Chapter Text
Christmas 2014
It is Christmas morning. Kip always looked forward to Christmas. His sister and her boyfriend, Andrew spent the night last night and everyone will be having breakfast together this morning. Kip checks his phone and sees a few Merry Christmas messages from his friends. He wonders if he should text Scott. He knows Scott would be all alone today, he doesn’t have any family, and his friends are probably celebrating with their families.
Kip
Merry Christmas!!
Kip puts his phone in his pocket and is about to head downstairs when he feels it vibrate.
Scott
Merry Christmas
Have a great day with your family.
Kip wants to invite Scott over, he hates the idea of him all alone in the penthouse all day, but he knows he will say no.
Kip
Thanks. Do you have any plans today?
Scott
Not really, I usually just spend the day like any other.
Kip knows he is about to regret sending this message but he doesn’t care. He has to try.
Kip
If you want, you can come over to my place, so you don’t have to spend the day alone.
Scott
Kip, I would love to, but I can’t. I’m sorry.
Kip
I know, I just thought I would try.
Scott
Go and spend time with your family, I’m fine.
Kip
Okay, I’ll text you later.
Kip went downstairs to the kitchen. His mom and dad are finishing making breakfast and Megan and Andrew are setting the table.
“Well look at who finally decided to grace us with his presence.” His dad said sarcastically.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Do you need any help?” Kip asked.
“No, we are just about done here.” His mom said.
The five of them sat and ate breakfast together. They talked and laughed. When breakfast was done they made their way to the living room to open gifts. One by one they opened gifts and thanked each other until there was one left. It was for Kip.
It was a long cylinder shaped container wrapped in Christmas wrapping. “Who is this from?” Kip asks
“We don’t know. There is a note or something attached to it. It was left outside the door this morning. It is addressed to you.” His dad says.
Kip opens the note
Dear Kip,
I know you love this painting and I wasn’t able to buy the original, but I managed to track down the artist and asked him to paint another version of it but smaller. I thought you may want a copy to hang on your wall or something. I hope you like it.
Love,
S
Kip had a tear in his eye as he unwrapped the present. He pulled out the painting and it was the one him and Scott had looked at when they went to the gallery together.
“Wow, that's beautiful. Who’s it from?” His mom is looking over his shoulder at the painting.
“It’s from a friend.”
“Just a friend?” Megan asked in a teasing tone.
“Yes, just a friend.”
“Well I don’t know about your friends, but I don’t think my friends would anonymously drop off a christmas gift at my door with a note. Also I don’t think they would get me a piece of art that I am assuming costs a shit ton of money.”
“Well, then, I think you need to get better friends.” Everyone laughed.
***
After everyone retired to their rooms Kip decided to facetime Scott.
“Hi.” Scott said after answering.
“Hi, you didn’t have to do that.”
“Do what?”
“You know what. You had the artist paint me the painting we were looking at together.”
“I knew you liked it and I wanted you to be able to have it. I would have gotten the actual one we saw together, but someone already bought it and they were not willing to part with it.”
“Scott, this is too much.”
“No, it’s a Christmas gift from one friend to another.”
“This must have cost you a fortune."
“Kip, I'm rich. I have too much money and I wanted to get you a nice gift. Do you like it?”
“Are you kidding? I love it. It is amazing. Thank you, so much.”
“No problem. I’m glad you like it.”
“I didn’t get you anything, sorry.”
“It’s okay, I didn’t expect you to. Plus that birthday gift you got me was more than enough. It meant a lot.”
Kip smiles. He remembered being nervous about the gift. He wanted Scott to know he still cares about him and he wanted to do something nice, but he worried it may be too far. What if it crossed the friend boundary? But then he though fuck it and left the socks at Scott’s door. “So did the painting.”
They continued to talk for a while until they both started to get tired and decided to go to bed.
***
March 2015
Kip is sitting at The Kingfisher with Elena. The Admirals game just finished and they won. Kip texts Scott.
Kip
Nice game, congrats on the win!!
“What are you doing?” Elena asks, standing behind Kip staring at his phone.
“What?”
“Are you texting him?”
“What, no, who?”
“I can see your phone.” Kips looks at her. He doesn’t know how to respond. “Kip, what are you doing? He broke your heart.”
“No he didn’t. It’s not his fault he has to stay hiding to keep his job and everything he has ever worked for.”
“You're right, but what I meant was, everything that happened broke your heart. How long have you guys been back in contact?”
“It’s just texting and two facetimes.”
“How long?”
“Since the Olympics.”
Elena’s eyes widened, “Over a year.” Her voice softens, “Kip, you need to try and move on. This isn’t good for either of you.”
“I know. I know it’s not, but I can’t move on.”
“Have you been with anyone since you two broke up?”
“No, I can’t, every time a guy flirts with me, I feel like I’m cheating on Scott. He is the love of my life. I’m not ready to give up on that.”
“I know, but do you remember what happened when you two broke up? You barely left your room. You cried yourself to sleep for weeks. Kip, I don’t want you to go through that again.”
“I get that, but that won’t happen this time. We are just friends and we haven't even seen each other in person. I just can’t lose him and I can’t let go.”
“Okay, but if your heart gets hurt again, I will murder him.”
Kip laughs, “Okay, thanks Elena.”