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Charlie was getting ready to go for his families Christmas dinner, his preferred families Christmas dinner anyway.
Charlie and the rest of the Paris Squad have been having a Christmas Eve dinner together since university. Now at 30 years old it is still one of Charlie’s favourite Christmas traditions. He pulled his Christmas jumper over his head and looked in the mirror, his outfits today are still similar to what he wore in high school, he found an outfit he liked and stuck to it, his outfit today consisting of black skinny jeans and a light blue Christmas jumper that was covered with Christmas trees and tiny drum kits.
He walked downstairs to find Nick wrapping the final part of Darcy’s present on the kitchen counter. He wrapped his arms around Nick’s waist and grabbed the tape Nick was struggling with.
“Hi Love.” Charlie said, kissing Nick on the temple.
“Hi Sweetheart.” Nick replied, resting his hands gently on Charlie’s.
Nick turned around and kissed Charlie gently on the lips. Neither of them had expected that at 30 they’d be here with each other. Nick had always assumed he was straight until he met Charlie and that entire thing was flipped on its head. Nick was convinced that Charlie would leave him for someone who knew their sexuality, who wasn’t confused, who wasn’t having a proper full on gay crisis but he didn’t they stuck together and here they are fifteen years later still together.
Nick led Charlie to the Christmas tree that was set up in the living room and they looked at all the decorations on the tree, the first year they moved out on their own they had a gorgeous, perfectly planned out tree, that was all matching. The next year they decided they didn’t want that and made some baubles to add a sort of handmade feel to the tree. Now there is baubles representing each of their friends, there is baubles that are handmade and there is some decorations that have been made by Tara and Darcy’s four year old.
Nick checked the time and realised that it was definitely time to be leaving so they grabbed the presents for their friends and headed over to Tara and Darcy’s house where the meal was being held this year.
Every year the whole gang went all out for the Christmas season, no matter how much — or little — the group saw each other through the year they always made sure that they were free Christmas Eve for the yearly get together.
They arrived at Tara and Darcy’s and knocked on the door, they could hear the chatter on the other side of the door of their friends and when the door swung open revealing Darcy on the other side wearing a headband with reindeer antlers on and a jumper that was covered in bells which rang every time she moved. She pulled the two of them in for a hug before taking their hands and pulling them through to the dining room.
“FINALLY the slowpokes are here.” Darcy announced as they entered the room.
Looks were exchanged between the group before everyone got up from the table and hugged Nick and Charlie, resulting in a big group hug.
Everyone sat back down and conversation flowed as easily as it always has done. A frequent topic of conversation was Sahar’s new girlfriend, who was invited but had prior commitments and therefore couldn’t. They caught up with Tao and Elle who they had seen the least this year as Tao was directing a couple of films in America and Elle was on the makeup team for one and stayed in America with Tao when she wasn’t working.
After an hour of talking the food was ready and they all sat and ate, whilst the conversation continued. After the food had been eaten, presents were exchanged and small bits of alcohol consumed, knowing most people would be going to families the next day the alcohol consumption was low.
🎄
By 10pm most people had left and Nick and Charlie were the last ones there. They left Tara and Darcy’s and walked home.
As they got ready for bed when they got home, the two of them reflected on their lives, they were so lucky to have found a family that has always cared so deeply for each other.