Archive of Our Own

He stepped out of the red truck, his expensive designer shoes crunching in soft snow. He grimaced slightly, his gaze looking around from behind his name-brand sunglasses. Everything was so… white. Every place he looked was covered in snow, and he didn't even know he hated snow until he was standing there, staring at it.

Est was used to the sunshine, heat, and beaches of Los Angeles. Sure, with global warming, it was getting colder, and snow did exist in LA, but it wasn't snowing there now! He already missed the pavement and palm trees if it meant he could wear a regular shirt and not five layers to keep warm.

Santa jumped out of the back seat, his eyes bright, "Oh my God! I've never seen so much snow before! Can we build a snowman?"

"Calm yourself, Anna," Est muttered, crossing his arms. It was freezing. Even in the warmest clothes he could find, the chill in the air was attacking him and reminding him of his misery.

"If I'm Anna, you're Elsa. Seems accurate," Santa hummed, earning a glare from his friend. Santa chuckled, "Come on, Est. This is going to be fun. A whole month to learn about small-town USA! And it's a Christmas town, no less."

Est wasn't exactly as thrilled as his best friend slash manager was. He was miserable, actually. He lost out on a Hollywood blockbuster movie because another actor decided to do a smear campaign against him, claiming that he was an asshole and a bully to younger actors. It wasn’t his fault the guy sucked at acting and Est didn’t. Est didn't even talk to the guy, but here he was, in a hellscape of a timeout.

Santa joined the trip for shits and giggles (his words to be honest). He was the one who picked the town, and Est was forced, or kidnapped would probably be his way of describing it, to live in some 'cozy' inn for the holidays.

It wasn't like he was going to celebrate Christmas. He hadn't celebrated since he left home at sixteen to become an actor. His parents didn't talk to him anymore. He had friends, but they had families, and he wasn't going to bother them for some Yuletide cheer. He really didn't care much for Christmas.

Santa's parents had decided to take a trip to Italy for the holidays, and Santa loved Christmas (he wondered if that's why his parents chose his name). Santa didn't want to be alone, and Est honestly was a little relieved that Santa was here. He hated being somewhere he didn't know by himself.

"Santa, I'll get your bags."

At the sound of his friend's name, the two turned. A handsome man with a soft face and sharp eyes stepped out of the red truck. He had on a leather jacket and mostly black attire. He looked like he stepped out of a rock music video rather than a red truck in a snowy town. And Santa was absolutely obsessed with him.

Santa's eyes basically sparkled at the man, "Thank you, Perth."

Est rolled his eyes, his arms crossed as he watched Perth start unloading their bags, Santa basically levitating.

The truck had enough seats for three people, but Santa made sure to squeeze in the middle as if space didn’t exist, batting his eyelashes as he asked Perth a thousand and one questions. Est knew that as soon as Santa saw Perth, he would be obsessed with him. He was exactly Santa's type.

As Santa continued to watch Perth, two young men came out of the inn and made their way down the steps. One had chestnut-brown hair under a cute blue beanie, and the other had silver hair and a pink matching beanie. They both had cute smiles, one with dimples and a cheeky grin, and the other softer with a smile and round cheeks.

"You two must be Est and Santa," the brunette nodded, "I'm Nut. This is Hong. Welcome to the Evergreen Inn."

The two immediately looked up at the building. It looked like a large brick house with a wrap-around porch. It had a wreath on the door and Christmas lights, though they were off since it was still morning. There was a small, swinging sign that said 'The Evergreen Inn', softly swaying in the morning breeze. It looked… cozy.

Est glanced at Santa for a moment. He had a few questions he wanted to ask, and he was never one to shy away from honesty. He glanced at the two, "Aren't you two a little young to run an Inn? Isn't that for like… old retired couples?"

"Phi, you can't just say that! I'm so sorry about him."

Hong laughed, "No, it's fine. He's right. It belonged to my grandma my whole life, and she's gotten too old to take care of it herself, especially since my grandpa passed. I offered to take it over."

"And being the best husband in the world, I agreed to stay beside him," Nut grinned, wrapping his arm around Hong's waist, "I'm such a great husband."

Hong pushed him away, "Last time I checked, I still don't have a ring on my finger. Get off me."

Nut refused to be pushed away and clung harder. Hong eventually just gave up and turned to Est and Santa, "Please ignore him. He's potty-trained, I swear."

Est chuckled, "I like you."

Hong winked at Est, earning a pout from Nut, but it didn't last long as Nut turned his attention to Perth, "I'll help you take them in."

Perth smiled and handed a bag over to Nut. The two went in, and Santa wrapped his arms around Est in a dramatic fashion, "Hong, right? Please tell me Perth is single?"

"We're here for a break from Hollywood, not for dating," Est reminded Santa, frowning.

Santa pouted, "I can multitask. And you're the one here for research technically. I'm here to keep you out of trouble."

Hong laughed, "Oh, you two will be fun, and yes, he's very single, and I think you have a good chance. He would have never helped anyone else. Also, I can't say I've ever seen Perth smile at anyone that's not our friends."

The shorter male bounced on his feet, basically squealing. Est just rolled his eyes. Hong caught the way Est looked around, and he smiled, "Follow me inside. It's freezing out here."

Est and Santa agreed and followed Hong up the steps as Hong spoke, "So… you're an actor?"

"Something like that," Est responded with a sigh.

Hong hummed, "And your next role is what? Rich guy stranded in a small Christmas town?"

"Pretty close," Est replied.

"You're not a talker, are you?" Hong joked as he opened the door for the two guests. Est just smirked as he walked in, Santa following with a smile.

"He's basically playing a less green version of the Grinch," Santa supplied as they settled into the warmth of the inn, his eyes shimmering at the sight of all the Christmas decorations, "Oh my God. I love Christmas."

"Is that why your nickname is Santa?" Nut asked as he came down the steps, Perth followed behind him, "You do seem quite jolly, no beard though. I feel a little let down. Hong told me Santa was coming to town early, and I've been such a good boy this year- Ow! Babe!"

Hong glared at Nut before going behind the counter of their little desk and sitting down at the computer, "I'll finish checking you guys in. Give me a minute."

"You deserved that, Nut," Perth chuckled. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and smiled, "I have to get back to the shop, but I'll see you around, Santa?"

Santa pouted, "You have to go? Aww."

"Be less obvious," Est whispered near Santa, earning a slight smack from Santa. Est chuckled as he looked away.

"Well, there is the tree lighting ceremony tomorrow night. I have to help my brother set it up, but otherwise I'm free if you want to see it… Together?" Perth offered, his voice slowly petering out as he glanced at three amused eyes watching him.

Santa nodded enthusiastically, "It's a date!"

Nut whistled from his spot behind Hong's chair. Hong was covering his lips, hiding a smile, his eyes barely fixated on the computer screen. Est's smile was blatant as he looked between the two. Perth just blushed and nodded his head, "A date… then. I'll pick you up at six?"

"I'll be ready," Santa assured.

Perth finally departed, his cheeks and ears red as he left. Santa was vibrating; he fell back dramatically in Est's arms. Est floundered in surprise as he caught his friend and manager before he could hit the floor. He groaned as he forced Santa to stand. Santa sighed dramatically, "I'm in love."

"You're being dramatic, and I'm the actor," Est muttered, his attention turning to Nut and Hong, "Is there anything to do in this town? Like a club or a mall?"

Nut smirked, "If by club, you mean a dance club? No. We have a bingo club every Thursday night at the community center. It's a rager sometimes. The old ladies are feisty though. If you mean like a mall, like tons of designer shopping? Also no. We have a Main Street with some shops that have been here since before we were born. Not designer, but homemade. Support your local businesses."

Hong held up two keys, Santa accepted them and handed one to Est, "It's a small town, so what you're used to in LA, isn't here. But maybe you'll find something else. It's almost Christmas, after all."

"I hate Christmas," Est replied.

"See," Santa frowned, "The Grinch."

"Bah humbug," Nut laughed, "You're going to really hate this town then."

"It's not so bad," Hong retorted, "I hated it growing up, but I don't know. It… feels like miracles can happen."

Est wanted to point out that miracles didn't exist and Christmas didn't make miracles happen, but he shut up. He watched as Hong looked up at Nut, smiling as if what they had was a miracle. He decided not to be Scrooge or the Grinch, since both had been mind enough to let them stay at his inn and helped them get a ride from the airport.

Hong turned back to Est and Santa, "Breakfast is at seven. If you want lunch, there is Yule & Co. It's a restaurant slash coffee shop— the only one, really — owned by our two friends, Tui and Lego."

Est frowned, "Is everything… Christmas themed?"

"365 days a year," Nut offered, "It is always cold and snowy here, and we never take down our Christmas trees and lights except for the one in the square. We only set that up twenty-four days before Christmas. It's tradition. Tourists love Christmas."

Yeah, Est was going to hate it here.

Santa said goodbye to their hosts, and the two went upstairs. Nut and Perth already dropped their bags off. Santa immediately wanted to explore the town, and Est just wanted to lie in bed. Despite Santa's begging, Est collapsed in his bed while his friend went running off into town.

This was a nightmare of his own creation. He fucked up, and now he had to deal with it. Even if he hadn’t done anything. One stupid scandal, and his life turned into a shit storm. He got a little too drunk and maybe mentioned the actor he was up against couldn’t act, and everyone turned on him. He was right, though. He didn’t care all too much anymore. Est was just over it.

The problem was he had to film a C-rate Christmas movie for a channel that regurgitates the same Christmas romances. Santa said this could be a small vacation, along with research for a guy who never liked Christmas. Sure, Santa called him the Grinch, but he wasn’t that bad.

Deciding he couldn't just stay holed up in this rather cozy bedroom for the next month, despite how cold it is outside, Est got up. He put on his jacket, beanie, and the scarf he got from Daou before he left, and he walked out of the inn. Hong was still in the lobby, but Nut was gone. Hong mentioned that he offered to show Santa around. Hong would have gone with Est, but he had stuff to do. Est didn't mind. He didn't feel like talking, really.

So he left the warmth of the Evergreen Inn and traveled the paved sidewalks, his hands stuffed in his pockets and his face up to his nose, buried in his jacket to protect his nose. Why did it have to be so fucking cold?

As he walked around the little town, he actually found it sweet. Quaint even, in an annoying kind of way. People who walked by smiled at him, and kids laughed as they ran around and threw snowballs at each other. There were garlands, red bows, and lights on absolutely everything. There was Christmas music coming from only God knows where. He was absolutely blown away by the fact that the whole town was in on this charade.

Maybe he was actually in Whoville on some snowflake, and he was the Grinch coming to steal Christmas? He really didn't have the energy, nor the pettiness against the town — yet. The day was young.

"Watch out!"

And, like some higher being, hearing his inner thoughts, his feet gave out from under him. His back hit the pavement, the wind getting knocked out of him immediately. His head hit the pavement and instantly, pain shot through him. He might have broken something, too, other than his dignity. He was actually thankful he was in bumfuck, USA, and not LA because the paparazzi would have loved to get this shot of him. It would probably be on repeat on TMZ.

"I'm so sorry!"

A small voice caught his ear. It was a young boy's voice, wrapped in a blue and red parka, with big, bright eyes and rosy pink cheeks from the cold. He was leaning over Est, far too close for Est's comfort. The child was missing two teeth: a front incisor and a canine on the left side.

"Wes, step back, buddy."

Another voice came, and hands grabbed the child, lifting him. Est allowed the newfound space to force himself up. A hand touched his back, helping him up. He blinked several times, the dizziness washing over him. He might have a concussion. There was a slight ringing in his ear, too.

"Shit."

His hand went to his head, resting against his forehead as he closed his eyes.

The child giggled, "He said a bad word."

"Wes," the voice said sternly. A sigh left the other, "Sorry about him. Are you okay? I can take you to the doctor. Dr. Jimmy is great."

Est finally opened his eyes and glanced over at the voice beside him.

Instantly, Est was wondering whether he had died and gone to heaven. Beside him, kneeling in the snow, wearing a much larger but identical parka as the little boy, was a man meant to grace magazines and TV screens.

He had jet-black hair, strands peaking out and covering his face beneath his black beanie. He had large, dark eyes that looked more like boba pearls than irises. His nose was cute, almost button-shaped. His cheekbones were defined, handsome and pink from the cold, even as they led to a fine jawbone that could cut glass. His lips were plump, pink, and very kissable.

Suddenly, this town wasn't so bad, and he loved Christmas.

"Am I dead?"

The man blinked at him before chuckling, "If you follow that with 'because I saw an angel', I'm definitely taking you to see Dr. Jimmy."

Embarrassment instantly filled Est, and he looked away, but the action brought on a swell of dizziness. He nearly collapsed right there, but strong arms wrapped around his waist, "Yup, you're going to the Doctor."

Est didn't fight as he was lifted from the ground. The man's strong arm wrapped around his waist and pulled Est's arm over his shoulder. He turned his eyes to the child, "Wesley, safely ran to the office. Tell Sea we're coming."

"Got it, papa," the little boy saluted before running ahead and down the road.

"Alright, let's go."

Est allowed himself to be walked down the sidewalk. He was both weak in the knees from what was definitely a concussion and in shock at the handsome man holding him up. However, something the boy said caught his attention.

"Papa?"

The man raised a brow at him, "Huh?"

"You're his dad?"

"Oh. Uh, yeah. Wesley's my son. Why?"

"You're so young."

The man chuckled, "Yes, and when you have a kid at eighteen, that happens. I'm twenty-three."

So four years younger than Est. He was older than Est thought. He looked like he was twenty, though his eyes looked tired. Probably from being a father. Est didn’t know the first thing about raising children other than he never thought about it much for himself.

"You are staying with Nut and Hong, right?"

Est glanced at him, "How did you know that?"

"Best friend privileges. Grew up with both of them. Also, we are a small town. Almost all the elders in the town were at my first birthday. You just know everyone," he chuckled. "I'm William, by the way. Also my brother Perth grabbed you this morning."

And Perth is his brother? Christ, it was a small town. He frowned, "And is Dr. Jimmy your cousin or something?"

"No, he's my dad."

Est turned to stare at William. The young man grinned, the smile bright. A soft, melodious laugh left him, "I'm kidding. It's a small town. Not a commune."

Est felt himself getting embarrassed again, but William's laugh made his heart skip. Why was he so attractive and funny? Not to mention kind and good with kids (which Est didn't know was something he was into, but apparently he was). Also, there was no mention of parents? Or wife? Est glanced down at the hand on his waist, and even with a fizzy head, he could tell there was no ring.

The trip to the doctor's office was quick, just down the road from where Est embarrassed himself in front of a handsome man and his adorable child. As they arrived, a man who Est was sure was an angel with a bright smile was at the door, "I'm assuming this is our patient. Didn't know you were the type to knock people off their feet, Will."

"I'll give that honor to Wesley and his wicked right hook with a snowball," William chuckled, helping Est inside. Wesley was there, sitting in the lobby with a stuffed puppy toy in his arms.

He pouted at William's words, his eyes almost watery, "I didn't mean to."

Est was immediately melted, and he was not a person who liked kids or who melted at the sight of tears. He was a fortress of no feelings and a heart two sizes too small, but he immediately wanted to reach out and hug the little boy.

"It's fine. I'm totally fine," Est tried, but the fluorescents of the lights in the doctor's office caused him to close his eyes. His head wasn't pounding, but he definitely didn't feel right.

Another pair of arms was on him, and he peeked at the angel man. "Are you Dr. Jimmy?"

The man chuckled, "No, that would be my husband."

"An honor really," Dr. Jimmy stated as he came out from the back, his hands in his pockets. He smiled and motioned with his head, "Bring him to the room. Wes, Sea will be out to play with you shortly. Okay, Kid?"

"Okay, Doc," Wesley called, still pouting a little.

Est was led into the office and carefully sat down on the bench. William unwrapped his arm from Est and took a few steps back. Sea smiled as he left, his hand touching Jimmy's arm briefly before he was out of the room, the door closing.

Jimmy took a seat in a chair and pulled up to sit in front of Est, "Okay, I'm going to ask you some questions to test your concussion, okay?"

Est nodded, but immediately stopped, a feeling of wooziness washing over him. Jimmy smiled, knowingly. He grabbed a file from the counter and pulled a pen from his pocket. "Can I get your full name and birthday?"

"Est Supha Sangaworawong. May 19th, 1998."

Jimmy wrote down what Est said, nodding, "And today's date?"

"Uh….," Est paused for a moment, frowning. "November 30th?"

Jimmy glanced up at him, "Are you asking me or telling me?"

"Telling you. It's November 30th.

The doctor smiled, "Can you tell me what happened?"

Est frowned, "I don't actually know. I just heard someone say, ‘watch out’, and the next thing I knew, I was on the ground."

Dr. Jimmy nodded, his attention going to William, "Will, did his head hit the ground?"

"It looked like it," William nodded, "He couldn't stand without help, and he seems dizzy."

Jimmy nodded, and the testing continued. He asked Est's medical history, asked him to rank any symptoms, checked his eyes, and his memory. He was even forced to stand up again and walk in a line. For the most part, Est was okay. Jimmy seemed satisfied that Est only had a very minor concussion.

"Rest, avoid your phone, TV, or even reading. Go to sleep early. You shouldn't have to worry about anyone watching you. Not waking up from a minor concussion is extremely rare," the doctor explained.

Est cringed, "That's… reassuring."

Jimmy chuckled, "Avoid bright lights and loud noises for the next twenty-four hours. You should be fine by the tree lighting ceremony."

Est hadn't been that interested in attending, but he was sure Santa would want him to go, especially to observe if Perth was giving signals and if Est approved. Est nodded anyway, and Jimmy continued, "After the next 48 hours, be very careful of headaches and dizziness. Avoid high-risk sports and only do light exercise, like walking, for at least a week. I'd say two. Come back here and let me do a final check-up before you leave town. If anything gets worse, do not hesitate to come back here, okay?"

"I appreciate it. Thanks," Est stood on his own, William's hand immediately shooting out to rest on his back. Est glanced at him, surprised, but William just smiled shyly before pulling his hand away.

Jimmy raised a brow, a smirk on his lips, "He should be able to walk on his own now."

"Sorry."

Est smiled a bit and bowed his head to Jimmy as he walked out of the office. As soon as he was in the living room, a bundle of energy slammed into his knees. William's hands found his hips, holding him from falling. Est instantly felt the warmth through his jacket. He glanced down at the little boy, hugging his legs.

"I'm so sorry, mister! I didn't mean to! You're not dying, right? Uncle Sea said you could die," Wesley's eyes filled with tears.

"Sea," Jimmy scolded, shaking his head, "He's fine, Wesley."

"Are you?" Wesley completely ignored the doctor and looked up at Est, his round, innocent eyes tearing through Est's little bit of resolve. Against every fiber of his being, telling him not to get too attached to the kid, he knelt, dropping to one knee so he was at eye level with the child. He smiled softly, "I'm okay. You had quite the throw. Maybe baseball is in your future?"

Wesley, even with Est assuring him, was all teary-eyed. Est wasn't sure what to do, and instinct took over. He picked up the little boy and stood up. Immediately, small arms wrapped around his neck. He buried his face in Est's shoulder. Est turned to look at the three adults in the room for help. Jimmy and Sea just smiled sweetly, while William was staring, unabashed. His gaze was fixed entirely on Est. Est raised a brow, but he didn't have a moment to question it until Jimmy spoke up.

"Remember to get some rest and stay hydrated. If you need anything, let us know. Be safe, Est," Jimmy offered with a smile.

Est said his goodbyes and, with William's help, finished some paperwork for Sea since Wesley refused to let him go. Once everything was handled, they left the doctor's office, Wesley still in Est's arms and William beside them. They walked down the road for a bit until William stopped him.

"Wes, come on. Let Est go," William attempted to pull Wesley away, but there was no movement. Est glanced at the little boy and looked to William with wide eyes. William's smile grew soft, "He fell asleep, didn't he?"

"Yeah…, what do I do? I don't know what to do with a kid,” Est’s voice was low, his brow wrinkled and drawn together. He was begging William for help.

William chuckled, "I got him."

With some effort, even in his sleep, Wesley was finally pulled from Est and was now in William's arms. The little boy clung to his father, still asleep. Est breathed a sigh of relief, but smiled at William, "Thanks for going with me. Um, I appreciate it. Weird way to meet, for sure."

William smiled brightly, all the way to his eyes. Est found himself shocked again by how handsome the other was and by the fact that he had a son. He looked so youthful, as if the future were within reach. It made Est curious, wanting to know more about William. This was very out of character for Est.

"I am sorry about all of this. First time in our town and my son gives you a concussion," William sighed, shaking his head, "I will cover everything. I promise. Maybe in installments?"

"Please," Est shook his head, "You do not have to worry about money. I have plenty of insurance, and it's pretty good. Surprisingly."

William smiled, nodding his head, "Okay, fair. You're an actor. I forgot that for a second."

Est tilted his head, smiling, "So you watched my movies?"

Suddenly, William looked shy. He chuckled nervously, "I've seen one or two. I was so surprised when Nut told me Edt Supha was staying at the inn."

Est was left surprised. He didn't actually think that William would admit that so honestly. Judging by William's face, he hadn't expected to be so honest either. Est watched as his face seemed to go through several stages of grief and paranoia at the new knowledge that he offered.

"Before you freak out," Est jumped in, "I'm flattered. You're really sweet. And I'm supposed to be taking a break, so I'm just Est."

William gave him a thoughtful look, and he smiled, "Well, just Est, doyou want to see the tree lighting with me tomorrow?"

That made Est pause. Was William asking him out? This is a date, right? Perth had asked Santa the same thing. This had to be a date.

"Are you asking me on a date?"

"It doesn't have to be a date," William offered, floundering slightly, "But I was aiming for that, so yes? Am I just embarrassing myself more? I'll shut up."

Honestly, Est didn't date. He had flings and acquaintances that he spent time with. There weren't dinner or movie dates or cute dates to see a tree. He didn't know how to date. Especially when he is supposed to be leaving the town in thirty days, but William was cute.

"Okay."

"Huh?"

"Pick me up at six," Est smiled. He turned and headed towards the Inn until William called his name. He turned his head, his hand on the railing of the stairs, as he turned to look at him. He smiled, "Yeah."

"I will. Pick you up at six," William was smiling again, bright, shining, and youthful.

Cute.

Est didn't respond. He just turned and walked inside. He had a smile on his face the whole night. Santa was desperate to know what happened. All he mentioned was that he might be getting into the Christmas spirit. Santa was doubtful, but he stopped arguing enough for Est to have dinner and get some sleep.

The morning after, Santa and Est did explore the town together. Est never got his chance yesterday with the whole doctor visit and minor flirting with a young, hot dad. He still didn't tell Santa. He was going to find out, but he also wanted to see how Santa reacted.

As the day wound down, Est had changed for his date. Santa eyed him, squinting, "You're wearing your 'I'm-Getting- Lucky-Tonight' sweater."

"No, I'm not, and please stop calling it that," Est adjusted the collar of his jacket. He really hated it when Santa called it that. It was just a normal cashmere sweater. The fact that he wore it twice, and he did get lucky, yes, but that was just a coincidence.

Santa wasn't convinced, but he remained quiet, focusing on his own attire. Around 5:45, they both went into the lobby. Nut and Hong were there, dressed to go out. Hong greeted them, "You both look nice."

"So do you," Santa beamed, "Are you both going to the tree lighting?"

"Yup," Nut put his arm around Hong's waist, "One of our many Christmas traditions. The whole town basically closes down for it. You're our only guests so far. We have one of the local teenagers, Chokun, look after the inn. He's also babysitting our friend's kid."

"Est!"

"Speaking of," Hong chuckled.

A bundle of joy came running at Est, banging into his legs. Est didn't even get a chance to turn fully before small arms wrapped around his legs. He chuckled, despite himself, his hand moving to rest on Wesley's head, "Hello again."

Wesley beamed at him. Santa stood there, confused. "Are you smiling at a child?"

"I smile all the time.

"Not at children. Who are you, and where is my best friend?"

"Apparently, going on a date with my brother," Perth chuckled, walking in. William was behind, smiling sheepishly. A young teenager was there as well, offering a small wave and smile before walking past Est to go greet Nut and Hong.

Santa was at a loss. He had no idea how to process all this new information, especially as Est kneeled and smiled at Wesley, "Have you been good? Not knocking anyone else down, right?"

"Nope! Not a single person," Wesley giggled, swaying slightly back and forth, "So you are seeing the tree with Papa? Uncle Perth and Papa set it up! I can't go because Papa said he wanted to spend alone time with you!"

"Wes!"

William's hands wrapped around his son's mouth, pulling him back against his legs. His face was firetruck red, eyes wide, "He's just… he has no idea what he's talking about."

Wesley licked William's hand, causing his dad to pull away with an 'ew, Wes'. Free from his father, he moved to stand behind the kneeling Est, his eyes suddenly bright with mischief as he looked up at Est, "He was telling uncle Perth how handy-some you were."

Perth was laughing, his hands gripping Santa's shoulders from behind. Santa was watching in shock, obviously wanting to laugh but still coming to terms with the scene unfolding before him. Est was kneeling for a child? That didn't happen.

Nut and Hong were holding each other, Hong hiding his face as he laughed while Nut just laughed loudly, slapping his very embarrassed friend on the back. He grinned, "This is the best thing to happen. I don't even need to wait for Santa. Specifically Claus. Not this one."

Santa rolled his eyes at Nut before looking at Est as he stood up, his hand on Wesley's head with the gentleness of a parent. Est killed plants—air plants weren’t even safe from his black thumb. Est didn't do familial things.

"No, seriously. What is happening, and where is my best friend with a heart of coal?" Santa asked.

Est glared at him before turning to William, "Shall we go before your son decides to spill all your secrets?"

"Oh, I can do that too," Perth offered, "When Nut told us Est Supha was coming, William fanboy'd so hard, he almo- gah!"

William grabbed Perth by the neck, pulling his brother into a headlock. He smiled innocently at Est, who merely grinned. He covered Perth's mouth, "Perth offered to drive us. Uh, we'll meet you guys outside. I need to have a word with my brother."

Est watched as William forced his brother out the door. He was enjoying this too much, especially when he glanced at Santa, who was laughing again. He rolled his eyes and looked down at Wesley, "I'll have your dad home by nine."

"Nah, ten is his bedtime. I have big bro Chokun," Wesley motioned to the teenager on his phone behind the desk. "He'll take me home by eight, and we'll watch Christmas movies! Papa only goes with Uncle Nut and Uncle Tui. Please get him out of the house."

With that said, Wesley gave Est's legs a slight push. Est chuckled and allowed himself to be pushed out the door. Santa, Nut, and Hong following. Perth was laughing as William hissed at him quietly.

Santa stopped Est. Nut and Hong walked ahead, joining the two brothers by the red truck. He frowned at Est, "You are willing to go to a Christmas event with a guy you just met who has a son? You hate Christmas, and you don't do kids. What if he has a wife?"

"He isn't wearing a ring," Est offered.

"Okay, but there is a mother to that kid," Santa reminded, crossing his arms, "We're only here a month, Est, and a guy with a kid? They don't do casual."

Est frowned. He already knew exactly what Santa was trying to say, but he wanted to see how Santa would play this: "What are you getting at?"

Santa groaned, "He seems like a good guy, Est, and you have a habit of… well, leaving good guys."

Offended didn't even cover what Est felt. He sucked in his cheek, his arms crossing over his chest as he glared at Santa, "Wow, thanks, Santa. Some best friend you are."

"I just want you to think about this, Est," Santa frowned, shaking his head, "This isn't just some guy at a bar. This is a guy with a child—a child who seems to like you for some reason. Most children run from you."

Not entirely a lie, but it didn't mean it didn't hurt. And Wesley just seemed like a good kid. He felt bad for hurting Est. There was nothing more. And it was just a single date. There were no expectations yet. Why was Santa being like this?

"How about you mind your business for once, Ta," Est didn't wait for a reply. He turned and walked over to the group of guys, smiling. "Shall we all go?"

Santa came up behind him, but he barely smiled, tossing an annoyed look Est's way. He wasn't an actor and couldn't hide his annoyance like Est could. He just smiled, pretending nothing had happened. William gave him a confused look, and he just shook his head. Nut and Hong climbed into the truck's bed, hoping in as Santa moved to the front seat. William made his way around to the truck's bed and held his hand out to Est, helping him up. They settled on the opposite side of Nut and Hong, Est against the back of the truck with William at his side. He'd never ridden in the back of a pick-up truck, but apparently, it was normal in this town.

The four in the back chatted as Perth drove them into town. Est mostly listened as the three friends chatted, occasionally chiming in when they asked him a question. He was stuck on what Santa basically accused him of.

Maybe Santa was right. William was a young father, and here was Est, coming into town for a short time with no expectations. He was an actor who flitted around life from one thing to the next. William was handsome and seemed interested in Est, and for the most part, that was enough for Est to have a little fun. The last thing he wanted was drama. He wasn't sure why Wesley had to be brought up. It wasn't like Est was looking to become a parent.

When they arrived, the three couples all went their own way. Nut and Hong went to find their friends Tui and Lego, whom William said Est would eventually have to meet. Perth wanted to show Santa to some of the booths that were set up. William didn't have a set plan for himself and Est, but it was evident he wanted to be alone with Est.

The two walked side by side, their hands in their pockets to shield them from the cold. William pointed out some shops and shared some funny stories. People greeted William like he was a celebrity. No one really looked at Est, other than to ask who he was. He'd say he was a tourist visiting a Christmas town. It seemed as if Est Supha was not a popular name in the town and he actually enjoyed the anonymity.

Eventually, they made their way to one of the booths, grabbed hot apple cider, and found a bench to sit down. They had a pretty good view of the tree, with about 20 minutes left until the mayor would be on stage to offer a few words before the lighting.

Est found the whole thing sweet. It really felt like he was in Whoville as the Whos prepared for their favorite time of the year. He couldn't remember a time whenhe actually saw people seem happy, not just pretending to be.

William leaned back against the bench arm, his eyes on Est. "You haven't asked."

The actor turned to look at him, mimicking his stance, "Ask what?"

"About Wesley's mom."

Well, this was surprising. Est smiled, shrugging, "Didn't know if I should."

"You could have," William assured with a soft chuckle. He looked away, a thoughtful look on his face, "We were eighteen. We dated throughout high school. Off and on. We had broken up maybe… three weeks before she found me and told me she was pregnant and it was mine. She was freaked out. She got into the NYU musical theater program. She was supposed to be leaving here. We both were."

Est nodding, his legs crossing as he listened. It sounded like a difficult time. They were so young. They had a future planned out, and a kid was not on the list. William sighed, "Her parents wouldn't let her abort the child. Said she had to have it. They wanted me to marry her, but we both said no. We'd just be miserable."

"You… didn't see a future with her?"

William shook his head, "I love Becky and I always will, but no. I think the last breakup was it for us. She didn't want to be a mother. She never had. I was bitter at first. The first year was hard, but I managed. I never wanted to be a dad. Or at least, I didn't think I did. I went with her to an appointment, and they showed us the sonogram, and I just… I just knew I wanted him in my life. He was like… a little round, egg thing, and I knew I loved him."

He went quiet then, his expression serene. Soon, a smile spread on his lips, "I told Becky I would raise him on my own. She had no obligation. Then I told my parents. They kicked me out immediately. Nut's parents took me in, and Perth never gave up on me. Once he was old enough and had a job, he took us in. He helped me raise Wesley. Nut, Hong, Lego, and Tui were always there, every step of the way."

That explained why William never mentioned his parents. They were around, but not in the picture. William was lucky to have his friends to help him, and his brother was there as well. Wesley had a team behind him, making sure he was never without love.

Est was quiet for a moment before smiling, "Wesley is fortunate to have you as a dad."

"I think I'm the lucky one," his smile was small as he thought about his son. Est couldn't help but think this was one of William's best smiles. He really loved his son.

And Santa's words came flooding back. His chest tightened, his eyes darting to and from William. He grimaced. He hated feeling guilty over something he hadn't even done yet.

"William, look. I-"

William tilted his head, smiling slightly, "I'm not telling you this because I am looking for a co-parent."

Est, immediately shut up. His eyes were wide as he looked at William. He hadn't expected William to say anything like that, though no person would say anything like that either. He blinked at William, "Huh?"

"I did ask you out, yes, but I am not expecting anything from you," William offered with a smile. "Yes, I am a fan, and the fact that you would even look my way, knowing I had a kid, is crazy to me. I am not expecting a diehard romance or anything like that. I can do fun and casual."

Est sighed, "You heard us."

It wasn't a question.

William shrugged, "A little. Perth didn't. He'd probably have agreed with Santa and told me to put a stop to this before it started, but I don't know. I am not usually a selfish person. Want to try it for once."

"And your first try at that is… me?" Est questioned, his confused frown turning into a sly smirk.

William smiled, his own smile sly, "I know what I want."

"And that's me?" Est continued, leaning forward a bit. His cheek rested against his hand, his elbow against the back of the bench. He blinked slowly, his expression morphing into one of unrestrained interest. His eyes scanned William's face, looking from one eye to the other, then to the lips, before looking back up. William caught the look and immediately leaned in as well, his arm against the back of the chair, his hand brushing against Est's shoulder.

Est couldn't help but like where this was going. He leaned in more, watching as William's eyes roamed his face before landing on his lips. He could work with this.

Just as it seemed like William might fill in the space between them, a booming voice called out. Est and William separated, their eyes going to the stage and the crowd that assembled. They looked back at each other and shared a look before smiling. They rose from the bench, throwing away their empty cups before joining the crowd.

"Welcome to the 45th annual tree lighting ceremony," the mayor called, his expression bright as everyone cheered and clapped. Est even found himself clapping along.

As the mayor continued, Est glanced around, spotting Perth and Santa not too far away. Perth had his arm around Santa, whispering something in his ear that made Santa giggle and punch at him lightly, but Santa leaned into Perth anyway. Est smiled, despite how his friend might have hurt his feelings before.

His eyes found Nut and Hong, just past Perth and Santa. They were leaning on each other as they listened, smiling and looking like an old married couple despite their age.

When his eyes went to William again, he found the other was already looking at him, smiling softly. There was a silent, knowing look on his face, and Est smiled back. He decided to lean into William's arm as he glanced back at the mayor and the tree. He felt William's arm wrap around his waist, pulling him closer. He grinned to himself, most interested in William's warmth than whatever the Mayor was saying.

"We owe the setup of this wonderful tree to our town's very own William and Perth. Where are you two?"

Immediately, cheers and clapping filled the air as eyes turned to the two brothers with their dates. William waved, and Est chuckled. Perth was waving too, but immediately hid behind Santa. Est leaned into William as he whispered, "So you're famous here?"

William shrugged, "Maybe a little."

Est hummed, nodding his head, "And does Mr. Famous have plans for the rest of the night?"

The look William gave Est told Est everything he needed to know. William's hand on his waist tightened slightly, and they turned to look ahead. In front of them, the mayor congratulated the town on a great year. After his final words, he pressed a button, and the massive tree glowed brightly. It wasn't just the tree that lit up; the entire street did. Lights above their heads and around street posts, storefronts were bright with Christmas joy as the lights blossomed to life.

Est couldn't hide his awe as he looked around. His smile was big, as luminous as the lights that just turned on. He looked at William, his eyes large and full of excitement, "You did all of this?"

William smiled, his head tilted to the side, "Mm, with my brother. Do you like it?"

"It's… amazing," Est's voice was barely a whisper, but William heard it. Est couldn't put it any better. It wasn't like LA didn't have light displays, but there was something about this little Christmas town that just made the light display so much more beautiful.

When his eyes fall back on William, he didn’t even get a chance to think before William's lips are on his. His eyes widened as he stared at William. William's eyes were on him too, and Est smiled against the kiss. His eyes closed, and his arms wrapped around William's neck. Est allowed himself to melt against William, giving into the handsome man as strong hands gripped his waist. He could feel the strength even through all his layers. William's hands on him could warm him up far better than his jacket.

When they pulled apart, Est tilted his head, "So… your bedtime is ten, right?"

William groaned, "Wesley is the worst wingman ever."

Est couldn't help but laugh, smacking William's chest. The other laughed too and shook his head, "Mm, but he'll be home with Chokun by now. Hong did say he was going to tell Chokun to take Wesley home if Wesley got too bored, and he always gets bored."

That put a little damper on Est's plans, but only for a moment. He glanced around. He saw Nut and Hong over by one of the gaming booths, laughing. Nut seemed to be trying really hard and failing dramatically, and Hong was loving it. On the other side, not far from the tree, Perth and Santa were talking with some people, probably friends of Perth's.

Est's eyes fell on William, "I have a solo room back at the Inn."

The realization seemed to hit William immediately. His hands on Est's waist tightened for a moment before he grabbed Est's hand. His head lifted, a strong lock on Est's gaze. His body straightened, and the look he was giving Est could be considered lewd, at best.

There was no waiting around for an answer. William was pulling Est after him. They did drive in with Perth, but the inn wasn't even that far away. The two took off running down the sidewalk, turning into children instead of the single father and infamous actor. They laughed as they tried to stop the other from winning. Even when they made it to the Inn, William grabbed Est's waist, pulling him back. Est laughed, smacking at William's arms.

Eventually, the two finally made it back inside. Chokun was there on the couch, Wesley asleep on his lap. He hadn’t left yet after all. William stood, frozen, while Est tilted his head, amused. They were both panting from the sprint to the inn.

Chokun gathered Wesley in his arms, grabbed the little boy's Paw Patrol backpack, and pulled it on. He'd done this enough times that he didn't even struggle. He smiled at William, "I'll pretend I didn't see a thing."

"Cho-"

"Nope. Not a thing," Chokun chuckled as he walked by the two. Est covered his mouth to hide his laugh. Chokun glanced back, "Though I might tell Aston. Have fun, dude."

With that, Chokun closed the door behind him. William was left with wide eyes and pink cheeks, while Est laughed, his arms around his waist, holding his sides. William looked at him like he lost his mind. Est walked over to him and brushed fingers against William's cheek, grinning, "Don't be so embarrassed."

"He's so going to tell Perth about this."

Est shrugged and moved to the stairs, his hand on the railing. He turned suddenly, his hand going to his jacket as he slowly pulled the zipper down. William watched the motion with unfazed focus. Est smirked, his tongue brushing the inside of his mouth as he watched William's laser focus as he slowly unzipped his jacket.

"Let's not forget why we're here, William."

William's eyes snapped up to Est's, hunger and lust prominent in his gaze. Est grinned and moved, darting up the steps to his room. He heard William chasing him up the steps, and as he struggled to get the key in the door, arms were around his waist and lips against the back of his neck. Est shuddered at the feeling, his neck tilting just a bit to let William have more access while his hands shook, trying to get the key in the door.

"Fu…," he breathed in frustration. William chuckled, his breath tickling Est's ear. Est couldn't remember the last time he was this frustrated by someone's attention. William's hand found Est's as Est struggled to get the key in the door, and with practiced ease, helped Est get it in and unlocked it.

Once they were in the room, William turned Est and pushed him up against the door. The moment Est's back hit the door, he looked into William's face, seeing the way the younger man grinned, confident and assertive. His eyes fell to William's pink lips before looking up at his eyes, his grin growing.

Soon, William was kissing again.

No, not kissing.

Devouring.

William tasted of spiced apple cider and Christmas wishes. Spicy and sweet at the same time, and Est melted against him, his hands on William's hips. William's hand rested against the back of Est's head, holding him close. William's other hand gripped Est's waist tightly, pulling him close again. His hands were rough as they pulled the jacket from Est's body, not caring where it went as it hit the floor, William's jacket soon following.

Est's hands moved to William's chest, pressing against him, his fingers curling in the fabric of the flannel he was wearing. William's fingers still clung to the back of Est's neck, maneuvering him as they kissed, both fighting for control, but Est was losing the battle. He just wanted to give in completely, but he was also stubborn.

They spun slightly as they kissed, their bodies moving away from the door and to the bed, covers already thrown about because Est didn't make his bed after he woke up. William's eyes were open as he pushed Est towards the bed. His gaze was dark and steady, his lips absolutely claiming every feeling and sound Est made.

The back of Est's knees hit the bed, and he lost his balance, tugging William with him. They both made a noise of surprise, but that didn't stop the kiss. It only heightened the need more. William's hands pushed Est's shirt up, revealing the soft skin of his stomach. His hands, still cold from being outside and not wearing gloves, brushed the midriff, causing Est to hiss slightly from the cold.

William pulled away, his eyes on Est. Est looked up at him, his eyes hooded, slightly panting from lack of oxygen. The way William was looking at him was affecting Est. He was utterly lost to his own desire. His whole body tingled, the tension in his body long gone, the saliva in his mouth pooling as he tried to swallow reflexively.

His hands moved to William's waist, pushing up and lifting the fabric to reveal a toned stomach, abs forming, and lines that were absolutely tantalizing as his fingers brushed over them. Est couldn't help biting his lip as he looked up at William. His tongue brushed over his teeth, "Who knew raising a child could make someone so… fit."

William chuckled lowly, almost sounding like a purr as he kissed Est's jaw, his body shuddering at the feeling of Est's fluttering fingers against his stomach, "I do work out, as well. And Christmas trees don't throw themselves."

Est pulled back slightly, grinning, "You throw around trees?"

"Tis the season," William offered with his own matching smirk. His infuriating handsome brow raised and tilted head, a daring look in his eyes.

Est groaned as his hand went up and gripped the back of William's neck, fisting at the hair and pulling him in for a needy kiss, his legs lifting to wrap around William's waist. William didn't hold back his own sounds as Est kissed him back, teeth clashing.

William knew all the places where Est was begging for more. His hands were like an artist playing a guitar, knowing, even without Est's requests, what the other wanted. Est leaned into every touch, every caress, his body aching in all the right ways as he gave into William.

Time lost all sense of meaning by the time they had finally gotten their fill of each other. Est lay back against the pillows, his eyes on the ceiling as he remembered how to breathe. His body was sore in all the best ways. He couldn't even remember the last time he felt so good after sex. William was already pulling on his clothes after they cleaned up. Est pushed himself up on his elbow and watched with a sly smirk as the other looked for his clothes. They were thrown all over the room.

When William finally got his flannel back over his arms, he turned to Est. The actor was watching him, not the least bit shy about getting caught. He winked at William, causing the changing man to chuckle under his breath. William shook his head as he did up his buttons. Once his shirt was buttoned up, he walked over to Est.

Est leaned back, cheek resting on his hand as William loomed over him. William braced one hand on the headboard above Est's head and planted the other on the pillow beside him, then leaned in for a bruising kiss. It wasn't frantic or devouring like when they'd first tumbled into the bedroom—this one was lingering, still dominant and demanding, but more like a soft snow fall than a blizzard. A needy moan escaped Est as the kiss stretched on.

When William pulled away, he rested his forehead against Est's and smiled, "We should do this again. Maybe a few more times."

"Mm," Est hummed in agreement. "If you didn't have to go running, I'd say we could go three or four more times."

"Two wasn't enough?" William asked.

"Not even," Est replied.

They shared a knowing smile before they kissed one more time, a simple mixing of tongues and need before William forced himself away, pushing off the headboard. He brushed his thumb over his bottom lip as he stepped back, "If I don't go, Chokun will be sending a search party or worse, ask Nut to find me here."

"Go, go," Est waved his hand. He dropped his arm on the pillow, his head falling to rest on it nonchalantly. He smiled, "I'll see you later."

William backed up, his eyes still on Est's body, roaming the bare chest all the way to the edge of the blanket, "You promise?"

"Mm."

"I'll hold you to it. See you, Est," William grabbed his jacket off the floor along with his beanie, and with a wave from Est, he was out the door. Est stayed still for several moments before he grabbed the extra pillow and covered his face with it. He wanted to scream into it, his feet kicking slightly. He hugged the pillow to his chest, smiling dumbly, his top teeth biting into his bottom lip. He was going insane, acting like some love-sick teenager after what just happened.

The weeks that followed was full of lingering touches, hidden kisses, and moments that were just between the two of them. The time in Est's bedroom became twice and a third by the end of Est's second week in the small town. It was a secret well-known to the group of friends. No one talked about it. The questionable glances they earned were enough acknowledgement they would get.

Santa didn't comment on it, which surprised Est. They both acted as if their conversation before the tree lighting ceremony didn't happen. They joked and laughed and went on double dates with the brothers as if nothing happened. When Wesley was around, he clung to Est as if he were incapable of being separated from him.

Santa watched with a mix of concern and curiosity as Est actively played with the five-year-old child. He'd play with Wesley's toys and allow the child to climb on his shoulders. Est even smiled and fed the little boy when Wesley asked. Est had become a completely different person over the three weeks in the town, and Christmas was just around the corner. And that just meant it was almost time for Est to leave. That was another thing no one spoke about.

It was less than a few days until Christmas when Santa finally confronted Est again. William and Wesley had just gone home. They had dinner at Tui and Lego's restaurant, both of which Est immediately fell in love with. Wesley had spent most of the dinner in Est's lap, picking at his own food as William fed him pieces of chicken nuggets. William also spent a good bit just staring at Est, which Est pretended not notice, but enjoyed nonetheless.

As dinner wound down, Nut and William took Wesley outside to run off some of his energy. Hong and Perth went as well, leaving Est and Santa off to the side. Tui and Lego had customers to focus on, so they stayed behind.Est actually wished he had followed William into the park to run around with Wesley because the moment Santa sat next to him, his entire body froze. He already knew what was coming.

Est sighed, looking away, "Before you start, just don't. I already know what you're going to say."

Santa hummed, his eyes following Perth as he ran around with Wesley, chasing after William. He smiled softly, "And what am I going to say?"

"That I need to stop what is going on with William," Est stated, smiling as well. William did look so cute. Wesley clung to his papa as if he were the whole world. That thought made Est's smile fall slightly. He was Wesley's whole world, and Wesley was William's. Est was an outsider. He's not sure why the thought hurt.

The time he spent in William's home, sitting on the floor with Wesley on his lap as he colored and played. He even drew a picture of Est with William and him. Est had it sitting on his nightstand in his room. It had been so sweet, he couldn't just get rid of it. He didn't want to anyway. It was for him.

"And you think you shouldn't?" Santa asked, looking at Est earnestly, "Tell me. How do you want this to go?"

Est didn't respond right away. He didn't want to voice his answer. If he said it outloud, it would make it real – tangible. The answer was there on his own face as he watched William grab Wesley around the waist and spin, the little boy giggling madly. He wanted to be over there, and chase after them. The last few weeks with Wesley and William have been among the best of his life. He almost forgot all the problems he left back in LA because something about this Christmas town and this little family made it the most enjoyable time of his life.

He was starting to love all the glowing lights that beckoned everyone in. He loved the fluffy snow where he could make snow angels with Wesley and snowmen with William. The town was becoming comfortable and safe, something Est wasn't sure he knew how to be. Comfortable and safe didn't come easily in LA, the land of endless traffic, police sirens, and paparazzi trying to get Est at his worst.

Life was so easy in this town. Would it be so wrong if he actually thought about…

"Est."

Est turned to look at Santa. Santa's face told Est that he knew what Est was thinking. He shook his head, "You need to end this. Before anyone gets hurt."

"Christmas is tomorrow."

Santa nodded, "It is."

He sighed, "Can I just have one more day?"

The other seemed to think about it, but nodded his head. They went quiet after that, just watching. Eventually, Santa spoke up again, "I told Perth to give me a year."

Est looked over at Santa and saw that sweet smile again on his lips. The kind of smile that told Est he was going to lose Santa. Santa wasn't like Est. He could leave LA if he wanted. He stayed for Est, but Est would never make him stay.

"You'll leave LA?"

Santa nodded his head, "Mm. I will. I never liked LA to begin with. I like this. The snow, the little town, the people."

"And the guy in the leather jacket and sparkly smile whose eyes follow you everywhere," Est supplied with a soft smile.

His best friend and manager, against his better judgment, smiled and nodded, giggling as he nudged Est. "Maybe a little."

Est laughed, shaking his head, but once the laugh died down and his eyes fell on William and Wesley again, his heart tightened. William was kneeling in front of Wesley, brushing snow from his hair as Wesley looked up at William with big eyes, talking a mile a minute.

The actor had been in blockbuster movies with gunfire and high-speed chases. He'd done feel-good films where the lead character survives all obstacles. He's even done romance, where he won the girl's heart and lived happily ever after.

But this was real.

This wasn't some movie, and he wasn't acting.

He had fallen for William.

Each kiss felt like a secret promise.

Every touch left Est wanting to cling to the warmth.

All the times his arms wrapped around Est and held him too close.

But there was a life back in LA. He had a career that he was trying to save. He had a movie in the works. He had auditions to attend.

He wasn't like Santa. He wasn't strong enough. Acting was all he knew. It was all he ever wanted to do. He couldn't just give that up. He was a coward. He didn't know how to do any of this.

“... um…, Est?”

Est blinked out of his thoughts and looked ahead. Wesley was standing there. He had this shy expression on his rosy pink cheeks, his beanie falling a bit too far over his eyebrows. He was shuffling his feet, his hands behind his back. He didn't look at Est.

"What's up, Wes?"

"Can…. Will you spend Christmas with me and Papa? Please?"

Est's eyes widened. He looked up at William, a few feet away, smiling softly. It was that smile that made Est realize it wasn't just casual anymore. This stopped being casual days ago. Days ago, when William held his hand on the dinner table while he chatted with his brother and Santa about one of their dates. Or the way William's kisses before they parted got softer. The way his eyes lingered with that soft, infuriating, handsome smile that was all teeth and sunshine.

He didn't need to look at Santa to know what Santa was thinking. Est was not getting out of this unscathed. He was going to break this little boy's heart.

“Wesley…, I…”

Wesley's eyes immediately watered, and Est moved. His arms wrapped around Wesley, and he picked him up, bouncing him a little, "Of course. I'll be there."

His eyes fell to Santa, worry and disappointment on his face. He knew Est wouldn't have been able to say no, but this was going to hurt when Est had to leave. Est wanted to explain to Wesley, but how was he supposed to explain that he had to leave? How was he supposed to explain that he couldn't stay?

When his eyes fell on William, he saw a blank expression. William knew he was going to leave. He saw it on Est's face. He pulled on a smile and walked over, pulling the now excited Wesley from Est's arms. He didn't look at Est as he looked at his son, "Excited?"

"Yes! I can give Est the present I made him!"

Est's heart clenched. He wanted to cry. Wesley made him a gift?

William looked at Est and gave him a sad smile, "Yeah, Wes. You can."

The rest of the day went by, and the elephant in the room only grew, especially as Wesley asked Est to tuck him in to bed. He was talking a mile a minute, even though his eyes were barely able to stay open. Est thought it was adorable, painfully sweet that Wesley just wanted to tell him everything. He wasn't sure what he had done, but he was utterly captivated by the little boy, and he seemed to love Est.

Est brushed his hand over Wesley's forehead, "Alright, little puppy shark, let's sleep, okay?"

"You'll be here when I wake up, right?"

It felt like he was punched in the gut. He couldn't answer. He didn't want to lie. He wasn't even sure what the truth was. He wanted to run away from this. He wanted to go back to his world of pretend. It was safer than this.

"Hey, big guy," William jumped in. His hand found its way to Est's waist as he leaned over Est's shoulder to look at his son. "Let's go to sleep."

Wesley pouted, taking Est's hand as he looked up at him, "Promise?"

Est didn't respond. He just smiled with practiced ease. He brushed his fingers against Wesley's cheek before leaning down and kissing his forehead. He leaned back and smiled, "Get some sleep, okay? Good night."

The little boy nodded, smiling up at Est. He closed his eyes, and William led him out of the room and into the living room. His hand had been firm on his waist until they arrived, and he pulled away.

Est kept walking further into the room and stopped, his arms crossing over his chest. His expression morphed immediately, his eyes watery, and his chest seized in pain. It was coming. As he stared down at his feet, he wished the floor would swallow him whole so he didn't have to deal with this.

"You're not staying for Christmas…, are you?"

Est didn't want to respond. He didn't even want to look at William because the truth was already laid out. He had to leave. He had to get on the earliest flight. He had to run away because if he stayed any longer, he wasn't sure he would survive.

Instead of answering, he walked around the couch and grabbed his coat, which he had laid down. As he reached for it, William's hand fell on top of his, locking it in place. Est looked up, and William's face crushed him. He looked so helpless.

Est tried to pull away, but William held him.

"Will, please…," he hated how his voice cracked. He shook his head, holding back the tears, "Let me go."

"No, because you don't want to go," William's voice was resolute, but there was a slight tremor, the fear that he was wrong.

He wasn't wrong.

Est didn't want to go.

And that terrified him the most.

"I can't do this," Est's voice was a whisper, "Please…."

"You're a coward," William said, his voice low. His eyes were wet with tears, even with the simmering anger, "You want to be here. With us. You love us."

"I can't!"

Est pulled his hand away, snatching his coat. He held it to his chest like a protective shield, using it to keep distance from William– from the truth.

He shook his head, closing his eyes, "I don't know how to do this. I don't know how to be what you need. What Wesley needs."

"That's the thing, Est, we don't need you."

Est's breath caught.

"…We want you."

His knees almost gave out, but he refused to show weakness, even as the tears started to run down his cheek. He watched as William went around to the table where a plate of cookies and milk sat, and a little envelope.

William grabbed it and walked over to Est, pushing it against his chest. Est's hand instinctively reached for it as William pulled away. He didn't look at it. He didn't open it. He just stared at William. William crossed his arms, shaking his head, "I told you I could go casual. I lied. I can't. I never wanted to just be casual with you, but I knew you'd leave, and I still fell for you."

"Stop."

"No," William turned to look at him, "I fell in love with you. I fell in love with you and the way you love my son."

William walked up to Est, and Est wanted to step back, but he just looked up at William instead. Soft, but calloused hands touched his cheeks, holding him like he was a present from Santa Claus, precious and fragile on Christmas morning. He hated how much he loved it.

"You smiled at him like he was everything. You never hesitated to hold him. You never turned him away. You played with him. You laughed with him. You wiped his tears when he scraped his knee." William's voice was so tender.

He sounded so comforting, his velvety voice soothing and gentle, and it was breaking Est: his gentle, steady gaze and the slight smile.

He sounded like Christmas morning, after the sun just risen and the presents were under the tree. He sounded like freshly fallen snow covering a beautiful landscape.

Est wanted to drown in him.

But he couldn't.

He couldn't do this.

He pulled away, putting distance between him and William, shaking his head over and over again, "No…, please…."

"I know you want to stay," William's voice was confident, even if Est wasn't. "I want you to stay. I want Wesley to wake up tomorrow morning and see you here, waiting for him. I want you here the morning after that and the morning after that. We can do this, Est."

"No!"

Est was surprised by the volume. William seemed startled as well. Est hugged the letter to his chest, "I'm leaving. I am going back. To LA. Back to my life."

William's expression broke, the last of his resolve broken by Est's words. He shook his head, his eyes wide. He reached for Est again, but Est stepped back, his hand shooting for the doorknob. The tears leaked down his face, blurring his vision, "No…, I am… I am so sorry, Will. I am so sorry, but I can't."

He never gave a chance to say anything as he opened the door and ran out. He never even put on his jacket. He just ran and ran until he made it back to the inn. Nut and Hong were by the desk, flirting and laughing, but it died when they saw Est and his tearstricken face. Hong stepped forward, eyes wide and concerned, but his eyes turned to Nut when Nut's phone rang. Nut lifted it, stared at the screen, then showed it to Hong. Est saw the screen.

William was calling.

A sob broke through Est as he saw the picture of William and Wesley on Nut's phone. He didn't wait, and he ran up the stairs, two at a time. Once in his room, he grabbed his bag and started packing, the letter to Santa Claus shoved in the pocket of his jacket, forgotten as he readied his escape.

Santa came running in, panting, "Perth said Will called him and- … Est?"

Est turned, his eyes wet with tears and panic, "I want to leave. Tonight."

"Est, it's like nine at a night," Santa walked in, his hands up as if he was talking to a wild, scared animal. Est was scared. He was absolutely distraught. He just wanted to run away and pretend the last month never happened.

He wanted to forget Wesley's rosy cheeks and bright eyes staring up at him like he hung the moon. He wanted to forget William's charming smile and sweet voice. He already missed them. He missed them so much that it hurt.

Est only knew them for less than a month, and it felt like he'd found everything he'd ever wanted. There was no need to ask Santa Claus to bring presents down the chimney when the only presents he wanted were from a single father with a heart of gold and a precious little boy who smiled like jingle bells.

"Ta, please…."

He collapsed, but Santa was there to hold him. He held him as he called Perth for a ride. He held him as he finished packing Est's suitcase. He held him in the back of Perth's truck, the silence far too deafening. Est felt ill.

As they reached the ticket booth, Santa helped Est pay and turned Est to look at him. Est had stopped crying, but his face looked a mess. He looked absolutely wrecked. He looked at Santa, who seemed just as devastated as he was.

"I'll be back in a few days, okay? You'll be alright until then?"

Est nodded, "I'm sorry…."

Santa shook his head, "Don't apologize to me. … get some rest on the plane. I love you, Est."

"I love you too."

They shared a hug, Est clinging tightly to his friend. When they released each other, Santa kissed Est's forehead. For a split second, he smiled before he grabbed his ticket and headed over to security. He glanced back at Santa and Perth, both waving at him before he disappeared.

He couldn't believe Santa managed to find a flight. It had a layover in Denver, but he didn't care. He just needed space. He got through security and made it to his gate, where boarding had already started. He didn't even care that he was in a coach. He just took his seat and leaned back, glancing out the window beside him.

He slept through the flight until they landed in Denver. He got on the next plane, this time in first class. He settled back, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He felt a crinkle of paper, and his heart seized immediately.

With a shaky hand, he pulled the note out.

In messy, childlike handwriting, he read: "SANTY CLAWS".

Est giggled, but it turned into a sob. He could see Wesley sitting there, smiling happily as he wrote a letter to Santa at his little table in the living room, where he colored pictures for Est.

His hand continued to shake as he opened the crumpled paper, his eyes brimming with tears as he read.

DEAR SANTY CLAWS,

I NEVER ASK FOR ANYTHING BC I HAVE PAPA BUT THIS YEAR I WANT TO ASK FOR EST. I WANT EST TO STAY WITH ME AND PAPA. CAN HE BE MY OTHER PAPA? PAPA LIKES HIM. I LIKE HIM TOO. PLEASE? I HAV BEEN A GOOD BOY ALL YEAR! I ATE ALL THE GROSS GREEN VEGGIES AND NEVER HURTED A FLY. I ASKED MAMA AND SHE SAID OK. SHE WANTS PAPA TO BE HAPPY TOO. I WILL BE A GOOD BOY FOR EST TOO. I PROMISE!

This wasn't fair. Wesley couldn't want him. And he asked his mother? He wanted Est to be a part of his life? His shoulders trembled as he tightened his grip on the letter. Even in messy handwriting, Wesley was the cutest thing he ever known.

Even as his tears smudged the writing, his eyes fell to a short line of script at the bottom of the letter. This was William.

Dear Santa Claus,

All I want for Christmas is for Est to be happy. I don't want him to hate Christmas or be alone. Even if it's not with us.

Est buried his face in the letter, muffling his sobs since he was on a plane. He was so thankful no one was beside him, and most people were already sleeping.

He could not remember ever crying so hard in his life. He never felt this broken. He'd been through breakups. His parents didn't care for him. The business he thought he loved aimed to destroy him.

Nothing hurt as much as this letter.

When he arrived back in LA, he took off his jacket and went to get his bag. His eyes were puffy and red, and he hadn't slept in over twenty-four hours. He felt broken. The letter from Wesley and William was in his pocket, a sad reminder of what he gave up.

He called his Uber and got in, his eyes scanning the LA life he had been away from for a month. It didn't look like Christmas here, even with all the lights and Christmas decorations. It was all palm trees and people in shorts. It was Christmas day, but why didn't it feel like Christmas?

He got out of Uber when they arrived at his apartment, and he stepped out, pulling his bag from the trunk. He said bye to his driver and headed to the door. He opened it and stepped in, kicking off his shoes.

As he stepped further into his home, the lights switched on. He yelped in fear, his eyes wide as he looked around.

There were Christmas lights everywhere. Est didn't own Christmas lights. He never celebrated Christmas, and everything was illuminated. There was a beautiful tree, all decked out in ornaments, lights, and tinsel. He definitely didn't put that up.

Soon, two figures came out, and Est dropped his bag to the floor.

William and Wesley.

"H-how…?"

"Santa picked a flight he knew would force you to get back later," William offered, smiling, his head tilted, "It gave Wesley and me time to beat you here."

Wesley stood by his father, his eyes watery as he clung to William's leg, "You left…."

Est felt his heart break, "Wesley…"

"You can't leave us," Wesley stepped forward, his eyes determined even with tears in them. "I asked Santy for you."

William rested his hand on Wesley's head, "Give him your other letter."

Wesley pulled a folded letter from his pocket and walked over to Est, holding it up. Est took it, his hand shaky as he gripped it. In Wesley's handwriting on the front read: EST.

Slowly, with a shallow breath, he opened it.

DEAR EST

CAN YOU STAY WITH US THIS CHRISTMAS AND ALL THE OTHERS TOO?

William's handwriting at the bottom continued the note.

Dear Est,

We followed you here because we didn't want to be apart. We're your present this year.

Est broke after that, the sob heart-wrenching as he fell to his knees in front of Wesley. He hugged him tightly, clinging to the little boy. Wesley hugged him back, his arms wrapping around Est's neck. William was there now, his arms going around both of them, holding them close. Wesley was crying as he clung to Est, begging in a sweet voice for Est to stay with him.

The three stayed there, in the middle of Est's apartment, clinging to each other. Eventually, though, Wesley had fallen asleep, tired from the quick turnaround of a flight (his first one ever) and helping William set everything up. He was now sleeping in Est's bed, curled up in one of Est's sweaters, hugging his puppy shark plushie.

After cleaning his face, Est made his way into the living room, where William was sitting on the phone, probably with Perth. Est smiled softly as he walked over, taking a seat beside William. Immediately, William's arm was around his waist, tugging Est to his side. He didn't pull away. He just leaned into William's side. He could hear Perth's voice on the phone.

"Yeah, I'll let you know what happens. Bye."

William hung up the phone and tossed it aside before his other arm wrapped around Est, pulling Est even closer (which should have been physically impossible, but William was determined). Est chuckled, pushing against William's chest, "Let me breathe."

"No," William buried his face in Est's neck, sighing, "I missed you."

Est was quiet and sighed, smiling softly, "I'm sorry."

William pulled away, his eyes sad as he looked at Est, "I should have fought harder to make you stay."

"I am a coward," Est admitted with a sad smile, "I… was so scared. I don't know how to do this."

"We'll figure it out," William assured, lifting Est's chin so that Est could look at him, "You, me, and Wesley. We'll do it. Together. Don't leave us again."

"I won't. I'm not going anywhere," Est whispered, his eyes shimmering with tears again, "I don't think I could."

William smiled now, leaning in as he pressed a soft kiss to Est's lips. He breathed a soft sigh, "You are the best Christmas gift I could have ever asked for."

Est melted into William's arms, kissing him back because he couldn't think of anything else to say. They stayed like, wrapped up in each other.

– One Year Later - CHRISTMAS DAY -

LEAD ACTOR EST SUPHA GIVES UP BEVERLY HILLS FOR JINGLE BELLS

Est snorted as he read the title of the clickbait article that Santa gave him. He guessed it was true. He was no longer acting and lived in a town built around Christmas 365 days a year. He loved the town, and he found ways to keep busy. Santa ended up moving into town too, not wanting to be away from Perth. He helped Est put their lives in LA behind them. Est wasn't sure he would have been able to say goodbye completely if not for Santa.

When it came to working and making a living, he mostly helped William by doing odd jobs around town. Eventually, people learned he used to be a swimmer, and suddenly, he was the swimming coach, with Wesley as his mascot (Wesley decided this, and Est refused to disagree). He enjoyed it. With acting, he only really got to swim for exercise. He missed doing it more often.

It was hard at first. Est missed a lot of comforts that came with being in LA. He had to let go of a lot, but it was worth it, especially as he saw the precious little boy opening his Christmas presents.

"OH! A NEW PUPPY SHARK!"

Wesley held up the doll, his eyes large and bright as he showed it off. He brought it into his arms and hugged it with all his might, "I love him!"

Est was leaning against William on the couch as they watched Wesley open his presents. He was all wrapped up in one of William's oversized sweaters, which Est swears is the warmest thing he's ever worn in his life. He had his hot cocoa in hand, the sweater sleeves wrapped around his hands, looking more like paws.

He loved this. He loved lounging on the couch with the man he loved, watching the child he adored. This was worth it. A month in this Christmas town was enough to change his whole life around, and now, he was the happiest he had ever been.

"It's your turn," William whispered in his ear.

Est hummed, dropping his head back on William's shoulder to look up at him. He smiled, suspiciously, "We said no gifts for us."

Wesley giggled and grabbed the last present under the tree. It was a smaller one, all wrapped up in red and green wrapping paper and a bow. He walked over and held it out to Est, his smile almost wicked.

William grinned, "I never agreed to that, so open it."

Est eyed the two troublemakers he loved, but gave in. He sat up and took the present. He was gentle as he pulled off the paper and the bow. When he revealed a red velvet box, his eyes widened.

Beside him, William moved off the couch, his knee hitting the ground as he stared up at Est. His hands were soft and gentle as they took Est's hands in his own, his fingers brushing the velvet case. He smiled up at Est as he opened the box. Resting in the case between white cushions was a silver band.

It was a wedding ring.

Est's breath caught, his eyes wide. Wesley moved to mimic his father's stance, a look of pure determination on his tiny six-year-old features. William's expression was less confident, slightly unsure, but still bright as he spoke.

"Est, I love you. I can't imagine my life without you ever again. You gave up your career and life in LA to be a swim coach and suffer grueling snow."

The laugh that left Est turned into a slight choked sound, his hand going to cover his mouth. The tears glistened in his eyes, threatening to fall, but they weren't sad. They were happy. He was so unbelievably happy.

William grinned, "Having you in our lives has been the best present we were ever given. I didn't think you'd ever fall for me, but I am so glad you did. And I love you so much. Wesley loves you. Please… please marry me and stay a part of our lives forever."

"Become my Pa too," Wesley nodded, grinning, "Please! Please!"

Est nodded, his eyes crinkled at the corners, his smile bright. The tears pooled in his eyes as a rush of intense, yet positive, feelings overcame him. He chuckled through his tears, "Yes…, yes. I love you both."

William stood up, his hands shaking as he pulled the ring from the case and slipped it onto Est's finger. His arms went around Est's waist, pulling him in for a demanding kiss. Est easily gave in to it, melting into William's arms. His hands held William's face as if William were precious, and he was. William meant the world to Est.

"Wait! Me too!"

The couple pulled away and laughed. Wesley was now standing on the couch, pulling the two apart. William leaned in and put his arm under Wesley's legs. Wesley's arms went up to wrap around William's neck while Est helped, his arm going to hold onto Wesley's tiny waist. They pulled the little boy in, and he kissed both their cheeks.

His smile was bright, all teeth and happiness, "We're going to be a family. I have my Pa and Papa. Best Christmas present ever!"

Est teared up more, his lips shaking. It made Wesley giggle as he wiped Est's tears away. William smiled brightly, unable to hold back his happiness, "It's the best Christmas present I could have asked for."

The former actor nodded, "I never enjoyed Christmas. I never had anyone to celebrate with. Never cared about the presents or anything. I just sat alone… in my apartment. But… I can't imagine a Christmas without you two. Thank you… for loving me."

The three held each other tightly. Est cried while William offered sweet words, and Wesley wiped the falling tears.

Christmas had always been a memory of everything Est didn't have. Now there was nothing else he could ever want. He had everything.