25 December, Rong Family Villa, City K
Phillip Rong awoke for the first time on Christmas Day in the arms of the love of his life, Chester Yao. Until the change in the law moments like this were snatched, hidden from everyone simply to protect them. They had realised, unlike many of their gay friends their high place in society would result in the authorities seek the maximum penalty the law allowed.
Phillip could not forget that what seemed to be a perfect Christmas as he and Chester legally could express their feelings and the fact that Lexi was back permanently was not due to Matthew late last week cancelling his plans to come back to celebrate Christmas with them.
Phillip recalled how blunt Matthew was in their discussion about his pre-approved leave being cancelled at such a late stage, given he had not in the whole time he had been in the Army requested leave at Christmas. But as Matthew said, he was resigned to missing another Christmas with Phillip as orders were orders.
A wave of pain hit Phillip and he moved enough that disturbed Chester. As he sat up, he leant over and gave Phillip a deep and passionate kiss, before pulling back and saying, "Good morning my love."
Phillip returned the kiss, but this was a gentler kiss before adding in a quiet voice "Good morning to you."
Chester, hearing Phillip speak, immediately sensed that something was wrong "What is it Phillip? Are you in pain?"
"A little bit. This time the cancer treatment is impacting me more than the previous treatments did at the beginning. Could I be difficult and ask you to get my pain killers for me?"
Chester after removing his arms from around Phillip, stood up and walked across the room picking up the painkillers Phillip had left there the night before, and picked up a bottle of water to hand to him. Turning to walk back across the room, Chester noticed Phillip looking him up and down and despite the pain visible in his face it was obvious to Chester that Phillip wanted to pick up where they had left off the night before.
Posing, he could not help but ask Phillip "Like what you see?"
Licking his lips, Phillip responded "Absolutely. It has been so painful not to have you with me all these years."
Chester, as he moved across "I know, but that and the pain you are feeling at the moment is not the only thing." He handed Phillip the painkillers and the water and watched him swallow the medication.
"You know me too well. Matthew not being able to be here for Christmas is the missing piece for today."
"I understand that Phillip but …"
"With Lexi home that could be a difficult situation. And what is worse, if Matthew looked close enough at Dominic while we all celebrated Christmas, he would be able to figure out that Dominic is in fact his son, not Richard's."
"I know. It hurt me at the time and still does to keep the secret about Dominic. Matthew and Richard's parents deserve the truth, but Lexi stubbornly is determined to hide it from everyone. I would hate her reaction if she knew you knew about Dominic's parentage."
"The worst thing is even despite the time that my parents have spent with Dominic, even they have not figured it out. They are too wrapped in themselves that even their children factor very little in their lives. The only reason they cared when Matthew joined the Military was that it impacted their social standing. It was not because their son was going into harm's way but because their friends looked down on them for that. When I told them about my first Cancer diagnosis and my relapses they have come back for a couple of days before leaving. They do that because they care about what their friends think rather than me."
"Phillip do not get yourself worked up, you know what the oncologist has said, you need to keep as calm as you can at the moment."
"I know Chester, but I just wish that my parents cared for Matthew and I more than they do about themselves and their images. Goodness knows what they will do when they realise, we are together."
"Phillip, who gives a care. This is what we have wanted for so many years, through everything we have had to deal with. We are here, we will have what we want. Let us enjoy this time we have together, before Lexi, Dominic and Andrew come over to spend the day with us." With that Chester leant over and gave Phillip another kiss, while carefully moving his hands over Phillip's chest.