Christmas passed in a blur of lunches, dinners, friends and family. Shinji felt caught up in a rollercoaster of eating and drinking, swimming and playing, until at last he lay out on the grass in the sun with his eyes closed, the last of his hangover finally abating, and he realised everything was quiet. No guests, no parties, no sound at all that didn’t belong. A small smile curved up the corners of his lips and he just enjoyed the moment. It wasn’t that he hadn’t enjoyed it – he had. Every face, every shared conversation, every smile had warmed him clear through but it had gotten on his nerves after a few days and now, finally, they were alone again. Just his little family in their cute little house and he felt at peace again.

Toshio and Enishi had taken their leave after promising to visit again sometime, and while it was going to be some time before everything was cleaned up and returned to it’s former state, things were relatively quiet. Rien was looking forward to New Years Eve and hoping he could talk Shinji and Kippei into going dancing again, although he figured he’d have more luck if he planned a small celebration just for them, at home.

Kippei on the other hand was worrying about school, which started again in less than two weeks. He was pretty much ready for it, probably, but it was going to be a big change and there was no telling how Shinji was going to react once they’d started. He didn’t bring it up, though, figuring they were as ready as they were going to get, and they might as well enjoy the quiet while they had the chance.

“That looks comfortable,” he said, smiling a little as he looked down at Shinji’s lazy form and dropped down beside him, stretching out and putting his hands behind his head, staring aimlessly up at the few scattered clouds in the sky.

Shinji smiled and didn’t bother opening his eyes, turning to the side and wrapping his arms around Kippei, snuggling in against his shoulder, worming his way in under Kippei’s arm and humming in contentment.

“Have you all to myself,” he pointed out happily. He couldn’t believe the things Kippei and Rien had gotten him for Christmas, each one beautiful and perfect and extremely revealing of how well they knew him and while that was a little scary, mostly it just made him feel amazingly loved.

“We get to go to school soon,” he noted softly, still feeling a little anxious about it but more excited than anything, as if time had finally closed in the way it was always supposed to and now he would get to go to school with Kippei again.

“Yeah,” Kippei agreed, holding him close and reaching up to stroke his hair with his free hand, smiling into the sun as he closed his eyes too. “Gonna keep us busy… you going to help me with my homework?” he asked, only half teasing. It was kind of cheating, but he wouldn’t turn it down if Shinji said yes, either.

“No,” Shinji grinned, feeling ridiculously happy at the little mental images of Kippei studying running through his head. “I’m gonna sleep in your lap while you do homework,” he pointed out, as if that were obvious. He would have homework of his own, but he didn’t think it would be hard by any stretch of the imagination, and he intended to do most of it at school so he could pay attention to family when he was home. Hyun-ki would need distracting when Kippei and Rien both needed to work, anyway.

“Can I come see you, during the day?” He sounded uncertain, even a little scared, and he was. He needed to be able to see Kippei and was terrified the school wouldn’t let him go into classes or lectures that weren’t his own, or worse…that Kippei wouldn’t want him to.

“Yeah, baby,” Kippei told him gently, kissing his temple. “Whenever you need to.” He figured it would probably be good to let the administration know that Shinji had some medical reasons for needing to check in with him often, even if that wasn’t technically true, it was sort of. Some classes you weren’t allowed into if you hadn’t registered, but considering the grades Shinji was likely to be posting in his own, he was pretty sure they could get him cleared to at least audit Kippei’s classes too. They might end up having to pay for it but Kippei didn’t plan to mention that to Shinji.

Shinji was quiet, letting his relief wash through him. He’d known Kippei wouldn’t say no, but he’d needed to hear it anyway. That even if they didn’t let him, Kippei still wanted him to, whenever he needed it. He relaxed against Kippei’s side, hiding his face in against his shoulder, the sun starting finally to burn.

“You’ll tell me if I get annoying, right?”

Kippei chuckled, stroking his hair again and rubbing the back of his neck with strong, gentle fingers. “You wanting to see me will never get annoying,” he told Shinji firmly, kissing his temple again and wrapping both arms around him to cuddle him close against his side. “If you somehow managed it, I would tell you,” he added, but really he couldn’t imagine Shinji ever being that annoying, about anything.

Relieved, Shinji just enjoyed the cuddle and let his own misgivings and fears about school float away in the sunlight. He could worry later, for now he just wanted to enjoy time out. He didn’t have work until after school went back, the shop being closed for New Years, and he was secretly liking having absolutely no responsibilities and nothing to do.

“Mmm…I had…a funny idea, but…” He could already feel the blush creeping up his cheeks and down his throat, but he was determined to surprise them both for New Years and he knew what he wanted. “I need to go to the shops, but by myself. Only, I don’t want to go there by myself. I mean, I don’t want to drive or catch the train or anything, and if I go with Rien then he’ll spy on me because he’s stupid curious like a cat, but…would you come with me? And not follow me around? Just wait in the food court or something?”

Kippei blinked down at him, a little bemusedly, and then shrugged comfortably at him. “Sure, whatever you want,” he agreed, slightly amused and somewhat curious about what Shinji was planning, but also pleased that he was willing to brave a car trip and wandering around in public by himself to do whatever it was. A few months ago losing himself in a crowd, alone, would have probably been more than he could handle, but Kippei figured if he was asking for it he was probably ready to deal with it. Or maybe not, but in any case Kippei would be where he could find him if necessary.

“When do you want to go?”

“Before new years day,” he pointed out softly. Boxing day sales were at least over and done with, so it wouldn’t be too crowded, but he only had a few days to get it sorted.

“And, I need to drop in and see Kimiko, and I was thinking maybe we could ask her to take Yuni for new years eve?” He wasn’t sure what they would think of that, but it was hard to have fun in any sort of adult capacity with her around, and Shinji was definitely planning on having fun.

“New Years Eve?” Kippei asked blankly, not having thought about it much. He supposed Rien would want them to be doing something on the biggest party night of the year, but it hadn’t really occurred to him until now.

“That’s probably a good idea,” he noted wryly. Adult was going to be the least of whatever Rien came up with, no doubt.

Shinji sighed in relief, because Kippei was the hurdle. If he could convince Kippei to do something, Rien was a cinch. He grinned and sat up, feeling a little excited about the whole thing. He loved planning things, especially when they involved just the three of them, and he had a few things planned.

“Hmm…is Rien in the kitchen?” He was already heading that way, sticking his head in and biting his lip a little nervously. “Ri? You gonna stick holes in my ears for me, or what?”

Rien glanced at him, slightly amused and slightly worried. “Sure, princess, if you sure you want ‘em. I do it for you, but…don’t do it just coz I asked, kay?” He was a little worried that Shinji might feel like he had to just because Rien would like it.

Shinji paused, because he wanted to do it because he knew Rien would like it. He wouldn’t do it if he thought Rien wouldn’t like it, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to. He thought it would be amusing, and Hyun-ki would no doubt like it, and Kippei…well, Kippei would laugh and be amused by it, but that was okay. Rien would like it. And Shinji definitely wouldn’t mind, so he just shrugged and wandered over to wrap his arms tight around Rien’s waist.

“I want them, but I don’t trust anyone else to stick holes in me.”

Rien grinned at him, hugging him back, and leaned down to kiss the top of his head. “Don’t worry none, I be careful. Y’wanna do it today then?” He didn’t figure it would take long but it would probably be better to do it later, after lunch. Maybe be better if they had Kippei take Yuni off for a walk or something, too. Rien glanced over where she was sitting with her bunny, watching them – she wasn’t likely to understand why Shinji was getting holes stuck in him.

Following his gaze, Shinji just nodded in agreement, but a smile turned up the corners of his lips. “Later. Kippei can take her, after lunch or something…” He went over and knelt down in front of her chair, tugging gently on one long, floppy rabbit ear and then stroking her cheek.

“Hello Yuni.”

Her eyes lit up now that he was paying attention to her and she held out her arms, bunny and all, for hugs and cuddles. “Shinji!” she noted delightedly, launching herself into his arms with little regard for whether or not he was braced to catch her. Of course he would, he was Shinji.

Rien chuckled softly as he went back to lunch preparations. “See I lost my audience,” he murmured to himself, but he loved seeing them together and how well they got along, and he didn’t mind at all.

Shinji caught her and the bunny, scooping them both up and settling her on his hip, kissing her cheek and grinning at her. He loved seeing the way she lit up as soon as he entered the room; the way she immediately ran to him and wanted hugs and kisses. Holding her tight, he rocked back and forth, going over to get a closer look at Rien’s machinations.

“Wombok noodle salad?” He grinned happily, because it was one his favourites. “Can you put in extra vinegar?”

“Oh, you bet,” Rien agreed with a rather wicked grin. Kippei wouldn’t even complain, because he would know Shinji asked for it. Rien found it rather entertaining to watch him eat anything that was put in front of him simply because Rien had made it or Shinji had wanted it. Either way, it wasn’t always what he liked himself, but he never objected. Rien wasn’t entirely sure if he found that endearing or just ridiculous, but either way it was kind of fun to test it.

“Any other request?” he asked with a perfectly innocent look.

“Lemonade?” Shinji laughed softly, amused as ever by Rien meeting his every whim. He still had no idea what he’d ever done to deserve them, but he was damn happy he had Kippei and Rien in his life; that they were there all the time, for good as well as bad, that it wasn’t just a support for when he stuffed up, but a constant presence.

“You know I love you right? And Yuni too…We love Rien, don’t we baby girl? Shinji and Yuni love Rien.”

“Love Rin!” she agreed, one small hand flailing out to pat Rien’s shoulder reassuringly. It was a complete novelty to her to be told so often and so sincerely that she was loved, and to her it seemed terribly important that everyone else should be told so as well. It made her feel good and safe and special, and she wanted her special people to feel the same way.

Rien chuckled at her rendition of his name, and leaned over briefly to kiss her cheek. “Love you too, my lovelies,” he told her and Shinji too, stealing a kiss from him as well.

Melting clear through the floor under the heat of the kiss, Shinji turned blissfully as Kippei entered, satisfied with the knowledge his little plan was definitely a good idea. Rien deserved the best sort of rewards, and Shinji just hoped he liked it.

“Rien’s gonna pierce my ears this afternoon, you wanna take Yunikins for a walk after lunch?”

Kippei looked slightly surprised and then he nodded wryly, knowing that it would be for the best if he did. “Sure I can,” he agreed, brushing Yuni’s cheek affectionately with the back of one finger. “You want to go fly?” he asked her, that being generally code for the swings in the park.

“Yuni fly!” she answered immediately, giving him an eager, hopeful look. “Ki fly too?”

“Yeah me too,” Kippei told her, “you and me.”

Shinji hid his snicker behind Hyun-ki’s hair, taking her over to put in the kid’s chair at the table, settling bunny in the chair beside her before going to get glasses and juice, putting them out on the table too. He curled up in his own chair across from Hyun-ki and idly stroked his ear, pondering having holes in them. It was definitely not something he had ever thought about before, but it would be fun, he thought, and there was a whole lot of jewellery he could mess with.

“Mmm…Rien, you should pierce your navel.”

“I should,” Rien agreed, “but I ain’t doin’ it myself.” He laughed at the idea, amused by the contortion that would be required to even try. Didn’t sound safe at all, and not easy enough to bother when he could just go get someone else to do it for him.

“What are you gettin’, Ki?” Rien asked him, as if it were a foregone conclusion that he should get something too.

Kippei stared at him. “Huh?”

Shinji had to laugh, the very idea so foreign he could hardly fathom it, but as it sank in he fixed a more intrigued glare on Kippei, wondering just what they could convince him to put a hole in. Several things could look damn hot, but he wasn’t sure it would uphold his professor look, and Shinji was definitely looking forward to that. Still, professors could be hot! He licked his lips just thinking about it.

“I’m not getting anything,” Kippei grumbled, rather baffled by the whole idea. It would look great on Shinji and Rien, he was sure, but it seemed plain silly to get one for himself.

Rien gave Shinji a knowing look, sure that if he and Shinji teamed up they could eventually convince Kippei to get something small – a stud in his ear or something like that. It wouldn’t be fair if he was the only one that didn’t have a piercing, after all!

“We could pierce your nipple. No one would see that but we would get to play with it whenever we wanted…” Shinji looked curiously at Kippei, as if he could see through his shirt and already imagine the piercing, licking his lips again and feeling a stirring between his legs, glad for the protection of the table.

Kippei gave them both an uncertain look, completely stumped by the suggestion. “I don’t think so,” he said doubtfully, because it sounded more painful than anything, and not really like fun, no matter what Shinji thought.

“Oh yeah,” Rien purred, agreeing completely with Shinji and decided that they would just have to wear him down about it. Rien would ask for his birthday and Shinji could ask for his and sooner or later the guilt would get him, Rien knew.

“Time to eat now!” he announced then, breaking up the little staredown and putting lunch on the table, waving Kippei to a chair which he slowly moved to sit down in, still looking bemused.

Immediately distracted, Shinji turned his attention on the bowl of wombok noodle salad floating in Rien’s hand, dishing some up as soon as it touched down on the table, and then grabbing a pork spring roll to nibble on the side. He poured Hyun-ki som juice and put a spring roll on her plate, smiling at her in reassurance just in case she wasn’t sure about the food and then dug in, moans soon erasing his ability to speak.

“Oh my god, so good! You even added the extra vinegar just like I asked! Oh…mph! Hee, Mmm!”

A little dismayed at the mention of the extra vinegar, Kippei nevertheless dished up his own meal, with rather less of the noodle salad and more of the spring rolls. Rien made excellent spring rolls, and that, he felt, made up for everything. He was soon making small happy noises of his own, and the both of them made Rien smile happily as he sat down to his own lunch, reaching over to help Hyun-ki with hers when she looked uncertain about how to manage the unfamiliar noodles.

“When do you go back to work, Shin?” he asked absently as he cut the mess of noodles into smaller parts for Hyun-ki.

“Mmm after new years, a few days before school starts. Owner of the store is going to rearrange my schedule once I have my school timetable. He’s worried I’m going to get too tired…” Shinji shrugged, seeing why he was worried, but also determined not to quit. He could work around it, if they just worked together and figured a way to make it work. He was sure he could do it.

“I um…” He looked at them nervously, heat in his cheeks. “I get my first scholarship payment next week.” He thought it was a ridiculous amount of money, considering he was living at home and didn’t have the same expenses as other students, but he’d won it, sort of, and he intended to spend it on his family and his studies so he thought that counted for something.

“Awesome!” Rien declared, grinning brightly at him, delighted that other people were recognizing how smart and incredible Shinji was, and paying him money for it. He knew how much it bothered Shinji to not have money of his own, and regardless of the reason, he thought it was a good thing that Shinji would have his own money now.

“You want to go shopping after that, then?” Kippei asked him, not entirely sure when he’d wanted to go but figuring the more money he had the better and sure that whatever he was up to, he didn’t want Kippei to pay for it even if he could, more than could.

“No, I…” Shinji rubbed the back of his neck, looking nervously around at both of them. “I’ve got the money I need for the stuff I want at the shops, I can go whenever. I want to go before new years.” He just hoped he wasn’t making a mistake, setting himself up to make a complete fool of himself.

“Is that okay?”

Kippei nodded, taking a drink of water before he went back to eating. “Whenever you want,” he reminded Shinji of his earlier promise. Honestly he just liked going places with Shinji, doing things for him, whenever and wherever didn’t matter much to him. As long as it made Shinji happy.

Having no idea what they were talking about, Rien gave them both a curious look, but decided not to ask, figuring they would have told him if they wanted him to know.

“What do you wanna do for New Years?” he asked them, thinking of his own ideas. “Don’t suppose you’d want to go to the club for dancing again that soon?” he asked hopefully.

Feeling bad immediately, Shinji looked at him nervously and kept glancing at Kippei for reassurrance.

“I…I think I’d like to stay here, but I thought maybe your mum could take Yuni? We could just hang out here, together. Maybe rent some movies or something…” Not that he intended for them to be watching the movies, but it was as good a cover as any.

Kippei nodded, not having any interest in going clubbing again so soon. It always ended up being rather enjoyable once they got there, but he could never shake off the reluctance to go at all.

“Just us,” he told Rien firmly. “We’ll go out some other time.” He knew Rien loved it but really he could only bring himself to accomodate him so often. It just wasn’t his kind of thing, generally speaking, and he knew Shinji would usually prefer to stay close to home as well.

In this case, Shinji wouldn’t have minded going out, if he didn’t have something planned himself that certainly required staying in the walls of their own home, without children present. He smiled reassurringly at Rien and reached under the table to squeeze Kippei’s knee in thanks.

“I’ll organise it. It’ll be great, I promise!”

Rien blinked at him, a little startled that Shinji apparently had plans and wanted to set the whole evening up for them, but that was… really cool actually, so he just grinned and shrugged, giving in easily.

“Okay, sure. Go for it, princess,” he agreed, terribly curious now to see what Shinji came up with. A surprise, apparently, because he was being very mysterious about it, and Shinji being mysterious was both adorable and fascinating.

Thrilled he had the go ahead, Shinji demolished the rest of his lunch and sat back, happily satisfied as he watched them finish their own, his mind working out all the details of what he needed to do and when and how to do it without anyone seeing. He might just have to enlist help from Kimiko, but he could handle that, if it meant succeeding in keeping them from knowing anything.

“It’ll be awesome,” he assured them quietly, getting up to put his plate in the sink, then going to clean up Hyun-ki and the small mess she had made.

“I’m sure it will,” Kippei murmured, and he and Rien shared a knowing look. When it came to Shinji, it always was.