“I’m actually a little worried.” Taemin confessed as he looked out the window, cars rushing by on the highway. He was tempted to open the window and let the some fresh air in, but the cold winter outside made him hold back.

                “What’s there to be nervous about? They’re your parents.”

                “I know, but I haven’t seen them in a while, only talked to them over the phone. Aren’t you nervous?”

                Minho chuckled, scratching the back of his head. “Of course I am. But if one of use doesn’t seem calm, this’ll be a mess.”

                The younger boy nodded and found his hand reaching for Minho’s, squeezing it.

                “Tell me something about them.” Minho added, “I need to have something to impress them with.”

                “Like what?”

                “Well, what are they working on right now? Did anything big but not too personal happen recently? What kind of food do they like?”

                Taemin thought about it, never having to put specific focus on those things.

                “Well they have a huge project right now. They’re in the process of joining two big companies together. They’re both based in Beijing so that’s where they are right now. My dad actually recently got a promotion because of his work on this current project. Food, though? I don’t eat with them anymore, but before they travelled too much, they really loved Indian cuisine.”

                “Okay, I’ll remember that.”

                The roar of airplanes filled the emptiness which objects couldn’t as large groups of people waited in the receiving area. When planes arrived, crowds would come out to meet family and friends, reuniting after a long night’s travel.

                With each landing, Taemin felt his palms grow sweatier, heart pounding.

                “Hey, look at me.” Minho whispered, temporarily distracting the boy from his worries.

                “What is it, Hyung?”

                “Calm down, alright? It’ll be fine.” He reassured him, ruffling the blonde’s hair while kissing his forehead.

                The younger boy bit his lower lip, nuzzling into Minho’s chest, finding the elder’s smell comforting.

                “Hyung…” He whined.

                “Are you always this nervous?”

                Taemin shook his head, pouting. “Well, no. First off, I don’t usually pick them up at the airport; they usually just show up at my house, which, when I lived alone, was reasonable. And second of all, I wasn’t really indirectly introducing them to my boyfriend.”

                “Fair enough. How long until they land?” Minho asked.

                “Two minutes ago.”

                “Oh, so we’ll be seeing them soon then. Alright.”

                Just as predicted, a few minutes later, a pair of faces strikingly similar to Taemin’s came through the gate. Their eyes soon met and Taemin waved them over.

                The women fell into a jog as she left her suitcase to her husband, running towards the blonde with open arms. Taemin felt Minho distance himself slightly to a place suiting friends, and although Taemin knew he had to, he wished he didn’t.

                She was now closing in, her arms being thrown around the younger boy while she squeezed the air out of him.

                “Taemin-ah, I missed you so much! My lovely son, how are you? I barely recognized you now that your hair is blonde! Oh how you’ve grown!”

                The man approached now as well, his hand landing on Taemin’s shoulder as he gave it a good squeezed.

                “You’ve become a man, Taemin-ah. Soon you’ll be taller than me.”

                The couple heard a quiet, unintended chuckle coming from their side and their attention was now redirected to Minho.

                “O-oh, mom, dad, this is Minho. He’s my friend and housemate, along with Kai. I’ve spent the last Christmas with his family.” Taemin explained.

                “My name is Choi Minho; I am honoured to meet the wonderful parents of such a wonderful friend.” Minho introduced, bowing with the most respect.

                Friend. They’d have to use that word for the next few days and it really brought Taemin back to square one.

                “Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you too, Minho. Trust me; we’ve heard so much about you! Taemin always writes about you and brings you up in phone calls.”

                “Mom…” Taemin whispered, embarrassed.

                “Yes, from what we’ve heard, you take very good care of our son. Thank you.” Mr. Lee added.

                “No, if anything, he’s the one that takes care of me.  Anyways, I’d love to carry you bags to the taxi if I may.” He proposed, reaching out for them.

                “So well mannered.” The couple praised, handing him their luggage.

                They made their way back to the cab and Minho acted as if he was serving the King and Queen of England themselves.

                “I heard you have recently closed a big deal.” The older boy added as the car started up and left the airport.

                “Why yes, we have. Are you interested in business?”

                “I minor in something along those lines.”

                “How interesting, well yes, we managed to successfully join two companies. You might have heard of them.”

                The rest of the ride was spent in deep conversation between Minho and the parents. Taemin didn’t really have anything to add but he didn’t mind. He liked that they were getting along.

                “We’re here!” The blonde finally announced, signalling for the driver to pull over.

                Taking the suitcases, they paid the man and headed inside, stepping into the elevator.

                Seconds later, they were entering the apartment.

                “Wow, what a nice place! It’s so clean as well!”

                Jongin poked out of the kitchen with a huge smile, waving.

                “Long time no see, aunty!”  

                “Jongin, Jongin, Jongin! My second son!” Taemin’s mother shouted across the house, squeezing Jongin tightly once he came to give her a hug. “How have you been?”

                “I’ve been good. I missed you!”

                “Oh, I’ve missed you too!”

                Two other people now came to view, another woman and a man, both smiling from ear to ear.

                “You two are already here? Oh my gosh!”

                Jongin’s parents approached and the four greeted each other with the most excitement they could possible muster.

                Taemin stood beside the youngest boy, nudging his side. “They’re still friends after all this time. Do you think we’ll still be this close after so many years?”

                “I think we’ll be… a lot closer.” He answered, intending to take Taemin’s hand. However, when he tried, he grabbed at empty space, noticing that Minho pulled the blonde closer to himself while sending Jongin a slight glare.

                “Why don’t I show you around?” Taemin offered his parents, who gladly accepted. “This is the bathroom.” He explained. “This is your room. Well, actually me and Jongin share this room, but you’ll be sleeping in it while you’re here. Jongin’s parents said they want to sleep on the reclinable couch. Minho’s parents will sleep in Minho’s room. This is the closet where you can put your things. There’s not much left to show you downstairs. Us three will sleep in Minho’s office downstairs and I think that’s kind of the only room which people shouldn’t loiter in since he has a lot of important things for school inside.”

                “This place is so nice.” His mother commented, smiling the whole tour.

                “It really is.” Taemin agreed. “Minho’s parents should be here in a couple of hours. Why don’t we go have some tea downstairs?”

                “Our boy’s become a good host.” Mr. Lee stated as they were led down the stairs.

                “Yes, he’s changed so much since that last time we saw him.”

                “Well, you know… three years is a long time. Anyways, um, let’s hurry. Jongin’s parents probably have a lot to talk about with you.”

                By the end of the night, everyone had arrived. The atmosphere in the house seemed very cozy now, three families sharing in each other’s company.

                The Christmas tree was illuminated by all sorts of lights and the bottom floor beneath it was covered by dozens of presents.

                “We’ve had such a good impression of Taemin.” Minho’s mom said while they were all enjoying dessert in the dining room. “Ever since he came over last year, we’ve always been asking Minho to bring him back!”

                “Taemin always speaks so fondly about your son. It’s always ‘Minho this’ and ‘Minho that’. I feel like I already know him personally!” Mrs. Lee turned towards Jongin’s mother and laughed, “It’s another ‘Jongin phase’.”

                “’Jongin phase’?” Jongin whispered, looking over at Taemin who was blushing.

                “I was obsessed with you when I was little, okay? You were my only friend…”

                “You’re not obsessed with me anymore?”

                “I live with you.”

                “I live with you too, but I’m still obsessed.”

                “Oh shush. Um, would anyone like a drink?”

                All the adults agreed, continuing their talks as Taemin poured them wine and brought more snacks.

                They all seemed to be best friends then and there, laughing over the smallest things and bringing up moments that the others didn’t know about.

                The women continued to gossip while the men pulled out to go play poker in the living room, leaving the three sons to do their own bidding.

                While Minho went to take a shower, Jongin and Taemin set up the bedding in Minho’s office.

                “You know, seeing my mom again has made me really happy.” The younger boy said, aligning the mattresses.

                “Me too.” Taemin smiled, picking up the sheets.

                “Here, let me help.” Jongin offered, pulling the sheets across and assisting with straightening them out. “I’m charging twenty dollars for this by the way.”

                “Um, you’re not getting any money for anything, okay?” Taemin stated, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at Jongin’s head.

                “Well then I guess I can just get in your way.” Jongin huffed, rolling all over the bedding back and forth several times and creating a mess.

                “Jongin, this is Minho’s office! Stop!”

                “Then stop me!” The younger boy suggested, getting onto his knees and jumping up and down.

                “Don’t be a baby!” Taemin groaned and a grabbed another pillow, whacking Jongin over the head several times, upset with the boy’s laughter.

                “Oh, keep going Hyung! I feel so punished!”

                Feeling fueled, Taemin tried to hit him harder but he still heard laughter as a response. Crawling closer, the blonde pushed Jongin down and sat on his chest, pinning his as he pouted and continued. Regardless of the impact he tried to make, Jongin still held his smirk.

                Taemin’s weightlessness made it easy for the younger boy to sit up and slide the blonde down between his legs. “I really feel like I’m in the wrong now. You’ve shown me to light, you’ve put me on the right track.”

                “I will smack you fifty more times if you don’t stop acting like a butthole!”

                “Please! Amen! Lead me! I’ll follow in your footsteps! Let’s be honest though, Hyung, you’re so gently. You wouldn’t be able to smack me once.” Jongin teased, amused, “You wouldn’t even be able to restrain me.”

                “I can restrain you…” Taemin whined, crossing his arms.

                “Well, you can try, but you won’t succeed.”

                Rolling his eyes, the blonde adjusted him, pinching Jongin’s arm. When hearing an ‘ow’ he did it again, and again, and again.

                “Okay, I understand! I understand!” He pleaded, trying to pull away.

                “Do you? Because I was told I wouldn’t succeed.”

                “Ow! Hyung, I’m sorry!”

                “You were pretty disrespectful and I don’t like sass, Jongin. I don’t think I can forgive you this easily.” He said, releasing the younger boy.

                The door creaked open and Minho walked in, dressed in a robe. “What’s up?” He asked.

                “Jongin was misbehaving, right? Anyways, now that I’ve straightened you out, go wash up. I’ll go last.”

                “Okay…” The youngest sighed, getting up to leave the room. “I’ll get you back, Taemin, I swear.”

                Taemin smiled, taking Jongin’s arm and pulling him back down, quickly kissing the pink spots he caused. “Don’t doubt me, Jongin. I’m nice because I love you.”

                “I love you too, Hyung.” Jongin said, sticking his tongue out before stepping outside the room.

                “What was that about?” Minho questioned, letting his robe fall to his feet.

                “He said I couldn’t punish him or restrain him, but I think I proved him wrong.” The blonde explained, getting to his feet. Walking across the room, he wrapped his arms around the now Minho, smiling. “You’re so clean.” He left kisses all across Minho’s chest, indulging in the feeling of sculpted muscle under his palm.

                “Kitten, you really are like an adorable, loyal pet. You come whenever you see your owner and rub your cheek up against them.”

                “Well if my owner’s , then I don’t think I mind.” Taemin said, letting his eyes fall to Minho’s unclothed member.

                “It’s better if the person they own is too though.”

                Taemin chuckled, nipping at Minho’s ear while the elder left kisses along his neck. “You should get dressed, Hyung. Both our parents are in the next room.”

                “Doesn’t that make it so much better? Imagine if our parents saw us doing something scandalous.”

                “Don’t say that.” The blonde scolded, smiling anyways. “What are we going to do for our anniversary?”

                “It’s not like last year where I can lavish you in the rain, you know, but I don’t want to spare a second on you.”

                “Can you get dressed, please? You’re very distracting.”

                “But it’s waiting for your attention, Minnie.”

                Taking the attention seeking meat into his hand, Taemin smiled, gave Minho a kiss, and dropped to his knees.

                “Taemin!” His mother yelled late into the night, the group of adults still wide awake despite from all their travelling.

                The blonde brushed his fingers over his lips, shaking his head as his eyes shot in Minho’s direction. The lights were now turned off and the three were in bed, getting ready for sleep.

                “Hyung,” He whispered, “I can’t go out there… my lips are completely swollen…”

                “It’s fine, they won’t notice.”

                “If you go into a bedroom looking normal and come out looking like a hot mess with swollen lips and hair, someone would probably notice.”

                Minho laughed quietly, leaning closer. “You have a little bit of something of mine in your hair too, now that I look at it.”

                “Taemin!” They heard again.

                “Don’t worry, Kitten. I’ll go take care of it.”

                “Thank you, Hyung.”

                “No problem.” Minho smiled, giving Taemin a kiss before going to see what they wanted.

                Going out into the hallway, Minho headed towards the living room, the bright lights blinding him slightly. “Sorry, Taemin is sleeping. Is this something I can help with?”

                “Oh, we’re so sorry to make you come here right now. We were just wondering what the plans for tomorrow were, since it’s Christmas Eve.”

                “Taemin’s been preparing dinner for the past few weeks. There are things that have been marinating for ages now and if he hadn’t constantly been yelling at me and Jongin, we would have probably eaten it up already.” Minho explained, earning laughter. “So I guess he’ll probably be in the kitchen all day. That’s really tedious work and I’m sure he wants to focus on it so we arranged for us to be outside the first half of the day, the eight of us, including Jongin and I, and do things that usually become busy later, and then Taemin will join us when he can.”

                “Some of us can stay back and help.”

                “No, Taemin’s been very proud of himself with how he’s been conducting everything so I think he’d rather go at it alone as he has been. It is getting late though, and tomorrow will be a busy day, so may I suggest we all get to bed?”

                “Of course, of course!” They all agreed. “We’ve just all been getting along so well that we didn’t notice how much time has gone by. Yes, yes, let’s all get ourselves settled.”

                Minho nodded, giving a final goodnight before he headed back to his room.

                Sneaking in, he crawled back in next to Taemin and snuggled closer, noting that Jongin was fast asleep.

                “What did they want?” The blonde asked, clearly forcing himself to await the elder’s return.

                “They just wanted to know what we were doing tomorrow.”

                “And? What did you tell them?”

                “I told them what we discussed earlier. I said that you were going to work on the dinner for the first half of the day and we’d go out and do stuff, then when you’re ready, you’d join us.”

                “Good. Hyung, um, I have one request…”

                “Yes, Kitten?” Minho asked, caressing the younger boy’s cheek lovingly.

                “Just- there’s one thing I don’t want you to do.”

                “What is it, Darling? Tell me anything at all and I will listen.”

                He couldn’t see, but it was almost as if he could feel Taemin’s smile. He loved it when the boy smiled.

                “I don’t want you to go ice skating without me. I want to go with you and I want you to hold my hand while we skate and I want to share a hot chocolate with you and cuddle on the benches when we get tired.”

                “Baby, you are too cute. I won’t do anything you tell me not to, okay? I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you so, so much. We won’t go skating without you, so don’t worry. I’ll wait and I’ll look forward to seeing you and I’ll count the seconds until I can give you a kiss and tell you I miss you.”

                Yawning, Taemin nodded, deciding that an ‘I love you’ was a good note on which to end the conversation on. He turned over and although he was no longer face Minho, he was even closer, his back curling against the elder’s warm chest.

                Minho had long since gotten used to sleeping with a head of hair blocking his breathing passages, the blonde strands obstructing every breath he took. He didn’t mind though. He’d give anything up to lay here on any given night.

                “Kitten, how would you feel about spending the rest of your life with me?”

                He got no answer, just an unintelligible groan muffled by a pillow.

                “Would you like it? I think it would be nice. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. In two days, we would have known each other for about a year and a half and been together for a year. Until your birthday, when you turn eighteen, we’ll know each other for a little less than two years and we’ll be together for a year and a half. People don’t get married right away, so it’ll easily be past our two year anniversary. You like the spring, right? Or maybe the summer would be nice. What do you think? Are you asleep? I guess I can bring it up again tomorrow. Or on Christmas. Okay. Well, good night Kitten. I love you.”

                He kissed the back of Taemin’s head, closing his eyes and listening to the footsteps of the adults getting ready for bed.

                Lacing his arms around his boyfriend, he felt content.

                “I love you a lot, Taemin. Really.”