Justin couldn't help but feel nervous as he finished packing his over night bag. He was sleeping over Nick's place that night albeit AJ and Brian would be there as well but still.

"Justin? Honey?" Came Lynne's voice from downstairs. "You almost ready to go?"

"Yes, mama," Justin called out as he walked over to his desk and grabbed the bags of gifts he had and then grabbed his over night bag before joining his parents at the door. He gave them a nervous smile as he shifted from foot to foot.

Lynne smiled softly as her son but it was her husband who spoke. "Come on son," he said grabbing one of Justin's gift bags and escorting them out the door.

They made their way down to the underground parking and got in their car. Justin looked out the window, lost in thought, as they streets, lights, snow, people, stores, cars, whizzed by.

"...here!" Justin was brought out of his daze and blinked a few times realizing they were in the guest parking lot of the Carters' apartment complex.

"We're here?" Justin questioned, looking at his mom in surprise.

"That's what I just told you," Lynne said giving him an odd look.

"Oh, right," Justin said nodding his head as he grabbed his things and got out of the car. "I knew that!"

"Yo, Justin?" a voice called out from behind him. Turning around he frowned when he didn't see anyone. Looking back at his parents he saw them looking to their left side and as Justin followed their line of vision he noticed AJ and his family approaching them.

"Hey, AJ," Justin greeted and shook his hand. "Ya'll just getting here?" He grimaced as he wanted to kick himself for that stupid question he asked. 'Of course they just got here, you idiot,' he said to himself.

AJ chuckled. "Yeah, we did," he said as his parents and Justin's parents talked. They followed the adults onto the elevator that would take them up to their floor. "You sleeping over too?" He questioned nodding at Justin's duffle bag.

"Uh huh," Justin said nodding his head, smiling. "I see you're too."

"This is gonna be interesting," AJ said with a thoughtful look on his face.

Justin opened his mouth to question why AJ said that but the elevator stopped and everyone was piling out.

"Oh, Lynne and Denise!" An excited female voice came from down the hall. Everyone turned to took and there, walking towards them, was Jackie, Harold, and another young man. "I see we're all headed in the same direction."

* * * * * * * * * *

"I just realized something," Nick said once he and Brian were in his room, killing time before people would arrive. It was now 3:45 P.M. and everyone seems to be ready for that night. "Justin doesn't really know AJ and vice versa... but he does know you... you think you might wanna room with him and AJ with me?"

Brian snapped his head up at Nick not believing his ear. "What?"

"You room with Justin and AJ rooms with me," Nick repeated. "Is that alright with you?"

"Why, do you wanna do that?" Brian questioned.

"Because..." Nick said looking at Brian funny. "Justin doesn't really know Age but he knows you.. and besides... I can't really room with Justin. We discussed the latter part already."

Brian remained speechless as he blinked at Nick.

"Why don't you like AJ?" Nick questioned a few moments later when Brian hadn't answered him. "You never really gave me a real answer."

"It's not that I-"

"Don't like him. It's just that you're both extreme opposites with nothing in common!" Nick finished for Brian, rolling his eyes. He's heard that before. "I told you... I want a real answer!"

"Okay, fine!" Brian said running his hand through his hair. "So, I DON'T like him. I think he's a bad influence... and I just don't trust him. Wasn't it through him that you met Paris? Wasn't it he that told you to live life and date her!? Look where that got you!" He reached his hand out and gently thumbed over the slight bruise that was now covered with make up but he knew it was there.

"It's not like he knew she was going to do this shit to me," Nick said, defending his other best friend. "He's not a psychic or a mind reader, you know? He's only human!"

"Why are you getting so defensive?" Brian questioned with a frown, he was hurt. "You asked me why I didn't like him and I gave you a real answer. Don't need to go getting all pissy on me!"

"I'm not getting pissy on you," Nick exclaimed before taking in a deep breath to calm his nerves down. It was Christmas Eve and he did not want to have a fight with Brian. "I just don't see why you guys don't get along."

'Because, he's taking my best friend away from me and it seems like he's taking the first guy I ever even had a crush on too,' Brian thought to himself. "I don't know," he said with a shrug instead.

"Brian..." Nick trailed off stepping in closer to him, bringing his hand up to his chin, tilting his face towards him so they were looking into his eyes. "I love you." Nick's eyes didn't flicker away... his voice was steady and firm. "You know that, don't you?"

One thing about Nick was that he was a very sentimental person. He's also very physically affectionate. Something that just makes Nick... Nick. He always told the ones he loves that he loves them, never wanting to go a day without saying what he feels. Because Nick was the type that treats each day as the last and if he can help it he'd make sure all the problems and dilemmas were solved before the nights end so that all matters were resolved and everyone is happy. Looking into his eyes, something he doesn't let a lot of people do, Brian knew Nick was telling the truth. He did know he loves him. But there was something else missing from those eyes. He just couldn't put his finger on it. And that's the other thing about Nick. He's vulnerable. He's emotionally weak. When in love he gives himself completely over and loves with every fiber of his being. But after Paris... something's changed in Nick. Brian suspects that Nick and AJ rekindling their friendship, AJ getting more involved in Nick's life... has something to do with that as well. Brian hated it.

"I know Frack," Brian said in a whisper, not breaking eye contact with Nick. "I love you, too." God only knows that Brian had never spoken any truer words than that to Nick.

Nick looked into Brian's eyes for a few more moments before giving a a few short nods and leaning over and kissing him on the forehead. A big smile gracing his face when he pulled back. "C'mon, let's go downstairs," he said throwing his arm over Brian's shoulders as they walked out of the room.

Just as they got off the stairs they heard the door bell ring. "How much ya wanna bet that it's Aj behind that door?" Nick questioned.

"Five bucks says it's Justin," Brian replied. "I'm sure he'd wanna be the first to be here..."

"Deal," Nick said as they both opened the door and saw both AJ AND Justin along with their parent's and Brian's family, all standing there with presents. Brian and Nick looked at each other and busted up laughing as they slowly moved out of the way, letting the confused people walk in.

"Brownie, what's so funny?" AJ questioned raising his eyebrow as he walked past Nick and Brian.

"Nickolas... you dyed your hair!" Lynne exclaimed seeing him for the first time since Thanksgiving dinner at school.

"Looking good," Paul commented following his wife and the others in.

Nick blushed and closed the door as soon as everyone got inside. "Mom, dad, everyone's here," he said as he pressed the button on the intercom system to his parents room. A few seconds later his father's voice came on. "We're coming down!"

* * * * * * * * * *

"You'll be staying in this room," Nick said as he opened the guestroom door and let Justin walk in before closing the door and walking in after him. Everyone just finished their dinner and Nick took that opportunity to show Justin where he'd be staying that night. Taking his cue his mom had done the same for Lynne and Paul while Jackie had escorted Denise and her fiancé to her apartment and got them settled in before returning to the Carters' apartment." Brian's gonna be sharing it with you..."

"Cool," Justin said as he put his things on top of the bed that was on the right. He then frowned when the latter part of Nick's statement sunk in.

Nick took in Justin's expression and let his lips form a small smile. He stepped in closer to Justin, not that he had much to walk. "You actually think my parents are gonna let us share a room now that they know I have feelings for you?"

Justin sighed as he brought his hand up and ran his through his hair. "Now I wish they didn't know," he said with a pout causing Nick to chuckle.

"You think you're parents would have let you share a bed with me?" Nick questioned, curious.

Justin bit his lip as he nodded his head slowly. "Yeah, they would," he said, blushing. 'They even gave me a condom and everything,' he mentally added.

"Oh," was all Nick said giving Justin a curious glance but not saying anything. Instead he placed his hands on Justin's waist and smiled.

Justin felt his whole body go weak as he brought his hands up and rested them on Nick's arms, bringing his eyes to look into Nick's. "Are we gonna kiss now?" He questioned in a soft whisper, sounding like a little child who'd been denied of candy for far too long. And if you really think about it, it's true.

"I actually wanted to ask you something before we kiss," Nick said tilting his head to the side, still smiling.

"Oh, okay," Justin said wondering what Nick wanted to ask him. Maybe it was that whole bed sharing thing? "What's up?"

"Hmmm," Nick said thinking about how he was going to ask his question. He then mentally kicked himself as he shook his head. There was only one way to ask the question. "Justin, will you be my boyfriend?" There. He asked it.

Justin's eyes widened. Those are the very same words he'd been waiting to hear for a really long time and now that he's heard it he can't believe it. He wondered if there was something in the air between them that was transforming the words differently to his ears. "What?" He questioned, wanting to make sure he heard Nick right.

Nick wasn't sure what to make of Justin's response and he felt his stomach churn. Swallowing hard he did the only thing he could at the moment, repeated his question but this time it was weak. "Um, will you, you know, be my... boyfriend?" He looked away from Justin and was about to let go of him but Justin's hold on his hands got stronger causing him to look back at him.

"Yes," Justin said with a really big smile on his face. "You know I will, I would, that I want to be. For a really long time, I wanted to be your... boyfriend." 'Boyfriend. I'm Nick's boyfriend. Nick's my boyfriend.' he thought to himself. He smiled more at this thoughts. He liked the way that sounded. He loved the way it sounded.

"Really?" Nick questioned, absently licking his lips.

Justin's eyes flickered down, following Nick's pink tongue as it wet his pink lips. "Y...yea...yeah," he said.

"So... we're boyfriends now?" Nick questioned watching Justin.

"Uh huh," Justin nodded his head as he felt a shiver run down his spine as Nick wrapped his arms around his waist tightly, pulling him closer. "Boyfriends."

"Awesome," Nick said leaning forward to they could get their first kiss. But he groaned when there was a knock on the door.

"Fuck, damnit," Justin muttered under his breath. "This is getting ridiculous," he added.

Nick nuzzled his nose with Justin's before kissing the tip of it and letting go of him. "But we're boyfriends now," he said with a smile on his face as he walked towards the door and opened it to reveal his four siblings standing there, bouncing on the balls of their feet, smiling big.

"Mommy told us to come up and get you guys," Aaron said bouncing over to Nick and lifting his hands up.

"Yeah, we're starting the movie," Leslie piped up as she watched Angel bounce over to Justin lifting her hands up as well.

Nick bent down and picked his brother up kissing his cheek. "Is that so?" He questioned. "Alright we'll be down there in a minute." It had been a long tradition in the Carter family that on Christmas Eve, after dinner, that the whole family get together in the living room and watch Christmas movies. A tradition that started with his mother's parents and before that, according to his grandma, his great grandparents would read them Christmas stories or just tell them stories till one by one everyone would have fallen asleep.

Dinner had been served at 6 and by 6:50 it was finished and everyone was content. They all had changed into their PJ's. And now it was time for the movies.

"Okay, I'll go get AJ... Brian's already downstairs," BJ said with a smile as she headed off to Nick's room. She also had a crush on AJ but lately it seemed to be more on AJ than on Justin.

Justin, too, had picked Angel up. "Well, I'm all set," he said bouncing Angel in his arms. "We can go down and get the movies started!"

"Yey!" The twins giggled as they clung to the guys that were carrying them. "Movie, movie, movie," they chanted all the way down to the living room. A few minutes later at 7:15 PM. everyone was settled in.

On the floor sat Harold Jr., then BJ, AJ, Nick with Aaron in his lap, Justin with Angel in his lap, and Leslie. Brian was sitting behind Nick on the couch, with Nick resting his back against Brian's legs while Brian played with his hair. To the left side of Brian, on the couch, sat his mom and dad while on the right side sat Jane and Bob. On the next couch, the two seater, adjacent to theirs sat Jackie and Harold, while opposite to them sat Denise and her fiancé.

Nick looked around and smiled to himself as Aaron leaned back in his lap and rested his head right under Nick's neck. Resting his head back onto Brian's legs Nick relaxed as movie number one began to play. The line up for the movies to watch that night are as follows: The Christmas Carol [Scrooge], Miracle on 34th Street, The Grinch, The Santa Clause, and Home Alone.