Sanctuary - Side 2

The following morning, Abby was still snuggled up to me. I stirred and let my left arm travel down her body.

“I smell food.” I said.

“Me too.”

“I’m surprised you’re not awake and in the kitchen.”

“I don’t want to get up. I feel so content right now.”

She didn’t move her head as she spoke.

“I don’t blame you. I feel the same way.”

“Good.”

“But your mom is gonna wonder where we’re at.”

She groaned. I was right.

“I’m not moving.”

“I’m not gonna protest.” I laughed.

She sighed and shut her eyes, trying to get more sleep, but it didn't last as we heard her mom's voice calling for us.

"Fuck." she said, opening her eyes.

"Time to wake up."

She got up first and made a trip before she told me that she’d meet me in the living room.

“Merry Christmas, Abby.” her mom greeted.

“Merry Christmas, Mom.” she said, smiling.

“Where’s Alex?”

“Right here.” I said with two hands on her shoulders.

“Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas.”

“So, Mom. What smells so good? That breakfast casserole you always make on this holiday?”

“Of course.”

She nearly squealed.

“Is Tyler up yet?”

“Not yet. He’s a sleepyhead.”

“Just like the guy behind me. Isn’t that right, honey?”

“Yeah.”

“How long till it’s done?”

“Half hour.”

She nodded and walked to the couch and sat down.

“How’d you two sleep?”

“Wonderful. The bedding was soft and warm.” she said, practically singing.

“We didn’t want to get out of bed.”

“I get that. We have similar bedding.”

She leaned her head on my shoulder and sighed.

“Thought you weren’t tired?” her mom asked.

“I like his shoulder.”

We both laughed. I wrapped my arm around her waist. She then heard other footsteps walk down the hall, but she still didn’t move.

“Merry Christmas, everybody!” Tyler greeted.

We all greeted the same sentiment.

“Breakfast smells wonderful, Carol.” he said kissing her.

She smiled.

We sat and spoke till the casserole was done.

“Can I help?” she asked, turning around and getting on her knees.

“No, honey. Tyler and I will bring food in.”

“Ok.”

“Is someone hungry?” Alex whispered in my ear.

“Very.”

She turned to me and kissed me. I kissed her back as I pulled her onto my lap; we made out for a couple minutes until we heard them leave the kitchen.

“Someone’s happy.” her mom said.

“I’m excited to eat.”

“You’re the only person I know who’s ever this excited about eating food.”

She laughed.

“That’s one of my favorite things about her.” I said kissing her cheek.

She blushed.

“This is delicious.” I said the second I took a bite.

“I second that. It's a Shaw family tradition.” she said.

"Is that so?"

"It is."

"Thank you guys. That means so much coming from you two."

Ten minutes later, we were done eating and ready to open presents. Abby parked her ass in front of the tree all the while giggling. I sat down beside herand laughed, clearly amused by her actions. Abby and I brought presents that we bought for each other along with ones for the other happy couple in the room. I always go overboard when it comes to Abby, but she deserves all the good things in the world.

"Who wants to start?" Tyler asked.

"Can I?"

"Of course, honey." her mom, said laughing.

She shook her head and scanned under the tree for the first one to open. She grabbed a small one that stood out to her; I smiled knowing if was from me. She unwrapped it to see that it was jewelry; when she opened the box and saw what it was, her jaw dropped. What was inside was a bracelet that had a charm on it that made her tear up.

Fate whispers to the warrior, "You cannot withstand this storm" and the warrior whispers back, "I am the storm."

She hugged me and pressed her face into my neck; I proceeded to wrap his arms tightly around me.

"I love you."

"I love you, too." I said, kissing the top of her head.

She's been through so much these past seven, nearly eight months and seeing the charm bracelet made me think of her.

"Can I see it?" her mom asked.

She pulled apart from me and nodded, handing her the bracelet.

"Oh, honey." her mom said placing a hand on Abby's arm.

“You’re amazing, Alex Gaskarth.” she said hugging me again.

“I searched all over to find the perfect charm bracelet and when I found it, I just knew that I had to buy it.” I said, smiling.

“It’s perfect and one of the best things you’ve ever bought me.”

“May I see it?” Tyler asked.

She nodded and he smiled.

“Someone clearly loves and cares about you.”

She smiled and put it on after he handed it back to her. Her mom took a turn and got jewelry as well then it came back to me. It was a Ravens jersey I had been eyeing up and I knew she had to save enough money to buy it; I lit up when I unwrapped it.

“What time is it?” she asked afterward.

“11.” her mom answered.

“Wanna watch Christmas Vacation?” I asked.

I knew it was her favorite Christmas movie.

“Anyone have any objections?”

They both said no. She brought it with her in hopes that we’d watch it.

“Then, Christmas Vacation it is.”

She giggled and kissed me. She got comfortable on the couch as I put it in the dvd player. However, when I came back, Imsmirked and moved to the opposite end of the couch. She gave me a look and crawled back to lie her head in my lap.

“Hello.” I said.

“Hello.” she said, looking up at him.

I placed an arm on her body and a hand on her hip within seconds.

“Anyone care if I go take a nap?” she asked.

“Not at all. A nap actually sounds really nice right now.”

She took my hand and waved before walking to the guest bedroom and climbing into bed. She turned to him and instead of smiling, she yawned.

“Sorry.”

She yawned again and I laughed.

“I think you should just lie down and close your eyes.”

“Wise words.” she said as I laid down.

She became comfortable on my chest and shut her eyes; she drifted off in seconds. I woke up a minute to see Abby in a cold sweat.

“Abby?”

She looked up at me.

“What’s going on?”

“I had the weirdest dream. Well, it was more like a memory, actually. One that I never remember happening.”

“What was it about?”

“I was four years old and it was Christmas. I was playing with my doll when I heard the door. I went to the door, but my mom stopped me before I could open it. She was talking with a man and it became very heated.”

We sat up at this point.

“Who was it?”

“My father...”

She went on with what happened to him and when her mom let her out of her room. I was confused and angry.

“I thought she told you that he never acknowledged that he was yours?”

“She did. Why in the world did she lie to me like that? Protect me? Well, I’m 28 years old now, not a little kid. I deserve to know.”

Her right hand was clenched into a fist as she was furious. I covered her hand in an attempt to calm her down; she released it and instead, I intertwined our fingers.

“I know he hurt her, but I do have a right to know. I can’t possibly talk about this now. It’s Christmas for fuck sakes, but I have to do it before our wedding. Oh my God. And I don’t wanna do it over the phone.”

She was starting to breathe heavily as she felt a panic attack coming on. She tightened her grip on my hand and began to cry, more like sob. I pulled her into me and wrapped my arms around her.

“It’s gonna be okay, Abby. It is. Trust me.”

Another sob ravaged through her chest.

“Please remember to breathe.”

This must’ve went on for nearly five minutes when she finally calmed down.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like someone beat me. I can’t believe I just had a panic attack on Christmas. How stupid and embarrassing is that?” she said leaning her head back.

“Abby. Panic attacks are hard to predict. It sucks, but it’s certainly not stupid or embarrassing.”

"How terrible do I look?"

I shook my head.

"I can't believe you just asked me that."

"Just give me an answer, please."

“Not happening.”

“Alex.”

I was biting my lip and looking away to the corner. She pressed her lips to my neck, hoping to get an answer and placed a hand on my inner thigh; I gasped.

“How do I look?”

“Great.“

“No. Be honest.”

“You. Look. Great.” I said in between kisses.

“I believe you.” she said melting into me.

“Glad you’re feeling better, Beautiful.”

“Thank you, Handsome.”

We sat in silence for a few minutes; I could spend time with Abby in complete and utter silence for any amount of time and be content.

“Are you hungry? Because I’m starving.” I asked.

“Well, it’s 2:30 and dinner's not till 4."

I groaned.

“You’ll live. Don’t forget. Ravens are playing at 4:30.”

I grinned like a dork.

“And you have the Redskins at 8:30.”

“Yay!” she cheered.

I kissed her and she didn’t want us to separate.

“You think they’d be okay with us staying here till dinner?” she asked.

“I think they’d be worried.” I said, gripping his hips.

“Ok.” she pouted.

I laughed and she got off my lap. She changed into nicer clothes, took a trip to the bathroom and left.

“See you out there, Loverboy!” she said blowing a kiss as she danced down the hallway.

I found Abby in the living room a few minutes later.

“Hi guys.” she sung.

I was laughing from behind her.

“Hi honey. Have a good nap?”

“Yeah. Did you?”

“Yep.”

“Cool, dude.”

She shook her head as did I.

“Do I amuse you?”

“Very much.” I answered with a not so straight face.

She continued to smile and walk into the kitchen to get something to drink.

“Anyone want something to drink?”

Tyler and her mom said no.

“Is it too early for beer?”

I’d say I was in disbelief about him asking that, but I’d be lying.

“Just a little bit, babe.”

“I’ll take water, then.”

She poured water into two glasses and handed one to me.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

We walked back into the living room and plopped our asses down on the couch.

"I have a question, Mom."

"Yeah?"

"Are you gonna let me help you out with dinner?"

"If you really want to."

"Of course. Food is my passion, after all." she said, raising her chin and speaking with a French accent.

"That's a terrible accent, Abby." I said, laughing.

She shrugged.

"No one's perfect."

I laughed and pulled her close, kissing the top of her head.

"You're hilarious.”

“I know.”

“You two need to stop being so adorable.” her mom said.

She blushed.

“I don’t think they can, honey.” Tyler said.

“So, can I drink after dinner?”

“How can anyone watch football without drinking? I am. Maybe not beer, though.”

I nodded.

“I still don’t know how you can watch the Redskins, though.”

She laughed. I can’t tell you how many times I've said this.

“How does it feel to be outnumbered this time?”

“Outnumbered?” Tyler asked.

“We hosted Thanksgiving last month. He and his bandmates rooted for Baltimore, while my best friend and I rooted for Washington. This feels nice.”

"Weird." I replied.

“I bet it does.”

“Does this mean we can do something else while the men watch football?” her mom asked.

“Of course. Movies?”

“Maybe some alcohol?”

“That works.”

Come 3:30, I heard Abby walk into the kitchen with her mom to help her out with dinner. Around four, she had finished setting the table when I wrapped my arms around her stomach.

“Hey.” I said.

“Hey.”

“Everything looks delicious.”

“It is.”

“Did you already have a taste?”

“No. I just know.”

My hands drifted onto the bare skin of her stomach.

“You need to quit doing that. I’m feeling a little uncomfortable if you know what I mean.” she said, turning around.

I smirked and kissed her.

“Ok. Maybe later.”

“You know we can’t, Alex.”

I pouted.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

A couple minutes later, we were sitting at the table about to eat and after saying a quick prayer, we dug in.

“I can see where Abby gets her superb cooking skills from.” I said.

“Thank you, Alex.”

“You’re so sweet.” she said, pinching my cheek.

I shooed my hand away and tried not to laugh. Twenty minutes later, we were full.

“Well, I’m good for a while.” she said ready to relax.

“I’m gonna go change.”

“Yeah. Go change into an ugly jersey.”

I laughed at her.

“I think you’re mistaking ugly for beautiful.”

She shook her head and went to clean up the table. She’s pretty OCD about cleaning up on holidays, unfortunately.

"You don't have to help with this. I got it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, sweetie. I'll take care of this later during the Redskins game."

She nodded and hugged her and off they went. After the game, I texted Abby. She quickly spotted me in the kitchen.

"Hey. How was the game?"

"We lost. We lost by five points." I said, sighing.

A loss against the Steelers hurt terribly; they're one of our biggest rivals.

"Poor baby." she said genuinely.

"You know what would make me happy?"

"You."

I smirked.

"Alex. We talked about this. We can't."

The disappointed look on my face was ever apparent.

"You're killing me here."

"Abby."

I was acting like a child.

"In the shower. After the game." she whispered into my ear.

"Promise?"

“I promise.”

She kissed me to assure me. It’d be late, but I don’t think I can wait any longer than that.

“Now, I’m gonna change. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

She came back with her jersey on and surely sex on her mind. I was still in the living room, waiting for her. She snuggled up to me seeing as the game wasn’t on for another twenty minutes.

“Tired?”

“No. I’m just getting comfortable before the game starts and plus I can’t be tired.” she said, whispering the latter.

“That’s good.”

“That’s great.” she corrected me.

As soon as the game started, she pulled away from me and sat on the edge of the couch. I was amused the entire time and was delighted each time they scored because she would kiss me; that’s how ecstatic she was. Turns out, they won and she was overjoyed as her team won.

“Well, I’m exhausted.” her mom said.

“So am I. Let’s head to bed.” Tyler yawned.

We said goodnight and off they walked to their bedroom which was in the opposite direction of ours. Abby turned the lights out as I picked her up with her legs hooked around my waist and took us to our bathroom. I managed to open the door and shut the door behind us. The look in my eyes was intense as I set her down, so she could dispose of her clothes and I could dispose of mine. As she turned on the water and adjusted it to the right temperature, she stepped in and reattached her lips to mine as I got in. I lifted her up and pushed her against the wall; I was at her entrance in a split second and I was as hard as a rock.

“Now?”

“Yes.” she said breathlessly.

She cried out, not being able to be quiet as I entered her. She dug her fingernails into my back as I thrusted in and out; I grunted with every move I made.

Fuck.

“Alex.” she moaned into my neck.

“Abby.” I moaned.

She took my head in her hands and feverishly kissed me, adding tongue to the intensity. I then proceeded to move faster which caught her by surprise, so much that she moaned into my mouth. We separated and she went to bite down on my neck; I groaned and gripped her harder. Who knew you could have such rough sex in the shower? When we came, I we were exhausted but knew we had to shower before we could even think of sleep.

"How's your neck?" she asked.

She hadn't bitten down that hard in quite a while.

"Ok, but I'm gonna need to borrow some of your concealer in the morning, if you wouldn't mind." I said, touching it.

She laughed which caused me to laugh.

"I don't mind at all."

Notes