*bang bang bang bang bang* “Wake up wake up wake up wake up.” Justin roused a bit, disturbed by the commotion outside the bedroom door. The banging continued, accompanied by Tyler’s loud and strident voice. *bang bang bang bang bang* “Wake up wake up wake up wake up.” Justin pulled his head under the covers, not surprised to find that JC had done the same thing. Their eyes met in the dimness under the sheets. “Your brother is now dead to me,” Justin said with a yawn. “If we ignore him, he might go away,” JC suggested hopefully. No luck of that. The heard the door open, and felt they bed being jostled. “Get up! You’ll miss Christmas,” Tyler shouted above them. JC pulled down the sheet and eyed Tyler. The younger man was standing over the bed, his knees banging on the side, a candy cane dangling from his mouth, and a slightly crazed look in his eyes. It was a testament to how eager Tyler was to have Christmas that he was in JC and Justin’s bedroom this early. Tyler had studiously avoided their room in the mornings for a few weeks now, ever since the unfortunate day he’d needed a ride and had barged in to ask JC for one without knocking. All Tyler had said about that experience was that he’d never look at bathmats the same way again. “Ty, it’s only,” JC squinted at the clock, “seven am. Couldn’t you have let us sleep a bit more?” “No!” Tyler said, sitting down on the bed and poking the still covered Justin in the back with his fingers. “I have to leave by nine, and I want to have our Christmas here first.” A shadow passed over JC’s face. “We’ll have plenty of time,” JC said. Tyler had not missed the brief look of sadness that had crossed JC’s face. “You can still come with me, Josh.” JC shook his head. “No, I don’t think so.” JC smiled as he felt Justin’s arm wrap around his waist. Tyler averted his eyes as he spied the movement under the covers. “You both came to my graduation,” he reminded his brother. “That was different,” JC explained. “First off, it was you who invited us, and second, it wasn’t at the house. Until and unless Mom and Dad can accept me, accept us, then we’ll stay away.” Tyler sighed. “Okay…but we still need to have Christmas here first,” he told them. Bounding off the bed, he headed for the door, calling back over his shoulder. “Coffee is ready, so get your asses out here!” Justin’s head popped out after the door snapped shut. “We really can go, if you want, Jayce,” he said, propping his chin onto JC’s chest. JC smiled down at Justin, lifting a hand to run his thumb along the smudged liner rimming Justin’s bright blue eyes. “Thanks, but no. I meant what I said to Tyler. And you'll see. They’ll accept us.” Justin raised a skeptical brow. “Someday.” Justin leaned into Justin’s caress. “As long as you’re okay.” JC pulled Justin up to him. “I have you,” he whispered against Justin’s lips. “What more do I need?” “What more, indeed?” Justin agreed, nipping at JC’s lips before covering JC's mouth with his own. The bedroom door flew open again, banging against the opposite wall. Tyler stood on the threshold, one hand gripping the door jam, the other covering his eyes. “Come on!” he demanded. “Christmas is waiting!” *** An hour later, the three boys were surrounded by crumpled wrapping paper, torn ribbon, and cold cups of coffee. JC had received a book and a journal from Tyler, and a new laptop from Justin. (JC had scolded Justin for being so extravagant, and Justin had told JC to shut it and hurry up and write the Great American Novel so he could support and keep Justin like a harem girl). Tyler had gotten a new backpack, JC’s old laptop, and long distance calling cards (Kim had traveled back east for the winter break). Justin’s presents were socks and underwear (he went through both like they were tissue, JC complained), and new studded belt from Tyler, and what seemed to be his favorite gift, a Zippo lighter. Justin was already trying to master the “flip open and ignite” move, but had so far only succeeded in burning his fingers. Tyler was rummaging on the floor, scooping up the discarded paper when his fingers brushed something hard. He pulled out a still wrapped box from the way back of the tree. “Hey, we forgot one,” he said, trying to read the name on the tag… …only to have Justin snatch the package out of Tyler’s hands. “No, we didn’t,” he told Tyler, holding it behind his back. “Don’t you have to go pack?” JC observed Justin quizzically. “What’s going on?” “I don’t know,” Tyler said. “But the present’s for you.” “It is?” JC asked. “No, it’s not,” Justin lied. “Yes, it is!” Tyler insisted. “I saw the tag. It said ‘To Jayce, from Justin.’” JC rose from the chair and walked over to Justin. “You got me something else?” “I…uh…yeah, I did,” Justin admitted. “Justin.” “I was going to wait and give it to you later, when we were alone.” He glared over his shoulder at Tyler, who finally got the hint and went to his room. “It’s…well…it’s really for both of us.” He shoved the box into JC’s hands. “Here.” JC unwrapped the package, his eyes widening at the sight of the velvet jewelers box that had been hidden by the festive paper. He opened the box slowly, the creak of hinges sounding loudly in the suddenly quiet apartment. “Justin…” JC’s voice was a whisper, and his knees buckled, forcing him to sit down on the coffee table. Justin slipped onto his knees in front of JC. “Are you…I mean… you’re not…I mean…are you upset?” “No!” JC exclaimed. “No, not at all. I’m overwhelmed.” Justin fiddled with JC’s pajama pants, ducking his head a bit. “I had it all planned out. We’d have a romantic night, have great sex, then I’d give you the box and tell you what it means.” “Justin, what does it mean?” Justin sat back on his heels. “I told you once I wasn’t any good with words, and I guess I’m still not telling it well.” He took a deep breath and looked at JC with serious eyes. “I love you. You’ve given me everything. A life. A family. A home. A future. Without you, I’d probably by dead by now.” JC made a noise of protest. “No, it’s true, Jayce. I’d either be dead or in jail, which would probably be worse. But by some miracle, you found me. By an even bigger miracle, you love me. I wanted. I needed someway to show you how much I love you, how much I need you, and how much your love means to me.” He lifted one of the gold rings from the box and picked up JC’s left hand. “I know we can’t do anything legal, not yet. But then again, I’ve never been a big fan of legal anyway.” Justin paused, the ring just at the tip of JC’s finger. “JC Chasez, will you do me the great honor of being my love, my partner, my soul mate for the rest of our lives?” JC nodded enthusiastically, tears spilling down as he felt the warm gold band glide onto his finger. He reached into the box and withdrew the other ring, and grasped Justin’s hand. “Justin Timberlake, would you do me the great honor of being my love, my partner, my soul mate for the rest of our lives?” Justin nodded, and JC slipped the matching band onto Justin’s finger. JC launched himself at Justin, tumbling them both down onto the floor and rolling over through the paper and ribbon, finally ending up halfway under the tree. They kissed deeply, sharing teeth and tongue and breath. Their hearts beat faster and their cocks grew harder with each kiss, each touch. The quiet apartment was now filled with moans and groans and whispered words of love. Justin leaned up a bit, smiling down at the sight of JC, hair wild, tinsel caught in his ear, mouth red and ripe. “So,” he said, reaching down and lifting JC’s left hand to his hand. “We’re married now.” JC held out his hand, admiring the gold band. “Yeah, I guess we are.” His smile was bright. “Something I never thought would happen, by the way,” he finished with a laugh. “Me, neither,” Justin admitted. He pressed down onto JC, delighting in the groan of passion he received in response. “So…you think married sex is different than just living together sex?” Justin asked, slipping his hand into JC’s pajama pants and fisting the hard muscle he found there, making JC groan again. “Oh, I think we make it perfect…oh, god…regardless of our…ung…yesss…situation.” JC lifted his hips in time to Justin’s stroking of his cock, wrapping his legs around the younger man and slipping his hand into Justin’s pants, cupping his ass. Justin’s hand slipped JC’s pants down, exposing him to the cool air. He slipped down JC’s body, running his tongue along JC’s skin. “Hmm…yes. Perfect.” Justin enveloped JC with into his hot mouth, making JC arch in ecstasy. The lovers were so totally engrossed into each other that neither noticed when Tyler entered the room. “Okay, I’m all packed and ready to head to the train station and…oh no. Oh my god, no. Not under the tree!” Tyler closed his eyes and stumbled backwards into the bathroom, his only thought being trying to wash that image out of his brain.