That Christmas Thing
ByR.

Dedication: To all of the people who have given me support, hugs and kisses throughout my life, no matter what day of the year it was.

WARNING: This story will contain at least two boys liking each other and also at least one het relationship.

There are certain times of the year that you are allowed to kiss people that you usually aren’t, and this story is about those times.

Chapter 1- five berries at midnight (31st December/ 1st January)
Daniel Tanaka (just Daniel to anyone who knew him) stood in one corner of the large room and looked around. There were between fifty or sixty people all crammed into the room, laughing, eating, drinking and enjoying themselves.
The party was being held by one of Daniel’s old friends who’d got touch with him again when he realised that the dark-haired boy was back from his two years of travelling.
After failing to get into a decent university (again), Daniel had decided that he’d had enough, and so he withdrew all his money from his account and left to travel the world, picking up temp bar work where he could just to make ends meet.
But he was home again now and this fancy dress New Year’s Eve party was really his first chance to see all of the people he hadn’t seen in a little over two years. There were some people he didn’t recognise, but that was only to be expected really.
Daniel had actually only received his invitation the previous day due to the fact that it’d got lost in the post, along with a lot of other post and the postman! So in a mad panic, he’d gone through everything in his wardrobe until he found something that could be converted into some sort of costume for the night.
This was why he was currently dressed completely in orange and wearing sunglasses, and if anyone dared ask what he was supposed to be, he’d glare at them before explaining that he was the sun. But at least he was actually having fun.
Looking around, he spotted a mop of green hair, which was almost definitely his old friend, and the party’s host, Luki Riko, but before he could go over and thank him for the invitation, someone whispered softly in his ear.
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.”
The voice was familiar, but Daniel couldn’t place it until he turned around. “Alex! Oh wow!”
“Hi Dan.” The slender blond smiled at his old friend. “How are you?”
“I’m great. And you look… great!” Daniel meant it. Alexander Tratchenburgh had always looked good back in high school, but he’d obviously been looking after himself very well. His blond hair was cut just around his neck, he was heavily tanned, and Daniel got the impression that he was also more muscled than he used to be.
Daniel’s eyes then slowly widened as he realised what Alex was actually wearing and the blond laughed. “Yes, Daniel, I am wearing a dress.”
“Ok, but… why?”
“Well, I only got the invitation this morning and I was reading it on my way to return a wedding dress. I’ll tell you later.” He said in response to Daniel’s raised eyebrow “Anyway, as I was walking, some stupid boys shouted something that sounded a little like ‘Big gay fairy.’ I think they were referring to me.” Alex said this as if he’d only just thought about that.
“So you came as…”
“The fairy on top of the Christmas tree. After confusing a very poor old woman, I managed to buy a white dress, and then made myself a halo and attached mistletoe to it.” He pointed to a sprig of the traditional Christmas berry.
“Is that real mistletoe?”
“Yep. Probably not cut with a golden sickle though.”
“Huh?”
At that moment someone suddenly flung their arm around Alex’s shoulders “Merry new year, or something (Hic sorry) like that.”
“Who are you?” Alex asked the dark haired youth, who was still hugging him.
“I am… well, I am someone, but I’ve forgot my name. It’s possible that I’m just a little drunk.”
“You don’t say?” Daniel replied dryly.
“Yeah, an’way. My name is… is… is Hideo.”
“No it isn’t.” both of the elder boys replied together and shared a grin.
“Yes I is. And… and how (Hic sorry) how would you know anyway?”
“Well,” Alex said as he moved out of the boy’s drunken embrace, “Hideo is older than us, and you’re not, Hideo’s hair is red and yours is black, and also Hideo gave me a lift here and he’s standing by the bar right now.”
The boy turned to look at the bar and then turned back to face them. “Kay, I may have lied a little, but (Hic sorry), but I do know that you’re,” he pointed at Daniel and jabbed him in the chest “Whoops. You’re Daniel.”
“Yeah, how’d you know?”
“M’brother. He do’n’t like you.”
“Oh, who’s your brother then?”
The boy looked around and then whispered loudly, “Adrian French!”
“Oh bloody hell!” Daniel replied with feeling. Adrian French had been a thorn in his side through his life at school.
“So you’re Phillip then?” Alex asked, grinning at Daniel’s reacting. None of the boys who’d been in the same gang as Daniel and Alex had really liked Adrian, but none of them had ever really met his younger brother properly. Adrian and Phillip didn’t get on, so Adrian had forbid Philip to ever go near the people he met at school, whether he liked them or not. Obviously Luki had been in the mood to annoy his age-old enemy when he had invited his younger brother.
“Yep.” The rather inebriated boy replied with a grin and then looked at Alex carefully. “And you’re wearing a dress.” He said, a confused expression on his face.
“Yes I am. Oh thanks Hid.” Alex took the offered drink from the red head, who’d just rejoined his friend. He nodded at Philip “This boy seems to think that he’s you.”
Hideo looked at him and then shook his head “Nope, I’m defiantly me, I checked before I left today. Oh, hi Daniel, you’ve not changed much.”
“Same right back at you.” Daniel replied with a grin.
The tall and very loud red head hadn’t changed much bar from getting a bit taller while he’d been away. His messy red hair was sticking up in any direction it wanted, as it always did and his green eyes sparkled with mischief and fun. Alex and Daniel knew Hideo from school, where he had been known for being loud and annoying and far too full of energy.
Hideo was a very odd mix of Irish, Japanese, English and Italian thanks to his mixed parents, he had an extensive interest in languages and spoke confidently in any of the four languages his parents had taught him and his sister when they were young.
After finishing school Hideo had decided that he couldn’t stand being around and doing nothing any longer, and so he packed his bags, got on a plane and set off on a round the world trip that took him to all of the places where his ancestors came from.
Hideo suffered from a terrible disease which meant that he could never stay in one place for too long unless he had to. This disease was called boredom. Hideo would get insanely bored if he stayed anywhere for more than a week or so, and the only reason why he’d stayed at home for as long as he had was because he knew he had to finish school.
“So how have you been then?” Hideo asked as he tried his drink.
“I’ve been great.” Daniel replied with a grin.
Hideo grinned, “I’m sure you have.” He winked at Daniel and then looked at Philip again. “By the way, who are you and what is your costume, because you don’t seem to have one.” Hideo was also known for being blunt and to the point with most people.
“I am… what was that name again?” he asked Alex, leaning on him slightly.
“Philip. Philip French.” The blond replied, hoping that the poor boy wouldn’t end up unconscious.
Philip grinned, “Thanks. (Hic sorry.) Yeah, my name is… is… whatever (Hic sorry) whatever he said. And I am… I am…” he looked down at himself. “I can’t remember. Hold on.” He turned away from the three boys and looked across the crowded room “ADRIAN!!!!”
A lot of people turned around and then one figure marched over and hit Philip on the back of the head. “Shut up you stupid retard.”
“Ow! (Hic) Tha’s no’ nice.” Philip replied and Daniel noticed that he hadn’t apologised for hiccupping while talking to his brother.
“I don’t care. Don’t ever embarrass me like that.”
“Wh’ever. N-way. What did I come as Adrian marshmallow?” Phillip asked, using a nickname that he had used when they were very young and Adrian had forbid him from ever using again.
Adrian glared at his younger brother “A mental institution escapee.” He replied coldly. “Is that all?”
“No. You remember (Hic) Danny-ella, Ally… thingy and Hideo?”
Adrian looked at the three of them with a mixture of embarrassment, anger and pure loathing. “Yes, I remember.”
Daniel pressed his lips together before giving a little wave, Alex covered his mouth and didn’t do anything but that, though Philip could feel the blond’s shoulders shaking with repressed laughter. Hideo just stared outright.
“French, I know we all thought you were a right… bastard back at high school, but we didn’t think that you were an evil Lord of the Sith. Where’d you get the lightsaber from?”
Adrian glared at him silently and then stormed off to rejoin his own friends. Alex looked at Hideo “You upset him. I thought it was a lovely Darth Vader costume.” He managed to say without a single quiver in his voice.
Daniel on the other hand burst out laughing as soon as he was out of sight. “Oh dear god! I have never… never… eep!”
Hideo laughed and carefully gave Daniel his still full glass “Here, I think you should have this.”
“What is it?” Daniel looked at the glass suspiciously as he tried to stop giggling.
“Vodka and lemonade. I promised I wouldn’t get drunk as I’m supposed to be driving, but I know I’m not going to manage it. If I drink one, I’ll just end up having a lot more of them. Anyway, I have people to see and talk to, so I’ll catch up on the two of you later ok?”
Alex nodded. “Sure. Oh, Hideo, I probably won’t need a lift home, but if I do, I’ll let you know.”
“Ok.” With that Hideo walked away and joined the crowd of guests, but always talking loudly and making sure that his presence at the party was known.
Alex looked at Philip “Hey, do you mind if you left Dan and I alone for a while? It’s been a long time since I really got to talk to him?”
Philip looked at them both and grinned, “That’s why (Hic sorry) why my bother hates you.”
“Brother, and that’s nice. Go away.” Alex replied with a smile, knowing that the younger boy was probably too drunk to really notice that he wasn’t being very polite.
“Kay, nice, nice, nice (Hic sorry) talking to you. Bye (Hic) bye.” Philip then staggered off, leaving the two old friends to laugh.
“You know, I’m suddenly very glad that I did end up coming to this party.”
Daniel took a sip of Hideo’s drink and decided that it wasn’t actually too bad. “There was a possibility that you wouldn’t?”
“Yeah, I had a few things that I was supposed to be doing at home.”
“Oh, don’t you still have Miwa?” Daniel asked, remembering the young woman who had worked for Alex’s parents, taking care of the young boy, cleaning the house and cooking.
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have to do other things.”
“Cool.”
Alex smiled, “I know. So what about you, are you on your own? Living with someone? Still at home?”
“At home, but they go out a lot so it’s as good as being on my own. But I’d love my own place.” Daniel replied with a hint of wistfulness in his voice. Moving out of his parents’ house was one of Daniel’s fondest dreams.
“I’m sure you would. It’s good once you’re on your own, though it does mean you have to clean up all of your own mess and stuff like that.”
“Poor Alex honey bunny!”
“Whom are you calling honey bunny Daniel?” a deep voice asked from above him.
Daniel turned around, looked upwards and squealed in happy delight “Oscar!”
The taller and older boy grinned as his arms were suddenly filled with Daniel “Hey, great to see you again, and you Alex. You’ve filled out well.”
Alex gave his friend a look “Are you going to say that every time you see me from now on?”
Oscar Wiles thought about this, then smiled and nodded, “Probably.”
“Well don’t.”
Oscar laughed and put Daniel back down onto the floor and looked at them both. “You know, it’s really great seeing you two in the same room again, it’s been weird only seeing Alex whenever I see him, this looks more normal.”
“Well it’s nice to be back and hopefully you’ll be seeing more of me now.” Daniel replied happily. It really was great being able to see all his friends again. Oscar, or Os as he was known among his friends, was the tallest and eldest of his friends, but had been in their year throughout high school. He had been held back for two years when he was younger for not doing any work and so had ended up in the same year group as Daniel and Alex. The three had hit it off straight away and spent most of their time together along with a friend of Alex’s, who also been in their year, Tom Porter.
“How’s Christmas treating you?” Daniel asked, sipping at the drink again.
“Fine, but busy. I’ve been to so many parties recently. About two weddings, a wake, and an anniversary as well. I think I’ve been to at least four Christmas parties, but this is going to be my one and only New Year’s party. Or at least it’d better be or else there is something really weird going on.”
“Two weddings and a wake? Isn’t that a film with Huge Grant?”
Oscar gave Daniel a small grin “Very funny Daniel spaniel. Anyway, I am completely fed up with parties and I have had far too much alcohol put into my body in the last few weeks, so I think I may have to go to the hospital after this one and see if I can get my stomach pumped!”
“Aww, poor Oscar!”
“An Hour And A Half Till Midnight!” someone suddenly yelled over the top of the noise and people cheered as if it were Midnight already.
“Who was that? The voice is familiar.” Alex tried to see over the tops of the heads for the person who’d made the announcement.
“It should be; it’s my younger sister.” Os said with a long-suffering sigh.
“Yasmin? I didn’t know she was still around.”
“She wasn’t. She’s been living in Bristol for the past six months, but came back for Christmas, and when Luki heard, he told me to invite her as well. She’s been doing this to me all night!” Os moaned, rubbing his temples.
“You sound like an old man Os.” Daniel remarked.
“I know. I’m twenty-four and I feel so old.” He moaned and then smiled, “But this is a party and a celebration of new things. So I’m going to go celebrate by beating the snot out of my sister if she announces the time one more time!”
The two boys laughed as they watched the much taller boy wander off. “Finally, we get to actually talk to each other. So… what’s the rest of the world like?”

---

It was about ten or fifteen minutes to midnight and people were getting very excited. At least those who weren’t too drunk were anyway. Alex and Daniel were in one corner of the room and still talking and enjoying the music that was playing.
Alex was only slightly intoxicated as he had learnt his limits a long time ago and knew very well when to start cutting back on the alcohol. But Daniel on the other hand was rather drunk as he’d had more than one too many drinks thanks to old friends offering to buy him one to welcome him back, and Daniel was too polite to say no.
Alex was actually enjoying being with this drunk Daniel though because, unlike the drunks that he was used to, Daniel was just being much more hyperactive than normal, though he had finally agreed to taking a break from the dance floor for a while so they could get a breather.
Daniel was looking a little unsure about something and eventually Alex felt that he had to just put Daniel out of his misery before whatever it was made the young boy explode. “Dan what the hell is wrong with you?”
“Nothing.” He replied quickly. Too quickly. There was a long pause and then Daniel looked at his friend shyly. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure. What?”
“Well, you know there are things that people feel and you need to do something about it and you don’t know whether it’d be a good idea?”
Alex paused as he tried to think about this one “Erm… no, but that might be more because you’re drunk that anything else.”
“It’s just that I want to kiss you and I want to kiss you now.” Daniel said, a very faint blush appearing on his dark cheeks.
“Why?”
“Because you’re really good-looking and I want to know if you still kiss as good as you look.” The blush deepened and Alex smiled slightly.
“Well that’s very nice, but it’ll be midnight soon and you’re allowed to kiss anyone at midnight.”
“I know, but if I don’t kiss you now, I’ll lose my bottle, and that wouldn’t be a good idea because someone else might find my bottle and kiss you instead of me kissing you.”
Again Alex paused before answering. “Well, that’s the strangest logic I’ve ever heard, but I understand what you mean. Ok, I’ll think of something.” The blond looked around as if for inspiration, and then looked upwards, but his view was slightly obstructed by something hanging in front of his face. He lifted his hand up and made to brush whatever it was before he realised what it was.
“Daniel!”
“What I do?” Daniel said in shock as Alex suddenly yelled his name.
“Nothing, but I’ve worked out how you can kiss me now.”
“Oh? How?”
Alex smiled, “Well, at Christmas you’re allowed to kiss people under a certain circumstance, or I should say, under a certain plant. Mistletoe.” He pointed to the leaves and berries hanging from his halo. “If we just pretend that it’s still Christmas, which it practically is, then you can kiss me!”
“You have too many brains.”
“Thanks. Now come on, if you want to do this thing before midnight.”
Daniel nodded and moved towards Alex and slowly lifted himself up and kissed Alex softly on the lips. The kiss was brief and rather clumsy, but it was obviously enough for Daniel as he moved away looking very pleased with himself.
“That was nice.”
“Glad you liked.”
“Ten Seconds To Midnight!” Yasmin suddenly yelled loudly from inside the house.
“Nine,” everyone else joined in now. “Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
Party poppers went off and people cheered and kissed each other. Alex put his arms around Daniel and kissed him square on the lips, making him smile even more than the first time.
“Happy New Year Daniel.”
“Happy New Year. Hope this one is better than last.”
“It normally is.”
“Erm… Alex, would you like to… like to come home with me? My parents are out at their own party and they won’t be back until at least next Tuesday.”
“Daniel.”
“And if you wanted, you could stay all that time, I really wouldn’t mind, and I really, really would like you to come over.”
Alex sighed, “Daniel, I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because I have to go home.”
Daniel looked up at his friend sadly “But it’s not like you have parents.”
Alex looked away momentarily. Daniel was very drunk and didn’t really know what the words coming out of his mouth were. “No, but I have got a wife.” There was a pause as Alex let this sink in. “Daniel I got married a little while ago. I would have invited you, but I didn’t even realise that you were back in England. Believe me, I was going to tell you earlier tonight, but… I got distracted and forgot that I hadn’t told you.”
“You’re… you’re married?” Daniel asked, feeling as though he had just been crushed beneath a heavy weight.
“Yes. I live with my wife and her daughter and the only reason why she’s not here now is because we couldn’t get a baby sitter at such short notice. My wife told me that I should come here tonight because she figured that it’d be good for me.”
“But… but you kissed me.”
“Dan, that was a Christmas and New Year kiss, it didn’t mean anything special. Please don’t make this too hard.” Alex sighed, “I’d better find Hideo. Happy New Year Dan.”
“Happy…” Daniel’s voice trailed off and he found that he couldn’t finish the sentence as Alex walked away.
“Damn it.”

OK, that was the first chapter. I just can't believe it's taken this long to finish. Tell me if you think it was actually worth it, ok? (8th January)