� Christmas Eve is always the loneliest and more depressing of days during the year. Being away from the person you love is hard, but when they don't know how you feel, it becomes painful, almost unbearable.

���� Daniel was seated in front of the fire, slowly rocking back and forth while listening to the one and only Darren Hayes on the CD player. That name bringing forth the pain. Knowing that the opportunity to tell him what his heart was really yearning for has now come and gone. For now Darren is spending the holidays with Colby. Colby, the person whom Darren chose over him�

���� Knowing that there was no better time then the present, he walks over to the stack of gifts sitting on the table. Grabbing his keys, wallet, and gifts he heads to his car. Pulling out of his driveway he actuates the short distance to Darren's house. He gets out of the car and, with the gifts in hand, walks up to the door and rings the bell. Shifting from foot to foot, waits nervously, impatiently for the door to open.

���� When the door opens, he stares wide eyed at the disheveled appearance of his beloved. "Darren! Why are you crying? What happened? Where's Colby?"

���� Darren moves back slightly making room for Daniel to enter. Shutting the door he moves into the darkened room repossessing his place on the sofa. Daniel blindly reaches out to turn on the light. Once the room is illuminated he stands shocked. Darren who is usually the neat freak, is now sitting, living in a total mess. Nearly dropping the boxes, Daniel rushes to Darren�s side. Ever so slowly Darren turns to Daniel.

���� "She left." Says Darren softly. Tears pouring from his eyes.

���� Daniel, not knowing what to say to bring comfort to his friend, pulls Darren into his arms. Holding onto the smaller man, he softly murmurs words of comfort. Daniel rocks Darren back and forth.

���� "Why did she leave? What happened? I thought things were going great with the two of you."

���� "Things were great, but she left 4 days ago. She told me that she knew that I loved someone else besides her. I thought I kept it well hidden. I didn't know that anyone knew how I really felt." Says Darren.

���� Feeling totally out-of-the-loop, Daniel asks, "Did you cheat on Colby?"

���� "I can't believe you would even ask me such a thing. I have never been unfaithful to my wife. I truly love her. I just am not in love with her anymore. And I would never cheat on her!" Darren�s screams while pulling out of Daniel's embrace.�

���� "Darren, I'm sorry. I just thought that since she knew you were in love with someone else that you were caught with that other person."

���� "I said she knew I loved someone other than her, but I am not with that other person. Nor does that other person know that I love them." He slowly breaks down, dissolving into tears.

���� Breaking the silence, Daniel asks, "So who is the lucky lady?"

���� Darren smirks, "Who said anything about the other person being a female?"

���� Daniel�s head shoots up. So that means he likes a guy. Great not only do I lose to a Colby but now another guy.� If only I told him when I first realized that I liked him, maybe I could be with him. "So who is the lucky fellow? Anyone I know?"

���� Darren laughs. "You could say that. I believe you know the person very well mate."

���� "What are you trying to tell me? Who is this guy?"

���� Beaming, Darren leans over to whisper in Daniel�s ear. "It's you!"

���� Daniel turns to look at his best friend. The moment his head turns Daniel finds himself being kissed by the man he has loved for a long, long time.

���� "Oh Daniel, I wanted to tell you for the longest time how I felt, but I didn't want to ruin our friendship. I love you so much."

���� "Darren I feel the same way. I love you. I always have and always will. But how did Colby know?"

����� Darren smiles warmly at Daniel. "She figured it out by the fact that when we were "making love" I screamed out your name instead of hers. I guess that really helped her figure it out though."

���� "You screamed my name, not hers? But, wow, I feel really special!"

������ Darren grins slyly, "Let me make this a Christmas we will both remember."

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