The stores were much bigger than he remembered. Full of endless shelves of one product after another one. A thousand cheesy mugs and twice as many ugly sweaters with themes of the upcoming holidays and the least pleasant fabric that surely must have been biting at your throat.

He couldn't even remember the last time he'd bought someone a gift. A beer and a pat on the back with the guys was enough, but you deserved so much more. But... what? Clothes? He didn't dare buy that. Cosmetics? He didn't bloody understand it. A book? Oh... that was a good idea, but wasn't that a bit small? And if not, what kind? How about a trip? A nice dinner had been on his mind from the start, but that wasn't enough on its own. He wanted- he sighed deeply.

Simon reached for the white teddy bear. He stared into those black eyes for a moment before squeezing it lightly. A love song began to play from the little creature's chest with a cheerful sparkle in it. Fuck.

He hadn't even noticed when you came back from the bathroom, and flinched a little when he heard his name, snapped out of his thoughts. He abruptly returned the teddy bear that was still playing that song to the shelf.

"You were quick," he muttered quickly, his voice hoarse.