It❜s never that time of year, he told himself, dismissing yet another idiot in an elf costume with an airy wave. The awfully cheery, naive Santa slave wannabes milled around the shopping complex, handing out candy to equally naive children and adults alike.

❝Don❜t touch me.❞ Jace❜s glare could❜ve reduced Olaf to a puddle. The elf slinked away, shoulders sagging dejectedly. ❝I hate Christmas,❞ he muttered to himself, dodging another elf who emerged from Marks & Spencer. Jace swore he❜d slap the next one who tried to offer him season❜s greetings and a candy cane.

He made a beeline for Hamleys, inwardly cringing at his hypocrisy. But it❜s not like he wanted to acknowledge the holidays. He hadn❜t a choice. At least, not in his mother❜s eyes. Mrs. Stanton would❜ve castrated her son had he forgotten to buy gifts for his nephew and niece. Adam and Eve wouldn❜t have missed a Barbie doll and a set of Lego Technics as much as Jace hated shopping this time of year, he thought, but who was he to argue the old bat❜s mandate?

He held up a hand as he crossed the threshold into the Hamleys outlet, signalling Mrs. Claus and the cashier elf to back off. Expelling a sigh, he trudged toward a shelf of Barbie and Ken dolls, subconsciously snickering at the gayness of the latter.

Not that Jace condoned the stigma. He❜d endured enough stereotypes himself. Rarely did he meet someone who understood the term bi-romantic demisexual, much less respected it. He❜d be written off as gay, or weird.

His untameable cynicism and sarcasm were all he had going for him. ❝May I help you, sir?❞ asked an elf crouched in the aisle, amidst sorting new arrivals.

❝I recommend that you help yourself first,❞ Jace shot, unapologetic, in spite of how cute this particular elf was. He couldn❜t have cared less about the boy❜s precious smile, or how it vanished at his tactless response. He couldn❜t be bothered that the elf, whose name tag read Caleb, looked genuinely hurt.

Jace perused the aisle, eyes scanning the diversely dressed dolls, ignoring the elf❜s fallen features and the jingle that chimed through the speakers. Evidently, however, Caleb hadn❜t taken the hint.

❝Shopping for a kid? I❜d recommend something less slutty,❞ he said, to which Jace placed bikini Barbie back on the rack, gritting his teeth. ❝Unless you❜re shopping for yourself,❞ Caleb trailed on, ❝in which case I think you❜d prefer shirtless Ken.❞

Jace scoffed, shooting the elf a filthy look. ❝You think I❜m gay?❞

❝Not gay,❞ Caleb said, lifting his palms diplomatically. ❝I don❜t like labels. I'm just saying, your eyes drifted to surfer Ken as soon as you got here. Don❜t blame you.❞

Jace raised a brow. ❝Shouldn❜t you be working, not flirting?❞

It was Caleb❜s turn to scoff. ❝I wasn❜t flirting.❞

❝God forbid I ever experience your actual flirting, then.❞ Jace lifted cheongsam Barbie off the shelf, not meeting Caleb❜s eyes. His wit piqued the Jace❜s interest, an alluring trait in Jace❜s eyes. Intelligence was hard to resist.

❝I assure you, you❜ll never get to experience it.❞

Jace pressed his lips into a tight line, jaw clenched as he turned to bore his cold eyes into the elf❜s. ❝Don❜t you have Barbies to sort?❞

❝Kens, actually.❞

❝Got it. Now, leave me alone.❞

Caleb❜s eyes lingered on Jace for a moment, but he returned to sorting the toys nonetheless. For as long as he could suppress his snarky comments, at least. ❝I pity the child whose Christmas gift is that.❞ He scrunched his nose, squinting at the hideous Raggedy Ann clutched in Jace❜s fist.

Jace scowled. ❝Do you mind?❞

❝Yes.❞

❝What do you care if I give this to a little girl?❞ he asked flatly, wiggling Raggedy Ann in the air.

Caleb bit his lip. ❝Your daughter?❞

Jace smirked. ❝My niece.❞

❝Hmm ... I wouldn❜t do that, if I were you.❞

❝What?❞

❝You❜re picking toys off the lower shelves. Children grab stuff that are level with their eyes, throw fits until their parents conform,❞ he replied, matter-of-factly. ❝We stash the expensive ones there on purpose.❞

Jace blinked. ❝You❜re shitting me.❞

❝Measured the kids myself,❞ said Caleb, dusting his palms as he stood, stalking off to the next aisle. He sounded serious. ❝Here,❞ muttered the elf, returning moments later with a large, lavender box. Jace❜s lips almost tugged upwards as he watched Caleb, whose small build made it difficult to balance the cardboard box, knees and hips bent to heft the load.

❝What❜s this?❞

❝Barbie and the Nutcracker. It❜s got a real Christmasy vibe. Oh, and three interchangeable outfits for Barbie. Your niece will love it.❞ The elf❜s cheeks burned with delight, eyes excited and bright.

❝My niece, or you?❞ Jace quirked an eyebrow.

❝Oh. Well, uh ... it❜s a neat set.❞

❝Uh-huh. You❜re really into kids, aren❜t you?❞

Caleb blushed, a deep shade of magenta that spread from his cheeks to his tiny, pointed nose. He❜d have passed for one of Santa❜s helpers even without the costume. Just over five feet, Caleb would❜ve won poster boy for wannabe elves all around, with his carroty hair, petite frame and face full of freckles.

❝I❜ve always wanted a baby brother, or sister.❞ His smile wavered. ❝I had one, too. For a month. Haven❜t seen him since my folks kicked me out.❞

Jace faltered, his cruel demeanour weakened by the anguish in Caleb❜s voice. ❝Oh.❞

❝So,❞ said Caleb, hefting the box, ❝Nutcracker❜s a go?❞

❝Worth a shot.❞ Jace nodded. ❝What about my nephew?❞

Caleb❜s smile returned. ❝You have a nephew, too?!❞

❝You can have him,❞ Jace retorted absently, rolling his eyes. He caught himself. ❝Sorry, I didn❜t mean to be insensitive. He❜s not mine to give away.❞

Caleb snorted, brushing it off. ❝No shit. What❜s he into?❞

❝Legos, mostly. Not the sporty type.❞

The elf grinned. ❝My kinda boy. I have just the thing.❞

He spun on his heels, enthusiastic as he expertly navigated the aisles. Not so expertly, Jace deduced, when the elf swivelled at the end of the Monopoly aisle, index finger gunned in the opposite direction, like the captain of a boat, swerving past Jace as he legged it towards the Lego section. Jace tailed, mildly amused by the spring in Caleb❜s step.

❝Let❜s see ...❞ the elf chimed, perking up on his tiptoes to scan the upper shelves. His lime green tights hugged his cute, bubbly bum like a second layer of skin. Jace bit his lip, averting his gaze.

❝Aha!❞ Caleb returned to his side, an even larger box stacked atop the previous one. ❝Help,❞ squeaked the elf, face contorted, knees wobbling dramatically. Jace shook his head, resting the bigger, black box on his left shoulder with ease.

❝Quite an arm you❜ve got there,❞ Caleb muttered, cheeks scarlet.

❝I❜m supposed to believe that isn❜t flirting?❞

❝Oh, shut up.❞

Jace actually smiled. ❝So, what❜s this?❞

❝Lego Harry Potter. Is he a Potterhead?❞

❝He fancies Hermione. But yes, I suppose so.❞

Caleb chuckled. ❝Everyone fancies Emma Watson. I almost fooled myself into thinking I was straight because of her. Before Cedric Diggory came along to resolve my inner conflict, of course.❞

Jace tilted his shoulder, unimpressed. ❝Eh, I only ever had a thing for Oliver Wood.❞

Caleb whistled, to which a shirtless Santa emerged from the neighbouring aisle — oiled, naked torso on full display. ❝Jesus!❞

❝Actually, it❜s Kyle,❞ said Hot Santa. ❝But I❜ve been told the resemblance is uncanny. Here, I❜ll take these off your hands.❞

Caleb patted his shoulder like a stable boy would a horse. Nestling a box under each armpit, biceps flexed, Kyle sauntered off to the cash register, lips locked in a perpetual, sexy smirk. Jace❜s eyes drifted in pursuit. ❝Surely Hamleys isn❜t in support of that.❞

❝Oh, absolutely not,❞ Caleb agreed, shamelessly checking out his coworker. ❝But the mall managers insisted. Shirtless Santas boost sales, apparently, as if my sexy ass didn❜t already accomplish that feat.❞

Jace welcomed the opportunity to peek at Caleb❜s butt. ❝It❜s not that sexy,❞ he lied. It really was. Caleb slapped a hand to his chest, shielding his heart in false hurt.

❝I feel attacked.❞ He started towards the cashier, indifferent. ❝Hey, you❜d make a good Santa,❞ he called back.

❝If you want me to take my shirt off, all you have to do is ask.❞

Caleb coughed, feigning disgust to hide his blush. ❝I meant the fat, bearded one.❞

Jace didn❜t buy that. Caleb halted in the atrium of the Hamleys outlet, in front of a decked-out Christmas tree. Bells, balls and all. A miniature train set was laid at its base, toy locomotives chugging along the tiny tracks. Ribbons both red and gold were strewn across the prickly pine needles, lights swirling up the trunk. Jace noted a placard that read Make A Wish, hanging from a plastic branch.

Caleb❜s eyes danced across the envelopes that sat amongst shimmering ornaments, lights and pinecones. His gentle fingers brushed the parchment of one in particular.

❝What❜s all this?❞ Jace couldn❜t help but wonder.

❝They❜re from kids. Orphans, all across the country.❞

Jace mused at the hundred-or-so letters that littered the tree. ❝That many?❞ he gaped, dubious.

❝This isn❜t even a fraction,❞ Caleb replied, pained. Jace didn❜t like the way the elf looked with a frown. ❝I know what it❜s like to be disowned. It❜s why I took this job for the holidays. I make just enough to cover the cost of one of these wishes every week. If I❜m lucky, two.❞

Jace stared at the elf, speechless. He must❜ve looked like a total jackass next to Caleb. Imagine, he❜d been reluctant to get gifts for his own nephew and niece, whilst Caleb sorted Ken dolls and endured Jingle Bells remixes throughout the day to buy presents for the children of complete strangers.

❝I❜ve covered sixteen,❞ he mumbled, void of pride. His eyes brimmed with tears, emerald green irises moist and rimmed in red. ❝But no amount of money will ever make this wish come true,❞ he choked out, voice a hoarse whisper. He began to cry.

Jace rushed forward, sliding an arm around Caleb❜s shoulders impulsively. His gaze fell to the words across the parchment, scrawled in the untidy handwriting of an eight-year-old boy in Massachusetts named Sam.

I wish :
For Daddy to come home.

It felt as if a train had hit him. Tears fell from Jace❜s eyes, forming a puddle with Caleb❜s on the floorboards. The elf mopped at his cheeks with the scruff of his costume, green frills serving as a makeshift handkerchief. Jace looked up and their eyes met.

❝W—What are you doing?❞ Caleb❜s voice was soft, timid.

Jace❜s arms slid to his waist, nestled in the curve of his lower back. ❝Just checking for mistletoe,❞ he mumbled, against the elf❜s lips as he leant in and kissed him. He hadn❜t kissed a boy in years, not since elementary school. As Caleb❜s breath melted into his, and the smaller❜s fingers curled in Jace❜s hair, he knew, in that very moment, that this boy was different.

He was special.

Caleb❜s soft lips withdrew, eyelids fluttering open to stun Jace with those bright, gentle green orbs. ❝My name❜s Jace, by the way.❞

❝Jace.❞ Caleb echoed the name, smiling as he pushed his lips back against the other man❜s, feeling as if all his wishes had just come true.

❅     ❅     ❅

❝Papa!❞

Little feet rushed down the spiral steps of the boy❜s home, far from his birthplace of Massachusetts. He had risen to the smell of gingerbread, fresh cookies and roasted ham. His brilliant, blue orbs met the greens of his Daddy, lit up by the smiles his fathers wore as he raced into Papa❜s lap.

Jace ruffled his son❜s hair. ❝What did you wish for this year, buddy?❞

Sam blushed; a beautiful flush of colour Jace was often admired off his husband❜s face. Caleb, the man whom Jace had married in spring, hid his hands behind his back.

Sam beamed, giggling. ❝A puppy!❞

On cue, the golden retriever blew its inconspicuousness with a soft whine. Caleb❜s hands emerged, a platinum band encircling his ring finger. In his open palms, an irresistible ball of fur and joy.

❝Merry Christmas, baby.❞