Roman winced, sucking air through his teeth as the tip of his forefinger stung from the cut he'd just given himself on expensive wrapping paper. A tiny drop of blood surfaced from the tiny lesion, and he stuck his finger in his mouth. After another difficult one-handed fold of the paper and a push of his thumb against a piece of tape, Seth's next gift was officially wrapped. Terribly, but wholly nonetheless. It was the sequel to Metal Wars, one that had come out a month ago and Seth hadn't even mentioned, considering what other crucial factors had played in his life around that time. Dean was convinced Seth was unaware of the sequel's release, so it was the perfect gift for him. Roman wrapped it, along with his selected presents for Seth he'd purchased this afternoon while Dean and Seth were both at work. His day off without them had been mighty lonely.

He stuck the inadequately-packaged gifts under the Christmas tree. The collection was growing.

One more day.

Seth and Dean arrived home half an hour later while Roman was in the middle of his Doctor Strange #1 comic.

"Fucking hell," Dean muttered in the doorway.

"Yeah, if hell froze over, that is," Seth said.

"Evening," Roman said.

"Hey, Ro. How was your day?"

"Productive, yet so dull at the same time."

Dean gasped. "You bought presents!" he remarked, darting over to the tree without taking off his wet shoes. "Hmm. None of these look guitar-shaped to me."

Behind his back, Seth and Roman traded glances. Did he have a clue?

"Yeah, unfortunately not," Roman said, just in case. The less suspicious they could keep Dean until Christmas morning, the better.

"Oh well. No guitar in the world could ever replace Annie, anyway."

That's not the goal for the new one, but I hope he still likes it.

"Oh, Roman," Seth said. "My parents invited the three of us over to their house tomorrow night for Christmas Eve dinner. Kinda like Thanksgiving, family, food…"

"Fights," Dean joked.

"Of course. The fights."

Or had Dean been really joking?

"Anyway," Seth carried on, "don't feel obligated to come, but I'm going, and Dean was talking about wanting to go, so."

"I'd love to," Roman said. "It'll be nice seeing them again."

"Okay, cool. I know they'd be happy to have you."

"Can I open a present early?" Dean asked, handling one of the ones Roman had wrapped yesterday morning while Dean slept late soundly. If he recalled correctly, it was the tuner. A gift that wouldn't have made sense without its counterparts.

"No," Seth said. "Impatient kid."

"Come on," Dean said, replacing his gift on the ground and snatching up a different box. He wandered towards Roman and held it up to his face. "I'll let you open one, too. I know you'll love this one," he tempted.

"I can wait," Roman said.

"Although," Seth said, rubbing his bristly chin, "if you're really, truly impatient, Dean, we can always adopt my family's Christmas Eve tradition and open one present tomorrow night."

"Yeah! Let's do that!"

Roman and Seth would have to work together to pick out a gift that wouldn't spoil Dean's great surprise for Christmas morning. But Roman was happy to uphold the tradition.

He was happy to spend the holiday with the two people he loved more than anyone.

He was happy.

Roman worked the opening shift on Christmas Eve. Business was slow, and the shop was scheduled to close early for the holiday. Not that Roman was around for that shift at that hour. He clocked out just as Dolph clocked in, ready to handle the rest of the day with Curtis alone. What a shame, Roman didn't have the time to stick around and inquire about Dolph's date several nights ago.

"Hey, have a good holiday, okay, Roman?" Dolph asked. "Be safe, be warm, be merry. All that jazz."

"Thanks, Dolph. Same to you."

"Oh, before I forget, here. A little gift for you and your boy to split." Dolph handed him a tiny white envelope that Roman immediately recognized. It was an envelope from Java Central bearing a gift card. "Y'know, if he's not tired of those mochas by now."

"I'm sure he's not. He'll appreciate this. Thanks a lot, Dolph." I didn't think to get Dolph a present, either? Spending nearly five-hundred bucks on Dean and Seth alone, and I can't consider someone else I might be able to consider a friend?

Dolph didn't point out Roman's lack of a returned gift. "Don't mention it. See you after Christmas."

"Take it easy." Add Dolph to the list of late-present recipients.

Roman was surprised to return home a little while later and find Seth in the bathroom with the door wide open, struggling to correctly tie a necktie. He was dressed in a long-sleeved black button-up shirt and dress pants.

Roman was a visual person, and Seth was a rather nice visual.

"Hey there, Gary Cooper," Roman said. "What's with the getup?"

"Ah, you know. Christmas Eve. Parents are kinda…"

"Ostentatious?"

"I was gonna say fancy, but sure, let's go with your word, Mr. College."

Roman smiled.

"Could you help me with this tie? Not used to dealing with these things."

"Sure." Roman's meaty hands got to work on fashioning the tie into place. "You working extra-hard to impress them tonight?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"How come?"

Seth shrugged, the shoulder of his nice shirt crinkling. "I just want them to know that I can do well in life based on my own decisions."

"Did something happen? I know Thanksgiving wasn't the most pleasant of experiences, but…"

"I've talked to them a couple of times since then, since the shooting. Things don't really get better or worse with them. Doesn't mean I can't try."

Roman smoothed the tie out with the back of his hand. "There you go."

"Thanks, Roman."

A bedroom door creaked open. Roman's. Dean was in the doorway, dressed head to toe in his own embellishment. Roman's breath hooked in his throat at the sight of his Dean Ambrose in a navy blue suit that accentuated his oceanic eyes. The silver tie made him look like James Bond. His hair, usually disheveled, was combed back and set in place with gel. He wasn't even wearing his tiny stud earring.

"Holy crap," Roman said. Another wonderful visual…if this man was anyone but Dean. Roman hated to admit it, he looked nice, but a lot better—and lot more real—with his messy hair, street clothes and even the earring.

Dean winced like the ensemble brought him pain. "Seth's idea. Picked up this little number at a thrift store on the way home. Can you tell?"

"Not even a little. You look great, Dean."

"Seth's idea."

Wow. Seth really was going out of his way to prove everything was operating smoothly in his life. Time for Roman to fit in with them, though he didn't have a suit.

After swooping in for a kiss, Roman said, "Guess I better go scavenge my closet for something equally debonair."

"You don't have to," Seth insisted, but his tone reflected his inner thoughts. Roman totally should have.

"I'll see what I can find."

He had bits and pieces of an outfit he wore to a wedding officiated by his cousin Dwayne, which he mixed and matched to generate a decent attire: black undershirt, black suit jacket, black pants, black shoes. He felt like James Bond now. He worked a little on his hair, slicking it back into a work-fashioned ponytail.

"Damn, stud," Dean said as Roman emerged from the bathroom after fixing his hair up. "Every girl crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man."

Roman chuckled. He'd fit in this time at Seth's house for sure.

"Alright," Seth said, grabbing his car keys which answered the unspoken question of who was driving. "Let's G-O."

This felt familiar.

The little flutter in his chest as Roman watched castle-like houses pass by on the way to Seth's parents' home. The urge to hold Dean's hand as they moved up the driveway. Seth ringing the doorbell and not bothering to wait for anyone to answer before moving inside.

The family had beaten them there this time. The first floor was bustling with conversation and movement. It took a little while for anyone to even notice Roman, Seth and Dean. It turned out to be cousin Joey to detect them. Even he looked familiar, dressed in the same suit he'd worn on Thanksgiving. "Hey, Seth's home!" he cheered. He gave Seth a handshake, as though not wanting to ruin either suit. "Merry Christmas, cousin."

"Merry Christmas, Joe."

"Hey, Dean. And Roman, is it? One of my favorite empires, incidentally." Joey laughed heartily. Roman was surprised in that moment to realize not a lot of people actually made puns out of his name. He politely shook Joey's hand.

"Your mom's in the kitchen making her oatmeal cherry cookies. Those things are to die for."

"Ah, yeah, another family tradition," Seth said. "She makes these things from scratch, Roman. They're amazing."

Stephanie came around the corner, wielding a batter-laced wooden spoon. "Ah, my boys are home. Hi, sweetie." Not caring as much about the suit as Joey had, she gave Seth a tight squeeze. She moved to Roman next, taking him in with warm, regarding eyes. "Hi, Roman. How are you holding up, honey?"

"I'm holding up well," Roman said, eyes shifting to Seth for an explanation.

"They know about what happened at J/C," Seth informed him.

Ah. But how much did they truly know about it? Roman decided to play it safe and not speak much on it, so not to let any privy information slip.

Her hand went to his cheek, finger brushing over his scar. "What a nasty scratch. Did you get that from the broken glass?"

"Uh, yeah," he lied. "Windows shattering and all. It was a crazy night."

"We're so glad you made it out alright. Hunter and I panicked when we heard the news." Her hand lingered on his face.

"Yeah, me and Dean are fine, by the way," Seth said. If it was supposed to be sarcasm, it wasn't transmitted well.

Finally, she removed her hand. "I know, and we're so relieved. Did they catch the guys who did it?"

"They did," Roman revealed with a satisfied nod. "Justice was served."
"Thank God. The world is a terrifying place. Dinner will be ready in a few, so sit tight."

She spun around, waltzing back into the kitchen, and Seth and Dean each gave Roman a pursed-lips smile.

"What?"

"She must like you a lot," Seth said. "Her son and son's two roommates are involved in a shooting, and she checks on you first."

Roman blushed. The attention hadn't been his fault, or even his desire. "Sorry."

"Don't be. It's how she is. She worries about everything."

Roman awkwardly socialized with Seth's family in the few minutes before Stephanie's announcement the food was ready. Dean didn't even bother trying. He exchanged a few words with Kane, but Kane was concentrated on a video game with Kofi and Xavier in the living room more than anything else. Hunter came down from upstairs and greeted his son with a half-hug, then handed over a red and white envelope.

"What's this?" Seth asked.

"Little Christmas present. We can still give you those, right?" he teased.

Seth tore into the envelope and opened up a card inside. Several twenty-dollar bills fluttered to the floor, and Seth was quick to scoop them up. "Uh…thanks, but I don't really need it, Dad."

"Christmas isn't about what you need. It's about giving. So take it, be smart with it, and don't spend it all in one place."

Dean whistled. "Damn. He'll blow it on hookers tonight and tomorrow night," he snickered, chewing on something he must have swiped from the kitchen.

Hunter didn't find the remark funny. He turned to Roman next. "Roman. It's so good to see you, son. How've you been?"

"Been well. Thanks. How are you?"

He didn't answer the question. "That's a pretty nasty scar. I'm so sorry about what happened. If you need anything, don't hesitate to come to Stephanie or me."

Roman wasn't about to have this conversation again. "Is there anything I can help you or Stephanie with in the kitchen?"

"I think she's got it covered. Thanks, though. That's nice of you."

Was Seth glaring in the background?

Roman had to get out of this. "I'm a bit thirsty. I'm gonna go get a drink."

He made it to the kitchen in time for the announcement, putting him one of the first people in line for food—behind Stephanie and Aunt Tamina, of course. The dinner looked scrumptious: bacon-wrapped ham, green salad, creamy potatoes, corn pudding, three selections of pies. Roman filled a plate and sat in the same chair he'd claimed at Thanksgiving. But the table filled in quickly, and he found himself sitting across from Seth and Dean instead of beside either of them. Before he could change seats, the other chairs were snatched, and Roman found himself next to Hunter.

What is happening right now?

Hunter folded his big hands, quietly indicating he would pray over the dinner. Roman bowed his head but kept his eyes open. He recited the same prayer, word-for-word, he'd said on Thanksgiving. Neither Dean or Seth joined in the group "Amen."

Panic was settling into Roman's heart. Something felt very wrong, very off, and he wanted to either solve it or get as far away from it as possible.

Tamina kicked off the dinner conversation by talking about how Kofi was getting ready to accept an internship at a hospital. Kane revealed he was thinking about joining the Marines. Uncle Shawn brought up that his children were starting the first and the fifth grade in May. Accomplishments, so many things to be proud of, and Roman felt he couldn't even speak of his own. I survived a shooting, a kidnapping, and watch Dean and his uncle murder three people. Also Dean got a job and I passed my psychology final. Pass the gravy, please.

"So, Roman," Hunter said, craning his neck. Roman had been expecting this. He was prepared with an answer rather lame compared to the others. "What have you been up to lately?"

"Well," Roman started, "I finally got through all my classes this semester and passed my—"

"Roman and I are dating," Dean proclaimed.

The table went silent. All that remained was an uncomfortable buzz from the TV. Seth closed his eyes, as though wishing Dean hadn't said that.

He wasn't alone. Roman was petrified.

"And it's going really well," Dean said. Nonchalantly, he shoveled a spoonful of potatoes into his mouth.

Stephanie was the first to speak again. "Oh. That's…well, that's very…"

Roman's eyes burned into his food. I'm not ashamed of him, I'm not. But why did he feel the need to mention this for the first time now, at Christmas dinner? In front of all these people who're still strangers to me? Holy shit, this is awful…

"I totally called it!" Xavier said. "I saw the way you guys were eye-humping each other at Thanksgiving. It was totally obvious."

"Shut your mouth with that kind of talk," Tamina scolded.

"What? It's true."

Another long, long interval of quietude. All eyes seemed to be on him regardless of where they were actually pointed. Roman wanted to thank them all for the lovely dinner, the kind invitation, and get the hell out of there.

"Well, I mean, I'm happy for you," Kofi muttered. "If you guys are happy, then why shouldn't I be?"

"Yeah, it's cool. Kinda…weird, though," Xavier said.

"Shut up. You're weird," his brother accused.

"If I enlist in the Marines now, I can get to boot camp by March or April," Kane said. His attempt to ease back into casual conversation worked.

"Why the Marines? Why not the Army?" Uncle Wade asked.

"Man, screw the Army. Marines are the true tough guys," Xavier said.

"Both are better than the Chair Force," Kofi snickered.

Roman quietly finished his dinner. He moved to the kitchen on his own to clean his plate in the sink. He wasn't too hungry for seconds.

Someone came up beside him. Dean. "Hey. You okay, Superman? You look really sick."

"Why did you…" Roman said, leaning against the counter. "I mean…no, I do mean that, why did you…"

Dean raised an eyebrow. "Tell everyone that we're together in a happy, serious relationship?"

"Don't put it like that. Don't make me feel bad. I just want to know why."

"I figured it was better than telling the truth. About the Wyatts and the Undertaker and all?"

"I was just going to stick to my college progress."

"Yeah, I figured you'd go down that road. Remember how uncomfortable it got last time with Seth when you talked about college? It pisses him off. And his dad."

"And that, back there, wasn't uncomfortable?"

Dean looked surprised. "Not for me. Did it make you uncomfortable?"

"A little," Roman admitted. He felt far sicker now than ever before.

"Hmm. I thought you were happy with me, Ro."

"I am happy with you, Dean, but seriously? You know how conservative these people are. They pray before meals and probably go to church. And they're very traditionalist."

"Well, screw what they think. If we're happy, why should it matter?"

"Hey—" It was Seth, who'd appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, but Stephanie was calling after him.

"Hey, Seth, could you help me and your father out for a sec?"

Seth grimaced. Roman wondered what that meant. He all but forced himself to follow Hunter and Stephanie down the corridor, into a room at the end of it.

Roman looked back to Dean. "I'm sorry. Maybe I should have come up with better conversation. But I don't see Seth's family approving this."

"I'm not in this for their approval. They ain't my family. You are."

Roman half-smiled, but Dean was still upset. "You wanna just go home?"

Dean puffed air out.

"We've got presents. Still one for you to open early."

That seemed to work. "Sure. Let's wait for Seth."

"Of course." He rubbed Dean's shoulder. "I do love you, Dean."

"Yeah, love you too, Roman."

Outside the kitchen, Roman asked cousin Jamie where the bathroom was. Jamie directed him down the same corridor where Seth had disappeared with his parents.

Roman found himself in a bathroom the size of his kitchen. He used the toilet and washed his hands in the polished white sink. While drying off with a decorative towel featuring a snowman family, he caught Stephanie's faint voice. "…just feel that he's not the best influence in your life."

He could hear them through the vents. Roman froze in place.

"I don't need to hear this again, guys." Seth's voice. "Can't you get on my back for something else for once?"

"Danger follows him wherever he goes, son." Hunter. "We're talking about a shooting here. Don't tell me Dean had nothing to do with it."

"He didn't!" Not even Roman could believe that one, if he was an outsider hearing the story for the first time. "Dean didn't shoot up the place."

"We know that," Stephanie said, "but he's an iffy guy, Seth. He's got a lot of issues. We've put up with it for a while now. Invited him into our home, took care of him if he needed it. But he's so…dependent. It's like he absolutely needs someone to take care of him, because he's either unable or unwilling to look after himself. He's helpless. He's a bum."

Nausea rolled into Roman's stomach again, quicker, stronger, like a storm. He pressed his fist over his mouth.

"That's what the money is for," Hunter admitted. "You can use it to get away. Move out. Find a new place to live. You don't have to keep supporting him, Seth. It's your life. You don't have to live it for him."

"Now's when I tell you guys that the three of us are living together. Me, Roman, and Dean all moved into a place."

Silence. Roman nearly fell to his knees by this sickness.

"You did?" Stephanie asked.

"Was this before or after the shooting?" Hunter queried.

"Long before." Seth's impatience was loud. "The shooting has nothing to do with anything, alright? It was scary as hell, but it's over, and it's not going to happen again." That sounded far more convincing. "I'm happy with Dean. He's my best friend. He takes care of me just as much as I take care of him. He's saved me, more than you'll ever know. And Roman is a great guy, but I don't have to explain that to you guys. You've been kissing his ass all night."

"Roman is a great guy." Hunter's voice was tainted black. "He's got a good, bright future ahead of him."

Roman could visualize Seth glaring at Hunter. "Does this have anything to do with me not going to college? 'Cause that was a decision I made before Dean moved in with me."

"This is about your safety, Seth," Stephanie said. "Your life. Something you seem to be losing control over very quickly, ever since you moved out and Ambrose stepped into the picture."

His name is Dean, Stephanie. Dean.

"And now he's got this influence on Roman…I just hate to see anything happen to the two of you because you keep bending over backwards for this kid."

"We're fine. I'm fine. And I'm not listening to this anymore. For the first time in my life, I know what I want."

"And what do you want, Seth?" his father asked. "Huh? What do you want? Where's your life going, if not into a commitment of service for this lazy-ass Ambrose guy?"

Roman had to fight the urge to punch the wall.

"To live one day at a time blessed to be alive. Waking up healthy, in a warm home, with two people I love and I'd do anything for. I'm finally learning how to live, not just be alive. Don't need a degree or a perfect roommate, or even a perfect boyfriend for that."

"Boyfriend?" It was a word Stephanie and Hunter exclaimed together.

A pause. Then a door pulled open, slammed shut again. Footsteps storming across a hardwood floor. Roman waited a little while before leaving the bathroom. Having to pretend he hadn't heard any of that was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. Seth was yanking his coat on near the front door. Dean walked over to him, trying to comfort him with some quiet words, but Seth wasn't listening.

"Have a merry Christmas, family. I'll see you guys around."

The byes and "catch you laters"s were given in confusion. But nobody bothered to check on him or confront him about what the problem was. Seth looked back at Roman, as if to say, "You coming?"

Roman obliged. He was surprised Hunter and Stephanie weren't chasing him out the door with hugs and well wishes and farewells. He didn't even see them come out of that room before he was out the door with an infuriated Seth and a confused Dean.

Nobody spoke in the car, except for the men on the radio, whom Seth shut off a few minutes into the drive. Roman sat in the backseat, feeling suffocated. This entire evening had been an anxious nightmare, for issues that weren't even his own. This car ride was painful. Roman had to hold everything inside the way he was used to, and it was killing him.

He wondered if Seth would talk about the conversation Roman already knew about.

Dean was wondering the same thing, but he vocalized his inquiry.

"What the hell happened back there?" Dean asked. "Did you get into it with your folks?"

"Yep. They kept the fights in the tradition again this year. Surprise, surprise." With one hand still fastened to the steering wheel, Seth dug in his coat pocket for the red and white envelope and flung it into the backseat.

Dean gathered it into his hands when Roman didn't bother going for it. "What are you doing with this?"

"It's tainted. You do something with it. I don't care what it is. Waste it away."

"Why?"

"Just keep it away from me."

Dean looked to Roman, confused on what to do. Roman shrugged. He knew why. But it wasn't his place to say. Dean stuffed the money into his own pockets and said, "Guess I'm buying dinner next time we all go out."

Seth turned the radio back on. The silence was filled, but the ride was still unsettling. Roman pressed his forehead against the glass window. Things'll get better. They have to. It's Christmas. And for the first time in my life, I believe in miracles.