Sasuke and Itachi didn't really have anything worth mentioning at home. Sure, there was the entire Uchiha-fucking-manor that was larger than life, but it had a cold feeling to it, full of bad memories, and it wasn't the place any self-respecting person would force the siblings to spend their Christmas at.

Or, more truthfully, it was the sort of place Kushina and Minato would force them not to spend their Christmas at. Literally. Naruto was there as they tag-teamed and dragged the Uchihas out one at a time like some sort of rescue mission. They even wore protective gear.

And then, hog-tied in the back seat, they went to Naruto's house. The blonde felt kind of bad for what was happening… if he hadn't told his mom that Sasuke and Itachi didn't have a family, they most likely wouldn't have had to go through this. That didn't mean he regretted it, though.

Without any other sort of problem, they arrived and his parents commenced force-feeding Itachi and Sasuke. It took a few minutes before Naruto could convince them to untie them and let them feed themselves.

Itachi very calmly finished his plate, asked for seconds, finished that plate, asked for a hug from Kushina, and got it.

Then everyone realized what he had just asked and his mom blinked confusedly down at the head of black cuddled into her shoulder. "… AAAAWW! You're just so cute, aren't you? My son is so lucky to have you for a brother-in-law!"

Sasuke choked on ham and Naruto sputtered to a stop over his mashed potatoes. "MOM!"

"I see the chemistry, I know the signs~ arguing and making out and being bad, bad, bad! That was just how your father and I started out…"

Minato did a one-man toast with his eggnog. "Merry Christmas, everyone!"

Kushina very gently released Itachi and took her seat back.

A third plate went by. He asked for fourths. That plate was half-finished. He asked Minato for a hug.

Naruto got to see his dad cry a lot over sentimental things. But the last time he had seen him cry this hard? … Two weeks ago. That made this a pretty big deal.

"Why can't you be more like your brother?" Minato shot at Sasuke as he squeezed Itachi to him like he could absorb him. "Baby, my son, why don't you go out with Itachi…? …!"

They took a family photo together, the Uchihas and the Uzumakis.

In it, Itachi and Naruto stood to the side, grinning like evil-doers with arms linked together, and Sasuke took center stage being squashed in a sandwich hug by Naruto's parents, both in hideous Christmas sweaters and Santa hats, grinning like this had been all they had wanted for Christmas. And Sasuke, aside from looking somewhat murderous, almost looked borderline happy.

Naruto kissed his parents and Itachi on the cheek and Sasuke on the mouth. The Uchiha's arms came stealthily around him. "Merry Christmas," he breathed against Sasuke's lips, "everyone!"

The camera went off a second time. Click.

.

Iruka watched Kakashi rip into his present with the enthusiasm of a five-year old thinking that the world was to be found beneath wrapping paper. His blue eye was glimmering and sparkling and his mouth was turned into the widest, most hopeful grin Iruka had ever seen.

He remembered the first Christmas he had seen that grin. Actually, it had been the second Christmas. The first Christmas around, he had still been pissed about being married drunk and, though Kakashi had tried, Iruka hadn't been at all cooperative at all. The second Christmas, however, had been after… after the feelings, after the first sober night, after Iruka had realized that this… this could work. This could be beautiful.

And he had been nervous as anything because what could Kakashi Hayato possibly want for Christmas that wasn't porn? He had learned something.

Kakashi didn't care what he got him. He could give Kakashi an empty box and he would put it on a pedestal. Iruka knew because he felt that an empty box would have been favorable over the tweed jacket he had given Kakashi that first year (yes, during the time period in which Iruka had wanted him to suffer). Kakashi wore it every day to work, the ugliest tweed jacket in existence, and he grinned every time he slid carefully into it.

The second year had been a two years' supply of hospital masks. The third year had been a provision of writing paper and a planner. The fourth year had been… had been… a horrendous tie. Kakashi didn't even wear ties! How had he thought that would be a good idea?

Now it was the fifth time around and he could only hope… just hope that he had done right.

At least he wouldn't feel pressured to put on the "presents" Kakashi got for him, that pervert.

The paper came flying off, the box was ripped apart, and Kakashi was left to stare at what was left. Iruka gulped.

"You…" Iruka was so weak. "You got me porn!"

.

Dinner had been a cool, controlled experience.

Now Tenten and Neji were left to curl up on the armchair in front of the fireplace, Hinata and Kiba somewhere else, and Tenten was sprawled over her boyfriend, smiling. "Merry Christmas, Neji."

"Merry Christmas, Tenten."

.

Kiba and Hinata were playing with Akamaru and his new bone. Kiba tackled Akamaru and Hinata would giggle and leap in with them.

Then, somehow, Akamaru and his bone disappeared from the equation. Kiba was flipped onto his back, laughing, and then he realized that Hinata was blushing over him as his dog panted to one side of her bedroom.

"K-Kiba… I'm s-s-sorry…" She was blushing so red, he wondered if she would pass out.

"N-no, it's, uh, it's okay," maybe. Maybe not. They weren't really going out, going out, it was more like they were testing the waters, deciding if this was what they wanted. Kiba knew for damn sure this was his greatest wish but Hinata wasn't him, Hinata had never been in a relationship before… or thought that she was wanted in a relationship before.

"Kiba…" Something entered her lilac eyes. It looked like determination. And then Hinata was leaning down and Kiba's heart stopped because his mind was flying and he thought, he hoped, he wished she was going to do what he thought she was going to do –

And she did…

Hianta pulled away slowly, hands clenched in his shirt, and Akamaru barked excitedly. "M-Merry Christmas, K-Kiba…"

"Hinata… This is the best Christmas ever."

.

They had thought about having Gai, Kankuro, and Temari in the same house. Then, for the safety of the house, they had decided against it. They had thought about splitting the day between Lee's uncle and Gaara's siblings. Then they had realized that was a worse idea than spending the day together.

So they settled on renting a room at the local hotel and cuddling up together there. They had a small Charlie Brown tree on the table and, from their position on the bed, they watched the lights twinkle into and out of existence.

Gaara pressed a kiss to Lee's naked shoulder and his thumb feathered over the back of the hand he was holding. Lee sighed and smiled happily. "Mmmm… Gaara?"

"?"

"I love you, Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Lee." Lee heard the silent, un-added, "I love you too" that Gaara didn't have it in him to say.

Then someone knocked on the door.

Lee frowned. "Who could that be?"

Gaara hid his face in the junction of his neck and shoulder. "I don't know, I don't care, they can go away."

"Gaara! That isn't nice, if they took the time to come here, it must be important."

"Or it could be our families."

They waited for a long, long moment. Then Lee shook his head. "No, it can not be our families. Uncle Gai would never be so –"

Whoever had meekly knocked first was replaced by someone pounding on the door like it had personally insulted them. "LEEE! ARE YOU IN THERE? WE WANT TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH YOU TWO! WHY DID YOU TWO LEAVE? WE CAN GET ALONG! CAN'T WE GET ALONG?"

"Oh, GOD, shut up, Gai!"

"Geez, I hope there's alcohol in there…"

"Quiet…" Lee finished lamely.

"… I'm not getting up."

"Uncle Gai will break down that door if he has to, Gaara."

"I'm not getting up."

"We're naked!"

The silence was deafening.

Then, "GAAARAAAAA! HOW DARE YOU SULLY THE INNOCENCE OF MY BEAUTIFUL AND ONLY NEPHEEEEW!"

"Gaara, please tell me that twinkie didn't top you!"

"Fuck, the things I didn't want to know…"

Lee threw the blanket over their heads. "On second thought, maybe we should stay here… hidden…"

Gaara nodded and wrapped his arms around Lee. "Together."

"Together is good!"

.

Author's Note: MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY READERS OF NARUTO! Love you guys so much! And, yeah, I wrote this all through this week... This is my gift to all of you. Thank you all for being with me on the holidays.

Heh heh~ I got a hedgehog plush beanie baby~