~ December 23rd ~
 

I looked at all the wrapped presents that I had bought for everyone and couldn't help but wish that I was going to be with my friends for Christmas. Ben had made it clear that I couldn't go and that I was going to spend Christmas with him. Ben's voice cut right into my thoughts and what he had to say made me see red.

"I have to go out of town again. I won't be back for a few days."

"What the hell Ben! I thought you said we were going to be spending Christmas together!"

"Michelle I'm not going to have this discussion with you."

"Oh I think you are!" I said knowing that I was asking for trouble.

At that moment his fist connected with my eye, "Don't you ever question me again," and with that he grabbed his already packed suitcase and left.
After I heard the front door shut to our apartment I broke down. If only I wasn't so afraid of him I would have left by now. I pulled my knees to my chest and wondered what I could do and where I could go. I've had enough and wanted out. I finally decided I was going to go to Marty. He was like a father to me and warned Ben that if he ever hurt me he'd have to pay. I got up and left heading over to where Marty lived, hoping he could get me out of this mess.

 

~ An hour later ~
 

"Marty I'm serious I want out of this relationship. I'm tired of him hitting and abusing me."

Marty just ran his hand through his short thick salt and pepper hair. By this time my eye was black and had pretty much swollen shut on me. I told Marty everything that had happened.

"Well Michelle I can assure you that I didn't send Ben on any trip. Let me talk to him and see if I can get to the bottom of this before you decide to leave him."

"No Marty. I want out. I'm sick of it."

Marty stood up and walked over to where I was, "My child, let me talk to him. Maybe it's all a big misunderstanding. I can assure you I'll make it to where he never touches you out of anger or violence again."

I let out a sigh knowing that I wasn't going to win this one until Ben seriously did something to harm me.

"Fine. I'm going out of town for a while. Call me when you talk to Ben," I said walking out the door before he had a chance to answer me.

"You're what?" I heard on the other end of the phone.

"I'm coming Liz. Just don't tell Nick. I want it to be a surprise," I said as I finished packing.

"Michelle he's gonna be so thrilled. All of the guys are gonna be," Liz said excitement in her voice.

"I know, I know. Look I should be there tomorrow night. I didn't get a flight til tomorrow and I don't get in until around midnight."

"Do you want someone to pick you up at the airport?"

"Nah. I'll drive from MCO when I get there. So how is everything there? I know you're already at Nick's."

"Everything's great so far. Not everybody is here yet. I think we're still waiting on Nick's family. Court is out doing some last minute Christmas shopping other than that everyone is here already except you."
I couldn't help but laugh, "Well I'm on my way."

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened? I thought you were going to spend the holiday with Ben."

I sighed softly as I reached up and ran a finger lightly over the tender area of my eye, "He had some unexpected business come up, so without him knowing I'm coming to Florida for the holiday. I refuse to stay here alone."

"Oh, that stinks. It seems like you guys haven't been spending a whole heck of a lot of time together lately."

"I know what you mean," I said while zipping up my backpack, "But it's his entire fault. I try but he keeps blowing me off. I just think it's a rough time for him right now with the business and all," I half lied to my best friend. Personally I didn't need her stiffing around about Ben right now.

"Ok. Well I guess I should let you go. It's about time for me to go to the mall anyhow and pick Court up. I guess I'll see you tomorrow night," she said with a small sigh. "Oh and the spare key is in the wooden mailbox next to the door."

"Ok. I'll talk to you then, and remember you don't know that I'm coming," I said with a smile.

"Gotcha," she said with a giggle, "I seriously can't wait to see his face."

I laughed, "Well have a camera ready then when I get there."

"Oh definitely. Talk to you later."

"Later," I said before clicking off my phone before going and hunting down a box big enough to put all my wrapped presents for everyone in.


 

* * * *
 

Court walked through the mall trying to figure out what to buy AJ and Nick. They were the last two people she had left to shop for and Liz was due at the mall in an hour to pick her up.

"What the hell," she mumbled as she made her way through the crowded mall of last minute shoppers. "Why'd I have to wait until the last freakin minute to do Christmas shopping?"

She stopped at Electronic Boutique to see if possible she could find a game that Nick was telling her about. He seemed really interested in it and she didn't really know what else to get the boy. She was walking in when someone ran right into her. She glared at the blonde man biting her tongue.

"Watch where you're going ya jerk!"

"Geesh I'm sorry, don't get your panties in a bind."

Court pushed past him, "Well I wouldn't be like this if you were paying attention to what the hell you were doing."

The guy she ran into threw his hands up in the air and shook his head as he continued on his way.

"Stupid idiot," Courtney whispered to herself as she started searching through the games for the title she was looking for.

"Can I help you with anything?" the store clerk asked when he walked up to her.

"Nope I just found what I was looking for," she said with a smile. "I want this one," she said handing the game to him.

"Great choice. Is this for you?" the store clerk asked as they walked to where the register was.

"No. It's actually a Christmas present for a friend. He's been doing nothing but talking about it non stop for the past few days now so I figured it would be the perfect gift for him."

The clerk nodded while he rang her purchase up, "That will be $53.49."

Courtney handed the man her money and collected her bag. She added it to the numerous others in her hand before she walked out in search for a present for AJ. She really didn't see anything that she thought he would like until she saw a leather store. She grinned as she walked into the store only to be nearly knocked down by the same guy as before.

"Watch it! I swear you must not pay any attention where you're going," Courtney snapped walking passed him yet again.

"Excuse me but why do you keep blaming me? It's just as much your fault as it is mine," he shot back at her.

"Get a life JERK!" she called out walking farther into the store to get away from him.

The guy let out a groan as he continued on his way down through the mall.

Courtney was just about to pay for a cool outfit that she found for AJ when her cell rang signaling that Liz was there to pick her up.

"Hello," Courtney said as she forked over the money to the cashier.

"Where are you?" Liz questioned right as she walked passed the store.

"Try backing up and looking into the store window you just passed," Courtney said with a giggle.

Liz did as she was told and smiled when she saw Courtney, "Brat," she said as she hung up her cell phone.

"Love you too."

"I know. So you ready to go?" Liz asked as her and Court made their way down through the mall.

"Yeah. Let's."

Liz nodded, "Last minute shoppers get on your nerves?"

"More like just one," Courtney said as they exited the mall and headed to the car.

"Do tell," Liz said unlocking the door.

Courtney told her story on the way home about the guy who was a complete ass to her, "And then he ran into me again and told me it was my fault," she finished as they pulled into Nick's driveway.

There was a new car parked in the driveway so Liz assumed that Nick's family had finally arrived. She helped Court get her bags out of the trunk when she heard Court and another person yell.

"YOU!" Courtney yelled.

"Not you again," a male voice said.

Liz peeked around the trunk and saw Aaron and Court standing there.

"I thought you looked familiar," Courtney spat, "NICK!!!!" she yelled as she entered the house.

Liz shook her head and laughed as she walked passed Aaron, "Hello AC."

Aaron looked at her like she was crazy, "Hey," he mumbled as he grabbed some bags from his car as Liz walked passed.

"Look I'm sorry. I'll talk to him," Liz heard Nick say as she walked into the house. All Liz could do was laugh.

"Come on Court lets get your shit wrapped. Leave Nick alone," Liz said as she headed up the stairs.

She heard Courtney groan then a set of footsteps up the stairs. Liz couldn't help but laugh. There seemed to be an unspoken attraction between two very unlikely people and she couldn't wait to see what the next few days were going to hold.

 

* * * *

~ Christmas Eve ~
 

I was sort of glad the day was over. Howie was moping around here because Rissa had totally ditched him, and my house was sounding like a zoo because of everyone else. Courtney and Aaron were at each other's throats all day and I had to laugh. It was like those two had an attraction that they didn't even know about. There was one thing that caught my curiosity and it hadn't left my mind since I heard it. Liz was on the phone with someone and told them that the key was in the wooden mail holder by the front door. I asked Liz who she was talking to but she wouldn't tell me and it caught me strange because that is exactly where I leave my spare key for when my siblings want to come over to get away from the parents. She told me no, that it was for her place not mine. It still bugged me. Therefore it's now midnight and I'm up thinking about it and the rest of the day.

I heard something downstairs and it caught my attention so I got up to investigate. When I got downstairs my front door was wide open and there were presents in the living room by the tree that wasn't there when I went to bed. I stayed in the shadows wondering who could be coming home at this time of night. The only person who wasn't here was...

At that moment Michelle walked through the door with a backpack she stopped as soon as she looked up.

"Nick?"

I smiled hearing her voice, "Yeah it's me."

"What are you doing up? It's almost two in the morning," she said shutting the door behind her before walking farther into the house and up to me.

"I couldn't sleep."

She looked at me before walking around me to the couch in front of the tree. She sat her backpack on the couch then turned and faced me again. "Sounds like we both don't get much of that anymore."

I looked at her and then realized where she was standing and I chuckled.

"What's so funny? I don't think us not sleeping is a funny issue."

"No it's not but look where you're standing," I said closing the gap between us.

"Where I'm standing?" she asked while looking around then looking back at me, "What do you mean?"

By this time I was right in front of her, "Look!" I said pointing up at the ceiling. Her eyes followed and she started giggling.

"Mistletoe."

"Yep," I said, "And you know what that means."

"Unfortunately," she said with a smile.

"Hey what's that supposed to mean?"

She shrugged and pushed passed me, "I dunno."

I caught her arm before she could get away and smiled. She always seemed to play this hard to get game with me and she was the only girl that I enjoyed chasing when she did it.

"You can't get out of this one," I whispered in her ear making her shiver a little.

She turned so she could face me, "I wasn't trying."

"Bull shit," I said leaning forward a little.

She smiled and it melted my heart, "You playing with my deck of cards again?"

"Maybe," I said before I captured her lips with mine. I wanted to do this for so long now and now that it was happening I couldn't believe it. When I felt her kiss back I deepened the kiss putting all my feelings for her behind it. I couldn't believe that something like this could feel so right.

She pulled away and I felt bad remembering that she was taken.

"I'm sorry," I whispered leaning my forehead against hers.

She smiled again, "Don't be. I'm not."

At the moment our eyes met I couldn't believe what I saw.

"Michelle what happened?" I asked as I lightly ran a finger over her eye.

"Let's move to the other room while I explain what happened. I think it's high time you learned who I truly am."

I was floored. Liz had told me that I'd eventually learn everything there was to know about Michelle, but I didn't care anymore. I just wanted to love her the way I knew she deserved and needed to be, but I lead her into the other den so we could talk and not disturb everyone. She followed and the moment I sat on the couch she sat next to me leaning into me while she told me everything.

I couldn't believe the life that such a beautiful and sweet person had to go through. All the times she was hurt and everything just made me want to love her even more. By the end of her story we were laying on the couch and she was wrapped in my arms. I just listened because I knew that's what she needed me to do and I wanted her to know I was always going to be there for her. Right now I knew this was the best way to show her that I wasn't like all the other guys she knew.

"And so Ben hit me and left so now I'm here," she finished cuddling closer to me.

"I'm really sorry Michelle. I..." she placed her finger over my lips hushing me at once.

She looked me in the eyes never breaking her gaze, "Nick I don't need you to be sorry for me. It actually opened my eyes to a few things."

I nodded and she went back to laying her head on my shoulder, "Besides I'm not sorry. Ben's never going to do it again. So I'm safe."

"Why are you going to stay with him Michelle if he treats you like that?" I asked while wrapping my arms around her.

"Ben is a sticky situation. He's not a normal Joe Shmoe. He's a very dangerous man. I have to wait until everything is right to get out again.

The timing is just off...for everything right now it seems."

I looked down at her and smiled, "I know what you mean."
She nodded and we were silent for a few moments neither of us wanting to break the peacefulness of the moment.


 

* * * *
 

~ Christmas Day ~
 

The next day everyone woke up to a big surprise. The tree was sparkling and presents were under it making the enormous living room look very small. Everyone gathered near the tree waiting for the moment when the presents would start being passed out.

"Hey where's Nick?" Aaron asked looking around the room.

"I don't know," Jane said looking around. "Everyone else is accounted for."

"Hey who's backpack?" AJ asked holding up the backpack that was sitting on the couch.

"MICHELLE'S HERE!" Courtney screamed pointing at one of the presents.

"Look it's her handwriting! I know that girl's writing anywhere."

"Ok so that explains the backpack, but where's my brother?"

"I think I know," AJ said dropping the back pack bounding upstairs to the only room that wasn't being used. When he came down empty handed everyone looked at him wanting an explanation.

"Sooo..." Aaron asked crossing his arms over his chest.

"Nick wasn't in his room and Michelle wasn't in the guest room."

"Guys come here!" Brian whispered from the door leading into the den.

"What is it?" Liz asked as she walked over to him. "Awwww. Someone grab my camera."

When everyone walked into the room they saw Nick lying on the couch with Michelle lying next to him in his arms, both sound asleep. After Liz snapped a few pictures AJ could resist it any longer and jumped on the couch landing somewhat in-between the two but mostly on Nick.

"What the..." Nick said shoving AJ to the floor.

He looked around and groaned.

"What time is it?" a sleepy Michelle asked rubbing her eyes snuggling closer to Nick.

"I dunno," Nick said, "But we aren't going to get back to sleep any time soon."

Michelle looked up only to be met with everyone's gaze, "I see."

"When did you get in?" Liz asked leaning on the back of the couch with her hands.

"About one this morning," Michelle said with a sigh as Nick sat up pulling her up with him.

"You knew she was coming?" Kevin asked looking at Nick and Liz.

"I didn't. I was up when I heard something downstairs. I went down there and was met by Michelle walking through my front door.

"I only knew cuz she called me. I would have told you guys but I was sworn into secrecy," Liz said with a laugh as AJ grabbed her around her waist.

"You could have told me," he whined.

"No I couldn't. It was a surprise for Nick and you would have been the first to spill the beans."

Everyone started laughing and Nick smiled, "Well it was a nice surprise," he said standing, "Now that everyone knows she's here and has woke us up let's go do what you guys are itching to do. The last time I saw the tree there were tons of presents under it."

Everyone laughed and bounded out of the room leaving Nick and Michelle.

"I guess maybe we should follow." Michelle said standing.

"I guess so," Nick said kissing her cheek softly before taking her hand and pulling her towards the door.

Michelle just smiled and followed without saying a word.