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Holidays were a busy time on The Night Island. Everyone wanted to get away from court and The Night Island was the one other stable place to go to. Every year there was a theme for the holidays of that year and a host was chosen. David had chosen the theme this year, foolishly he chose Childhood, and only a newly turned vampire such as himself would choose something like that. Armand was chosen as the host, it was a straw pull that decided between Louis and Armand.
Daniel was exhausted. It was the second real holiday of the year, Easter, Valentine's Day being the first. Armand had taken it upon himself to decorate and plan to a ridiculous degree after a bet with Lestat was made. Armand insisted he didn't need any help but that was the exhausting part, Daniel was a hair away from calling Marius at this point out of concern for his lover. Armand wasn't even considering the foolish theme David had come up with considering he didn’t remember much of his but the planning was still intense.
It was the day before Easter and Armand had come up with something for everyone. He made arrangements for church services for every denomination that was represented in their coven, every denomination except for his own. On some occasions Armand celebrated with Lestat and Louis as Catholic, others he celebrated with Marius and Pandora using the old ways. Daniel was the only one who saw the times after the celebrations when Armand knelt at his personal alter in his closet and tried his best to celebrate the way his parent taught him.
Daniel knew Armand was planning on going with Louis and Lestat this year. Daniel being Jewish himself had nothing to do the next day except keep Armand from a breakdown. Daniel had a foolproof plan this year, to not interfere till Armand came to their room in the early morning after, only then would he fully hatch his plan.
It took a month of research, some long conversations with Marius, and a long time spent on Etsy to fully put together what he needed.
“Boss, everything going to go fine tomorrow, you've been planning since Christmas.” The sun was almost up and Daniel just wanted to go to sleep with his husband in his arms.
“You don't know that Daniel, anything could go wrong. Maybe I should go through everything one more time?” Armand was pacing their shared room and had been for the last hour.
“Boss, you can go through your list in that amazing mind of yours while you come to bed. I’m not going to get any sleep unless you are here in my arms, dont make me stay awake all night.” Daniel knew he was pouting at this point but he also knew it worked. Armand gave him a look he knew meant, Your right and I’ll listen to you but only this once. Daniel opened his arms and let Armand crawl in the four-poster bed with him. Daniel knew tomorrow was going to be hard but he hoped his surprise was enough to help.
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By the time Daniel woke up Armand was already gone and helping people around the Island, Daniel decided it was best that he stayed in their rooms all day with Benji and Sybelle who also didn't celebrate. He felt a little guilty about avoiding the big crowd but knew taking care of Armand's kids meant enough to him it would make up for it. He spent the whole night either listening to Sybelle’s new pieces or playing some new game he didn't quite understand with Benji. They had enough time to go hunting before the young vampires were too tired.
By the time Armand came back from the last church service the kids were already asleep and the sun was almost up. He looked exhausted, his normally perfectly placed hair was a frizzy mess and the sleeves of his sweater were stretched like he had been fidgeting with them all night. He all but collapsed on his knees in front of the closet altar, Russian Orthodox easter wasn't set for a month later but Armand knew he wasn't going to get a day off for it if Marius had anything to say about it. He lit his candles and reset his ikons, prayers were muttered in the old way of Russian before he stumbled his way into standing.
“You didn't eat tonight did you, boss?” Daniel was worried, it had been a while since Armand had stumbled this way.
“Of course, I didn’t, too much happening. I’m old, my boy I don't need to feed every night.” Armand shook out of his clothing and made his way into bed with his husband.
“I know, boss, but I don’t think you’ve eaten in days. Come here, drink, like the old days. I took the kids out hunting so you can indulge a bit” Daniel stretched his night to the side to allow easier access for his husband to drink. Armand was too tired to argue and knew Daniel was right, it had been too long since he fed.
“You always know what's best, my boy.” Armand took Daniels's head in one of his hands while the other rested on his shoulder. Daniel drew in a sharp breath when he finally felt fangs pierce his skin, even after all these years he never got fully used to the feeling of someone drinking his blood. By the time Armand was done, he looked about ten times better. He still looked tired but the bags under his eyes lessened, that was enough for Daniel.
“Come on boss, don't get too comfortable just yet. One thing left tonight.” Daniel twisted out of Armand's grip just enough to open the drawer to his bedside table.
“Did I forget something, Dani?” Worry painted Armand's face. "What are you doing?” He sat back against the headboard immediately going through his mental list of everything that had to have been done that night.
“You’re not forgetting anything, boss. It’s a surprise.” Daniel sat back up into bed, a medium-sized dark wood woven box in his hands. “You’ve worked yourself so hard these couple of months and I know it's only going to get worse as the year goes on but I can try and help when I can. Just open the box boss.” Daniel pushed the dark box into Armand's hands.
“My boy your presence is enough but thank you.” Armand gave a small kiss to Daniel before opening the box. Inside pressed in a layer of paper grass was a painted egg. A Pysanky to be exact. An egg painted with colored wax made for easter. It had taken some time but Daniel had found a woman from a village, near where Armands would have been according to Marius, who would make one for him. She questioned why he went to such lengths but she understood when he explained it was for someone dear to him who moved away when they were a child.
Armand picked up the small egg in his hands, gently rotating it in his hands as though it was the most precious thing in the world. Bloody tears silently fell down his face and landed on the soft sheets below. Daniel sat there hand on his back and waited for him to process his emotions knowing it could take some time. They sat there like that for close to ten minutes before either of them made a sound.
“Так же, как мама делала.” Armand's throat still sounded rough from the day and the tears were lending no favors.
“Still haven't fully learned my Russian, dear. What's that mean?” Daniel could guess with the reverence it was said with but wasn't leaving anything up to chance.
“Just like mother used to make. She and the other women from the village would make these for Easter. Mama handed me one the last time I saw her. I lost it the night I was taken from Marius.” Armand gently placed the egg back in its box, closed the lid, and gently placed it on his nightstand before engulfing Daniel in the tightest hug he could muster. “Thank you, my boy. You’ve given me the most meaningful gift I think I’ve ever received.”
“I’m glad I could do something for you boss, you’ve done so much for me. Besides had to stick with old man David’s theme somehow. Sleep now, the sun’s too close to being up for comfort.” Daniel securely wrapped his arms around Armand before shuffling with him in tow down under the blankets.
The pair fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms and the knowledge that they would both do anything for each other, no matter the cost.