A/N: This story is for the Challenge over at the LJ Community queer_as_xmas. If you aren't already member go there, we'll have amazing stories, and already have. ________________________________________________________________________________ Thanks to Smevalicious for the wonderful beta job, I wouldn't have known what to do without you. Chapter One: December 1 Feel the magic in the air Christmas is all around Somethin' about this special time of year A blanket of snow falls down from the sky Voices of angels Open our hearts so we can open our arms Snowflakes gently touched the ground and with every flake, the snow-blanket on Liberty Avenue got thicker. A young man was standing in front of a window, Christmas lights reflecting in his sad blue eyes. Eyes which showed how lost he was. Lost in memories of former Christmas Eves with his family in front of the tree, in another city, and for him, another life. The young man felt totally out of place. Twenty-four days until Christmas Eve and Justin felt lonelier then ever. His first Christmas without his family. In another city, because he could only be who he wanted to be here, and could do the things he wanted to do. His greatest Christmas wish for this year was that he wouldn’t have to spend it alone, in his cheap apartment close to the Liberty Diner. Someone he could love, and someone who could love him for who he was. “Sunshine! Bring that man a fucking coffee!” Tired, the blond closed his eyes and sighed deeply, turned away from the window and went back to the counter to grab the thermos can. Not noticing that at the exact same moment he turned away from the window, the answer to his wishes crossed his way. “Coffee coming right up!” Sunshine? Justin rolled his eyes. He’d never get used to his nickname. Not to mention actually comparing himself with sunshine. It would be simply laughable if his life wasn’t so pathetic in general. His boss, Debbie, had called him this since the first time he went into the small diner, but nevertheless even after three weeks of working there, he still hadn’t got used to being called 'Sunshine'. He thought the name didn’t fit him. How? He felt more like a shadow, he was there, but nobody really noticed him. It was only about his ass and the next fuck. Nobody saw that he was like anybody else, that he had feelings like anybody else, that he just wanted to be respected and loved. Everyone was like his parents. Only interested in standing in the spotlight, not caring about who they hurt on the way to THEIR goal. *************** "Daddy, daddy. Santa Claus is coming soon. I have been good for the whole year. I’m certain to get a whole bunch of presents this year! I just hope he also fulfils my greatest wish, but I can't tell you, dad, because everybody knows that if you tell what you wrote to Santa it won't come true." Seven year old Gus excitedly jumped up and down on his fathers hand, which finally got his attention. Brian had listened to his son, but didn't really pay attention to his endless ramble about Christmas. Christmas wasn't a good time for him. It held really bad memories for him, of beatings from his father, who, by the time the lights on the Christmas tree had been switched on, was totally drunk and violent. Throwing glasses and, from time to time, even Christmas baubles through the house. More often than not, Brian got hit by them. He was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't pay attention to his son, but Gus knew that Christmas wasn't a happy time for his dad. When his mothers still lived, he often heard them talking about his father’s childhood and what it was like to live in the Kinney household and how they wished, especially his momma, that "the asshole didn't carry on the violent trait". He knew from the beginning that ‘asshole’ was a bad word to say about other people and often called his momma on it, but never got a straight answer out of her. Since his mother's death, he didn't see the rest of the family very often. Well, not as often as he did before, but he didn't care. He knew that somehow his grandma didn't think it was a good idea to give the full custody of him to his father. She thought it would have been better to give it to his Uncle Mikey. Gus didn't think so. He loved living with his father. He knew that his father loved him deeply, even if he didn't tell him so. He knew that his father also felt very lonely, of course he had him, but he knew his father missed the company of someone older around him. "Come on, dad. Let's go home.", he said and pulled his father to the near parked Jeep. **************** Up on the North Pole Santa Claus was reading the wish list of this particular boy. He smiled about the selflessness of little Gus Kinney. His wish-list was quite long for someone so little, but his main wish stood out quite bright. The little boy had wished for his father to be happy on Christmas, and to have a partner. That would be all. Gus had requested this wish specially, and had told Santa that the other wishes weren't really that urgent, as long as his father was happy. "Hmm..." Santa mumbled and scratched his long white beard while he sipped on his hot chocolate. "Honey, what are you thinking about?" Mrs. Claus entered the room and hugged her husband from behind. "Read this. I'm thinking about how to get a partner for his father." Santa gave her Gus letter. "Ohh! That's really cute! He’s on your good behaviour list, isn't he?" Mrs. Claus asked and her husband nodded. "Well then, honey, send out Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. They’re family reindeer. They should know what would fit with his father’s antics. I can assume that his father isn't on the 'good' list, huh?" Santa shook his head and smiled sadly. "Hmm... Nevertheless, send them out. Donner and Blitzen can watch over Gus and Mr. Kinney's behaviour and what would fit to BOTH OF THEM, while Rudolph looks for a partner for Mr. Kinney." Mrs. Claus grabbed the empty hot chocolate mug and left the room. Sighing, Santa stood up and also left the room to get to the stables to speak with his leading reindeer to start Christmas early for a certain bunch of people. **************** In the meantime, Justin Taylor was having a lunch break at the Liberty Diner and was eating pancakes, occupied with drawing costumers in another booth. Debbie was looking at him with worry. She knew that the young man would be all alone for Christmas, she’d even suggested for him to come to her family, but he wouldn't listen and didn’t want to intrude. "I'm alone, Deb, and I have to get used to it. Better now then later,” were his exact words. She shook her head, turned away from him and went into the kitchen when she heard the bell ringing. There wasn't a thing she could do now, but she wasn't one to let go of something she cared about easily. Justin was deep in thought and didn't notice the worried look he got from Debbie. The sun was going down and was changing the light at the diner slightly, but nevertheless Justin had to stop drawing because right now he wasn't in the mood to finish the drawing out of his memory. Taking a deep breath took the paper up from the paper and tore the paper apart. Why drawing when there was nobody to give it to? **************** Santa's reindeer were already on their way to Pittsburgh to look the Kinney family up. Donner and Blitzen weren't amused that they had to work before Christmas, but were promised a huge gift for when they found a fitting partner for Gus’ father. Rudolph's nose was shining brighter then ever. He was happy to be included in Santa's plans. Normally Santa would just use him when snowfall was too heavy. The three of them were expected to arrive in Pittsburgh in the middle of the night. **************** "No, Cynthia. I can't fly to New York. You know I have to watch over Gus. Make Theodore fly there... Tell him I’ll fire his ass if he doesn't! Talk to you tomorrow!" That said, Brian hung up, although, he bit his lip when he saw the slightly frightened look on his son’s face. "I don't like you getting mad at your colleagues, dad. You really have to work on your behaviour towards them. Otherwise you won't get a present,” Gus said and turned around. His father rolled his eyes because of his son's drama and began thinking. From the beginning, Brian had never believed in Santa Claus and the North pole, but somehow, even seven years old his son still believed that there was such a thing. Brian had worked in advertising long enough to know that there wasn't such a thing and because of that he didn't think changing his attitude towards his employees was necessary. And, if he ever did, his father had made sure that Brian knew that miracles didn't exist every time his fist hit his son's jaw. "Go, brush your teeth. It's time for bed, Sonnyboy," Brian shouted and went into the bedroom to change into some comfortable clothes for the night.