Chapter 48

A/N: Yes this is a double length chapter, it didn't really divide nicely into two chapters so I just left it as one big one XD

Marcus� Christmas

Marcus stepped of the plane only to be immediately surrounded by a troupe of �people� speaking very fast Italian. The only one he actually listen to was his agent, who was muttering something about a concert in London, and could he get time off school for it, and it was very important. He didn�t really listen that much. As they walked through baggage collection, ahead of the rest of the passengers he noticed someone pick up his suitcase. He grinned and took it off them, it was alright to let someone carry your case if you were a girl, but Marcus wasn�t a girl, and he thought Fergie would be very disapproving if he saw someone else carrying Marcus� case. The case however, was soon dropped, as he saw his mother and sister. Marcus laughed and ran towards his little sister, wrapping her in his arms.

�Missed you.� He muttered, burying his lips in her hair.

Bianca grinned, and looked around, as if searching for someone. �Did Daddy come with you?� she asked, eyes wide.

Marcus smiled softly at her, and held her even closer. �No sweetheart,� he muttered, �Daddy�s not coming home yet.�

Ally and Mikey�s Christmas

�Is it alright if your father and I go away for the night?� Ally�s mother asked.

Ally nodded, it was the second day of his Christmas Holidays, and his dad had to go to some boring work conference thing. His mum was going too because apparently the hotel was nice. �Um, sure, can I stay over at Mikey�s?�

His mother nodded wearily. He knew his parents didn�t really like Mike, but that was because Mikey was cool, and Ally�s parents didn�t like cool.

By a sheer stroke of luck, Mikey�s mum was out that night as well, so Ally and Mikey sat, and, in true Ally and Mikey style, watched porn.

�Aren�t you boy�s ever going to bed?� Jane Reed, Mikey�s mum asked as she got in late that evening to find the two boys still watching some trash on the TV (it had been porn but they�d switched it over when they heard her key in the lock.)

�Sure mum.� Mikey rolled his eyes at Ally as they stood up.

�Now have you got the spare bed out for Ally?� Jane asked.

�He can sleep on the floor.� Mikey generously offered.

�Gee, thanks.� Ally laughed as they went up the stairs.

Both stripping down to their boxers in a matter of seconds, Mikey climbed into his king sized bed, and Ally went over to his wardrobe where the spare blankets were kept.

�You weren�t really thinking of sleeping on the floor were you?� Mikey asked.

�Uh, yeah? Where else would I sleep.�

Mikey rolled over, making room for Ally on the bed, �Here.�

�Do you really think that�s a good idea, after�you know� Ally paused, he�d had quite a few beers, and after what had happened last term, with worrying frequency, he wasn�t sure that getting into bed with his best friend was quite the sensible thing to do. He was straight, and wanted to stay that way.

Mikey shrugged, �Just get the fuck into bed, and we�ll talk about it then.�

Ally dropped the blankets he was holding and walked over to the bed. Slipping underneath the covers, he self-consciously lay on the very edge of the bed, nearly falling off.

Mikey grinned to himself, he hoped Ally was ready for this, and, reaching out slipped an arm around Ally�s waist, pulling him closer. �Last term�what happened��he began

�I know.� Ally winced, �It�s fucking wrong.�

�Is it?� Mikey asked, loosening his hold on Ally slightly, disappointed.

�Course it is!� Ally squealed, �I am a bloke, you are a bloke, and yet when you were jerking me off, it felt�� he trailed off, ashamed of what he was about to say

�Good?� Mikey suggested

To Mikey�s complete and utter shock, Ally agreed with him, �Yeah.� The two boys lay there for a few minutes, Ally�s pale skin, pale blonde hair contrasting with Mikey�s dark hair, dark skin, black and white, good and evil, opposites, and yet, fitting so perfectly together.

�Is that wrong?� Ally asked.

Mikey shook his head, �No, at least.� He paused, �I don�t think so.�

�What do you think about, you know, everything?� Ally asked nervously, he wasn�t really sure if he wanted to know what Mikey thought.

�I, uh.� Mikey blushed so the tips of his ears went crimson, �The truth? I liked it, like, really liked it.�

Ally blushed too, and felt himself snuggling closer to Mikey, �Me too.� He whispered. �But I was kinda thinking, that maybe it�s because you�re a bloke, and blokes know about blokes, and what blokes like. Yeah?�

Mikey reached up a gentle hand and let it brush Ally�s cheek. �I know about you.� He whispered. �I think I liked it because it was you.�

Ally swallowed nervously. �You do? Um,� he paused, thinking about what Mikey had just said, �Was that coming out to me?�

Mikey shrugged, �I don�t know. I think, I only want to be gay, if I can be gay with you.� He laughed softly to himself, �Other than you, I only like girls.�

�I like girls.� Ally said abruptly. That was something he was sure of, and something he really liked saying. It was comforting. �I also like you, but, I don�t know if I like you.�

Mikey let an idle finger trace along Ally�s collarbone, and then down, tracing a line between his neck and his belly button, grinning slightly he could tell from the other boy�s expression he was enjoying it, �Would you like to experiment? Just to see if you like it?�

Ignoring his head, and following his heart, Ally moaned softly, �Maybe.� He whispered.

Mikey smiled, and leaning forward kissed the boy, surprised that Ally kissed him back.

For a moment, Ally lay in complete ecstasy, feeling Mikey�s body against him, feeling the gentle touch of Mikey�s skin against his, feeling Mikey�s hands soothing him. He felt Mikey�s strong arms rolling him over so he lay on his back.

Mikey grinned, he�d known in his heart of hearts for a while that this was what he wanted, and now, Ally, the guy of his dreams, wanted it too.

Automatically, Ally slipped his legs apart, willing Mikey to take control, terrified.

�Are you,� Mikey reached out a gentle hand, stroking Ally�s hair, �Are you ok?�

Ally stiffened slightly, �Ok? I think. Very scared.� He confessed

�Good,� Mikey grinned, lacing his fingers through Ally�s �We can be scared together then.�

Afterwards, they lay together on Mikey�s bed, fingers intertwined, legs wrapped around each other.

�What did you think?� Mikey asked nervously.

�It hurt.� Ally grinned.

�Sorry.�

�S�ok.� Ally kissed him on the cheek, �I liked it. A lot. I really liked it. I��

Mikey silenced him with a gentle kiss on the lips, �Shut up.� He grinned.

Ally nodded silently, snuggling, if it were even possible, closer to Mikey.

�Ally?� Mikey let his finger trace the edge of Ally�s ear, �Will you go out with me?�

Ally froze. �Um,� he wanted to say yes, he really really wanted to say yes, but he wasn�t sure if he wanted to say yes to the implications.

�We won�t tell anyone.� Mikey said softly. He knew Ally was scared, he also knew Ally�s views on being gay. And more importantly, he knew Ally�s family�s views on being gay.

�Ok then.� Ally whispered softly. �Yeah,� the words seemed to strengthen him, and for the first time since they�d had sex, he looked up into Mikey�s eyes. �Yes. I�ll go out with you.�

The next morning, it was Mikey who woke up first. He looked at Ally, who was sleeping peacefully, snuggled up in his arms, and smiled. He�d fancied Ally for so long, and it had been absolute hell not being able to do anything about it. For a while, he lay, gazing happily at Ally, just thinking quietly to himself how absolutely gorgeous the blonde boy was. He noticed a shiver run through Ally�s body, and realised with a jolt that at some point in the night his cover had fallen on the floor, and the two of them were in fact just lying there, with each other�s body heat for warmth. He let go of Ally, to try and reach out and grab the cover.

Ally whimpered softly in his sleep, and wrapped his arms tightly around Mikey, pulling him closer.

Mikey laughed. �So you don�t want me to leave?� he asked the sleeping boy. �I want to get the cover.� Again he tried to wriggle away from Ally, but Ally just held him tighter.

�Ok, ok,� Mikey whispered. �I�ll hold you.� He wriggled around a bit so that once again it was his arms around Ally. He placed a gentle kiss on Ally�s forehead, and grinned.

He heard feet thundering up the stairs, and a knock on his door.

�Mum says you have to get up for breakfast!� Megan, his fourteen year old sister, called.

�Ok.� Mikey mumbled sleepily. He really didn�t want to get up, he wanted to stay here, with Ally in his arms.

After he heard Megan run back down the stairs, he gentle shook Ally awake. �Allybear,� he whispered softly, �It�s time to get up now.� Ally opened his eyes, and Mikey could see the momentary pause of �Where am I again?� and then the total shock of recollection flooding through him.

�I�m guessing by our nakedness that wasn�t a dream.� Ally whispered.

Mikey nodded.

Ally thought about it for a moment, trying to decide what his reaction should be. He eventually decided, and slipped his arms around Mikey�s neck, kissing him softly. �You�re my boyfriend.� He murmured softly into the other boy�s mouth.

A huge grin spread across Mikey�s face. �So you�re ok with this then?�

Very slowly Ally nodded, �Yeah. I�m good.� Once again he let his lips merge with Mikey�s.

�Mum says you have to get up NOW!� Megan yelled and burst through the door. She paused for a moment, seeing her brother, and his best friend, cuddled up, naked, in bed with each other. And screamed.

�Shit.� Mikey cursed, and quick as a flash grabbed the cover off the floor, pulling it over himself and Ally.

Ally turned bright crimson, �So much for not telling anyone.� He grinned.

Mikey started to laugh, �Shhh,� he placed a gentle finger to Ally�s lips. Then turned to his sister, who was still yelling at the top of her lungs. �Meg, would you please shut up.�

Megan abruptly stopped screaming as her mother ran into the room. �Meggie? Are you ok?� she asked, terrified.

Megan silently pointed.

Jane Reed followed her daughter�s gaze, and blushed, �Come on Meg,� she said, pulling Megan by the hand out of the room, �We�ll let them get dressed and then,� she added the next bit loudly, so the boys could hear, �I think they have some explaining to do.�

�Uh oh.� Ally whispered. �That doesn�t sound good.�

Mikey shrugged as he rolled out of bed. �She�ll be fine with it. She�s a fairly open minded person.�

Ally laughed as Mikey threw a pair of trousers at him, �I don�t think meg is though.�

�I think Megan�s problem is the crush she�s had on you since for ever.� He laughed, �As she so puts it.�

�Oh God.� Ally groaned, �Then she�s probably going to hate you now.�

Mikey grinned at him, �You know I just think it means we have more in common.�

Groaning, Ally grabbed him by the hand, �You are going to hold my hand, through out the whole of this �explaining� business. Ok?�

Mikey nodded, and laced his fingers through Ally�s. �Fine by me.� He smiled, and gave him a quick kiss, before they headed nervously downstairs.

Jane looked at the two boys, standing, terrified in the kitchen doorway, holding hands so tightly it was a wonder they didn�t cut of each other�s circulation. She smiled, �And how long has this been going on?�

Mikey blushed bright crimson great he thought Now I sound like a whore �Last night,� he muttered.

Jane raised her eyebrows, and turned to Ally, �Do your parents know?�

Ally�s eyes widened, terrified. �No. Please don�t tell them Mrs Reed, I�ll love you for ever if you don�t tell them.�

Jane laughed, �It�s up to you to tell them Ally. I�ll keep your secrets till then.� She smiled to herself as both boys visibly relaxed. They were obviously terrified of Mr and Mrs Richards finding out. �Do you boys want some breakfast?� she gestured to the plate of bacon that was on the table.

Both boys grinned, and without a word, sat down, pulling plates in front of them.

�I trust you used proper protection?� Jane asked calmly as she sat down.

�Mum!� Mikey cried indignantly, going bright red. �You can�t ask that.�

Ally sniggered softly, �I think it�s a fair point.�

�I need to check on these things.� Jane grinned, knowing she was making Mikey uncomfortable, �It�s my duty as your mother.�

�And anyway!� Ally, still laughing, turned to Mikey, �Did we? Because I honestly can�t remember.�

�Yes.� Mikey muttered, going even redder. �Everyone happy now?�

Megan gasped, and spoke for the first time since the boys had come downstairs. �You know what that means, don�t you mum?� She cried, trying to get Mikey into trouble as all good little sisters do, �That means Mikey has condoms in his room!�

�Don�t anymore.� Mikey whispered softly in Ally�s ear, �I think we used the last.�

Ally sniggered, and grinned at Mikey.

�That�s bad, isn�t it mum?� Megan persisted in trying to get Mikey into trouble. She was furious at him, she was the one who was meant to go out with Ally, not him.

�No Meg,� Jane sighed, �That�s just sensible. Ally and Mikey are both over 16, so it�s all legal.�

�Yeah,� Mikey stuck his tongue out at her, �We�re sensible.�

�Don�t antagonise your sister Michael,� Jane sighed. �I think you�ve traumatised her quite enough.�

Mikey blushed, and sulking slightly, sat back in his seat. His sulk soon vanished though when he felt Ally slipping a hand around his waist.

�So you don�t mind?� he softly asked his mum.

Jane shook her head, smiling. �No.� she laughed, �I am wondering slightly why it�s taken you two so long. But I don�t mind.�

�You knew!� Mikey squealed, �You knew I liked him?�

Jane laughed, �I knew you both liked each other.�

Ally scowled, shaking his head, �That�s impossible. I didn�t even know I liked him.�

�Ah,� Jane chuckled at his expression, �But I�m a woman, we know these sorts of things.�

After breakfast, Ally followed Mikey back up to his room, and they both sat silently on the edge of his bed.

�So�� Mikey said softly, unsure of what to do now.

Ally grinned, and pushed him over, kissing him roughly. �You are so gorgeous, you deserve a prize.�

Matt and Eagle�s Christmas

Christmas eve, everyone had gone to bed. Eagle lay, alone in his room, thinking not of the exciting day ahead, but of Matt, who lay in the room next door, his Matt, his boyfriend. He could actually think that now. Glancing out of the window he saw a single star twinkling in the sky. He got up, and wandered over to the window, gazing out to the night sky. �I wish,� he whispered softly, �I wish Matt and I can have a really happy christmas, and I wish, I wish he could be my Matt, for ever, us, me and him, forever.�

From the doorway where he stood unnoticed, Matt grinned. Silently stepping forward, unseen by Eagle who still stood, gazing out the window. Standing now, right behind the boy, Matt slipped his arms around Eagle�s waist.

Eagle jumped, turning round, to find Matt�s face, inches from his own. �You surprised me.�

Holding a finger to his lips, gesturing silence, Matt whispered softly, �Your wish has come true.� All his fears gone, eh knew that what he wanted for the rest of his life, all he wanted, was Eagle. Gently he tugged at Eagle�s t-shirt.

Eagle raised his eyebrows, conscious of Seiji�s advice to take things slow with Matt. �You sure?�

Matt grinned, �Yep, and be quiet.� He kissed the older boy softly.

Sighing, but with delight, Eagle raised his arms, letting Matt tugg the t-shirt over his head. Grinning, he, slightly more gently than Matt had (he had had more practise) pulled Matt�s t-shirt off the boy. His gentle tongue slipped between Matt�s lips, inwardly grinning as he felt Matt literally melt in his arms. His strong, but tender arms guided Matt towards the bed. �You definite about this?�

Matt laughed, rolling his eyes, �Shut up and fuck me.� He sat down on Eagle�s bed, pulling the older boy towards him. Fumbling slightly, he slipped Eagle�s belt undone, starting to undo his jeans.

Pulling Matt up to standing, Eagle whipped the boys belt off, and slid his too big jeans over his slender hips. Stepping out of his own jeans, he smiled, this was how they were meant to be, together.

Matt grinned, as they lay down on the bed together, Eagle was being so sweet, so gentle, letting Matt know that the last thing he wanted was to hurt him, and this only made Matt love him even more, he was, in a word, perfect.

Eagle paused for a moment, gazing at Matt�s slender body, the gorgeous boy, that he had wanted for so long to be his, and now was.

�Eagle��Suddenly, Matt�s voice was slightly shaky, scared, �Eagle, I don�t know what to do.� He whispered. Seiji had taught him several things, but they hadn�t actually talked about sex.

Eagle smiled, knowing he was totally in control, �Don�t worry Matty, I�ll teach you. For starters� he flipped Matt over onto his back, laughing, �I�m on top.�

Matt felt a shiver of delight and anticipation run down his spine as Eagle�s hands slid over his body, slightly tugging at his boxers, he arched his back slightly, then, fighting against it, mirroring his boyfriend he slid his hands down Eagle�s body, tugging down his boxers, as he slipped out of his own. For a moment, they lay, delighted, naked against each other, totally in love.

�Wait.� Eagle whispered, grinning, he stretched out a hand to the lamp on his bedside table, and switched out the light.

Alex and Raven�s Christmas

It was first thing on Christmas morning, Raven lay quietly in her bed, her stocking full of unopened presents at the end of her bed. She wouldn�t open them until Matt and Eagle were there, but she wasn�t stupid and the wall�s weren�t very thick, so she decided not to wake them up just yet.

She reached out to her bedside, and took out her sketchpad, absentmindedly drawing pictures of Alex. It was always Alex she drew, because she loved him.

Miles away, Alex lay in his bed, very, very lonely. His mother was still in the hospital, and so he was spending Christmas alone. He�d probably go and visit her later in the day, but he wasn�t sure. He climbed out of bed, and walked over to his washbasin, where someone had helpfully put out his shaving stuff. He quickly ran the blade over his face, not bothering to do it in any particular detail, it wasn�t like he was seeing anyone special today. He wandered over to his wardrobe, and pulled out a suit, with a stiff necked shirt. He knew he�d be expected to be seen at church today, but he really didn�t fancy going.

Raven heard her door swing open, and laughed as Matt and Eagle both ran into the room, clutching their stockings.

�Have fun last night?� she asked, smirking slightly, and both boys turned bright crimson. She laughed, �Merry Christmas,� she grinned, hugging them both.

Matt sighed, happily grinning, and sat cross legged at the end of her bed, �Want me to pass your stocking?�

Raven nodded and held out her arms for it. Shuffling slightly, she sat up, so there was room for Eagle to sit between her and Matt.

Eagle grinned and sat down next to Matt, lacing their fingers together, and kissing him on the cheek.

�Oy!� Raven laughed, �Not on my bed you don�t.�

They had just started opening their presents, when her mobile phone, which sat on her bedside table, rang.

Alex wandered downstairs, and glanced around, no-one to be seen. Absentmindedly he walked down the next flight of stairs to the kitchen, there was always people in the kitchen. He was right, everyone was standing, clustered around the stove, some people cooking, the others just laughing and joking.

As they noticed him, the servants all stopped talking.

Alex blushed, and grinned, �Happy Christmas.�

His butler, Harry, stepped forward, and hugged the boy, �Merry Christmas Alex,� he grinned.

Alex smiled up at him, but felt tears tugging in the back of his throat. �I�m just gonna go make a phone call,� he muttered.

Raven hit the answer button with a delighted squeal. �Heya! Merry Christmas!� she laughed.

�Happy Christmas,� Alex�s voice came through the phone lines.

Raven blushed. �I miss you,�

�Miss you too,� Alex laughed, �And I miss the wicked things you can do with your tongue.� He knew he was on his own, but he wanted to check if Raven was, wandering how far he could go with this conversation.

Raven blushed, �Yeah, I miss,� she paused slightly, �That too.�

�Matt and Eagle with you then?� He knew Raven would never say anything even remotely dirty with her brother around, even if she had as foul a mouth as any of them when he wasn�t.

Raven nodded, and then realised that nodding doesn�t work over the phone. �Yeah,� she laughed, �They are.�

�Oh, say happy Christmas to them from me.�

Raven took the phone away from her ear. �Alex says happy Christmas.� She said to the two boys.

�Happy Christmas Alex!� Matt called loud enough for Alex to hear.

�Yeah, Happy Christmas!� Eagle laughed. He liked Alex when he was over the phone, that way he couldn�t screw Raven.

�Um so yeah.� Raven blushed, �Did you catch that?�

�Yeah.�

�Having a nice Christmas?�

�Yeah, it�s great.� Alex lied.

�Liar.� She said softly, standing up and wandering out the hallway where her brother couldn�t hear her. �You�re having a rubbish time, aren�t you?�

Alex sniffed slightly, �I�ll be fine. The fact I�m going to see you in a few weeks is keeping me alive.�

Raven laughed softly, �It could be worse. You could have to be here with me and listen to the sounds of Matt and Eagle having sex.�

Alex winced, �That doesn�t sound so good.�

Raven giggled, �I wish they�d remember that my room is right next door to Eagle�s. They try and keep me all innocent and sweet, and then go and do things like that.�

�You are sweet.� Alex laughed, �Just not so innocent anymore.�

�Hmmm,� Raven sighed, �I think it was you that did that though.�

�I think you managed to corrupt yourself actually.� Alex paused, listening to someone shout from far off. �I have to go.� He said suddenly, �I need to be at church.�

�Ok,� Raven smiled. �Merry Christmas.�

�Same to you. Love you.�

�Love you too.�

They both paused a moment, neither of them wanting to end the conversation, but both knowing they must, and then both hung up.

Raven wandered back into her room, grinning from ear to ear, to find Matt pinning Eagle to her bed, and kissing him as though he meant to kill him.

�I said.� She said pointedly, �Not on my bed you don�t.�

Fergie (and Tor)�s Christmas

Fergie sat up in his room on Christmas day. They�d been to church, which was nice as always, he always loved the Christmas day service. Then he�d come home, and had put the potatoes in to roast, (he�d done the turkey before they left) and then prepared all the vegetables. Then he�d wandered up stairs like he�d been told to, and lay on his bed, with his hands over his ears, trying to block out the sounds of Christmas that were floating up from downstairs.

Tor grinned as Frankie grabbed yet another present with her name on it. He swore he never got that many presents as a kid. Still grinning, he noticed Kathy, sat on the other end of the sofa to him, looking rather dejected. He reached out and grabbed her by the waist, his strong arms pulling her into a hug. �And what�s ruining your Christmas?� he asked.

Kathy shrugged, �I feel sorry for him, all alone upstairs.�

Tor frowned, �You never mentioned this before.�

�I guess this is the first year I�ve really thought about it. Before that was just what happened, Fergie spent Christmas on his own.�

Frankie squealed as she tore the paper off. It was another set of dolls, identical to one she�d got just a few minutes earlier. A man and a woman, and pens that you could use to draw on their faces for make-up and tattoos. She grinned and took the man out of the box, and grabbed the man from the box she�d received earlier. �This one is Fergie,� she laughed, �And this one is Tor.� She hugged the doll she�d just named Fergie. �I like this one bestest.�

Tor chuckled softly to himself. It was no secret that Frankie loved Fergie more than him, but he still found David�s annoyance at this fact highly amusing.

�Where is Fergie?� Frankie asked.

�Upstairs,� her father told her in as neutral a tone as possible.

She frowned, her little face deep in thought. Then her eyes started to brim full of tears, �But I want him here. Downstairs with me!� the tears spilled over the edge of her eyelids, and trickled pitifully down her face.

Catherine looked pleadingly at her husband, �She�ll only scream,� she said softly.

David sighed, he didn�t want Fergie downstairs, ruining his Christmas, but he really didn�t want his precious little girl upset on Christmas day. �I�ll go and get him.�

�Come in,� Fergie muttered at the knock on his door. His annoyance was heightened when David walked in, ruining his peace and quiet.

David reached forwards, and pulled him up by his ear. �You�re coming downstairs.�

Fergie froze, confused, �Why?�

�Because Frances wants you.� David scowled, �Don�t worry. You�ll pay for it in blow jobs later.� He smirked.

Fergie scowled even darker than his step-dad, he didn�t want to have to suck David off, but he did want to see his family on Christmas day. �Ok.� He muttered.

�You didn�t have a choice about it anyway.� David laughed cruelly as he dragged the boy downstairs.

Fergie fixed a grin to his face before he walked into the living room. �Happy Christmas Everyone!�

Frankie squealed and held her arms up to her older brother. �Fergie!�

Fergie laughed and swung her up onto his hip. �Happy Christmas beautiful,� he grinned, kissing her softly on the nose, �Have you got lots of nice presents?�

Frankie nodded as he put her down, she picked up the two dolls. �Fergie and Tor,� she said. Then she frowned, looking at Fergie�s face. She sighed and sat down, picking up the pens she needed to draw on their faces. She held the one called Fergie in her hand, and using the purple pen, scribbled heavily in various patches on his face. One over his eye, one on his cheek and one on his jawbone. �Now it�s Fergie.� She grinned,

Fergie knelt down beside her, �What did you do to it�s face?� he asked, slightly confused.

Frankie reached out and gently touched the bruise over his eye, and then on his cheek, and then on his jawbone. �I made him look like my Fergie,�

Fergie raised his eyebrows, shocked and horrified that Frankie was beginning to notice these things. �Why don�t you open some more presents?� he suggested, trying to distract her.

Tor shuffled up on the sofa so that Fergie could beside him.

Fergie grinned and sat down beside his twin, wrapping an arm about his shoulder, and smiling at Kathy. �Everyone having a good Christmas?�

Kathy grinned, �I am now you�re here.�

Tor leant his head against Fergie�s shoulder. �Me too.� He whispered. He turned slightly so he was facing Fergie, and kissed him softly, a gentle lingering kiss. �God I love you.� He murmured.

Fergie grinned, �I thought you were meant to be straight.�

Tor scowled, �I am straight.�

�So don�t declare your love for another bloke then. Even if I am your twin.� Fergie laughed.

Tor blushed and snuggled closer to Fergie. �I still love you. And you can�t stop me.�

�Wasn�t trying to.� Fergie laughed, and kissed his brother. He wanted to be happy, and he wanted Tor to be happy too, he knew the rest of his Christmas was going to be absolutely shit, so he wanted to spend this time, downstairs, being happy.

Frankie stood up suddenly, and ran out of the room. �Back in a sec!� she called, which was a favourite phrase of Kathy�s that she�d picked up.

Kathy smiled, and blushed slightly.

�You know,� Fergie leant across so he could whisper in her ear, �You look very hot when you blush.�

Unintentionally, she blushed an even darker crimson, and both twins laughed softly.

Frankie ran back into the room, clutching another two Barbie dolls, to go with the four she already had. Carefully, and with the patience only a five year old can have, she arranged them how she wanted them. Five of the dolls sat happily in a circle and the sixth one, the one she�d scribbled over called Fergie, was sat a fair distance away from the others, on it�s own.

�Fergie isn�t allowed to come downstairs,� she said solemnly. Then she picked up one of the male dolls, and made him totter over to �Fergie� �Daddy needs to have a chat with Fergie.�

Fergie froze, she didn�t know about that, she couldn�t know, she mustn�t know. Much to his relief, she sat the David doll down beside the one of him, and they proceeded to talk in a language that no-one could understand. She really did think they had a �chat�.

�Flerble, unklewink, eshphlepple,� she muttered making up the language as she went along. Then she picked up both dolls and made them half walk, half jump back to the rest of the family. They remained stood up, and she knocked the David doll towards the Fergie doll, who fell flat on the floor. �Oh dear,� she muttered, but with very little emotion in her voice. �All fall down.� She picked up Fergie and put him back where he�d been before, and then continued to let the rest of the family talk in this nonsensical language to each other.

�That is one messed up child,� Tor whispered softly to his brother.

�Sorry,� Fergie muttered instinctively.

�S�not your fault,� Tor glanced across at where David sat, �It�s his. The fucking weirdo.�

Fergie was allowed his few hours of grace, sat downstairs with his family, watching his sister open her presents, and a few for Tor and Kathy as well. But David soon glanced at the clock. �I think it�s nearly time for our Christmas meal,� he smirked at Fergie.

Fergie took this as his cue, and silently stood up, going to finish laying the table, and setting out all the food. When he�d finished, he quietly went and told David it was ready before wandering back upstairs to his room. He lay down, hungry, on Tor�s bed, sighing softly to himself. He buried his face in his brother�s pillow, and finally, for the first time that day, let the tears flow down his cheeks.

There was no knock on the door this time, no warning. David just walked straight in. He closed the door, and leant against it. �I want my Christmas present Fergal.�

Fergie rolled over and stared up at him, hatred in his eyes. �What?�

David laughed softly. �You were allowed downstairs on the condition that you pay for it by giving me head.� Hie ugly face twisted into a smirk, �On your knees.�

Fergie knew better than to fight back. He swung his legs off the bed and stood up, walking, as if to the noose, over to the door. With a thud he dropped to his knees.

�Eager aren�t we?� David mocked.

Fergie�s scowl darkened even further. If he protested, he was hit, if he didn�t he was mocked for being �eager�. He silently lifted his hands to the button on David�s jeans.

David caught both of the boy�s hands in his, holding them high above Fergie�s head. �You�re denied the use of your hands.�

Fergie�s scowl darkened even further, and he blushed. Leaning forward he gently used his teeth to undo the button and slide the zipper down.

He hated himself for doing this. He hated David even more. He hated Marcus, for being so understanding, when Fergie didn�t want people to be understanding, he wanted to be alone. He hated Frankie for being so beautiful, and the only reason he did this. He hated Tor for being Tor, and not Fergie. He hated his mum for not doing anything about it. He hated his dad for leaving. But most of all, he hated the taste.

Afterwards, he waited, still knelt on the floor, until David had left. Then he stood up, and walked over to his bedside drawer, getting out a packet of cigarettes. He lit one, and stuck it in his mouth, breathing in heavily to take away the taste of his stepfather. He lay back on his bed, exhausted, and quietly smoked. The taste reminded him of Marcus, because of the smoke they�d shared that last night of school.

He lay alone on his bed for what seemed like hours. Then he heard footsteps outside the door. He�d known they were coming before they did. Fergie had known he�d come upstairs to bed almost before he had.

Tor pushed the door open, and wandered forward, biting back tears. �I�m sorry,� he whispered.

Fergie shook his head, shaking away the apology, and held out his arms. �You come here and give me a hug.� He grinned.

Tor laughed softly, and willingly obliged, climbing onto Fergie�s narrow single bed, and wrapping his arms about his twin, one arm grabbing his waist, one hand tangled in his hair.

They didn�t need to speak to know what each other wanted. They both wanted the same thing, for entirely different reasons. Tor because he loved Fergie, probably slightly more than he should, and he missed Mara. Fergie because he wanted to block his life out of his mind, and there was only one way to do that � sex.

Afterwards, they lay, comfortably tangled up in the duvet.

�Oh!� Tor muttered softly, �I have to get presents for you.�

�Presents?� Fergie half sat up. Excited. Fergie didn�t get presents.

�Yuhuh. Uncle Sean had this great idea of giving me a box for Christmas, and inside its secretly filled with presents for both of us!� He got out of bed and grabbed his dressing gown. �Wait here. I�ll go get it.�

Fergie lay, waiting patiently in his bed. He�d wanted to help Tor, he was excited, but he knew if they were caught, they�d get into even deeper trouble, and it was him who�d have to bear it all. If just Tor on his own was caught doing anything he could get away with it.

Tor barged through the door of the room, and put the box down on the floor. �Box� was an understatement. It was a trunk, the kind traditionally used for kids at boarding schools. It had a metal plaque on the front with the letters �TRN� engraved. Tor slid the plaque out and flipped it over, before sliding it back in. It now read the letters �FCN&TRN�

Fergie grinned, �I love uncle Sean,� he muttered happily.

�I love you.� Tor whispered softly, before flipping the trunk open. Inside were a whole bundle of presents, some wrapped in pink, some in blue. Probably a few more in pink than blue, but the difference was minimal.

Tor grinned at his brother. �Uncle Sean says the pink ones are for you, the blue ones are for me. But we both have to share all of them.�

Fergie grinned, and reached for his first Christmas present of the day, and tore off the wrapper.

Seiji and Art�s Christmas

Seiji wandered upstairs, shattered, and emotionally exhausted. He�d had the best Christmas since he was eleven. The year before he�d been in prison, and it had been just after Art hadn�t been, so he�d been all alone, and hated every minute of it, years before that he�d been in prison with Art for every Christmas. The Christmas he was eleven had been his first, and last Christmas with Seth, and that was still his favourite. But this year came a close second. He�d spent the day with Art, Amber and her family. They�d all laughed and joked, and opened presents, and been kind to him.

Delighted and exhausted he fell into bed. Some of the others were still awake downstairs, drinking and sharing stories, but he�d been too tired to stay up.

It was a few hours later when Seiji woke up again.

�Shit,� Art swore, �I didn�t mean to wake you.�

�S�ok.� Seiji muttered sleepily. �I don�t mind.�

Art quickly flicked out the light, which had woken Seiji up, and clambered out of his clothes. He climbed into bed beside his boyfriend, and grinned pulling Seiji close to him, into his arms.

�Merry Christmas Seiji, Love you.�

Seiji looked up at the older boy and smiled, placing a gentle kiss on his lips. �Happy Christmas.�