"Madara!!"

"Madara, my man!!" 

"Merry Christmas!"

"Happy birthday, Jesus Christ!"

"Have you gotten any presents?!"

"Did Santa visit you? Did you put the cookies out? Because I swear to God, I got nothing and I suspect it's because I didn't put any cookies out. Or milk. But what if he's lactose intolerant? Would almond milk due? What if he's allergic to-"

"Damien shut up!" 

"No, you shut up, Ching-Chong!"

"You racist motherfucker and fatherfucker!"

"Guys!!" I screamed into the phone. 

It was Hashirama's number that had called me, but they were all on speaker. Although I hadn't heard Tobirama's voice yet...

Thinking he was there, with them, hearing my voice, made me blush, and seeing how he had behaved the few times we had met since I had... visited him... made me believe he was blushing in this very moment, too.

"Sorry about that." Hashirama's calm, soothing voice. Oh, how lucky and blessed this world was to have him. "We were wondering, what are you doing for Christmas?"

"Oh..." I said, surprised at the question. "My parents live in Australia. And I have no family here. I usually just... You know..."

"You must come with us, then!" John said chirpily.

"Oh, no, I can't", I said immediately. I didn't know why, but I just didn't want to be their last-second consideration. "I have... plans?"

"Please." Shit. It was Tobirama's voice. "It's not a last-second consideration or anything", he said. Oh... "We usually celebrate with our families but decided to stay in town because of the concert at New Year's. And we decided this only recently and haven't had the courage to ask you yet. But please. It..." I understood this last part took a lot of courage for him to say, especially in front of his band members. "It wouldn't be the same with us four without you. It never is."

I was quiet. Tobirama was quiet. The band was quiet.

Finally, it was John who broke the silence. Sweet, innocent, dreaming John.

"Exactly!" he said as if Tobirama hadn't just offered his heart on a plate for me.

They burst out chattering again, and I laughed, and I could feel Tobirama's smile.

"Fine. Give me a time and place."

The place was Tobirama's cottage. They were already all there when I came, Hashirama and John decorating a giant real tree, Tobirama and Damien in the kitchen, chatting amicably. Damien, I had learned, was a social chameleon, and always became a mirror image of Tobirama's serenity when there was only them.

"Hi", I said, and hugged Tobirama first.

"Hey, you", he said warmly and pressed my head to his chest, leaning his cheek on the top of my head for just the fraction of a second. 

This was the first time we had touched since my last visit here, and I could feel we were both aware of it.

We went into the living room together where Hashirama and John were going bananas with white and red glass baubles. 

"Anything I can help with?" I asked.

"You may..." Tobirama cleared his throat. "Umm, set the table." I felt how I blushed. "That one", he said and pointed to the table in the salon, where he had fucked me only days ago.

The only thing missing to fill the silence was the singing of a cricket.

"Yes, that's a very nice table, wouldn't you agree?" Damien said, nudging John.

"Yes, a very nice table, useful for many a things!" John said.

"Oh, yes, many, many different things!" Damien agreed. 

"Jesus fucking Christ", I said and hid my face in my hands.

Tobirama just turned and left.

"What?" Hashirama asked, looking confused. "What's all this about?"

The dinner was lovely. Tobirama and Damien had managed to make a vegan feast. Roasted potatoes, grilled cauliflower, cranberry- and vegan white cheese Wellington, pumpkin pie, a kale salad with beans and pomegranate seeds, a winter salad with carrot and white cabbage, a stuffing made with bagels and vegan sausage, stewed kale, vegan cheeses and fruits and crackers and cold faux meats. 

It was heavenly.

We ate and talked and laughed. We had mulled wine and Belgian pralines. We had saffron crème brûlée for dessert with espresso martini. At the end of the day, we were all curled up, close to one another, on the couch watching bad Christmas films.

"This is paradise", I sighed.

"Best Christmas ever!" John said happily, hugging Damien's leg. 

It was. I looked around me, and was so happy I could have helped these wonderful people, even a little.

Although I knew it was not a little. I knew it was a lot. Their following on Instagram was up to tens of thousands. Their webpage was blooming. A designer had made some merchandise for them that was going to be sold during the concert, and some fans had already pre-ordered some.

And I knew they were planning on releasing a new album, that was definitely going to be fantastic.

I brushed my teeth, switched to soft trousers and a T-shirt to go to bed in one of Tobirama's many bedrooms, that I was to share with John.

It was, without a doubt, the best Christmas of my life. 

And the last one when Morningowl would still be able to be called a rather small band before they stole the heart of the world, and all of our lives would change forever.