December 10th - 3:28pm

"They look exactly the same, you melodramatic idiot" Virgil remarked, leaning on a wooden pole as he watched his boyfriend stare at the two Christmas trees he deemed to be perfect. It was only the tenth of December, yet Roman felt the need to set up the decorations today - and that meant paying for a real tree, when they had a perfectly okay fake one in the attic.

Whatever, Virgil wasn't paying.

It was nice to see his boyfriend so excited, though - he absolutely adored Christmas, ever since he was a kid. He loved giving presents and more importantly receiving them, and it was really fucking weird to Virgil how every single Christmas he has spent with this boy - eight, to be exact - his family were perfect. They were that American dream family, with nothing hidden behind closed doors.

Of course, they had their fair share of arguments, but over the Christmas period no one fell out, no arguments roared up, everyone always showed up on time, each year having the exact same sleeping arrangements - even the first Christmas Virgil had with Roman, he was warned about how wholesome it was, but he didn't expect that.

And his family was huge!

They all welcomed him with open arms - he feels apart of their family.

"Can you just pick one already?" Virgil exasperated, throwing his arms up a little to prove his point. He was exhausted over Roman's constant pros and cons over these two fucking trees. They looked fine! All the trees surrounding them looked fine! But oh no, it has to be perfect, right to the last thin, pointy leaf.

Rolling his eyes, Virgil was about to yell again when he heard his phone ping in his back pocket. Clicking his tongue, he stared at his boyfriend with an unimpressed gaze all the while plucking out his phone, finally glancing down at whatever notification popped up.

Reading the words displayed on his screen made his entire body freeze up, his lungs slowly beginning to burn as the man stopped breathing - every single muscle in his body tensing. The only thing that moved were his eyes, desperately searching over the screen as he read the text over and over and over.

It was from his sister. His eldest sister, to be exact. She turned thirty two a week ago, but he didn't even think about that then, he didn't...he hasn't thought about his sister, or any family member in over seven years!

And, of course, like the text stated, he forgot to block her number.

44+ 08408 381796 - Hey, Virgil! Looks like you forgot to block my number, haha. This may come as a shock, I guess? We haven't spoken in awhile, huh? I'm sorry, I regret it, I really do, but me apologising over text isn't the same as real life. Every single one of us have agreed to wanting you to come here this Christmas, we wanted it for a few years, actually, guess no ones really had the balls to say sooner. So, if you see this, don't be mad, we want to see you, and if you are willing to come, we would all be very grateful.

44+ 08408 381796 - Also! If you don't recognise this number, don't worry, I'm not a maniac murderer wanting you to come to my cabin in the woods for Christmas so I can eat your body while you scream in agony - no, I'm Olivia, you're eldest and coolest sibling 😎

Virgil didn't have to read the second text to know who this was - only Olivia would've ever send him a text like this, so... nonchalant even if they haven't spoken in ten years. Poor Virgil didn't know what to say! Or do! Or think! Scratch that, he knew what to think, and none of the thoughts were appropriate enough for children's ears.

He just- he couldn't believe it. It would be impossible for him to forget about his family completely and for the rest of his life, but that was what he desperately wanted, to not be reeled back like a fish caught on a hook, to not be coaxed by their warm words of welcome, to not think about them so his heart didn't weigh down so painfully.

Part of him regretted ever leaving when he turned eighteen, part of him was glad he did, because he needed it. And, honestly? His family needed it, too. They weren't sick of Virgil's presence, but they needed time to think, and not hurt their son more than they already had. It was wrong on both ends to leave it for so many years, though. As with each passing three hundred and sixty five days, the strings that connected them together snapped. One by one.

"Okay!" Roman finally vocalised, gripping the tree to the left. "I'll have this one!" But as he said this, his eyes lingered on the tree to his right, and he let out his own exasperated sigh before turning to his boyfriend who was currently staring at the ground, a blank expression on his face, phone slipping through his fingers.

Drawing his eyebrow together Roman strode over the cobblestone path, stopping before his shorter boyfriend, opening his mouth to speak when he glanced down at his phone, and all he needed was a moment to spot her name.

Olivia.

One of Virgil's siblings.

Now, Roman didn't know much - in fact, he didn't know anything about Virgil's family - all he knew were their names, and the fact they hadn't spoken to Virgil in a very long time. Now, they suddenly wanted him back? On Christmas, no less? Making an already hectic holiday into something of nightmares?

Roman didn't want him to go, that was his first instinct. He would do whatever it took to protect the man he loved and it was obvious something happened all those years ago that hurt Virgil so badly he never wanted to return to his childhood home ever again, which also leaves the chance open that it would happen again, but then Roman read both messages - even if it was a little bit of an invasion of privacy - and a small smile dawned on his lips.

Virgil had to go - there was a family in pain from losing their son, sibling, cousin, uncle, and probably other titles Roman couldn't think of at the moment, either way, Virgil was hurting too, even if he tried to hide it, to shadow it, Roman could see it. Every time they passed by a parent and child, Virgil would tense and become closed off, and it was worse when he was invited to Roman's house - his family was never ending - and being around so many people that were apart of something so big and loving, something he didn't have, tore him apart.

The trees were forgotten, and Roman used his finger to pull up Virgil's head so he could meet his wide, frightened eyes. With a smile, Roman gently stroked Virgil's jawline.

"I can't wait to meet your family" he beamed.