Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Shawn burst into the Psych office on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, laden with shopping bags filled with last minute gift purchases, which was, as one might expect, all of the Christmas gifts he was giving. He popped in a CD of Muppets Christmas music and spread out the gifts and wrapping supplies on the floor. He hummed along as he wrapped the items in assorted colorful paper and topped them with sparkling bows. Once all of the packages had been tucked away in a large sack, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.

Please pick up, please pick up, Shawn thought anxiously as it rang on the other line.

"Lassiter," came the answer

"Hey, Carlton," Shawn said. "It's me."

"I'm at work, Shawn. I don't really have time to talk."

"I know. I'll be quick. I just have a couple of questions."

"Fine. Just make it fast."

"Alright, well, first of all: are you working tomorrow?"

"No, I'm not. I've got enough seniority to be able to get it off. Why?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to, you know, spend the holiday together? If you're not doing anything else…"

"Of course I would."

"So, I was thinking, we could stay at your place tonight, and then maybe we could go to my dad's or something in the morning…"

"Um, sure." Lassiter muttered something to someone on his end and then said to Shawn, "Listen, I've really got to go. I'll talk to you later tonight. We can do dinner. You know, for Christmas Eve"

"Okay. I'll be hanging out at the office. So just stop by and pick me up."

They said their goodbyes and went about their own business. Shawn happily bounced about, pleased that Carlton had accepted his plan for the holiday. However, there was still one more call he needed to make. Shawn punched the numbers into his phone and waited for the answer.

"Hello?" Henry Spencer said on the other end.

"Hi, Dad."

"Shawn! So, do you have an answer for me about tomorrow?"

"Yeah. I guess I'll be there. But I do have a question: is it alright if I bring a guest?"

"Sure thing! In fact, you can bring as many people as you want, since my buddies won't be coming. I'll need somebody to eat all this food I've got. You see, turns out Buck is having a big thing up at his cabin, so they all backed out at the last minute."

"Alright, Dad, I don't really need to hear about your lack of friends. I'll see you tomorrow."

Shawn hung up before he got caught up in a painfully boring conversation with his father. He busied himself with online games and other such nonsense for a few hours. Just after five thirty, Shawn heard a car roll up to the office and a door open and shut. He scrambled to get his things together and was at the door just as Carlton turned the knob.

"Hey, Carlton," Shawn said, shutting the door behind him.

He planted a quick kiss on the other man's lips. Carlton smiled.

"Come on, let's get going. I'm starving," the detective said and the two got into the car.

They drove a few blocks and settled on the typical Christmas Eve dining location – a Chinese restaurant. They were seated at a corner table and placed their orders.

"So, about tomorrow…" Shawn said as they waited for their food.

"What about it?" Carlton replied. "It sounded like you had some plans in mind."

"Well, yeah. I mean, you get along with my dad – sort of, as much as anyone can, I guess. So I was thinking maybe we could go over to his place. He said he really wants me to come."

"Sure. I guess so."

"Okay, good. Because I already told him we're coming." He paused. "Well, technically, I told him that I was coming and bringing someone. I didn't specify who."

"Yeah, if you're…you know…" Carlton sounded a little apprehensive.

"I figured that if the whole police department knows by now, I probably ought to mention it to my dad, too. Or something," Shawn said with a shrug.

Carlton pursed his lips in contemplation, but his thoughts were disrupted by the arrival of their dinner.

"Whatever," Shawn said, immediately digging in. "There's no point in stressing about it now."

He smiled and waved his chopsticks in the air. Carlton grudgingly took a bite, then another, and eventually devoured the food with the appropriate hunger of a man who had been doing detective work nearly nonstop all day.

"Oh, by the way," Shawn said between sloppy mouthfuls of lo mein, "how has the rest of the department been? If you don't mind my asking. We haven't really talked about that."

"Well," Carlton swallowed. "Nobody's really said anything about it at all. I guess I'm not really surprised by that. Except O'Hara, though."

"Jules? What's she been doing?"

"Oh, nothing much really. Just kind of pestering me. Asking questions, making jokes, pointing out the irony of the situation, that sort of thing. Overall, acting a lot like you."

"I pester you?" Shawn exaggeratedly feigned shock. "I had no idea! Why ever didn't you tell me?"

"Ha ha. Very funny. But seriously, hadn't she said anything to you?"

"Not a word. Nothing at all." He paused laughed. "That's not true at all. She actually did. She sort of congratulated me, I guess you could say. Oh, and she asked if she should threaten you, you know, if you break my heart or whatever. The usual shtick."

"There haven't been any threats yet."

"That's because I told her not to. Mainly because, although she is a fine cop who can certainly hold her own in a fight, she would never be a match for you physical prowess, which I can personally attest to," Shawn said with a quick wink.

"You – you said that?" Carlton said, with a flattered smile creeping across his face.

"Well, I can, duh. Like, for example, the time when you pinned me against the wall and –"

"Shawn! Not now!" Carlton snapped.

The detective scowled and furrowed his brow, but the slight hint of flush in his cheeks betrayed to Shawn that Carlton was not truly angry.

"You said 'not now,'" Shawn said with a smirk, "so does that mean later is good, though? Because, you know, I'm really feeling like –"

"Shawn! Please!"

"'Please' what?" Shawn said, leaning across the table and licking the corner of his lip suggestively.

"Cut it out, Shawn!" Carlton snarled desperately and grabbed the other man by the shoulder, pushing him back against the chair with one forceful shove.

"You do realize that really is not helping the situation at all, right? I mean, that's exactly the sort of thing I was talking about."

The silent look of dismay on Carlton's face indicated to Shawn that perhaps he had gone a bit too far, although he the interaction that had just transpired did leave him feeling somewhat excited. He opted to change the topic of conversation with a few lighthearted jokes and questions about the other man's Christmas Eve workday, which carried through until the two had finished their meal and left the restaurant.

"So, am I staying over with you tonight?" Shawn asked once they were in the car.

"Of course," Carlton replied. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Author's Note: This is way later than I intended. And way after Christmas, but whatever. Things came up. I think there will be one more installment, and it should be up within the next few days.