"So...are you going to freak out if someone takes pictures of us together at the show tonight? Kurt questioned, as they sat eating pancakes the next morning.

"I'm definitely not planning on it." Darren looked across at Chris, hating what had happened after he had spoken to Ryan on the phone the other morning. "We are allowed out together aren't we? I mean I understand behaving like I'm with my super, sexy, hot boyfriend is completely out..but we've done things together before, as friends."

"Hopefully it'll be fine." Chris wrinkled his nose in thought. "I thought I'd better tell you though that I checked the show's website and tonight is some charity performance, being Christmas Eve I guess. I was thinking that on top of the pictures at the ice rink, if we're seen together and are obviously spending Christmas together..people may make more if it than they normally would."

"Oh, why do I feel like that's bad news? That probably means there'll be some press there then... I'll have to be extra careful to keep my hands and lips to myself.." Darren smiled,
"We're not sticking our heads above the parapet unless we have to though, so hopefully it'll be ok."

"To be honest Darren, I'd be happy for us to behave as a couple and take the consequences - but I do appreciate that we can't. But just in case after those other pictures they start drawing their own conclusions, I just need to know if you're going to freak out again. Or to put it another way - will I be booking one plane ticket home for New Year or two?" Chris couldn't help but feel slightly irritated. He knew he'd easily forgiven Darren's melt down after Ryan's phone call and understood why Darren felt panicked, but it all still felt quite raw. Although this area of their relationship was still new, they were already such good friends that Chris was sure whatever happened, they'd get through it. He just wasn't ready for another high drama this side of Christmas.

Darren could sense Chris' irritation, "would you rather go back to your parents' on your own then?"

"Stop twisting what I say," Chris sighed. "I didn't even say that and I think you know it."

"You're blaming me I can tell, but you didn't have Ryan swearing at you down the phone. If you had, you might have freaked out." Darren frowned. "Now you're making out like I'd agree to go with you for New Year, and then suddenly change my mind."

"That's not what I said, or at least meant," Chris huffed, beginning to wonder why he'd started this conversation. They were obviously both not in the right mood for it.

"I may have freaked out, but you were the one who stormed off before we could talk..." Darren commented. "I'd do anything for you. I go to support you in loads of public events, because I want to. I've been to stay with your family with you because I want to..now you're making out that I'd just flip at a bit of publicity and then suddenly decide not to go home with you. The only reason I'd not come with you would be if you didn't want me too." Darren took a breath. "You're Ryan's little favourite - anything goes wrong, I get the blame, never you. Just like the other day. I don't mind taking the blame, but I don't want YOU to blame ME." Darren sagged his shoulders, staring down at his breakfast. He'd lost his appetite all of a sudden.

"I think you're now blowing this up out of proportion." Chris was starting to feel dizzy with the way this conversation was going. "I made one comment, and you're making a big thing of it."

Darren bit his lip, not wanting this argument to go any further. "We're going round in circles here...you drive me mad sometimes."

"I drive you mad.. You drive me mad is more like it." Chris could feel his cheeks hot and flushed, tears building up behind his eyes.

Chris was so stubborn. Darren just knew he wouldn't back down. 'Why was this so difficult?' he asked himself. They got on so well usually - always hanging out at each other's apartments, especially during Glee filming weeks. They spent their spare time on set in each other's trailers when their free times coincided, choosing to be together rather than on their own. Even when they were doing their own thing they would text or phone each other daily. Admittedly they did bicker a lot of the time, but they both secretly enjoyed that side of their friendship. However, neither of them were enjoying this, that much was obvious.

Darren looked up at Chris' watery eyes. This had turned from chatting over breakfast to angst in a ridiculously short time. "What are we doing?" Darren asked softly, hating seeing Chris upset.

"I know what I'm doing", Chris mumbled, "or at least what I was trying to do."

"And what was that?" Darren raised his eyebrows. "Remind me."

Chris rolled his eyes, watching Darren as he came round Chris' side of the counter. At first Chris thought Darren was leaving, but suddenly felt him come behind him, wrapping his arms around Chris. "Let's not fight, baby." Darren leaned his chin on Chris' shoulder, sighing close to his ear.

Chris fought hard not to cry. More than anything, he really didn't want to cry, and now Darren holding him was making him feel weak. He stayed silent, breathing shudderingly against Darren's chest. "It's okay", Darren whispered, hot breath skimming Chris' neck, "we're new to this relationship thing..."

Chris huffed, relaxing his shoulders into Darren's embrace, a single tear escaping from his brimming eyes.

"I love you," Darren breathed against Chris' neck, sending a shiver down his spine. "More than ever.."

"I love you too," Chris whispered still not turning round to look at Darren, but covering Darren's hands with his own. "Even when you're grumpy!"

"Last word, eh Colfer! You're going to be in. So. Much. Trouble.."

They had a visit to Saks department store later that day, their earlier argument forgiven but still not entirely forgotten. They'd completely made up after breakfast, planning a leisurely shower together before deciding what to do that day. They both came out of the bathroom having come twice each, once before they'd even made it to the shower.

Whilst the physical side of things was fast becoming something they were addicted to, Chris knew they had a way to go with learning to communicate with each other, especially concerning emotional issues. Good relationships took work, and Chris was pretty sure he and Darren were both on the same page in being in this for the long haul.

A bit of retail therapy was always a good short term healer, and when Chris had declared he needed a new suit to wear to the theatre, Darren decided he did too. So here they were in the men's fitting rooms, admiring each other in designer suits.

They tried on numerous suits before making their final choices. Darren chose a Hugo Boss navy slim fit suit that fitted his small frame perfectly. Chris went for a Calvin Klein black suit which clung to his slender body in all the right places. If there was any chance they may get photographed later, they definitely wanted to look good.

Darren crashed his lips against Chris' while they were by the fitting room mirrors, taking him initially by surprise. He immediately deepened the kiss as he thrust his tongue into Chris' mouth. Chris could do nothing but moan into Darren's mouth as their tongues fought for dominance. Then Darren was gone -back into his cubicle to get changed into his day clothes leaving Chris half hard with arousal at the kiss they'd shared. He was sure Darren did it on purpose, knowing how much the kiss would turn him on.

Chris was sure to take his time getting changed, partly to give himself time to calm down a bit, but also because he knew it would wind Darren up - Chris' way of partially getting his own back, after being left on his own with a boner in the middle of a department store fitting room. Darren could never quite understand how Chris could take so long getting ready for anything. As Chris put the final touches to his hair, he could hear Darren impatiently tapping his foot as he sat waiting for him pulled back the curtain of the fitting room cubicle, eyeing Darren with a smirk and wafting straight past him to go to pay for his suit at the till.

"Hurry up and pay for yours, Darren, "Chris called back over to him as he walked towards the till, "I'm desperate for ice cream."

"Much as I love ice cream, is it not a little cold for it today?" Darren asked scurrying after Chris.

"Oh but I'm hot," Chris whispered huskily, "really hot, Darren..."

Darren raised his eyebrows slightly, but didn't flinch. He was good at this. "Okay then - ice cream - we'll share one, Chris," Darren whispered sexily, close to Chris, "one spoon...and I'm in charge of the spoon..."

Chris feigned nonchalance as he handed over his credit card to pay for his suit, proud that he'd managed to hold in the whimper that had almost escaped his mouth.

"How are we going to play things this evening?" Darren asked Chris as they got ready to go out. "You know, in the being together but not 'together'."

Chris looked thoughtful as he buttoned his shirt. "D'you know what, I'm actually fed up with all this. I just want to be with you, as my boyfriend, and not have to pretend we're just friends." Darren rubbed Chris' back in sympathy, nodding in agreement. "Look how much stress and strain it's put on us - it's ridiculous. The most stupid thing of all is that our fans desperately want us to be together in real life, as well as in Glee. At the end of the day it's the fans that matter more than anything. Without our fans we wouldn't be where we are today..."

"That's what made me feel so angry about this whole thing too. Most people can go out on a date if they have a boyfriend or girlfriend..I wish they'd checked with us first to find out if it were true, without putting out a statement denying it." Darren paused, taking a big breath. "See," he sighed, " even talking about it now makes me feel angry."

"We could hardly have told Ryan about us before those photos were put on line, I mean we barely knew ourselves at that stage..I mean," Chris blushed a little, "I think all we'd done is kiss at that point."

Chris grabbed his phone off of the bedside table where it was charging. "I know you won't want me to do this, but I'm going to phone Ryan." Chris dared a look over at Darren who was looking slightly panic stricken at Chris' announcement.

"Is that a good idea?

"We've tried to do what we think he wanted, and we're both uncomfortable with it. Even if he doesn't like it, I think we need to be honest with him. I'll just tell him that we weren't together before but that now we are, and just warn him there's a possibility we may be pictured behaving in a boyfriendy type of way."

"Boyfriendy?"

"You know what I mean." Chris smiled, leaning forward and kissing Darren chastely on the lips. "At least if I tell him the truth, he can decide what the studio's official response will be if there is any publicity."

"Actually, I think it sounds like a good plan. Thank you." Darren pressed his lips against Chris' for another chaste kiss, trying to convey his feelings in that one simple action.

"Thank you for what? We might lose our jobs over this yet - although I truly doubt it."

"I know, but thank you for being the sensible one, and looking out for me..."

"Hey, it's fine." Chris squeezed Darren's hand as he started to scroll through the contacts on his phone looking for Ryan's number. "I'm doing this for us. I just want to be able to go out with my boyfriend, without feeling like I shouldn't be. That shouldn't be too difficult should it?"

Chris left the room to make the phone call somewhere more private. He didn't mind Darren hearing what he had to say, but he knew how worried Darren was about the whole thing, and if the phone call didn't go well, maybe he needn't tell him the whole story.

Darren was indeed worried how Chris' phone call to Ryan was going. He sat on the edge of Chris' bed, still half dressed, with his head in his hands. Never had his life felt so stressful and complicated. When he'd imagined finally finding the love of his life, he'd thought it would all be hearts and stars, not this.

They'd originally planned on eating before the show, but in the end they ran out of time and decided to eat after. They grabbed a cab to the theatre, Darren smiling broadly at Chris as he helped him out of the cab after climbing out himself.

"Ever the perfect gentleman," Chris smiled taking the offer of Darren's hand.

"Just for you," Darren said lowly, pulling Chris in for long lingering kiss. Only pulling apart so they could link arms to enter the theatre.

"So, tell me exactly what he said," Darren said to Chris once they were comfortably seated in the Italian restaurant they had visited on Chris' first night in New York.

They hadn't had much time to discuss Chris' phone call to Ryan, it had taken so long. Chris had briefly given Darren the gist of the conversation before they had to leave to get to the theatre on time.

By the time Chris had come off the phone, Darren had been going frantic with worry. He'd resisted the urge to go and find Chris - instead pacing Chris' bedroom for over an hour. The waiting time had done nothing for Darren's hair - he'd spent most of the time he'd been waiting, unintentionally running his hands through it. Between them they'd managed to put it back to an acceptable style before rushing out of the apartment to hail a cab.

"Oh, Ryan did end by asking me to pass on his Christmas Greetings to you," Chris smiled.

Darren chuckled, "sounds good. Better than the death wish I thought I was going to get."

"Actually he was okay about everything. After I explained to him that the ice skating photos were literally on the first day we got together, I think he kind of understood why we hadn't told him anything..."

Chris whispered to Darren, making sure no one was nearby to overhear them first, "I mean it was only after that that we went back and had sex for the first time wasn't it? The best sex I've ever, ever had, I might add," Chris ducked his head shyly at this last part.

Darren smiled broadly, his eyes sparkling. "It has all been pretty fantastic hasn't it? I think I've now realised why it's called 'making love'.." He grabbed Chris' hand across the table, his voice low and gravelly.

Chris squeezed Darren's hand in silent agreement. "Anyway I explained that we were struggling to keep it a secret in public, and didn't want to really...and actually he wasn't surprised that we'd got together. The only thing he was surprised about, was that it had taken us so long...he said he'd seen something from the moment he'd first introduced us to each other in his office, on your first day."

"I remember that day.." Darren said quietly. "So well..." Darren paused. "I was going through a few details in Ryan's office, and then he called you in so we could be introduced...and I just knew you were something special as soon as I saw you. Stupid though it sounds, I felt like you were mine... That sounds terrible doesn't it.. But that's just how I felt at the time."

"Darren," Chris said making Darren look up at him. "I felt the same instant attraction, although I didn't know you were gay obviously..But I knew we'd always be friends at least...and for the record - I am yours, I always have been, and I want nothing more than to be yours."

"Wow," Darren looked lovingly across the table at Chris. "This is fast becoming the best Christmas ever.."

At this point a waiter turned up at their table with food, shaking them out of their thoughts. When they'd first come in, Darren had ordered them both the Christmas special menu along with a bottle of wine, not wanting to waste time studying the menu when they could be talking. Chris didn't mind - he actually quite liked Darren taking control..

They both began tucking into their dinner - chicken in some type of creamy sauce, it was delicious, and they hadn't eaten for hours. After a few minutes, Chris remembered he hadn't finished telling Darren about the phone call.

"By the way, Ryan did say sorry for being a bit hard on you the other day."

Darren scoffed.

"He said he had a lot on his mind at the time, and that our photos were kind of the last straw. He sounded like a felt quite bad about it, if that's any consolation." Chris smiled.

"He has no idea.."

"Anyway we spent quite a bit of time chatting about other things. Even though I knew I didn't have much time, it just seemed rude not to..plus you know we need him on our side.."

"I'm so glad it's all sorted," Darren sighed. "I think I'm actually feeling brave enough to propose a toast to our relationship." Darren picked up his wine glass, chinking it against Chris' who had also raised his glass. "Also...I need you to know that - for the future - if we're in the same town, were going to be sleeping in the same bed..I'm sorry if that sounds possessive, but that's just how I'd like our relationship to be.."

"I wouldn't want it any other way," Chris whispered, his eyes dark. "There's nothing I want more."

It was inevitable that after the heart felt declarations in the restaurant, coupled with the sense of relief they both felt, that they would both be standing in Chris' bedroom in their underwear only five minutes after getting back to the apartment. They'd been careful in taking off their new suits, but as soon as they were off and carefully hung up, desperation had moved in.

Darren put both his hands down the back of Chris' underwear, as their bodies crashed together. He firmly circled Chris' ass cheeks in his hands, his actions slowly pushing Chris' underwear down so the waistband sat below the two pert buttocks. Darren gently unhooked the front of Chris' boxer briefs from the rock hard erection that was holding them up in the front. "Oh my god," Darren sighed into the crook of Chris' neck, "you are just so gorgeous.."

Darren knelt down to pull Chris' underwear completely off, kissing the shaft of Chris' cock as he cupped his balls with one of his hands, rolling them gently. That alone was enough to make Chris come undone. "Ahh, Darren." Chris gave an involuntary thrust. "Darren, Darren, pleease..."

Darren kissed the top of Chris cock, rolling his balls a little more firmly. He looked up at Chris' flushed face, "Tell me that you're mine, Chris... Please, tell me that you're mine..all mine."

Chris grabbed Darren's hair in both hands in a desperate movement. Darren's words had sent him to a new level. He parted his legs a little as his toes curled fiercely. "I'm yours Darren," Chris panted. "I'm yours, I'm yours..all yours...pleease make. me. yours."

As Darren listened, he pushed his own underwear down to his knees, stroking himself once his own cock had sprung free. "Mine." Darren had breathed against the top of Chris' thigh, before taking Chris' cock deeply into his mouth.

Chris had come so hard down the back of Darren's throat that he thought he was going to black out. He hung on to Darren's hair for dear life, looking down helplessly as he hazily watched Darren jerking himself through his own orgasm. Darren leaned his head against Chris' stomach as he spilled over onto his fist.

"Merry Christmas Chris," Darren panted when they'd eventually recovered enough to speak. He pulled Chris down to sit on his lap on the floor, crashing their lips together. He let Chris taste himself as he forced his tongue into Chris' mouth, causing them both to moan loudly.

As they eventually parted, Darren felt Chris smile against his lips. "Merry Christmas Darren."