It was eleven o'clock at night on the twenty-fourth of December. Hours of snow buildup stuck to the ground outside and had turned the neighbourhood into a winter wonderland.

Not that I was complaining. Christmas had always been my favourite holiday as it was a time when people came together to celebrate and enjoy each other's company. Ever since I was a kid I had loved Christmas.

However, this year was the first time ever I was bummed out. Sat by the window with an ignored mug of hot chocolate, I watched as the snow drifted down and stuck to the ground outside. Leaning my head against the window pane, I sighed, the breaths of air sticking to the glass.

"You're not seriously moping on Christmas Eve, are you?" My sister came around the corner into the living room and plonked herself down beside me on the window seat. "What's got you so down in the dumps?"

"It's nothing." I said, picking boredly at a thread on my pyjama pants.

"Oh, don't give me that." Aria reached forward and pushed my hands away to stop me from destroying my clothes. "C'mon little bro, what's wrong? You love Christmas."

My chin rested on my legs as I pulled them to my chest. "Nothing's wrong."

"He's just sad because his boyfriend has to fly home to Michigan for the holidays and they had plans." Mom appeared in the doorway, causing Aria and I to look up at her.

"Boyfriend?" Aria exclaimed in shock as she looked between mom and I before focusing on me. "You have a boyfriend?"

Mom came further into the room, situating herself beside me. "Yes, for about three months now, right honey?"

Aria nearly choked. She turned to me, glaring. "And why am I only hearing about this now?"

I shrugged and smiled sheepishly at her. "Bad timing?"

Aria gaped. "My little brother has a boyfriend and I didn't even know about this!"

Mom chuckled as she watched the exchange between her children. She reached out and stroked my hair softly. "He's just sad because Cameron couldn't be here and it's their first Christmas together."

"Cameron. Is that his name? Oh, you have to show me a picture of him!" Aria proclaimed. "Right now."

Mom laughed as I reluctantly pulled out my phone. "You know it's a bad idea to keep secrets from Aria, darling."

"In my defence," I said. "She's been in London the last few months. When was I supposed to tell her?"

"Hey Troye, hey. Look at me. Right at me. That's it." Aria said before smacking me upside the head. "You know all the thirty-billion times we Skype called or texted. How about any of those times?"

I rubbed my head with a pout and mom chuckled. "Alright Aria, give him a break. He's young and excited."

"I'm not a puppy." I said, still rubbing my head. My sister could pack a hell of a punch when she wanted to.

"Oh, he's so cute!" Aria gushed, handing my phone back to me. "Nice work bro."

I smacked the palm of my hand into my face as my mom and sister laugh like evil witches. Honestly, those two together were a deadly pair, especially when they teamed up against you.

"So your cute boyfriend isn't here, big deal." Aria drawled. "It doesn't mean you get to mope around on Christmas Eve. Besides, there's still cookies that need to be iced in the kitchen."

Making holiday treats had always been an Evans tradition. We did it every year and often ended up making so many that we'd gift them to the neighbours.

"I'm not really feeling it tonight." I mumbled.

"And up you go!" Aria pulled me into a standing position and I gaped at her, turning to mom for help. "Mom!"

"Seventeen and twenty years old and you both still act like children." Mom said, shaking her head. "But she's right Troye, you need to stop moping and those cookies need to be iced. I see it as a win-win situation."

"Yeah, well I don't." I grumbled but my sister wasn't interested in my opinion as she began to drag me to the kitchen, mom chuckling behind us as she watched the scene unfold.

Just as we're about to enter the kitchen the doorbell rung and we stopped moving, me mid-drag and Aria as she held onto my arm, staring at the front door.

"Who would be calling in at this hour?"

"Oh," Mom exclaimed happily. "That must be for me!"

Aria and I shared confused looks before looking back to our mother who's bouncing over to the door. "What's for you?"

"Oh, I just had some last minute things to sort out. Like a special delivery."

"Special del-"

My mouth snapped shut as mom opened the door to reveal what was on the other side.

Standing on my front porch, clad in snow boots and winter clothing, was none other than my boyfriend, who was smiling sheepishly at me as mom grinned at him.

"Cam?" I managed after getting over most of the initial shock.

"Hey Troye," he waved at me with that stupid grin of his. "How's it going?"

"Wait, this is the cute boyfriend?" Aria questioned, still holding my arm up from where she was dragging me and I realised this must be an awkward scene to come into. "Well, hi there Cameron. I'm Aria. This dork's older sister." She pointed at me.

Cam laughed from the doorway and sent her a wave. "Hey, nice to meet you. You can just call me Cam."

"Are you going to come in?" Aria questioned and Cam looked down, seemingly realising he was still outside and forming an 'o' shape with his mouth before hurrying inside.

"Let me take your coat for you." Mom says as she helped Cam take off his snow gear. Aria and I glanced briefly at each other before dropping our awkward pose and looking back at our surprise guest.

"Okay," Cam said. "I know it's late to be getting in but I have good reason."

Reaching into his backpack, he pulled out two neatly wrapped gifts, handing one to my mother. "I heard you like lavender bath oils so this one is from Italy. My mom went last month."

"Oh, Cameron." Mom breathed. "How thoughtful of you, thankyou."

"And for you," Cam said, handing the other gift over to Aria. "A signed, limited edition of Stevie Nicks' first album. I found it on eBay. Troye tells me that you loved her growing up."

"Trying to buy my love?" Aria flipped the CD around in her hand with a light smirk. "Well let me tell you it's working! By the way, has my brother told you the story about that one time he-"

"Okay," Mom slapped her hand over Aria's mouth and began to drag her away. "C'mon sweet child of mine. Let's let the two lovebirds catch up, shall we?"

Cam and chuckled, watching as mom pulled a protesting Aria out of the room. When they're gone I turned to my boyfriend. "Michigan?"

Cam smiled innocently. "It was half true, I just came back early to surprise you."

"You didn't have to do that for me."

"I wanted to."

Cam took a step forward until he's right in front of me. He took my hands in his, rubbing them gently with his thumbs as he gazed down at me and whispered, "Hi."

"Hi," I whispered back, smiling as Cam leaned down and kissed me. I let my eyes flutter closed and brought my arms up to wrap them around his neck, pulling him down to me. His hands fell to my waist as he brought me closer to him.

I sunk into the kiss as I felt the familiar feeling of butterflies rising in my stomach. It made me feel happy and giddy all at once and I tightened my grip on Cam. When we break apart we're both smiling and breathless.

"Wow," Cam breathed as he nuzzled against my cheek fondly. "That was worth the six hour wait to see you."

"Aww." Aria gushed from the hallway.

"Aria!"

My sister squeaked and ran out of the room. Cam and I turned to one another and started laughing. My sister was nothing short of amusing and I was glad that Cam wasn't embarrassed. Yet.

"What were you doing before I got here?"

I shrugged. "Literally nothing."

Cam laughed. "It's Christmas Eve and you were doing nothing?"

"Well, normally we have family traditions but I wasn't really in the mood tonight."

"Oh? Why not?"

I sent him a look and he nodded in understanding. "Oh. Well, I'm here now and I have plans."

"Oh really? What like?"

Cam took my hands in his. "Troye Alexander Evans, you and I are about to go put these absolutely awful, ridiculous matching pajamas on, then we are going to make hot chocolate, and then we are going to snuggle on the couch all night watching cheesy Christmas movies until the sun comes up."

"Wow. Okay. That's...interesting."

Cam reached into his backpack and pulled out a pair of pajamas identical to his own. He handed them to me. "Go change."

"Oh my God." I laughed, holding up the pyjamas decorates in little snowmen and Christmas trees. "You weren't kidding."

"Go." Cam pushed me lightly, smiling like an idiot.

Grinning, I took the pajamas and rushed upstairs to my bedroom. Throwing the old pair against the wall, I hurriedly changed into the new pair, adjusted my appearance slightly in the mirror and rushed back downstairs.

I skidded into the kitchen, causing my mother to turn around and look at me. She raised an eyebrow. "Care to explain?"

I opened my mouth to answer when suddenly the downstairs bathroom door opened and Cam emerged in the doorway of the kitchen, wearing pajamas identical to mine. When mom saw him she burst out laughing.

"Oh my God, that's so cute." she giggled.

"What's going on-oh." Aria walked into the kitchen, spotting Cam and I. She grinned. "No way! That is freaking adorable!"

"Oh, let me get a picture!" Mom raced around the counter to grab the camera before pushing Cam and I together. "Alright, get real close. Snuggle up. I said snuggle Troye. Now smile!"

Cam and I winced as the flash went off brightly in our eyes. When I get my vision back I looked at Cam's appearance in comparison to my own. "Wow, we really look like dorks."

"Really really cute dorks." Cam winked, eliciting aw sounds from my mom and sister.

"C'mon Frosty, we've got movies to watch." Cam pulled me out of the kitchen, picking up two mugs of hot chocolate on the way out.

We sat down on the sofa and I laughed when I saw what movie is already cued up. "Eager, are we?"

"To spend time with you baby, always."

I laughed again before curling into my boyfriend's side, hugging my mug to my chest. Cam reached over and pulled a blanket over us before putting his arm around me and tugging me closer.

I let my head fall on his chest, smiling up at Cam as he pressed play on the movie. Noticing me, he leaned down and placed a tender kiss on my forehead before hugging me close as we watched the beginning credits to Nightmare Before Christmas play.

We stayed that way all night. I fell asleep somewhere around three o'clock in the morning. Right in my boyfriend's arms, where I belonged.

Smiling, I allowed myself to drift off, knowing that this moment right now with Cam would be one of the best moments of my life and there was nothing the world could throw at us to deter that fact.

I felt Cam lightly kiss the top of my head and I smiled again as I closed my eyes.

Yes, this was home.

***

[Part 2 in next episode]