Chapter Text
Matt walked in tow behind of both his boys as they carried boxes of Christmas decorations into the living room as per Lainie's request. The Christmas tree had been set up early this morning as Lainie tried to find the perfect spot for it. In front of the main living room window and beside the TV cabinet. She had sent the boys to help their Dad find the boxes of Christmas decorations that were down in the basement.
''Alright, I think this is all of them.'' Matt stated putting down the two large boxes he had been carrying. He kneeled down beside it and rummaged through to see what he could find. Clay and Justin copied their Dad and put the boxes down too and rifled through them. Justin pulled out a tangled ball of lights and Clay opened up his box to find a pile of various Christmas baubles. He picked out a red and white plastic bauble holding it up to admire it.
''Hey Dad, look what I found.'' Clay smiled holding it up to show his Dad who smiled.
''Well would you look at that.'' Matt chuckled.
''I don't recall us finding it last year.'' Lainie stated.
''We couldn't. You and Dad argued about to it for what seemed liked hours.'' Clay told them handing the small decoration to his Dad.
''This was the decoration my Dad, your grandfather gave it to me when I was 10. My brother, your Uncle Mikey; we both got the same one so that one day we could share it with our families.'' Matt explained to Justin as he handed the family ornament to his youngest son. Justin carefully held it in his hand and admired it. It was red and white striped like a candy cane and it had a gold thread.
''Why don't you go ahead and put the first decoration on the tree, honey?'' Lainie encouraged Justin. He looked over at Clay but his older brother only smiled and gave him a reassuring nod.
''Go ahead JJ.'' Clay told him. Justin smiled and got up staring at the tree to pick the perfect spot.
''Didn't you decorate the tree when you were with...her?'' Clay questioned his tone soft as Justin's demeanour changed as he looked down at his hands and sighed. He shook his head.
''We never had enough money to get a tree let alone decorations like this.'' Justin told his older brother.
''Sorry man, I didn't mean to...'' Clay apologised but Justin sniffled and shook his head.
''Er no it's ok. It's good to get it off my chest, I guess.'' He reassured his older brother and then turned to the tree to pick the perfect spot to hang the bauble.
Lainie took out her phone and began to snap pictures as Justin hung up the first decoration and smiled at the spot. Perfect. Clicks of the camera could be heard and Justin turned to see Lainie snapping pictures, Matt with a smile on his face and Clay chuckling. Justin blushed a light pink. Lainie smiled and pressed a kiss to her youngest son's cheek.
''This is your first Christmas with us. I want everything to be perfect. Besides, pictures are memories.'' She smiled holding up her phone. Lainie and Matt had given the boys free reign at decorating the tree. Lainie headed to the kitchen to dig out her mother's gingerbread cookie recipe and find the sugar cookie recipe Matt's mom had given her when they had first got together. Matt headed back down to the basement looking for the outdoor Christmas décor that he would hang up later on during the week. Back in the living room, Clay and Justin both looked up at the huge 8ft tree. Usually, Clay would have suggested they should have a plan and set out a colour scheme and select an assortment of baubles to place on the tree. However, with it being Justin's first time decorating the tree he decided to bend the rules and let Justin take the lead. His younger brother's eyes lit up as he moved the box of decorations beside him and let him choose whatever he liked.
''Go ahead bro.'' Clay encouraged him.
''Really?'' Justin asked his eyes lighting up. Clay nodded and Justin rifled through the box picking out a decoration. He'd show it to Clay first making sure it was a good choice before placing it on the tree. Lainie walked into the living room holding the recipe cards and looked in awe at the tree stood proudly in her living room.
''Good job. It's looking beautiful.'' Lainie praised both her boys.
''It's all Justin, mom. You know he' really got'a knack at decorating.'' He praised his younger brother.
Lainie smiled and wrapped an arm loosely around Justin's shoulder and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
''Good job, sweetheart.'' She smiled admiring his work.
''We found the lights for the tree too.'' Clay told her.
''Excellent. I found the festive recipe cards for the gingerbread cookies and sugar cookies you like so much.'' Lainie told her.
''Awesome! They're the best!'' Clay exclaimed with excitement.
''Christmas cookies?'' Justin asked as he raised an eyebrow at his older brother and mom.
''Every year, Mom bakes Christmas cookies from two special family recipes. They're the best.'' He stated flopping down on the couch.
''And this year, you'' both get to help me and bake and decorate them.'' She told them.
''That sounds awesome.'' Justin smiled. Lainie disappeared into the kitchen again to retrieve her phone from the counter top and also a notepad and pen so she could begin to write down her Christmas grocery list seeing as all the family was together.
''How about we put on the lights now?'' Justin asked putting on the last decoration.
''Sure but we have one problem...'' Clay told him. Justin raised his eyebrow at his brother. Clay pulled out a large tangled bundle of white Christmas fairy lights.
''Shit.'' Justin cursed taking the bundle from his brother and rotating it in his hands clueless where to even begin. Clay handed Justin one end of the lights and began to directing (definitely not arguing).
''This is hopeless bro, it's going to take us forever!'' Justin exclaimed frustrated.
''It wouldn't if you just listened to me!'' Clay snapped..
''You said to go around not under!'' Justin argued back.
''No I said to go around THEN under. Jesus Christ, Justin!'' Clay snapped back.
Matt came up from the basement carrying several boxes of the outdoor décor he had found ready to hung over the next few days. He placed it in the hallway and headed to the living room following the sound of his boys bickering.
''Woah woah woah, what's going on in here boys?'' Matt asked. He couldn't help but laugh when he saw the two of them tangled up in the Christmas lights.
''Lainie? Lainie, get in here.'' He chuckling doubling over holding his stomach.
''Matt, what is it?'' She asked her husband only for him to point at the boys. She couldn't control her laughter and snapped more pictures.
''Seriously, mom?'' Clay asked annoyed as he rolled his eyes.
''Alright alright, I gotcha.'' Matt told him getting up as he wiped the tears of laughter out of his eyes. ''You take Clay, I've got Justin.'' Matt told her. Both parents headed to their children instructing them to move around and under to get out of the Christmas.
''What I don't understand is how you boys managed to get yourselves tangled up in the first place.'' Lainie chuckled.
''You don't wanna know.'' Clay huffed.
''Thank god, I had to pee real bad.'' Justin told them once he was released from wires and dashed up the stairs.
''Ew gross, bro!'' Clay called after him. Clay helped his Dad straighten the lights and they waited for Justin to return so they could all put the final touches on the tree.
Christmas within the Jensen household was well underway. With the tree decorated, Lainie decided the boys earned themselves a mug of hot cocoa. Clay had made a reference to Elf and when Justin didn't respond or understand, his face turned to horror after realising his younger had never seen the film. Matt made the hot cocoa and popcorn as Clay set up the TV. Lainie fished out the fluffiest blankets from the hallway closet and draped them on the couch.
''I can't believe you haven't seen it!'' Clay yelled at Justin at what must have been the 10th time in the last 20 minutes.
''It's a Christmas tradition!'' He told him taking his place on the couch. Justin just shrugged at his brother. Matt walked in setting the mugs of hot cocoa on the coffee table and took a seat the end of couch. He pulled back the blanket and asked Justin to take a seat. Justin melted into the older man practically snuggling into his Dad. Matt smiled pressing a kiss on his youngest son's temple and draped the blanket over the him as he wrapped an arm protectively around him. He was pleased that Justin was open to affection. Clay was slowly starting to outgrow it, occassionally hugging him but Justin. The poor boy had been starved of it his entire life. Lainie ran her fingers through Justin's hair and then took a seat on the other end with Clay resting his head against her shoulder, something he hadn't done in a long time but Lainie didn't refuse the affection. It warmed her heart regardless of how old her is, after everything he had been through. He would always need his mother. He would always be her baby. She looked over at Justin cuddled into Matt's chest and the love he radiated towards the small broken boy that their son had smuggled into their home and from that moment on their lives had changed forever. Justin was apart of their family and with Christmas only a few days away, she was determined to make it the best as it could be for her youngest son and the newest addition to their family.