Title: La Familia
By: kyrdwyn
Pairing: Gil/OMC
Rating: R
Series: 1) I Never Stopped, 2) Mi Corazon, 3) La Otra Persona, 4) Desayuno, 5) His Business, 6) The Argument, 7) Someone to Love, 8) Shut Up and Kiss Me, 9) The Shower, 10) First Times, 11) Comfort, 12) Visitation
Disclaimer: CBS, Alliance Atlantis, Anthony Zuiker, and a whole bunch of other people are probably tracking me down for playing with their toys without their permission. I make no money off this.

***

The house was a cacophony of sound. Children of varying ages running around, screaming and laughing and some were even singing. A piano in the one room provided enough melody to keep the voices on key. Mixed in were the lower timbres of adult voices talking and laughing. A few joined the children in song.

He stood in the corner of a room, a glass of eggnog in his hand. He felt extremely out of place at the party. The conversations were in two different languages, the people not his family. He really only knew one person in the house, and he'd been pressed into service as a driver that evening for some of the more inebriated relatives.

A tug on his pants leg brought him out of his reverie. He looked down to see a cherubic face framed by long black hair. Her dark eyes were alight with the smile on her face. The six year old grabbed his free hand. "Tío Gilberto, come look!" She headed off into another room, pulling Gil along with her. Stunned by her determination, he followed her, missing the bemused smiles on faces nearby.

Lupe's youngest daughter dragged Gil into the room where the Christmas tree was set up. There appeared to be a swarm of children around the base of the tree, all attempting to discover what lay hidden beneath colored paper. However, Lupe Delgado Mendoza was very strict - the presents could not be touched until Christmas morning. Even her husband Guillermo didn't argue with her. Guillermo was in the den with several of the other male guests, watching the Raiders game.

"¡Tío Gilberto, mirada! ¡Éste está para ti!" Teresa pointed to large package placed among the rest. He looked in, seeing the tag that had his name on it. What was unexpected was who the package was from -- Lupe, Guillermo, Marisol, Rafael, Luis, Teresa, y 'Stimpy'.

Gil took a step back and smiled at Teresa, who was still beaming at him. Inwardly, though, he was shocked. He'd just met Lupe and her family the day before, when he and Robert had arrived in Los Angeles for the holidays. Gil hadn't been expecting the warm welcome he received at all. He'd known that Lupe knew about him and Robert being lovers, but didn't expect the entire family to act as if he were now part of the family. Being called 'Tío Gilberto' - 'Uncle Gil' - by Luis had stunned Gil. Then Teresa and the others had picked up on it. He wasn't sure about "Gilberto," but realized it went with Tío better than plain Gil. Besides, as Teresa had pointed out, it rhymed with his lover's name. Tío Roberto y Tío Gilberto, she'd said before giggling.

"Gracias, angelita," he said now to the girl who was still grinning. She'd apparently been dying to point out his present, as she bounced in happiness before joining Rafael and another boy Gil didn't know at the other side of tree. Stimpy, the family's dog, was sniffing at the presents to see if any were for him.

"You doing okay, Gilberto? Can I get you anything?" The soft voice of Robert's sister broke into his thoughts. He turned to see his hostess standing next him.

"I'm fine, Lupe. Thank you," he said politely. Then he winced as two other kids ran through screaming. Lupe chuckled.

"Not so fine, I think. Roberto could have at least brought you home for a less hectic holiday. He knows everyone is over here for la Navidad."

Gil smiled at Lupe. "Safety in numbers?" he suggested.

Lupe snorted. "Probably thought I wouldn't scold him as much for not bringing you home before."

"I didn't work, though," came Robert's cheerfully resigned voice from behind the two. They both turned and Lupe shook her head.

"No, but since you just put up with Great-Uncle Diego after he'd gotten through an entire bottle of wine, you are forgiven, for now," she replied. Playfully punching him in the shoulder, she turned back to Gil and surprised him with a quick hug. "Don't be so shy, mi hermano, you're family," she whispered. Smiling, she left to scold the children, who were getting too close to the presents for her liking.

"Lupe give you a hard time?"

Gil shrugged as the two men made their way to an empty couch. "Not at all. She was just making sure I was enjoying myself."

"Were you?"

Gil looked at his lover. "I am now that you're back."

Robert ducked his head with a smile. "I missed you too, araña." He sat on the couch and Gil sat down, facing him. "I'm sorry about earlier…"

Gil shrugged it off. "It's your family, Robert. Besides, Teresa decided she had to show me one of the presents under tree."

"Oh?" Robert looked intrigued. "Let me guess, she wanted you to figure out what someone gave her?" His green eyes, a legacy from his Caucasian grandmother, sparkled with humor.

"No, actually, it was for me. From Lupe's family."

Robert looked a little shocked, then smiled and shook his head. "Lupe has been known to refer to you as mi esposo."

Robert's husband. Gil liked the way that sounded. He smiled at Robert and stroked the back of the other man's hand with his thumb. "Mi esposo," he said quietly.

High-pitched giggles interrupted whatever Robert was going to say. Teresa, Luis, Rafael, and a few other cousins were standing behind them, watching. Marisol was nearby, her arm out over the two men's heads.

Gil looked up. "There is mistletoe over our heads."

Robert looked up as well. "So there is."

"¡Béselo, Tio Roberto!" Teresa ordered with another giggle.

"¡Sí! ¡Béselo, Tio Gilberto!" Luis and Rafael said in near unison.

Robert smiled. "We shouldn't disappoint children on Christmas Eve," he said slowly.

Gil swallowed. "No, we shouldn't." Still, he was nervous. Though almost everyone in the house knew they were lovers, he and Robert had refrained from being too open in their displays of affection. Kissing Robert in front of his family was something he'd never considered doing.

Robert leaned forward and Gil moved to meet him halfway. Their lips met in a kiss that still sent sparks through both of them, even after all this time together. Lips parted and the kiss became more heated. When they finally broke it off, it was to the sound of applause. Looking over at the doorway, Lupe and Guillermo and the rest of Robert's relatives where clapping and smiling. The children were giggling.

"Took 'Berto long enough to get caught under the mistletoe!" Guillermo called out. Robert and Gil both blushed. Marisol sauntered across the room and held the sprig above her parents, who shrugged and kissed deeply, accompanied by applause and cheers.

After a while, the relatives left. Gil and Robert helped with getting the kids upstairs into beds with as little fuss as possible. Then the two men got to help play Santa, a first for Gil, as they set out the rest of the gifts and put together some that needed assembling - like Luis's new bike.

It was after two when Lupe and Guillermo went up to bed. Gil and Robert stayed downstairs, in front of the Christmas tree. Both men were tired from working their shifts before driving to LA the previous day, but unable to sleep. Robert leaned his head against Gil's shoulder.

"Feliz Navidad, araña."

"Feliz Navidad, mi corazón."

Robert handed Gil a small box. "I wanted to give you this in private." He watched almost nervously as his lover opened it. Inside was a thin chain necklace with a small gold heart. Suspended inside the heart on a silver web was a gold spider. "I know you don't wear jewelry, Gil, but I couldn't resist."

Gil leaned over and kissed Robert. "Thank you." He pulled it out. "I may not always wear it, but I'll always treasure it."

Robert helped Gil put the necklace on. He had been worried when he'd ordered it - Gil didn't wear anything other than his watch. But he'd been unable to resist.

Catching the small smile on Gil's face, he tilted his head. "What?"

Gil blushed and pulled a small box out of his pocket. "I think this one is better given in private, too."

Robert took the box, running his fingers over it before opening it. Gil wasn't demonstrative in his gifts. Sure, they were meaningful, but practical. Then again, Gil had already given Robert his heart - something more meaningful than any material gift.

Robert stared into the silk lined box in amazement. A small gold chain had a gold spider pendant. The legs of the spider were wrapped around a silver heart. Robert looked up at Gil, who was still blushing. He reached over to run his fingers through the graying curls and turn Gil's face to him. He kissed Gil deeply. "Thank you."

Gil smiled and when Robert held the necklace out, he put it around his lover's neck. Robert moved so that he was resting against Gil, who put his arms around him. The clock in the hallway chimed three times. Gil chuckled.

"Hm?" Robert asked almost sleepily.

"Three A.M. Teresa should be down soon to see if Santa came."

Robert turned to look at Gil. "What makes you say that?"

"I watched her set her alarm."

Robert laughed. Sure enough, they heard footsteps on the stairs and saw Teresa's face peeking around the doorway. She frowned when she saw Robert and Gil. "Santa can't come if you two are still awake," she whispered.

"He won't come if you're awake, angelita," Robert whispered back. Teresa hadn't seen the now empty plate and glass - the cookies devoured by Robert and Guillermo while Lupe finished off the milk. Gil had played reindeer and eaten the carrot slices left out for Santa's erstwhile steeds.

Together the two men got Teresa resettled in her bed and headed for their room. Once inside, Robert paused. "You might want to wear a t-shirt with your boxers tonight. Kids don't always follow the 'knock and announce' rule."

Gil chuckled. "Duly noted, corazón." He found the required garments and quickly changed before sliding under the covers. Robert joined him, but didn't curl up next to Gil, as was his wont. Instead he lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. Gil, worried, rolled to his side and propped his head on his hand.

"What's wrong?"

"Earlier…did you mean it?" Robert asked, a catch in his voice.

Gil was silent, unsure as to what Robert was referring to. Robert shifted to mirror Gil's position.

"You called me esposo. Is that…I mean…I know Lupe thinks of us as that way…"

Gil reached out and took Robert's hand. "Do I think of us that way?" he asked. Robert nodded. Gil looked at him. "We've lived together, been apart, and still loved each other enough to try again after so long. I've never wanted anyone but you. I don't want to be with anyone but you. If that's married, then yes, I think we are."

Robert blinked in amazement, not expecting that eloquent answer. Unable to speak, he simply leaned over and kissed Gil. Putting everything he couldn't say into the kiss. Gil returned the kiss and the emotion, still holding Robert's hand. The distance between them disappeared as they held onto each other. Clothing was removed as hands caressed skin more precious to each than silk. Gil rolled over to his other side and Robert moved behind him. Gil reached into the bedside table and handed two items back to Robert. A small tearing sound was heard in the room, then the catch in Gil's breathing as Robert prepared his lover. Seconds later two shuddering sighs echoed. Bodies moved in rhythm, seeking the physical affirmation of their emotional bond. Robert bit Gil's shoulder and Gil buried his face into the pillow as the rush went through both of them, leaving them breathless and weak, yet feeling content and loved. Nestled in each other's arms, they feel asleep in the afterglow.

Robert had been right. Neither Teresa nor Luis knocked when they bounded into the room, determined to wake up the last of the family members so presents could be opened. Luckily, both men had woken up earlier and redressed to preserve decorum. Grabbing the bathrobes Lupe had provided, they followed the two youngsters down to the tree. Lupe and Guillermo gave them a cheerful good morning, Robert replying in kind and Gil nodding, still a little uncertain of his place.

"Ignore him. He needs his coffee," Robert said jokingly. Luis took him seriously and dashed into the kitchen, returning more sedately with a full coffee mug.

"Here, Tío Gilberto."

Gil accepted the mug and took a grateful sip. "Gracias."

Luis grinned. Lupe smiled from her seat next to her husband and turned to the kids. "Okay, youngest to oldest. Teresa, pick a present. Can't be your own."

Gil watched as Teresa dove into the pile and pulled out a present, reading the tag out loud before handing it to Marisol. This was apparently tradition - one present at a time, everyone watching. Robert softly explained that it was a Mendoza tradition to guess what the presents were - and hope the giver hadn't been devious in wrapping the gift.

About halfway through the morning, Gil realized he was enjoying being part of the family. Robert had made sure Gil had presents to give out, as well as presents from the two of them. Robert had also given Gil a new book on entomology. Gil had given Robert the latest book by one of his favorite authors - autographed to Robert personally.

Gil had his chin propped on Robert's shoulder, watching Robert torment Stimpy with bits of coffee cake, when Rafael brought over the present that Teresa had pointed out the night before. Taking the gift, he smiled. "Thank you," he said to Lupe.

She smiled. "Open it, Gil."

He did, taking his time. The kids were egging him on, but Robert was worse than them. He reached over and tore off some of the paper. Gil pulled the package away from his lover. "Hey!" Robert just grinned unrepentantly. Gil shook his head and finished unwrapping, removing the cover off the box. He moved aside tissue paper to find the present.

Gil stared at the gift. There were two black picture frames, each with fake bugs glued onto them. The larger frame held a picture of Lupe and Guillermo their family, including Stimpy. It wasn't a formal portrait, having been taken in their backyard. It was the picture in the smaller frame that took his breath away.

It was a picture of himself and Robert, from years ago. Both were sitting on a beach wearing shorts and t-shirts. Gil was laughing at something, his head thrown back. Robert was looking at him, smiling. Even in a still picture, you could see the way the two men felt about each other. Gil remembered that - an amateur photographer on the beach had taken the picture with an instant camera and given it to them.

"Oh man," Robert whispered, looking into the box.

Gil looked up at Lupe, still a little stunned. "Thank you."

She smiled. "I found that picture while I was helping Roberto pack for Vegas and appropriated it."

Gil smiled back, setting the box on the couch and getting up to hug Lupe. "I'm glad you did, mi hermana."

It was a long hug, broken only when Guillermo growled, "You can only have one Delgado, Gilberto, and that one's mine." The smile on his face made it clear that he was joking. Gil flushed, but released Lupe. Teresa demanded a hug as well, so Gil hugged her and thanked all the kids for the gift. He even thanked Stimpy, and got a wet tongue across the face in return.

They finished opening gifts and cleaning up. The kids took off to play with their new toys while Lupe disappeared into the kitchen to finish dinner. Gil and Robert took their gifts upstairs. Robert set his on the dresser and turned to see Gil staring at the picture of the two of them.

"I'd forgotten I'd had that."

Gil didn't look up. "I'd forgotten about the picture until now. We look so young."

"We were young, araña."

"And happy - this was when we were living together."

"Yeah." There was a wistful note in Robert's voice.

"Your lease is up soon on your place, isn't it?"

"Yes, why?"

Gil shrugged, setting the picture of the two of them on the nightstand. "It seems silly for you to pay rent when you're at my place all the time."

Robert looked at Gil, taking in a sharp breath. "Gil, are you …"

Gil looked back at him. "It's hard to feel truly married when we don't live together, Robert."

Speechless, Robert sat down on the bed. Gil sat down and put his arm around Robert. "We've lived together before, corazón. There just wouldn't be a separate space for each."

"People will know, Gil."

"Will that bother you? I know people won't always accept it, but I…it's been too long and I'm a little tired of hiding. I want to be able to come home every morning and not wonder if you'll be coming over or not. If the people I work with have a problem with that, then I'll quit." When Robert looked shocked and ready to protest, Gil silenced him with a kiss. "You are more important to me than my job," he whispered. "It's not like I haven't gotten other job offers in less closed minded fields."

"I don't want you to leave because of me."

"And I don't want you to leave your job because of me, either. But I don't want to hide anymore."

Robert leaned against Gil. "I don't either."

"Should I get on one knee and formally ask?"

Robert shook his head and put his arms around Gil to kiss him. "The answer has always been yes."

***