Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 12

On the Twelfth day of Christmas,

My true love gave to me:

Twelve drummers drumming

Five AM

Hiro was up and looking at the ceiling. He felt restless. He wanted to get up now. He shut his eyes tightly. The pressure was too much. He jumped out of bed, ran out of his room and flew downstairs.

Meanwhile, Lelouch was sleeping peacefully with Suzaku wrapped in his arms. After getting up at one and then hauling the presents under the tree, he felt that he deserved a nice rest.

"MOM! DAD! WAKE UP!" Hiro exclaimed loudly. "SANTA PUT LOTS OF GIFTS UNDER THE TREE!"

Lelouch groaned and was nearly blinded when he saw Hiro's sunny smile. The damn sun shouldn't even be out right now at…

Lelouch glanced at the clock. Five AM. Perfect, he got five hours of sleep.

Suzaku stirred and opened his eyes sleepily. "Did you see your presents?" Suzaku asked as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

Hiro nodded vigorously, "C'mon, let's wake up Rin and open them." He said as he jumped out of their bed and went into his sister's room shouting exuberantly.

Lelouch groaned again. "Couldn't he have waited until sunrise at least?"

Suzaku rolled his eyes and smiled, "Just get the camera Lelouch."

Simple Things

What Suzaku loved most about Christmas were the simple things. Like singing Christmas songs, decorating the tree, opening up presents, or just watching the snow fall.

Suzaku smiled as he watched Rin and Hiro coo over their new siblings.

"They really love them." Lelouch said.

"I know." Suzaku replied. "I'm glad Hiro will be a doting big brother."

"We did a good job with those twins." Lelouch said.

"I know they look just like you." Suzaku answered. "But hopefully, they'll act a bit better than you."

"I act great." Lelouch said.

Suzaku just laughed. Lelouch smiled and kissed Suzaku's forehead. "In either case, Merry Christmas Suzaku."

Suzaku smiled, "Merry Christmas Lelouch."

It was these simple moments Suzaku treasured the most.

Like Father Like Son

"Oh they're so cute." Kaguya gushed as she stroked Leon's soft cheeks. Suzaku smiled and rocked one of the twins in his arms.

"They both look like mini-versions of you, Lelouch." Kallen said as she cooed at Ace, the other twin in Lelouch's arms. "They have your good looks for sure."

As if on cue, Ace opened his tiny eyes and stared at Kallen with what looked like a very smug baby expression on his face.

Lelouch smirked, "I think the little guy knows it too." Lelouch replied.

Suzaku rolled his eyes and sighed with fond exasperation, "Like father like son. Right, Leon."

Leon merely blinked owlishly. Suzaku smiled, "At least I won't have to worry about you getting into trouble."

Snow Shoveling

"Daaaaad why do we have to shovel the driveway?" Leon whined.

"Because it builds character." Lelouch said from the doorway. He was smirking at the twins as he nursed a nice hot warm cup of coffee.

"We shouldn't be working it's Christmas." Ace grumbled. "You should pay us overtime for this." He demanded.

Lelouch rolled his eyes. "Don't be so dramatic, Ace."

The irony wasn't lost on the twins, but they didn't say anything.

"How come Hiro-nii can't come help us shovel?" Leon asked.

"Because he's busy helping your Mom set up some tables with Rin."

"Then what are you doing?" Ace asked.

"Supervising." Lelouch said as he took another sip of coffee.

"Dad!" they both yelled indignantly.

"What? It's a very important job. Now hurry up, it's cold, and I want to get inside."

The twins groaned as they started to shovel the snow away.

Lelouch smiled triumphantly to himself. Oh how he loved children.

Promise

Lelouch hated spending the holidays with all his brothers and sisters. They were just an annoying bunch of people he couldn't stand. Even at eleven years old he could already tell that most of them were stupid and ignorant buffoons. Lord, he'd have to make sure that Nunally wasn't tainted by their idiotic hedonistic tendencies.

It's unfortunate that Lelouch was so engrossed in looking after Nunally that he'd forgotten to look after himself amidst the shark infested waters.

And that is how he found himself stuck in the garden shed outside the mansion. While he may be the superior intellect out of all of them, they were the superior brawn. It was a rather easy task to hoist him up their shoulders and shove him in the shed "just for laughs" as they said.

Lelouch was furious. Those damned idiots dared to put him in a shed of all things "just for laughs." It was infuriating and frustrating that Lelouch couldn't get himself out. For one, He couldn't pick a lock, a skill that he now would sorely pay anything to have, and he wasn't in the best physical state. He tried to knock over the door like they do in action movies, but it only gave him a bruised shoulder and some splinters on his hand.

He groaned loudly and kicked the door in frustration. It was rather unfortunate that the door seemed to hurt him more than he hurt the door.

God, someone just get me out of here. He thought.

By some stroke of fate, a few moments later he heard some scratching on the door, and the jingle of keys. The door creaked open and a Japanese teen looked in.

"Are you okay?" he asked. His green eyes looked over the young prince with concern.

"Yes." Lelouch answered. "Who are you?" he asked.

The teen didn't look offended by that question, "I'm Suzaku one of the servants working here."

Lelouch nodded, "I'm Lelouch, eleventh prince. Thank you for getting me out."

The teen smiled beautifully, "My pleasure, Your Highness." He offered a hand out, "Come on we should get you inside."

Lelouch nodded and took the offered hand. "How did you find me?" He asked.

"Master Clovis said something about putting an "arrogant little brat" in the shed." Suzaku explained. "I was ordered to make sure that you didn't get out, but it was cruel of them to leave you out in the cold shed like that. So I snuck the key out and got you out."

Lelouch was stunned by the teens selflessness. "You could lose your position." Lelouch said.

Suzaku smiled, "I could always get another job elsewhere."

Like with me. Lelouch thought. He shook his head. He shouldn't be thinking that way about a boy he just met.

Suzaku took him into the kitchen, and the servants seemed to immediately halt what they were doing. Suzaku gave them a smile and assured them that he just needed to tend to some of the young prince's wounds (mainly some splinters in his hand). A few minutes later, Lelouch's hand was clean and splinter free. Suzaku went and walked Lelouch to the main hall.

"Will you be alright?" Suzaku asked.

Lelouch scoffed and lifted up his nose. "Of course, I'll get those idiots back for humiliating me like that." Although perhaps he should thank them for letting him meet Suzaku. He turned to Suzaku, "Once again thank you for getting me out."

Suzaku smiled that beautiful smile and nodded. "It's no problem my young prince."

For some reason Lelouch liked it when Suzaku called him that. It was like Suzaku belonged to him. Suzaku, the kind and gentle teen with bright gentle forest green eyes and a beautiful smile.

"When I'm older, I'll ask for your hand in marriage." Lelouch declared.

Suzaku looked taken aback and chuckled, "Will you now? We're about five years apart."

"Age matters not to me." Lelouch said. "I'll build my own empire so I can provide the best for you, and then I'll ask for your hand."

Suzaku smiled and placed a warm kiss on Lelouch's forehead. "I'll be waiting then my young prince."

Lelouch smiled and confidently strode out into the main hall with the biggest grin on his face.

Knitting

It was a tradition Suzaku had. Every year all his children would get something that Suzaku knitted. Last year Hiro and Rin got scarves with their initials on it. This year, Suzaku made some hats for the two. But those weren't the only things Suzaku was making.

"Are those little hats?" Lelouch asked as he picked the very small dark blue hat.

"Yup, they're for the twins." Suzaku replied as he finished up a green hat.

Lelouch smiled and rubbed Suzaku's swollen belly. "I can't wait for them."

Suzaku smiled and placed his hand over Lelouch's, "Me neither."

Acquitted

"Leon, how do you think Santa judges how good or bad you are?" Ace asked as he packed a snowball.

Leon raised his brow, "Well he isn't going to come around if you're going to throw that at someone."

Ace rolled his eyes. "I know. I know." He grumbled. "I wouldn't mind aiming it at Sango though."

Leon just smiled. "I'm sure if you stop picking on Sango, Santa will get you lots of gifts."

"Hmm just maybe." He said, then he turned and saw a young girl with blond hair and blue eyes walking on the sidewalk. He looked down at the snowball and smirked.

"Hey Sango!" he yelled, and he threw the snowball at her. Sango screamed and ducked. Fortunately the snowball flew right over her head.

She glared at Ace. "I'll get you back Ace!" she cried and ran off towards her house.

"You know that you'll have to be nice to her during the Christmas party right?" Leon said.

Ace rolled his eyes, "Relax, I won't do anything in front of Aunty Kallen and Uncle Gino."

"Well Santa isn't going to like it when he sees that you threw a snowball at her."

"Hey I deliberately missed, that's got to count for something."

-0-0-

On Christmas morning Ace smiled to himself as he found a nice pile of gifts for him. He turned to his brother and smirked, "Hah, look at that. All my charges were fully acquitted."

Leon merely nodded his head and smiled.

Alcohol

"Lelouch there's a whole lot of people at the party." Suzaku said with a flushed drunken smile.

Lelouch grimaced, "Yes there sure is." He said.

"Then why are we going away from all the pretty colored people?" Suzaku asked. "We could swim through people! Like multicolored fishies!" Suzaku said with a dumb smile smacked onto his red face.

"Suzaku I don't think that's a great idea."

"No it's brilliant idea!" Suzaku exclaimed. "But we can't swim backwards." He said rather seriously.

Lelouch felt his eyebrow twitch. "Um…right. Why don't we go this way, we can have our own little private party in my bedroom."

Suzaku seemed to beam. "YOU'RE RIGHT!" He yelled. "We can swim towards your room."

"No…no Suzaku we're not swimming anywhere."

"You know what you are Lelouch?" Suzaku asked suddenly.

Lelouch sighed, "What Suzaku?"

"My friend and lover."

"Yes, that's true."

"That makes you my frover!" Suzaku exclaimed happily.

"…Indeed it does."

"Gino's not my frover though. He's just a friend and annoying guy. So he's my frinnoying guy, and Anya's my fralker and Milly's a fremon and…"

Lelouch decided that it was the alcohol talking, and just nodded along with whatever Suzaku was saying.

Suddenly Suzaku gasped, "Lelouch look!" he said as he pointed out the window. "It's a carpet."

Lelouch had to squint into the darkness to see it, but there was a carpet on grass. "Yes, there seems to be a carpet."

"Yes carpet!" Suzaku exclaimed, "CARPET! C-A-R-P-E-T!"

Lelouch winced and dragged him down the hall towards his room. Maybe he should take solace in the fact that Suzaku could at least spell "carpet" in his inebriated state.

"Wait!" Suzaku suddenly said.

"What is it?" Lelouch asked.

"I have a soliloquy for you!"

Lelouch really didn't want to know but well…

He sighed and asked, "What is it?"

Suzaku cleared his throat, "L is for lobotomy which you do to other people's brains. E is for excellent eggplants which are purple. L is for lie which you do a lot of. O is for obstinate which you can be less of. U is for Ultra-sex appeal which you ooze out. C is for cleft chin which you don't have. And H is for "I pity the fool!""

…

…

…

"…That was…very nice." Lelouch finally said. "But the last line didn't make any sense."

Suzaku pouted, "Yes it did!" he whined.

Lelouch bit his tongue and smiled, "You're right; of course it's right. What am I thinking?"

"So did you like my soliloquy?"

"Uh…yes, it was very sweet." Lelouch said as he refrained from telling Suzaku that was not a soliloquy. He supposed he would let Suzaku have this one, since the boy was dead drunk. "Now why don't we go and have a little party in my room?"

Suzaku smiled, "Okay." And they went to Lelouch's room without further mishaps.

Lelouch mentally cursed the people who got Suzaku this drunk and stupid. Next time, I'm going to take Suzaku far far far far away from the likes of alcohol.

Last Christmas

Suzaku felt a little giddy and nervous at the same time. He just saw Gino go out into the balcony, and he figured now would be the best time to tell him.

He weaved through people and saw the familiar head of blond hair. Suzaku smiled and went over to the man.

"Gino." He called out.

Gino turned and gave him a big smile, "Hey Suzaku." He said and he waved him over.

Suzaku took a deep breath and walked over to Gino. But as he came closer he found Monica chatting away next to Gino, and his arms were around her waist.

Suzaku felt his stomach drop when Gino gave Monica a kiss on her cheeks.

"Hey Suzaku." Gino greeted.

"H-Hey Gino and…Monica." Suzaku said as he tried to keep his voice from cracking. "I didn't know you two were together." He tried to say casually.

Gino didn't seem to notice any difference. "Yeah we just hooked up yesterday."

"Oh I see." Suzaku said.

Gino gave him a look, "Is something wrong?"

Suzaku plastered a smile on, "Oh no. Nothing's wrong, I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to you and Monica of course."

Gino grinned, "Gee thanks Suzaku. Merry Christmas to you too."

Suzaku nodded and awkwardly shifted back, "I should get going I think Milly might be looking for me."

Gino grinned enthusiastically, "Sure. See you around then Suzaku."

Suzaku smiled and walked off.

Idiot. Suzaku thought. It was miracle Gino didn't notice his stumbling.

Suzaku made his way outside and laid his head against the brick wall.

"Idiot." Suzaku mumbled to himself. He felt like crying. He really wanted to confess to Gino, but it really really didn't work out that way.

"I think Gino's the real idiot in this case." A familiar voice said.

Suzaku turned to find Lelouch walking towards him. "How did you find me Lu?"

Lelouch smiled and placed a warm hand on Suzaku's shoulder. "I always know where you are Suzaku."

Suzaku chuckled softly, "Yeah, you do."

Lelouch gave him a warm smile, "C'mon let's go back to the party."

Suzaku shuffled his feet, "I don't think I can really face Gino and Monica right now."

Lelouch shrugged, "Then we can go to my apartment, and you can let it all out." He suggested.

Suzaku gave him a watery smile. "Thanks Lelouch."

Lelouch smiled and wrapped his arms around Suzaku. "Don't mention it."

-0-0-

Suzaku was walking around the crowded room when he spotted Gino on the balcony. He walked over and called out his name.

Gino turned and gave him a smile as he waved his arm. "Hey Suzaku." He greeted.

"Hello Gino." Suzaku said. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"Yeah, Monica and I broke up." He answered.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Suzaku said sincerely. "It was just last year though when you got together."

"Yeah, but it didn't work out." Gino replied. "But you and Lelouch seem to be going pretty well. It's almost your one year anniversary isn't it?"

Suzaku flushed, "Uh…yeah in about a month."

"Did he plan something?"

Suzaku nodded, "Yeah, but he's keeping it a secret."

Gino laughed and ruffled Suzaku's hair. "That's good. Just remember, if the guy ever does something bad, just call me."

"It's nice to know that you have faith in me Gino." Lelouch said as he suddenly appeared on the balcony.

Gino grinned, "Just saying Lelouch." He said, "I wouldn't want Suzaku to get hurt."

Lelouch smirked and wound his arm around Suzaku's waist. "Wouldn't dream of it, Gino."

Suzaku flushed, "Well Merry Christmas Gino, I wish you all the best." Suzaku said.

Gino smiled. "Me too."

He watched the couple move into the crowd and he sighed. "Some people really do have the stars on their side." He said.

Christmas Without You

The garage was always cold during winter, and obviously Jennifer would put the heater in her room and leave Suzaku in his room with only a thick blanket to ward off the freezing temperatures.

Suzaku looked up at the dingy calendar. It was the only thing hanging on his bare walls.

Tomorrow would be Christmas. Of course Suzaku would celebrate New Year's rather than Christmas. The only time he did celebrate was with Nunally and Lelouch.

Suzaku curled in his blanket, and tried not to cry. He missed them. He was worried about them. It was almost painful to have them so far away from him. They always made the winter nights so much warmer.

He looked up at the sky and prayed silently to his gods.

Please let Lelouch and Nunally be safe and warm, and let them have a good Christmas.

Suzaku was okay enduring the cold and loneliness. It was all he deserved after what he did.

Matchmaking

"This is never going to work." Kallen whispered.

"Sure it is." Milly replied. "Just you watch."

"Um, not to sound like a nonbeliever, but I think Kallen is right Madame President." Shirley chimed in.

Milly rolled her eyes. "Oh ye of little faith. Just watch and be amazed."

Sure enough, Lelouch and Suzaku found themselves under the mistletoe.

Suzaku flushed. "We don't really have to…you know?"

Lelouch shrugged and pulled Suzaku in for a kiss.

Milly grinned so widely it looked like her face would have split in two. Kallen and Shirley were awestruck.

The two boys finally pulled back. Suzaku was as red as a tomato and Lelouch had a triumphant smile on his face.

"Is dinner at my house still on?" Lelouch asked.

Suzaku nodded, "Um…yeah it's good." He said with a shy smile.

Kallen and Shirley looked at Milly with awe. "That was good Madame President."

Milly smirked and flipped her hair, "Just call me Ms. Matchmaker."

Twelve Eventful Years

The first year they got married Suzaku became pregnant a month after and had Rin.

"Lelouch, I'm pregnant."

"You're joking."

-0-0-

The second year Rin said her first word.

"Ob'y me." Rin said in a very serious baby voice. Lelouch frowned and Suzaku laughed.

-0-0-

The third year was Rin's first trip to Disneyland.

"Mr. and Mrs. Lamperouge would you please get your daughter out of Space Mountain's control room."

-0-0-

The fourth year Suzaku got pregnant with Hiro, and it was Rin's first day of pre-school.

"Nononononononononono! I don't want her to go to pre-school!"

Suzaku sighed as he pried the overprotective father off of Rin.

-0-

"Lelouch?"

"Yes?"

"Remember the night we had drunken sex?"

"…Yes."

"Well I'm pregnant."

"…shit."

-0-0-

The fifth year was Hiro's first birthday.

"Wow only one and he's already managed to burn part of the house down." Lelouch said.

Suzaku sighed, "He'll be a handful that's for sure."

-0-0-

The sixth year was Hiro's first trip to the zoo.

"Mr. and Mrs. Lamperouge you're son is in the lion pit."

"Shit."

-0-0-

The seventh year was Rin's first year of elementary school.

"Have fun at school Sweetie." Suzaku smiled.

Rin gave a small smile back, "I will Mom." and she waved to her father, "Bye Dad."

" #!*#%$#&$%$!"

"Will he be okay tied up in the car like that?" Rin asked.

Suzaku gave her a reassuring smile. "Of course, now run along before your father gets out of those binds."

-0-0-

The eighth year Hiro caught the chicken pox.

"Mommmy I'm itchy!"

Suzaku sighed and got out of the bed. "Why couldn't he wait until sunrise to get itchy?"

-0-0-

The ninth year was Hiro's first day at pre-school.

"Why is Daddy tied up?"

"It's a tradition." Suzaku answered.

-0-0-

The tenth year was Rin's first science project.

"Why can't I do this experiment?"

"Because I don't want you to make a nuclear reactor in our backyard."

-0-0-

The eleventh year was Hiro's first day of school.

"Got the handcuffs?" Hiro asked.

"Always." Suzaku smiled as he twirled them around.

-0-0-

The twelfth year was when Suzaku got pregnant with twins.

"Hey Lelouch?"

"Yes?"

"We're going to have twins."

"…double shit."

AN: Ah finally done! Thanks for all of you for reading and have a merry Christmas. ^^