Copyright December 22, 2001-January 5, 2002 by Matthew Haldeman-Time

Rating: R

Pairing: JC/Justin, Brian/Nick/Drew, Nick/Jeff, Howie/Chris, Lance/AJ, AJ/Kevin

Disclaimer: The young men who comprise 98 Degrees, the Backstreet Boys, and *NSYNC are their own people.  The author has not met anyone here described, nor does the author mean to suggest that these people act this way in real life.  This writing is a work of fiction.  I make no money from this venture.

Dedication: This slashfic is for Ewan McGregor and the Savage Garden slashwriters.

Wherein Nick makes lists, Chris sings, and Joey would rather get coal.

Notice: This story is an AU in the "Living" universe in the middle of "Together."

        "Your Christmas list?" Brian asked.  "Well, next time I'm going past the North Pole, I'll drop it off with the big guy for you."

        "It's not that kind of Christmas list," Nick said.  "Drew!"

        Not that kind of Christmas list.  That statement begged the question, what kind of Christmas list was it?

        "Drew!"  Nick pulled crumpled papers from his pocket.  "I made two lists."

        "One list of what you want, and one list of what we might actually get you?" Brian guessed.

        Drew walked in and sat on Nick's other side on the sofa.  "I was drawn by the melodic ring of your voice."

        "I can yell across the house if I want," Nick said.  "Let me show you my Christmas lists."

        "You don't expect to get anything this year, do you?" Drew asked.

        Nick thought about it.  "You suck."

        "Yes, but only when you're really lucky," Drew said.

        Nick gasped, shocked.  When he recovered, he said, "I liked you better when you were quiet and horny."

        "I've never loved you more than I love you now," Drew said.

        Nick thought about it.  "Oh."  He thought about it some more.  "Brian, Drew's being sappy."

        "You know what I want for Christmas?" Brian asked.

        "Socks," Nick and Drew said.

        "I-"

        "Guitar strings," they said.

        "I-"

        "A widescreen edition of Lawrence of Arabia."

        Brian gave up.

        "Widescreen," they repeated.

        Brian slouched, gazing at the ceiling as though asking God for help.

        "Let me show you my Christmas lists," Nick said, returning to the point.  "I have two.  This is what I want to get this year.  I haven't really put it in order yet."

        "That's okay," Drew said, humoring him.  "Tell us what you have so far."

        "Okay.  I want Brian to fist me.  I want Drew to rim me.  I want to fuck Brian and Drew.  I want to watch-"  The paper was snatched from his hands.  Drew got up and sat beside Brian; they huddled over the paper.

        Drew turned red.

        Brian coughed.

        "I don't have to have it all on Christmas," Nick said.  "You can space it out if you want."

        "Nick!"  Drew was mortified.

        "What?" Brian asked, scanning the page for what Drew had seen.  He found it.  "Nick!"

        "What?" Nick asked.  "Did I spell something wrong?"

        Brian was trying not to laugh.  Drew was trying not to flee the room.  Neither one told Nick which item on his list had drawn their attention, so he ignored them.  "This is my other list.  I want to get a studded leather collar, a little whip, a vibrator - - better make it a big one, not too big, maybe Drew-sized.  And-"

        "We are not going to buy you a whip," Brian said.  "Nick-"

        "It's not for me," Nick said.  "I wouldn't whip either of you, and I know you wouldn't do it for me no matter how much I begged.  It's for Jeff and Nick.  This is my list of what to get the in-laws."

        "I'd rather get coal," Joey said, sucking on his finger where he'd stabbed himself with a hook from one of the ornaments.

        "Guys, this is JC and Justin's tree," Lance said.

        "Their tree, their apartment, and I think that's their sofa, too," Chris said.

        "Then why are we decorating it?"

        "They're helping," Chris said.  He glanced over his shoulder.  JC had Justin backed against the wall; the only indication that they were trimming the tree was the silver ornament in Justin's hand.  "They're contributing to that festive feeling in the air."

        "If it gets any more festive in here, I'll need to change my pants," Joey said.

        It was always surreal, when AJ gave him a blow job.  Pleasuring AJ was one thing; that was more easily understood.  But AJ giving him pleasure?  Selflessly?  He couldn't quite accept it.  It was too much, too good, too big a gift even at this time of year.

        No one really seemed to care.

        "Drew, you do it, you're everybody's favorite," Nick said, handing it to him.

        The tree was a tall one, and Nick had decorated most of the top with a little instruction from Brian.  Nick, Jeff, and Justin had come over for a little tree-trimming party.  Drew, not being tall enough to hang the star, looked around for something to stand on.

        Nick grabbed him and lifted him off the ground.

        Drew managed to complete the tree, then turned in Nick's arms.  Desire flared in Nick's eyes.  Drew smiled and put a hand on Nick's chest.

        Justin coughed.

        Jeff coughed.

        "Put me down," Drew said, finished flirting, beginning to feel silly.

        "Nn-nn."  Nick adjusted his grip.

        "Nick, come on.  I'm too heavy."

        "I know.  Your balls alone weigh-"

        "Put me down."

        "Do you like our tree?"

        "Yes, I do.  It's a very nice tree.  Put me down."

        "Can I wrap you in tinsel?"

        "No."

        "Can I wrap Jeff in tinsel?"

        "No."

        "Carter," Nick Timmons-Lachey said, a familiar warning.

        "Do you want to wrap me in tinsel?" Nick asked Drew.

        "I want you to put me down," Drew said.

        "On our bed?"

        "No, right here's fine."

        "You don't like our bed?  I like our bed.  I thought you liked it, too.  Especially-"

        Nick Timmons-Lachey pulled Drew from Nick's arms and stood him on the floor.  "Nice tree."

        Nick gave Nick the once-over.  "You, too."

        Howie fixed his collar and flipped his hair over his shoulders, checking himself out in the mirror.  He looked...he looked attractive.  He attracted Chris's gaze, attracted sexual interest, attracted all of Chris's attention.  Chris was drawn to him.  Nothing new about that...

        Howie pulled his hair back into a ponytail.  Chris's fingers twitched.

        Another glance in the mirror, and Howie was satisfied.  He turned to the bed and gave Chris a graceful kiss.  "You don't have to stay up for me."

        "What sort of rituals do Backstreet Boys have to celebrate Christmas?" Chris asked.  "Orgies, blood-letting, that sort of thing?"

        "That's how we celebrate putting out a new album," Howie said.  "For Christmas, we have a human sacrifice.  You're sure you don't want to come?  As our...special guest?"

        Chris leaned back.  "You're a very scary man."

        Howie kissed him again.  "I'll tell them you said hi."

        In the window of time between Drew's departure and Brian's arrival, Nick hung mistletoe.  Everywhere.

        Brian was the last to arrive.  Letting himself into the house, he called out a greeting to the guys in the living room.  Then he noticed the mistletoe in the doorway to the living room.  And the mistletoe hanging by the front door.  "Nick?"

        "Drew did it," Nick said, already knowing what Brian was asking.

        Brian came into the living room and sat beside Kevin on the sofa.  "Sorry I'm late.  Merry Christmas."

        They'd congregated at seven.  It was five the next morning when Kevin decided to break up the party.  On his way to the foyer, AJ paused in the doorway, beneath the mistletoe.

        Brian kissed AJ's hand and moved on.

        AJ blew Kevin a kiss and let him pass.

        Nick hesitated, self-conscious, not ready to enter the doorway.  AJ kissed his mouth, and there was no tongue involved because AJ had a healthy respect for Brian, but that kiss crossed more than a few lines.  Nick stepped back, blushing.

        AJ kissed Howie.  A light kiss, a loving kiss, fingers twisting the end of Howie's ponytail.  AJ kept it brief, because he knew that if he didn't, Howie would end the kiss first.

        Howie said good-bye and left, unruffled.

        Brian smiled at AJ, a smile so polite that AJ considered himself warned.  Brian would overlook AJ's transgression in the holiday spirit, but if AJ put his hands on Nick one more time...

        Kevin drove AJ home, intending to drop AJ off, grimly sure that AJ would not make any advance tonight.  He always felt too sure where he stood with AJ; sometimes he wished for a little more ambiguity.  A little more uncertainty.  A little more hope.

        When Kevin stopped the car to let AJ out, AJ reached over and turned off the ignition.  "Come on," AJ said, opening his car door.  When Kevin made no move, AJ unbuckled Kevin's seat belt.  "If you want to sleep first, we can sleep first.  But I want you to fuck me."

        Kevin looked at AJ.  He knew, ethically, morally, rationally, that he should say no.  That he could say no.

        "I want you to fuck me," AJ said again.  "I've been thinking about it all night."

        There was no chance that they'd sleep first.

        "Brian!  Brian!  Thank you for my present!  My present, let me unwrap it and play with my new toy!"  Nick was half on the sofa, half off, grabbing Drew and pulling at his clothes.

        Drew tried to defend himself.  He couldn't help but laugh at Nick's enthusiasm and sincerity, and his laughter made him vulnerable.  By the time Brian came into the room, he was missing his sweater and one shoe.

        "Nick," Brian said, trying to stem the flow of words, "it's not Christmas.  You can't open your presents until Christmas."

        Drew was not a gift, not a package.  He wore no labels and no bows.  And he was on the verge of wearing no pants, too.  He smacked Nick's hands.

        "Just let me peek," Nick said to Brian, and unbuttoned Drew's fly.

        "No," Brian said, intervening.  He pulled Drew from the sofa.  "Do not open until Christmas."

        Drew closed his fly.

        "It's Christmas Eve," Nick said.  "Come on, just-"

        "No," Brian said, helping Drew back into his sweater.

        "Brian," Nick pleaded, all big blue eyes.

        "No," Brian said, handing Drew his shoe.  "Not until Christmas.  And if you aren't going to keep away from your present, I'm going to put it where you can't get it."

        "Brian..."

        Brian took Drew by the hand and led him from the room.

        "Hey," Joey said.  "I know you have to go, so-"

        "No, I'm not going until the morning.  I'm just getting packed.  Come on in."

        Joey sat on Lance's bed while Lance packed.  One suitcase of clothes, one suitcase of presents.  Lance had expected Joey to be at a party, if not several parties.  But Joey wasn't dressed for a party, didn't mention a party, and made no move to leave.  In fact, he stayed for hours.

        Joey probably wasn't staying out of pity, but out of friendship.  No doubt he'd planned to go out for the evening, but upon hearing that Lance would be home alone all night, he'd changed his plans.  Joey was like that.

        Lance didn't need anyone to baby-sit him.  But he was lucky to have a friend like Joey.

        "Merry Christmas," Brian said, and kissed Drew.

        "Merry Christmas," Drew said, and kissed Brian.

        "Christmas!" Nick said.  "I get to unwrap my present!"  He tackled Drew.

        "I'm as immature as I ever was," Jeff said.

        "It's Christmas Eve.  It's Christmas," Nick corrected himself.  "We're sitting at home."

        "What would you rather be doing?"

        "We should be partying, celebrating-"

        "What would you rather be doing?" Jeff repeated.  Leaning against Nick on the sofa, he put a hand on Nick's thigh and rested his head on Nick's shoulder.

        "We should be out there.  At this rate, we'll be in bed by nine on New Year's Eve."

        "You could be out at a big party with stars and groupies.  You could be celebrating with your friends.  You could be with your family.  You could be in church.  Or you could sit here with me, and say, 'Merry Christmas.'"  Jeff closed his eyes, relaxing, at peace.

        Nick stroked Jeff's hair.  "Merry Christmas."

        Jeff breathed.

        Nick gazed into space.

        Jeff's eyes opened.  "Want to have sex?"

        "Yeah," Nick said, and they got up.

        Kevin's voice.  "AJ.  Merry Christmas.  I'm on my way to the airport, and I was going to stop in, but you're not home, so...  I'll give you your present when I get back.  I love you.  Merry Christmas."

        If he'd been home last night...  If he'd been home and Kevin had come over...

        Kevin had gone home.  Kevin had gone.

        AJ was alone.

        On Christmas.

        He sat and unwrapped it.

        It was a book.  Opening lines and come-ons for gay men.

        Inside the front cover, Joey had written, "To Lois Lance: You're already my hero, now let me be yours. -Superman."

        Drew patted Nick's shoulder and rolled over, going back to sleep.

        Nick nuzzled Brian instead.  "Christmas pixie."

        Brian kissed Nick's cheek.  "Christmas Nick.  What do you want to do today?"

        "Fuck Drew."

        "Anything else?"

        "Fuck you.  And suck your dick.  And suck Drew's dick.  And-"

        "We won't be able to do too much.  Nick and Jeff are coming over later."

        "I know.  I got presents for them."

        Drew snapped to attention, rolling over fast.  "What kind of presents?"

        "You can see when they unwrap them," Nick said.

        Brian and Drew looked at each other.

        "I hope it's the right size," Nick mused.