"Merry Christmas Alex, Joyce" Laurain smiled, opening the door and inviting the pair in.
"Merry Christmas Ms. Kassen" Alex replied cheerfully.
"Jack's still asleep, would you like me to go wake him up?"
"No no, I think I can handle that" He laughed, sprinting towards the stairs leading to the basement, leaving the two ladies alone.
"Oh here I'll just put those under the tree" Laurain said, taking the two presents from Alex's mother and walking them over to the living room. Joyce followed close behind.
"I'm so glad Jack and Alex are talking again. Oh gosh Alex was a mess. At one point, he didn't eat for three days. I was honestly terrified for him" Joyce sighed, taking a seat on the sofa beside her friend.
"Jack was the same. At first. He did find someone else after a few days. But of course, you know that"
"Let me ask you something, was he happy with Kellin?"
"Yes, he seemed very happy"
"Happier than with Alex?" Joyce questioned meekly.
"No Joyce. Your son brings a fire to Jack's eyes that I hadn't seen since before his parents died. His mom was a good friend of mine, I used to spend the holidays with them at their cottage. When they passed away, Jack was lost. He tried to kill himself. He started cutting himself. One day I came home and I found him bleeding to death on the bathroom floor. He had hit a vein just moments before I had come in. If I hadn't found him when I did he wouldn't be here today. But with Alex, he doesn't do those things anymore. He has a reason to live. Your son gave Jack his life back."
Both women sat in silence, tears welling in their eyes.
"WAKEUPWAKEUPWAKEUPWAKEUP" Alex cheered, jumping on Jack's bed like a little boy, "ITTTTT'S CHRIIISSSTTMAAASSS"
"Fuck off" Jack moaned, covering his face with the pillow.
"Nope" Alex sung, throwing the pillow across the room.
"Why are you here?" Jack whined, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
"I'm here to rape you and sacrifice your body to santa, obviously, now strip!" Alex teased, sitting on his lap and wraping his legs around him.
"I'm down" Jack whispered, clutching the older boy's face in his hands and pulling him closer until their lips met in a hot embrace.
"I missed you so much" Alex breathed, pulling away and resting his forehead againt's his love's, "without you, my life had no colour. You had that asshole to distract you, I had no one Jack. I had to get up every morning and pray to god that I wouldn't have to see you with him that day. Because everytime I did, I wanted to die."
"His name's Kellin..."
"Really? You're going to defend him???" Alex scoffed, getting up and walking across the room to sit on the couch.
"Alex, you hurt me. I know you were upset too, but at least you knew I still loved you. I thought you hated me. That you used me. I started cutting myself again Alex. I cut myself so deep I could barely walk. You left me homeless. I didn't know what I was going to do. Kellin was a dick, but he was nice to me. He cared about me. He didn't abandon me, when you did. He gave me hope and he saved my life. He held me while I cried over YOU Alex. He wiped away my tears. And if I hadn't met Kellin, I probably wouldn't be alive right now. See this scar?" Jack asked, standing and pulling up the leg of his boxers,"The day I moved in here, I ran to the bathroom and started cutting. I wanted to die. I didn't want to live. You made me want to die. I know I've showed it to you before but you were so hopped up on drugs I don't think you remember"
"I'm sorry..."
"It's okay. It's fine. You did what you thought you had to do. I forgive you. Alex.." Jack whispered, taking a seat beside the solemn boy.
"Yes?"
"Look at me Alex.."
"Yes Jack?"
"I. Love. You." Jack whispered, taking the other males hand in his own.
"I love you more Jack. And I'm sorry. I'll always be sorry. No matter what you say, I'll never go a day without regretting everything I've said to you these past few months. You are my everything. And I will never EVER let you go again."
"Good. Now, let me slip on some jeans and we can go open some gifts eh?"
The boys sat around the tree by the fire place and the women sat on the couch. Everyone exchanged gifts, and thank yous, laughing and singing happily. Jack gave Alex a guitar he bought off e-bay, signed by Chad Kroeger, since after all, he never did end up going to that concert. But Alex wanted to save his till later. He didn't want it to be so public. Jack didn't really understand why, but he didn't think much of it. After gifts they migrated to the table and Jack made breakfast. Everyone swooned over his amazing omelets, and he let the compliments soak in with a smile from ear to ear. While the boys were cleaning up, Alex asked Jack if he would go for a drive with him. Jack agreed, still not understanding why Alex was acting so strange.
"Where are we going? Should I be scared?" Jack whimpered.
"Calm the fuck down loser" Alex laughed, "you'll see soon."
