Sixteen

0

When his mother woke him up at 5:30 in the morning, JC knew that - well, he didn't know anything at the time, really. Just that his mother insisted, which he felt was rather mean of her. She didn't care. He dressed and washed up automatically, eyes almost glued shut, and collapsed on the couch in his grandparents' living room to nod off again. He awoke, somewhat, about ten minutes later when there was a knock on the front door. From years of experience, he could sense that it was Chris. He could probably open his eyes to confirm that, but, okay, the slightly shrill greeting that accompanied the arms pulling him up into a welcome hug was also a strong indicator, he decided, his arms going around his boyfriend automatically.

"Happy Christmas Eve-Eve," Chris said, bouncing and beaming at him.

JC knew there was something wrong with that statement. Something other than the fact that Chris had far too much energy for six am on the day after - that was it! "Today's December 26, Chris," he said, blinking at him. "Happy Day After Christmas. Happy First Day of Good Sales. Happy Second Day of Christmas, please don't give me any turtledoves." Well, he'd gotten his mouth to start working. Now to make it stop. His mother was laughing at him, but Chris wasn't even listening anyway. He was shaking his head pretty insistently.

"Not for us, man," Chris said gleefully. "Today is now December 23 for us. One of the busiest travel days of the year, and we are road-tripping, man."

JC tried to reason that out as Chris chatted with his mom. He decided that it would just be easier to go along with whatever Chris was doing and saying. He could get the full story later, when he was actually awake. In the meantime, he was sure Chris couldn't do any real damage.

So he let himself be walked to Chris's RV, hugging and kissing his mother goodbye before Chris took his turn hugging her and led him inside and to the bed. He fell asleep to Chris tucking him in with a kiss on his forehead.

3

JC awoke to Chris singing from the front of the RV. He snuggled his head into his pillow contentedly, just happy to be listening. He didn't get that much of a chance to hear Chris, all by himself. He considered staying in bed to listen, but curiosity got the better of him and he got up to walk to the front seat, trailing the blanket behind him. "Hey."

"Hey there, Sleeping Beauty," Chris said cheerfully.

JC raised his eyebrow. "You're awfully happy today."

"Of course I am!" Chris said. "It's almost Christmas!"

"I think you've gone crazy," JC said mildly.

"With the holiday spirit and you better fucking believe it," Chris agreed.

"I'm awake now, Chris. I know that today is December 26," he pointed out.

"I can't hear you," Chris sing-songed.

JC tried another approach. One way or another, he'd get the story eventually. "So what are we doing?"

"You're sitting," Chris said. "I'm kidnapping you."

JC frowned. "But Chris, my mom got me ready, walked us out," he pointed out.

"She helped," Chris agreed. "Good sport about it. Said she had another son, I could have you if I took good care of you."

"That's never a problem," JC said, smiling.

"No, I thought we had that pretty well down, too," Chris said. "So I took you. For Christmas."

"But it's after Christmas," JC said patiently.

"For some people, yeah, I can see how that could be," Chris said.

JC frowned. "I'm really pretty sure it's for everyone. I know there are some theories about time being relative, but not that relative."

"Okay, I really thought you'd catch on before this," Chris said, turning to look at him. "Think outside the box, Jayce."

"Road! Look at the road!" JC yelped, and Chris smoothly swerved back into his own lane. "Okay," he said, his heart rate starting to return back to normal. "Okay. You drive, and I'll think outside the box. What day is it again?"

"December 23," Chris said.

"Okay. And where are we now?" JC asked.

"Getting close to North Carolina," Chris answered.

"And it's the 23rd? I could see if it was the 24th, maybe," JC said.

"You're getting there," Chris encouraged.

"Where are we going? DC to. . .south. Home? We're going home for Christmas?" JC asked.

"Give the man a Christmas present!" Chris said happily.

"We're driving to Florida?" JC asked.

"Yup. Should take about eleven more hours, give or take. Then we'll have the whole holiday together," Chris said, finishing off a large cup of McDonald's coffee and tossing it on the floor. It joined, JC noticed, about six other 32 oz coffee cups and containers.

"Chris?" Did you drink all of those?" JC asked carefully.

"And a few more," Chris said, cheerfully. "Didn't get much sleep last night. Headed out from my grandmother's around 1."

This explained quite a bit to JC. "Okay. I have a suggestion."

"By all means, let's hear it," Chris said, fingers tapping the steering wheel.

"Give me a map and the driver's seat while you take a nap," JC said. "Please?"

The look Chris gave him was full of pity. "Did you not see the number of cups on the floor?"

"This isn't taking care of me like you promised," JC said, feeling a little guilty for playing his trump card. Especially so early. But when Chris crashed, he crashed hard. "At least let me drive."

Chris stared at him a moment, but JC didn't look away. "Okay," he said finally, turning back to the road. "I'll pull over at the next rest stop."

JC smiled at him. "Thanks, man."

"Anything for you," Chris said, and JC knew he meant it.

5

"Basketball!" Chris shouted.

"Horse."

"Beach!"

"Ocean."

"Waves."

"Surfing."

"The X-Files!"

JC frowned. "Huh? Aliens."

"Sigourney Weaver. Guy who wrote X-Files was a surfer."

"White House. You know, we survived almost six years without playing these games. Why are we starting again now?"

"Jed Bartlett. We're not on tour, we're road-tripping. We must play obnoxious games. Part of the rules," Chris explained.

"Toby Ziegler."

"Christmas tree."

"Six foot prickly thing leaking sap all over the living room floor."

Chris looked horrified. "Do you really believe that?" he asked, aghast.

JC laughed. "Honey, no. You've seen my trees every year. It's a line from a TV show. I'll show it to you sometime."

"Don't scare me like that," Chris scolded. "Charlie Brown."

"Fuer Elise."

"Big surprise, Schroeder. Linus and Lucy."

"Security blanket."

"Sleep," Chris said, yawning.

JC grinned. "I bet. Go back and get some rest, huh?"

Chris sighed. "Yeah. Don't have too much fun while I'm gone," he warned, grabbing the blanket JC had brought up.

"Never," JC promised.

6

JC drove down 95, radio off. The only noise was the slow, steady sound of Chris breathing in the back. He'd been listening to it for nearly an hour, really listening, and he could almost predict Chris's snuffles, sighs, and twitches. Tears prickled at his eyes, and he signaled to pull over before his eyesight became too impaired. Sometimes he loved Chris so hard, so much, it almost hurt. It was overwhelming, but he would never want it any other way.

9

"So what's your most vivid Christmas memory?" Chris asked, sliding into the passenger seat.

JC, who had heard him wake up about five minutes earlier, just smiled at him and traced the waffle print on Chris's cheek. "Hey, baby."

"Hey," Chris said, lightly resting his hand on JC's. "Where are we?"

"Just passed Augusta," JC said, returning his hands to the wheel.

"Excellent. Getting close now," Chris said. "So what is it?"

"What's what?" JC asked.

"Your most vivid Christmas memory," Chris repeated.

"Oh." JC thought a moment, and frowned. "I don't actually like that memory, Chris. Can we save it for some other time?"

"Okay," Chris said. "You know, I can't think of anyone who has ever said their most vivid Christmas memory was a good one."

"Even yours?" JC asked.

Chris paused. "I don't think anyone's ever asked me before. No, yeah, even mine." He frowned. "That's not right, man."

"Hey." JC reached out and grasped Chris's hand firmly. "It's all right. We can make our own vivid Christmas memory, and we'll make sure it's a good one. I promise. It can happen."

Chris squeezed his hand, hard. "You're on. So, hey, what's your most vivid Fourth of July memory?"

12

"Short cut, huh?" JC asked.

Chris gripped the steering wheel and stared straight ahead. "Yes."

"Well, I'm sure it was a shortcut to somewhere," JC offered helpfully. "And it only added, what, an hour? We're golden, man."

"I think the cliff was pretty vivid, too," Chris added after a pause. "I didn't know there were any in this neck of the woods."

"Right on. And we survived it, and we were together. Which is good. I think we have a new vivid Christmas memory," JC agreed.

"As long as we never, ever have to do that again."

"Never, ever," JC agreed fervently.

13

"Are we there yet?" Chris whined, eating a handful of popcorn.

"Are we still moving?" JC asked, snatching a handful himself.

"Yup."

"Then what do you think?" JC asked.

"We're probably not there yet," Chris said. "Unless you really redecorated. The interstate look is quite popular this season."

"Or moved to Jacksonville," JC said. "Which I haven't."

"Good to hear." Chris picked some melted m&ms out of the popcorn bag and sucked the chocolate off his fingers.

JC watched out of the corner of his eye as Chris licked each finger clean. "Um. Do we have a specific timeline as to when we get home?" he asked.

Chris paused, last finger in his mouth. "Well, kind of. Why?"

"Because I really, really want to have sex with you right now."

Chris didn't even hesitate. "Home can wait. There's an exit." He pointed.

Laughing, JC signaled and pulled onto the ramp.

16

"Home sweet home," JC said blissfully, as Chris turned onto the street. "Home for Christmas. I'm so excited," he admitted. "I really missed you this year. I missed all of you, but I hated spending Christmas away from you."

"I know, baby," Chris said. "That's why the surprise isn't quite done yet."

They pulled into the driveway, lit by luminaria and lights blazing from inside the house.

"Chris? Who's here?" JC asked. "Wait. It's the 23rd. The guys are here? How did you?" he trailed off.

"Everything was changed this year," Chris said, turning the ignition off. "We all spent a lot of time apart, and we were together for Joe's last show, but then we couldn't do our party on the 23rd. And then we couldn't spend Christmas together because of the families. You in DC, me in Pennsylvania. I know you were disappointed, so, yeah. Tonight's our annual party. And then we get to spend Christmas together. The way it should have been."

"With family," JC finished. "Chris, God. This is amazing, man. I just- yeah. This is the best present you could have gotten me, you know. Flexible time theories and all."

Chris leaned forward and cupped a hand around JC's neck, capturing his lips in a gentle kiss. "I'm glad you like it," he said softly. He straightened up and cleared his throat. "So what do you say we join the party? Before Lance and Justin kill each other. Or maul each other. We just had that couch reupholstered, you know."

JC laughed, a little giddily. "Yeah, man. Let's go."

They climbed out of the RV and held hands as they walked up the path to their home, where their friends were waiting.

***

Note: I've never driven the east coast, so all times/locations taken from mapquest.com's directions and timeline.

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