"Well," I started, "I think I'm broke for now. I might have gone overboard with buying Christmas gifts."

"I'll say," Benji laughed, "You've got bags inside of bags, and they're all full of stuff."

The four of us had gone to the mall to get some Christmas shopping done. After Christmas we'd planned to start on some baby shopping. We were going to change the guestroom into a nursery, and eventually into the baby's own room when it got older.

"I think we're good to go home," Joel nodded, "These bags seem to weigh a ton. And my arms can't handle it."

"Poor Joely," Chester grinned, pinching his cheek, "I'm sure you can make it out to the car."

"Don't be so sure," Joel smirked, "My arms may fall off along the way."

"Then we'll just super glue them back on," Chester nodded, "See? I have an answer for everything."

"I've noticed," Joel teased him, thanking some guy who was polite enough to hold the door open for him.

"People are always more nice around holidays," I noted, "If it wasn't Christmas, I'd bet you'd have a door slammed in your face about now."

"Ouch," Joel grimaced at the thought, "Now my face hurts too. Thanks Mike."

"No problem," I smiled sweetly. Benji opened the trunk of the car and we all tossed our bags in, before Chester and Joel climbed up front and I settled in the back with Benji. I sighed as he held me against him. We have practically dead-beat cops around here, so we knew we wouldn't be pulled over or anything.

I covered my mouth as I yawned, suddenly feeling tired. "Sleepy?" Benji smiled, playing with the zipper of my coat pocket. I nodded. "Yeah. I think I need a nap."

"Well then we'll get you to sleep once we get home," Benji replied.

*~*~*~*

*Benji*

"Mike's asleep?" Joel asked me as I went downstairs and joined him and Chester in the living room.

"Mmmhmm," I nodded, plopping down onto armchair, "Out like a light."

"Ha! I win!" Joel grinned, having beaten Chester at some fighting game on the Playstation, "I'm so dayum good!"

"Hello Mr. Ego," Chester giggled as Joel pouted at him.

"Dude, that's so hurting my self-esteem," Joel pouted, "You're just jealous 'cause I won. And you didn't."

"Keep telling yourself that," Chester nodded, "Wanna play Benj?"

I shook my head. "Nah. I know I'd lose. Paul, Billy and Chris hog the games on tour so I never get a chance to play."

"Kick them off," Chester grinned like it was the most obvious thing. It probably was.

"Benji could never do that," Joel laughed, "He's a big softie at heart."

*~*~*~*

*Joel*

I smiled and held Chester's hand as we walked along the snow covered ground, our shoes making a crunching sound with each step we took. "I think my ears are frozen off," Chester chuckled, rubbing his left ear, "I should've worn a hat or something."

"Don't feel bad," I smiled as we came to the park, "I didn't think to bring one either."

"Yeah, so we're both screwed."

The skate rink in the park had frozen over, so there were now a few couples and some kids ice skating, and soft Christmas music floating from the speakers that were set on poles, most likey for a sports game announcer or something.

"I would sit down on the bench, but I'm afraid my ass would get stuck," Chester laughed softly. I snickered at that thought and leaned against the wall of the rink, watching the people skating past.

"We should come back here sometime and go ice skating before it melts away," I said, "I think it would be romantic. We should come when no one else is here."

"Aww, Joely's got a romantic edge to him," Chester teased, wrapping an arm around my waist, "I'd like to see this romantic side more often Mr. Madden."

"That can be arranged," I smiled, leaning my head on his shoulder.

*~*~*~*

*Benji*

"Hey baby," I smiled as Mike woke up, "Sleep okay?"

"Yeah," Mike nodded, "Woooah. Never shake your head when you wake up."

"Get dizzy?" I guessed, "I do it all the time." I sat down beside him and crawled under the covers with him. "Man. It's nice and warm under here," I smiled, curling close to him, rubbing his bare stomach gently, "You're getting a bit bigger."

"Yeah," Mike smiled, his hand joining mine, "Next month we get to find out what we're having."

"Can't wait," I smiled, laying my head down on the pillow beside his, "What do you hope for?"

"Doesn't matter to me," Mike smiled, "I'll still love the baby no matter what it is."

"I think twins would be nice," I smiled.

"You would," Mike chuckled, "You ARE a twin."

"Yeah, but still," I smiled again at the thought, "It would be fun. Maybe not for you since you'd have to deliever them, but after it, it would be fun."

"And a lot of work," Mike nodded, "Twice as much of everything."

"Good point," I giggled, "Okay, one is good for us to start with."

"Yes," Mike nodded with a smile, "One until we get the hang of it. Then more if we decide to have more. But right now, we should focus on this one."

*~*~*~*