Merry Christmas! Hope that everyone who celebrates it has the best day with family and friends :)

This one took forever and again I didn't edit it lmao, so have fun.

If you knew Scott well enough, even if you just knew him for a day, you'd know how big his love for LA was. All it took was two visits to the sunshine state for Scott to be completely enamored.

"Everyone is just so interesting and laid back, Mitch. It's like everyone there is always on Spring Break." Scott would tell him with wide blue eyes and a bright smile that could easily rival the sun's rays. "And it's always so sunny and warm, warmer than here anyways," he would go on and on about LA and Mitch laid small kisses on his sun kissed skin, both boys laying on Scott's couch with the TV down low.

Scott loved LA so much, that it really shouldn't have surprised Mitch when he announced that he was thinking of permanently moving there.

They were both in their last year of college, and Scott had already been offered a job in the field he was working towards. He would be working in a studio for one of the biggest companies in LA.

It seemed like all of Mitch's friends knew what they would be doing once the year was done. They all had actual job offers and places to go. The only plans Mitch had were to maybe visit his parents at home, check on his family and go from there.

He felt like a failure if he was being honest. He now had a degree, almost, and nothing to do with it.

But no matter how down Mitch would get about his future, he still managed to feel happy for Scott. Scott, his boyfriend, who was finally catching his big break. He still remembered how happy Scott had been when talking to him over the phone. For once Scott had been retelling the story so fast that Mitch had to really concentrate to catch everything. There were no pauses or unnecessary 'ums'.

"But then you'd be all the way in LA and I'd be stuck home in Texas," Mitch remembered saying after Scott had finally stopped talking to take a breath. His voice sounded so quiet and small to even his own ears. "How many miles is that, exactly?"

The other end had gone silent. They both knew that this was everything Scott had wanted, but he couldn't have everything, because sometimes life didn't work out that way. You had to give up things sometimes no matter how hard it was, and it seemed he'd have to give up this opportunity.

It crushed both of them, but Mitch loved SCott, so he made sure when he spoke again that his voice sounded more confident and steady, even his he didn't feel like that on the inside. He was already thinking about how much he would miss his blondie.

"Take the job, Scotty."

"Babe-"

"It'll give me a reason to finally visit LA."

"You'd do that for me?"

"Do what, visit LA?"

"Yeah. I just know how this isn't really a place you ever wanted to go to..." Scott trailed off.

"You would be there, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. But I better get an amazing Christmas present for being such a caring boyfriend," Mitch had waited for Scott's snarky remark, except it never came. A silent pause hung over them once more and Mitch couldn't help but take the tip of his finger nail into his mouth. A nervous, and gross habit according to Scott, that he had acquired over the years. He had felt nervous though, he didn't know how to deal with this and he was afraid he may have said the wrong thing.

"Mitchy, I'm going to make this Christmas the best Christmas we've ever shared together."

"Scott..." Mitch's voice had been trembling, he couldn't even finish his sentence because he was too afraid of opening his mouth and spilling out his true feelings. He imagine it would have been something along the lines of him pleading Scott to stay, preferably forever. Mitch couldn't do that to him though. What kind of an asshole boyfriend would he be if he kept Scott from achieving his dreams and doing what he loves? Scott had to go to LA to begin his amazing life.

"Yeah, okay," Mitch whispered.

-------

"That is a shitty tree, Scott."

"Oh fuck off, Todrick. I don't see the tree you bought anywhere, so I guess you're just gonna have to deal with my shitty tree," Scott retaliates. Todrick gives him a small eye roll before dropping the bags from the store he had been carrying.

Scott finally finishes placing the last ornament on the tree. He walks back a few steps to admire his work, making sure it was perfect. He didn't think the tree was bad. It's no charlie brown tree and it's all he could afford on his college student budget.

"Don't tell me you're gonna go all out with this festive stuff, Scott," Todrick says as he holds up some red tinsel from a box of the Hoying's old ornament and Christmas decorations that his mom had happily sent out to him when he asked.

"Of course I am," Scott said with a pleased grin. When he said he was going to make this the best Christmas for him and Mitch, he meant it. Every detail had to be perfect.

Todrick grumbles under his breath all the way to the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea before yelling, "Christmas is just a trap to get consumers to buy unnecessary things and be unnecessarily jolly!"

That gets a laugh out of Scott that almost makes him topple over his finished tree. He's a giant compared to his five foot tree. He doesn't say anything, just shakes his head with a smile as he focuses on untangling another pile of Christmas lights.

"Hey, so when are you heading back home?" Scott asks distractedly, still putting his focus on these lights.

"I am home."

Scott rolled his eyes, something rare for him, but he thinks it's rubbed off from Mitch. "You know what I mean."

"I'm leaving next Tuesday, why?"

"I just need your help with something before you leave," Scott thinks for another second before adding, "I'm probably gonna need Avi and Kirstie's help too."

"Yeah, okay. As long as it doesn't involve me in green tights and an elf hat again, then we're good."

Scott laughs at the memories of last Christmas when he got all of them to volunteer as Santa's elves for a toy drive held for kids in need. It had been all in good faith, but also because he thought the boys dressed as elves would be hilarious.

It was.

"No, not this year," Scott says. "Although you have to admit I was rocking the green tights. I have great legs."

"Is that what Mitch told you?"

Scott smirks at that before his face falls with a frown. "We need new lights!" He say exasperatedly, throwing the heap of tangled lights on the floor.

-------

Scott has never been more determined in his life over something than this. He's stayed up long nights just thinking about Mitch's and his last Christmas together. He's gone over plans in his head and has even began taking notes on his phone to make sure he doesn't forget anything.

"We're not saying it's a bad idea..." Avi starts.

"But we're also not saying it's a good one either," Kirstie finishes his sentence. Honestly, Scott hates how they finish each other's sentences now.

Scott asked all of three of his best friends, Kirstie, Avi, and Todrick for help. He needed inspiration, people to bounce his ideas off of. He's starting to regret asking them and thinks he's probably picked the wrong people to help. Avi and Kirstie can't agree on anything and Todrick isn't even paying attention, he's watching some show on Netflix.

He let's out a frustrated sigh as he dramatically falls back onto his couch.

"You're thinking too hard. Mitch appreciates the simple stuff. A small Christmas dinner, a romantic one obviously, and maybe take him out ice skating or something cute," Kirstie shrugs. Avi nods in agreement looking at Kirstie like she's just said something so inspiring.

"You could literally sit in front of the fireplace drinking hot chocolate and cuddling and he'd be happy with that," Avi adds.

Scott actually thinks about what both of them have just said, and they're not bad ideas. And Kirstie's right, when it comes to anything romantic, Mitch has never been one for fancy, eccentric stuff. His thoughts are interrupted by a snort from the other side of the room. Todrick pauses the movie before finally, finally giving his attention to Scott. "It's your last Christmas with Mitch. You promised him it would be the best and you're thinking of taking advice from the most boring couple-"

"Heeeey!" Kirstie and Avi both say in unison. Todrick ignores them and continues.

"You need to think of something big, something memorable. Like a scavenger hunt!" Todrick's face lights up, much like the Christmas lights he hung all over the apartment after he bought new ones.

"A scavenger hunt?" Scott question, more so to himself, letting the thought process in his mind. Because yeah, okay, it sounds like something fun and creative.

"Yeah! You could take him around the town, have small dates waiting after each clue...or presents." Todrick is almost bouncing off the couch, proud of himself for catching Scott's interest with his idea.

"I can't believe I'm saying this but...Todrick's idea sounds pretty cool," Scott admits. He's no longer listening to what anyone else is saying. He's immersed in his own thoughts as his mind begins to throw ideas around. He has only for days. Four days to show Mitch how much he means to him and give him the best Christmas he's ever had.

"Where are you going now?" Todrick asks as he watches Scott leap off of the couch in search of his coat and keys.

"I have to start planning, I only have four days," and with that, he's out the door.

-------

"I'm so tired," Mitch whined as he undid the buttons and zipper on his coat, letting it fall, and then proceeding to let himself fall back on the bed.

"Yeah, shopping for a good five hours will do that to you," Scott says fondly. He smiles down at Mitch before taking his coat off as well and laying next to him and pulling him closer, only for Mitch to jump away when Scott's nose touches his neck.

"Jesus, how has your nose not fallen off yet?" Mitch jokes. Scott only responds by nuzzling his face closer to Mitch's neck and laying cold, wet kisses on the warmth of his skin. Mitch squirms away from him, and normally Scott would be hurt, but then Mitch is pulling him in and kissing him on his lips. Scott's body reacts quickly by wrapping his arms around Mitch and bringing him even closer. Both of their lips are cold, but Scott thinks that maybe if they keep kissing they'll both be warm and pliant again.

Scott's hands move up and under Mitch's shirt and Mitch winces as he pulls back a little.

"You're fucking freezing, Scott," he says in a whisper before going back in for a fast kiss.

"I'm not the one who waited until last minute to get everyone gifts and dragged their boyfriend with them," Scott smirks, not pulling his hands away from Mitch's warmth until his hands are warm too.

Mitch's eyes watch him thoughtfully before responding, "I didn't leave everyone's gifts until the last minute."

Scott raises his eyebrows in interest. "Oh really? And who were the lucky souls that managed to make it onto Mitch Grassi's priority gift list?"

"Just the most important ones. My parents, sister, niece and nephew." Scott waits expectantly for Mitch to say or even hint that he's on that list as well,

"Forgetting anyone else?" Scott plays along. Mitch's brows furrow for a while in concentration, and this is probably one of Scott's favorite looks on Mitch. He always looks the cutest when he's deep in thought or really focusing on something. It's probably why they could never get any studying done in the same room. Scott could never contain himself from attacking Mitch in kisses and pleading for him to take a break from studying so they could have some fun.

"Oh, right!" Mitch finally says. "I got Kirstie some makeup," Mitch leans over to drop a quick kiss on to Scott's lips before untangling himself from the blonde and makes his way towards the kitchen. "I'm making tea, want some?"

Scott watches as Mitch walks away with a small pout, because maybe Mitch did forget Scott's gift after all. Not that it matters, he gets to spend Christmas with him and that's what's most important. Just Mitch...a gift of his own.

Scott is still lost in his own thoughts when Mitch poops his head back in the room. "I also might have gotten a certain blue eyed boy a gift already too," he shrugs. Scott smiles and gets up, making his way towards Mitch.

"Good, because what's the point of having a boyfriend if you get no Christmas presents out of it," Scott teases. Mitch scoffs.

"Honestly, Scott, you're an idiot."

"But I'm your idiot."

"Yeah," Mitch responds quietly, getting this distant look in his eyes and Scott knows. He knows Mitch is thinking about the after...after Christmas and New Year's when Scott is leaving for LA. For once only needing a one way ticket instead of a round trip.

Scott doesn't want Mitch to think about that right now though, he wants to get his mind off of it and see the dimples smile again.

"How about you make the tea and I put on a movie and we cuddle on your couch with lots of pillows and blankets," Scott offers. The corners of Mitch's lips lift up into a small smile.

"Yeah, okay. Just... not Jurassic Park again, please?"

Scott pretends to gasp. "You offend me, Mitch. That's my favorite movie."

Mitch doesn't try to argue as he makes his way to the kitchen while shaking his head fondly.

-------

"You guys should really consider putting a sock on the door next time or, i don't know, actually go to your room," Mitch points out as he watches Kirstie and Avi quickly dress, both of them with flushed red cheeks of embarrassment. Unfortunately, it's not the first time Mitch has caught the two of them since he shares an apartment with Kirstie. It's safe to say he knows Avi a little too well since he basically never leaves now. He's lucky they weren't in an exactly compromising position this time.

Mitch drops the pizza box on the counter that he picked up after his shift at the record shop. And grabs himself a slice.

"Oh, you brought dinner. Thanks!" Kirstie says.

"Yeah. I figured you two wouldn't have anything waiting for me," Mitch replies.

"Hey! We totally would have made dinner if we knew you'd be coming home. We just figured you'd go to Scott's since that's usually where you go after work."

"Yeah? Is that why you two decided to get it on on my couch?" Mitch smirks towards Avi since he still seems to be the most embarrassed at being caught.

Kirstie direct the attention away from the still red Avi by asking Mitch, "So, why aren't you at Scott's?"

Mitch shrugs and proceeds to take the entire box of pizza to the living room and offers some to Avi because he kind of feels bad for giving him a hard time. He catches how Kirstie and Avi share a look after.

"You've been taking this whole thing with Scott really well, Mitch. We're proud of you," Avi finally speaks up and he wraps an arm around Mitch's shoulders, bringing him in for a hug. Mitch stiffens up in his arms.

"Yeah well, it wouldn't change anything if I stayed holed up in my room crying over it, would it?" Mitch is no longer eating his slice of pizza, instead opting to pick at the pepperoni and tossing the slices in the box. The tone in Mitch's voice makes Kirstie and Avi feel uneasy.

Kirstie watches thoughtfully, no longer liking the way Mitch's face goes expressionless. She can see it though, in his eyes, as cliche as it sounds, she sees the storm of emotions brewing beneath them. Mitch has always been the one who was harder to read, never one to wear his heart on his sleeve, but Kirstie knows.

Avi probably sees the same thing because when he speaks next, he has a gentle tone in his voice that he only uses when he comforts someone. "Mitch, it's okay to cry over it. We wouldn't blame you if you did. Just...don't box all your feelings up. It's not healthy."

"I'm...I'm not," Mitch's voice trembles, and he's suddenly shrugging off Avi's arm from his shoulders. He feels smothered by them now, like they're closing in on him, and it might just be the worst kind of claustrophobic he's felt. He knows he's being a brat and that they're just trying to help, they're his friends, but he never asked for their help or opinions. He'll get through it, and it helps if he's not constantly reminded that he should feel sad about SCott leaving in less than a month.

"I'm not really hungry anymore," Mitch finally says, not meeting either of their eyes because he doesn't want to see their sympathetic looks.

"Okay," comes Kirstie's short reply. Mitch stands on shaky knees as he begins to make his way to his room. Once he's in the safety of his room, he realizes how cold it feels. It's become an unfamiliar space to him in the pasts year because he's rarely spent any time actually sleeping in it.

He always ended up in Scott's bed sleeping beside him.

And that's what causes it. The thought that he'd have to accustom himself to sleeping in his own bed, alone.

The dam finally breaks and he's suddenly crying. All those feelings he's been trying to hard to push away come out in strong waves. He's hurting. He's hurting and he's sad, but he's also angry with himself.

He flops face first into his bed and uses his pillow to muffle the sounds of his crying. He rarely cries. All these feelings are so new to him.

He misses Scott already and he can only imagine how much he'll miss him once he's actually gone.

Mitch finally lets himself be mad. He's mad at Scott because not once did he ever ask him to move to LA with him.

-------

It's the perfect Christmas morning, Scott thinks, as he watches the falling snow outside the window and then shifts his eyes to watch a sleeping Mitch. His short bangs long enough to be going in different directions and he's lightly snoring. There are faint red lines on his shoulder blades from where the folds of the sheets had been pressed on his skin during the night and Scott has to hold back from tracing them with the tips of his fingers.

It's 8am as he slowly gets out of bed, making sure not to wake Mitch as he sleeps. He needs him to stay asleep for his plan to work. As soon as his feet hit the floor in the kitchen he regrets not wearing socks, his mother would scold him for it he thinks, as he starts getting to work. When he's finally done with everything he takes a step back to admire his work. It truly is an art, cooking that is.

He's managed to make some of Mitch's favorite breakfast foods and has piled them all on a try for him. It's very romantic if he's being honest.

Scott decides he should probably take the tray back to the room before it gets cold and before Mitch wakes up and finds him admiring a tray of food. Before he does though, he takes out the small white envelope he prepared days ago and sets it neatly on the tray next to the plate of pancakes.

-------

The first thing Mitch notices when he wakes up his how cold he is. He doesn't have Scott's warm body pressed against his like he remembers when he went to sleep. He sits up and rubs his eyes with the back of his hands to try and adjust them to the light.

It's 9:32 in the morning and Scott is nowhere in sight. Mitch starts to panic a little as he wonders if maybe he's having a nightmare again. The ones where he wakes up alone only to find that Scott has already left for LA and didn't say goodbye. They've been recurring ones so he wouldn't be surprised if he was still sleeping.

His eyes finally land on the tray of food neatly places on the nightstand. The sight makes him smile and his heart begins to flutter in that weird way that only thoughts of Scott can cause.

He stretches over to see the food and his stomach grumbles at the sight of the still warm pancakes and bacon. He digs into the food but continues to wonder where Scott has gone off too. It isn't until he's almost done eating that he notices the envelope. His name is written on the front of it in Scott's neat cursive. He picks it up and beings to open it.

Mitchy,

I promised that I would make this an unforgettable Christmas for the both of us. So what I've planned for you is a small retrace of, in my opinion, some of the best memories we've shared together.

I hope you enjoyed your breakfast, sorry I wasn't there when you woke up. Here's your first clue though.

We had our first date here, and it was amazing.

See you there at 11am.

Merry Christmas Sweetheart!

Love Scott

Mitch can't contain the big smile he gets when he finishes reading the note. Scott can be such a romantic sap. If he was here Mitch would probably tease him over it, even though he loves it endlessly.

It only takes him a minute to get out of bed and find some of his clothes around Scott's room. He laces up his shoes and steals one of Scott's beanies.

He knows exactly what place Scott is referring to. How could he forget it? Their first date was also one of Mitch's favorite memories.

-------

Mitch stops at the entrance of the ice rink to admire it and reminisce back to a year and six months ago when he had been standing in this exact spot waiting for Scott, except he didn't know he was waiting for Scott at the time.

It had been a double date with Kirstie and Avi.

After many years of being just friends, Scott and Mitch finally accepted the fact that what they felt for each other was more than friendly. It had been nothing but pining and flirting on both parts and their friends were tired of watching them steal secret glances at each other. So, Kirstie and Avi had convinced Mitch to join them on what would be his first 'blind' date. They said the same to Scott to get him to go too.

It had come as a surprise to both of them that their friends had set them up, not that either of them minded.

Mitch smiles a little and shakes his head as he remembers how even then, Scott had managed to steal his breath when he had stepped out of the car behind Avi, looking so handsome and sweet.

"Are you coming inside? Or were you just going to keep standing there smiling like an idiot?" Scott's voice startles Mitch and he's brought back to reality. He's met with Scott's smiling face, his perfect teeth on full display as he looks Mitch over.

"Weren't you supposed to be waiting inside? I was gonna make a big entrance and everything," Mitch whines. Scott laughs and takes Mitch's hand in his, holding tightly as they enter.

"Well, now we can make an entrance together."

Mitch can't help but scoff and give a small eye roll.

"Besides, I was getting impatient, I had to see you," Scott leans in to whisper even though no one's really paying attention to them.

"How did I end up with such a sap as a boyfriend?" Mitch says as he gently pokes Scott's cheek.

"You must have been really good in your past like to deserve someone like me," Scott smirks, and Mitch can't help but agree.

Mitch's eyes widen once he catches sight of the rink. It's been decked out with Christmas lights and decorations, with classic Christmas music playing in the background. It definitely feels like a little winter wonderland.

"Come on, let's go get some skates," Scott says, leading him by hand.

-------

"Are you good, babe?" Scott's face comes looming over Mitch as he lays on his back after a hard and embarrassing fall. Mitch mumbles curse words under his breath as Scott helps him get back on his feet.

"I shouldn't have let you tie my skates for me. You probably made it so that I'd be shit at skating," Mitch doesn't let go of Scott's hands this time, too afraid of falling again.

Scott gives him a small pout. "I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you, Mitchy."

"All I know Scott, is that the last time we came here you were the one falling on your ass, not me," Mitch thinks back fondly to their first date when Scott was all flailing limbs and blushing cheeks as he kept falling over each time he so much as attempted to move on the ice.

"I was nervous back then. I'm much more confident now," Scott proves his point by holding on to Mitch's hands and skating backwards, pulling the smaller boy with him.

Mitch's doesn't let go of Scott's hands after that, and he doesn't fall again.

-------

The next clue is waiting for him at the front where you go to give the skates back. The girl behind the desks asks if he's Mitch, to which he nods nervously and she hands him another small envelope.

When he walks back to where Scott is waiting for him by the door, he holds the small envelop up with a wide grin. "Can't you just tell me where we're going next?"

"And what fun would that be?" Scott laughs. Mitch gives him a small eye roll before opening the envelope.

Favorite memory to date is when I finally told you 'I love you,' and you said 'I love you' back.

Scott xx

"The park in the town square," Mitch says quietly, a small smile playing on his lips as he remembers the day so clearly, like it had been days ago rather than months.

Scott doesn't say anything as he takes Mitch's hand and leans in for aa quick kiss on his lips.

It's 1 in the afternoon by the time they make it to the park. There had been so much traffic on the way over with everyone trying to get where they need to be by Christmas night.

The park is covered in a blanket of snow and it makes it even prettier than Mitch remembers it. The town Christmas tree that's in the center of it towers over both of them, tall and glowing. Mitch can only imagine how much more breathtaking this would be at night when the lights shine even brighter. The tree brings a festive warmth to his heart, the same feeling he used to get as a kid when he found presents under the tree.

Scott turns to look at Mitch and he looks back, fighting down a smile as he tries to hold Scott's gaze. Scott leans in and kisses him with a force that takes the air out of Mitch's lungs. He responds by gently placing his hands to Scott's cold cheeks, tracing his thumbs across his cheekbones. Mitch is trembling, but he thinks it has more to do with Scott's lips touching his rather than the cold weather. They continue to kiss until it feels like they've been standing there in front of the tree for hours before they finally part.

"We should probably stop before I forget the rest of today's plans and take you back home," Scott says.

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea," Mitch responds with a smirk. He almost falls back when he feels the cold snow hitting his cheek. "What the fuck, Scott?"

Scott doesn't even try to hide his laugh, he's practically wheezing at this point. He stops shortly after seeing Mitch pick up some snow to start rolling into a small ball.

They run around the park hitting each other like they're both 16 again and not a pair of 24 year old men. When they both get tired of chasing each other like idiots, Scott falls back into the snow and Mitch groans.

"Scott, no."

"Aw, come on babe! Let's make snow angels," Scott looks up at him with his even brighter blue eyes next to his red cheeks and white snow, pleading Mitch to join him. Mitch groans again as he lays next to Scott and they both move their arms and legs in sync. It's an unpleasant feeling and a little embarrassing since people are still around watching them, but he supposes it can't be worse than the snowball fight they just had.

Scott helps Mitch up gently, so as to not ruin their snow angels. Mitch laughs when he sees their finished work. They were too close to each other, so their middle wings look like one huge connected one. Scott doesn't seem to mind though as he takes a picture to save for later.

Scott offers to buy Mitch hot chocolate when he starts complaining about the wetness of his whole back and ass. "You can't get frostbite on your ass," Scott explains like he actually knows anything related to medical issues.

The two boys walk hand in hand down the streets to find a Starbucks that's even open on Christmas. Scott orders their drinks and they sit in the warm building as they try to regain the feeling in their fingers and toes.

Mitch sips on his drink, even though it burns his tongue He feels Scott's intense gaze on him. "What?" He asks, a little self conscious. "What are you looking at?"

"I can't admire my boyfriend? I'm sorry, am I not allowed to do that?"

"No," Mitch replies, but the smile and blush that break out on his face let's Scott know he's joking.

"It's just...you look so beautiful. Your nose is red, sort of like Rudolph. It's cute."

Mitch exaggerates a gag. "Okay, please tone it down on the sappiness," but he can already feel the blood rush to his cheeks at Scott's comments. If being called a red nosed reindeer is a compliment that is... Scott doesn't even like Rudolph.

"So tell me, where are we headed off to next?" Mitch asks after he's halfway finished with his drink. Scott smirks and turns Mitch's cup around. Mitch raises an eyebrow in interest, but he's also really impressed with Scott's creativity. "How the hell did I miss that?"

"Maybe you were too busy staring at the sight in front of you," Scott says cheekily. Mitch scoffs and nudges his foot against Scott's under the table.

"Right," he says, before focusing on the writing.

We made it official at this place and became #Scomiche. You were mine and I was yours, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Scott xx

"The karaoke bar next to Avi's place!" Mitch exclaims. He's proud that he's gotten them all right so far, but how could he not?

-------

Scott and Mitch are greeted by a 'Merry Christmas!' by the bartender and the waitresses. It's actually pretty full considering it's Christmas and all. There are couples laughing and drinking, groups of friends eating and drinking at their tables. Tinsel and garland decorate the surrounding walls, and it looks festive as fuck.

Mitch notices the mic stand on the makeshift stage on the left. Someone is up there testing the sounds and all he can think is that the guy looks familiar and he tries to place a name to him.

Scott orders them some drinks and they stay standing close to the bar with a good view of the stage.

"So, do you remember how the first time we came here they had a special guest singing?" Scott begins to say and it's like something in Mitch's brain clicks, he knows why the guy looks so familiar. He had been singing when the thing between the two of them became more than just hooking up. When it became more about spending time together and meeting each other's parents and holding hands and everything nice and good about being in a relationship.

"Scott. You did not."

"It didn't take long to find his contact info surprisingly."

Mitch stares back to the stage in awe, because he can't believe that yet again, it's like Scott has take him time traveling to relive some of the most important milestones of their relationship.

"...And I'll use you as a focal point, so I don't lose sight of what I want..." The guy on the stage is singing now and Mitch is at a loss for words, silently staring.

"...And I found love where it wasn't supposed to be, right in front of me..."

Scott pulls Mitch in against his side and they both stand side by side watching what feels like their own personal concert, drinks long forgotten at the bar. The song ends and the singer gives the boys a thumbs up as everyone in the room begins to clap and shout out song names for him to play next.

Mitch tunes out the crowd after that and turns to look at Scott. "Fuck, Scott. That was amazing! I have no idea how I'll ever top that Christmas present."

"Oh, that wasn't your present. That was just a small part of our best Christmas ever together."

Mitch doesn't know how to respond to that. What he would like to do is grab Scott's stupid face in his hands and kiss him until both of them lose all feelings in their lips, but Scott grabs his hand and leads him away, "Let's go find a table.Kirstie and Avi and some of the others are meeting us here for drinks."

-------

It's dark outside by the time Scott and Mitch make it out of the bar. They had spent hours in there catching up with all of their friends.

Of course, most of them had brought up California. They'd asked Scott when he was leaving, and it made a lump for in Mitch's throat. He had been doing such a good job at forgetting the fact that this would be his last Christmas with Scott.

When they announced they were heading home, most of them had hugged Scott for a minute longer than they did Mitch. Each of them were wishing him good luck on his next step in life. It was like a punch to Mitch's chest each time he heard that phrase.

They grabbed a ride and sat side by side, watching the snow fall outside the windows.

"So, you can probably guess already where we're headed next," Scott says softly.

"Could it be my place or maybe yours?" Mitch really wishes it's either of those choices because he's hoping to spend his evening just relaxing and curled up with his boyfriend.

"Yeah, mine. Um, Kirstie and Avi ordered us some food and set up the whole apartment all fancy for us," Scott explains. "At my request of course."

"Sounds great, Scotty. Can't wait," Mitch says in a sleepy voice. He didn't realize how tired he actually was.

"You can close your eyes for a bit. I'll wake up up when he get home," Scott whispers and its that soft, gentle voice that almost always lulls Mitch to sleep. He lays his head on Scott's broad shoulder and his eyes close easily.

-------

"Hon, we're home," Scott nudges his shoulder, causing Mitch's head to shake and he stirs awake, taking in his surroundings. Of course by home, he means Scott's apartment.

Scott helps Mitch up the stairs, since the elevator decided to break tonight, and when they reach his door, Scott makes a grand gesture of looking for his key and then swinging the door wide open.

There's surprising amount of Christmas decorations hung everywhere, a familiar theme today Mitch notices. The fireplace is lit for the first time since Scott and Todrick bought the place, and when they walk into the dining room the table has already been set up like a Christmas dinner you'd have at a fancy restaurant. There are different types of food spread out on the table and Mitch can hear Christmas music playing in the background.

"What do you think?" Scott asks, coming up behind Mitch.

"I think that I have the best boyfriend in the world," Mitch wants to go for a teasing tone, but the words come out much more sentimental and softer than he intended. The truth is he feels like he's choking with so many feelings right now.

He's going to miss Scott so much.

"Well, I can't take all the credit. Kirstie and Avi were the ones who made it all look like this."

Mitch turns around so that he's facing Scott. He lays both of his palms on Scott's chest and Scott places his own hands on top of Mitch's. "No, I mean everything, Scott. This whole day was perfect. Thank you," and fuck, Mitch feels like he's going to cry at any second now.

"I promised you a perfect Christmas together," Scott whispered.

"And it was. But if I'm being honest, we could have spent the whole day here in bed together or watching tv and it still would've been the best Christmas," Mitch's voice is heavy with emotion and he hopes that Scott will ignore the tremble at the end of his sentence. He caresses Scott's cheek with his thumb softly and so, so intimate.

"Now who's the sap?" Scott smiles.

"Shut up," Mitch says before leaning in to kiss him. There's mistletoe hung everywhere, so it won't be the last kiss tonight, not that Scott needed any of them for Mitch to kiss him.

-------

Mitch is laying down next to the fireplace with a full stomach, glad that they changed into their pajamas because he's pretty sure the button on his jeans would've popped off. Scott laid out soft sheets and loads of pillows out for them, and Mitch hopes they end up sleeping here until the fire burns out and they have nothing but each other to keep themselves warm.

"Is it present time yet?" Mitch asks Scott, not being able to stop himself from leaning in and kissing the spot under his chin, just because he can.

"Yeah, whatever you want, MItchy," Scott says softly. Mitch stretches his whole body until he can reach the neatly wrapped gift he had gotten Scott. He lays in on Scott's lap, already feeling the blush spread on his face as Scott looks at him in a way that makes his chest tighten and the pit of his stomach feel like he's just gone down the big fall on a roller coaster.

Scott takes his time unwrapping the paper, like it means something, and maybe it does. It's their last Christmas together, and knowing Scott he might end up wanting to pin this to his wall or save it in between one of his books, like a reminder of old memories.

Mitch swallows the lump in his throat once more, he refuses to cry tonight. He's not crying in front of Scott.

"Babe, I love it," Scott says as he traces his initials, S.H., personalized in the brown leather of the journal Mitch had gotten for him.

"You mentioned you needed a new one so..."

"You do listen!" Scott exclaims, and Mitch pushes his shoulder playfully.

"Yeah, every once in a while," he jokes back.

"It's perfect, Mitch. Thank you," they lean in for a quick kiss before Scott is jumping up to his feet in excitement to go get Mitch's gift. "I couldn't wrap your gift so you have to close your eyes," Scott orders. Mitch is ready to protest, but the look Scott gives him makes him sigh and place his hands over his eyes.

He hears Scott's heavy footsteps walking towards the rooms and padding around. He's back a minute later from what Mitch can hear. He feels Scott's presence a moment later as he sits down next to Mitch.

"Okay, you can open them now."

The keyboard Mitch had been eyeing for the past four months in the music store on his way to work is sitting on Scott's lap with a big red bow stuck to it. And if Scott holding the sleek instrument of Mitch's dreams isn't the most beautiful sight, then Mitch's doesn't know what is.

"Holy shit, Scott..." is all Mitch can mumble.

"Merry Christmas, Mitchy," Scott grins as wide as he can. Mitch leans forward to run his fingers across the keys, getting a used to how they feel. It's exactly as he imagined they would.

"Best present from my best boy on the best day," Mitch laughs. He pauses, looking up at Scott, "You didn't have to spend this much on me, Scott."

"Are you kidding? I don't think I've ever seen you this happy. It's absolutely worth it," Scott says, reaching out to place a comforting hand on Mitch's cheek. Mitch leans into the touch, then places a small kiss to the palm.

"Thanks babe, I love you."

"I love you too, so much."

Mitch has to stop fiddling with the keyboard when he hears the crack in Scott's voice. He moves it aside gently and reaches for Scott. Scott doesn't move from his spot though and ignores Mitch's hand.

"I just need to get this off my chest before I back out, okay?" Scott says, searching Mitch's eyes for something that he can't quite figure out. Mitch isn't sure what Scott's going on about but he nods. Scott clears his throat before reaching behind him.

"I um... I got you something else," he hands Mitch the envelope, the same kind he's opened all day and Mitch wonders if he's being taken somewhere else.

There's a note, so he reads that first.

Dear Mitchy,

We've made so many beautiful memories here. Let's make some more in California.

Love, Scott xx

Mitch's hands are shaking as he read the note. He reads it again and again, before reaching back into the envelope and finding a one way plane ticket to LA.

He feels like his voice has been stolen from his throat. He realizes that Scott is watching him, waiting. Both of their hearts beating louder and louder by the second. Here's a million thought going through his head right now. A part of him wants to just say yes, he'd go to the ends of the world with Scott if he had too. But then there's the rational part that tells him to slow down and think this over. He's not sure which voice to listen to.

Mitch continues looking down at the plane ticket in his hands.

Out of all the things Mitch wants to say to Scott, there's only one thing that ends up being said, "Can I think about it?"

Scott's face falls slightly, a look of hurt flashing in the blue of his eyes before it's gone. He nods.

"Yeah, Mitch. Of course. Take your time," Mitch hates how small Scott's voice sounds right now. He feels like the worst person on the planet and he wants nothing more than to just make Scott smile again by saying yes, but he's just not ready to do so.

Mitch's heart really wants to punch his brain right now. That seems like the best way to describe how conflicted he's feeling.

"But maybe not so much time.. I need an answer before January 4th."

Mitch nods, the ticket feeling like it weighs a hundred pounds in his hands. The date is looming so close.

Scott excuses himself to the bathroom after that and Mitch watches him go with a sad expression. He knows he's hurt Scott, but he also knows he'd hurt Scott more by making a rash decision and regretting it later when he's in LA with Scott.

-------

Scott excuses himself to the bathroom and he can feel Mitch's gaze on his retreating back. He shuts himself in and leans his hands on the sink counter as he tries to take even breaths, in and out. He uses his palms to push against his eyes and stop the tears that are threatening to fall.

He feels like an idiot. How could he have expected Mitch to just pack up and leave his life behind for him? They weren't reckless teenagers anymore, they were young adults who had to think of their future and what was best for them.

Part of his hurt is probably because he remembers how happy he had been when he came up with the idea. He knew he loved Mitch and wanted to spend the rest of his life by his side. Scott had even asked Todrick if he thought it would be a good idea. Toddy wasn't on board at first, but eventually he got on the same page as Scott, telling him how Mitch looked at Scott like he was the best thing in the world. It had given Scott the courage he needed to buy the plane ticket.

Scott almost wants to text Todrick that he had been wrong, but he knows he only wants to do it so he has someone to blame for this stupid decision besides himself.

Technically, Mitch hadn't said no, just that he wanted to think about it. A part of Scott really wants to believe that Mitch meant it and was at least open to the idea, but the other part of Scott thinks that Mitch had said that just to be nice and not break his heart on Christmas.

Maybe the saddest part is that when Scott had bought the ticket, Todrick had asked what he would do if the roles were reversed, if Mitch had asked Scott to move across the country with him.

Scott didn't even have to think twice, "I'd follow Mitch anywhere."

-------

The closer January 4th got, the more distant Mitch seemed to be from Scott. They still hung out, but not nearly as much as they used to before the holidays, back when they never left each other's side. It was eating at Mitch's heart to know that he was the one who caused this.

"So...what's up with you and Scott?" Kirstie asks one night, when yet again Mitch was coming home to sleep in his bed instead of over at Scott's.

"Uh...what do you mean?" Mitch decides to play dumb as he messes on his phone to try and show Kirstie that he didn't really want to talk about it. Of course, Kirstie doesn't get the hint.

"Mitch. You know exactly what I mean. It's fine if you don't want to tell me, but don't act like I'm not aware that something is definitely off and you've looked like someone ripped your heart out."

Mitch sighs and places his phone down to give Kirstie his full attention. He has been feeling like shit this week and he knew his friends would catch on eventually. It makes him wonder if Todrick had asked Scott the same thing.

"Hey, Mitchy...it's okay if you don't want to talk about it, I didn't mean to pressure you," Kirstie's voice has softened as she places a hand on his shoulder. Mitch didn't even realize he had started crying.

"He asked me to go with him...to LA. He bought me a one way ticket and everything," Mitch finally says, using his fingers to wipe his tears.

"...That's great though, Mitch."

"I told him I'd think about it," Mitch hangs his head low in shame, it sounds even worse saying it outloud. "He made Christmas so perfect, he even bought me that keyboard I've been eyeing for forever and I go and fucking break his heart all on the same day," Mitch cries out.

Kirstie's grip on his shoulder tightens, and then Mitch realizes how much he's shaking. It's like Kirstie is trying to hold him in place...keep him grounded.

"Hon, it's a big decision to make. I think you did the right thing. In the end you have to think of what's best for you and your future. Scott will understand."

"I mean, I have nothing planned after college. I thought it would be easy to say yes with nothing tying me down, but something keeps stopping me from doing that. I just need to figure out what I want to do and where I'm going from here, ya know?" Mitch doesn't totally understand what he's just said, so he doubts Kirstie does, but she nods her head in agreement.

"I get it. You can't base your future off of Scott's. It has to be you and your future," Alright, so Kirstie understands him better than he understands himself sometimes. She worded it better than he did.

They're both silent after that, not really knowing what else to say and Mitch is too deep in thought. He feels like this has been the only thing on his mind for the past week. Even on New Year's, he couldn't quite fully celebrate it on a happy note, not when he felt so conflicted like this, so confused. He stays up late at night just holding the ticket and staring at it, wishing it would just tell him what to do.

Mitch groans as he lets his head fall into his hands.

"You'll figure it out, Mitch," Kirstie's calm voice says as she rubs Mitch's back.

He hopes he can figure it out before January 4th.

-------

It's January 3rd and Mitch still hasn't decided, hasn't even come out of his room. He didn't even come out when Avi came over with his favorite gluten free pizza. It's the day before Scott is set to fly out and he has two missed calls on his phone. One from Scott and one from Todrick and he's not sure which one scares him the most.

His clock on the nightstand says it's now 9pm. He closes his eyes and rolls away from it, thinking that maybe if he doesn't look at the time it won't go by so fast.

Mitch can hear the sound of knocking on the front door and then a, 'where is he!?' He knows that voice all too well and he groans at the realization of who it is.

"Fuck," he mumbles out.

"Grassi!" Todrick pounds his fist on Mitch's bedroom door and doesn't let up, even when Avi tries to tell him to leave Mitch alone.

"You're not going to get rid of me anytime soon, Mitch, so I suggest you open the damn door or I'll keep knocking."

Mitch faintly hears how Kirstie is trying to tell him to not be too loud or the neighbors will complain again and that's what gets Mitch to come out from his burrito of blankets he's been in for days. It's not fair to Kirstie or Avi to have to deal with Todrick because of him.

"Okay! I'm coming, I'm coming," Mitch says weakly, not even sure if they heard him, but Todrick stops knocking so he guesses they did.

He opens the door to find them all standing outside of it. He thinks Kirstie and Avi are there more so for his protection and Todrick is probably there to strangle him.

"What do you want, Toddy?"

"What do I want? What do I want!?" He scoffs. "I know what I want Mitch, the question here is what the fuck do you want."

"Hey, calm down," Kirstie says, coming to Mitch's defense.

"Have you seen Scott lately, Kirsite?" Todrick snaps.

"Well, no but-"

"Exactly, so please leave. This is between me and Mitch," Todrick pushes past them into Mitch's room and closes the door on both Kirstie and Avi. Todrick can be an ass when he wants to be

"Just yell if he hurts you, Mitch!" Avi shouts through the door and Todrick rolls his eyes, still standing by the closed door with his arms crossed in front of him.

"I'm not here to hurt you. You're my friend too. Just like Scott is my friend. I happen to be very fond of both of you, which is why I'm here," Todrick moves away from the door to sit on Mitch's bed. Mitch still doesn't trust him enough though and stays standing where he is.

"Scott told me, about what he asked you. He'd been moping all week so I had to pry it out of him. I figured it might had been because he was sad to leave, but then you stopped coming around so I concluded it was something deeper than that."

"What else did he tell you?"

"That you told him you'd think about it," Todrick answers and Mitch nods.

"And I have been thinking about. So much so, it's the only thing that's been on my mind this past week," Mitch sighs as he grabs the plane ticket and sits down next to Todrick. "I don't know what to do."

"Do what makes you happy," Todrick replies, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. He makes it sounds easy, and it's not.

"It's not that easy, Tod-"

"It is! You have to stop over thinking everything. You love Scott, and it's obvious he loves you too. It's a beautiful thing, what you and him have. Fuck, I hope that one day I can have someone look at me the way Scott looks at you," Todrick says. Mitch can't help the small smile that breaks over his lips when he says that, because, wow, Todrick of all people would never say that unless he meant it.

"Thanks, Toddy," Mitch sighs and rests his head on Todrick's shoulder.

"As we speak, Scott is packing up a suitcase right now. His flight leaves at 8am."

Mitch nods, he knew this already.

"I'm not forcing you to take that plane tomorrow, Mitch. But he at leaves deserves a proper goodbye."

-------

It's dumb and Scott knows, but that doesn't stop him from waiting by the gate. His plane is due to fly out in twenty minutes. Most of the passengers are boarding the plane now, but Scott isn't paying attention to who's getting on it. He's looking the opposite way.

Like some rom-com movie, he's hoping Mitch will burst through the doors to give him a real goodbye scene, or better yet to tell him that he'd be coming to LA with him. It's dumb and Scott knows, but he continues to wait.

"Sir, the gate is closing in fifteen minutes," One of the flight attendants tells him.

"Yeah I'm just-"

"Waiting for someone?" She gives him a sad smile. Scott doesn't reply, just continues to look at the doors. The flight attendant leaves Scott and boards the plane.

Scott takes his phone out once more and dials Mitch's number. It goes to voicemail again, like the past ten times he's called. He decides to leave a voicemail this time.

"Hey, Mitchy. I was just calling to let you know I'm about to board," Scott clears his throat, hoping it'll help stop the tremble in his voice. "I just wanted to say that I love you, and I've sorry-"

"Sorry for what?" A melodic voice asks.

"Mitch," Scott turns to face Mitch and wonders how he had gotten in without him noticing. Scott doesn't want to ask questions though and instead decides to throw himself at Mitch, hugging him tightly. Mitch hugs him back just as hard.

"You gave me the perfect Christmas, so I'm here to give you your perfect romantic airport scene," Mitch says once they let go of each other. He lifts his hand up and wipes some of the tears that have escaped Scott's eyes and trailed their way down his cheeks. Scott's throat feels tight with emotion and it feels like it'll burst. He can't believe that Mitch came. He notices the bag he's carrying, which could only mean one thing.

'Let me hear it," Scott's voice comes out raspy and rough with the amount of emotion built up inside him.

Mitch nods and takes a deep breath, before he lets it all out.

"I honestly have no idea what I'm going to do with my life. At first that scared the shit out of me, Scotty. Especially when you and the others have always been so sure of your future. I felt like a failure, a loser. Like everyone was going to move on and I'd have to stay back and figure out what to do with myself. I thought that maybe if I just stayed home, something would come eventually. Shocking, but apparently that's not how life works. You can't just sit around and hope your life resolves itself..." Mitch pauses, brows furrows in concentration. He takes both of Scott's hands in his.

Scott notices the flight attendant from before stepping out, probably to tell Scott he'll miss his flight if he doesn't get on. She stops however, when she notices the two boys. The smile on her face is so big, Scott wonders how they must look to others who are watching the scene unfold.

"I still have so much to figure out, Scott. But it there is one thing in my life that I'm sure of, it's us. Someone told me to just do what makes me happy, and I don't think anything else would make me happier than to figure out the rest of my life next to you, Scott," Mitch looks up at Scott, and they're both a blushing mess. Scott can't contain himself any longer as he brings Mitch in for a deep kiss... the perfect ending to their romantic airport scene.

Scott's heart is beating loudly against his chest and it feels like it could burst out at any moment. He doesn't think he's ever loved anyone as much as he loves Mitch. He's thrilled that Mitch loves him back and is willing to move away with him.

"How'd I do?" Mitch asks in a quiet voice, close enough to Scott that he can feel the brush of Mitch's lips against his own as he talks.

"It was perfect, Mitchy."

"Good. I've watched so many rom-coms with you, it would be a tragedy if it was anything but perfect," Mitch teases with a wide grin.

"See, I knew watching all those movies would be useful one day."

Mitch laughs, a carefree and happy laugh that makes sparks travel all through Scott's body from just listening to it. "Just shut up and kiss me again. We need to give these people watching a proper ending."

"Okay."