When Bells Ring Angels Get Their Wings by Leela Ganey

Darren was grumbling. He had to make sure everything was clean. Daniel was coming. All the way from Australia nonetheless. He stopped for a second and looked around. Everything was in its place. The lights on the tree were blinking. All of the presents were under the tree. It was perfect.

He was done. His flat was looking good. He plopped down on the couch. Now all he had to do was wait. Why was Daniel even coming. He hated being away from home. Especially around the holidays. Darren's mind flashed back to a conversation he had a week ago.

:::Okay think really cool flashback wavy lines here... ie.. like in Wayne's World.... umm.. never mind...:::

"Are you coming home for Christmas?" Daniel had asked him.

Darren didn't know if he wanted to go home. He really wanted to spend a Christmas in his new flat in New York City. "No, Jonesy. I think I'll stay here."

"And what be alone on CHRISTMAS? Darren you are just so weird at times. I forbid you spend Christmas alone."

"You forbid me? Really Jonesy! You think you are above high-and-mighty me on what I should and should not do?"

"No, I am serious. Either you pack your many bags that you adore traveling with. Or I am going to pack my bag and come there."

Darren thought about it. Hmmm.. Daniel hates flying but it would give me a chance to make him see that I am okay living in New York. "Okay. Fine. You win. You better pack that black bag of yours, Jonesy, because you are coming here."

That was over a week ago. Daniel had managed to get an airline ticket to New York. It was now only a few days before Christmas. Darren was happy. He loved New York. The snow. The people. The different world that it was. He couldn't wait till Daniel got in. Sometime in Darren's happy thoughts he dozed off.

The next thing Darren knew there was this horrible pounding. At first he thought it was in his head. But then he realized that it was coming from the door. "Damn, how long have I been zonked out?" He stumbled all the way to the door and flung it open. "WHAT?"

Daniel took a step back. "Whoa." Daniel could just look at Darren. He looked like he had just rolled out of bed. His hair was all tousled. "I made it! And I am not dead!"

Darren blinked at Daniel for second and a huge grin spread across his face. Never had he been so happy to see Daniel. "Jonesy!!!" Darren cried out and launched himself at Daniel and gave him a big hug.

Daniel didn't know what to do. Darren was giving him a hug that he could only describe as a suction cup stuck to glass. He dropped his bag and hugged Darren. It was very rare that they ever hugged. Or for that matter share add space that was in the personal bubble. Suddenly Darren let him go. Daniel stumbled back.

"Daniel, you have to come. I have something to show you!" Darren grabbed Daniel and pulled him in to the flat.

"Slow down. I am here for three weeks." Daniel told Darren. He bent down to pick up his bag. "Three very long weeks," he reminded himself. He hoped that Darren would get over being hyperactive. Or he was never going to survive this visit.

"Look! I got a tree. I dragged it up all 27 flights of stairs. It wouldn't fit in the elevator. But that was okay. Isn't it great? Then I had to buy lights and ornaments. I found these really cool angels and these little Santa Clauses," Darren rambled on about the tree.

Daniel sat down and wondered absent-mindedly. If Darren ever took a breath. Must be because he sings...better lung capacity. That was when he felt this warm mass on his foot. Daniel looked down to see a small dark brown puppy laying across his feet. Daniel reached down and picked the puppy up. He was now ignoring Darren's ramblings about the great Christmas tree and all of its many wonders.

The puppy was a dark brown with chocolate brown eyes. Daniel pulled on the puppy's purple collar and looked at the silver name tag. Daniel looked the name tag; it read: Leia. Hmmmm.. he thought. That is a star wars character. Poor puppy. She is doomed to bare witness to his Star Wars obsession. Oh well, there are some things you just never grow out of.

"Oh, I see the princess found you," Darren said as he sat down on the couch beside Daniel to look at the puppy. "I got her a few weeks ago. She is a Labrador. When I saw her I fell in love with that puppy face."

"She is cute." Daniel petted her some more and she curled up on his lap.

"Are you hungry? I know this great place around the corner," Darren asked.

"Darren, I just got here. I really haven't even begun to enjoy my wonderful ten-hour jet lag." He couldn't help it but it was hell traveling to different time zones.

"Well, you are never going to get used to Eastern time if you go and sleep now."

"Okay. We can go and get something to eat but I don't want to spend all night out. I am tired. You know how wonderfully draining airports can be," Daniel cynically mumbled.

Darren got up and went to the closet and pulled out his coat and scarf. "You better bundle up, Jonesy. It gets so freakin' cold sometimes I think I will turn to a big walking ice cube."

Daniel nodded. It was best to leave some things alone. He put on his coat and got his gloves out of his pockets. Hmm...where did his hat go to? He looked around briefly. Then his eye stopped on Leia. She was happily chewing with her little puppy teeth on his hat. "Should I try to take it from her or has the hat just become property of her highness?"

"Here Jonesy, you can have my scarf. The princess doesn't seem to be inclined to give up your hat." He laughed. Poor Daniel. He took of his scarf and held it out.

"Thanks mate. Do you think I will get my hat back ever???" he said while wrapping the scarf around his neck.

"Nope.... I have lost a pair of gloves... a scarf...one shoe and many socks ... my brush ... then my extra brush I had because I lost the first one to that puppy... and all of her puppy toys ... the list could go on you know. They just go under the couch but never come back." Darren pulled open the door and Daniel walked past him. "Bye Princess...be back in a bit." Darren shut and locked the door.

"Darren...how often do you talk to your dog now?"

"She is still a puppy... When they are little you have make them feel loved and secure. You have to be nice to them or they will turn out to be weird and you will have to put them on doggy medication." Darren still thought on this. "Some humans even though they had enough attention still turn out to be psycho... I wonder if that will happen to Leia..." Darren stared off into space for a good few minutes pondering if his little princess might go psycho on him... Hmmm, that would be bad.

"Darren, if you want to sit here and stare off into space all night that is fine with me, but I thought we were going," Daniel grumbled.

Darren snapped out of his thoughts of his dog turning psycho and taking out half of east coast while dragging him on a leash. "Sorry Jonesy. I'm ready."

The two men made their way out of the apartment building to the street. Darren dragged Daniel around for nearly an hour showing him shops and windows that he found interesting. Finally after much delay due to Darren they made it to the restaurant they were looking for.

Daniel was in wonderment of Darren. He had not stopped rambling since they left the apartment. He talked endlessly about New York and the surrounding states. About things he had done. Things to see. About the people that live in the city.

It was nice to be in Darren's company again. Last time they had seen each other was when the tour had ended. It felt good to see him. Although he didn't want to admit how good it was. Although Daniel did know that on some levels, Darren was just what he needed at times. He was so full of life and energy. It just made him tired at times to keep up with Darren.

It had been 7 long months since he had realized his feelings for Darren. When they were on tour, it was easy to distance himself from Darren and his feelings. But now he had to get through the holiday with him. There was no possible way he was going to make it.

"What do you think, Jonesy?"

Daniel snapped out of his thoughts about Darren quickly. "Ummm what do I think about what?"

"You haven't been listening to me have you?" Darren started to pout. You know, if Daniel didn't want to talk to him the least he could have done was say something. "I asked you if you wanted to go ice skating. Well, do ya?"

"I don't ice skate... Besides, I like playing in water that is wet, not standing on a frozen block of ice."

"Oh, c'mon, it is fun. You just glide on the ice. Nothing to it. It took me just a few minutes to get it down and if I can do it, you can too."

Grumble, why did Darren have to be so cute at times? Those pouty lips and puppy dog eyes. God, it is amazing that I can ever say no to him. "Alright. But if I fall down... I'm blaming you."

"Okay! Yay! Ice skating!!!"

They left the restaurant and took a cab to the outdoor ice skating rink. Daniel had to admit it was beautiful. The Christmas trees and the amazing lights. There were so many people. This city never slept and the locals made sure you never forget it.

The two men went and rented skates. That was an interesting event. Darren helped Daniel lace up his shoes. He helped Darren lace up his shoes. But Daniel took his time. It was nice to touch him. He had a reason to touch his leg to lace his shoes... Daniel was glad he decided to go ice skating after all.

"Okay, Daniel, it is really simple. It is kinda like you are marching and when you get used to that you will take longer, more gliding steps." Darren stepped onto the ice and took a few steps to demonstrate the theory. Then he looked at Daniel. It made him laugh a little but he kept it to himself. Daniel was holding the side of the rink door just a step away from the ice with the oddest look on his face. Darren rarely had moments that he could just look at Daniel and see his beauty. His face was slightly flushed from the cold, his hair was blowing in the wind. His green eyes set in determination. But no, I cannot think him in that way. He is straight, Darren's mind reminded himself.

"Daniel, you have to step on the ice or else the whole ice skating thing doesn't work." Darren glided to him. "Here, take my hand."

The guitarist just looked him. Okay... I can take his hand, the sooner I get on the ice and prove that this is not a good idea and then we can go home, he thought to himself. He grabbed onto Darren's hand and stepped onto the ice. One foot. Then the other. Now he was on the ice but ice 'skating' was a different matter. "Okay, I am on the ice."

"Yep, now you have to move your feet. C'mon Dan, you have to at least try." He let go of his hand and held on to his arm and moved closer. "I will help you not to fall but you have to move," he said in Daniel's ear.

Daniel felt the shivers in his spine. Darren was so close to him. "Okay, I am trying." He moved his feet the best he could like Darren showed him but it was so slippery.

The two completed one lap around the rink arm in arm. "Okay. Now you are going to try a lap by yourself," Darren announced. He let go of Daniel and made sure he could stand by himself and then glided a few meters ahead and turned around. "Can you skate this far?"

"Yeah, but are you still going to be in that spot when I get there?"

"Nope, you have to catch me." Darren giggled as Daniel made an attempt to get him. "C'mon, Daniel, I know you can do better." Sometimes there is no better way to motivate Daniel than through competition.

"I am nearly an ice cube. I flew hundreds of miles to come here and have Darren taunt me while we ice skate," Daniel grumbled to himself. He pressed forward trying to get to Darren, who was now skating circles around him. Damn him. If this was any other sport Darren would have fallen down by now, Daniel was sure of it. Just wait till next time we are on a boat. But on the third lap Daniel was getting the hang of ice skating and was gaining speed. He chased Darren through the crowd. Then finally he was just a few feet away from Darren. And the greatest thing was Darren didn't know he was there.

Then it happened. Was it fate or just Daniel's clumsiness? We may never know. But his skate hit one of the deep gashes in the ice and he fell forward. And at that moment, Darren turned around and tried to help his falling friend. But Daniel was too heavy to keep gravity from pulling him down. He shut his eyes and fell. But when he landed, it was not on the cold ice like he thought it would have been but on a soft, warm mass known as Mr. Darren Hayes.

Daniel opened his eyes to see that Darren was laid flat out on his back, and Daniel was covering most of him down on the ice. He lifted himself up slightly. "Darren? Are you okay? I am really sorry."

Darren opened his eyes and looked up at Daniel. It looked like there were tears in his eyes. "It is okay, Daniel, we just fell down. It happens. Help me up?"

Daniel got to his feet and bent down to pull up Darren. He grabbed his hands and helped him to his feet. "Well, I got ya." They both laughed.

"Yeah, but you could have just touched my shoulder. Knocking me down was a little extreme."

"Hey, I fell. I didn't mean to!"

They both laughed again. Then they both calmed down. But they were still both holding each other's hands tightly. Daniel just couldn't help but stare at Darren. His slate blue eyes were almost a silver colour and were dancing with laughter. He had two little rosy cheeks which made his face seem almost childlike. But very cute all at the same time. Before Daniel's brain could register what he was doing, he pulled Darren close and kissed him softly on the lips.

Darren's was racing a mile a minute. Did Daniel just kiss him??? My god, Daniel was so close. He could smell his after shave. Then he felt Daniel's lips brush his again. Then time Darren responded.

All around them life moved on. Christmas music played. Lights blinked. Ice skaters floated past. The cold wind tossed their hair about.

Daniel pulled away from Darren and looked at him. Darren had this weird surprised look on his face. Then Daniel realized that he should not have crossed that line. He had no clue how Darren felt about him and he still had a wife. He straightened up. "I am sorry, Darren I should not have done that, it was completely not right. I am terribly sorry. Please forgive me." He let go of Darren's hands and moved away. "I think it is time we went home. I am really tired."

"Okay Daniel. Sure." Darren's heart felt like Daniel had just ripped it in two. He wanted more than anything to yank Daniel back and kiss him again. But he just hung his head and skated out. They didn't say anything to each other they whole way home. As soon as they got to the apartment, Daniel grabbed his bag and went straight for the guest room and shut the door.

Darren took off his coat and gloves. His little princess came and nudged him with her wet nose. Darren picked her up. "I know you love me, little one." He pulled the puppy close and walked into his room and shut his door. He set the puppy on the bed and put on PJ's. This was going to be a long few weeks. He went to bed with his princess snuggled to him.

Darren woke up to slobbery wet kisses from his dear princess. She gave a little puppy bark. It was time for her morning walk. Even though she had a litter box in the bathroom, she still needed the exercise.

"Okay, princess, I am up." Darren's body hurt so badly. Falling on the ice had really hurt. His whole body now ached. But it was worth it. He touched his lips. They felt still felt swollen from Daniel's kisses. His mind fell in a wondrous array of mental images. But then his heart reminded him that Daniel yanked back his love. Darren had thought he was going to die on the way back home last night. But he couldn't bring himself to say anything. If Daniel didn't want him, then there was nothing he could say to make him change his mind.

The princess, who was watching her master stare off into space, got impatient. She was ready for her morning walk and went straight for his leg and bit his big toe.

Darren jumped and yelped. Damn dog. "Leia, that is bad. Do not bite." His princess just stared up at him and blinked innocently. "Sometimes I swear that dog plots and schemes against me," Darren grumbled to himself.

He went and took a shower and got dressed. But the more he got ready to go out, the more he just wanted to stay in his room. What if Daniel was up? What was he going to say to Daniel? Should he leave him a note telling him that he was taking Leia for a walk? "Why is life so overly complicated???" Darren grumbled.

He put on his socks and shoes. He looked at his little princess. "Okay, are you ready?" She wagged her tail. "Okay, then. Let's go." He opened his door and looked around for Daniel. No Daniel... just a quiet apartment. He walked out of his room and decided to write Daniel a note. He put on his heavy winter coat. And put on his scarf. Then he grabbed Leia's leash and clicked it to her collar. And so began the morning walk.

Daniel heard the door to the apartment shut. He figured Darren was going out to get away from him. Maybe I can go home early. "No... I should at least stay till after Christmas," Daniel decided. It was bad enough that he had kissed Darren. Not that he didn't like the kiss. He loved the kiss. But it was not right. He had no right to do that. Daniel had no idea how Darren felt about him. He was glad Darren didn't yell at him or kick him out in disgust. Darren had been so quiet on the way home last night. Well, I wasn't exactly talking either, Daniel thought.

He lay in bed for a few minutes longer but decided that he would have to get up anyway, why not now. God, he felt cold. Grumble... "I hate cold weather. How could Darren live here? Who needs snow? You can give me sunshine and warm breeze any day." Daniel went to the bathroom and showered. Then he got dressed in jeans and sweater. A nice, warm, soft green wool sweater. He also put on socks. Then he padded out into the living room.

He saw a note sitting on the coffee table. It was labeled "Daniel." Hmm.. He picked it up. He unfolded the paper and read:

Dear Daniel,

I had to take Leia out for a morning walk. I didn't want to wake you. There are muffins and several cereals in the kitchen. Help yourself to breakfast.

Darren

Hmm.... Okay. There was not mention of last night, so did that mean he didn't want to talk about it or was he pretending nothing happened? Daniel sighed. He wasn't really hungry.

Hmm.... What was he to do? Then he looked over at Darren's piano. He could not remember why Darren had gotten the damn thing, he could not play it. He had forgotten to ask when he saw it the first time, but Darren was too busy dragging him out the door to dinner. But it was a nice piano. Very nice and very expensive. But then again he didn't really want to know why Darren had bought it. Like those damn Star Wars figures he liked so much. Daniel shook his head.

He let his fingers settle on the piano keys. He took a breath and began to play basic scales. Now that he felt warmed up, he played an old Peter Gabriel song. That was when Darren opened the door.

Darren was glad to be home. It was freezing outside. He ended up carrying Leia back home tucked inside his coat. Poor puppy. "Okay, princess, we are going to wrap you up and make you warm." He looked up and saw Daniel playing at the piano. Damn, he is not supposed to playing the fucking piano!! Grumble... I should have told him it needs tuning. You can't really gift wrap a piano. I wanted him to play it for the first time on Christmas because it is one of his presents, Darren mentally ranted.

He took off his coat and put it away, along with Leia's leash. He picked up Leia, who was sitting by his feet, and brought her over to the couch. Daniel stopped playing and watched Darren wrap up the princess.

"You're up I see," Darren said. "I have to go back out. It is supposed to snow again and I want to get a few things from the market and run some errands." He scratched behind Leia's ears and she licked his hands. "I should be home late afternoon, okay?"

"Yeah, sure. Whatever," Daniel said. "How much will it snow?" he asked. Yeah, stick to weather.... You can't go wrong with talking about weather, Daniel thought to himself.

"20 to 25 centimeters (and for all those who cannot even begin to convert centimeters to inches, it means that they will get about 8 to 10 inches of snow). Nothing that bad. But there are just a few things I would like to get. I don't like tromping about in all that snow. Makes my feet cold." He stood up. "Well, keep an eye on the princess for me. I will be back later."

"Okay," Daniel said.

Darren put on his coat and grabbed his keys. "Bye."

"Bye," Daniel said. He watched Darren leave. "Well, princess, it is just you and me." The puppy looked at him. Daniel got up from the piano and padded over to couch. He plopped down beside Leia. She got up and curled up in his lap.

"You are so cute." Daniel petted her soft fur. "You're such a good puppy. I would like to be you. Your life is so simple. So simple." Leia licked his hand and nudged it with her nose. "Well, at least you like me."

He leaned forward and grabbed the remote. "Want to watch TV, princess?" Leia, who was happy that the other master was happy, wagged her tail and snuggled the warm furry thing master was wearing.

Daniel watched hours of mindless TV. Hell, he even watched the weather channel to get info on the coming storm. Finally, enough was enough. Okay... He could still play the piano. He went to get up and remembered Leia was still in his lap.

He picked her up and brought her to the piano with him. He set her on top of the piano just above the keys. She just sat there and looked at him. He sat down. "Now, what should I play? Any requests princess?"

"How about... Umm... hmmm, what is something I should play?" He looked at Leia. She stuck her little puppy paw out as if to shake. Daniel shook her paw. "This is shake. Good puppy." He petted her head and let go of her paw. "Okay, how about an old favorite, your highness?"

He started to play To The Moon & Back. This piece was one his favorites. It was so pretty. So there sat Daniel and Leia for an hour. Daniel played all his favorites. Then finally, he got a U2 song stuck in his head. The song was called One.

Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same
Will it make it easier on you
Now you got someone to blame.

You say
One love
One life
When it's one need
In the night
It's one love
We get to share it
It leaves you baby
If you don't care for it

Did I disappoint you?
Or leave a bad taste in you mouth?
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without

Well it's too late
Tonight
To drag the past out
Into the light
We're one
But we're not the same
We get to carry each other
Carry each other
One

Have you come here for forgiveness
Have you come here to raise the dead
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in you head
Did I ask to much
More than a lot you
You gave me nothing
Now it's all I got
We're one
But we're not the same
We hurt each other
Then we do it again

You say
Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt

Darren was walking down the hall with his dry cleaning and heard the piano playing again. But there was something else...he heard singing. Then it hit him, Daniel was singing. He opened the door quietly. And what he saw took his breath away. Daniel sitting there at the piano singing his heart out to what sounded like U2's One. Not only that... Leia was sitting there on the piano staring at him. It was so cute. He shut the door and stood there to watch Daniel sing more.

One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should

One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers

One life
But we're not the same
We get to carry each other
Carry each other

One

One

Daniel finished off the song. "How about that princess?"

"Well, I don't know about her...you are no Bono, but it sounded good," Darren said.

Daniel jumped up. "Ummm... Darren you're ummm..... home.... when did you get home?"

"I have been here long enough to hear you finish out the last verse," Darren said. "Talking to the dog now, are ya?"

"Umm... well I believe it was you that pointed out she was still a puppy and she needs to be talked to and made to feel secure, did you not?" Daniel said in defense.

"Well, I didn't say sing to Leia."

"Like you have never sung to Leia before?" Daniel raised his eyebrow and looked at Darren.

"Yes, but that was only because there was a story and she was making little puppy cries."

"Fine."

"Alright then."

"Okay."

"Yep."

"Damn it Darren... why do you have to have the last word!"

"What?"

"You know what I am talking about."

While the two argued in the kitchen and started putting away groceries... Unbeknownst to them, the princess had gotten herself down from the piano and was now playing with one of her many toys. She would throw it up in the air and catch it. (And you are thinking how could this be useful or relevant to the plot? Well, just keep reading and find out.)

Meanwhile... "Well, what are we going to have for dinner?" Daniel asked Darren.

"Well, I was thinking we should have baked chicken and salad. And maybe green beans. I also got some freshly baked rolls."

The two silently got dinner started and moved about the kitchen, trying to keep the maximum distance from each other. Both wondering, should they bring up what happened last night or should they just not say anything. Both were lost in food preparation and in mental frustration.

Darren put in the chicken breasts to bake and heated the green beans. Daniel, who was turned around at the sink, was making the salad. He was chopping up a wide assortment of things to put into the salad. Darren on the other side of the kitchen putting things away.

The phone rang. Darren picked it up. "Hello mum....no it is still Christmas Eve here.... Yeah, Daniel got here alright. Yeah, we having a great time.... No, the puppy is fine. Leia is very smart...Yes, I take her out everyday.... Daniel is fine. Umm....one second...Daniel, she wants to talk to you."

"Okay." He took the phone. "Hi...Yes, the flight was fine.... I didn't die.... No, the food was okay.... Merry Christmas.... Yeah, we are going to have dinner soon... I like his new puppy, very sweet.... She likes to hide things though, I have already lost a hat to her... Yes, he is right here... Darren, she wants to talk to you again." He handed the phone back to Darren.

"Hello, mum. No, I am fine. Just tired. Okay, I love you. Merry Christmas to you too. Bye." Darren hung up the phone.

"I am going to call my folks and wish them merry Christmas," Daniel said. He wished he was home. There everything made sense. He should have never come up here. He should have let Darren be his stubborn self and spend Christmas alone. But even as Daniel thought that he knew he couldn't have done that. He refused to let anyone spend Christmas alone. Not even if he was madly in love with Darren and his love would never be return in a million years. Oh God... Daniel thought to himself, I sound like one of those tortured angsty teen romance shows ... what was it? Dawson's River? Or was it a pond? Who knows?

He dialed the number on the phone and leaned against the counter. His mother picked up on the fourth ring. "Hello?... Hi Mum, it is me, Daniel. How are you?...Yes, I am fine...Merry Christmas...It is still Christmas Eve..."They both talked about the flight and airplanes and what was going on at the Jones' house. Darren made sure nothing was burning and finished the salad. That was when he heard the puppy cry and the horrible crash. Darren dashed out of the kitchen and screamed Leia's name.

"Mum, I have to go. Sorry, call you later, bye." Daniel hung up the phone and ran into the living room. Darren was holding Leia and taking her into his room. The tree was knocked over and there was or what looked like blood. Leia must have cut herself. Daniel walked after Darren into his room to the bathroom. "How badly is she cut?"

"I don't know.. I need to wash her paw off to see." He gently set her in the sink and washed her paw off and then her body checking to see if there was any more glass. Daniel got him a towel and got ready to hand it to him but then Darren turned around and ran in to him. "Damnit, Daniel, move. I need a towel." Then he saw that he was holding one out for him. "Ow. Sorry. But move. I want to check her over and you are in the way. More than in the way. Get out of my bathroom." He picked up the dog and wrapped it in the towel. "On second thought, get out of my room and stay out of my life." He was coming towards Daniel, pushing him out of his room and then when he was out, he slammed the door and slumped down to the floor.

Daniel just stood there. He could hear Darren crying on the other side of the door. But there was no way Darren was going to let him in. Daniel looked at the tree. It was knocked down, but not destroyed. He moved over to it, and quietly stood it back up. He hung the ornaments back up. And he swept up the pieces of glass and wiped up the little bits of puppy blood. When he got done cleaning up the mess, he looked at the tree and there, wrapped around one of the branches, was one of Leia's puppy toys. She must have gotten it stuck in the tree and tried to tug it out. Poor pup.

Daniel looked at Darren's door. Should I knock on the door? I wonder what made Darren yell like that? Was he just worried about Leia? Daniel slumped down next to the door. For some reason he knew Darren was still sitting on the other side. Daniel could hear him breathing.

"Darren, I am sorry." Daniel stopped and took a breath. "I know you can hear me, and as much as I don't want to talk to your door, I will." Daniel paused. Breathe. "Let me correct myself... I am sorry... but I am not sorry I kissed you. I love you and at that moment I just let myself go and I didn't explain my feelings or anything. I am sorry for that. I know it was wrong to do what I did without finding out if you had the same feelings. It is just I have wanted to love you and that night I just looked at you and your eyes were sparkling and you face was flushed and all my high functions just shut down and I went on with what my heart told me." Daniel sighed and hit the back of his head against Darren's door. The more he talked, the more he felt like an idiot.

Darren listened to everything Daniel had said. Tears just streamed down his cheeks. What should he say? Was this his Daniel professing his love? My God, how long have I wanted to hear that??? Darren got up from the floor and set Leia on the bed. He had checked her foot and the bleeding had stopped. Just a small cut. He would have to bandage it up to make sure it didn't get infected. He padded quietly over to his door and opened it.

Daniel, who had not moved from the door, found himself falling backwards. He was now flat on his back and Darren was kneeling beside him. "Darren, I..." And that was as far as he got. Darren leaned down and kissed him. Not harshly, but softly. Daniel was surprised but quickly welcomed the kiss. Everything the two had pent up and stored away came out in that kiss. The passion and the love they had forbidden themselves was now open. They kissed till their bodies threatened them with a law suit from having lack of air. Daniel pulled Darren to him and Darren laid his head down on Daniel's chest.

They sat there for a moment... Not saying anything, just letting their breathing slow and their pounding hearts calm down. The princess jumped down from the bed and walked over to lick Daniel's forehead. It made him laugh. "Darren?"

"Yeah?"

"I think your dog likes the way I taste."

"She wouldn't be the only one."

Daniel just blinked and then he blushed with what Darren said. "Darren?"

"Yes, Daniel?"

"I love you."

"I love you, Daniel." Darren pushed Leia away and kissed Daniel's forehead. "I am sorry I got mad at you and yelled at you." He kissed Daniel's nose. "I am sorry I told you to get out of my room and to stay out of my life." He kissed Daniel on the lips.

Daniel kissed him back. When Darren pulled away from the kiss, Daniel remembered the Christmas tree. "Darren, I have something to show you." He picked himself up off the floor and then pulled Darren up. "But you have to close your eyes." He did. The he led him out into the living room. "Stand there and don't look. No peeking!" He turned off the lights and checked the kitchen. Their dinner was getting cold but it didn't matter. Then he padded back into the living room. He turned the Christmas tree lights back on. "Okay, open them."

"You fixed the tree!!" Darren bounced about.

"Well, I just picked it and straightened out the ornaments. Nothing big, Darren. But the smile on your face is worth it." Daniel grinned.

Darren gave Daniel a big hug. "Thank you, Daniel. I am glad you came. I missed you." Daniel pulled Darren closer and ran his fingers through his hair.

"But I am here," Daniel said quietly. "So you don't have to miss me anymore." Daniel broke the warm hug to pull Darren with him to the couch. He sat down and Darren snuggled up to him. Darren grabbed the soft throw blanket on the end of the couch and wrapped it around the both of them. Both of them watched the blinking of the lights of the Christmas tree.

A soft peaceful hush fell over the both of them. The princess, who had been left in the bedroom, gave a puppy cry and came bouncing out of the bedroom and onto the couch and curled herself up at the feet of the musicians. That was when the clock struck 12 AM. Christmas had come. "Hmm.. Bells.. I never noticed that clock before," Daniel remarked.

"I got it a while ago. I like the chimes."

"It reminds me of going to church. You know the big one on Cameron Street?"

"Yeah."

"I remember asking my mother why they rang the bells so much and so loudly. She said that every time a bell rang, an angel got their wings."

"Is this a 'When I was boy...' type of story?" Darren mockingly asked.

"Yes, kinda ... consider it a bedtime story, okay?"

"Okay," Darren mumbled and snuggled closer to Daniel's chest.

"Okay, on with the bedtime story. My mother, being the wonderful person she is, had an answer to give me. She said that every time a bell rang, an angel got their wings. I remember from then on I used to count the rings and wish the newly winged angels well. I remember one Christmas we went to church and for some reason the bells were not ringing. The boy who normally rang them had gotten sick. All I could think about was the angels weeping because they would not get their wings. I was I think five at the time and I burst into tears. My mother said that she had a small bell at home and that I should not worry because I could ring it as much as I wanted when we got home." Daniel got silent at the memory of that day, so clear in his mind it was amazing.

"Did you ring the bell when you got home?" Darren asked sleepily.

"Yes, I think I rang it every day for weeks. I used to say over and over in my mind, 'When bells ring, angels get their wings'. I still have the bell, it is on my desk at home. I don't ring it anymore because I am very rarely home to do so. But every now and then I randomly ring it and think about the happy angels who got their wings."

"That is such a sweet story, Daniel." Darren wrapped his arms around Daniel and pulled him close.

"Darren?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, Daniel."

The two fell into a deep sleep in the glow of the tree's pure white lights. The angel on the tree's top glistened and shined with all the sparkle one could image. Holding each other not for warmth but out of love and the need to be held. Their heartbeats quietly pounded out time, but in perfect sync with each other. Princess Leia herself quietly dozed at their feet. And outside, an amazing hush had fallen all over New York. Silent snow fell till morning. It covered everything in sight.

Dawn came and made the world seem shiny and new. Daniel woke up feeling content and warm. Darren was still sleeping. He just looked at his little angelic singer... If he could ring a bell to give him wings, he would. Daniel gently touched Darren's face. It was so soft. He kissed his forehead. Then both cheeks. Then softly on his lips. "Wake up Darren... Christmas morning is here."

Darren mumbled something in his sleep and pulled the blanket over his head and buried his face in Daniel's chest.

Daniel looked at him. Well, that didn't work... hmmm.. what else could I do to get him up? Daniel's mind went to work immediately on the problem... Then, Daniel couldn't help but grin.

Darren, blissfully unaware of Daniel's plotting and scheming against him, reveled sleeping in Daniel embrace. He hadn't slept this well in for as long as he could remember at the moment. That was when Daniel struck. He tickled the dark haired singer with no mercy. Darren couldn't help but giggle. "Stop," he cried, but Daniel gave him no sign of stopping.

"It is Christmas morning, Darren. And I figured you would sleep all day if I let you."

"Okay! I am up! I am up. Just," another round of giggles came from Darren as Daniel found new places of ticklish delights. "Just stop."

"Why should I stop ... you are more interesting like this." He tickled Darren more.

"Please???"

"Okay." Daniel stop his tickling assault on Darren. "Good morning sunshine."

"Good morning indeed." He looked at Daniel. Daniel was grinning ear to ear. Damn, he is so cute sometimes. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas to you, too."

"Well, should we make coffee or open presents first?"

"Well, I know you Darren and I say we should definitely make coffee first. But I am not touching that weird coffee machine of yours. It makes so many weird noises; I think at times it will blow up and take out this side of the earth."

"Okay, leave the coffee to me." Darren got up and padded into the kitchen. Leia got up and trailed behind him. He gave her food and water. Then he got the coffee going. That is when he heard Daniel start playing Christmas carols on the piano. Darren just smiled to himself. He made two cups of coffee and fixed them according to him and Daniel's tastes where coffee was concerned, and came back out into the living room, and joined him at the piano.

"Do you like the piano?"

"Yes, it has a nice sound to it."

"Well, I am glad you like it. It is one of your Christmas presents."

"Thank you, but I got something far better than the piano this year."

"And what might that be?"

"You."