the drawing room; beside the large and elegantly decorated Christmas tree; the room illuminated by only the glittering lights of the tree and the crackling, orange glow of the fireplace. Oswald sat opposite Ed and grinned. "Ed, I almost forgot," he reached under the tree and produced a small box, wrapped in shining green paper and tied with a gold bow. Oswald pretended not to notice the second gift under the tree. Ed frowned at him a little, then reached for the similarly small box – this one wrapped in purple paper – and presented it to Oswald. Both men smiled as they exchanged gifts and began carefully unwrapping them; glancing periodically at each other with eager anticipation that each would appreciate the other's gift.

Ed tore off the paper and opened the box, inside was a shining metallic green pen, detailed with gold accents; 'E. Nygma' was engraved in gold down the centre whilst the clip atop of the pen curled into a gold question mark. Edward smiled silently and watched as Oswald pulled open his own box. Inside was a solid silver watch; Oswald stared down at it with a broad smile, gazing at the tiny penguin engraved in the centre of the watch. He looked up at Ed.

"I, I love it." Oswald stared back down at the watch. Ed didn't have to say anything for Oswald to know that he had loved his gift, too, instead placing the pen carefully beside him and leaning forward to kiss Oswald on the forehead. Oswald looked up and caught Ed's lips with his, briefly. "You know, you needn't have got me anything. All I ever wanted was you." Ed sat back on his heels, finding himself – as ever – slightly taken aback by Oswald's words. Oswald told him all the time; but that didn't make it any less remarkable every time he said it. Ed pushed forward again, balancing on hands and knees he hovered over Oswald, leant forward and kissed him gently. Oswald closed his eyes and welcomed the kiss, as always, and wrapped his arms around Ed's neck, pulling him down on top of him and holding him closely.

Edward and Oswald spent the remainder of the evening laid in one another's arms beside the warm glow of the fire; their hands entwined and Ed's fingers playing over the ring he had placed on Oswald the previous day. Undoubtedly, it had been the best Christmas either of them could ever have hoped for.