This is up earlier than I expected it to be :) It's half term, so that means no school this week! Which means I'll have more time to write :)

By the way, this stroy will get darker again, eventually - just thought I'd warn you. It's not going to be all happy and stuff, I mean, it's me ;)

Don't own McFly.

"We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!"

"Shut the hell up, Tom!" Harry shouted, making us all laugh.

It was Christmas Eve, and Tom was... well, being Tom, with his childlike love for Christmas.

"Oh! I want to open a present!" Tom squealed.

"Don't! Not until the morning!" Tom's mother was over for the festive time. Tom hadn't told her who exactly I was - the spawn of her husband's murderer, and I wasn't going to enlighten her. She had only just got used to it, poor woman.

Harry's whole family were staying with him and Jess, and he had come over to Tom's for a few minutes of freedom. Everyone else were with their families, except for Giovanna, of course.

My Aunt Jodie and my cousin Charlotte were on their way down to spend the holiday at mine. They no longer resided at Crackstreet, I had given them money to buy a place just out of the city.

"Mrs Fletcher? Would you like some wine?" Giovanna was kissing up to the woman... although, come to think of it, that was just Giovanna being Giovanna, genuinely nice.

"No thank you, love." Mrs Fletcher shook her head, then turned to me, "Dougie, who will you be spending Christmas with?"

"My aunt and cousin are coming down." I smiled.

"That's nice." Mrs Fletcher smiled.

"Actually, I should go now. They should be arriving in about fifteen minutes." I stood up.

"Ok, well it was nice seeing you again, Dougie." Mrs Fletcher smiled.

"You too, ma'am. Bye Gi, Tom, Haz." I called to them and they bid their good byes.

I felt awful whenever I was talking to Tom's mother. Even worse than when I first met Tom. I think it was because she didn't know, and Tom and I couldn't tell her, it would kill the poor woman.

I walked the short distance from Tom's place to mine, in peace and quiet. I felt rather content for the first time in a long while. I needed to think clearly, and for once I was able to. I reached my house was shocked when I saw Shawna arriving the same time I did.

"Shawna, hi." I greeted her. I saw her often after our talk, and we were getting closer.

"Hi," she said awkwardly. I noticed the little boy with her in a stroller.

"This must be James! God he's grown!" I commented. He was tiny when I last saw him!

"Yeah, he has. Look Dougie, can I ask you a massive favour?" she asked nervously.

"Sure." I said hesitantly.

"C-Can I spend Christmas here. It's just that I feel incredibly lonely. I can't face going back... there to face my parents after I just up-and-left." Shawna said shyly.

"Sure you can!" I didn't have to think of my answer.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she chanted over and over again, engulfing me in a hug.

"It's nothing. You'll just have to deal with Aunt Jodie. Her and Charlotte are on their way over. Aunt Jodie got funny on Christmas... all over excited and stuff. She was worse than Tom.

"That's fine! Thank you so much, Doug!" Shawna grinned at me, "You're so good to me, even after everything..." she trailed off.

"Hey, you're good to me too." I told her. She got me through the phase when I thought alcohol was the solution, and through dealing with the letter.

"So what time should I come over tomorrow?" Shawna asked.

"You might as well stay the night here, I mean, I have room." I shrugged. She looked surprised.

"Are you sure. I mean, James has a nasty habit of waking up extra early." she bit her lip.

"I bet you Charlotte'll be up before him." I rolled my eyes.

"Ok then, um, I'll go pack some over night things." Shawna grinned, "Thank you so much, Dougie." and she walked off.

"Some things never change."

I spun around to see Aunt Jodie there smirking at me. Charlotte was shaking her head.

"What?" I asked innocently, trying to hide my blush.

"You're too good for her, Doug." Aunt Jodie pat my shoulder.

Shawna set James down on the living room floor while she rushed around the apartment, packing an over-night bag for her and him. She was incredibly grateful to Dougie for letting her stay. He was way too good for her, she thought. As she packed, she came across something she almost forgot she had.

It was a picture, a picture that was taken before any complications, before any substance-abuse, depression, family problems and death. Shawna felt tears in her eyes as she looked at the young, thirteen year old couple that looked so happy.

She wanted that back, so, so much that it hurt. She wanted that happiness again. She wondered if she would find it with that very same person that was in that picture.

Harry

My family is down right insane, I'm telling you.

"THOMAS! STOP HASSLING KATHERINE!" my mum was screaming.

"Oh, for the love of God." Jess was rubbing her temples.

My Uncle Keith was snogging my Aunt Maggie (Jess' parents), which was disturbing, and my older - yes, older - siblings were wrestling. My dad was absently watching his football, unfazed by it all. My grandparents were upstairs, retreated to bed, although how they could sleep through this, I don't know. Must be plenty of practise.

My mind drifted to Dougie. Christmas must be hard on him, only with an aunt and cousin to spent it with. He seemed alright at Tom's earlier, though. At the thought of him, my mind drifted off to Shawna. Was it wrong to want your friend's ex? Especially when said friend is obviously still in love with her? Every time I saw her, I faced the mental battle - to ask her out, or not? Would Dougie be angry? Of course, but was it worth it? Doubtful. I sighed. I knew that Dougie and her had that connection, though... a connection that I'd never, ever have with her.

I knew I had to back down, but would I be able to?