Thursday, December 24th. 1 day 'till Christmas...

"I'm sorry, Odette; but I just can't imagine you playing paintball," Proteus said with laugh.

"Not only did she play, but she also won," Meg told him. "Much to Flynn's dismay." Meg playfully nudged Flynn with her shoulder.

Meg and Flynn met up with Proteus and Odette at the ball. The four of them were currently standing near a corner, hanging out and talking. Meg was eternally grateful to Flynn for doing this for her. It had been a couple weeks since she and Proteus just hung out on good terms. The last two times she saw him were the light maze when they got in that fight and when she went to his apartment to tell him she was skipping Christmas. She lost track of how long the four of them had been hanging out at the ball, but she'd guess it had to be at least an hour now.

"Oh, I see how it is," Flynn said. "I take a paintball for you and you're still gonna tease me about losing?"

Meg looped her arm through Flynn's. "You're right; I'm sorry. You're my hero."

"That's more like it."

They all laughed.

"You'll have to come next year, Proteus," Meg invited.

"I appreciate the invite, but I don't know if that's really my thing."

"What's the matter, Proteus?" Odette taunted. "Afraid your girlfriend is gonna kick your butt?"

Proteus laughed. "No. I know she will. I'm just more of indoor person in the winter. Plus, I don't think I'd be very good at it."

"It's still fun, even if you don't win," Meg told him. "But, maybe we can come with other traditions, too; ones that involve staying inside and being cozy."

"Now that I can get behind," Proteus said.

"Then it's settled," Meg said. "Next year we'll incorporate new traditions and maybe even invite Vanessa?"

Proteus smiled at her. "That'd be perfect."

The orchestra started playing an instrumental cover of 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'.

Odette put her hand over her chest. "Oh, I love this song."

Proteus held his hand out to her. "Do you want to dance?"

"I'd love to."

"We'll meet back up with you two a little later," Proteus said.

Odette took his hand the two of them walked over to the dance floor.

Flynn put his hand on Meg's back and pulled her closer to him. They slow danced to the song and everything about the moment felt perfect. She stood on her tiptoes and softly kissed Flynn. She felt him smile against her mouth and she couldn't help smiling, too. When they ended the kiss, she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I think I love you, Flynn Rider," Meg whispered.

Flynn kissed the top of her head. "I think I love you, too."

OOOOO

Eric realized he had forgotten the presents Leah had given him at the house, so he had to go back home to get them. Ariel was there. Eric took the opportunity to talk to her so they could end things on a good note and remain friends.

As he was leaving the house, he saw John outside, loading presents into his car. He and his sisters always spent the night at their mom's house on Christmas Eve so they could all wake up together Christmas morning.

John saw Eric as he closed his car door. "Hey."

"Hey."

Eric really didn't know what to say to John. Which was amazing considering all he's thought about since last night was John; trying to figure how he felt about John's confession.

"Listen, Eric; I don't want what I told you last night to make things weird between us," John said.

"It's not weird," Eric reassured him. He didn't feel awkward, or weird, or uncomfortable around John. Though, he didn't exactly know what he felt.

John nodded. "Good." Silence fell over them, which seemed to make John feel uncomfortable. "I should get going."

"Of course."

"Merry Christmas, Eric."

"Merry Christmas."

Eric watched John drive away before getting in his own car and driving back to the hotel. The hotel room was dark, except the blinking light on his laptop, reminding him that he had left it on. Eric moved the mouse to shut down the computer and the screen lit up. He had left his email open and his eyes caught on the emails confirming the cancellation of the flight and hotel for Colorado.

Eric felt a pang in his heart at once again being reminded of the trip and missed out on with John.

That's when Eric realized he did know how he felt.

He got on his laptop to get a last minute Christmas present for John. Then he packed his bag, grabbed the presents from Leah and drove over to John's mom's house.

The outdoor Christmas lights were still on when Eric arrived. The colored lights were warm and inviting.

Eric was getting his stuff out of the car when Odette was dropped off. She still wore her gown from the Christmas Eve ball and was carrying a suitcase.

"Eric, what a surprise." Odette gave him a hug.

"Here, I got this." Eric took her suitcase from her.

"Thank you."

Odette led them up to the front door and they let themselves in.

"Hey, everyone; looks who's here!" Odette announced as they walked inside.

Odette closed the door behind them as everyone came out of the living room. All at once Leah, Stefan, and Aurora started talking excitedly about Eric and Odette's arrival. Eric didn't see John.

"Eric, are you planning on staying the night?" Leah asked.

"If that's all right," he replied.

"Of course it is," Leah told him. "You can take the guest room."

"Thank you."

Eric went up to the guest room and got his stuff settled in, before going back downstairs with his presents from Leah. When he got downstairs, he heard laughing in the kitchen and assumed everyone had migrated there for Christmas Eve cookies and cocoa. He went into the living room to put the presents back by the tree and was happy to see John sitting on the couch.

"I'm glad I caught you alone," Eric said. "About last night-"

"No, don't." John got to his feet and started to leave. "We don't have to talk about it."

"John, wait."

John stopped in the doorway and turned to face Eric. Eric noticed there was mistletoe hanging above the doorway. He walked over to John.

"I don't want to talk," Eric told him. He gently grabbed John's head and pulled him into a kiss. Eric had never kissed another guy before, but everything about kissing John felt amazing.

John hesitantly kissed him back, but broke the kiss after a couple seconds. "Eric, you don't have to-"

Eric pushed him against the doorframe and kissed him again. This time John fully gave into the kiss and they didn't stop until his family came out of the kitchen.

"Get a room," Odette said, walking past them, into the living room.

"I knew it," Aurora declared.