AN: Okay, so I have set myself a challenge. For three fandoms, namely Gravity Falls, TMNT, and Big Time Rush, I am going to write a shortish story. Once every three days, I will update. By this I mean one fandom will be the 1st of December, the 4th, 7th, etc. Another will be the 2nd, 5th, 8th, etc, and the last will be the 3rd, 6th, 9th, etc. Then, on Christmas day, I will post the last chapter of each story. Call it an advent calendar kind of present to anyone who reads my stuff.

The may include references to Christianity. Don't let this put you off if you're not Christian, just enjoy the stories for what they are, not for Christian propoganda, and any Christmas miracles can be just that: a miracle.

If you wanna have a go, go for it! I'd love it if people did, just let me know so I can read yours too!

Randomguest xxx

It was only the first day of December, and yet in apartment 2J of the Palmwoods, the Big Time Rush family was already decorating. Well, they were going back to Minnesota for Christmas day, so they may as well have enjoyed as much of the decorations as possible while they could.

James and Kendall had manhandled the huge tree through the lobby and up the stairs, seeing as it wouldn't fit in the elevator, once again thankful that Bitters had used all of his six weeks of leave to go on holiday during December. The temporary manager just couldn't care less what was going on, as long as people weren't leaving bad reviews.

And most people don't leave bad reviews about being allowed to have a Christmas tree in their apartment.

So there it was, in all its full glory, covered from top to bottom in tinsel, lights and baubles bought to LA from Minnesota. All that was left to put on was the star.

"I wanna put it on!" Carlos yelled, trying to snatch it from Kendall, who was holding it high in the air where Carlos couldn't reach out.

"Uh, uh, uh, Carlos, you put on on last year." Mrs Knight chided, chuckling at the way Christmas so quickly turned her four, almost adult, boys into small children again.

"Yeah, it's my turn!" Katie smirked, folding her arms and cocking her hip. Kendall smiled smugly at his shorter friend and handed the star to his younger sister.

"Fine." Carlos said dejectedly, before brightening up. "But I'm doing the nativity scene!"

Kendall cocked an eyebrow, James folded his arms, and Logan shook his head, but they all smiled at the excitable antics of their bouncy friend.

James rolled his eyes, before lifting Katie up onto his shoulders so she could reach the top of the tree.

"I'm not a baby, you know, James."

"I know," the tall boy said, chuckling. "But you're still short. I did this to Carlos last year, remember?"

Everyone but Carlos laughed, Logan taking out his phone and showing everyone the picture he had taken.

Carlos rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay. Just cause I'm short! Now I'm glad I'm not putting the star on the tree."

"Aww, but you look so cute!" Logan mocked jokingly. "Look at the little picture!"

Carlos finally laughed, and once the star topped the tree, went to his room to get the hand-carved wooden nativity figures from the box under his bed.

"Why do you always set them out, Carlitos?" James asked casually from the sofa as his roommate returned. "I mean, they're cool and all, but you're not usually Christian."

"Technically, I am." The shorter boy pointed out, starting to set the scene up. "I was christened, and I've been confirmed. But anyway, my abuelo carved these for my abuela on their first Christmas together. She got them out every year since, and then when abuelo died and mami and papi decided to move to America, abuela gave them to mami as a leaving present. Mami put them out every year at home, and then when we moved out here, mami gave them to me, to remind me of Christmas at home." Carlos paused his narrative to have a look at his handiwork. "It doesn't feel like Christmas without them there." He finished, joining his best friend on the sofa.

"Fair enough. That's really sweet." James said, looking over at the meticulously laid out model on the kitchen counter.

James put 'It's a wonderful life' on, and the two boys revelled in watching their first Christmas film of the season. That was, until Mrs Knight came in, paused the movie, and turned to Carlos, phone in hand.

"Carlos, it's for you, honey." She said in a very serious tone.

It was at this point that Logan and Kendall decided to reappear, sitting down next to James on the sofa.

Carlos gave his bandmates a confused look before taking the phone.

"Hello? Mami? What is it? Wait, what? Are you sure? No, it can't... But... Okay, mami. Bye."

The three boys sat quietly, very confused after hearing this one-sided phone call. After Carlos made no move, however, James reached out to touch his shoulder.

As soon as the fingertips brushed his shoulder, Carlos was up and running, tears streaming down his face, heading to the safety of his bedroom.

So, what do you think? Short, I know, but when I said 'shortish', I meant nine short chapters.

What do you think Carlos was told? Let me know in the reviews!

Also tell me how I did in the reviews. Don't be too mean, but I will happily receive constructive criticism. And if, by any chance, you plan on trying this challenge, let me know, either by PM, or in the reviews, because I would like to read your stuff!

Abuelo means grandad in Spanish; abuela means grandma.

I will only say this once: I don't own btr. If I did, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction, would I?

Randomguest xxx