𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬

𝑂𝑘 𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑒𝑠 𝐼 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑢𝑝𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑓 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑏𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐷𝑜𝑛𝑒!

𝑊𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑦 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑡𝑜𝑜 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐸𝑛𝑑.

𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑑𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑔𝑢𝑦𝑠! (𝑇𝑟𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑠😏)

The villa was loud the moment they walked in - because of course it was. They were finally home, and Nani barely had time to take off his shoes before the whole house descended on him like he'd been away for years instead of two weeks.

Sky stood beside him, rolling their suitcases in, looking every bit the exhausted but indulgent husband while Nani practically sparkled as he pulled out bag after bag.

"Okay, okay, everyone sit properly- I brought things!" Nani announced, already kneeling on the floor and unzipping the biggest suitcase like he was opening a treasure chest.

William, already lounging on the couch with a blanket wrapped around him, peeked over the edge. "You act like we don't already know you over-shopped."

"I didn't!" Nani huffed. Then immediately pulled out thirty keychains. "These are for the staff."

Sky dropped his head back with a groan. "Baby... that's literally everyone in the compound."

"They all deserve something."

William snorted. "You said that about the last time, too."

Nani giggled, cheeks warming as he lifted the bag in his hand. "Yes, I got something for everyone- but you have to wait your turn!"

That got everyone's attention. Suddenly the villa living room was full, people emerging like they'd been summoned by magic. Est came down the stairs rubbing his eyes, Papa Pete and Book followed behind him, Vegas came out of his study with a raised eyebrow, and even Amol appeared from the hallway with a very cautious expression.

Nani placed all the bags on the big coffee table, the snowy ones with Swiss prints, the elegant ones with ribbons, and the bubble-wrapped boxes.

"Okay," he said proudly, clapping his hands. "Let's start!"

Nani picked a long, flat box and handed it to him.

William ripped it open dramatically - and froze.

Inside was a black winter scarf embroidered with tiny golden stars.

William's mouth fell open. "This is... actually... NICE?"

"You sound surprised," Nani said, placing his hands on his hips.

"I am surprised," William answered sincerely. "Usually your gifts are too wholesome. This one is cool. I'll wear it every day."

"Good," Nani said, smiling.

Next was Est's turn - a soft beige sweater with little alpine flowers around the collar.

Est gasped like it was a sacred artifact. "NANI. This is ADORABLE. Look at it! I'm going to wear it to sleep."

William groaned. "Of course you will."

Est stuck his tongue out and hugged Nani tightly.

Nani handed Pooh a giant fluffy keychain shaped like a snow leopard.

Pooh squealed. "LOOK! It's so cute!"

Sky leaned down. "That thing will end up in the washing machine within a week."

Pooh clutched it protectively. "Not if you stay away from it."

For Pete, Nani presented a hand-carved wooden box with Swiss edelweiss painted on the lid.

Pete blinked. "This is... beautiful, Nani. Thank you, baby."

For Book, it was a vintage pocket watch. Book actually teared up. "This is... classy... elegant... functional... it's everything I am."

Everyone stared at him.

Pete snorted. "Functional is not you."

Nani hesitated, then gave Vegas a simple, sleek pen - engraved with a small mountain.

Vegas's eyes softened. "Thank you, son."

And yes - he really said son.

Everyone pretended not to react while Sky blinked like he'd been hit by lightning.

Finally Nani turned to his husband.

Sky raised a brow. "You got something for me too?"

"Yes," Nani said, cheeks going red. "Close your eyes."

Sky obeyed.

Nani placed something cold against his wrist. When Sky opened his eyes, he saw a polished silver bracelet - simple, elegant - with both their initials engraved inside.

SK & NN

Sky's voice softened. "Nani... this is-"

Nani whispered, "So you won't forget me even when you're being annoying."

Sky grabbed him and kissed his forehead. "Impossible to forget you."

Nani kept sorting gifts, humming under his breath. For Jimmy and Sea, he had wrapped their souvenirs in neat little packages marked with sticky notes. "I already sent theirs to the US through courier," he told est. "Jimmy gets the snowglobe because he likes shiny things, and Sea gets the scarf because he always looks cold."

Wiilliam laughed. "That's... accurate."

"They'll get it next week," Nani added proudly.

Sky watched him with a soft smile - one of the rare ones he never let others see, the kind that melted right through Nani's spine. "You know," Sky murmured low beside his ear, "you spent more on gifts than you did on yourself."

Nani shrugged, cheeks warm. "It makes me happy."

"It makes you adorable," Sky corrected. "And a little financially dangerous."

Nani elbowed him lightly. "You bought me half a wardrobe."

"You looked good in everything."

William clapped his hands once. "Alright, enough flirting. We want stories. What did you two do for two weeks?"

Sky deadpanned, "Mostly stayed indoors."

Pooh groaned, "We did NOT need to know that."

Nani turned scarlet. "Sky!"

Sky held up a hand. "Relax. I didn't say the details." Then he leaned close and whispered just loud enough for only Nani to hear, "Those stay between us, hm?"

Nani's ears burned pink as he gave Sky a half-glare, half-shy-smile that screamed stop it but also don't stop.

The living room burst into chatter as everyone looked through their gifts. The atmosphere was warm - home, alive, buzzing with laughter and teasing.

Nani sat back on his heels for a moment, watching his family, heart full.

Sky slipped an arm around his waist from behind, anchoring him. "Feels good to be home?"

"Mm," Nani nodded. "But... Switzerland was beautiful."

Sky kissed the side of his temple. "We'll go again. Anywhere you want."

Nani leaned lightly into him, voice soft. "As long as you're with me."

Sky tightened his hold, whispering against his ear, "I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart."

The house erupted in teasing at that - but neither of them cared.

For a moment, the world was just them.

𝐅𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫

The laboratory hummed with an energy quite distinct from muffled grunts. Pooh carefully donned his glove before approaching the figure bound to the metal chair. A palpable tension filled the air, a silent question hanging heavy between them.

He paused before the figure, and as Sky emerged from behind, their eyes met in a silent acknowledgment. Pooh reached out, slowly removing the black bag that concealed the figure's face. Then, a smile bloomed on his lips, a smile so sweet it felt like a carefully crafted warning. "Hello, Uncle Cornal."

The night air held a cool bite as Pooh stepped out of the lab. Sky had already departed. Still clad in his lab coat, Pooh slid into his sleek, white Mercedes. As he started the engine, a shiver traced its way down his spine, the unsettling sensation of being watched, of someone lurking in the shadows. Yet, he shrugged it off, dismissing the feeling as mere paranoia.

Perhaps... perhaps it wasn't paranoia at all.

He arrived at the estate, the massive gates swinging open for the young master. Pooh stepped out of the car and was immediately greeted by Papa Pete, who enveloped him in a warm side hug. His brother-in-law, Nani, chuckled, "Still sporting the lab coat, Pooh? Did you forget you're not on duty anymore?" Pooh managed a smile. "Just got caught up in something," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant. He then headed to his room to freshen up, but the lingering feeling of being watched from outside clung to the edges of his mind, a persistent unease that wouldn't dissipate.