Ven woke up at a ridiculously early hour and lay in bed beside Toby, staring into the dark. When the sky turned gray, he slid out of bed, pulled on his jeans and sweater, and went to put the coffee maker on. Kids. The kids were coming. He turned on the Christmas tree and it lit up the living room with a warm glow. He'd put his foot down about having a real tree. The room smelled like pine. There were presents heaped up under the tree. He hoped they were good enough. What if the kids hated them? What if they hated him?
He shoved his feet in his boots and headed out back. What if they hated their big present? In the backyard, past the garden, there stood a beautiful playhouse and jungle gym. It had taken him weeks to build in his off time, even with Cake and Toby's help. The little house was wired for electrical, and even had running water. Too much? What if they were too old for it?
Behind him, the back door opened up. "Ven? What are you doing out here? It's ass o'clock in the morning. And it's freezing."
Ven turned around to see Toby standing there, looking muzzy and adorable. Ven's heart surged with affection. "Hey. Couldn't sleep. Just ... was gonna make sure things were all ready. You know?"
Toby smiled his sweet, sleepy smile and shook his head. "They're going to love it. They're going to love you."
"Baby, go back to bed." Ven came back up the steps to the door and nudged Toby back inside. "I didn't mean to wake you up. And..." He shrugged. "I hope they like me okay. I just ... what if they don't? Maybe I could go stay with Momma and Poppy while they visit."
Toby drew Ven inside with him, then waited while he took his boots off. "If they don't like you, we'll work it out," Toby said softly, cupping Ven's cheek and forcing Ven to look him in the eye. "You're not going anywhere. This is your home, too."
"They're your children, though." Ven hadn't really signed on for this. He wasn't ready to be any kind of parent. Sure, he was used to his little cousins and nieces and nephews, but that was his family. They were easy to cope with: loud, tough, scrappy little kids like he and his brothers and sisters had been. Brenda's children were something else. Proper little girls who went to private school.
"They are." Toby leaned in and gave Ven a light kiss on the mouth, then rubbed sleepily at his eyes with the heels of his hands. "But Josie's seven, and Charlotte is five. They like people. I like you, Ven, and I'm sure they will, too."
"I'm not people. I'm your boyfriend." They'd been through this so many times already. "You want me to bring you coffee in bed?" He gave Toby a hopeful look.
"You made coffee?" Toby stifled a yawn with one hand, then kissed Ven again. "I hope that's not all you bring me in bed." With that, he turned and padded back up the stairs to the bedroom. Their bedroom.
Ven poured two cups of coffee and fixed them for him and Toby, then followed his lover upstairs. He kicked the door closed behind him and looked for Toby.
Toby came back out of the bathroom, looking a little fresher, more awake. He smiled when he saw Ven, then promptly crawled back into bed. "Come back to bed," he murmured, holding his hands out for the coffee, or for Ven. Maybe both.
Ven put the coffee cups down by the side of the bed and crawled in after Toby, seeking a kiss. "I just hope they don't hate me," he murmured.
"They won't." Toby kissed Ven, then pushed him over onto his back and rolled up over him. "I love you, and they're going to love you, too." He smiled down at Ven, and then kissed him again, slow and sweet.
"Yes, dear." Ven laughed up at Toby. It was so sweet to be able to let Toby take the reins. "I love you." He kissed Toby slowly and groped that fine ass with a purr.
Toby kissed him back, arching to push his ass back into Ven's hands. The kisses started sweetly, but quickly grew heated as Toby licked his way into Ven's mouth and slid one hand down to cup Ven's cock through his jeans.
God, Toby turned him on so much. Ven loved when Toby got greedy and pushy, loved the way Toby wanted him. Toby was luscious, all pale with dark curls and a soft mouth and delicate freckles that made him seem innocent. Ven was so hot for him: naked, in jeans, in a suit. God. Ven kissed him hard and tried to get more contact through his jeans.
Toby started working Ven's jeans open, slipping his hand inside before he even got the zipper all the way down. "Want you."
)
The Renovations boys, Toby and Ven are taking a break from their business to celebrate the Christmas season. When Toby's children come to stay with them on the days before Christmas, the boys have to work on building a family instead of just building houses. It takes more than just fixing up a bedroom and building a playhouse, especially when Josie and Charlotte have to cope with the reality that Daddy really isn't ever coming back home to their house. Will Ven and Toby be able to convince them that this is their family, too?
