This is a Christmas gift to all those James-angst lovers out there! Jumped ahead a bit for this one, but it's the holidays, so it's okay! Enjoy guys! Merry Christmas :D

James groaned as he blew his nose into a tissue and tossed it into the garbage by his bed. He wrapped the blankets around him; he was freezing cold and tired and miserable. Worst of all, his three best friends were in the other room, eating fish sticks and talking and laughing and having fun. Without him.

It was Christmas Eve and James had now been stuck in bed for two days sick with the flu. He missed decorating the Christmas tree. He couldn't keep down any of the delicious holiday cookies Mrs. Knight had made. He didn't get to hang stockings by the fire place. Judging by the way he was feeling now, he'd have to miss opening presents with his friends. It was bad enough that they hadn't been able to go home for Christmas, but now he couldn't even spend it with his friends.

James let out a cough so forceful it left his head aching. Groaning in discomfort and frustration, he turned himself to face to the wall and closed his eyes.

He began drifting off to sleep but was quickly interrupted by a knock on the bedroom door.

Without waiting for an answer, Carlos, Kendall and Logan came in. Logan was carrying a bowl in his hands. Kendall had a thermometer and Carlos had a glass of water.

"Hey James, how you feeling?" Logan asked softly.

"Awful…I don't have to eat whatever is in that bowl, do I?" James asked.

Logan flashed his a sheepish smile. "Sorry, buddy, but you need to try."

"Ugh, what's the point? I'm going to end up throwing it up anyway!"

"Well, maybe you won't this time. You can try to drink some water, at least," Carlos suggested as he set the glass of water on James' nightstand.

"Mom wants us to take your temperature before you eat, though," Kendall said, as he held out the thermometer.

James reluctantly opened his mouth and took the thermometer under his tongue.

"This isn't fair. Why do I have to be sick for the best day of the year?" James mumbled through the thermometer.

"No talking. And don't worry. You still have one night to try and sleep it off," Logan said as the thermometer beeped.

"102.4. Alright, let's go guys, James needs to rest," Logan ordered and shooed Carlos and Kendall towards the door.

"No, don't leave me. I'm lonely and I don't feel good!" James moaned.

"James, don't you want to get better for Christmas tomorrow? Your fever has gotten worse. You need to sleep, buddy. Just holler if you need anything, we'll just be in the other room," Logan told him. He knew he sounded mean, but he really did want James to feel better for the holiday.

"Okay," James sighed. He knew Logan was right, and he was starting to feel a bit sleepy. He really did want company though. It's no fun to be sick.

James heard a collage of "feel better", "bye James", and "finish that soup!" as the boys left him to be alone.

He frowned, feeling soaked in loneliness and boredom. He tried to eat the soup like he was told to, but three bites in and his stomach rumbled unhappily. He didn't want to push himself and end up hugging the toilet all night.

He pushed the soup away and glanced out the window, seeing one lone star in the sky. He knew by now that wishing on stars was silly, but right now he was ill and tired and didn't care.

"I wish that I could just be better for the holidays." James muttered. His eyes then began to feel heavy and James didn't fight to keep them open. In a matter of seconds, he was asleep.

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It was dark when James woke up, and there was a tingly feeling in his stomach. A feeling he'd become used to lately. He threw off the covers and ran as fast as his body would let him to the bathroom. He leaned down in front of the toilet and emptied his stomach for what seemed like the 50th time in three days.

He groaned and shivered as he laid down on the tile floor, not even bothering to flush it. There was no way he'd feel up to Christmas this year. He was just too sick.

Just as James thought he was about to vomit again, he heard a thud that made him freeze, even making his stomach forget what it was doing. He listened carefully. There was a rustling noise that made his skin crawl. He could here foot steps. And that's when he realized….

Someone was in the apartment.

James grabbed the only "weapon" he could find in the bathroom, a toilet plunger, and crept toward the door quietly, ready to attack the burglar and save Christmas.

He pushed open the door and what he saw forced the plunger out of his hands and to the floor. His mouth hung agape and his eyes blew up like balloons filled with helium.

There by the Christmas tree stood a man in a red suite, lined with white fur. He had a brown burlap sack tossed over his shoulder and curly white hair that ran down into his beard.

James watched as the man drew present after present from the sack, wondering how they all fit. The bag was small, and he this guy was pulling out hockey sticks and guitars and God only knows what else!

The tinsel on the tree glistened and the star on top light up the room. Everything seemed to dance and twirl in front of his eyes and the man in the red suit turned to face him. He flashed James a smile and a simple wink before disappearing.

And James remembered nothing more.

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"James? James? Wake up," James heard a voice whisper and a hand on his shoulder.

Squinting his eyes open, he saw the worried faces on his three friends, Katie and Mama Knight.

"Are you okay, Sweetie?" Mrs. Knight asked him and pushed some of his brown locks behind his ears.

"Where did he go?" was all James could say. He was laying on the couch, not sure how he got there. That guy had just been there and now he was gone!

"What are you talking about, man?" Kendall asked, his bushy eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"He was here! Where did he go?" James asked, raising his voice.

"Who, James? Who was here?" Logan inquired.

"That man! He was here! In a red and white suit! He was putting the presents under the tree!"

"Santa!" Katie and Carlos both shouted out in excitement.

"Santa was here!" Carlos shrieked.

Mama Knight, Logan and Kendall all shared worried glances with each other. In seconds, Kendall was pushing him back down to the couch, Logan was fetching the thermometer and Mrs. Knight's hands were all over his forehead.

"How do you feel? Headaches? Tummy ache? Do you feel dizzy?" Mrs. Knight asked and James could hear slight panic laced in her voice.

James then realized that he felt tons better. His stomach didn't hurt, in face he was actually hungry. His nose was clear and his head wasn't pounding.

"I feel great!"

"Well you don't feel warm," Mama K said more to herself than anyone else.

Logan then scanned his head his one of the fastest thermometers they had in the apartment.

"98.7. Huh, that's weird. You sure you're feeling okay?" Logan asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"All this talk about a red suit guy…" Kendall interjected.

"Santa Claus! James say him!" Carlos exclaimed.

"I'm not crazy! I really did see someone in here!" James tried to tell him.

"Okay, yeah. Sure you did, buddy. I'm just glad that your better. Let's open our presents now!" Kendall said as he clapped his hands together.

James sighed and grabbed a gift with his name on it. He couldn't believe no one believed him! Well, except Carlos and maybe Katie. He wasn't crazy. He knew what he saw! He sighed, deciding to let it go.

Just then he heard Katie yell from the bathroom, "Why is the plunger out on the floor?"

James just smiled to himself.

Not my best work, but it's something! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!