"Merry Christmas, Ashley." The presents had been passed, the family had all left, and now it was only the two of them- and Ashley couldn't have been happier. He looped his arms around his boyfriend's neck, kissing him in response in the light of the fire and feeling Andy's lips smile against his own.
"Wait just one second." Andy's expression became slightly confused as the love of his life broke off their embrace, something he was not known to do. Ashley's hand shook as he rummaged around the pocket of his robe and pulled out a small, silver-wrapped box. Curiosity overtook Andy's features as the box was handed to him.
"There's something I forgot to give you." Andy's slender fingers peeled off the shiny paper and dropped it to the floor.
"Oh Ashley…" he gasped when he saw what was lying in the box. There, nestled among plush plum cushions, lay a thin gold ring, the words "Until the End" glistening in the slowly dying firelight. Ashley slowly slid the ring onto the other man's finger and wrapped his muscular arms around his fiancé's thin body.
"Merry Christmas, Andy."