Hey there!"Oh my god, Nichole's sticking to schedule?!" Yes, I am, after like 8 years of making a schedule, not following it, making a new schedule, and not following THAT one either. xD Well, I should shut up now. Enjoy!

~~PHIL'S POV~~

I look around the table, my father eating noiselessly, my mother trying to make small talk with Dan, and Dan replying in a hushed mumble, obviously uncomfortable, with my sister and I listening to the encounter and exchanging glances.

"So, you're a Youtuber like my Phil here?" she asks him.

His blush goes deeper, and he answers, "Yes, I am," his voice barely over a whisper.

"You're a hefty awkward boy, aren't you?" She starts, and it's then that I finally butt into the conversation.

"Mom, you're so rude!" I say. I can't believe she just asked him that.

"He is. It's not a bad thing, he just is." She says nonchalantly, cutting into her meal.

I sigh, accepting it. My mom's not exactly the demure type, and I know she doesn't mean poor, she's just stating what she sees. Dan looks over at me; grateful I stopped the barrage of questions. He slips his fingers into mine, deep under the table, and I'm reminded why we're here. I take one long look in his eyes before clearing my throat and starting my speech.

"So, Mum, Dad, Liz; Dan and I are here for more than just Christmas." I begin. Everyone at the table is staring at me now, wondering what I'm going to say. Liz shoots me a smile, reassuring me to go on. "Dan's more than just my friend, he's actually my… boyfriend."

A knot is heavy in my stomach, forming around the food I just ate. I feel nauseous, but Dan squeezes my hand, reminding me why this awkwardness is all worth it.

I look up and see my mom, beaming at me. "That's great! I can see it, you two are a very adorable couple."

I turn my head towards my dad, his jaw stiff and solemn. He nods once, slowly."That's very nice." He tells me. He turns his attention towards Dan, staring him straight in the eyes. "Don't you hurt my boy. He's a good one, he is."

Dan, seeming to have found his words, stares my father directly in the eyes, telling him, "I promise I won't. I care about your son more than anything in the world, even more than my life. I love him."

"Good."He nods, and Dan smiles back. While my father has trouble showing his emotions, I know for certain he cares for my sister and I. Dan turns toward me and smiles sweetly, squeezing my hand again. I smile back, happy this is past us, that we can be pretty much as open as we are at home here.

My mum looks over, a smile drawing over her lips as she watches us. She probably doesn't think I noticed, but I'm happy I did. It means a lot to me that my mom approves of Dan, I'm a bit of a Momma's boy.

It's then that Liz booms, energetic as always, "So when's pie? I've been eyeing that thing all day!"

I snicker to myself, glad to finally have my family with me, my boyfriend beside me, and my life ahead of me. Life couldn't get better.

~~DAN'S POV~~

It's around 2 a.m. and Phil and I are still up, lying in his bed. I point over to a movie ticket above our heads and ask, "Oh, what's the story behind that one?"

"Oh, that's a special one. Liz drove my friend Melanie and I to see Meet The Parents while Liz went to see some other movie. I was thinking through the whole entire movie that I wanted to come out to her, I don't think I caught much of the movie at all. But basically, while we waited for my sister's movie to get out, I came out to her. She was actually the first person I came out to." He told me, a sad flicker in his eyes.

"How'd she take it?" I ask, worried.

"She was fine with it, but then her born-again Christian dad found out and he forbade us from ever talking again. We managed to sneak around and see each other at school and stuff, but it wasn't the same, and we just stopped talking sophomore year." He said, his eyes shimmering with tears. It may have been years ago, but you could tell the pain of it all still hurt, that someone would reject him with such passion that it would ruin a friendship.

I'm sorry, honey." I said, pulling him into my chest, hearing his sniffles absorbed into my shirt.

"I know, and it was so long ago. I shouldn't be this upset over it still, but I am, I guess. She was my best friend." He looked up at me, his icy eyes full of apologies.

"It's okay. You have a best friend now, and I'll never leave you."

"You're my boyfriend."

"Can't I be both? You're both for me. I wouldn't replace you for the world."

"You're right. I guess you can be both… you sure are. I love you."

"I love you too." I responded climbing under the covers. "Now let's get to bed, I'm tired as all hell."

"Goodnight, Dan." He murmured, yawning, into my chest.

"Goodnight, love."

Hope you enjoyed it! My favorite chapter so far is coming up next so get ready! It's gonna make you fangirl ALL over the place. Review and I'll send you a virtual Christmas graveyard! See you lovelies Sunday!

Oh, and nbd, but I've started vlogging and I'd love if you checked me out! ^_^ My username is ZanyNicholetta, so yeah. Bye!