Christmas is quiet, lowkey. Neither Zack or Dolph feel like going out, so Zack's parents bring them both plates stacked high with ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, mixed vegetables, green bean casserole, and rolls, and an even taller stack of gifts. The four of them sit around and eat, discussing WWE and Zack's rehab around large pieces of apple pie and ice cream as the TV drones on from the next room.

By the time the gifts are unwrapped and Zack walks his parents out while Dolph tries to make sense of the pile of paper and ribbon, they're both tired and eager to go to bed, Zack sighing and wrapping an arm around Dolph once the lights are all off and they're comfortable under the blankets. "Been a nice holiday," he murmurs into Dolph's hair.

Dolph nods sleepily. "Yeah, it has been. I don't like having to leave so early tomorrow, but hm. Do you want to come? I know you won't be able to compete, but it is the Garden and I know how you love it there."

Zack breathes in and out for a minute, thinking about it before shaking his head. "No, I'd like to, but it wouldn't be the same without being able to compete, bro. Thanks, though."

"Alright," Dolph says, kissing him. "I'll try not to wake you up when I leave. Good night, kid." He squirms around, fitting more comfortably in Zack's arms before falling asleep.

The next day passes slowly for Zack as he watches weird Christmas movies, which is basically the only thing still on TV, tries a few rehab exercises, and watches Twitter. Dolph tweets here and there, mostly flirty sounding tweets to various people that leaves Zack staring, unimpressed, at his screen until he turns it off and focuses back on the movie for a few minutes before checking his phone and beginning the cycle all over again.

He falls asleep at some point on the couch, hugging a blanket to his chest, and he's not sure how much time has passed when he wakes up to find Dolph kneeling next to him, kissing his recovering shoulder. "Hey, bro," he mumbles, wiping at his eyes and sitting up, the blanket pooling around his waist. "How was the event?"

"Fine," Dolph says quietly. "C'mere, kid." Standing, Dolph holds a hand out, gripping Zack and pulling him up as well.

"Where're we going?" Zack yawns, following him obligingly. Dolph only offers him a quick smile over his shoulder before leading him towards the window where Zack blinks and realizes a table is set up there, a tablecloth gleaming under the faint light coming through the glass pane, plates and glasses waiting for them. "What is this?"

"I figured we should have a quiet meal," Dolph says. "Just the two of us. Since your parents were here all day yesterday, and I wasn't home today, I figured it'd be a good way to spend the night before the holiday tour takes me out of New York. What do you think?"

Zack beams at him. "I like it, bro. What food did you get?"

Dolph grins, lifting up bags from one of the best steak houses in the area, setting out huge containers of food on the table and spooning everything onto their plates. "Steak, roasted potatoes, and green beans." He reaches out and pokes Zack when he makes a face at the container of cheesecake that Dolph unearths a couple minutes later. "I know you want to stay Zacked, and yesterday was your 'cheat day', but I'm declaring today a cheat day too. So just deal, kid."

"Oh fine," Zack mumbles, sitting down and watching as Dolph pulls out a bottle of wine. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, seriously," Dolph says, uncorking it and pouring a decent amount in the glass set in front of Zack's plate. "You're off your painkillers and everything now, so a little bit of this won't hurt, right?"

Zack grimaces but nods, grabbing the glass and letting it breathe for a minute before sipping from it, watching as Dolph finishes pouring his own drink and sits down. "This is nice," he concedes, smiling. "Thanks, bro."

"You're welcome, kid," Dolph grins at him. "I know it bummed you out that you couldn't be involved at the Garden, so I thought maybe this would help a little."

"It does," Zack nods, cutting his steak up. "Hopefully I'll be wrestling at the next Garden event."

Dolph reaches over to grip his hand and squeezes, eyes locked on Zack's grim expression. "I'm sure you will be, kid."

"Thanks." Leaning over, Zack kisses him. "For all of this. For yesterday. For being with me through all of this rehab and everything. I know I haven't been the easiest to live with the last couple of months."

"You've been fine," Dolph says honestly. "I know you've been hurting. At least things are working out and you'll be back at it before you know it."

"Thanks," Zack murmurs with a soft smile, nuzzling against him before turning back to the table, fingers still interlaced with Dolph's as they resume eating.