Author's Notes: Anyone reading this knows that Nickelodeon owns the rights to Big Time Rush, right? I just like to play chess with the boys, moving them around as I see fit.
Yes, the title is based on the Disney song, because it's always been one of my favorites and because it fits. Also? Christmas in August? Don't even ask, I don't know. Seriously. I don't know.
I was going to post this when it was completed, but it's not going to be very long (ha, she says now) and when I realized I'd have to break it up on LJ anyway, I decided to just chapter it. So...yeah.
This pairing took me by surprise, and it's so different from what I'm used to writing that I'm not even sure it's any good. Please let me know if you like it-or don't like it, that's fine, too. Because I'm nervous about this one.
Every single word of this fic (and probably all future fics I write) is dedicated to kathrynew30 . The words came from me, but the story, ideas, tone, characters, the entire dynamic of this was borne out of conversations between us and how we see this pairing. She is my cheerleader, my sounding board, my squeeing partner, my friend. SHE GETS ME. And I love her way much more than is healthy.
THIS IS IT. LAST CHAPTER. HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED IT. It was fun to write. :) Thanks for reading and making it this far. I love you all.
Unsurprisingly, Carlos is the first one awake on Christmas morning. After dragging James out of bed, he runs into the other bedroom and attacks Kendall with kisses until Kendall wakes up enough to respond, kissing him in between groans of "Carlos, knock it off" and "I'm awake already, leave me alone." James follows at a slower pace, locking the door behind him before sliding into bed with Logan and snuggling up with a contented sigh.
Logan wakes gradually, his sleep broken both by the antics from Kendall's bed and from the warm body next to him. He opens his eyes to find himself cradled in James' arms while James dozes with his lips against Logan's hair.
"James, wake up, it's Christmas! Come on, dude, there are presents to open!"
Logan glances over at Carlos with a smile. "I'm perfectly fine just staying here all day."
"No way! Kendall, help me get them up." Carlos climbs off the bed and is about to step away when Kendall grabs his arm and pulls him back to the bed.
"I'm not quite ready to get up, either. I was enjoying that." Kendall traps Carlos with his arms and kisses him, drawing it out in a way that makes Carlos forget all about presents and Christmas.
"Hey," Logan whispers. James responds with an almost inaudible grunt. "It's Christmas, James. Merry Christmas."
"Mmm. Christmas." He squeezes Logan tighter. "I got my present right here."
"Aww." Logan turns over onto his side to face James, entangling their bodies. "I still can't believe this finally happened. Or that it happened at all."
"I know." Finally James opens his eyes, those piercing grey-brown eyes that see so much more than the world knows, and Logan's heart stops. Such beauty should be illegal. "It's kind of crazy."
"But good."
"Oh yeah, definitely good." James rolls onto his back, pulling Logan over him. He kisses Logan for a long time, teasing with his teeth and tongue until finally Logan has to break away.
"Yeah, so if you don't stop that, I'm gonna embarrass myself in front of the boys."
James shrugs. "Merry Christmas to me. I think that would be the best gift I could receive, watching you fall apart and knowing I caused it."
"James, God!" Because he wants so badly to throw himself at James and just let James take over, he moves off and stands up.
James smirks at the sight of the bulge in Logan's pajama pants. "Nice." He lifts a hand up to cup Logan, who gasps and has to force himself to remain standing.
"James, stop!" he whispers. "Please!" But then he rocks into the touch, and it's so amazing, nothing like when he touches himself, because James is just so...so... "Hot."
"Yeah, you are," James answers, a little breathless himself. He sits up for a better angle and they might as well be alone, so focused on each other that nothing else exists. Logan rests his hands on James' shoulders, bracing himself before rocking in earnest and how can James just watching him be so freaking hot? Logan could stare into that gaze for eternity.
"Hey! You guys better be awake! How come the door is locked?"
Logan freezes, eyes mirroring James as they widen. James' hand falls away as if burned. Logan turns around to see similar looks on Carlos' and Kendall's faces, as if they were caught with their pants down. Which, now that Logan looks more closely, isn't far from the truth; just where is Kendall's hand, anyway?
"We'll be right out!" Kendall manages to yell.
"You better! Mom says I can't open any presents until we're all together!"
Carlos groans softly. "Man, just when it was getting good."
Kendall slips his hand out of Carlos' pajama pants. Logan and James look at each other and crack up.
"What? Like you two weren't going at it over there?"
"No, Carlos, it's just...now you know how we felt. Every time we almost kissed and you were suddenly there. Or when we were gonna make out in the car, but you showed up."
"Right," James agrees. "It's about time you get yours."
"Whatever. Come on, Kendall, let's go open presents. You're gonna love what I got you," Carlos says again.
Five minutes later the family is settled around the living room. Mrs. Knight is on the loveseat, James and Logan are on the couch (snuggled up as much as they dare in front of the females), Kendall is on the floor leaning against the couch, and Katie and Carlos are fighting over who gets to play Santa and pass out gifts. "You can take turns!" Mrs. Knight yells, and then it's a fight over who goes first. "Oh, for the love of...knock it off, or I'll make Kendall do it!" That shuts them up and finally all the gifts are distributed. Which leads to another argument over who gets to open theirs first, because in the Knight family they take turns.
"I'll go first!" Kendall yells, wishing he was back in bed with Carlos even though right now he could smack Carlos for being so obnoxious. But then again, it's why he loves him. He starts with a gift from Katie, setting off the round of present-opening. Each of the guys saves the gift from their boyfriend for last.
Carlos is speechless at first when he opens the crudely-wrapped envelope Kendall passes him. "Is this a joke? Did you make this up?"
"Nope. It's real." Kendall grins, watching Carlos next to him and wishing he could just squeeze him tight and carry him off to bed.
"No, it's not. It can't be. You started this for me, right? Totally made it. Because of the helmet thing. It makes you-"
Kendall interrupts him, afraid to let him finish that sentence in their current company. "Carlos, no! It's real. I was looking at helmets online, trying to find something for you, and I came across that. It really exists."
"What is it?" James asks.
"It is a welcome letter and membership to the Helmet-of-the-Month Club," Kendall beams.
"Oh, for Heaven's sake," Mrs. Knight comments. "There's such a thing?"
"And what does this entitle Carlos to?" Logan asks, honestly curious.
"He gets a subscription to Helmet magazine and each month they send him a helmet."
"Wow, look! The first month is an army helmet! I've wanted one of those forever!" Carlos gapes at Kendall in amazement. "Dude! This is...it's..." And Carlos launches himself at Kendall, knocking him back onto the floor and attempting to kiss him, but Kendall evades the contact.
"Carlos!" he whispers. "Not here! Knock it off!"
"Why don't I go next?" James says loudly, distracting everyone's attention.
"Yeah," Logan agrees. "Here." He picks up the box from him and hands it to James. God I hope he doesn't attack me like that. Well...sort of. Maybe later.
James rips open the box and pulls out a video game and a piece of paper. "Project Runway? They made a game out of this?"
"I guess you get to design your own fashions and stuff, and try to make your model win or something. I'm not really sure. But there's a condition."
"A condition?" James frowns at Logan.
"You have to play it with me."
"Oh." The grin that lights up James' face makes Logan's heart stop again. "You know I'm gonna kick your ass, right? Win every round?"
"That's what you think. I have mad fashion skills."
"Ha right, whatever." They both know it's an excuse to spend more time together, and James is fine with that. "Thanks, Logan!"
And James wants to kiss him, Logan can see it, so he suggests, "Read the printout."
"Whoa. Seriously?" James is beaming now. "I thought you said I shouldn't use 'Cuda stuff."
Logan shrugs. "Well, it got me something I'd been wanting for a long time." And now James is melting, so Logan has to look away. "It's a gift certificate for the 'Cuda store at the mall," he explains. "So that means we have to make another mall trip."
"Fine by me," James answers, and if he doesn't stop looking at Logan like that, Logan's gonna have to drag him away to the bedroom.
"Kendall. Go." Please, his eyes beg.
Kendall takes the hint. "Right, okay! So this is from Carlos. And it's big. You didn't get me a helmet, did you?" he teases.
"Nah, but you can wear one of mine! Since I'll be getting twelve more over the next year!" Carlos really is too excited about it.
When Kendall opens his gift and pulls out a Minnesota Wild jersey, everyone is impressed. Because not only does it have Kendall's hockey number and the name "Knight" on the back, it's autographed by the entire team. Kendall can't even speak. He can only stare at Carlos in amazement.
"Honey, breathe. Just breathe," Mrs. Knight commands.
Katie sighs. "Great, Carlos, you killed him. That's just great."
"Carlos...how did you..."
"I had help. Kelly and Gustavo hooked me up when I told them what I wanted to get you. So it's kind of from them, too. But mostly from me because it was my idea."
"Aw, Carlos. I can't think of anything that would mean more to me. Thank you."
"I know my Kendall," Carlos grins, and now it's Kendall who is in danger of outing them all by kissing Carlos senseless.
They're never gonna make it through this morning without blowing it, Logan just knows it. Thank God I'm not emotional. "Okay, my turn!" He's really not worried, because James probably got him some product to make his hair look better or a new shirt or...
Logan lifts the lid off the box and has to stare at it for a long time before accepting that he's really seeing what he thinks he's seeing. He looks up at James in awe, not even noticing that James is tense and nervous, afraid Logan won't like the gift. "Oh, James."
"I don't even really know what it does, or what it's for, but all the math nerds online seemed to think it was cool, so..."
Logan lifts out the ancient-looking abacus, running a hand over it lovingly.
"And it's like...authentic or whatever. It has a certificate and everything. I guess it's from really old times. Like when they actually used that stuff."
"What is it?" Carlos whispers to Kendall.
"Some kind of tool they used to do math in ancient times. I don't know how it works, but it's for counting and stuff."
"Oh, math. Yeah, that's why Logan's about to cry."
And Logan is, tears are forming because wow. How could James even know how special this is to him? "James, how could you even afford this?"
"Told you. Grandma's been sending me money. But nobody tell my parents, because they'd take it, okay?"
Everyone nods, knowing all about James' parents and their selfish greed.
"Thank you." It's all Logan can bring himself to say because he's about to lose it. He sets the abacus gently back in the box, fighting with everything in him to keep from dragging James close and kissing him until he can't breathe.
But James knows him, and so the words aren't necessary. He nods, eyes promising a better exchange of gratitude later when they can be alone.
"So that's it, right? No more presents? Because I'm ready for breakfast." Mrs. Knight stands up and stretches. "Everyone get dressed. We're going out."
"Out?" Katie asks. "On Christmas?"
"I'm certainly not cooking. It's my day off. We'll find something open."
"Wait, there was one more thing. I forgot, it's in my room. It's for you, Logan." James pulls him by the arm, and Logan goes willingly.
"Don't take too long, boys. I'm hungry and I will leave without you!"
No one doubts that, so Carlos, Kendall, and Katie all head for their rooms, but Carlos finds his door locked. "Aw, come on! Really, guys?"
Kendall rushes out to shush Carlos. "Shut up, will you? Just come into my room."
"But you heard what she said, she's gonna leave without us!"
"I promise, if they're not out in five minutes, I'll break in, okay?" Kendall shuts the door behind them. "Besides. That gives us five minutes to thank each other properly."
"Oh! Well then." Carlos pulls Kendall down for a kiss, no longer concerned about breakfast.
"So was this just an excuse to be alone? Because James...I can't even tell you how much that present means to me."
"So you like it? I wasn't sure, but it was math, so..." James falls to his knees and reaches under his bed, coming out with a small bag.
"I love it. It's...God, it's amazing. I know right where I'm putting it, too. Somewhere Carlos can't break it. Oh, what's that?"
"It's kind of silly, but..." James shrugs, embarrassed. "Well, it's just...I know you. And I know how your mind works. At least when it comes to me. And yourself. So I thought we should have something."
"What kind of something?"
James pulls out two thick black rubber bracelets. "I saw these at the mall. And I thought it would be nice to have a reminder that we can wear all the time."
"What do they say?" Logan reaches out for one.
"Nothing, they're just blank. At least they were." After making sure it's the right one, he passes Logan a bracelet. "I personalized them."
Logan studies the outside of the rubber and sees nothing. When he turns it inside out, though, he smiles. "Oh, James."
Carved into the rubber are the words "I heart you. Love, James." Except the heart is an actual heart shape. And James did this himself.
"I know that you probably don't understand why I love you. You're afraid I'm gonna find someone better or forget about you."
Logan looks down at the floor, wondering how James, air-headed and too-pretty-to-be-real James, can possibly see through him so easily.
"Am I right?"
"It's just that I don't get what you see in me. You're so...God, James, you're beautiful and funny and silly sometimes, but it's what makes you so adorable. And everybody wants you. How can I compete with that?"
"There's no competition, Logan. None at all. I told you, I can't even see anyone else anymore. You've uh...ruined me."
"I'm just afraid you'll get bored. I'm new and shiny right now, but what happens when I get old and boring?"
"Ah, Logan. Come here." James cups Logan's face in his hands and pulls him in, kissing him with all of the love and need running through him at every second of every day. "Does that feel like I could ever get bored? Ever not want you?"
Actually, Logan's mind is pretty blown right now, because that kiss... "Wow."
"The bracelet is a constant reminder that it's you I love, you I want to be with, and even when we're not together I'm thinking about you. If that ever changes, you'll be the first to know, but...Logan. I love you." James stretches the rubber and slides it over Logan's hand until it's in place.
"There are two of them. Is one for you?"
"Yeah. I thought it could work both ways."
"Give me that." James' bracelet is completely blank. "What did you use to carve into it?"
"What? Oh, just a little knife."
"Give it to me."
James blinks in surprise but reaches into his nightstand and pulls out a Swiss army knife.
Logan takes a seat at the desk in their room and goes to work. It's clumsy, but when he's finished it is a perfect match to James' message, right down to the heart symbol. He stands and holds it out, and after looking it over James allows him to slip it onto his wrist. "There. Now we match."
"You know, Logan...it's not like I don't worry about you getting over me. I keep thinking you'll wake up and realize you can do so much better, find someone you can talk to about like...math and astronomy and all that nerdy stuff you love so much."
"Well, we'll have to educate each other then. I'll teach you about nerdy stuff, and you can teach me about pretty boy stuff. And we'll balance each other out." The smile James gives him makes Logan feel like king of the world. "And by the way, I love you, too. Like...so much it scares me."
James nods. "Yeah. But we finally got where we need to be." He pulls Logan in for a tight hug. "Right here."
Logan lifts his lips to James and loses himself in the sensation of loving and being loved in return, but five seconds into it, there's a loud pounding on the door.
"Guys, come on! Mom said you have five more minutes before we're leaving."
After a pause they hear another banging followed by the same message repeated by Katie.
"You know, we're never gonna get any time alone," Logan whines.
"We'll make time. Carlos isn't gonna be a problem anymore. And we're going to the mall tomorrow, right? 'Cuda store?"
Logan wraps his arms around James' waist with a sigh. "It's a date."
So I don't really know if there's a Project Runway video game or a Helmet club. I didn't have the resources to research it. But again, thank you guys for reading this. I love you SO MUCH.
