They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Does it? Or does it just worsen that ache one feels...

When they are seperated from the one they are so fond of?

       Winter break was finally here, with all the students being thankful for the well needed break. The minute the college had released them for break, everyone left the grounds and went on their way to wherever they were spending their break. Taemin had left the night of the dance recital, going back to Seoul with his mother. Kai left a week later, opting to spend some time with the rest of the group, who decided to stay behind in town for the holidays. Suyeon, of course, didn't have much of a choice, but didn't mind staying where she was for Christmas. 

Onew was almost always over at the Choi's apartment now, and the rest of the boys would stop by or she would meet them at the diner, where Suyeon had many more hours which helped tremindously with holiday season edging nearer and nearer. Key was, as always, determined to become Hyeonwoo's favorite uncle. Suyeon had even gotten a little more comfortable with leaving her child in Key's care (not without Onew, but it was still a step). Hyeonwoo stuck with calling the man 'Fashion rooster uncle' and solidifying his undying love for the toddler. 

      Jonghyun and Suyeon even became friends, after Onew forcing Jonghyun to apologize and for Suyeon to be willing for a second chance. Once they got talking, they had similar ideas and experiences that they bonded over. It was pleasant. They were far from close, but the bumpy road promised to be worth it.

Minho decided that he was in competition with Key to be Hyeonwoo's favorite uncle, though it seemed that all the boys were fighting for the four year old's attention constantly, which caused Hyeonwoo to squeal in glee with his four new playmates and Suyeon to be greatly amused when they came over. 

     Once Kai left, the guy's group chat started to blow up. They've had one ever since group chats were a thing, seemed to really get going nowadays with the mention of Suyeon, especially when Taemin was active.

New Message from: Tae the Baby to ShinEE!!
     this isnt fair u all get to see her and i dont ;A;

Leader Onew: STFU taemin i've known her for YEARS.

FashionKEYsta: yeah me and minho are officially uncles to him now~ 

RapGodMinho: he likes me more tho

FashionKEYsta: SHUT UP MINHO AT LEAST I'M NOT FROG UNCLE.

RapGodMinho: i have no problems with that tho? :O

Taemin had always known his friends were weird, but dear god. Also the jealousy that they were spending so much time with Hyeonwoo and Suyeon was slowly eating away at him. He was glad that the group was being accepted into Suyeon's life, but he wasn't happy because he didn't want any of them to gain any more attention from the young mother than he had gotten.

He needed a distraction... Well, Christmas was four days away, there was that.

    For Suyeon, Christmas came faster than she anticipated. It had always been small between her, Hyeonwoo, and Onew, but she appreciated the season nonetheless. For her Christmas present to herself, it was having all of the bills paid on time and still having enough money to buy Hyeonwoo that new dinosaur sweater he's wanted ever since Kai wore it when he was last over before he left for Seoul as an extra present. 

So when the doorbell rang around 8 AM, she was only expecting Onew to come over, but when she opened the door to see the other three standing there, grinning widely with gifts in their arms, she got a little choked up.

   "Y-you didn't have to--" She tried getting out, but Key hushed her before she could continue, setting the wrapped presents down and hugging her.

"It's Christmas, we wanted to make it special. So Merry Christmas!" He grinned at her, flicking his hair out of his eyes.

   Onew smiled brightly, holding up what was sure to Hyeonwoo's present above his head as Hyeonwoo jumped with his arms outstretched, laughing and shrieking. "Let's start our Christmas, shall we?"

Onew's gift was first, giving Suyeon a couple new sweaters ("Please throw out those old, hideous colorblind sweaters you've had since high school," He begged jokingly, earning a hit from her.) and Hyeonwoo a new coat, since the buttons were loose and the sleeves were about two inches too short from his wrists.

Key didn't have an actual gift at the moment, more like the promise of a shopping trip when spring rolled around and the weather was warm, and for" his baby boy", as he so confidently said, was a leopard print sweater jacket because he loved the one that he worn so much. Hyeonwoo immediately put it on, if that was any sign that he loved it.

Jonghyun gave her "bling bling" as he was known for, in the form of a very nice and rather sparkly bracelet set. "To make up for being a shi-- mean person." Jonghyun insisted on her taking it, while watching his language around Hyeonwoo. As for the small boy in question, he got a new dinosaur wheelie