Chapter Text
Vivi turned to the boys as the sixty second count began on the television before them. She grinned, noticing the redness around Arthur’s cheeks, making his almost non-existent freckles come out like stars. He held a bottle of beer in one hand and was resting his cheek against the other, elbow on the arm of the couch. He was watching the screen with disinterest, fingers playing with the rim of the bottle.
Lewis was in the middle, not so red and much more purple, feeding off Vivi’s own excitement. He caught her gaze with his own and smiled back.
"It’s almost here!" she squealed, hands twisting her own beer bottle around.
"I know!" Lewis exclaimed. He looked happy, his perfect teeth showing in his perfect smile.
"Oh, god, this year was so awesome, I dunno how next year is gonna top it!"
"I don’t know if I’d call this year awesome," Arthur spoke up quietly.
Vivi’s smiled dropped. “Oh, don’t be a party pooper, Arthur. You had fun.”
He shrugged, turning his head to look at her. “Yeah, well… I wouldn’t call it awesome.”
Lewis jostled him in the side. “You’re ruining the fun, man.”
"Sorry."
Vivi watched as he took a swig of his drink, laying his head back on his hand with a sigh. Mystery raised his head from his spot at their feet, cocking his head curiously. She snapped, pointing to her lap, and the pup’s ears perked up, tail beginning to wag. He immediately got up and hopped up onto her with a happy bark.
"There," she said, scratching him behind the ear. His tongue lolled out in pure bliss. "Now we’re all here."
"Thirty seconds!" Lewis cried, planting both his feet down on the floor and leaning forward. He smacked Arthur on the knee, causing the blond to jump slightly. "Come on, Art! At least be excited for the new year!"
With a deadpanned expression, Arthur raised a finger in the air and twirled it around a few times. “Whoo,” he said.
Lewis frowned. “What the hell, dude?”
Arthur shrugged.
"Oh, I know! We need champagne!" Vivi said. Maybe if she gave Arthur more alcohol, his mood would pick; he was usually a happy drunk, once this phase of quietness passed.
She reached over the side of her own couch arm, where a bottle of bubbly and three glasses sat. She quickly gathered them up, bottle already uncorked, and dragged them to her. Mystery scooted over to Lewis to give her room.
Quickly, as the countdown on the screen hit twenty, she poured the drinks, handing two glasses to Lewis. The larger man gave one to Arthur, who took it without comment.
"Alright, quick, one good thing that happened this year!" Vivi said, pouring herself her own glass. "Me first! Lewis and me started dating!"
"Aw, you took mine…" Lewis whined. He scowled. "Fine. I got the best girlfriend ever."
"Copy cat," Vivi teased, sticking her tongue out. Lewis grinned and she leaned over to look at Arthur, surprised to see a pained expression on his face. She frowned, gently elbowing Lewis and subtly jerked her head to Arthur.
Lewis followed her gaze, and she saw the moment it hit him. His face lit up and he turned back to Vivi with a small smile, nodding.
"What about you, Arthur?" Vivi asked. "Fifteen seconds!"
"I got the van working," Arthur replied with disinterest. He raised his champagne glass slightly. "Yay for me, good job everybody, let’s do better next year."
Vivi stuck her tongue out at him as the countdown hit ten on the screen. She shrieked.
"Ten!" she cried, sitting up more. Mystery let out a happy little yip at the excitement.
"Nine!" Lewis continued, shooting her a smirk.
"Eight!" Vivi squirmed on the couch.
"Seven! Come on, Arthur!"
"No," Arthur’s unimpressed voice silently rang. He placed his empty beer bottle on the floor.
"Five!" Lewis shouted at the same time Vivi did.
"Four!" Vivi stood up, eyes sparkling.
"Three!" Lewis followed her, Mystery tumbling easily from his lap.
"Two! Arthur, come on!” They inched closer together.
“ONE!” Lewis and Vivi screamed, practically jumping. Mystery barked as confetti on screen was released and the ball dropped, signifying the start of the new year. Vivi cheered, gulping down her champagne quickly and turning to Lewis.
Her boyfriend had done the same thing and they leaned in closer together. She caught movement from the corner of her eye in the direction of the couch as fireworks on TV. Their noses brushed, and Vivi smiled. Lewis nodded once, and, as one, they spun on their heels and turned to Arthur.
"Happy New Year!" they cried.
Vivi caught Arthur’s surprised face before her eyes closed and her lips met his left cheek and Lewis’ met his right. She felt him stiffen beneath her, heard the glass hit the floor in his shock.
She and Lewis pulled away at the same time, grinning ear to ear as they watched Arthur stare at them, eyes wide and cheeks flushed. Slowly, he blinked, mouth opening and closing comically as he struggled to find words.
Vivi giggled, grabbing Lewis’ hand. His fingers linked with hers easily, and with her other hand, she reached out, grabbing Arthur’s and hauling him up. He stumbled as he stood, tripping over his feet, but Lewis steadied him easily, his free hand going to Arthur’s other one.
"Wha-" the blond stuttered.
"You don’t think we’d forget about you, did you, Art?" she asked, grinning.
He stammered incomprehensibly and Lewis tugged him closer. He pressed another kiss to Arthur’s forehead, gathering him to his chest.
Vivi pressed closer, letting go of their hands to wrap herself around Arthur. Lewis arms encircled them, and Vivi could feel Arthur frozen in place.
"…Guys…" Arthur said quietly, hesitantly, as if he were unsure that what had just happened was real.
Vivi scooted closer and silenced him with peck on the lips. “Happy New Years, Artie,” she whispered.
"Happy New Years, Arthur," Lewis echoed. He looked down at her then, and bent his head to press his lips against hers briefly.
"Yeah…" came Arthur’s breathless whisper from their embrace. "Yeah, uh… Happy New Years to… to you guys, too…"
Vivi smiled to herself.
Oh, yes, she thought, surrounded by her boys, this new year was going to be so much better than the one they just left behind.