Calum sat on his couch, his arm around his sister's shoulder affectionately as they laughed, making jokes about childhood memories. They recalled the time their dad burnt the turkey one Christmas eve, the time Mali fell into a river when she was trying to take a nice picture, the time Calum had accidentally kicked his soccerball a bit too hard in the house and knocked over some candles, almost setting the house on fire. Though Calum was missing Annie, he hadn't realized how much he had been missing his family. He and his mum talked just about every day, but it felt nice to actually be with her, not on the other side of the world. As the day waned on, Joy and David ended up disappearing, which was fine with the two siblings. They talked for a little longer, before Calum asked how Mali's singing was going. When Joy and David came back, they found their two children, all grown up, singing and harmonizing together. They were a tightly knit family, and for so long they were missing one of their key players. But not anymore, because Calum was home, if only for a few more days, and they knew that even if they were on other sides of the globe, they would be there for each other.
***********************************
Michael sat on a kitchen chair that he had dragged in, trying to smile for his parents. Ever since he had left to travel with the band, their relationship had been getting increasingly better. Sometimes you need to loose something to realize it's worth, and when Michael left to travel the world with his band and One Direction, he realized just how much he had to loose. When he came back, he slowly started rebuilding his relationship with his parents again, doing his best to work on it. They tried to, but it wasn't always easy. Sometimes, they asked when he was going to stop dying his hair, or if he wanted to go back to school. And sometimes, he yelled at them, telling them they didn't understand him because truthfually, they didn't.
But today, he was feeling better. He and his parents exchanged a few presents. They got him a few video games he'd been looking at, and he got them tickets to a dance show he thought they'd like. Michael knew his family wasn't like most. But at that moment, it seemed like they were doing just fine.
***********************************
Ashton sat with Harry on his lap, and Lauren by his feet, grinning as she opened up one of her presents. Whenever Ashton came home, his little siblings were always a lot more cuddly and affectionate than they'd been when he still lived at his parents' house.
Ashton got both of his siblings remote control helicopters, and couldn't help but grin as they opened them excitedly. As he watched them, he was hit with the realization that they were growing up. In just three years, Lauren would be heading off to college, with Harry joining her in eight. Ashton never got a degree, but that was what the plan was. He wanted to be a music teacher, or maybe a doctor, or something. If he had to choose, he much preferred being a rock star.
Ashton didn't tell anyone, but he had opened up a savings account where a portion of the money he made was channeled into. It was slowly growing, and Ashton hoped that in the next three years, he'd get enough money to be able to pay for Lauren's college. It was a rediculously high goal, but Ashton made too much money anyways. He just hoped the band would stay around long enough for him to raise the money.
***********************************
Luke was sitting on the edge of the couch, next to his two bigger brothers. They'd talked a lot that day, the whole family had; Ben about his daughter, Jack about his girlfriend, Liz about some of the going ons with their distant relatives, and Andrew about work. They did their best to catch up, and Luke did the best not to bring up his own life. It didn't seem like something his family wanted to know about.
But finally, Liz turned to him. "Luke, you've barely talked. How has Calum been?"
In bed? I wouldn't know. "He's been doing well. Annie is really good for him."
Ben smirked. "I've heard she's been pretty good to you too."
Luke ignored the urge to roll his eyes. Ben was a complete gossip. "It depends if you believe the rumors. I wouldn't, because they're rumors, but whatever."
When he looked to his mum, he expected her to scold Ben for asking a question like that, but she actually seemed... prideful? "I remember earlier this year, you two spent the weekend together? I saw the pictures on twitter. It certainly seemed... romantic."
Luke shook his head. "She's got a boyfriend." And I'm gay.
"Isn't she a beard?"
"Not at all. She and Calum are completely, and utterly in love."
Jack, who was sitting next to him, must have heard the despair in his tone, and patted him on the back comfortingly. "Don't worry. You're a charming guy, I'm sure you could get her to fall for you."
I'd rather have him fall for me.
Ben clicked his tongue, giving both of them a warning expression. "I don't know. Calum's pretty hot."
"Ben!" Liz scolded, her face flushed. "You're a married man!"
"I'm not blind though," he retaliated smoothly, showing off a sly smirk. Jack nodded in agreement.
Luke laughed lightly. "It sounds like you guys would rather have me bring home Calum than Annie!"
The other boys laughed, but his parents didn't see the rumor. "No, not really." Andrew mused, uncomfortable.
"Well, I'd be impressed," Jack teased. "Yesterday, at the Christmas party? He looked dang fine."
"Jack!"
"Honestly, if I swung that way, I'd be pretty into him." Ben held up his hands in surrender when he caught his mum's icy glare. "If I swung that way. I'm perfectly happy being married with my wife."
Luke shrugged. "Honestly, I'm pretty sure everyone's attracted to Calum. The girls go crazy for him." The fan girls, that was.
"I noticed," Ben agreed casually. "I think I saw some of those girls camping in our front yard the other day."
The youngest brother rubbed his temples, groaning. "I'm sorry about that. They don't really get personal space."
When he looked up, he saw his mum was looking at him strangly. It wasn't questioning, or condemning. If anything, it was motherly, which seemed slightly strange. "It's one of the side affects," she said quietly, a small smile playing on her lips. "I suppose. You're doing well, Luke. I'm proud."
That was the best Christmas gift Luke got that day.
