*** Justin' Point of View***
"Will you spend Christmas with me and my family?" Nick asked me Sunday morning.
"I, are you sure?" I asked.
"Yes, they already liked you when they met you a few months ago, and they know we're dating and they're thrilled about it. They'd love it if you joined. I'd love it if you joined."
"I just don't want to interfere."
"Babe, I promise you won't interfere, it would be more of an interference if you weren't there, because I'd be so sad not to spend the day with you." He held my hand, squeezing it tight.
"That means a lot to me." I hugged him tight. "I'd love to go."
"I hope so because it means a lot to me." He said. "I've never invited anyone to spend Christmas with my family before." I pulled back from the hug, trying to hide my tears. "Baby, what's with the tears?..." he wiped away a tear.
"It's just... I've never spent Christmas with anyone's family before." I sighed. I feel like I need to be honest with him about this, but it's hard to even say. "Foster care meant switching around a lot, I never got that happy Christmas as a child except for maybe one I can't even really remember. And as an adult, I've just always spent it alone when my friends go home."
"Well, this Christmas I hope that will change." He smiled at me. "I love you, Justin." He kissed my forehead, pulling me in for another hug.
"I love you, Nick."
***
On Christmas Eve he drove us to his parent's place. "It's not too late if you think I should stay back." I said before we left the city.
He put his hand on my thigh. "Babe, don't be nervous." He laughed. "I promise it'll be fun, plus you've already met them."
"I know I've met them and they're so nice, it was just under different circumstances." I replied.
"They loved meeting you then and they love that you're joining us now." He said. "Just think of them all as extensions of me, they'll come to love you almost as much as I do." He gave my thigh a light squeeze.
We got there in good time, saying hello to everyone and unloading our presents first and putting them under the tree, then bringing our suitcases upstairs. "My parents don't care if we share a room, ya know." He said as he led me to my own room.
"I know, but I think this is better, I don't want to be disrespectful."
"Well, in fact this actually makes more laundry and beds to clean." He gave me a cheeky grin.
I punched him playfully. "Have you ever heard of respect!" I sassed.
"Ouch." He mumbled. "I actually find your decision very commendable." He kissed me on the cheek.
When we returned downstairs, his parents were immediately welcoming. We joined his parents, sister, brother-in-law, and niece in a game of monopoly.
"Of course Nick won, nobody can ever beat him." Sarah rolled her eyes.
"Hey, Dad never let us win as kids. I had to learn how to play ruthlessly."
"That is true." His mom added. "Dad always played fair and square." She turned to Lily. "How about some cookies?"
"Yes, please, Grandma!" Lily got up and gave her a hug.
"Mom, not too many please." Kate begged. She turned to her husband, Jeff. "She'll never go to sleep tonight."
"She'll be fine." He said calmly.
After putting out cookies and milk for Santa, Lily went to bed. Nick's mom brought out old Christmas photo albums. "Doesn't Lily look just like Sarah?" She pointed at a young picture of Sarah.
"Wow, she's the spitting image."
"Oh, and look at this one of Nicky." She showed me a picture of a young Nick with Christmas pajamas and a Santa hat.
"How old is he here?"
"10 or 11, but he looks 8."
"He does." I laughed. "Has he always looked younger like that?"
I looked up at Sarah and Nick, both rolling their eyes as their mother showed me these photos.
"Yes, until the age of 20 he looked like a little kid" His father answered.
"I didn't know that about you, Nick." Jeff said.
"It's true, I aged a full decade in a single night." Nick teased. "I'm just that good."
"Shut up." Sarah rolled her eyes. "You still act like a kid."
"That is true." I agreed. Everyone laughed.
"How much do my parent's pay you? To babysit Nicky?" Sarah asked jokingly.
"Not enough." I grinned, looking at Nick.
"I just hope he's good to you, tell me if he isn't and I'll kick his ass." His father said.
"He's incredibly good to me." I answered in a more serious tone.
"Justin is even better to me, that's the truth." Nick said, making me blush. "He takes very good care of me."
His mother squeezed my hand. "Well, thank you for taking such good care of my Nicky."
We sat around and talked for a while before heading off to bed. When he finally got me alone in my room, Nick gave me a long kiss. "I meant every word." He said softly.
"So did I." I kissed him back.
"Have a good night, love. See you early in the morning.
"Have a good night." I let go of him.
***
***Nick's Point of View***
Christmas went so well, Justin is just incredible. A few days after Christmas he introduced me to his friends, we had a game night at his place. They're all really cool, I think they like me but you can never be sure.
Since I met his friends, I want Justin to meet some of mine. Thankfully, my friend Taylor is having a New Years Eve party. I didn't get to see her in person for her birthday party since she was in LA and I couldn't get away from work, but now she's back in the city and is so excited to meet Justin. She probably knows the most out of any my friends about how much I love Justin, and she knows my past experiences so she's eager to grill him too.
"New Year's Eve, I want you to meet my friends." I told Justin the day after his gathering. "Are you interested?"
"Yeah, I'd love to! You didn't mention, are you doing a party at your place?"
"No, it's gonna be at Taylor's place actually." I know he's a fan of Taylor but the look on his face is hilarious.
"Now I'm more nervous to meet her than your parents." He laughed.
"She's really excited to meet you, you know. And she is gonna ask you about everything, she is very protective."
"Well she sounds like a good friend, I'll make sure to do my best. My friends love you, I hope yours will like me."
"They will, you're way cooler than me."
