"So, I heard you like to get freaky with goody-two shoes and Farquaad..."

"Oh, piss off." I shoot Zayn a withering look, but he just smirks, seemingly delighted at the wealth of jokes now available to him.

"Hey, I'm not judging, baby girl. Soooo. How does it work? Two-shoes apologises for having a orgasm and Farquaad writes a poem about it?"

I roll my eyes and sip at my wine, ignoring Zayns amused face. Somehow the fact that I'm keeping Louis as a 'second boyfriend' has spread amongst the other Dream Factory couples. Obviously, I couldn't give a toss as I don't usually see them, but tonight is the Christmas party and Zayn is really getting some mileage out of the situation.

Harry has introduced Niall to his bunnyland game and, with Louis shouting extremely eager encouragement, Niall is now navigating his way around candy land.

Juan and Marcia are making out so loudly that I can hear the gross, moist, lip squelching from the other side of the room, along with Juan's booming groans.

Robert is staring out of the window mournfully at the snow as Susan sits next to him, looking resigned and stuffing sausage rolls in her mouth. Liam and Grace are whispering in another corner. I think Liam has been on the punch as he actually giggles when Grace places a paper hat on his head.

Everyone else is occupied. Except Zayn, who has decided to annoy me.

"So, what, does Farquaad offer to stick his sword in-"

"Shut up, Zayn.' I snap. "I had to do something to protect Louis. The year will be up soon for everyone."

An oddly fearful look passes over Zayns face before he forces a laugh.

"Did they tell you what would have happened to Louis if you hadn't of saved him?"

"No. But it was obvious. If Effie doesn't want him-"

"Yeah." Zayn nods and looks over at where Louis is practically screaming in delight of Niall catching the giant gummy lolly. "You'd think he would be more cut up..."

"He is. Or so Grace says... But he's ok. He's learning to accept Effie didn't want him and as much as it hurts... He's slowly coming to be ok with it."

"But the Dream Factory says we only exist for our partners." Zayn says quietly.

"Well this just proves how wrong it is. He's heartbroken... But he'll be ok."

"But if you hadn't offered to pay for him-"

"It's not worth thinking about." I sigh, not wanting to contemplate my now extremely damaged finances.

This has been playing on mind recently. The Dream Factory boys are so much more than just partners. They are people in their own right.

"It's alright for some." Zayn says moodily, glaring at Juan and Marcia who are now dry humping near the buffet table.

My diet starts now, apparently.

"How is it ok for them? They'll have to deal with whatever comes in the next three months, same as the rest of us-"

"No, they won't. Didn't you ever wonder why the Dream Factory was so happy for them to get wed? Marcia's Dad signed her up for it. She was the only one who didn't make the choice to sign up intially. Her dad was worried that she wouldn't ever get married and that had some crazy ideal of a guy that never existed.... What?"

Zayn frowns at the expression on my face. "Don't tell me you never sneaked a look at everyone else's files while you were in the Dream Factory, baby girl?"

He snorts when I shake my head.

"Well, you're missing out. By the way," he grins, "By the way, your ideal of having romantic sex under the stars was-"

"Shut up!" I shriek, mortified that Zayn has read my Dream Factory files.

"Cute." He smirks. "But Juan and Marcia... Seems her Dad liked the idea of handing his family business over to a guy he could design. Marcia didn't have much luck with guys and spent all of her time reading shitty granny romance novels... And so Juan was born." He laughs.

"But what's that got to do with the wedding-"

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Zayn drawls, sparking up a cigarette and dragging deeply on it. Harry is in earnest discussion with Niall and waving a Harry Potter book around. "In three months time, the year is up. You're all going to have to pay if you want to keep us-"

"What?!"

"Oh come on Hendrix, you're not that dumb... Although, actually, given your choice in men..."

"How much will we have to pay?"

"I don't know. I just worked it out, the reason Dr P is so happy for Juan and Marcia to get married is that her Dad has bought her a husband. He's paid everything it could cost and after this trial stage, once we're all disposed of, Dr P can go to the media with his success story, the one that will sell his product. One happily married couple for the world to see. That's why he was so happy at the wedding. He won't tell the world about the rest of us.. Unless we can pay. Liam has made enough money. He'll probably manage. But the rest of us have to get the money together."

"And if we can't?" I feel vaguely sick at the thought of trying to pay for Harry and Louis.

"Well then I guess..." Zayns hazel eyes break away from the tip of his cigarette to meet mine. I can see, despite his teasing that he's actually worried.

"I guess it'll all be over, baby girl."

***

"What did Adam say the day before Christmas?"

"What?" I groan.

"It's Christmas, Eve."

Harry looks incredibly impressed with the crap cracker joke as we all groan. As soon as a cracker is pulled, he scrambles to get the joke and read it out loud.

Liam has cooked the perfect dinner and I've tucked in eagerly, trying to absorb the alcohol I consumed in stress after my conversation with Zayn.

Juan is feeding Marcia bits of turkey from his own fork and I notice Harry is watching them.

Sure enough, I've just turned my head to say something to Grace when Harrys fork prods me deeply in the cheek.

"Ow! Harry!" I turn towards him. "Can you not-"

I'm cut off by Harry ramming a huge forkful of turkey into my mouth.

I snort, choking as I try to swallow. Liam and Zayn almost scream with laughter as Harry frowns, trying to work out why Marcia is almost purring whilst my eyes are watering and I'm coughing.

Several glasses of water later, after everyone has been put off from the food due to the fact that Juan and Marcia have decided to get involved in a heavy make out sesh that requires them practically rolling around the table, I decide to leave. It takes several long minutes to convince Harry before we slip away.

Harry is clutching a sack and it's not until we've got home- and I've checked that Dave isn't speaking to us for leaving the house for longer than 10 minutes- that he holds it out to me.

"What's this?"

"It's your presents. You have to guess who they're from."

"Shouldn't I wait until tomorrow?"

"It's secret Santa. You can just open it now." He shrugs. "It's a game we planned. Bet you can't guess."

It's very, very easy to guess.

A half burned Joss stick.

A book of Shakespearen poetry with what looks suspiciously like tear splatters on the pages.

Suntan lotion and the first twilight novel.

A small whip and some handcuffs.

A bottle of whiskey and some sunglasses

A book on karma sutra.

Harry is inspecting the book on Karma Sutra when I return with two hot chocolates. As I walk over to the bed, he tosses it aside with a laugh.

"What's so funny?" I place his mug carefully on the bedside cabinet.

"Nothing. Just that people write books about how to have sex." He waits until I've put the other mug down before pulling me towards him.

"Why is that funny?"

"Because..." He breaths fully into my ear and it sends a shiver down my back. "... I don't need a book to tell me what to do."

He twirls his tongue slowly around my ear and traces a pattern down to my jaw. A soft moan escapes my lips as he traces the tip of his tongue along my neck. He pulls it softly along before covering the sweet spot under my ear with his mouth and sucking firmly, as his long fingers trace a path to my breast.

And although I get lost in him, I can't help but think about what Zayn said.

What's coming.

And how on earth I'll find the money for Harry and Louis.

*****

AN- ok I ain't even gonna lie this chapter may have felt like a filler but it's all important. Sorry, I don't have time for a longer chapter, coming soon.

Two quick questions;

1) Is there any Dream Factory character you like best? This really does influence the story. Last time I asked, most people chose Louis so I gave him a main story!

I will update properly soon. Hmmm. Hendrix has got Harry AND Louis to pay for.. any predictions? 😂