Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2024 16:31:42 -0500 From: James Heady Subject: The Wounds Within My Heart--Book 3--Chapter 27 The Wounds Within My Heart By James Disclaimer If you're offended by sexual/romantic situations between consenting teenaged boys, or dark subjects such as rape, Racism, Ableism, Anti-LGBT Bigotry or suicide then back out of the story now. If you're not of the legal age to read this type of story, then back out of the story immediately. Also, please remember to donate to Nifty so that this and other stories on the site can remain free to the public. Thanks to my editor K. for the amazing editing you do on this story. I always appreciate your feed-back, and editing changes you make when needed. The story wouldn't be what it is without you. Thank you. Finally, if you like this story and haven't done this already, get my E-mail address jamesheady1985@gmail.com relaxed and tucked into bed for the night. Once they're asleep, wait for about two hours. Once the time limit is up, blast songs from Mayhem's album Grand Declaration of War in their ear while violently shaking them awake. The Wounds Within My Heart Chapter 27 Nohea Christmas Day was snowy as we sat around the tree opening our gifts. Pietro and his family were with us, as were Beth and Aiden. Alex and his family came by shortly after Beth and Aiden arrived. It was really nice to be there all together like that. When I came into the room, I checked out the Christmas tree like all the other times, since it had been up at the beginning of December. We had red and green glass balls hanging all over it, as well as gold and green garland. There was also red and green Christmas lights along with a gold star atop the tree. It was really beautiful, and everyone else loved it as well! Everyone loved their gifts. I had gotten a couple of CDs for Pietro, one of which was an album by the Swedish Metal band Falconer. The second one was the latest album by the Boy choir group Libera. He got me a couple of CDs by the Metal group Bloody Hammers that I had yet to add to my collection, and I thanked him for them. Aiden got me a couple of Braille versions of two of the latest Stephen King books I had been wanting for a while, and I got him a couple of new shirts he had seen one day while we had been out at the mall a couple of weeks back. Triston got me a couple of thumb drives that I seriously needed, and I got him a couple of CDs by Nightwish since he really enjoyed their music. As the gift exchange was coming to a close, my dad came to where Pietro and I sat beside the tree. I had gotten a new necklace for my dad that was a nice but simple gold chain. He had gotten me a new Bible in Braille since I had asked for one as a gift. So now I wondered what was going on since we all had exchanged all the gifts there was. "This is something I had made for you when you first came here to live with Triston and I," Dad said as he sat down in front of me. "I wanted to give it to you on a special occasion, and I can't think of one more special than this one." "Thanks," I replied. I took the flat box he held out to me. It was slightly heavy, and was about the size of a large coffee table book. Once I put aside the wrapping paper, I opened the box, and removed what felt like a large picture frame. I felt it more in-depth, and realized that it was a plaque. "It's brailled on the front of it," Dad said. I sat it down in front of me, and read the inscription on the plaque's face. "To Nohea, a loving son, a loving older brother and a wonderful kind, as well as compassionate boy. You're turning into a truly amazing and wonderful young man. I'm proud to be your father. David Swanson Thank you so much," I said as I felt tears come to my eyes. "You're more than welcome Nohea," Dad said as we hugged. I held on to him for a long time, then we separated, and he described what the plaque looked like. "The plaque is made of wood as you probably figured out," Dad said. "The words are carved out, and they've been colored a dark-green, almost a green that you'd see when looking at a forest. The plaque has been painted a dark-blue, and has a really nice varnish making it really catch the lighting very well." "This is really beautiful!" I said feeling the plaque all over, then hugging my dad once again. "This was a really nice surprise, and the most loving thing you could have done for me aside from taking me in." "I'm so glad you like it," he answered. "Taking you in to my home and having you be a part of my family is one decision I'll always be glad I made. You've brought a lot to mine, Triston and Beth's lives. You're a true joy to have with me and here in our house." "Thanks," I said. "That really means a lot to hear you say that!" "You're welcome," he replied. After Alex, Aiden, Triston Pietro and I spent some time in my room hanging out, we were called to the kitchen. Christmas Dinner was ready, and we had the usual meal of ham, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls and stuffing. It all turned out really good, and everyone loved the food, as well as just being there with each other on that special day! As the day came to a close, Pietro's parents and my dad surprised us by letting us know that Pietro could stay with me for a few nights starting that evening. We thanked them then hugged, first my Dad then Pietro's parents. Once they returned from their car, Pietro's parents handed him a bag with a few changes of clothes within. There was also his case with his toothbrush, tooth paste and deodorant. After they left, Pietro and I said goodbye to Alex and Aiden who were leaving to go back to Alex's house for that evening. Now back in my room, Pietro and I showered. We just took a quick shower, then after dressing, I motioned for Pietro to sit down on the edge of the bed. Walking over to the hiding place where my gift for him was stored, I retrieved the package. I went over to where my lover sat, then handed him the box. "Merry Christmas," I said sitting down next to him. Pietro smiled, then put the box down beside him. He reached for me, and we hugged for a long moment. After pressing a warm and tender kiss on my lips, Pietro looked deeply into my eyes. I returned the kiss, then we separated. Pietro opened the box, and looked at the necklace within. He then took it out of the box and checked it out more in-depth. I loved the joyful sounds he made as he looked at it all over! It really warmed my heart to know how happy it made him! Pietro held out the necklace, and I helped him put it on. He then went to the mirror on the other side of the bathroom door. He made another happy sound, then came back to where I sat. He gently tugged on my hand, and I stood. Pietro hugged me tightly for a long moment, then we shared a few deep and loving kisses. After we broke the kiss, I rested my head on Pietro's chest for a few seconds, just enjoying that moment! After separating once again, we returned to sitting beside each other on the edge of my bed. "This is a truly beautiful gift!" Pietro said once he had hold of his device. "I love you so much Nohea, and this really means everything to me!" "I'm so glad you liked it," I answered. "I wanted to give you something that showed just how deep my love runs for you!" "This gift really does show that," he said. "Oh, and I have something for you too." After returning to the bed, Pietro sat down and placed a box in my hands. He had retrieved it from his over-night bag, and I was anxious to see what it was. Opening the box, I removed a few layers of tissue paper, then felt what appeared to be a picture frame. I removed it from the box, and felt glass on the surface of it. Pietro began typing, and I waited until he was finished. Then his device began speaking. "Remember that picture your dad took few weeks ago of you and I sitting beside each other out in the woods?" Pietro asked. That was a couple of weeks after Pietro and I were back in each other's lives. He had been at my house that particular Friday night, and though it was after 4:30 P.M., the sun was beginning to fall a little lower in the sky. Snow was piled really high on everything outside, but there was a spot cleared off. Pietro and I sat there, arms around each other. We were looking out at the woods that expanded beyond more than the eye could see. The trees were covered in snow, and the way in which the sun shown on everything made the seen look truly beautiful and breath-taking! Dad had taken that picture when he saw us, and we had asked if he could do that. Once he did, he sent it to us both. It meant a lot to the both of us, and I was touched that Pietro had had a physical copy of it made up for me. "I had it printed off as well as enlarged," Pietro went on. "I wanted you to have it so you could have a part of me here when I can't always be with you." "That means everything to me," I said as we shared a deep kiss! "Thank you so much for this!" "You're more than welcome my love!" he answered. I saw that there was a thing on the back of the frame that when pulled out, provided a stand so that the picture could be propped up on a desk or a table. Going over to my desk, I sat the photo next to my laptop so that everyone could see it. I then returned to my lover and we held each other for a while and talked about how much we enjoyed that Christmas Day! It had been the best Christmas I had ever! Author's Notes So there it is, Nohea's first Christmas with his father and real family. I hope everyone enjoyed that chapter. In the next chapter, you'll get to see more happen between Alex and Aiden. They'll be getting closer, and I hope you like where that goes. You'll also get to see what happens with the two people giving Triston trouble at his school. I hope everyone likes how that turns out. All that being said, I hope everyone is having a good evening. I'll see you guys in Chapter 28.