Chapter 25

Gary's POV

"Gary! Wake up! Wake up!" All of sudden someone jumps onto the bed straddling my lap which instantly causes me to snap my eyes open.
"Who?! What!?" Almost falling out of bed my eyes stretch widely looking at Mark with a huge grin spread across his face and his palms holding his weight against my chest.
"Get up Gaz! Its Christmas!"
"Bloody 'ell Mark..." Groaning in frustration I pull the duvet back up to my chest. "What time is it?"
"Erm 7:30...but we've got presents to unwrap, dinner to cook, games to play, Christmas songs to sing and... and...-"
Covering Mark's mouth with my hand i close my eyes again. "Calm down lad... you're giving me a sodding head ache."
"But Gaaaaz! You can't be a Grinch on Christmas!" Giving me the puppy dog eye look he knows that it always wins me over. Pushing my fists against the mattress i sit up looking at the beaming grin he's showing me.
"Ok ok... but... don't i get my present in bed...? You know how much i enjoy unwrapping things..." Trailing a finger behind Mark's dressing robe i stroke his bare chest running my finger against the light chest hair.
"Nah uh... not yet... we have to do our Christmas first...sex later...besides... i've got something planned for you later... involving that bed..." Mark cheekily winks at me whilst licking his lips slightly. Swallowing hard i pull the covers from me before grinning back softly.
"Well... in that case... lets unwrap!" Quickly i run out of the room running into the living room area almost stumbling over my own feet, as i stop myself from crashing into the Christmas tree.
"Gaz! You're such a cheat!" Seconds later in walks a frowning Mark who stands beside me in front of the tree.
"Oooh.... so you don't want a present from a cheat then?" Dropping to my knees i pick up a large rectangle neatly wrapped parcel. Mark's eyes light up again and the grin re appears whilst snatching the present from my hands.
"I never said that!" He quickly jumps to his side of the tree where his presents are stored.
"That's what i thought..."
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"Thank you so much for all my presents gorgeous." Mark's speech is muffled, as he pulls on the dark red coloured jumper which his Mum has bought him for Christmas. It's personally made with his name 'Mark' stitched on the front underneath Rudolph which rests in the middle. We both have matching ones, but mine says 'Gary' on the front- obviously. Slumping down beside me on the sofa Mark wraps his arms around my waist nuzzling his cheek happily against my chest. "My favourite time of year...with my favourite person in the entire world..."
"You little softie... the day's only just begun Marko... we've got plenty to do yet... especially on your list we do."
"Mmm... can't wait...."

"Hey...Mark?" Twirling a piece of his hair I can't help ,but to feel different about this year's Christmas.
"Mhm uh?"
"Do...do you think Rob and Yasmin will ever get back together?"
Mark sits up now removing his head from my chest looking serious. "Why do you ask babe?"
Shrugging my shoulders I release a sigh. "I don't know... I mean... We're becoming parents... And I couldn't dream about being a single parent...its not fair on the child...is it?"
"Well its not up to the child to decide really... Robbie cheated on her he needs to be punished I guess."
"...And Yasmin cheated on him too." Mumbling under my breath again guilt plays on my behalf. "Do you think he did it...to get back at her..?"
Mark gently places a hand onto my cheek. "Now don't go blaming yourself again Gaz. We don't know the real reason why he did it we just know it happened and now he's probably in a hotel somewhere regretting everyday being without his family. I know for sure that's what I would be doing. I don't think that its completely over between them seeing as Robbie still goes round to visit Eleanor...Who knows this time next year they could be getting back together... We just have to await the future. Anyway... Just think as soon as we're back home we can plan our future... Me, you and our baby. Only a month to go until we know the sex...and I can finally get you in white overalls painting the nursery blue or pink." Mark giggles whilst kissing my knuckles just brushing his lips against them lightly.
"You're perfect...you know that?"
"You make me this way babe."
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"Come and pull a cracker with me!" Mark skips towards the Christmas tree before standing on his tip toes reaching for a Christmas cracker.
Perching myself up against the piano i watch the boyish grin appear again.- Mark surprised me with the piano which had been hiding away in the spare room the whole time only to be used for our Christmas party.
"But i'm still stuffed from the dinner. Any sudden movement and i think i'll explode." Patting my stomach i slump back down onto the small leather piano stool.
"Don't be such a fuss pot! It's Christmas!" Holding the cracker out in front of me an excited look spreads over Mark's face. There's nothing more i love other than seeing Mark happy that's the present i most want for Christmas.
"Ok... ok... on three... one....two...three!" We both tug our end of the cracker until there's a loud crack almost causing Mark to fly across the room.
"I win! I win!" Happily Mark jumps up and down searching inside the broken cracker pulling out a yellow paper hat which he sits onto his head. "Ohhh! Look what i've got!" He holds up a small plastic bag showing a red whistle for the toy which he's just won.
"Ay... you'll be good at that... you're good at blowing things." Cheekily i wink whilst pressing a few keys on the piano.
"Cheeky sod..." Walking back over to me he rests his elbows on top of the piano, as i begin to softly sing All i want for Christmas is you.
"Don't care about those presents underneath the Christmas tree, i just want you for my own. More than you could ever know. Make my wish come true you know that all i want for Christmas... is you." Mark sighs happily at me watching my fingers continue to play before joining in.
"[...] Cause Santa he won't make me happy with a toy on Christmas day/ I just want you here tonight holding onto me so tight. 'Gaz', what can i do? You know that all i want for Christmas..." Gently he presses his lips against mine stopping me from playing the piano. "...Is you..." 
"Merry Christmas Mark..." My hand runs through his hair whilst we gaze into one another's eyes. "Tonight couldn't get anymore perfect. "
"Hold on a sec." Mark slides my hand from his hair before walking back to the Christmas tree to receive the final cracker. "One more go..." Playfully i roll my eyes at him whilst gripping once again to the end of the cracker. This time Mark hardly pulls on his side which quickly makes me the winner.
"You barely tried lad!" Excitedly i dip my fingers inside looking for the toy.
"...So... watcha win?"
"Erh... i can't fi-...oh wait..." Something clings onto my finger. Something cold and metal. With a confused look my eyes glance down towards my finger where a small silver ring rests. "What the-...?" Searching around the room for Mark i then notice that he's gotten much smaller in height than how he usually looks. Nerves build up in his face as a shaky hand takes hold of mine.
"G...Gary....Gary Barlow..." Clearing his throat tears fill in his eyes, as he takes the ring from my index finger and into his own palm. My stomach begins to do flips knowing exactly what he's about to do. "Will... Will you do the honour... in becoming my husband...? Will you marry me?" Unable to hold back the tears much longer they roll down his cheeks still with a smile on his face.
"O....Oh...Oh God...Mark..." Tears soak onto my trousers from my own eyes. This is the most perfect Christmas present i've ever received. "Y...Yes...oh god yes Mark! Of course i'll marry you!"