This story is coming to an end, for those who are still reading. I may or may not do a sequel, depending on how much time I have to spare before my spring semester kicks up. Maybe I'll do a series of one-shots of for this storyline. I do have a epilogue partially written out, but I've been tweaking it for a while now!

After a round of desserts and coffee went around, the gang sat down to exchange presents to one another. While Melanie and Chris didn't have gifts to give out, having originally planned to spend Christmas in their new homes; they were shocked and overwhelmed when their friends shoved neatly wrapped gifts at them.

"We had a feeling," Pavel shrugged, as he set a penguin-covered gift-bag on the coffee table, "that you two would get back together before the holiday."

"You did?" Melanie asked, looking at the alarming pile of gifts in front of them. "How?"

JIm snorted, "Like you would really let that walk away for good!" he said, nodding to Chris. "I would commit myself to a mental institution if I was crazy enough to do that!"

"You mean, you haven't already?" Chris asked, shocked. "Committed yourself to a mental institution that is."

The others laughed as Jim rolled his eyes, "Ha ha," he snapped. "Just be quiet and open your gifts! I want to start that fire-pit outside!"

The couple glanced at one another, shrugging as they picked up the first wrapped present. Melanie opened it slowly, slightly worried that it was a prank, since the gift was from Jim.

Instead, they were shocked to find a collage frame, with nine slots. In the middle, one picture sat in it's frame; a photo taken sometime after the New Year, during one of Nyota's many Sunday afternoon gatherings.

"Oh," Melanie gasped, her fingers running down the sepia-toned frame. "This is so pretty!"

Jim smirked, pleased with himself. "You're apartment is going to need a shitload of photographs," he nodded, ignoring Leonard's scowl for his choice of words. "Joanna wanted you guys to have a photo in there already and she picked that one."

Chris looked down at the photo and chuckled, "Was this before or after we all got drunk?" he asked, which made Melanie nudge him. "Joanna, you did a very good job."

Joanna smiled, "Thank you!" she squealed, before turning her attention back to her new book.

"Maybe you guys can put your wedding photos in there!" Gaila clapped her hands.

"Or pictures of your future children!" Nyota said, smiling innocently at them. "A little baby with blonde hair and Chris's eyes," she sighed.

Leonard chuckled, "Okay, lets see the next one!" he nodded to the pile. "Before we all combust and open them for you."

…..

A half an hour later, Chris and Melanie opened all their gifts, acquiring a few basic items for their new apartment. While they had no expectations of getting back together before the holiday, everyone else had an inkling it seemed; buying them knick-knacks for the walls that would need a little color, things for the kitchen and their bedroom. Joanna, with the help of her father, gave them a old photograph of Manhattan that was taken from the early thirties.

"This is going right in our living room," Melanie said, with a smile. "Right where we can see it every day when we come home!"

Once their gifts were opened, the couple gave out hugs and kisses- Melanie doing most of the kissing- before everyone dispersed to get more cake or head outside. Grabbing their coats and a blanket off the couch, Chris and Melanie went out front door and onto the swing seat.

"I am very surprised," Melanie said, as she curled up next to him. "They really had all that faith in us getting back together."

Chris set the blanket over their laps and wrapped his arm around her, "I'm glad they did," he said, kissing her forehead.

She hummed lightly, "We should do something for all of them. Before we leave for New York."

He nodded, "We can host New Years? That way Nyota doesn't have to open her house again for another party."

"Then we can do something when they come to New York for our wedding?" she shrugged. "Unless we decide to get married in a foreign country again."

"No foreign countries," he laughed, pulling her closer to him. "I want to come out of this with a legal marriage this time."

"Me too," she smiled, looking up at him. "Legal and tequila free."

They both laughed, as they leaned in close to kiss each other as the chilly air nipped at their noses. Once they pull apart, Chris pulled the blanket up a little higher, making sure Melanie was mostly covered.

"I can smell the fire burning," she said, sniffing the air. "I hope they save us some marshmallows."

Chris chuckled, "You're going to have the worst stomachache later."

She giggled, "But you can rub my belly and make it feel better," she mumbled. "I missed that when you were gone."

"I missed a lot of things, Mel," he said softly. "But I'll make it up to you."

She smiled to herself, "Okay."

Meanwhile, Leonard was shuffling around the kitchen, searching for the bag of marshmallows and chocolate bars.

"Dammit," he muttered, riffling through the bags on the counter. "How the hell do these things just disappear."

"What are you looking for?"

Leonard turned around, finding Jim standing in the doorway of the kitchen with his coat on. "The uh… marshmallows and chocolate bars," he said.

Jim nodded, "Oh," he said. "Yeah, Scotty brought they out already. He and Jo are breaking them up now."

He nodded, "Good," he wiped his hands on his jeans. "Do they have enough crackers?"

"I think so," Jim nodded, before a tense bout of silence fell between them.

"Look," Leonard cleared his throat. "Jim, I want to talk about what happened the last week..,,"

But Jim shook his head, "It's fine, Bones," he held his hand up. "We don't need to talk about it."

Leonard shook his head, "No, we do," he looked up at him. "Please? Can we just.. sit down and talk about it?"

Jim nodded and moved to the table, Leonard following him. Once they sat down, Leonard started to talk.

"I'm sorry for what I said to you that day at the apartment," he shook his head. "I should've never said what I said. You've been so good to Jo and.. to me; especially when I don't deserve such kindness for what I've done to the people around me."

The blonde nodded, "You really don't," he said, shaking his he head.

Leonard looked down at the tablecloth, "I- Did you mean what you said?" he asked, glancing up at him. "That you.. you loved me?"

Jim nodded, "Yeah," he said softly. "I do. I still love you, even though you can be a real bastard most of the time. But, I understand if you don't feel the same way about me."

"Jim I-" Leonard started, before he was interrupted by the younger chef.

"But I don't want things to be weird between us, Bones. I love Joanna with all my heart and I miss hanging out with you guys, without having this choking tension between you and me," he said.

Leonard nodded, "Jim, I haven't dated anyone since I left Jocelyn."

"I know," Jim nodded. "And I wouldn't expect you to, since you said it ended on bad terms. How could you date so quickly after divorcing your wife?"

Leonard nodded, licking his lips slowly. "And.. it's been a while since I've," he shrugged. "You know.. kissed a guy."

Jim nodded, "Yea- wait! What?" he frowned. "Y-you've kissed a dude before?"

The older man shrugged, "It was back in New York," he sighed. "College does some crazy things to people; especially one that grew up in a strict household from the South."

Jim's frown turned into a grin, "You motherfucker," he shook his head, laughing. "You dated guys before marryin' the devil?"

Leonard rolled his eyes, "I didn't date guys, Jim," he shifted in the chair. "I.. experimented."

The younger man's jaw dropped, "Oh Jesus Christ!" Leonard snorted. "It was college! I was seventeen and in a city that was completely foreign to me! I didn't know what I was do-"

Jim lunged out of his seat and smashed his lips against Leonard's, his hands cradling the back of his head. Leonard tensed at first, shocked at the sudden movement, before slowly relaxing against the chair. He then reached up and grasped the sleeve of Jim's jacket, before wrapping his other arm around him, tugging him onto his lap.

"I think Nyota has some hot co- WHOA!"

Jim and Leonard pulled apart quickly, turning to look at the intruders. Melanie and Chris stood in the doorway, their eyes wide and jaws nearly to the floor.

"Shit.." Leonard whispered weakly, as his sister stared at them in shock. "Mel…"

"This is slightly turning me on," she said, startling not only herself, but Chris as well. "Holy shit. Can that be considered incest? Thinking that your sibling making out with another person, who is a man, is totally hot?"

Chris was so shocked and confused, that he wasn't sure what to say. "I… uhh… who wants hot chocolate?" he asked.

…..

While Chris and Jim went searching for hot chocolate mix, Leonard and Melanie sat in the living room.

"So…you're gay?" she asked, watching as her brother fiddled with his watch. "Wh-what about Jocelyn?"

"I'm not gay," he sighed, looking over at her. "When I married Joss, I was in love with her."

Melanie frowned, "But you were just in the kitchen, sucking face with Jim."

Leonard sat back against the couch, "Ain't you ever experimented in college?" he asked, scowling. "Or were you the goody two-shoes of the bunch?"

Her eyes went wide, "You fucked guys in college?!" she exclaimed, yelping when he lunged forward to cover her mouth with his hand.

"Would you shut your trap!" his hissed. "I really don't want to explain to everyone about my sex life on Christmas! Especially in front of my seven year old daughter!"

Melanie nodded and Leonard dropped his hand from her mouth, "H-how long have you and Jim been together?" she asked.

Leonard ran his fingers through his hair, "We ain't together," he sighed. "He told me last week that he was in love with me and ran out. That he'd been in love with me since the day I showed up for work."

"Oh Len," she sighed. "Please don't hurt that boy. He's been so good to you and Jo for the past year."

"I won't hurt him, Mel," he glanced at her. "I think maybe we could date.. see how it goes."

She smiled, "Can I plan your wedding?" she asked, earning a groan from him. "Oh come on! It'll be sooo cute! We can put you in a nice suit and Jim could wear a dress! I've always wanted a sister!"

He glared at her and she stopped, "Fine, no dress!" she held her hands up. "So.. does this make you like.. bi-sexual?"

Leonard nodded, "I guess so."

Melanie nodded and looked at the flower arrangement on the table, both siblings falling into silence. They could hear Chris and Jim moving around in the kitchen, making a mess from the way they were snickering.

"So," Melanie glanced over at her brother, blushing slightly. "You've done it with guys?" she asked.

He nodded, "Yes Melanie. I've slept with a few guys back in college," he blushed.

She nodded quickly, "W-what's it like?" she asked, biting her lip. "I mean.. doing it you know.. does it feel the same way when you and Joss did it?"

Leonard looked over at her, frowning. "Why? Haven't you and Chris done it like that before? I mean, you two supposedly fuck like rabbits from what Gaila and Nyota tell Jim."

"Oh that little shit!" she scowled. "I am going to murder him for telling you and then I'll murder the other two for telling him about our sex life!"

"Easy there," he placed his hand on her knee. "No murdering will take place!"

Melanie sighed, brushing her hair away from her face. "No, Chris and I never did it like that!" she huffed, blushing furiously now. "Forget I asked, because now this is just too fucking weird."

Leonard rolled his eyes and sat up, pulling her close to his side. He then leaned forward and whispered into her ear a few suggestions, making her gasp.

"What are you two whispering about," Chris asked, as he and Jim made their way into the living room. "I hope you're not talking about us."

Melanie jumped and turned around to look at him, her face in a bright shade of red. "Um…"

Jim snickered as he handed a cup to Leonard, "I take that as a yes," he grinned, sitting down on the love seat.

She took the cup from Chris, and moved over so he could sit next to her, "Are you feeling alright?" he asked, touching her forehead. "You're a little warm."

Leonard managed to choke on his drink, trying to hide his laughter with a cough. "Easy there, Len," Jim grinned over the rim of his cup. "You might hurt yourself there."

"I'm fine!" Melanie insisted, patting his hand. "It's just a little warm in here."

Jim snorted, earning a glare from her as she looked at him. "How about we play with Jo's new Candyland game?" he suggested. "I'm sure the munchkin wont mind, since she's out there stuffing her face with marshmallows and chocolate."

Jumping up from her spot, Melanie snatched the board game off the floor by the tree and moved back to the couch. "I'll beat all of you," she said, opening the box.

"Please," Leonard snorted. "I've beaten you in Monopoly."

"And you do suck at poker," Chris shrugged, earning a glare from her. "Sorry honey, but you do."

Jim giggled, "You also suck at Jenga."

"Jenga?" Leonard made a face. "Who the fuck still plays Jenga?"

Melanie pulled the board out of the box, "Clearly he does," she replied coolly, pulling out the necessary pieces to the game. "And for the record, I am awesome at Jenga. I am the Queen at Jenga!"

"Okay, lets play the game please," Chris said, clearing his throat. "No more fighting."