Murr's voice held a slight whine as he announced his sister and brother in law's decision.
The other guys chuckled.
"Laugh if you want, but I'm so telling mom and dad". He giggled childishly at his own little joke.
All were sleepy and Joe and Sal were about ready to go their motel room for the night, leaving Brian and Murr in the connecting room.
Tonight had been the last show of the year and they were heading back to the big apple in the morning.
Sal stretched, looking at each of his three friends in turn.
"Q, you going to your mom and dad's tomorrow night?"
It was two days before Christmas. They would be getting back to New York City late tomorrow night.
Sal's mind had been wandering all day. This was the first year Joe would be without his mom, his sisters and their families were both out of state for Christmas,
this year both decided to spend Christmas with their husbands' families.
"Yea, man. Straight from the airport. What about you?"
Sal nodded.
"Same. Everyone will be there. Should be great!".
Brian quinn grinned and looked over at Murr.
"We know where Murr will be, at his sister's house babbling to his parents about how she put up the tree without him."
Everyone laughed softly.
"Everyone will be at Karen and Sam's house this year for Christmas, dad demanded we all vote it in last year"
Chuckles went through the room again as everyone imagined Mr Murray telling everyone they weren't going to all gather at his house this year. It was somebody else's turn.
Sal nonchalantly turned to Joe, who had been setting quietly during the conversation.
"What about you, Joey" Where are you going?"
Joe looked down at the floor before looking up again, smiling at his friend.
"Me and the pups are going it alone this year. Just a quiet day of movies at home and then I'll go pick up something to eat."
All three of his friends started to object at once, Sal winning over and taking the lead.
"Okay, what I should have asked man, is whose house do you want to go to first? You know damn well you're not going to spend the entire day by yourself."
Murr and Q both nodded, Q reaching over to the chair just was setting on to slap him playfully in the chest.
"Thanks guys, but really, I will be fine. There's no need for me to go barging into your families' Christmas. That is family time."
Q shook his head.
"Yes, yes it is family time, and you are our family. You know damn well all of our family members know you and love you. I'm not even going to ask you again, bud. If you don't tell us now how you want to do it and do not drive yourself to us, we'll just decide the timeline amongst ourselves and go pick you up and bring you to our houses. "
Joe smiled, defeating admit, but he was obviously relieved to do so.
"Thank you guys. I don't know what I would do without any of you. I love you."
Tears ran down the handsome face.
"I didn't want to ask and didn't really want to intrude on your family times, but I admit I was also dreading being alone, with only my pups. "
He was quiet for a second before speaking again, with a broken voice.
"I miss my mom. I don't know how to do Christmas without her. You guys know, my dad passed 4 days before Christmas. Every Christmas, all I can see is my dad taking his last breath in the back of that fucking ambulance. But, my mom always helped me through that, and I could enjoy it. Now, I don't know how to get through these next two days. I have no idea"
Q was at his friend's side in a heartbeat, enveloping him in a tight hug. Two other hands grasped each shaking shoulder.
Brian Quinn talked softly into the hair of his friend's head, still enveloping him.
"Joey, I can't imagine the pain this time of year brings you, especially right now, but you won't be alone. I promise you that."
He felt Joe's head nod against his shoulder.
"He's right, bud. We won't even let you have time to think about any of that."
Sal looked over at Murr, who only nodded through his own tears and squeezed Joe's shoulder.
Finally he was able to get himself toether enough to speak.
"They're right Joey, it's going to be okay, bud. It's going to be okay."
Joe pulled apart from Q's embrace, wiping his eyes and looking away.
"Do one of you think you can go with me to my parents' graves on Christmas? I want to leave some flowers and just visit for a minute, but I don't really want to go alone."
"You know we will, Joe."
Murr glanced from Sal to Q and both nodded in agreement.
"We'll all four go together, we'll figure it out, bud."
Joe looked from Sal to Q, who both smiled and nodded.
"Yep, we'll all go, bub. We all loved your mom."
Wiping his eyes again, Joe smiled his thanks.
"Thank you. I would be lost without you guys. I love you and I'm sorry I fell apart on you."
"We love you too, Joey, and don't ever apologize to us for something like this. We all need to fall apart every so often and that is what friends are for, to put each other back together when we do fall apart."
