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SATURDAY - 12.25.04
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"Justin... Justin... Justin..." Justin groaned as he pulled the sheets over his head trying to get away from the shaking. 'Someone sure loves saying my name,' he thought to himself.

"Justin, baby," Nick whispered as he tried shaking Justin again. It was five in the morning and he knew Justin was tired but he wanted to get the other teen up so that they could have a private moment, just the two of them, before everyone else got up. He also wanted to Justin his present in private as well. He had actually gotten up about fifteen minutes ago but he used that time to sneak into his parents room and do his make up before going into the room Justin was in. "Sweetheart, honey bun, snoockums, teddy bear, darling, angel, baby boy, honey, gorgeous, baby cakes, cupcake, hot stuff, sexy, hottie, sweetie..." He tried all the sweet endearing names he could think up at the moment to get Justin to wake up.

Justin smiled in his sleep as he rolled onto his back but still not waking up.

Nick frowned and then smiled as he thought of something else. He quickly looked up to make sure Brian was still asleep and facing the other direction before he leaned down and started placing butterfly kisses all over Justin's face and then his neck.

Justin giggled at the tickling feeling as he opened his eyes and saw brown hair. It took him a minute to remember just where he was as he smiled. "Nick?" He questioned in a hoarse voice.

"Shhh," Nick said picking his head up from kissing Justin's neck to put his index finger on his lips to keep him quiet. He nodded his head in Brian's direction as he sat up and indicated Justin to get up as well.

Justin nodded his head and then held up one finger to show that he wanted Nick to give him a minute. He then reached into his bag for his toiletry bag before getting up and walking down the hall to the bathroom. He quickly brushed his teeth and washed his face before returning to put his things away. "I'm awake and ready," he whispered to Nick who was seated on his bed.

Nick smiled as he reached his hand out and laced his fingers with Justin's before walking out of the room and down into the living room. "Merry Christmas," he said picking up the present he had bought for Justin from the present table and handed it over to him.

Justin smiled as he took the box from Nick. It was a rather big box and he couldn't help but wonder just what kind of present Nick had gotten him knowing that even if it was a pair of socks that he'd love it. "You shouldn’t have," he said as he went about trying to unwrap the present without actually tearing the paper.

Nick rolled his eyes. "You can rip it open ya know?" He said reaching out to tear it open for Justin only to pull his hand back when Justin smacked it. "Hey. That's not nice!"

Justin stuck his tongue out at Nick and went back to leisurely opening the present.

"It'll be Easter by the time you actually get to see the present," Nick mumbled but he continued to watch Justin open the present, carefully, his tongue between his lips as he concentrated on not tearing anything. "If you want the wrapping paper, I still have a bunch of it left upstairs," he said after two minutes had passed.

Justin pouted as he got the last tape off the present. "Be quiet," he said happy with himself for not tearing anything. He then carefully folded the wrapping paper before opening the box. He smiled as he saw a semi-worn out basketball inside. "Awesome," he said picking it up. "Oooo, and it's light." He threw the ball back and forth in his hands.

Nick smiled as he shook his head. "Turn it around," he said.

Justin did just that and he turned the ball around and his eyes grew large. "Oh my god," he said noticing the autograph on the ball. "No way. This is so wicked cool!"

"You like?" Nick questioned, chewing on his lower lip.

"Hell no," Justin said with wide eyes. "I LOVE it!"

Nick let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding in. "Jerk," he said shaking his head. "You almost scared me there for a second."

Justin chuckled and then winked at him. "How did you get this?"

Nick shrugged his shoulders. "A few weeks back, Brian and I went to a basketball game at the Garden and Michael had shown up as the special surprise guest. You know how big of a basket ball fan Brian is and even though he has like five basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan he had wanted another one. I already have like two autographs done by him, one poster and the other a basketball, but I also remembered how big of a MJ fan you were so I asked if he could sign the ball that was used during that game for you instead... and... he did." He nodded at the ball. "It's got your name on it and everything."

Justin looked again and ... "Wow," he said. "This is amazing, Nicky!"

Nick smiled as he watched Justin's face glowing. "I'm glad you like.. love it," he said.

Justin quickly put the ball back in the box before putting the wrapping paper in the side and then closing the box. He then got up and walked over to the presents table and picked up Nick's present with a big smile on his face. "This one's for you," he said handing it over to Nick. "I hope you like it."

Nick grabbed the present as well as Justin's hand, pulling him down to the floor and then pulling him back so that he was sitting in the 'V' of his legs, his back resting against his chest. "You know I will," he said as he started to open the wrapping paper and realized he didn't have to do that. All he had to do was remove the ribbon and open the box. He chuckled. "You got this whole wrapping thing planned out, huh baby?"

Justin smiled big yet again at Nick calling him 'baby' as he nodded his head. "Yup," he said. "I made it easier for people to just open the present. All they gotta do is open the ribbon."

"Thanks," Nick said kissing Justin's shoulder before opening the box and carefully removed the packing paper. "Oooo," he said smiling as he took out two CD's and another small rectangular box out. Flipping the CD's over in his hands he gasped. "Babe, where did you get these?" He questioned.

Justin smiled. "Remember how I told you that my family and I had decided to go back home for Thanksgiving, the last minute," he said and continued when Nick nodded his head. "Yeah, well, when we were down there I found out HE was doing a concert. My friends and I went to check it out, we were around with camera's and DVD camcorders, and we saw this CD. It was supposedly a rare one with some of his never released songs that he'd done through out his career, there's even some collaborations on there. They had said that this CD couldn't be bought anywhere else expect at his concert, so I ended up buying it. But after the concert we waited backstage and got his autograph, I got this one for you knowing you didn't have it but were such a big fan of his. The other CD is actually the concert. Since you couldn't be there, I thought I'd tape it for you so you don't have to miss it." He then reached into the box and took out a photo album. "And these are snaps of the concert. Pretty good quality

"Wow," Nick said opening the first CD and looking at the insert. It was personally autographed by Richard Marx with a little note. He smiled some more. He then picked up the other CD and opened it up. There in Justin's handwriting were the names of all the songs Richard Marx had performed that night. "I can't wait to watch this," he said. "You're gonna watch it with me, right?"

Justin turned his head and smiled at Nick. "If you want me to," he said.

"I want you to," Nick said as he put everything back on the box and neatly tied the ribbon again. He then wrapped his arms around Justin's waist, holding him close, resting his chin on his shoulder. "Hey," he said.

"Hey," Justin said, still smiling. "This feels really good."

"What does?" Nick questioned tilting his head to look at Justin.

"This," Justin said scooting down a bit so that his head was resting back on Nick's should perfectly. "Being in your arms, just the two of us..."

"Hmmm," Nick said smiling. "Yeah, it sure does feel nice."

"Merry Christmas, Nicky," Justin said.

They sat there for a few more minutes and when the first rays of sunlight began to seep in through the blinds Nick knew it wouldn't be long till someone woke up and make a lot of raucous. "How about we watch the sun rise?" Nick questioned.

Justin got up and helped Nick up before they walked over to the balcony doors and pulling up the blinds, flooding the living room with the first morning light. "You know," he said. "New York's even more beautiful when it's being viewed with a special someone."

"I concur," Nick said nodding his head, grinning.

"What's that grin for?" Justin questioned, with a raised eye brow.

Nick looked up and then back into Justin's eyes, wiggling his eyes brows.

Justin looked up and got the same goofy grin that was on Nick's face. "Oh," he said, chuckling. "I see."

"How about it, Timberlake?" Nick questioned.

"Finally," Justin said leaning up to kiss Nick.

"Mewwy Chwismuz," came a yell on one of the top floors.

"Mewwy Chwiszmuz," another voice joined the first one.

"Mommy, mommy," both voices sang together. "Daddy, Nicky, Bobby, Leslwy, Biwan, Ustin, Awex. Wake up. Mewwy Chwismuz!"

"Why does this keep happening to us?" Justin whined as he rested his head on Nick's shoulder before pulling away and going to go sit on the couch.

"I have no clue," Nick said, frustrated with everything. He then flopped down next to Justin and waited till everyone came downstairs. Nick couldn't help just laugh at everyone who sleepily padded their way down the stairs and over to the couches. It was especially amusing when Aaron and Angel looked up at all the 'adults' with funny expressions on their faces. "They ombies, Nicky?" Aaron questioned, running over to his brother and jumping up into his lap.

"No kiddo," Nick said as he ruffled his hair. "They're all just sleepy."

"But it's Chwismuz!" Angel stated, also jumping up into Nick's lap.

"I'm gonna go get the others," Brian said sleepily as he wandered out of the living room and out the door to the apartment to get his parents and the McLean's as well.

"You two are up early," Paul yawned as he flopped down on the couch beside his son.

"Not really," Justin replied. "Nick was up before I was... and I just got up a few minutes ago."

"I see," Bob said eyeing the boxes on the floor. "Wanted to get a peak at your presents, huh, son?"

Nick rolled his eyes. "Nope," he said with a grin. "But as Justin got down here we figured we might as well open each other's gifts."

"I see," Jane said as she sat down next to her husband and cuddled up to him. "What did ya get?"

"Nick got me an Michael Jordan autographed basketball," Justin said.

"And he got me a rare Richard Marx CD and a live footage of the concert of him that I had missed," Nick added.

Lynne, Paul, Jane, and Bob, all smiled.

AJ scratched his head and he smiled knowingly at Justin and Nick as he sat on the other couch. Just then Brian and his family, and AJ's family came padding into the living room, all greeting 'Merry Christmas'."

An hour later everyone was seated in the midst of wrapping paper, laughing, and definitely wide awake.

Jane leaned into Bob and kissed his cheek. "I love the sound of laughter," she said smiling to herself as she took in everyone's mood.

"Me too, honey," Bob replied as he looked at his eldest son and then at Justin. Those two seem to be glowing with happiness and that could only mean one thing... "They're dating!"

Jane knew who her husband was referring to and she followed his line of vision and nodded her head. "Nick mentioned something along the lines of asking Justin to be his boyfriend on Christmas day," she said in a whisper. "I guess that's why he woke up that early," she added more to herself than for Bob.

"I haven't seen him this happy in a really long time," Bob commented and then laughed as Nick gathered up the majority of the wrapping paper and dumped it over Aaron and Angel.

"Whoa, there," Paul chuckled as he and the other parents moved out of the way so they could watch their kids roll around in the wrapping paper, tickling themselves in a to frenzy.

"I think I'm going to go and get ready," Lynne said with a smile on her face.

Jane nodded her head. "I'm with you on that one," she said getting up as well. And soon, one by one, the parents got up to go get their respective showers and get ready for the day. The kids can go and get cleaned up later.

* * * * * * * * * *

"That was a beautiful service," Lynne said as they walked into the apartment around three thirty in the afternoon. They had all went to the church for the Christmas service at noon. It was also another tradition that the Carter's and Littrell's had been doing for many years now but now there were more people. After church they had all gone out to a local restaurant in the neighborhood.

"And lunch was great," Denise's fiancé said rubbing his stomach with a smile on his face.

"You kids were wonderful up there," Denise complimented Brian, Leslie, and Nick. "Beautiful voices."

Nick blushed as did Brian and Leslie. "Thank you," Brian said. They had been participating in the choir together for a while now, Brian singing with the sopranos, and Nick and Leslie singing with the altos.

"So, what are the other hidden talents that you kids have?" Paul questioned sitting down on the couch as he loosened his tie.

"None, really," Nick said with a thoughtful look on his face.

Brian rolled his eyes. "Oh please," he said looking over at Paul. "He can play the guitar, the drums, he draws and paints, he writes poetry and stories..."

"He can sing, dance, he's got a scuba diving license, a boating license, and I think that's it," AJ finished.

"You're forgetting acting... he did a mini school version of the 'phantom of the opera'," Harold Jr. piped with a smirk on his face. "If I remember correctly, he also did talent shows and sung the national anthem at the Giants opener."

"Oh those..." Nick said blushing as he looked down at his lap. "Those are not hidden... Besides, look whose talking Brian and AJ." He then looked up at the adults. "Brian here... he can do a mean daffy duck impression, practically good at every sport known to man kind and even those that aren't, read the Bible like three times and knows just where you can find certain phrases, plays the guitar, and he can bite his nails off like no one else I know." He paused and nodded at AJ. "Alex here, he a comedian... a ventriloquist... a dancer, a singer, and he can also play the guitar, he's like a one man show, and he makes friends easily."

The adults started laughing as the kids went back and forth. "Justin also did talent shows," Lynne piped up causing Justin to sink into the couch, embarrassed. He just prayed that his mom wouldn't mention just what kind of talent show it was. "And he was also on Star Search but that didn't go too well but he was a sport about it."

Brian smirked at the way Justin had just turned beet red but he kept his mouth shut not wanting to embarrass him even more.

"Awww," Nick said and then frowned. "How come I didn't know about this? What else you not telling me Timberlake?"

"Nothing else," Justin said rolling his eyes and sticking his tongue out at Nick.

"Oh hush, honey," Lynne said shaking her head. "He's memorized every single Michael Jackson song and dance moves... although he can't quite do the moon walk, yet," she paused. "But yah... he can dance." She started laughing.

"Michael Jackson, eh?" Brian questioned with a raised eyebrow. "Interesting."

"Dude, this sucks," AJ said with a thoughtful look on his face. "Thriller is the sophomore theme song for spirit days... you are totally in the wrong year!"

Justin chuckled at that. "I don't know man, I kinda like the year I'm in."

"Nuh uh," AJ said shaking his head. "Hey, Brownie, you're in the student council, you think you can pull some strings and smuggle him into our year just for spirit week?"

Nick laughed as he shook his head. "Nope, can't do, bro," he said. "At least I don't think I can... but ask Marshall... he's a sneaky guy and can pull off anything... I'm sure you two together can figure something out."

"Hey," AJ said with a big smile on his face. "I think I might just do that, thanks."

"Oh brother," Brian said, sighing and rolling his eyes. "Why can't we just let things be? I don't think I'm in the mood to have Brother Michaels lecture... 'cause if we do get in trouble... it's not AJ or Justin... it'd be us, the student council..."

"Lighten up, bro," Harold Jr. said. "Live life a little, will ya?"

* * * * * * * * * *

"...fa la la la la la la la la la," Nick sang along with the music playing from the stereo. "'Tis the season to be jolly..."

"Egg nog?" AJ questioned, coming up from behind Nick and handing him the glass.

"Thanks," Nick said turning around from where he finished wiping his hands on the dish towel, having just finished cleaning the dishes.

"You're mom's a good cook," AJ said smiling at Nick. They all had just finished dinner and everyone was in the living room talking and sharing stories.

"So is your mom, man," Nick said leaning against the counter and taking a few sips of his drink. "You enjoying yourself?"

"Totally," was AJ's response. "Come on, let's head back in the living room."

Nick followed as he immediately walked over to where Justin was seated on the floor playing with Angel and Aaron and sat down beside him. Brian was playing scrabble with Leslie and as soon as AJ had sat down next to Harold Jr. BJ had started a conversation with him.

"It can't get any better than this," Nick said in a whisper as he looked around at everyone.

Justin picked his head up and smiled. "I gotta say that this is the best Christmas, ever," he said turning his head to look at Nick.

"Let's dance," AJ called out getting up with a chuckle. He walked over to the stereo and turned up the volume a bit more and then headed to where the lights switch was and turned off all the lights except for the Christmas lights that decorated the tree and walls. "BJ?" He questioned holding his hand out for her to take.

BJ giggled as took AJ's hand as they got to the center on the living room and started dancing to 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.' Brian shrugged his shoulders as he got up and held his hand out for Leslie to take. "How about it, Les?" He questioned with a smile.

"Sure," Leslie replied, giggling as she followed him to where AJ and BJ were. Soon one by one the parents joined the kids and started dancing. Angel and Aaron in the midst of them giggling and shaking their booties while Nick and Justin moved to sit on the couch and watch everyone dance.

Jane looked over her husbands shoulder at Nick and smiled. "Honey, why don't you guys dance too?" She questioned with a motherly smile.

Nick shrugged his shoulders as he looked at Justin. He was okay, either way. It was Justin's call.

Justin looked at Jane and then at Nick, biting his lower lip. He really did want to dance with Nick. "Okay," he said looking at Nick.

Nick nodded his head and got up, holding his hand out for Justin to take. "May I have this dance?" He questioned with a slick smile.

"You may," Justin said with a chuckle as Nick escorted them closer to the Christmas tree. It was pretty much a secluded part so they could have their privacy. His arms immediately went around Nick's neck while Nick placed his hands on Justin's hips. 'The Christmas Song,' by Nat King Cole was playing on the radio.

Nick's smile, again, was wide. He looked up at the ceiling and then back into Justin's eyes.

"We better not get interrupted again," Justin said with a shake of his head. "Because I swear, I'm not gonna care... I'm just gonna kiss you!"

"I'm counting on it," Nick whispered out, closing his eyes, as he leaned in close and pressed his lips to Justin's.

Justin's heart was on fire. The moment he'd waited for since the first time he'd met Nick was finally here and it was perfect, better than he ever could have imagined it to be. Nick's lips were softer that he thought. He tightened his hold on Nick, pulling himself closer to the other teen, and parted his lips slightly hoping Nick would take the hint.

And Nick did take the hint. He let his tongue slip, slowly, teasingly, into Justin's mouth and moaned softly as he met Justin's tongue in the middle. Just like they were slowly dancing with each other, swaying with the music as one, their tongues slowly swirled around each other, learning everything about the others' mouth.

AJ, Brian, Paul, Lynne, Jane, and Bob, were the only ones aware of Nick and Justin's private moment. They all had big smiles on their faces as they watched those two break apart from the kiss and rest their foreheads together, looking into each other's eyes.

"Wow," Justin breathed out, smiling as he looked into Nick's eyes.

Nick just licked his lips and leaned in for another kiss. Now that they have finally kissed, Nick was addicted and he couldn't get enough of Justin.

'They finally kissed,' Brian thought to himself as he diverted his attention away from them, and continued dancing with Leslie.

Jane and Lynne met each other's eyes and they smiled before they both rested their heads on their husbands shoulders. "Finally, our son is happy," they said, whispering so only their husbands could hear them.