PART ONE

Kayleigh sat on the couch, knees tucked up under her as she flipped through the channels. "Bah-humbug," she grumbled, sliding past one Christmas movie after another. "It's a wonderful life...yeah, right." She looked over at the pictures on top of the tv. Sean and Chrissie would be with their dad this year, and his parents up in New Jersey. She sighed. It just didn't feel like Christmas. "I just wish I wasn't so alone," she said to the room at large. Her mom was up in Baltimore, and at a Christmas party with friends. Her 'friends' hadn't even called to wish her a 'Merry Christmas'. She glared at the tv, and clicked it off. She rose from the couch, and went over to the window. It was snowing. The wall were closing in on her, and she had to get out. She bundled up and went out on the porch.

There was no wind at all, just a gentle breeze that tossed the snowflakes around. Her bare ears chilled instantly, but Kayleigh didn't care. At least she wasn't cooped up inside with a phone that wasn't ringing.

In the field behind her apartment house, she watched two deer break through the tree cover. A mother and her fawn, she decided, seeing the baby's speckled coat. Her throat tightened as she watched the mother nuzzle her baby, and give him a gentle push. Tears filled her eyes, and she turned away. Damn, she missed her kids.

A figure trudged through the snow, going to the door next to hers. She watched him raise one hand and knock. He waited a moment, then knocked again. Still no answer.
"It won't do you any good," she called.
He turned to her. "Why not?" he called back. "Terry left for the Bahamas yesterday. A surprise Christmas present from her folks," she explained. She watched as his shoulders slumped in disappointment. 'I could invite him in,' she thought.
'He might be a freak or something,' her mind argued. 'And you're not a freak?' she thought. 'Invite him in, it's Christmas, and you're lonely as hell.'

"Excuse me," she called as he started to turn away. He turned back, and started walking toward her. "Why don't you come in and get warm? I could make some coffee or hot chocolate or something." He stopped nearly on her doorstep. She stood one step above him, and it made them face each other eye to eye. He smiled. "You don't have to do this," he said. "I can drive back to the hotel, no problem." "A hotel? On Christmas?" she asked skeptically, one dark brow raised in question. "Come on, have Christmas dinner with me." "Ham?" he asked. She smiled as she said, "Ham, mashed potatoes, corn, chocolate cake...and I have sugar cookies, too." He grinned broadly. "I'm there." He climbed the step, and she found herself looking up at him. "One second," she said, holding up one hand. "I don't invite strangers into my house." She extended one bare hand. "I'm Kayleigh." He tugged off his glove, and took her hand in his. "I'm Alex," he said, lifting her hand to his lips, and pressing a soft kiss across her knuckles. 'Oh, my,' she thought as he let her hand fall back to her side. 'What have I gotten myself into?'

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"That was delicious," Alex said, wiping his mouth with a napkin and pushing his plate away.
Kayleigh's last bite of chocolate cake stopped in mid-air halfway to her mouth. She smiled warmly. "Glad you liked it." She popped the cake in her mouth, and watched him from beneath her lashes.
He was adorable, she decided for what had to be the fiftieth time. His hair was dark, with soft blond highlights. More than once she'd lost herself in the dark depths of his eyes.
"I'm stuffed," he said, leaning back in the chair. He looked at her for a long moment, then asked, "Why did you invite me in?" Her fork fell to the plate with a clatter. Why had she invited him in? Seeing her upset, he added, "It's just that I see you're all alone here, and...that's it, isn't it?" She wiped her mouth with the napkin, then dropped it on her plate. She nodded. "It's just, well, I'm by myself for Christmas, and you're alone for Christmas, and I just thought...well, why not?" He smiled, reached across the table, and laid his hand over hers. "I'm glad you did." He sighed as he squeezed her hand. "I came up to surprise Terry, but looks like I was the one who was surprised."

She squeezed his hand. "I didn't know she had a boyfriend," Kayleigh said. When he looked up, surprised, she hurriedly added. "She comes over sometimes, and we chat. She actually misses living at home. But she hasn't mentioned any guys since..." she trailed off, watching the grin spread across his face. "We're not going out or anything. We met online, and came to realize that we were cousins...on my dad's side," he explained. "I thought I'd stop by and surprise her for Christmas, but..." She chuckled. "Things didn't quite work out the way you planned." His thumb slowly rubbed back and forth across her knuckles, and her stomach did a flip flop. She tugged her hand free, stood, and started gathering dishes. "Guess I'd better start cleaning up," she said briskly. Alex stood with her and started to help, but she stopped him. "you're a guest," she said, piling the dishes, setting the silverware on top. "Why don't you go sit on the couch, and see if there's anything on tv?" She took the dishes into the kitchen. "If you're sure," he said, watching as she pushed up the sleeves of her faded blue sweatshirt. "I can help..." She turned to look at him. "I'm fine," she said with a smile. "Now, go sit down," she ordered, shooing him away.

Laughing, Alex sat down on the couch, and flicked on the tv. Maybe Christmas wouldn't be so bad this year after all, he decided, surfing through the channels. First his mom had told him that she wouldn't be home for Christmas, then he and Amy had had that huge fight. Knowing he could tell Terry anything, he'd decided to surprise her for Christmas. He chuckled. Well, he was the one who had been surprised when she hadn't even been home. He cast a glance toward the kitchen, and smiled. He wondered when she'd admit to having recognized him. He spotted one or two Backstreet Boys posters on the walls, but she hadn't said anything. Maybe she didn't recognize him. He wasn't all costumed out like he usually was, and he'd shaved off the goatee. He rubbed his bare chin thoughtfully.

Kayleigh entered the room at that moment, drying her hands on a dishtowel, and stopped as she caught the thoughtful look on his face. "Everything okay?" she asked. He nodded. "Just thinking," he confessed, giving her an apologetic smile. She shook her head. 'Whatever', she thought. "Would you like some hot chocolate?" she asked. Alex shook his head. "No, thanks, why don't you come sit down?" He patted the empty space next to him on the couch. Swallowing hard, Kayleigh dropped the towel on the back of one of the dining room chairs, and sat next to him. "Is this okay?" he asked, stopping at a the movie Scrooged, with Bill Murray. "Sure," she said, leaning back. 'Relax,' she ordered herself. 'Just relax.' Alex's hand dropped to cover her hand where it rested between them. Her eyes snapped up to meet his. His smile was gentle. She blushed, and forced herself to turn back to the tv. The man was really too good looking for her peace of mind. Her dark brows pinched in a frown. He looked familiar, too, but she couldn't place him. She gave herself a mental shake, and concentrated on the movie.

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Kayleigh was laughing so hard, her sides hurt. Tears trickled from her eyes. "Oh, that was good," she said, wiping the tears away. "How about a new toaster?" Alex mimicked the Ghost of Christmas Present, sending Kayleigh off into another fit of laughter. When she fell back this time, he caught her and held her close, gaze fastened on her mouth. The laughter died in her throat as she found herself looking into his dark eyes. "Alex?" she whispered. His eyes met hers, then fell back down to her parted lips. "Shh," he said softly, and he kissed her. Her hands pressed against his chest, and she could feel his heart pounding beneath her palm.

The phone rang shrilly, and they broke apart. Not meeting his eyes, Kayleigh hurriedly rose from the couch and answered it, "Hello?"
"Merry Christmas, Kay!" Kat chimed in her ear. "Sorry I didn't call before now, but just got back in."
Kayleigh's gaze darted around the room, anywhere but at Alex. "That's okay," she said absently.
"What's wrong?" Kat asked seriously.
"Nothing's wrong," Kayleigh assured her. She caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye, and turned to find Alex rising from the couch. He started walking toward her. "It's just...I have...company."
"Company?" Kat sounded surprised. "You mean you and Lanzo made up?"
Kayleigh flushed, and sighed miserably. "No," she answered, "and I had actually managed to forget about that. Thanks so much."
"Sorry," she said softly. "Then who...not Ricky."
Kayleigh laughed. "Not hardly...it's no one that you know about. We just met today. He came to visit someone, and she wasn't home."
"Be careful," Kat warned. "He could be a freak."
"And what do you think you're talking to?" Both women laughed. Kayleigh gasped as Alex laid a hand on her shoulder.
"What?" Kat asked worriedly.

"Nothing," Kayleigh answered, managing a smile for Alex as he cocked one dark brow questioningly. "Hey, can I call you later?"
"Kay, are you sure that..."
"I'm fine," Kayleigh interrupted. "Everything's okay, I swear."
"I'd better not see you on the news."
"As if," Kayleigh said with a smile. "I'm fine...I'll call you later, okay?"
"Well...if you're sure..."
"I'm fine. And Merry Christmas to you, too."
"Merry Christmas," Kat said, then hung up.
Kayleigh stared at the phone for a moment before setting it back on the cradle. "A friend?" Alex asked from behind her.
She turned to face him. "Yup, and the only one to call at all today." She would not be depressed, she wouldn't, she wouldn't.

"From what I heard, it sounded like she was worried." She smiled up at him. "She was," she chuckled. "She was worried you might be a freak." He paused for a moment, head cocked thoughtfully to one side. "Well, I've been called that before." "You have?" She grinned, clearly not believing him. "Yeah, 'cause of the way I dress and act sometimes." When she just looked at him, he asked, "You mean you really don't know who I am?" Now it was her turn to look thoughtful. "You do look familiar," she admitted. He grinned, and said, "Most people call me AJ...I'm one of the Backstreet Boys."
Kayleigh laughed, "oh, come on." Then seeing he was serious, she added, "Really?" He nodded solemnly. She looked at him then, really looked at him. Her eyes widened. Oh, God, he really WAS AJ of the Backstreet Boys. Those eyes...that mouth...she frowned...that mouth. "You shaved off your goatee," she said accusingly. Alex laughed, and pulled her into his arms.