3 n 1 (Tracob)

☔️9☔️

It's been almost two months.

November first, was when Jacob got the news of Troye passing.

He died October 29.

Jacob still couldn't believe it.

"Jacob, come help me with the tree!"

"You look like you're doing pretty good."

"Jacob!"

"Okay, okay! I'm coming."

Standing the tree up properly on its stand, the smaller of the two excitedly waddles over to the old, worn-out box filled with Christmas lights, ornaments, and other decorations that Jacob was most likely going to be putting up.

"Don't you just love Christmas?!" Troye smiles, carefully digging through the box.

Jacob nods and smiles at his boyfriend, even though he knew the blond couldn't see it.

He watches Troye excitedly pull out the ornament that the two had custom made the year before.

It was a simple, clear, glass bulb that they had gold glitter poured into, their thumbprints coming together to form a heart on the outside.

Jacob walks up behind the slim male and softly places his hands on his hips, squeezing gently.

The younger yelps in surprise, giggles quickly bubbling from his throat due to being ticklish.

"I love you so much," Jacob whispers as Troye was now facing him.

"I love you," Troye grins, cupping the older male's cheeks in his hands, as he presses a gentle kiss upon his lips, "so, so much."

Jacob wasn't exactly sure how to decorate the tree, if he was being honest.

Troye had always had to help him, which most of the time, just resulted in the blond decorating it by himself.

Not that he seemed to mind.

Troye loved Christmas.

He loved the lights, the food.

He loved giving gifts to people, and watching cheesy Christmas movies on Hallmark.

He loved watching the snow fall, despite how much he disliked the cold.

He loved snuggling on the couch under a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa while Christmas music played in the background.

He loved the feeling of happiness that the holidays brought him.

Jacob loved that Troye loved Christmas.

Jacob had never really had a Christmas
before he met Troye.

Growing up with parents that were never home, and being the oldest of his siblings, Jacob mostly did without

Christmas every year, spending his holiday paychecks on gifts and food for his siblings.

By the time his youngest sibling was old enough to make her own way, Jacob barely knew what Christmas was.

He never expected to get anything.

He met Troye, and that all changed.

Troye was stubborn to the core, but he was full of love.

He didn't take "Nothing" or "I don't want anything" for answers when he asked Jacob-or anyone for that matter-what they wanted for Christmas. Needless to say, Jacob always had at least two gifts to open when Troye woke him up early every Christmas morning, excited as a toddler who snuck downstairs and saw that Santa had come.

Even when Troye was deployed during Christmas, Jacob still received a gift or two in the mail, or from Troye's parents with strict instructions to give to Jacob on Christmas morning.

Jacob sat quietly, Home Alone playing in the background.

He stared at the ornament from three years ago, and silently thanked the lord that the thumbprint heart was made to never fade.

Hi, Jakie! Merry Christmas!! I hope you're as happy as I am! Don't you just love the holidays? If my mama hasn't given my gift from me to you yet, go to the house and yell at her! Just kidding, don't! I'll hurt you if you yell at that angel of a woman. Anyway, I might not be home with you this Christmas, but remember: I'm never too far away. No matter what happens. Just speak, and I'll be listening. Merry Christmas, my love!
Love, Troye xx

He lets a tear roll down his cheek as he grips Troye's dog tag in his fist carefully.

He had received it from Laurelle and Shaun this morning.

One of the last gifts he would ever receive from Troye, and the best one he had ever gotten.