Thanks for the reviews! I can't believe it's almost Christmas already. I'd like Juice as my big present lol A girl can dream. Thanks to the few who reviewed on Do It Like a Dude: Christmas Edition. Big thanks, as always, to Kupkakes for beta-ing. I do not own anything in this chapter, beside Savannah and Mel, everything else belongs to their rightful owners.

Chapter 21

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Juice laid back on the airplane and car covered sheets on his bed, his hands folded up behind his head. Savannah was having a big family Christmas in a couple of days and he was having nothing. His ma would cook of course; but that'd be it. No huge decorated trees. No Christmas carols. No presents with big floppy bows.

When had he last had a good Christmas? He wondered going through his memories of year after year of the holidays. Once his ma had met Luke Christmas had definitely gotten shittier in the Ortiz household. Luke didn't see the point in spending money on a tree that would die and dry out. And he controlled the money so no presents since then either.

Then it hit him. He knew when he'd had a good Christmas. His first year of college in New York.

He'd been seeing Mel for a couple of months by that point; mostly hook ups with a couple of sleepovers. She liked his grin and he liked her take charge attitude. They had gotten comfortable together. But they weren't together.

"What are you doing for Christmas dinner tomorrow Juan?" Old Mrs. P asked him as she counted the bills from the till.

Juice shrugged pausing in his wipe down of the tables. "Probably some Chinese food."

"Chinese?" she repeated with an appalled expression on her face. "You can't eat Chinese for Christmas dinner."

"No he can't." Mel spoke up from the booth by the door sipping on her to go cup of coffee. Her green eyes glittered in the Christmas lights dangling from the doorway. "That's why he's going to come to my place."

"I am?" he asked her with a grin going back to his wiping. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. That was.. Personal.

Mel nodded getting a dirty look from Mrs. Perelli in return. "You are. I'm going to roast a turkey and make you cherry pie."

He tossed the rag into the bucket with the dishes hoisting it up. "I don't want to impose. I can get my Chinese food and go to a movie."

Mrs. Perelli scowled at him wagging a finger in his direction. "No you aren't. You're going to my house."

Mel flipped her red hair indignantly giving the other woman a look. "I'll have everything ready around 5. Bring a bag." She winked at him as she stood tossing a couple of bills down for the coffee. "I have to get back before it starts snowing again. Call me if you need a ride hon."

She stopped on her way out of the door to give him a kiss, just a peck but it still made Mrs. P cough loudly. "Please come." she whispered before backing away.

And he did. Even with both Perelli's fighting him on it; he still put on his nicest jeans and the only shirt with a collar that he owned and parked his car up the block from her townhouse. It was nice outside. The snow was in piles that went well with the holiday feel that hanging heavy in the air.

Juice went to the door knocking loudly then cringed when he remembered the doorbell. He always did this. He wasn't used to doorbells and brass knockers and the huge blow up of Santa staring him down from the little patch of grass she had. Christmas hadn't meant much for him in years and now it was turning into this . . . thing.

Mel opened the door up after a moment had passed with red eyes and a nose that shone like Rudolph's; a wad of Kleenex in her hand. "Oh, Juice!" She wailed, wrapping her arms around his neck.

He froze a split second before patting her on the back of her cashmere sweater as she wept into his shirt collar. "You okay?"

"No!" She cried louder hugging him tightly. "He left me. Its Christmas and I'm alone and I don't have anyone. Jamie left to go to that asshole's and its hitting me. I'm a divorcee with no one."

I rubbed her back in a circle holding her close. "Hey, I'm here aren't I? I came to spend Christmas with you, you have me."

Mel sniffled a few more times before pulling back. "I thought if I still cooked and . . and still wrapped presents and did everything like I used to, that it would be okay. But its not."

"It is okay. I don't have anyone either." Juice reminded her, pulling her in for another hug.

"Its just us." Mel nodded with two handfuls of his shirt in her fists. "I was so scared you wouldn't come. That you'd go to the Perelli's. I know . . . I know I'm not anything special to you, just some old lady."

"Hey. You're not an old lady." Juice kissed the top of her head, his lips on her short red hair. "And I said I'd come."

She let her cheek rest against his chest leaning into the embrace. "I know but . . . but I know they don't like me. And you love that woman."

"I do love Mrs. P, but I keep my promises to my friends." He told her, pulling her off to tug her over to the huge suede sofa that was in front of her fireplace with the fire already lit and roaring. "I'm glad you wanted me to come. It means . . . a lot."

And it did. She'd included him in a holiday that was normally only spent with people you were close with and if she thought of him as someone close enough to have over for Christmas then he was ecstatic. That meant t hat someone cared. Truly cared about him.

"I have something for you." Mel said softly, wiping at her tear stained cheeks with her palms instead of settling in next to him on the couch.

She bent down beside the gigantic Christmas tree that hadn't been there when he'd been over a few nights ago. She'd brought out all of the bells and whistles just for this. Christmas alone with him. "You don't have to give me anything." He told her, suddenly mortified that he hadn't gotten her anything. He couldn't afford to, even if he knew what to buy her.

"I wanted to." Mel smiled, pulling on his hand for him to sit on the floor by the tree with her.

She'd went all out. There was a pile of perfectly wrapped gifts with bows and ribbons and it was too much. It was way too much. No one had ever given him anything like this. His ma had a one gift per person rule at home. No one else had ever bothered.

"Please." She begged, pushing a bright red paper box towards him. "It'd make me feel better if . . ." She paused, her face reddening. "If . . . a kid was here unwrapping gifts and happy."

Now he understood why she was crying. It wasn't just because her son was gone and her husband had left her. It was the realization that the only person in her life was still a child, not an adult. He grinned slightly, nodding back at her. "Its okay. I get it, Mel, I do. But I don't have anything to give back."

Mel shrugged, leaning closer to peck him on the cheek. "I don't want anything back, Juice. Just you. Just . . . someone."

And it was the first Christmas anyone had ever been truly thankful he was around.

He smiled at the memory of his first Christmas in New York. The following New Years didn't suck either. He'd spent that one with the Perelli's. They'd hung out at the dinner and watched the ball drop from their little TV. They'd pigged out on Mrs. P's brownies, among other junk. She'd even baked her special leche cake and churros.

He'd had two women cook for him that year, both of them fawning over him. He'd never had one person fawn over him, let alone two. He'd only spent one other time with Mel for Christmas, but he knew this Christmas would come nothing close to it. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach and knew something was gonna happen.

Hearing his ma's screech of a call, he sighed. It was time to face whatever hell they were gonna throw at him today.

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Standing in front of her brother's new home, Savannah wished she were anywhere but here right now. She was making an effort to get to know his new girl though, something she realized her ma wasn't. Gemma often referred to her as the junky whore, but Savannah knew she had to give her a chance. Jax really cared about her.

He hadn't said as much, but she could see it when he looked at her. He cared a lot about Wendy, which meant she had to play nice. That was why she was here, ready to knock and put on the best smile she could. Jax was the reason she was going to get to know this sweetbutt and be nice for once. After Tara, Jax had gotten lost in pussy and she'd made it clear she didn't approve.

She didn't understand how he could just do that. Act as if all those girls were just things to get his dick wet. How those girls could just let him do it. Now here was a girl, woman, he was actually letting live with him that wasn't Tara Knowles.

Wendy answered the door a few minutes after she'd knocked, and Savannah was immediately hit with a familiar scent of weed. She'd smelt it on Juice more times than she'd like to admit to the past couple of months, and then the boys and clubhouse always reeked of it. "What are you doing here? Jax isn't home." Wendy said, coming off defensive.

Savannah wished she could say never mind and leave, but this was for her brother. She just had to keep reminding herself of that. "I know he's not here. I'm here to see you, actually. I, uh, I wanted to hang out. See if you needed any help with unpacking or baking for ma's dinner tomorrow night. Jax mentioned you're still settling in, and I know how much of a bitch ma can be about her baking." She said, giving her a small smile.

Wendy didn't look like she believed her though. Smart girl, she should know better than to trust a Teller woman. Savannah had to give her some points for knowing that. "I've got it handled, thanks."

Gritting her teeth, Savannah was already tired of this. She was at least trying, the least Wendy could do was meet her half way and invite her in. There was only so much nice she could fake before she was done. Not even Jax would make her be nice to someone she didn't give a fuck about. She was close to reaching her fake niceness level too.

"Look, I don't like you. I don't know you, but for some reason Jax does. He asked me to try, so I'm trying. We both know my ma hates any girl that Jax dates, so don't ever expect her to actually like you. You at least have a chance that I might, so don't screw it up." Savannah explained.

She knew there was slim chance of her ever liking this bitch, but the least she could do was try for her brother's sake. Wendy seemed to debate what she had said over in her head. She was trying to figure out what to believe, and after a minute, Savannah could tell the blonde had decided to believe her. "Come on in." Wendy finally said, opening the door for her. Taking a deep breath, Savannah stepped into the house.

Here went nothing.

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Juice had been stuck on getting a tree. It was one of the things his mom actually did. She loved the smell of pine. Why she didn't just get a damn candle, he didn't know. He had a feeling, she usually had some of the neighbor kids get her a tree, no way Luke would get off his fat ass to get her one. Which left Juice with his current problem. How the hell to get the damn tree in the house on his own.

Luke was inside with his mom, he knew that, but he also knew neither one would lift a finger to help him. Well, screw them. He could do this all by himself.

He was just lucky to find a tree on Christmas eve. It wasn't some crap Charlie Brown tree either, it was nice. A little bare on one side, but nothing they couldn't hide. He briefly wondered how Mel's tree looked. He'd been the one to set it up for her, hell he even helped her pick it out.

Getting the tree to his front door was an accomplishment on it's own. He knew the tree had have lost a hell load of needles. He was hoping it wouldn't be that bad though. He was about to open the door when he heard the shouting from inside. More like, just Luke's voice shouting from inside.

It was like he was ten all over again, coming home to hear Luke going off on his mom. He use to run from the door and go hang out down the block at a friend's house. He always ran, except now he was older. He didn't want to run.

When he heard the crash inside, he didn't think. He just reacted. Forgetting the tree, he rushed inside to see his mother on the floor holding her bloody nose. His body tensed, taking in the sight of his fallen mother. "What the fuck you looking at, boy? Get outta here before I whip your ass!" Luke slurred, grabbing Juice's attention away from his mom.

It seemed to slowly clink in his head, the realization crossing his face was clear. Letting out a yell, he lunged to his left and took his step father by surprised as he tackled him. They fell to the ground with a crash as they took out the coffee table. The glass shattered beside him, but Juice paid no attention as he took out his frustration on his step father.

As he pummeled his step father, he remember all of the pain he'd gone through because of this man. How much he'd lost and had to struggle because of him. This was for all the times he couldn't stand up for himself or his ma. "You're nothing . . . but a . . . piece of . . . shit!" He snarled after each punch.

He was living in his car because any money their family had went to his beer and his mom's smokes. She smoked so damn much because of the stress Luke put her through. People would be throwing him a parade if he killed this son of a bitch.

Suddenly he was shoved, the surprise catching him off guard. Looking over, he saw that his mom was now crying over Luke's unconscious body. He wasn't dead, the rise and fall of his chest told him that. Realization set in then. He was going to kill Luke; he wanted to see the life leave his eyes. What the fuck was wrong with him? Normal people didn't try to kill other people.

Looking down at his throbbing hands, he saw that his knuckles were all scraped up from hitting the bloody mess his ma was crying over. "Get out! Get out you little shit! I-I should have never let you in! Get out before I call the fucking cops!" His mom screamed, tears running down her face as she tried to care for his ungrateful step father.

Juice was in shock. He'd nearly beaten a man to death, his own step father to make it worse. The part that made him sick to his stomach though, was the fact he wanted to do it. He'd wanted to

"Get out and don't fuckin' show your face here again!" His mom continued to scream.

Scrambling to his feet, he didn't try to apologize before running out of the apartment, only leaving with what he had on him. He wasn't about to risk going back for what he did bring with him. He had his cash and phone on him, that was all he needed.

This was really it. He was shun from his home and not welcomed back. Heading to the train station, he wondered what he could do. He could call Mrs. P to pick him up? Probably not, but it was worth the thought. But then, he wasn't alone in this. He had someone who would drop everything for him and come.

Mel.

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Juice used the last of his cash he had on him to get a train ticket back to New York. Sitting in the train for a couple of hours gave him the time he needed to think. He'd nearly beat his step dad to death for a second time, and this time it wasn't even about him. Not completely at least. He'd done it for all the crap he'd gone through since leaving home.

Looking at his scraped and bruised knuckles, he wondered if he'd done any real damage to his step dad. Did he regret it? No, he didn't. He loved finally showing Luke that he wasn't the little shit head he thought he was. He was stronger than the boy who'd left Queens four years ago, he was better now.

As much as he wanted to say going home was a mistake, he knew it was just something he'd been putting off. He knew he needed to see what he did. What happened to Pedro, what could have been his life. He needed to remember how awful his mom and step dad were. He needed to see all of that to appreciate what he did have going for him in New York.

The train finally got to his stop and he was able to get off with the exhaustion of stress setting into his bones. He didn't have anything with him, so it didn't take long before he was heading up to the main lobby. It was late on Christmas Eve, so it wasn't that packed as it normally would have been. There were a few families reuniting around him, but he figured most of the reuniting would have already happened earlier in the week.

As he looked around, he found himself chuckling at what he found. Mel was standing there in her black wool coat with a big smile on her face. Beside her is what made him laugh. Her son, little Jamie, was standing on the bench holding up a big poster board sign with his name spelled out with bold red marker on it. They even fancied it up with glitter glue from the looks of it. Juice, with the backwards 'c' of course.

Walking over to them, Jamie lit up and jumped off the bench and met him half way. Juice was taken back as the little boy slammed into him, wrapping his arms around his waist. "Hey, kid. I missed you too." He chuckled, ruffling the boy's hair.

He'd only met him a handful of times, but they'd gotten close. They were interested in a lot of the same things. Video games, comic books, hell even shoes some times.

Looking up, he saw Mel come over and he gave her a small smile. He'd called her from the train station, frantic and a mess. She'd told him to take a deep breath, get on the train, and she'd see him when he got to New York. She raised her hand up, stroking his cheek in a loving way. "Let's get you home, hun." She said, her voice warm and motherly. She wanted to take care of him, like she always did.

To anyone else, this would look like a mother and son welcoming home the older brother. He knew perfectly well people often mistook Juice to be Mel's son. As messed up as it was, he didn't really care. She was here when he needed someone, just like she always had been. Mel leaned over and gave him a good long kiss, which often told people their first impression of them were wrong.

Clearing his throat, he picked up Jamie and nodded. "Yeah, let's get outta here."