#enjoy this ummm almosy month late christmas oneshot

[puhpandas]

A Fozztastic Christmas

(7,041 words) 🎄🎁❄️

Its Christmas day, the first spent with Evan, and somehow, Gregory's family manages to get them a dog for Christmas. Yes, them a dog. They play with him in the snow.

There's wrapping paper all over the floor and boxes thrown around when Gregory grins at his final present. Presents had been piled high at the start of this morning, but he and Evan (and his family) had shot through them all as quick as his Aunts four wheeler.

His Dad is cleaning up the mess and stuffing the trash in a garbage bag next to him. Gregory just admires the tree and all the cool stuff next to him during the moment of peace. They chose classic warm yellow lights, and all of the ornaments hung on the branches are homemade. Theres ones from when his family were younger, some from when he was younger, and new ones he had made just this month. The one he carefully crafted is hung right next to the ornament Evan had made alongside him.

Gregory glances over to his friend to see him smiling gently at one of his gifts. Evan had been suprised for some reason when they had started handing him shelves of gifts at the start of this morning. Gregory just laughed at him when he'd gaped like a fish out of water and stared at the beautifully wrapped presents with some sort of awe in his eye.

Gregory sighs loudly, flopping backwards on the carpet. He cushions his head with his arms, and Evan startles a bit and glances over at him. He grins when he watches Gregory make himself comfortable.

"Already done?" Evan asks, a smile quirked on his face. He's wearing a green Christmas sweater he and his family had surpised him with one day this month. It matches with Gregory's red one. Evan puts down his box of brand new cozy sweaters that fit and shifts to lean against the floor like Gregory. "Its only noon. We still have all day, you can't get tuckered out now."

Gregory shakes his head, even though the warm breakfast he ate certainly isnt helping with his energy. "I'm fine." He insists. "Dont worry about it. We'll just... take a short break before getting into the snow, okay?"

Evan giggles at that, but he just nods, and flops down besides Gregory on the rug. Gregory stares up at the ceiling, and takes a moment to admire how the glow of white snow outside the window shines on the tinsel hung up on the walls.

Theres a moment of peace, where Gregory let's his eyes slip shut and revels in how good this Christmas was. Not only is it his first Christmas with Evan since they met this January, but his family somehow managed to get every present on his list with room to spare for Evan as well.

Well... not every present, but Gregory can live. He isnt going to linger on that too much. He has his family, and his friend, and that's enough for him.

His family is milling about around them, and all Gregory can hear is the shuffling of footsteps and the murmuring of voices. He's aware of Evan's silent presence on the carpet next to him, and when the moment gets a little too still, he peeks an eye open and kicks at Evan's leg.

Wordlessly, Evan kicks back, and a grin splits on Gregory's face. He can't help how the laugh bubbles out of his throat, and Evan is quick to join him. Gregory's eyes are shut in the mirth, but he can feel Evan roll against him while they both giggle. It makes the scratchy sweater he's wearing rub against his skin.

"Look." Evan says when they finally stop laughing. Gregory opens his eyes and sees Evan's hand pointing at the tree in front of them. "You can see how you put too much glue on your ornament from here."

Gregory grits his teeth, but it's not very malicious since hes smiling. He pushes at Evans side, and he laughs heartily at him. "Very funny." Gregory says. "Acting like you didnt remake your ornament like three times because you were worried you were wasting your chance."

Evan doesnt respond immediately. Probably because Gregory had already given him an earful about just making what he makes because it doesnt matter how good it is. But eventually he hums, and kicks at him again. Gregory kicks back.

It's only when his Dad enters his peripherals does he raise a brow at how quiet it's been since everyone finished with their presents. Dad steps over some leftover trash, and smiles at the two boys laying flush against the floor.

"Hi." Gregory says to him. His Dad just smiles wider.

"Hello, Gregory." He says very suspiciously. Then, exactly but not exactly how Gregory was expecting, "What if I told you I had one last present for you to open?"

Gregorys eyes blow wide, and any sleepiness he'd felt left from the meal and the contentment melts away in a blink. "Really?" He asks, scrambling to sit up on his elbows.

His Dad nods, humming a confirmation. He smiles wider when Gregory hits at Evan's arm, rushing him to get up already. "No way. You already got, like, everything."

"We got more than everything, this year." His Dad says, smiling warmly at them both. Gregory can feel his Dads gaze fall on Evan beside him at his next words, though."Its a very special Christmas, after all."

"Well, come on!" Gregory exclaims, yanking Evan up by the arms with all his might. Evan almost topples over on him all over again because of it, and he yelps when he catches his footing. "What are we waiting for?"

"Nothing, I suppose." He grins. "But sit back down, because we're bringing the present to you two."

"Its for both of us?" Gregory asks, and he grins when Evan looks suprised all over again. He shakes his arm a bit to shake it away, and it works, if how Evan smiles at him is any indication. "We get to share!"

Dad laughs again, a quiet hum. Evan grins back at him, warm with a glint of excitement in his eye.

"Bring it out, Bonnie!" His Dad yells, and Gregory forces himself to plop back down on the carpet and drags Evan down with him.

Theres some shuffling, then Gregory's Papa steps from behind the wall separating the dining room and the living room. He's holding a big, red, shiny present box.

Gregory smiles when his Papa brings the box closer, and for some reason, carefully levels it down onto the rug, just in-between both Gregory and Evan. He steps back, and kneels on the ground in front of them with a smile. "I think you two will really like this one."

Gregory doesnt respond to that. He just eyes the shimmering red of the box sat in front of them. The box has a pretty silver bow on top, and its not wrapped; it has a lid. For some reason, its nudged a bit open.

To: Gregory & Evan, From: Dad's is written on the sticker.

Theres a stretch of silence where nothing is said at all, but eventually, Gregory caves into the anticipation. He takes a glance at Evan, who's looking earnestly at the box, before he snaps out of it when Gregory nudges his arm.

He conveys a silent interaction, and Evan nods, a small smile on his face. Gregory grins, just for good measure, and he and Evan lean in real close.

Gregory nudges the lid with his fingertips. Its slippery and shiny, and it nudges loose with no effort.

Gregory doesnt remove the lid entirely, and just for fun, he leans in and tries to peer in-between the crack. Evan does the same.

It's dark, but then, the lid slides off of the box without Gregory moving it.

He gasps, and Evan does too next to him. His Dads both laugh somewhere in front of him, but Gregory only has eyes on the contents of the box.

A little brown snout is poking out of the opening, and then an absolute ball of fur is wiggling it's way to the mouth and setting its paws on the rim.

A dog. Gregory gapes, lost for words. Evan does the same beside him. It's a dog.

The dog; a little dark brown Pomeranian, probably not even fully grown, looks up at him with dark, beady eyes. It sniffs at him, then Evan, and all Gregory can even do is stare, something fluttery in his chest.

Then, the dog is smiling, its little tail wagging, and it sticks its tongue out, little baby teeth becoming visible.

"A dog." Gregory says breathlessly, and he picks up the puppy with utmost care, carefully holding its little kicking hind paws when it shifts at being handled, and he settles it in his lap. "You got us a dog."

"The last thing on your Christmas list." His Papa smiles at him. His Dad, Freddy, comes up behind him and admires the puppy himself. "We reckoned it would be the perfect gift for the both of you."

Gregory doesnt respond. He just keeps his eyes dead on the little brown puppy in his lap, who's settled quickly with no fuss.

"He likes you already." Papa says softly. Theres some sort of unsaid agreement in the air that this is a time to be quiet and soft, like the moment is special.

Gregory just nods silently, looking closely at the soft brown head of the puppy and its two little pointy ears. The dog has plenty of energy; that's clear in how its panting and its eyes are wide and excited, but its let itself be softly held in Gregory's lap with no complaints.

A smile stretches on his face at that, soft and small and disbelieving. It doesnt feel real, that's for sure. That in an instant theres suddenly a brand new member added to his family.

Evan shifts suddenly, and Gregory thinks he must've been in that same awed state he was in. He scooches forward, slow and quiet like he would startle the animal if he made any sudden movements. Gregory huffs a laugh at the thought, knowing just how careful and caring Evan can be.

Evan leans down, a sparkle in his eye and lips parted as he becomes face to face with the puppy. Gregory smiles wide and big when the dogs tail starts wagging when Evan gets closer.

"Hi there." Evan says, soft as silk, but it turns into a sputter quickly when the puppy suddenly leaps out of Gregory's lap to crawl on top of Evan.

Gregory makes a suprised noise, and Evan does as well. He falls flat on his back, and the puppy wastes no time pawing up his chest to lick at his face.

A startled laugh bubbles its way out of Gregory's throat, and his cheeks hurt at the mirth. Evan keeps sputtering, moving his face every which way to avoid slobber on his mouth. "Eugh-- Gregory-- help!"

Gregory keeps up his giggles, and his Dad laughs heartily next to him as well. His Papas laugh is boisterous, and its contagious quality makes Gregory laugh harder, just watching as Evan is glued still on the floor lest the puppy get bucked off.

Eventually, after being unable to respond because of his laughs, Gregory leans forward and plucks the dog right off of Evan's body, holding it close to his chest. He once again marvels at how soft the puppy's fur is; it feels like how he would imagine a cloud to feel, soft, and so thin its almost undetectable.

The puppy yaps a few times, high pitched and excited. Evan heaves himself off the floor, immediately wiping at his face with the sleeve of his sweater. The whole time though, hes grinning and giggling just like Gregory is.

"He likes you a lot." Gregory observes, not that Evan needed to be told; he got the message loud and clear. "You were like, drowning."

"In slobber." Evan points out, shivering and making a face in disgust.

"Maybe you're his favorite already." Gregory says, absentmindedly petting the dogs back and sticking his fingers in his fluffy mane. "You can be his Dad. And I'll be Uncle Gregory."

Evan snorts a laugh at that, grinning widely. "I'm too young to be a Father."

"It is a lot of responsibility." Gregory's Dad chimes in, his blue eyes shining in delight, but a hardness to them as well. "Food, water, walking, playing... you will have to keep up with it all, Superstars. It's your duty to take care of this little guy."

Right away, Gregory nods feverishly, grinning. That's a promise, and he intends on keeping it. He knew the responsibility when he'd first asked for a puppy all those months ago. Evan is doing the same next to him, and it makes Gregory smile wider. "Yeah, we know."

"We've gotten hard and soft dog food, since the puppy still isnt fully grown yet. We've kept him well fed before giving him to you both, so..." Gregory's other Dad chimes in, his bangs falling in his eyes as he smiles at him and Evan. "How about you two take him outside? Play with him a bit?"

Gregory, in the event of gaining a brand new family member, had completely forgotten about his plans with Evan to play in the snow.

His mouth drops open, but the corners are still upturned in a smile as he looks back at the little dog in his arms. The puppy twists its neck to luck up at him, and its beady black eyes are wide and energetic, if its tongue hanging out and its wagging tail wasnt enough.

Immediately, his mind is flooded with thoughts and ideas of how he and Evan could have fun with their new dog in the snow with eachother. He looks back up to see Evan smiling as well, and they meet eyes, undoubtedly having the zsme thought process.

His growing family, Gregory can't help but acknowledge. Two new members in one year. That's a new record.

"I guess that's a yes." Gregory's Papa chuckles, eyes crinkled at the corners.

"He still does not have a name." Gregory's Dad informs him, patting a hand on Gregory's hair. He does it to Evan, too, and Gregory feels a small bit of pride when Evan doesnt flinch away like he did only months ago. "You two should be the ones to give him one."

Gregory goes silent, looking back down at the dog in his arms.

The puppy quirks its head sideways up at him, ears straightened and head tilted in curiosity, and Gregory feels warmth bloom in his chest. He smiles instinctively, and it gets wider when Evan reaches over and pets its little head.

Just before he begins to brainstorm names, his Dad pats his own head, smiling warmly. "No need to rush." He says. "It is a big decision. Why dont you think on it when you two go play outside, hm?"

Gregory nods at that, reminded of how he and Evan's new puppy are going to play with them in the snow. He grins, fluttery excitement in his chest, and he readjusts his hold on the dog, scrambling off the floor.

"What are you waiting for, Evan?" Gregory asks, already running to his room to get his shoes and coat on. "Cmon, let's go!"

"Wait up!" Evan calls behind him. "I'm coming I'm coming!"

Gregory only puts the puppy down to slip on his thick windbreaker winter coat, and it overjoys him to watch the little guy walk around his room. He'll be in there a ton, from now on. The puppy is his.

He already has so many ideas for which place in his room can be for the dog, and how theyll play and what toys he'll get him and how they'll watch TV on the couch together, but he shoves them down for now. He'll leave them for when he isnt about to go hang out with Evan and their shared dog during a white Christmas.

It's not long before they're barrelling out the door, only careful on the icy steps on the porch before they're sprinting into the snow, Evan hurrying behind him with the ball of fur in tow.

The cold nips at his nose and his ears, but the toboggan his Dads insisted he wear warms him up enough. So do the knit gloves hes wearing. Evan skids to a stop beside him, kicking up dusty wet snow at him. Gregory giggles, shielding himself.

"Sorry." Evan says. He's still holding the puppy, and Gregory looks at the flat, untouched inches of snow on the ground right below their feet.

"Put him down." Gregory grins. "He can play with us."

Evan looks a tad worried, probably because the snow this year is pretty thick and a lot came down and the puppy is... very small. But he still sets the little guy down anyway, and Gregory cant help his chuckle when the snow comes all the way up to the puppy's chin.

The dog, the little trooper, Gregory cant help but think, doesnt shy away, he just takes a moment fo adjust, and then he's sniffing at the white surface, taking big steps and walking in long strides to wade through the snow. The formally perfect sheet gets disrupted, and Gregory almost squeals (how embarrassing) when there are little tiny pawprints left behind in the snow.

Evan doesnt hold back, chuckling in delight at the sight. He follows along with the puppy, keeping up with him to make sure hes alright. "He seems to be keeping up pretty good!"

"He's trucking on." Gregory says, his boots crunching down on the snow when he meets Evan's side. "Nothing can stop him now."

Evan doesnt respond at first, and when Gregory looks over, Evan is crouching down and picking up a stick that fell from the big tree in the front yard. "Except maybe this."

Evan whistles, still somehow quiet, but immediately, Gregory can see how quickly the puppy perks up. His ears straighten to a point, and then hes tilting his head back to investigate the sound.

"Come here, buddy!" Evan calls, patting his legs, and Gregory wants to aww when it sticks its tongue out and begins to hop over the snow to rush over.

Evan makes a delighted noise, and he kneels down despite the wet slush and pets the puppy's head when it arrives. Gregory kneels over and ruffles its fur, saying praises and watching the snowflakes shake out of the fluff.

"He really likes you." Gregory comments, smiling at how theres a huge smile stretched on the dogs face and his tail is going a hundred miles an hour. Gregory knows he and Evan's faces arent much different. "You should be the one to name him."

Evan pauses, and Gregory looks over to Evan staring at him with wide eyes, looking something adjacent to worried and earnest at the same time. "Oh! No-- Gregory its okay." He rushes out. "Um. We can both name it? Hes your dog anyway."

Indignation on Evan's behalf rushes Gregory's senses. "Uh, nope." He replies. "He's our dog. Not just mine. He's yours too and I think you should be the one to name him." He says matter of factly.

Evan frowns, looking unconvinced. "He's going to be staying at your house, like, all the time." He counters. "And what if I think you should name him?"

Theres a moment of silence where Gregory just stares at Evan, and Evan stares back. It's like a standoff, and even the puppy to their side goes quiet, watching with wide eyes.

"We can both name him." Gregory settles. "But also you get to have the first pick."

Evan's frown is still present, and he frowns, knowing what Gregory did. He doesn't comment, though. Even when Gregory sends him a grin. He just pets the dogs mane and fluffy fur while humming long and drawn out.

"...Fred?"

Gregory gives him a blank look. "My Dads name is Freddy."

"Oh yeah." Evan mumbles. He looks a bit embarrased, but then hes quick to respond with, "Okay, your turn."

Gregory frowns, pursing his lips and giving Evan a look. He's unsure if Evan did something there, but either way, he'll give his friend his wish.

He taps his chin, looking at the little dark brown dog with hair sticking up in places and almost defying gravity. It has big brown eyes, and Gregory suddenly jolts, remembering when Evan commented on both his hair and eyes one time. Something about how his hair shouldn't be able to do that and that his eyes are a color hes never seen before.

What name he suggests next should be obvious, but he goes for a different idea instead.

"Evan Jr." Gregory says, crossing his arms. Evan looks at him blankly, and Gregory just smiles at him. He almost bursts out laughing when Evan looks at him in a way where he knows Evan isnt sure he's serious or not.

It takes him a few second, but he sputters out a response eventually. "Greg Jr."

Gregory's eyes widen, and he meets Evan's eyes. It's funny, but Gregory still isnt sure if this is a standoff or a joke. The puppy looks between them silently, and Gregory can imagine it eating out of a bag of popcorn.

Gregory retaliates, peering at Evan through the snow flurry. Its landing on Evan's toboggan and bits of his hair. "Evan the Second." He says.

Evan scoffs, but Gregory can tell it's a mix of a laugh and exasperation. "You only call someone the Second if they're a male in the family, and they're anything other than a father."

"Oh." Gregory says. He's about to ask how Evan knows that, but the implications only dawn on him too late. He sees Evan's face, looking self-satisfied and thrilled, and Gregory remembers exactly what he'd said to Evan about him, himself, and the puppy only a little bit earlier today.

"Gregory the Second." Evan says smugly.

Gregory surrenders, letting Evan have this one. "You got me." Gregory grins, laughing a bit. Evan looks pleased as well, and when he starts laughing as well, the puppy starts to pant with its tongue out and wag its tail.

"Okay, but we should probably actually decide a name for this little guy." Gregory says afterwards, picking the little guy in question up in his arms. He settles quickly again, just like last time. Gregory smiles wider, once again overjoyed at having a dog.

"Right." Evan agrees, taking big steps over the many inches of snow piled underneath them. The snow is so deep, It comes up to Gregory's calves. Evan is taller, so he has less trouble, but Gregory has a feeling one of them will fall at some point. The snow is deep and thick, with enough capacity to build one of those snow igloos if they wanted to by rubbing the snow until it creates a sheet of ice over the surface. "Your turn."

"Right." Gregory nods, and he looks at the puppy again, which hes been doing a lot. It's still a little surreal to him, give him a break.

He thinks hard and genuinely about names that would fit the little dog. Its brown, small, with a tiny snout and brown beady eyes. It's been a sweetheart so far, so as much as he'd like to, Gregory's not thinking names like 'Destroyer' or 'Turbo'.

His mind comes up blank, and the thing is, he really does want Evan to be the one to name the puppy. Gregory's wanted a dog since he was old enough to even know what one is, but Evan's never even had the liberty to wish for things until they met. Evan's told him so. Gregory knows Evan had been suprised over the dog and happy in a different way. To Gregory, this was a dream come true. To Evan, this is something he'd never even considered or believed could happen, purely because he never thought about it. Gregory's thought about what he would name a dog for years anyway. He thinks Evan deserves to make the call. He thinks Evan deserves to have a little something of his own that he doesnt share with someone else.

Its their dog. But Gregory wants it to be Evan's name that their dog is called.

"Just hear me out here, Evan, but..." He begins to say. Evan immediately looks like how he imagines his Dad would look; a little worried or exasperated about what hes about to say if he has to begin with that. But Evan is too kind to ever feel that way about something Gregory would say. No matter how weird it is.

"I want you to name the dog." Gregory tells him. Gregory doesnt like eye contact, but he makes an effort to look Evan right in his when he says this. Evan's like him, so he starts to glance away, but he too makes himself look back.

Evan looks suprised, or taken by it, more like. He looks shiney eyed, or emotional... Earnest, is the word Gregory's looking for. Or disbelieving. Maybe Evan doesnt think he should, but Gregory does.

Gregory musters up all his earnesty so Evan'll see he means it. "I really do." He says. "I'll try not to ruin the moment, or something, but... I just think you should get to do this. Its our dog, and I already get to have him at home all the time." He tells him. "Just... it's fair, isnt it?"

Gregory knows he didnt say the full story, but he also knows Evan understands him. He always understands what Gregory means to say very well, which a lot of other people dont. Gregory thinks he doesnt need to elaborate; Evan gets it.

By the way hes looking, Gregory's sure hes right. Evan looks actually shiney eyed this time, and his look is heartfelt. The snow is still falling in his hair, and theres snow in the still unnamed, puppy's fur, and Gregory's sure hes got it in his hair as well. It's still outside, save for the faint and knipping wind of winter, and it makes the silence feel like it stretches longer.

"Fozzie." Evan mutters. It's barely over a whisper.

Gregory jolts. "Huh?"

"Fozzie." Evan repeats, blinking away some of the mist in his eyes. He smiles at Gregory, and then flicks his blue, almost silverfish eyes to the puppy in his arms. "Like Fozzie Bear."

Gregory smiles at the name. Hes never really been a fan of the Muppets, but he knows about it enough to know that Fozzie Bear is a character from it. It's not his thing, and he can barely recall the characters appearance, but it feels... right. Hes not particularly fond of the origins of the name, but to Gregory, the origin of the name is Evan. and any name Evan came up with would feel right to Gregory.

"Its perfect." He says outwardly, and fully means it. The puppy-- no, Fozzie seems to react at the name, wiggling in Gregory's arms and wagging his tail wildly. He loves it, too.

Evan giggles, patting Fozzie gently on the head with a gloved hand. Fozzie barks a bit, still wiggling, and Gregory finally maneuvers his arms to set the puppy free in the snow. "Okay, okay! Here, buddy!"

Immediately, like before, the height of the snow almost completely submerges Fozzie when hes back on his feet-- er, paws. For a moment, Gregory can only see the puppy from a top down view, before just like earlier, Fozzie hops out of the snow chasm and frees himself.

"They grow up so fast." Gregory mimics wiping a tear, glancing at Evan. Evan laughs.

"So, Fozzie." Evan grins, and Gregory feels his own stretch wider at how Evan's eyes light up at the name. "Do you wanna play?"

Fuzzies ears stick straight up again, and Gregory giggles along with Evan, feeling like it's a little quirk he and Evan will be laughing over on their dog for a long time.

"Come on, buddy!" Evan whistles, taking big strides as he runs in the snow. It crunches under his boots and his footprints reveals the layer of sleet itd covered up. Fozzie doesn't move, just tilting his head and watching Evan get further. It takes a second for Gregory to realize why.

It's only because Fozzie jerks his head to look at him. Gregory sighs, but it's in a good way. Hes still smiling when he takes off after Evan, whistling as he catches up.

"Come on!" Gregory yells behind them. "Chase us!" Evan finishes.

Fozzie takes off like a rocket, or more like a rabbit, then anything. Gregory just knows Fozzie would take after his speed if he wasnt hindered by snow, but for now, the puppy has to hop like a bunny rabbit over the snow.

But hes still gaining, Gregory realizes. Their leisurely pace to help the puppy keep up was underestimating him. Fozzie is better than that. The thought sends an energized laugh out of Gregory's throat. If Fozzie can keep up with Gregory now... He cant wait for it to get warmer. He can already imagine how itll be in a few months with him and Evan and a bigger Fozzie in the green grass.

He waits just enough for Fozzie to be on their heels, then yells "Scatter!" He and Evan split up like the letter T.

Fozzie picks him to chase, and that's just what hed wanted. Gregory grins, knowing the puppy likes the thrill of the chase like he does. He risks a glance behind him, and sees that Fozzies already gotten better at maneuvering through the snow. His tongues hanging out, and his snow covered fur whips in the wind.

Gregory picks up his speed, not even caring that the wind is biting at his nose and his cheeks and his ears. His breath puffs out in little clouds, and he let's himself run at full power.

And hes very fast. Fast enough that Vanessa kept telling him to join soccer before she left for college. Even Fozzie cant keep up with him, and when Gregory makes a turn because he reached the edge of the yard, he can see Fozzie still chasing after him, but further away. The little guy is using his footprints as a pathway to avoid as much snow.

He books it back towards the other side, and Fozzie doesnt cut through the yard to gain on him like Gregory thought he would. He just continues hopping along his own path.

He brings his eyes back towards the direction Evan had run in, and sees no Evan, but instead, a wall of snow with a sort of trench around the sides. Like someone had dug all around them to build the wall that's about two feet high off the ground.

It's a shield, and a base, Gregory recognizes. And he'd been too distracted watching Fozzie to notice when Evan had been preparing for his arrival.

And he'd also looked right at Evan too late when hed gained closer, and he'd been nailed right in the face with a snowball.

He yelps, the cold snow on his face and over his eyes doing nothing for his already freezing cold face from the wind. He can't see anymore, but he knows he had just reached the area he and Evan had originally split.

The snow already being gone from their previous footprints and his lack of sight make an unfortunate combination when he takes another running step, and his heel slips and slides straight on that sleet the snow had originally covered up.

He tries to blink as he pinwheels his arm, yelping and feeling his heart drop in his chest. The snow is melting on his face, and not only is it freezing, but the water does nothing for helping him open his eyes.

His arms cant wipe it away, though, they're still pinwheeling, and eventually, he finally drops to the ground. Snow now not only on his face but also going up his jacket sleeves and seeping through his pants.

"Oh my gosh!" Evan yells from across the yard. Gregory's already pushing himself up with his arms by the time Evan drops to his knees next to him, pulling him up. Fozzie makes it just in time, sniffing him and shaking the snow from his fur. "Gregory! I'm so sorry!"

"Ugh..." Gregory groans, sounding hurt. The fall was a little bit nasty, but he isnt actually hurt. Not really. The fall probably looked way worse from Evan's point of view.

He's just giving himself time for his other hand to mold snow together quick enough before Evan notices.

"Oh no..." Evan's brows are so furrowed and upturned it looks like it hurts. His hands hover around Gregory as he wipes the snow off of his face, still kneeling in the snow.

"I'm okay, Evan." Gregory says. He may be plotting something, but he isnt going to make Evan believe he actually got hurt. That's not cool, and Gregory knows Evan'd really believe it and feel incredibly guilty.

"Are-- are you sure?" Evan asks worriedly, peering at him intensely when Gregory finally gets most of the water and slush off of his face. His face is so cold it's starting to get like that burning warm feeling. "I didnt... I didn't want you to fall."

"Really." Gregory insists, making sure Evan can tell hes serious. "That's what snowball fights are about, anyway. That's what the snows for. Is to cushion your fall."

Evan still seems unsure. "If you say so..."

"Besides," Gregory says to him, a smile just a bit too pointed regarding him. "I'll get you back."

Evan opens his mouth, but before Evan can speak or even show any reaction, Gregory takes the fully finished snowball in his hand and smushes it into Evan's jacket.

Not on his face. Evan may have nailed him in the face, but that's because hes okay with it. Evan doesn't like stuff like that.

Besides, he smushed the snow right over where the jacket zipper is. Meaning some of the snow will go down underneath and inside.

Evan shrieks at him, squeezing his eyes shut when Gregory tackles him, cackling wildly as he does it. Fozzie barks at them, jumping up and down by their side and switching to left and right. Evan may be yelling, but he also is smiling wide and laughing as he does so. The screams about the cold are real, though, Gregory knows, so he takes both arms and pushes snow from their sides all over Evan to cover him like waves. He's yelling and screaming the whole time.

Then, to Gregory's disbelief, Fozzie keeps barking and chooses a side, climbing up on the little hill of snow by Evan's chest and digging at the snow. He's trying to uncover him.

Gregory pauses in his revenge to gape at the puppy, while Evan takes a second to process, but then hes giggling like crazy.

"Betrayal." Gregory breathes out, still disbelieving. Fozzie doesn't regard him, just keeping at digging Evan out. The boy in question is laughing so hard tears of mirth are in his eyes. "My nephew Fozzie! You betrayed me!"

Fozzie just yips at him. Gregory doesnt know what he said, but he likes to imagine itd been some clever response.

"W-What was that you said earlier?" Evan manages through his laughing. "About me being Fozzies favorite?"

Gregory frowns at him, but he isnt really hurt. Evan knows it, too. Fozzie can play favorites sometimes if he wants to. Gregorys feelings wont be hurt.

...It just means that next time, there'll be a score to settle. He likes to imagine Fozzie will understand that too, and he knows when to pick his battles. Next time, for sure, Fozzie will betray Evan to help Gregory. That's how the world works.

They sit there for a little while, and eventually, Gregory is laughing along with Evan. They're there long enough for Fozzie to completely dig Evan out, and then he's yipping and licking Evan's face with his tail going a hundred miles an hour.

The snow is still lightly flurrying down around them in a way where you know the white lawns wont be going away anytime soon. The clouds are getting yellow and the sky a darker blue with the horizon a kind of off white. It shimmers on the snow and sparkles and shines, and so do the icicles hanging off of the trees.

You can still hear the faint yells and laughs of other kids in the neighborhood echoing outside, and theres a couple snowmen in the front yards of the houses around his. As it gets slowly darker outside, the neighbors Christmas lights on their roof trims and in their front yards shine and blink even more.

They havent made a snowman, or even finished their snowball fight, but Gregory thinks it may be time to go inside. His face is on fire, and his clothes are drenched in melted snow. Hes sure Evan is the same, after the stunt he just pulled on him. It reminds him of the cartoons where they bury someone neck deep in sand. He wants to do that someday. He doesn't think Evan would like it, but Gregoryll be the victim if Evan agrees to be the burier.

He says his thoughts to Evan, and they both got up out of the snow with creaking joints and chilly cheeks and sore throats from laughing. The electricity of excitement still buzzes under Gregory's skin, but he thinks he can still be excited under a warm blanket in his warm house with a warm drink. And he just knows, his aunt Chica would never skip making cookies and other delicious warm treats for Christmas.

When he and Evan get to the welcome mat and stomp their boots to shake the excess snow off, Fozzie scratches at the bristles in the mat and shakes his fur to get the snow out. He and Evan laugh at him. His fur must be soaked.

They go inside, and the burst of warm air is like a sigh of relief to his ice cold face. He takes his shopping wet winter garments off, and sees that there's still slush on his windbreaker and snow on his toboggan. He's shivering when he realizes how warm it is compared to out there, and he almost makes a dive for the couch. Evan follows right after him.

So does Fozzie. They make a short break away to get a towel from the bathroom and dry their own soaking hair. Evan grabs it first and immediately dives for Gregorys own head. He yelps and laughs as Evan does a tornado with the towel, and he does the exact same to him afterwards.

Then, they both dry off Fozzies fur, laughing when after the first round, he shakes his fur and water droplets fling onto them. They lay the towel down on the floor after the second, and Fozzie rubs himself against it, rolling on his back and wiggling on top of it.

Only then is when his Dad and Papa let them burrow under the covers, when they're completely dry. Aunt Roxy is in her elegant chair watching a movie, The Polar Express Gregory recognizes, Dad is talking to his aunt Chica in the kitchen, and his Papa comes by to sit in the armchair just next to the couch.

Fozzie hops up on the couch with them, burying himself a little next between his and Evan's legs. He let's out a little sigh, probably winded from his day of playing. Gregory smiles and lays a hand on his head. Evan does the same on his back, sticking his fingers in Fozzies mane.

Eventually, the cold ebbs away and his fingers start feeling less like icicles, and himself less like a Gregcicle. With perfect timing, Gregory thinks, aunt Chica and Dad come back into the living room with a hot ceramic plate of chocolate chip cookies. Theres a couple there with M&M's instead of chocolate chips, and he knows those are for him. Evan takes the ones with milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate.

"My favorite part is when the train is drifting on the ice." Gregory tells Evan when they get further in the movie. "That guys like. The best conductor in the world."

"I would throw up." Evan says, shivering at the mere thought. Gregory always thought the scene of the train plummeting down the steep tracks like a roller coaster would be fun, but even he knows that'd be too much for him. He's fainted on roller coasters before.

"My favorite part is when they sing to Billy." Evan says, biting into his cookie. "I think it's kind of them."

Gregory nods, thinking it's a good favorite part to have.

They finish the movie, and by the time they do, the sky is already dark outside. The streetlights make the snow shimmer and glow through the blinds. Gregory cant wait to see what it looks like under the moon.

The warm cookies and fatigue from the exciting day are enough to have their eyes fluttering as soon as the credits roll. Despite it all, though, he still finds it in him to be excited over his first night with his new dog.

Evan takes the air mattress this time. After brushing their teeth (Evan got a toothbrush in his stocking. One to keep just here only for him), they head to bed, and Gregorys almost out like a light instantly.

Hes awake for a little longer though. Just enough to acknowledge how Fozzie chose to sleep with Evan that night on the air mattress curled up behind Evan's knees.

Gregory's not jealous, mad, or sad. He really isnt. He's just content. Gregory'll have plenty of time for Fozzie to sleep with him. He's going to be at his house. But for now, Evan gets the honor of being chosen by Fozzie for his first night home, and along with his name, Gregory thinks Evan deserves it.

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