Eric's POV
I tugged at the sweater I wore. It was itchy but Sammie wanted everyone to be in the holiday spirit for his Christmas Eve party.
"So when do you go back to work? The bodyguard job." Van asked glancing over at Lenny who spun Nhemo around smiling.
"Tomorrow kinda." I said looking down at my mug of hot chocolate since Sammie said no to coffee for me.
"Kinda?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah I mean it's more me just being invited to their Christmas party." I said and Van nodded before Nhemo ran up to us.
"Daaad, Daddy said I could open a gift." Nhemo said making Van raise an eyebrow as I did the same.
"I thought I said no." Van said.
"And I thought it was Christmas Eve." I said and Nhemo frowned.
"Daddy said yes...." Nhemo mumbled and Van sighed.
"Fine Nhemo, but next time listen to me when I say no." Van said and Nhemo nodded his head probably not listening to a damn thing Van said and ran off.
"Kids." I said shaking my head as Van chuckled.
"Speaking of kids, Vincent and Sammie have really grown up." he said looking over at the engaged couple smiling at each other on the couch talking.
"Yeah... thanks." I said and Van glanced at me raising an eyebrow.
"When I wasn't here, I heard you were a father figure for Sammie." I said and his eyes widen.
"Really?" he asked and I nodded.
"The words from Sammie himself." I said chuckling and he smiled a bit.
"So, how's... Marion?" I asked softly and Van sighed.
"She's in the hospital again. Vincent and I visited yesterday." he said and I nodded knowing Lenny probably came along also but it's a weird relationship those three have.
"Hey dad." Sammie said walking up to me with Vincent by his side.
"What's up?" I asked glancing down at their entwined fingers.
"So... um dad on Christmas this year...... we're going on a trip with Derrick and Jamie plus some other people." he said and I nodded slowly.
"And?" I asked and they blinked
"Um well I thought you'd be kind a upset since on Christmas we usually spend it together." he said.
"Well before I met you I always spent Christmas alone so it's no big deal son." I said waving my hand as he frowned.
"Are you sure?" he asked and I nodded.
"Yeah I'm sure, plus I had somewhere to go anyway." I said putting my hands on my pockets and he glared.
"You had somewhere to go and wasn't even going to tell me?" he asked and Vincent gave me a look like I shouldn't
have said that.
"Uhh... yeah." I said and Sammie huffed crossing his arms.
"Whatever, have fun." he grumbled before dragging Vincent off with him.
"Always acting like he's on his period." I grumbled to myself making Van laugh.
"Vincent told me Sammie has been acting a bit weird lately." Van mumbled and I nodded furrowing my eyebrows.
"Hmm strange." I said then shrugged it off. "I'll ask him after Christmas so I won't ruin the 'holiday spirit'." I said.
****
I groaned rubbing my face after getting in bed. I felt kinda bad cutting his party short but I'm an old man. I cracked my back then laid back yawning.
"Dad." a voice said making me jump.
"Holy shit don't do that." I said looking over at Sammie who was in the doorway and he nodded frowning.
"Sorry dad." he said softly making me furrow my eyebrows.
"What's up kiddo?" he asked and he walked over sitting on my bed.
"Dad do you think Vincent and I are ready to get married? What if we end up like.... his father and mom.... or like you and mom?" Sammie asked frowned and I sat up frowning.
"You guys won't." I said and he nodded slowly.
"Okay dad... if you say so. I'm gonna head to bed." he said getting up and left my room.
I sighed softly laying back. I closed my eyes eventually falling asleep.
****
Once again I was forced to wear uncomfortable clothing. It was for the whole fancy party or event as Mrs. Prince said on the phone. I showed up at the address and my eyes went wide. All the cars parked at this house that looked as big as the university Oliver goes too.
"Good evening sir." a guy in a suit said bowing, he looked like a butler.
"Good evening." I said raising an eyebrow as he stood back up and let me in.
Tons of people were in this place. Laughing, talking, smiling and all that. But where was the host?
A familiar dark chocolate brown hair caught my eye. I started making my way to the kitchen but my arm was grabbed.
"Glad you made it." Mrs. Prince said and I nodded giving her a fake smile.
"Glad that I was invited. So where's the mister?" I asked and she furrowed her eyebrows.
"You mean my husband? He's at work." she simply said then took a glass off a tray another butler was carrying and handed it to me.
"Merry Christmas." she said smiling as she clinked my glass with hers.
"Merry Christmas." I said before slipping away into the kitchen when she got distracted with one of her guests.
"This is lame." I heard Ryder say standing next to the sink.
"Don't let my mom catch you saying that." a familiar voice said.
I knocked on the wall gently to get their attention. Ryder looked over at me as Oliver turned around.
"Happy Holidays you two." I said grinning.
"Merry Christmas." Oliver said smiling as Ryder only nodded then smirked.
"Hey Oliver can you tell your mom I'm leaving." Ryder said and Oliver rolled his eyes.
"Tell her yourself." Oliver said as I sipped the champagne in the glass before speaking.
"I could tell her for you but she might not be too happy about it." I said and Ryder shook his head.
"No let Oliver do it." Ryder said making Oliver groan and started heading to where I was standing.
"Hey! Mistletoe." Ryder said smirking as he pointed up.
I looked up and Oliver did the same. I raised an eyebrow as Oliver's pale cheeks tinted with pink.
"That's not funny Ryder." Oliver hissed blushing and I stepped out of the way chuckling as Oliver huffed grumbling and walked past me.
Ryder stayed quiet as Oliver walked out. Then he looked at me and smirked.
"Let's all sneak out of here and go somewhere else." he said and I raised an eyebrow.
"Kid, I'm too old for parties. And last time I checked your not very responsible." I said and he glared.
"Look, I was drunk at that party.... I know I should have been watching Oliver more closely." he sighed and I nodded.
"Well, it won't happen again." I said before finishing off my champagne and Oliver came in as my phone started to ring.
"Hey?" I said after answering.
"Daddy sick." I heard Nhemo say on the other end making me furrow my eyebrows.
"Well is Van there?" I asked.
"Yeah... but me have no one to play with. Opening gifts alone isn't any fun." he said probably pouting.
I glanced over at Oliver and he was arguing with Ryder. I rolled my eyes smiling.
"I'll be over there in a second." I said.
"Yaaaay! See you soon." he said hanging up making me chuckle.
"Who called?" Ryder asked smirking.
"Oh, just my friend's son." I said and Ryder sighed.
"I thought it was a girl, looks like Oliver won't be getting jeal-" Ryder began and Oliver punched his arm. "Ow!"
"Oops." Oliver said smirking as Ryder glared at him rubbing his arm and I rolled my eyes smiling.
"So do you two want to come with me?" I asked and Oliver raised an eyebrow.
"Sounds suspicious, where to?" Oliver asked and I chuckled.
"I'm going to pick up my friend's son to hang out with him since my friend is sick." I said and Oliver nodded.
"Sounds a bit boring, but I'll come." Ryder said sighing and Oliver rolled his eyes.
"First we have to figure out how to sneak past my mot-" Oliver began.
"Oh my fucking gosh there's someone robbing the Lemongrabs!" Ryder yelled and all the guests ran to the window to look over.
I blinked with Oliver as Ryder grabbed our arms pulling us out the door. We rushed over to my car.
"Lemongrabs?" I asked raising an eyebrow as I unlocked the car.
"Our neighbors across the street that everyone secretly hates." Ryder said.
"Oh yeah, mom acts so nice to the wife over there but as soon as Mrs. Lemongrabs' back is turned mom is talking about her." Oliver said shaking his head when he got in.
I got in and closed my door. "Seatbelt safety." I said glaring at Ryder as I put my seatbelt on leaving him to be the only one not wearing a seatbelt.
"I forget your a cop sometimes." he grumbled as he put it on and I rolled my eyes smirking then started the car heading over to Lenny's.
****
After picking up Nhemo I drove us to my apartment. Nhemo was surprisingly quiet the whole ride and so was Oliver. Ryder on the other hand rubbed his mouth mostly and kept messing with my radio.
I got out my car and Nhemo followed so did Oliver then lastly Ryder when he noticed we were getting out.
"So what are we gonna do Uncle Eric?" Nhemo asked pulling his hat down to cover his ears as I rubbed my hands together.
"A snowball fight." I said smirking and Oliver looked at me in horror as Ryder smirked also.
"Uh... it's too cold for this." Oliver said rubbing his arms since he was only wearing a sweater and one of my hats I had lent him.
"That or your just scared you'll be beaten." Ryder said crossing his arms smirking as Oliver glared crossing his own.
"Yeah, scared?" I asked smirking and Oliver narrowed his eyes at me before being hit with a snowball.
We all looked down at Nhemo.
"Oopsie." Nhemo giggled then ran as Oliver glared playfully making a snowball.
"You guys are so on." Oliver said and threw the snowball at Ryder before running and Nhemo was hiding behind a bush.
Ryder glared and made a snowball but I already had one ready and threw it at him before slightly running. I'm getting old okay.
"Why does everyone keep hitting me?!" Ryder growled and I heard Nhemo giggle.
"Hey, I say we all work together." I said to Oliver who his behind a tree and Nhemo who was still behind the bush.
"I don't know." Oliver said smirking. "I like working alone."
"My teacher says it's best to have two or more brains than one." Nhemo said and I chuckled as Oliver smiled softly.
"True... I guess I will work with you guys." Oliver said.
Nhemo helped me make snowballs as Oliver told us where Ryder was.
"He's piss- angry and looking around for us." Oliver said and I sent him a playful glare.
"Nice save." I said and he huffed.
Is it weird that I was noticing small things. Like his nose was getting pink and so were his cheeks. He's usually pale and how his gray eyes look foggy but in a.... What the hell is going on with my mind? It is wandering some places I'll say that. And so are my fucking eyes. They started trailing down his features and stopped at his lips.
"Uncle Eric!" Nhemo screeched and I came back to reality when I was hit with a snowball in the face.
I chuckled darkly turning to see Ryder smirking. "Let him have it." I said and Oliver nodded smirking as Nhemo giggled nodding and we all threw snowballs at Ryder making him eventually fall down in the snow.
"If I could make a flag out of this snow I would." Ryder said waving his hand in the air making us laugh as we stopped throwing snowballs.
"Oooh puppy!" Nhemo said getting up and ran over to my neighbor who was walking his dog.
I shook my head smiling. I turned to look at Oliver only to be met with a snowball to the face. I glared at him as he smirked.
"Traitor." I said throwing a snowball his way but he moved so it hit the tree laughing as he threw another snowball at me.
I grumbled and got up making him run off. I smirked and went after him then all of a sudden I didn't see him. I begin to turn to look around but was met with an impact.
"Got yo- ah!" We fell down in the snow and I opened my eyes only for them to widen when Oliver was on top of me.
His cheeks became red. My eyes locked with his foggy gray ones then trailed down his face. Landing down at his lips. Puffs of air were coming out of our mouths filling the space between us. I leaned up and captured his lips. His eyes widen but soon closed as he kissed back.
"Ewwwie yellow snow." I heard Nhemo say and Oliver's eyes flew open as he pulled away quickly making me furrow my eyebrows sitting up.
"The puppy peed in the snow." Nhemo giggled as Ryder stood next to him shaking his head.