"Where are we going again?" I watched over my shoulder in the mirror as Daddy flipped his collar over his tie and straightened his cuffs. He gave me a look and I just grinned mischievously.

"Church. I told you three times already. It's a tradition and we are going to be there whether you like it or not." He slipped on his jacket as I rolled my eyes and turned to watch.

"But why? We are gay, aren't we? John told me you aren't supposed to be religious if you are gay." I pursed my lips at him. He came over and straightened my tie.

"Baby, what have I told you about listening to John?" He grumbled to me as he led me from the room.

"Not to. That he is an idiot who doesn't know his mouth from his asshole." I replied with a giggle. He smiled at me and wrapped a scarf around my shoulders before helping me slip into my coat.

"Right. Christmas isn't about hate. It's about love and family. That is all that is important. So...?" He gave me a look and I rolled my eyes before replying.

"So we are going to church with your family. Huuuuhhhh." I flopped my face into his warm chest and sulked for a minute before he chuckled and pushed me out the door. I wasn't really annoyed about going. Not exactly. I just didn't know what to expect and it all seemed kind of hokey to me.

All I remembered about Christmas was ostentatious parties being left alone with my nannies for hours while loud people cooed at me and poked my cheeks. There hadn't been anything good about that time of year. Once I went to school, my parents had just boarded me over the holidays while they played around with their friends.

We drove into the parking lot and the family was waiting in the front entry for us. I got hugs from the brothers and his mom gave me a kiss before they led us inside. Some people were singing when we walked in and a bunch of people all greeted Edmund's family as they made their way into some seats. A lot of curious looks were sent my way.

I didn't understand most of it. There was a projector for everyone to follow along on, and the guy at the front wore some funny clothes. Edmund had to keep whispering to me so I knew when I was supposed to stand, sit or shake hands with people. The old lady behind me snickered when I dropped my pamphlet underneath the seats and couldn't reach it.

"First time at church, hun?" She whispered to me. I nodded sheepishly. She patted my arm and handed me her pamphlet. "That's good. God welcomes all his children."

"Open to the next song, baby." Edmund whispered in my ear. I fumbled the papers open and listened as he belted out the melody in a nice baritone. I couldn't follow along at all, so I just hummed and watched him as he smiled and sang with his brothers. He looked really happy. I loved seeing him look so happy. I just stood next to him and listened as the man up front spoke about peace and love.

"What's everyone doing?" I whispered to him. They were all getting up to see the man at the front, and I was nervous. Was I supposed to do something? Or say something? What was going on?

"It's okay, Brendan. You don't have to go up. They are going up for communion. See that kid there, he is going to get a blessing. If you go up, you can get one too." Edmund explained to me. His mother smiled at me reassuringly. This church stuff was kind of weird. The singing was nice though. Hopefully we would get to do more singing.

"Oh, I know this one." I murmured as another song started. I sang along with the words I remembered over the radio. Edmund sang along with me in his deeper voice and grasped my hand. It was over really quickly after that, and everyone smiled and wished the other people a "Merry Christmas" as they walked out of the church. I sighed in relief.

"We will see you both at dinner tomorrow night, okay loves?" His mother smiled and waved to us as we made our way to the parking lot.

"So, what did you think?" Edmund was looking at me expectantly. I shrugged a little, still holding on tightly to his hand.

"I dunno. I liked the singing part okay?" I bit my lip at him and scrunched my nose. He smiled at me.

"That's good. Thank you for coming with me. It means a lot." He admitted with a blush. I hugged him next to the car and then got in. Once we were both in the privacy of the vehicle, I turned to him with a grin.

"Anything for you, Daddy." I replied. He winked at me and drove us back home. It seemed like so much effort for only a couple hours with driving, but it had really made my Daddy happy. He was smiling and humming the songs from church as he helped me into my pajamas. We sat in the living room with just the tree for light and watched Christmas specials.

I couldn't stop yawning during the Gritch one, so Edmund carried me to bed with my teddy tucked under one arm. I felt him kiss my forehead as he tucked me in. When his warmth pressed against me, I snuggled in close. I dreamt of falling snow and warm fireplaces.

"Baby... baby wake up. It's Christmas morning. Come on, I made you waffles." The warm timbre of my Daddy's voice woke me and I blinked to see his loving eyes looking down at me tenderly.

"Morning Daddy. Tanks fer bwekfast." I mumbled as I yawned and rubbed my eyes. I grabbed my teddy bear and dragged my feet into the kitchen after my morning routine. The waffles were piled high in the center of the table and there were fruits and syrups on the table too. I felt the drool pooling in my mouth as I watched him put one on my plate and top it for me.

"There you go, baby. Dig in." He said with an eager expression. I didn't hold back. I moaned from the warm fluffiness that entered my mouth. It tasted soooo good. He made up his own waffle and ate with me, but his eyes never seemed to leave my contented face.

"That was so yummy Daddy!" I told him as I took my plate to the sink after. He ruffled my hair and watched in approval as I put them away in the dishwasher.

"Shall we go see what Santa brought you for Christmas?" He asked me with a grin. I tilted my head at him.

"What? Didn't you get me stuff?" I asked him in confusion. He rolled his eyes at me and threw me over his shoulder.

"Oh come on." He growled as he took me into the living room. I gasped when he put me down. There were all kinds of wrapped gifts under the tree that weren't there last night! I hopped in place and hugged my teddy really hard.

"Are those for me?" I asked him with a hopeful expression. He nodded with a smile.

"Yep. They sure are. My parents sent some over, and my brothers too. There was one that came from Janet, and the rest are from me and Santa." He told me as I peered down at the pile.

"There are so many. Thank you so much Daddy!" I felt my eyes tearing up before I had even begun to open them.

"Eh, don't thank me yet sweetheart. Go on and tear some paper up." He encouraged me. I sat down on my bum and grabbed the smallest one to open first. One after the other I tore open the paper to see what our friends and family had sent me.

There were practical things like socks and tasty things like chocolate. A sweater that I thought was funny and Edmund just growled at. He bought me a few new toys for my bin, and Janet sent me a pink polka-dot bow tie. I hadn't had this much fun at Christmas before. I felt so much lighter and freer as I sat under our tree and opened silly gifts.

As I sat on my Daddy's lap hugging a brand new stuffed puppy dog squished against my teddy, it occurred to me that I might finally understand what all that Christmas cheer was about. I looked up at the man I loved, who hadn't gotten me anything expensive or grand, but knew just what I wanted under that tree...

And I might have fallen in love a little bit more as he hugged me.