Christmas, huh? Vincent vaguely remembered something about this human holiday...
He lays down on some sort of levitating cot and looks up. Everything is white. Pure white, in every direction, forever. It makes him feel small.
He thinks for a while. He tries to remember, and gets frustrated when he can’t. But even though he can’t remember exactly what he’d done this time a year ago, he knows he did something. It’s familiar to him, in a somewhat dreamlike sort of way.
He processes that in human time, it’s been another year.
He knows he’s changed. He hopes it’s for the better.
Vincent lays there for quite a while, and at one point his eyes shut. He’s not sleeping, but a soft beep, beep of a notification startles him.
Ty is contacting him. He tells Vincent to come meet him. Vincent puts his hair up, then does so. He doesn’t want to look like a complete mess.
The first one he sees is actually Ry; he’s been brought here, too. He grins widely, waving, and looks like he’s about to explode from excitement.
When Vincent sees Ty, he’s turned away; his back is facing Vincent and he appears to be holding something (and somewhat struggling with it).
[...Hey,] Vincent says awkwardly. [Uh... did you need me for something?]
Ty glances at him over his shoulder, not yet turning around. =Ah, yeah-- Ry an’ myself have been working on a little somethin’ for a while now and we finally-- hey, come one now, don’t do that-- we finally finished. And since it’s that gift-giving day for some humans, we found it fitting to go ahead and give you... this.=
He turns around, finally revealing what’s in his arms. Vincent’s hand flies up to his mouth in shock.
In Ty’s arms is a squirming golden dog, nub tail wagging a mile a minute. When he recognizes Vincent, he starts to whine, struggling more profusely to escape Ty’s arms, and Ty gently sets him on the ground. The dog zooms over to Vincent, who kneels with his arms spread wide to catch him, and begins to lick the tears on Vincent’s cheeks. Vincent laughs, smiling brighter than he has in a long, long while. He pets the dog, looking into his little doggy eyes and remembering his name in an instant.
[Hey, Wiggles! How are you doing, buddy? Wow! It’s been so long, huh? I’m happy to see you too!]
He baby-talks his pup and looks back up to Ty and Ry, who are standing next to each other, obviously pleased with themselves. Ry looks like he’s about to cry too, and Ty has his hands tucked in his pocket, wearing a real, actual smile for the first time-- well, around Vincent for the first time.
Vincent hugs Wiggles to his chest, petting him as he whispers thank-yous upon thank-yous to the others. How they’d managed to do this, he had no idea... but he didn’t think about it right now.
Ry squeals in excitement, rushing over to them and joining them on the floor as he embraces Vincent. Vincent laughs and allows it. Ty strolls over and rests his hand on Vincent’s shoulder, giving him a warm smile. Vincent feels a swelling joy in his chest and he just laughs it out, letting the happy tears bubble up and over.
He’s happy. He’s so, so very happy. And h doesn’t feel guilty about it in the least.