I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you...

“I am begging you to get me out of this hell...” Anna pleaded, her normal dramatic flair as evident as ever. “I mean, Madison’s with you this year and Paige decided to bail, so I’m the oldest kid here.” She let out a small, pathetic whimper as she added, “I’m not sure if I can handle it.”

I rolled my eyes, easily picturing Anna’s desperate state despite the fact we were currently hundreds of miles apart. I was back in Baltimore with Jack after our impromptu wedding and we’d kept ourselves on the down low the past few week, deciding to keep focus on each other rather than silly things like Twitter.

That was the plan, anyway. Fans started to get worried with Jack didn’t tweet for like, five days, and the internet fan base had a mini heart attack, coming up with all sorts of rumors as to why Jack wouldn’t be on his regular tweeting schedule. Anything from another car accident to Jack simply being sick were common guesses. Of course, when Jack saw this he quickly reassured them that everything was fine and both he and I were all in one piece.

@jackalltimelow: Been recharging the ol’ batteries the past few days with my lady fren @christinalawson

Below the tweet he added a picture I didn’t even realize he’d taken. It must’ve been the first or second day we got back from Vegas, and I was exhausted. Between the touring, the traveling and the love making, my body was done for, and I honestly hardly moved from our sofa for nearly two days straight. I barely remembered it, considering he and I dozed in and out of sleep for most of that time, though Jack must’ve had a wee bit more energy than I did since he managed to snap a photo of my sleeping figure resting softly on his chest, his own face fatigued but still smiling as he glanced back down at me with that overwhelming look of love that never failed to make me blush, even now.

To put it simply, it was it a fucking adorable photo of us. One of my favorites. Most of the fans thought so as well, considering any bit of worry was dropped like that, instead replaced with exclamations of how overwhelmingly cute we were together.

Oh, didn’t I know it.

Back to our plans, we’d planned on keeping it on the DL for the rest of the year--you know, have a nice, quiet Christmas together, just the two of us. We’d never really had that before, and considering Alex and Lisa were still broken up or quote, “temporarily on a break” as Alex so optimistically put it, having our usual Christmas bash at the Gaskarth residence seemed awkward, to put it lightly.

Anna however, didn’t know any of that. All she knew was our crazy ass family was driving her up the wall. So, choosing my words as delicately as possible, I began, “Technically Madison’s with her boyfriend, not me. And Jack and I aren't gonna be there this year, remember? We're planning on a quiet Christmas and--”

“Jack wants a quiet Christmas?” She asked doubtfully.

I nodded into my phone, biting my lip as I let out a half-truth, knowing that if Anna ever got word of what had transpired in Vegas, she’d flip. “Yeah, we’ve just had a crazy last few months with non stop touring and promotion...we just thought it would be nice to have a simple, relaxing holiday.”

“Ah, so that’s why you told your mom you weren’t coming this year.” Anna huffed a laugh.

“Our family gatherings aren’t exactly what I’d call relaxing, no.”

“She’s been going on about you and Madison snubbing her with my mom all day, just so you know.”

I rolled my eyes. Of course she was. “Yeah that sounds about right.” I sighed.

“You know she expects you to come for New Years--”

“I know, which is why I booked a flight.” I laughed, not surprised in the least that my mother was desperate for a visit from me. Since moving in with Jack, I didn’t visit my family as often as I should, I admit. True, it was partly due to my busy schedule and for a while it had been due to my whole mental breakdown, which everyone was very understanding about. But now I had little to no excuse for not stopping by and visiting my folks, especially with the upcoming wedding. I knew the second I walked in the door, my mom and aunt would be all over me to pick out flowers, table settings, cake flavors and the like; all of which I had honestly had no idea where to start and to say that I was overwhelmed with all these big decisions would be a giant understatement.

But then Vegas happened. Now, I wasn’t so worried of stressed out over these decisions, so suddenly making said decisions didn’t seem like as big of a deal as it once had. And really, wedding plans aside, I really did miss my mom. The guilt in my veins over being a bad daughter as of late made my heart sink, and I knew I had to make it up to her somehow. The least I could do was give her New Years.

“So you are coming home?” Anna asked, her voice filled with admittedly deserved shock.

I smiled into the phone. “Yep, but my mom doesn’t know so keep it quiet, alright? Jack and I are flying back to LA on the thirtieth. You think you can survive til then?”

“I’m pretty sure I can manage.” Anna replied smoothly, her previous panic completely absent now that she knew I’d be home after all, albeit a bit later than she’d hoped.

“Good.” I bobbed my head as I paused for a second, snapping my fingers as I added as an afterthought, “Oh, while I’ve got you on the phone, I was wondering if you wanted to do Warped with us this year. I know it doesn’t start until June, but I was thinking if you wanted to join--”

Anna gasped. “DO I!?”

I smirked. “If you’re busy, I understand...” I teased, knowing full well that Anna’s schedule had vastly opened up now that she graduated high school.

“Can I start on your next tour?” Anna shot back, her voice high in excitement. “Scratch that, can I be your merch girl?”

I bit my lip, timid in responding to her question. I loved the girl, but I wasn’t sure how well my bubbly and over-excited cousin would mesh with my bandmates over an extended period of time. Specifically Jo and Sam, who both, let’s face it, could be the biggest sour-pusses in the world. Not wanting to hurt her feelings though, I tentatively avoided directly answering her. “Well, I have to run it by the rest of the band...and we should probably give you a trial run before we commit to you selling merch for us.”

I could practically hear her eye roll. “Are you kidding?I’d slay at selling merch.”

That part, I didn’t doubt for a second. I mean, her outgoing personality was enough to tell me that she’d be able to sell shirts, posters, bracelets and other paraphernalia without a hitch. I just didn’t want to drive my band mates crazy, is all.

“Yeah, you would.” I chuckled. “Just...let me talk to Jo and the rest of the guys before I agree to this, okay?”

Her disappointment over my lack of a direct answer was evident. “Fine, I guess...” she huffed.

I bit my lip, glancing over my shoulder at Jack, who’d been quiet a few feet away from me, catching up on all the fan tweets he’d missed out while we’d been away. “Hey, if things don’t work out with Midnight, I’m sure Jack and the guys wouldn’t mind you working for them.” At the mention of his name, Jack’s eyes shot up away from the screen and met my amused gaze.

“What’s that?” He mouthed as he raised a thick brow.

I raised my palm to the phone as I quickly explained, “Anna wants to work merch for one of us.”

Jack didn’t even give it a second thought. “Yeah, of course! I’m sure Vinny and Kyle’ll be thrilled to have some help at the merch booth.”

“You sure?” I tilted my head to the side, doubting that Vinny would be able to handle Anna for longer than a day or two. She was the epitome of a fan girl, after all. Don’t get me wrong--Vinny was a great, hilarious guy that got along with the band splendidly. It was just he had a reputation for being short with fans like Anna, and I could only imagine him being able to tolerate her for a whole tour.

“Tell her she’s welcome aboard,” he nodded with a warm smile.

I stared back at him, unsure of this decision but didn’t want to argue. Instead, I slowly removed my palm from my cell, taking a breath or two before beginning, “Uh, so I guess Jack says you can work merch for All Time Low.”

To be expected, she let out a loud, ear piercing squeal.

“HOLY FUCK, ARE YOU SERIOUS???!!!”

“Anna, language!” I could hear my aunt scold a second later, which only made me giggle.

Anna’s voice immediately fizzled back down to a more acceptable level as she apologized timidly, “Sorry, mom...” Her excitement returned in her voice as she explained to her mother, “Chris just told me I can work merch for All Time Low on the next tour!”

“Is that so?” She sounded unimpressed, as if touring life had become such a normal thing in our family thanks to me. Which, to be fair, talks of touring did pop up way more than it used to. Now, when Anna asked to go to a tour, it was much more than just going to a venue, waiting in line for six hours, and watching a show. You know, at least with shows when Midnight or All Time Low were involved, anyway. For those shows, Anna was given the ultimate backstage experience, and to say Anna happily took advantage of her blood relation through unlimited snacks, hanging out with bands and the best seat in the house to watch shows would be a huge understatement.

“Have I told you that you’re the best cousin in the world lately?” Anna gushed with glee as the fun she could have while on an entire tour riddled her fangirl filled mind. “‘Cause you are.”

“Well I’m glad I could make up for not spending Christmas with you.” I smirked, finding it amusing how easy it was to get Anna back into her bright, cheery mood.

“Christmas, schmistmas.” She pushed a rush of air through her teeth. “Doing merch for a whole tour is gonna be like Christmas every fucking day!”

“Anna, stop with the cursing!”

This time, Anna only half-heartedly apologized. “Sorry, I’m excited, okay?”

“I’m gonna let you go before your mom grounds you and takes away your phone.” I chuckled, knowing this was well on its way to becoming a possibility. My aunt had never taken cursing lightly, given that it was dirty and unnecessary in her eyes. I mean, she had a point, I guess. It’s not like there are a limited amount of words in the english language.

I could only imagine what she’d do if she knew the amount of f-bombs and the like flown around at ATL’s shows.

“Probably a wise idea...” Anna sighed reluctantly. “...see you on New Years?”

“You know it.” I smiled, exchanging a quick goodbye before hanging up the phone to find Jack observing me with bright, smiling eyes. Placing my phone down to my side, I furrowed my brows at him. “What?”

He shrugged, his lips turning upward in a devious smirk. “Nothin’.” He shimmied himself closer to me as his own phone had been discarded as well, his full attention on me. “Just admiring my hot wife.”

I rolled my eyes at this. “Dude, I’m wearing a Snoopy Christmas shirt and knee high socks, but thanks. I appreciate the compliment.”

His eyes widened hungrily as his gaze shamelessly scrolled down my lazy festive attire. He licked his lips. “I repeat: hot.”

Jack then leaned close, our noses grazing for just a second before he pressed his mouth onto my own into a passionate kiss. I happily sunk into the kiss, the romantic gesture welcoming as always.

We made out for a few minutes, Jack’s hands hungrily running up against my curves until I reluctantly pulled away, watching as his eyes stared at me in confusion. “Sorry...it’s just...we’ve been going at it like rabbits since we got back from Vegas and before you say anything, I’m totally not complaining about the sex. It’s...” I gulped as goosebumps prickled my skin from mere memory over the out of this world orgasms I’d been feeling as of late thanks to the man in front of me. “...really great sex--”

His lips twirled up in a proud smirk.

I quickly continued, “It’s just our first Christmas alone, and I just want it to be special, especially considering these next few months are going to be hell, with our tours and getting married again in front of the family and--”

“No, I get it.” Jack stopped me before I could go on a rant, which we both knew was just on the tip of my tongue, begging to be let out. “We’ve been honeymooning it since we got back, and now you wanna relax and have an actual Christmas together that probably doesn’t include staying in our bedroom doing naughty, naughty things to each other. Does it?”

I winced. As much as I tried, I could never deny my want for Jack, especially when he was wearing those damn glasses, and that fucker knew it, his dark brown eyes peering at me through his lenses with faux plea. I tilting my head slightly as I admitted, “Well...not the whole time, anyway.”

He laughed, joking with overenthusiastic excitement, “Yay! That means my Christmas wish’ll come true!”

I raised a brow as I readjusted myself so I was now in his arms, peering at him from my abnormally taller position. “So I’m what you want for Christmas?” I asked him.

“Duh,” He didn’t even blink as he replied, his teeth bright as he told me without a hint of doubt, “You’re all I’ll ever want for Christmas for the rest of my life.”

I smiled back at him, his words making me fall for him all over again. Feeling my eyes begin to water, I looked up towards the ceiling before I began crying in front of him. Now was not the time to cry, no matter how much his romantic words made me want to cry like a baby over how damn lucky I was to find him. So, stuffing back the sob in my throat, I stubbornly returned my gaze towards Jack and said, my voice barely above a whisper as it was the most I could muster, “God, I love you, Jack.”

“Love you too, Sally.” He whispered back, his smile fading slightly as he leaned in for another kiss, this one slow burning, delicate and tender that sent my body ablaze and begging for more. We eventually parted, and when we did, Jack was staring at me with excited eyes. “Now, since you said you wanted to hold off on the Christmas sex, what did you wanna do today?”

I shrugged, “I don’t know...Christmas-y things? I hadn’t really thought of it too much--”

“So like...making gingerbread houses, decorating the tree and singing Christmas carols?”

I had to laugh. “We could decorate the tree, sure...” I glanced over at the currently bare tree sitting pitifully in the corner of our apartment, just begging to be dressed with tinsel and ribbon and whatever. “And we could totally rock out on a few carols. Though I’m not so sure about the gingerbread--I mean, you know how you and I mix with the kitchen.”

“But it’s tradition!” Jack whined. “What’s Christmas without gingerbread?”

“...uh, the kind where we don’t burn down our apartment?”

He stubbornly held his ground. “Hey, you said you wanted us to do something memorable for our first Christmas, so I say we should at least try it. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Turns out, the worst that could happen thankfully didn’t involve the destruction of our home. Just a damn big mess and the worst fucking gingerbread I’d ever tasted. They turned out way overcooked and way too sweet, though I’m pretty sure that was thanks to Jack. He turned out to be more of a distraction than a helper, even stopping me for an impromptu make out session that almost caused the cookies to catch on fire.

...almost.

But despite that mishap, our Christmas together turned out better than I ever could have imagined. We decorated the tree with some leftover ATL ornaments Jack had tucked away, as well as a few my mom had given me back when I had my apartment in San Diego. It wasn’t much, but it really made it feel like ours. Then Jack took out his acoustic and hammered our some Christmas tunes while I sang along until Jack put down the guitar and suggested we watch Die Hard. (“This already is our tradition,” he told me. I couldn’t deny this.) It was simple, just what I wanted.It was just the two of us spending the holiday as what we finally were.

A family.

Notes

I UPDATED! YAAAAAYYYYY.

So sorry...I've been twiddling with where I wanna go with this, plus ideas for other stories have been plaguing my mind. Oh yeah, and I'M SEEING TWENTY ONE PILOTS IN FIVE DAYS!!!!

...yeah, I'm pretty excited about that.

Enjoy!