Breakfast had never been this awkward.   Tao was sure that this was the only morning in the nearly four months he'd lived here that everyone at breakfast was deathly silent. Xiumim and Chen both had their heads bowed, Xiumin looking nervous and Chen just plain uncomfortable. Baekhyun is sitting right next to Chaneyol, so close their thighs are touching and Tao can see Baek's slim fingers laced with Chanyeol's under the table. Suho has tried to force lighthearted conversation a few times, but ultimately failing, Lay patting him on the back reassuringly.   Kris hasn't said a word, his eyes glued to the book in his hand, his hair is swept off his forehead and somehow he looks more perfect than ever. Tao had slept on Baekhyun and Lay's floor and had expected that Kris would apologize in the morning. He hadn't. He hadn't said a word. Tao had realized how he felt about Kris only a few weeks ago and ever since, he'd been trying to forget about it. But forgetting wasn't in the cards. After a few more moments of silence, Suho speaks again, this time sounding even more determined,   'Since it's only two days until Christmas-'   Baekhyun's eyes light up, a wide grin on his face,   'Suho-eomma! It's Christmas Eve-Eve! You know, the Eve of Christmas Eve-'   Chanyeol chuckles deeply, his silver hair falling into his eyes,   'We get the gist, Baekhyun-ah.'   Suho pauses, looking slightly caught off guard at Chanyeol's obvious affection towards the short sandy haired boy. He rolls his eyes and smiles,   'Like I was saying, since it's two days until Christmas, I think it'd be fun if we made some cookies and maybe a few traditional Korean desserts too, for Tao.'   Tao thinks he's imagining it, but Kris seems to flinch as Suho says his name. Xiumin smiles as Chen slips an arm around his waist, pulling the petite pink haired boy towards him,   'That sounds like a great idea, Suho-eomma! Chen and I will definitely have fun with that.'   Xiumim laughs softly as Chen whispers something to him, his cheeks flushing a bright shade of pink. Chanyeol smirks at Xiumin and turns his attention to Suho,   'I agree with Baozi; Baekhyun and I are definitely in.'   Chanyeol leans over and kisses Baekhyun on the cheek, causing a series of knowing smiles to circle the table, Tao laughing softly as he elbows Baekhyun in the side,   "Congratulations, hyung. I'm sure you two will make a great couple."   The others nod and echo Tao's words, each of them smiling and Suho looking almost jealous for a moment. He must not have told Lay yet. As silence falls again, Suho looks pointedly at Kris,   'And what about you, Kris?'   Kris lifts his eyes slowly, the gold flecks in his irises catching the light. He frowns slightly, looking annoyed,   'Do I have to? I mean, there are other things I'd rather be doing than baking with all of you.'   The way he says 'all of you' makes rage boil in Tao, his cheeks flushing, his hands curling into fists under the table. Suho arches an eyebrow, gesturing to Kris as he gets to his feet,    'Can I speak to you alone for a moment?'   Kris sets his napkin down and follows Suho out of the kitchen into the living room. Tao can hear Suho's strained voice and Kris's own bored one, but can't distinguish any words. Lay sends him a nervous smile across the table, his voice soft,   'Kris can be like this sometimes, but when it comes down to it, we're family and he knows that.'   Tao nods slowly, pain flickering across his face as he remember the previous night, how Kris had stood him up then acted as if he could just say sorry and make it all better. Not as if he'd tried to apologize since then. Tao shakes his head, trying to put those thoughts from his mind. There was no use getting angry again. Kris and Suho return shortly and Suho flashes a grin,    'If you could all help clean up, we can get started right away.'   Tao goes to pick up his bowl, and though Kris thinks no one sees, Tao catches him smiling. A few minutes later, all of them are dressed in aprons of various prints, ingredients and recipes spread over the counter and kitchen table. Tao is about to ask where they start when the doorbell rings and Suho goes to answer it. He returns with tan good-looking Kai, bubble tea loving Sehun, and two other boys. Sehun waves to Tao and Tao smiles, returning the gesture. Kai clears his throat and grins at Suho,   'I'm glad you invited us over, hyung. We had such a good time the other night.'   He gestures to the other two boys and Tao turns his attention to the newcomers. One is fairly short with straight dark hair and large black eyes, his lips curved in a half smile. The other is a slim honey haired boy with sparkling eyes and a nearly angelic beauty. Kai grins wider, gesturing to each boy in turn,   'This is Kyungsoo and Luhan, I've told them about you so we thought we'd bring them along...'   The boys mill around the kitchen, shaking hands and exchanging smiles as they get reacquainted and meet the newest additions to their group. Tao leans against the doorframe, watching with amusement as Sehun comes up next to him, slinging an arm around Tao's shoulders, his voice amused,    'Nice day for baking, isn't it, hyung? I'm sorry we didn't get to talk much the other day, maybe we'll get on the same baking team. Fighting!'    Tao laughs softly at his enthusiasm, a slightly confused look on his face, his voice just as confused,   "'Baking team'? Is this some sort of competition?"   Suho turns his head in Tao's direction with a smile,   'It is now. It's you, Sehun, Baekhyun, Xiumin, Chanyeol, and Kris against me, Kai, Kyungsoo, Luhan, Lay, and Chen.'   Tao grins, his dark eyes shining,    "Then may the best team win..."   Not long after, the kitchen is divided into two halves. Flour is on the floor, in the air, and generally covering most of Sehun's face, causing him to sneeze every other moment. Tao laughs and reaches up from kneading cookie dough to brush the flour off Sehun's nose, his eyes sparkling with amusement,    "You okay there Hunnie?"   Tao sees Kris flinch and almost feels like smiling. Almost. Kris rolls his eyes, his voice thick and careless,   'Oh come now, Tao, surely you can flirt better than that.'   Tao blushes and Sehun looks away, brief guilt flashing across his eyes as he searches out Kai across the room, sending his boyfriend a reassuring smile. Tao glances up at the window and realizes it's snowing again, thick flakes blanketing the ground as the wind blows it into thick fluffy mountains, it's going to be a white Christmas for sure. Tao smiles and is about to announce the weather to the others when Kris's voice interrupts his train of thought. He's whispering, not too quietly, to Sehun, his dark eyes bright and amused,   'Don't let Tao bother you, Sehun. He's just desperate-'   Tao slams his palm down on the counter, rattling bowls and silverware, his eyes flaring with barely contained anger as he hisses at Kris through gritted teeth,   "Can I talk to you alone, please?"    Kris shrugs but Tao hears his footsteps behind him as he walks down the hall and opens the door to the garage, letting Kris go first as the heavy door falls shut behind him. The garage is cold and stone and fairly empty, no lights at all. Tao can see Kris's amused expression in the half-light and he steels himself to stay patient and not cause a fight. His voice is calm, but he can hear how forced it sounds,   "Kris, I don't know if you're naturally angry or maybe you just like to play with me and pretend you like me only to turn around and bad mouth me, but you have no business saying things like-"   Kris cuts him off, his voice even, sounding bored almost,   'Why are you doing this Tao? Why don't you just say what you want to.'   Tao makes a face, his nose wrinkling and his eyes snapping shut as if he's in pain, but Kris continues,   'There's something you want to say to me, isn't there? Come on now, spit it out.'   Tao shakes his head, his voice low,   "Kris. Stop it."   'Just tell me.'   "Kris, don't."   'Just say it!'   "No!"   'Tell me!'   "Stop it!"   'Then tell me!'   "I'm falling in love with you!"   Tao's voice is so loud he's sure the others have heard, but it doesn't matter, silence falls dank and thick and the look of shock on Kris's face almost stops Tao, but he continues,   "I don't know how or why but somehow every time we're together I feel the same way, feel attracted to you. But it doesn't matter because you clearly don't care about me at all and this is just a waste of my time."   He groans, running a hand through his hair,   "God, why am I telling you this."   He turns back to the door and pulls on the handle, but it doesn't move. He jerks it a few more times and pounds on it before a memory returns to him. He rememb