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We pull in at my house about mid-afternoon, and mom ran out to give me a big hug. I felt my cheeks burn at mom's P.D.A. in front of Tina and Nancy, i suffer through it knowing that she's missed her only son.

"My word!" She exclaimed after pulling away from me, and squeezing my arms. "You've been working out." She looked surprised.

I introduce everyone to each other, ignoring her compliment.

"Oh, Nick, your girlfriend is so cute!" Mom exclaims next, and my cheeks went even redder.

"And those hips look good for bearing children too!" she said, more to herself than to anyone.

Oh, please kill me now! I beg some unknown gods.

"We're not—" Tina and I say in unison, but mom ignored us as she shakes Nancy's hand.

"I'm so glad you were willing to come," mom's voice is more exuberant than usual, and I wonder if she is putting on a show for our guests. I hope her and dad haven't been fighting too much lately.

I took a closer look at my mom, and that was when I noticed a slight flush on her cheeks, and I realize she is drunk.

"Is Loveth coming?" I asked.

I haven't seen my sister since last Christmas, and that's because that was the only time she might be willing to be around our father. We communicate irregularly, but it's still nice to see my older sister from time to time. I'm not holding my breath, on it though.

"Yes, she said she has to work, and won't be here until Christmas Eve though," mom sounds down for a moment, but her smile quickly returns, as she ushers our guests inside, leaving me to unload the car.

It takes a number of trips, and despite the cold, I was sweating slightly as I bring the last bags in. Tina and Nancy will be sharing the guest bedroom, which unfortunately is right next to my parent's room. There will be no sneaking in there at night, and my room is across the hallway from dad's and mom's. It looks to be a sex-free week.

My dad was reading a newspaper in the den and drinking a beer. From the pile of cans next to him, I knew not to bother him. I find the other three women in the dining room, sipping on hot cocoa. Tina jumps up to make me some, and I gratefully sat down. Between Vage's white light last night, and unloading the car, I'm more than a little tired.

"Your girlfriend is so cute, Nick," mom leans over and whispers to me. "And smart, too."

"She's not my girlfriend, mom," I protested, knowing it was useless..

Mom looked at me as though she doesn't believe a word of it. Resistance is futile, I thought. I was saved from further argument as Tina brought me my steaming brown drink.

"Thank you," I tell her, and I was rewarded with her dazzling smile.

My first sip of the drink sends a delicious warmness through my chest, and that isn't entirely due to the hot chocolate. A quick glance at Tina shows a wicked smile. She'd spiked my drink.

Mom and Nancy start to discuss about work, and I found out that Nancy is a registered nurse at the main hospital. They became so engrossed in their talking, that Tina and I was able to slip out unnoticed.

"Your mom seems nice," she said to me, as we walk into the guest room.

"Yeah. . . She seems happy. I think she's hiding something." I tell her, trying to keep my words to a minimum. Tina is still affected by my voice, and considering the lack of opportunities ahead of us, I don't want to cause her any undue stress.

"You worry too much, Nick," she grabs my shoulders, turning me to look at her. "Or can you read minds now, too?"

I silently laugh, but shake my head in negative, I can't read minds, but I still worry about how overly cheerful my mom seems to be acting, and her level of drinking.

Tina brought her lips to mine, and I kissed her happily, until she moans. I pulled away, remembering to tell her about the walls.

"The walls are paper thin in here, so you will have to be extra careful, and my parent's room is right next door, they can hear everything," I warned her, repeating, "Everything."

Tina looked to the wall in question, and then turns back to me with a wicked grin.

"That could get interesting," she said, as she steps back up to me, and starts kissing me again.

We have to break apart again a few seconds later as we hear our mothers walking down the hallway. I step away, and act as though I was straightening the blankets on the bed. Our mothers looked at us, suddenly growing silent as they walked in, and I knew we aren't fooling anyone. Tina's grin at my attempted ruse doesn't help, and both older ladies burst out laughing.

I felt foolish, but I had grown up under my parent's rule, and some habits still stick, apparently.

Dad finally came out of his den before dinner, and barely says two words throughout the meal. Mom more than makes up for it though, talking enough for all of us.

Dad only eats half his meal, before standing up, "I'm going into the office. There are some files I need to file."

"But dear, you've been drinking all day, and we have guests. Can't it wait until tomorrow?" Mom asked, worriedly.

"Dammit, don't tell me how much I've drunk, woman. I said I need to go, and those files won't file themselves." Dad storms out from the room, his plate still on the table, as we all sit in stunned silence.

I knew my dad is a big shot lawyer, but a case that needs to be filed this late and this close to the holidays? I doubt it.

I kept my mouth shut though, my mom tries to put on a brave face, as though everything is okay.

When the rest of us are done eating, Tina and I cleared the table, while our moms put the dishes in the dishwasher.

"Why don't you kids go see a movie tonight?" Mom said as we bring the last of the dishes to them.

"I'm sure you two don't want to hang out with us old women, and there isn't likely to be any privacy here." Mom winks at me, and I felt my face flush red again. Were parents just created to be embarrassing?

"Mom!" I whine, but Tina is already dragging me from the room.

Tina wants to watch some romance movie, but there is an action robot movie playing too. But we ended up going to the romance movie. . . Yay. . .

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