DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR SHOT||lams oneshots

Christmas Eve Dinner

"Hey, Mum," John said, answering his phone after checking who it was.

"Hi, honey," his mum replied. "How are you and Alexander?"

"We're good. How're you?"

"I'm good." She paused. "We, your siblings and I, want to know if you and Alexander want to come over for Christmas Eve dinner."

John's eyes widened and he nearly dropped his phone. "I'm sorry, what? Did you just invite me for dinner? Will Dad be there?"

"Yes, he is."

"I've gotta go, Mum, I'll talk to you soon," John said.

"Okay, I love you, honey," his mum whispered into the phone. "Call me with your answer, okay?"

"Sure," John replied. "Bye, Mum."

"Bye, sweetie."

John hung up and put down his phone. He walked over to the couch and sat down.

---*---*---

John looked up as he heard the door opened. "Hey," he said as Alexander walked in.

"Hey," Alex replied, cheerfully. He strode over to their Christmas tree, tossed a wrapped present underneath and flopped down on the couch next to his boyfriend. "Are you okay?"

John nodded. "Yeah."

"What's up?"

"Mum called."

"Oh? What did she say?" Alexander glanced over at John, worriedly.

"She invited us to Christmas Eve dinner." John forced himself to meet his boyfriend's eyes.

"Do you want to go?" Alexander asked.

"Yes." John sounded apprehensive.

"But?"

"But my dad will be there." John looked away.

"Will there be other people there?" Alex put his hand on John's knee.

"Yeah, my mum and my siblings, maybe a couple of others," John muttered, fiddling with his long curly hair.

"So, Laurens, d'you want to go? I'll be there, so will your mum. Don't worry, he won't be able to hurt you." Alex brushed John's hair away from his face.

"Um, yeah, sure. I'll call Mum in a bit."

---*---*---

John looked at the road ahead of the car, disbelieving he was actually going back to his parents house.

"Oh god," John whispered, as he pulled into the driveway. He and Alexander were the first to arrive. "I'm actually doing this."

"It's okay." Alexander reached over and squeezed John's hand. "Laurens, I'm not going to let him touch you."

"I'm fine," John muttered, as though convincing himself. "I'm fine."

They got out of the car and walked to the door, hand in hand. John pulled his hand away and knocked on the door.

"I'm coming," John's mum called from behind the closed door. She flung it open.

"Hey, Mum," John said.

She threw her arms around him. "John, I missed you so much."

John felt a little guilty. "I missed you too, Mum."

His mum pulled out of the hug. "And you must be Alexander." She smiled at John's boyfriend.

"Yep, that's me. It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Laurens," Alex said, shaking her hand.

"Please, call me Eleanor." She turned back to John. "Your dad is picking up Martha and her boyfriend, Owen, up from the airport."

John followed his mother into the house and took Alexander's hand.

A small black and white dog ran up to them barking loudly and jumping at their knees.

"Hey, Rosie." John crouched down to let the dog smell his hands. "Remember me?" Rosie licked his face. "Okay, okay, I missed you too." John got up and looked over at Alex, shocked to find himself grinning.

"Sorry about Rosie; you're not allergic to dogs, are you?" Eleanor asked, walking into the kitchen.

"No, it's fine," Alexander said. "She's pretty cute."

"Hey, Mum?" John said, joining her in the kitchen.

"Yeah, honey?" She was stirring something on the stove. "Can you put the salt and pepper on the table?" she asked distractedly, holding a pair of shakers.

"Sure," John replied, taking the salt and pepper from his mum and putting them on the table. He gulped. "Does Dad know I'm here?"

"Um, yes." She didn't really sound sure. "I think so, James said he'd tell him."

"Hey, Mrs. Laurens, do you need any help?" Alexander asked, walking into the kitchen.

"No, it's fine, thank you though, Alexander. And please call me Eleanor."

John turned as he heard the sound of the door opening.

"Martha Laurens, what the hell are you telling me?" John's father yelled.

John paled and visibly flinched when he heard his father.

Hey, it's okay, Alex mouthed at his boyfriend. John nodded slightly.

"I'm telling you, Dad, that your son," Martha emphasized those last two words, "is coming for dinner with his boyfriend."

"Actually he's here," John's mum called.

A/N okay. So I was going to make this in one part but I've decided to write it in two.
-Sarah