Summary:

“Did Irina like the holidays, or were they hard for her?” Shane had been using Ilya’s mother’s name often since he’d learned it. It had been so long since Ilya had let himself say it aloud, even let himself think it. It sounded sweeter on Shane’s tongue. “She liked it, mostly. Some years were harder than others, but…” He let the thought die and picked another. “I was the only one who went to mass with her, after my father told us we didn’t have to anymore.” Shane’s own fingers danced up Ilya’s chest, stopping over his heart for a beat before climbing to his throat. He zipped Ilya’s cross back and forth over the gold chain. “I’m sure she loved that time with you.” . . . or, Ilya and Shane spend their first Christmas together as a couple. | Canon-compliant with show and books