I know it's not Christmas. F*cking deal with it.

Oooooooooo

"You're going. It's quality family time and it's the holidays!"

Carl would have argued but it was Michonne, not his dad, that was talking to him. He knew she hated dressing up as much as he did. He sighed. "Fine. But I'm not doing my hair fancy! I'm leaving it loose!"

Michonne smiled but didn't say anything. She had no room to talk with how she wore hers. She smoothed out her deep green shirt in the mirror, contrasting with the white skirt and black dress boots. She had wanted the black skirt, but since Rick had gushed about how good the white one looked, she caved.

Carl smiled as he left his stepmom to finish getting Judith ready. It had hurt at first when his mom left them for Shane, not even bothering to share custody but pushing them both off on Rick completely. But since Michonne and Rick had hooked up, his dad had been much more relaxed and easy to talk to.

Carl stretched his arms far above his head as he entered his old bedroom. Since he moved out, he told his dad it was fine if he wanted to convert Carl's old room to something else. But Rick had insisted that he wanted Carl to know he always had a place in their home. The sap.

Before he dressed, he changed the bandage covering his eye. He hated seeing the reddened area, hated seeing that large area of his face covered. Carl sighed sadly. He hadn't even had the courage to date since his injury. His ex had been the one to shoot him, messing around with a gun his own father had given him and trying to show off for Carl. Carl had insisted that it wasn't safe, but before he could get the gun from Ron, it shot off and when Carl came to, he was in a hospital bed with his dad and Michonne's tear-stained faces over him.

He quickly dumped Ron, hating him not only for being so reckless but for putting those expressions on the faces of the two people he loved the most. He never wanted to see his dad or Michonne look like that again.

Not that Ron would have stayed with him. Sure, he had begged when Carl broke up with him, but Carl was sure the roles would have been reversed once Ron got a look under the bandage. No one wanted a damaged twink.

Carl shook his head to try and get rid of the thoughts running around. This was a family night. He had to try and be happy.

Trying to make his long hair presentable, he went to dress up in at least a passable fashion. He chose some khakis, black dress shoes he had worn for Christmas concerts in high school, and a cream button up shirt over a white tank. The white seemed to point out his bandage more, but the last time he complained about his eye being so noticeable, their neighbor Daryl had punched him in the arm and told him not to worry about what other people thought.

Smoothing out his wavy hair again, he went downstairs, seeing his Dad give Judy a granola bar since he wasn't sure what food would be offered at the party. It was at their new neighbor's house across the street. The guy had just moved in and Carl hadn't had a chance to meet the guy yet. His dad and Michonne had been stopped by the guy a few days before Carl had come home for Christmas break, saying he was throwing a Christmas party so he could get to know the neighborhood. He expected some pot bellied guy in his seventies with a nagging wife who was gunna get too sloppy drunk.

Grabbing some jackets as it was just a short walk, Carl offered to carry Judith. As she was propped on his hip, she played with his hair, babbling something he didn't quite understand. She was about two so she was pretty good at talking and such, but there were times when she would tell stories and Carl couldn't make out what she said. It was too cute for him to point that out though.

The yard was decked out with snowmen the resident clearly made himself, an inflatable elf posed to look like he was waving, some display with toys and a sign that said "Island of Misfit Toys". Carl snorted a laugh at the reference. He shielded Judith's eyes as they moved closer to the bright and mutli-colored lights. If the outside was this flashy and gaudy, he dreaded the inside.

It wasn't like he expected, though. Where the outside was cliche, the inside had more of a classy feel. The lights hung up everywhere made a soft golden and white glow, giving the impression of silver and gold. The large tree was done beautifully and Carl was almost convinced they hired people to decorate it. The base of the tree was overflowing with gifts and he wondered if they were empty boxes dolled up like they do at the mall or if this guy actually had the money to waste on so many gifts.

"Welcome!" A rich deep voice broke Carl from his thoughts and he looked over to see a man how appeared to be in his early forties dressed as Santa. This guy hired a Santa? Carl couldn't make out the face, but he saw sparkling dark eyes and he blushed. "What a cutie! Mind if I hold her?" The Santa gestured to Judith, still on Carl's hip.

Unable to form words, Carl nodded and handed his sister over, smiling at the way her eyes widened in amazement at seeing Santa Clause. She laughed and began to play with the fake beard, Santa bouncing her up and down. "Ho, ho, ho! How are you, little girl?" He turned to Carl. "We have a kid zone all set up for these little ones. It's the fenced off dining room so we can still watch them," The Santa gestured to the play area for Carl before moving to take Judith. Carl followed, seeing many of the kids he recognized around the neighborhood. He was surprised to see a tv going with some cartoons, toys, and tables with chairs all set up for the kids to play on. He had to say, he was impressed. He couldn't wait to meet this guy running the party.

As soon as Judith was on the ground, she dashed off, picking up a doll left on the floor and swinging it around. Carl smiled at the sight but gasped as an arm was slung over his shoulder. The Santa pulled Carl to his side, smiling. "And what about you, kitten? What are you looking to get for Christmas?"

Kitten? Carl gave an awkward laugh. "I'm kinda too old to beg for gifts," he replied. He wanted to be polite since this guy was just doing his job.

The Santa hummed in thought. "Looks like I'll have to guess then," he mused, running a gloved hand over the fake beard.

"Looks like," Carl joked back. He tried not to think too much about the pleasant way the Santa smelled or how nice his voice sounded. "I uh...should tell my dad where Judy is. Excuse me," He ducked under the Santa's grasp and went to find his dad and Michonne, leaving a Santa watching him leave, a knowing smile on his face.

Oooo

By the time he found his folks, Carl had been stopped several times by people wanting to hear about how he was doing in college, who he was dating, would he be moving back any time soon… It was so tiring. But he kept a smile on as much as he could. When he found them, his dad was talking to the Santa impersonator with Michonne beside them.

Carl strode over, smiling at Michonne. His dad looked around the room, still talking. "Seriously, Negan, I'm impressed! When you said you were throwing a party, I didn't expect all this!"

Carl's eyes widened. The Santa is the host?!

The Santa- Negan- laughed and Carl shivered at the sound. "Yeah, well, I don't have much else I splurge on. Kids deserve a good holiday, right? So why not have it be something for them, too. I just hope I did shopping okay. I kinda guessed with the gifts,"

Those are actual gifts by the tree?!

Rick grinned. "Oh, I'm sure you did great! So many of these kids are so young, they aren't gunna care what they get,"

"That's true," Negan relented. His eyes found Carl's and the younger blushed, looking away. Those dark eyes glittered again. "What about you? Did you decide what Santa's gunna get you yet?"

Carl's face turned darker as his dad and Michonne now also looked over at him. He shook his head, hoping his face wasn't as red as he felt it was. Michonne elbowed Carl in a teasing gesture, smiling. "It's no good, Santa. He won't even tell us what he wants,"

Negan chuckled. "Well, I'll just guess then," A chiming of a clock could be heard over the chatter of the party and Negan excused himself, saying it was time for him to give out gifts for the kids. Michonne excused herself as well, saying she'd get Judith. She placed a kiss on Rick's cheek and strode off, leaving the Grimes men alone.

"You get something to eat yet?" Rick asked. When Carl shook his head, Rick led Carl to the food in the kitchen.

Oooooo

After an hour, Carl was full and the house was littered with wrapping paper, the kids running about and showing their parents what they got from Santa. Carl smiled as Judy came over and showed him a princess Barbie doll, some kind he didn't recognize. She asked him to help her take the doll from the packaging and he made quick work of it, smiling as she gave a quick "tantoo" before rushing over to their dad.

Carl grinned and felt the couch below him sink. He looked over to see Negan, still dressed. "Whoo, that was longer than I expected! But I think I thought of what to get you," he commented.

Carl quirked a brow. "Oh yeah?"

"Walk with me," Negan didn't give Carl a chance to refuse as he already began heading up the stairs, everyone too distracted to care that the host was ducking out for a few. Carl's brow furrowed in confusion. He looked around, making sure no one saw him follow the older man. Negan left the bedroom door at the end of the hall open, letting Carl walk in. "Excuse me, but I've been wearing this so long I'm loosin' my damn mind!" Negan opened the closet, taking out a dark red dress shirt and black pants before beginning to take off the Santa costume.

Carl's eyes widened. This man was just going to undress in front of him?! Carl's eyes were glued as the beard and hat was pulled off to show a dark haired man with a much more tamed cover of facial hair, gray mixed in the black. It was styled and made Carl want to run his hands through the strands. Negan carelessly tossed the materials to the bed, starting to take off the suit and padding, showing muscular arms and a toned chest. Carl's throat felt dry.

"So, I think I have a few solid guesses. Just tell me yes or no, yeah?" Carl didn't reply, but Negan went on anyway. "So… is it a gameboy?"

Carl laughed. "Nah, I'm good,"

"Some fancy chocolate?"

"No, thanks," Carl smiled, shaking his head. He tried not to let his eyes linger. No doubt if Negan knew Carl was gay, he wouldn't be stripping in front of him.

"Hmmm….How about dinner for two then?"

Carl's smile vanished in confusion. "What?"

Negan had slipped the dress pants on and was just putting the red shirt on over his white tee. He smiled at Carl as he did up the buttons. "Ya know, a nice home cooked meal by yours truly. Maybe some candlelight and music…"

Carl blushed. "What are you talking about?" He gave a nervous laugh, looking away.

Negan moved closer, making Carl face him by holding the young man's chin. Carl;s heart hammered and he resisted the urge to bite his lip. Negan gave a predatory smile. "Before you go back to classes, of course. You don't have any food allergies, do you?" Carl shook his head slowly, in a daze. Negan grinned. "Good. I'll be sure to make up something nice. Say… New Year's eve? You're old man will be too busy patrolling to miss you, right?" Carl nodded and then gasped as Negan ran his thumb over Carl's lower lip, making the younger want to bite at it. "I do look forward to seeing this lips wrapped around my silverware as you taste it," He gave a playful wink and left the room, leaving Carl trembling and flustered.

What was that?!

Ooooooooooooooo

Ha. I may do a sequel oneshot but idk...