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By the time Qui-Gon had hauled out the photo album, Obi-Wan was in a miserable mood and Anakin appeared to be the only one who couldn't ignore it. Things had been genial enough through dinner, Obi-Wan had even tolerated the brief squeeze Anakin had given his hand under the table when the infamous 'first Christmas' story was hauled out for Ahsoka's sake. But after coffee and cake had been lingered over, drinks mentioned but never made, Obi-Wan was curled up against the sofa while Shmi laid out two huge photo albums near the tree. Qui-Gon's cheeks were bright red despite eschewing wine with dinner, and Ahsoka kept throwing cheeky grins at Anakin as she squealed over his baby photos. There were no such photos of Obi-Wan.
"I'm making punch," Obi-Wan said definitively, standing up quickly. "Everyone alright with that?" He didn't wait for a reply before he was at the door to the kitchen and threw over his shoulder, as though an after-thought. "Anakin, give me a hand."
"Yes, brother dear," Anakin groused and clambered to his feet.
Ahsoka leaned over to whisper, "Can you put some aside for me?"
"Course, Snips," Anakin said, and bent down to kiss her on the head. His parents didn't pay him any mind as he quietly slunk after Obi-Wan into the kitchen, too intent on describing to Ahsoka the photos they had been there for and vicariously reliving through those that they hadn't.
They were still going through Anakin's baby photos. Partly because he was game for it, and partly because Obi-Wan's only began around age five or so, when he was already a serious-faced child. Anakin knew because he had seen them many times already. Those would be next no doubt, the awkward embraces while Qui-Gon had tried to get his foster son to warm up to him without forcing anything. Transitioning into the teenage years when Obi-Wan had become more comfortable, and then a new foster child had been injected into their lives, throwing everything into upheaval once again. Those years were in a different book however, they might not even make it that far tonight.
Anakin closed the door behind himself quietly, watching Obi-Wan pull the pitcher and glasses out beside various mixers. He had tense shoulders and wore a grim expression. If he hadn't been requested specifically, Anakin would have left him to stew alone, that's usually how these things went. With a silent sigh, Anakin took out the cutting board and accept the fruit he was handed to wash and slice. For a few minutes they worked in taut silence until they could hear the rest of the family laugh over something through the door and Obi-Wan let out an immense sigh, bracing himself against the counter, shoulders hunched.
After wiping his hands, Anakin reached out a hand to place it on Obi-Wan's shoulder, wanting to ask but not wanting to press him. For a short while that was all, just the soft rustle of Anakin's thumb stroking the fabric of Obi-Wan's sweater, but then he bridged the distance between them and took Anakin in his arms, leaning him against the counter. They didn't say anything right away, having grown accustomed to silence in all its forms, it didn't feel as bad as it had a moment before.
"Okay?" Anakin asked at last, just a murmur at the crook of Obi-Wan's neck.
"Not really," Obi-Wan replied and pang shot through Anakin. But Obi-Wan didn't pull away, so Anakin shut his eyes as he tilted forward just enough to rest his forehead against Obi-Wan's.
Being close like this, body against body, was grounding. It had taken them a while to figure that out, but it had helped a lot in the beginning. Lately though, with this friction between them, Anakin had forgotten. Maybe Obi-Wan had as well.
"I know you're still mad at me—" Anakin began.
"I'm not mad at you, Anakin." Obi-Wan sighed again, turning his head away as he laid it on Anakin's shoulder. "It's not even you," he muttered.
Anakin hugged him more closely, nuzzling into the hair at the nape of Obi-Wan's neck, breathing in the fading cologne, the unquantifiable scent beneath which was Obi-Wan.
"But it is me, isn't it," Anakin said, reluctantly letting Obi-Wan pull back from his embrace. "It's us, it's this family."
"I've made my choice." Obi-Wan took Anakin's face in his hands, stroking his thumbs across Anakin's cheeks. Slowly, he brought their faces close, the smell of orange and cinnamon so much stronger now, and kissed him lightly.
There was a sharp taste of cranberries beneath the softness of the kiss that spoke of how long it had been since they'd held one another. Anakin melted. For how careful they always were, there was no mistaking this, how tightly they clung to one another. Anakin didn't care. Kissing Obi-Wan for the first time in what felt like weeks, felt like coming home at last. He'd been dreading being home with the family, being close but separated from Obi-Wan, just having this moment made up for all of it — the arduous ride from university, picking Ahsoka up from the concert, having to watch the artful way Obi-Wan avoided looking at him for more than a few seconds, all while their parents just sat there blissfully unaware. Anakin had been craving this and he was reminded of why Obi-Wan had put this distance between them. It was hard to pull away.
"You're my best friend," Obi-Wan whispered in the space between their lips. "I don't want to lose you."
"I don't want to lose your either," Anakin said, trying not to choke.
"Oh, Anakin. You won't lose me. Don't you know I'd do anything for you?"
"Anything?"
Anakin felt hot tears spilling from his eyes and Obi-Wan kissed his cheeks as though to chase them, whispering against his ear.
"Well, almost anything. I'm not keen on murder-suicide."
Anakin laughed loudly, dropping his head back. When he opened his eyes again, he could see Obi-Wan's expression was infinitely tender, his eyes fairly sparkling.
"I love you," said Obi-Wan.
"I love you too," Anakin said, kissing Obi-Wan soundly once more.
A thud came from the living-room, almost as though someone had fallen over, and they both whipped their heads to the sliding door which was shuddering slightly on its hinges, but the next sounds were all bright and affectionate. Anakin let out a breath he'd been holding, not wanting to relinquish this moment just yet, but Obi-Wan was already slipping from his grasp. It felt too close to being caught, Anakin couldn't blame him even as he resented the circumstances.
He thought they'd go back to finishing the punch, the parents might send Ahsoka to check on them soon, so he turned back to his cutting board. But then Obi-Wan snuggled against him from behind, peering over his shoulder.
"Can I give you my gift now?" he asked.
Anakin's heart began to pound in his chest as he turned around. His own gift lay under the tree, a small ammonite hanging from a leather cord, what was Obi-Wan giving him that he was giving him in private? He nodded dumbly, watching Obi-Wan bring out a box from a shelf under the counter. Obi-Wan leaned against his side, watching him slide the lid off the box, pulling apart the paper to reveal a wristwatch. It was black and gold, with a plain leather band, not terribly unlike the one he'd lost a few months ago. Judging by the designer's name though, he knew it had cost quite a bit more.
"Obi-Wan—"
"You deserve to have something you like, not just what you can afford."
"This is too much," Anakin said, feeling his cheeks heat as he pulled the watch out and felt how light it was. Raising it to his ear he could hear its steady ticking like another heart. When he flipped it over, he could see that Obi-Wan had painstakingly engraved words in his own script. Just two.
Love, Obi-Wan.
Anakin tried saying Obi-Wan's name again, but he croaked instead, truly crying in earnest now. Obi-Wan just embraced him and gently rocked him while he wept. It felt like too much. The past weeks had been so hard. There had been phone calls and text messages, but Anakin had known the holidays would be hard, so he'd tried to shore himself up for the inevitable distance between them once they were under the same roof again.
And then there was this. An awful car-ride, a cold dinner, and now this. Anakin never wanted to let Obi-Wan go again.
"Thank you," Anakin croaked. "I don't know what else to say, but…" He saw the red pitcher of punch and swallowed hard. "We have to go bring the punch out or they'll come looking for us, I just…" He waved at his face and Obi-Wan just hummed in agreement and then kissed him across the cheeks again until Anakin's breath came more smoothly. They put the watch on his wrist together and then Obi-Wan lifted his hand to kiss the inside of his palm as well.
"I'm worried what you'll say about this," Obi-Wan said, his own eyes slightly red.
"Doubt you can do much more," Anakin scoffed, but gamely straightened where he was leaning against the counter while Obi-Wan dug into his front pocket and pulled out a key.
He presented it to Anakin in the flat of his hand, just a simple silver key, though it looked brand new.
"Is this…"
"You should be able to come visit whenever you want. None of this being afraid to ask and waiting till the last minute to find a good weekend… I want to see you more often. I know it's a hike, and it's not like you would want to spend all your breaks with me when mom and dad are here as well as all your friends, but—"
"I don't— I'm—"
"What?" Obi-Wan leaned in, intent on figure out Anakin's expression, but Anakin just shook his head.
"I don't know what to say."
"No good?" Obi-Wan looked unfairly wounded.
"This is more than I could have hoped for." Anakin laughed wiping his eyes. "They're gonna think we fought again."
"Here." Obi-Wan handed Anakin the key and then soaked a kitchen towel with cool water. "Put that over your eyes for a minute while I finish the punch."
Anakin did as he was told, listening to the rattle of ice as Obi-Wan stirred the drink, but kept removing the cloth to just look at the key he was holding and the watch on his wrist. It was only a minute or two, but it had to be enough. Anakin didn't want to stay behind and raise more questions. He could tell them he spritzed juice in his eyes or something, he didn't care. He'd freaking tell them he was in love with Obi-Wan even. No, he wouldn't. He removed the cloth and watched Obi-Wan finished a smaller pitcher with different juice and no liquor for Ahsoka.
He wanted to ask if this was a prelude to moving in together, if that was even on the table. Some of his things were already at Obi-Wan's flat, but it was one thing to say he spent the weekend on the couch and another to address the lack of a second bedroom. He tucked the key away and helped Obi-Wan carry the pitcher out to the living room.
It seemed like no time had passed at all. Ahsoka whipped around to look at them, immediately asking Anakin why he'd had a rattail in middle school.
"Just wait till you see Obi-Wan's childhood photos. He was rocking the rattail long before me," Anakin said, winking at Obi-Wan.
"Ah, so you're a copy-cat," Ahsoka said.
Obi-Wan stuck out his tongue at Anakin, and got his hair ruffled by his father for good measure. They passed out glasses of punch, Shmi leaning against Qui-Gon's knees where he sat on one end of the couch. Ahsoka pushed the photo albums aside, accepting up the glass of punch Anakin handed her.
"Didn't think punch would take that long to make," she said, slurping loudly as Shmi laughed.
Shmi laughed and as she accepted her glass from Anakin, her eyes caught on the wristwatch.
"New watch?" she asked.
"Not fair! Did you two do presents?" Ahsoka asked, turning to stare pleadingly at Qui-Gon. "I thought you said Christmas Eve!"
"Anakin lost his so I thought it might be a little more urgent," Obi-Wan explained coolly, handing a drink to his father. "I'm hopeful it will keep him punctual while he's home."
"Ha. Ha." Anakin rolled his eyes. "If mom and dad say its okay, maybe you can unwrap one of mine."
Ahsoka scrunched her nose. "What do I want with one of yours…"
"I meant a gift for you."
"Please, Qui-Gon?" Ahsoka turned puppy-dog eyes on Qui-Gon, knowing exactly who the real softy was.
Obi-Wan handed Anakin the last glass, and as Anakin took it he smiled up at his step-brother.
"Thanks again," he said quietly.
"Of course," Obi-Wan said and bent down to kiss Anakin on top of his head, fingers glancing a caress through his hair before he was sitting down on the couch beside Qui-Gon.
Anakin took a gulp of his drink and focused on watching Ahsoka examine all the presents under the tree. Shmi and Qui-Gon had their hands linked on her shoulder, watching Ahsoka as well, but when Anakin finally looked at Obi-Wan, he forgot them again.
He slowly blinked at Obi-Wan and got a blushing smile in return. Stolen moments weren't enough, not nearly enough, but the key was still in his pocket, digging into his hip, and that was worth the world.