(23rd of December morning with Emil)

"You know how you made a bet with me that Mathias and Lukas would take years to sleep together?" Emil whispered on the phone to Leon. He had woken up early to go to work and needed to find his brother to see if he could get a lift. He found both his brother and Mathias in the geek's bed sleeping tangled up with each other. It brightened his day completely enough for him to go to work walking in the snow.

"Yea, well you owe me 60 and an extra 10 for thinking they would actually fuck when they would." Emil muffed his giggle with his hand as he could hear Leon groan and then chuckle as he heard the white haired boy.

"What do you mean they didn't? Did they just sleep next to each other? And you didn't wake them up?" Leon asked surprised but sounding groggy still. He was still waking up since it was 7 am on a Saturday, after all.

"Yea, I think so. I took pictures though. They both look so peaceful.. what are you doing today, by the way?" the Icelandic boy asked very timidly. There was a pause and then a chuckle on the other end of the phone line.

"Nothing, wanna come over and light some firecrackers? Yao is out with Ivan today so I'm getting the stash out. Everyone else is going to the Christmas eve party in the town centre. So we have the freedom to light them up." Leon explained with amusement in his voice. Emil's cheeks tinted a soft delicate pink.

"Alright. But only if you have hot chocolate and liquorice." Emil could hear a snort coming out of Leon.

"I can get them when on my way to pick you up after work." Leon's voice was subtly teasing. Emil smiled a little. He and Leon often did this. They would go and meet with the other after work and head to Leon's house to play video games.

"okay, don't forget the small marshmallows for the hot chocolate then."

"I won't." with that the two hung up and Emil got to work. He had walked into his brother and Mathias sleeping together. both so wrapped and tangled with each other. he knew that his brother had feelings for the nerd and Mathias was just as equally in love with Lukas. It was obvious to him and he liked that they would be like this even without the need to say it.

He had been worried about his brother from the day their mother passed. Lukas had always loved their mother and been there for her when she wa at her lowest. even more than their own father. He knew how much Lukas had isolated himself and it was amazing to see the Dane rip those walls like they were nothing. it was evident that they both needed each other as much as each other.

Lukas needed someone to hold him when he was sad or mad and bring smiles and happiness into his life just like how the dane needed someone to keep him out of harm's way and be able to hold them even if he was pushed away. To Emil, it was relieving. It made his anxiety levels sink and his mood lift. He may look like he wasn't concerned about things happening to his brother half the time but he was. He knew the old scars his father had caused Lukas would never really fade away that easy. But maybe with Mathias there, Lukas might have a chance to forget about that life of abuse.

Emil sighed at his train of thought. He went into the shops and began shopping christmas presents. One for his brother, one fore mathias, one for Leon and for tino and himself. he considered buying his brother and mathias a present as a couple like those sex dice but snorted at the idea that they would even get that far any time soon. With the presents wrapped by the ladies in the popup counter they had for those late in their christmas shopping. He put the presents in his work bag and go to work. He liked that he was working on the morning and not the night shift. Since he was spending christmas eve with Leon, it would be a great christmas morning.

(Meanwhile with Tino)

The smell of gingerbread filled the room. It was accompanied by the happy humming of a Christmas carol that escaped Tino. Today he had spent the day helping his mum cook the famous Christmas roast that she was well known for. They normally had just a dinner for three since it was always his parents and himself. But Berwald's mum and his mum had met recently and agreed that they would be having Christmas together. He was a bit nervous but he knew tonight would be great. Their parents had met mainly because the cute punk and tall nerd had began dating and mothers were very excited on the development.

"Tino? Are you making gingerbread?" His mother asked coming in already dressed for the dinner.

She was shorter than him by a head. Her hair was to her shoulder and curled a little at the end to frame her face nicely. She was wearing the dress his father had bought her that day. It was a loose red dress with a white belt at the waist to give the dress more shape. The sleeves and neck were black lace and kept her more warm than if it wasn't there. She was wearing flat white shoes with black stockings. It was simple but elegant.

"Yea, you look great by the way mum." He smiled at her. She smiled back at him and got out a platter for him.

"I need you to look just as great, so go get dressed. They'll be here soon." She hurried him out of the kitchen.

"Okay, if you insist." Tino chuckled as he went off to his room. He quickly had a shower, trying to take the smell of the roast off his skin and replacing it with his usual soap and shampoo scent. He got dressed to his comfortable pair of skinny black jeans with a dress shirt that had small reindeers patterned all over the shirt. His usual punk demeanor was thrown out the window round christmas. His usual simple piercing swapped for christmas jewellery.

As he was brushing his hair into place, the doorbell went off. He could hear his mother welcome the Oxenstierna family. He was a bit nervous when he saw that Berwald was there too. He was wearing a dark blue and white version of the same sweater he was wearing. It made him smile bit. He was also wearing light blue wash jeans and boots. He liked his christmas style. The nerd was very attractive like this.

He went down stairs wearing christmas socks. At the dance they had been very cuddly and close so he wondered how they would be acting with their parents around. They hadn't kiss yet but pecks on the cheek and forehead were a common. Berwald seemed to notice movement behind him and turned around to face him. Tino beamed with happiness.

"Moi, Ber. You cold?" He asked smiling brightly. Berwald's cheeks went red as he saw they had the same sweater but with different colours that went with the white. His tall man for a boyfriend he had was so shy as Tino hugged him and leaned up pecking his jawline lightly. Berwald was so much taller than him that he could only reach there.

"No, I'm okay. Merry christmas, in advance though." He managed to say without stuttering. He also leaned down and kissed his forehead.

"Merry christmas to you too." He smiled and noticed their mothers were watching with smiles. Tino blushed a bit but cooled off when Berwald began rubbing circles on his back. It felt nice.

"You guys are standing under mistletoe." Berwald's mother pointed out with a bright smile. Tino's mother giggled as the two teenager were bright red.

"Looks like you two have to kiss now." Tino's father chuckled. He was very supportive of his son. He himself was more of the jock type but he was very open minded and loving towards his family.

Berwald's father was also looking amused. Berwald was his carbon copy to the last detail except instead of sky blue eyes, Berwald had a more turquoise colour closer to his mother's eye colour.

Tino looked up at Berwald who was with a little excited smile. This was a cute first kiss that they were going to have and his mother had a camera on her hands ready for photos too. Oh they could totally make a scrap album.

Berwald was very much red but leaned down and kissed his boyfriend's lips more timidly than expected. Tino wrapped his arms around the other's neck and kissed him back. There was definitely sparks everywhere on his body as his boyfriend kissed him. The kiss was good. Both of them keeping things sweet and experimenting a bit with the height differences and glasses in the way.

Plenty of photos were taken and it was followed with a cheer and clap from their parents. Both teens pulling away from the kiss met each other's gaze with a smile and giggled from Tino.

The household was warm and welcoming as both families spent the happy holiday night together. Lucky to have each other and to be mingling with the other family.

(Later that night)

It was around 11pm. An hour to midnight and Lukas was finishing up waiting his table. He was wiping them down as the guest left and making sure to set them up for the day after tomorrow so that it was ready to go. The restaurant was closed on Christmas day but open for boxing day.

Most stores were open still so he had a chance to to still buy Matthias a christmas present. He had yet to buy due to not knowing what to get the dane. But this morning he spotted a huge snow globe collecting that the news agency always holds for christmas. Something he knew the dane had not gotten this year's one yet due to being stubborn about to wanting to continue something his parents had began. Lukas knew it was a tantrum. In fact, he knew how much the dane liked snowglobes because the nerd went on a 5 minute tangent about how mad he was about there being such a thing as a square snow globes. 5 minutes. Square snowglobes. Yea, that was definitely a mental note Lukas took not to ever bring up again.

He still was dazed at how wonderful waking up to the dane had been. He had never seen the dane so peaceful and quiet. The frames were still on his face so Lukas took the liberty to take them off for him so they wouldn't break. Of course that only revealed the large cluster of freckles the dane has under the thick frames. Lukas didn't want to admit it just yet especially not now that he was at work but at that moment he had wanted to kiss the Dane's lips. Instead, he had cupped his face gently and caressed his cheeks lightly, admiring the other's much silent and relaxed form.

At least that how he was wording it in his head not to sound creepy. Yet another unofficial official note mental note. Heck the official one said he was only liking the silence without plotting happening.

By the time he was out, he had about 5 minutes before everything closed so he ran to the news agency and got the snow globe. He ran to get it wrapped last minute and put it in his bag before running out of the center before the doors closed. He made his way to his bike and sped home. He was fully aware of how fast he was going but on the highway allowed him to get home quick. He slowed down around the house and got the bike into the garage. He put his bag on the kitchen counter and decided to check if the living room was empty.

There was a christmas tree with pretty lights and a simple and elegant decor. The dane was putting presents under the tree. It had a big amount. He was wearing a santa outfit onesie. It made him look more like a red noodle with it on. Now that's a mental image. Lukas smiled a bit amused.

"Did I just catch Santa putting presents under the tree?" He asked startling the dane who smiled and chuckled as soon as he saw him.

"It is midnight, you know." He smiled walking closer and walked them to the kitchen. Lukas snorted and chuckled even.

"You hungry? I made butter cookies for Santa and chocolate milk." He smiled getting it out of the pantry from a tin box. He had made them but he liked putting it in the tin jar. Lukas being weak to butter cookies took a handful and put them on a plate taking two mugs out. He served them chocolate milk from the carton and sat. He was tired and hungry but needed to hide his bag so he subtly put it down under the table.

"How was work?" Matt asked smiling at Lukas. He honestly had to admit that the punk looked tired and he didn't wanna bother the man right now. He did, however, wanted to watch classic christmas movie and maybe sleep next to each other again.

He had woken up to Lukas this morning and it might be one of those moments that he would forever cherish. The punk was playing with his hair and humming the song they danced to. Of course he didn't even move an inch. Only when the song ended did he pretend to wake up. Since he was up close he could see the finer details of the other's face and how perfectly the light hit the other's face. He wanted to wake up like that more often. However Lukas wasn't his boyfriend...

At least not yet.

He was summoning the strength to ask him out on a date. It was more difficult everyday not wanting more intimacy when they kept having moments. Matthias honestly felt like a little pebble trying not to sink.

"Work was average. Wiping tables, serving food, picking up crayons after kids. Pretty average. No puke this time so that's a plus." He tried to speak covering his mouth that was very full with cookies and chocolate milk. The dane made an ew face at that.

"You don't have to work tomorrow so that's a plus huh? Besides i have this bombass dinner for tomorow. It will be. Good day." He smiled a bit looking at his glass of chocolate milk. He was hoping it was as great as he made it sound. He was more worried that Lukas didn't want spend Christmas with him. Emil was at Leon's tonight so it was just the two of them. He was still upset about his parents lack of care about him. it was visible but Lukas really helped last night.. and this morning.

"Hmm maybe. I am babysitting this dane. He looks like you and has your name but doesn't have that kicked puppy look you have now." the norwegian teased a bit. It made the dane smile so it was win win.

"We should totally watch christmas movies until late." He smiled giving the idea. Lukas nodded in agreement. He wasn't that tired now that he had been fed a handful of butter cookies.

"Only if you let me have the rest of the butter cookies."

With that, the dane set off to get the living room ready. He got the fireplace going too. It was cold and it was gonna get colder so it was best to have it on. He also brought a thick duvet to cover them and his pillows. Lukas took his time to shower and change into his pyjamas. They were the same as last night with the addition of thick fluffy socks. He went to get the tin of butter cookies and then went into the living room. The dane was ready with 'Home Alone' ready to play.

"You ready?" Matthias asked him looking back at the laid back punk.

"Mmm." he replied taking the spot next to him and leaning on him a bit. The warmth Mathias seemed to naturally produce was attracting the punk like a flame attracting a moth to it. It was comfortable and he could feel the other's arm muscles a lot better like this. They were comfortable to rest on. He tried it last night and even if the nerd was like a red noodle there was muscles on those arms. He opened the tin can and began nibbling on the cookies. He was comfortable like this.

Mathias was internally screaming at how perfect this was. He put on the movie but wasn't watching it really. Because this Christmas, he wasn't alone. He was with Lukas. His crush from 6th grade until now and now more than ever it was more apparent that it wasn't just a crush. He loves him. The flaws and all. He loved it all. Like how he would nibble little bites on the butter cookies and get crumbs on the side of his mouth and cheeks. Or even the silence Lukas naturally carried. He was calm and grounding and the dane loved it being with him. Now that he got to see Lukas like this everyday.. he knew he was in love. He hadn't realised he had been staring until lukas looked up at him and shoved a cookie in his mouth.

"You were staring so I assumed you wanted a cookie." He explained himself. Mathias laughed and chewed a bit before swallowing. Usually he would be crying himself to sleep by now. But he was smiling and laughing.

"I was just thinking about how other people spend Christmas." he smiled at the punk. Lukas looked up at him and hummed a bit.

"Usually it's like any other day. Or I would have been cleaning up bottles of beer. If not then maybe making dinner for Emil and myself. When mum was alive we used to watch a movie sometimes other times we would get read stories. It's varied over the years." He replied never having really experienced a proper Christmas eve. Possibly until now. But then again the nerdy goofball next to him could make it be Christmas everyday if he wanted it.

"Looks like we both have had decent Christmases until now huh?" He asked moving a bit under the covers so he was laying on the couch. His legs over Luke's. Lukas nodded in agreement and looked over at the comfortable nerd. He wanted to lay on him again. Like they had last night. He put the tin away on the coffee table.

"Then maybe we should have more Christmases together." the punk suggested as he moved to lay comfortably on the nerd's chest. Mathias smiled and pulled the covers over them. His hands resting above the covers on the other's mid back.

"I would like that a lot." Mathias mumbled to Lukas. Their movie was being ignored completely by now. This was one of those moments. Lukas looked up a bit and noticed the other still had his glasses on. He lifted them off the Dane's face and put them on the coffee table. Mathias watched dazed by how wonderful this was. Lukas looked back at him after the glasses were off and kissed his forehead.

"Merry Christmas, nerd."

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So

I'm back.

sorry for pulling a Sherlock on everyone but uni had me itching to write and now i can

(TT u TT) im so so fudgin sorry

You have no idea how much i have been aching to write

in fact i have but not posted (its been impossible seriously)

there will be weekly updates (will commit this time)

my time away has allowed for me to get much better with layouts for the story as well as new series and update all of my current ones

and now to comments

Mathias Alexander Kirkland: im crying that its been almost a year but thank you so so much! im very fluttered and yea its probably gonna have some parts that arent angst and fluff ;3 but yea! Thank you so much!

Sidera Mori 4: sorry man, im trying to work on that tbh i mean not sure if you even made it past the first chapter or not but yea.. hope you found what you were looking for ;^;

Guest: thank you wonderful guest!

Aedan o reily: thank you so so much! omgs here is the update and good news!

pastelflowerpetals: im so sorry didnt mean to offend

I'm my defense i live in Australia and yea it doesn't get that cold here at all. (Just hella hot) But im glad youre liking the story! and thank you so much :')

||Ame