Author note: if you haven't read "A Leaders Struggle" yet, I recommend reading it before you read this one.

I'm sitting in front of the Christmas tree with my back up against one of the couches, trying my hardest not to let my mind get the best of me. I sigh deeply as i listen to the others in the kitchen laughing and talking joyfully. Normally i'm happy to join them, but for some reason this whole week was hard to swallow.

Exo had managed to get the entire week before Christmas off to do whatever we wanted, but i just wanted to have something to dive myself into. Having all of this free time to think and be around all of the other couples of the house made me realize just how hard it was to be alone, especially on Christmas.

"Sir, i'm going to have to ask you to tone it down, you are just having way to much fun" Chen says suddenly coming up on my side and staring down at me.

I smile at him, but don't feel it touch my eyes "i'll try to contain myself"

Chen frowns at my tone "Uh oh, Xiu's pulled out his i'm-happy-but-not-really voice" Chen sits down next to me and nudges my shoulder with his "what's up?"

I shake my head and pick at a lose threat on the carpet "nothing, just not feeling it i guess"

"What? Christmas?" he asks baffled.

I nod and he blows out an over-dramatic breath of air "how can you not feel Christmas?.. it's Christmas for crying out loud"

"I just want to be alone" i say looking away from him, not in the mood for his humor.

"Ah, well there seems to be only one way to solve this then" Chen says with a hint of something in his voice that makes me scoot away from him.

"Chen" i warn "don't"

"what Xiu? i just want to help you" he says getting on his knees and moving towards me.

"Chen, i swear, don't do it" i say, my eyes wide, watching his body crouch into attacking stance.

"Shh, it'll all be over soon" he whispers then pounces on me forcing my back against the ground, and pinning my arms above my head with one hand, while tickling me with the other.

I start squirming while trying to hold in my laughter, but i just can't "Chen...ahhaha...please...hahaha...fine...i'll cheer up" i said in between my gasps and giggles.

"You promise you'll quite being a Debbie downer?" he asks stilling his hand on my abdomen, letting it rest there.

My breath catches when i realize that he has his hand up under my shirt, and he seems to also because he pulls it away quickly, while his cheeks turn slightly red.

"Yeah, sure. I'll try" i say attempting to rid the room of awkward silence.

"That's my hyung" he says standing up and offering me his hand "come on, D.O. made cookies and hot chocolate"

My mood perks up a bit "cookies?" i grab his hand and stand up.

Chen laughs, throwing his arm around my shoulders "i knew that would get you" then he leads me into the Kitchen.

Maybe this Christmas won't be all bad, maybe just having him close to me is all i need to get me through this, and maybe all i really need is my best friend to enjoy the holidays with.

>>>>>

I awake to a slight pressure on my body forcing me hard into my mattress. I groan and try to roll over but I am still restrained against my bed. "Chen.. get off" i whine trying to buck him off.

"Careful, that type of movement will get us both in trouble"

My eyes fly open at a voice that doesn't belong to Chen "... what the hell?" i groan again when i realize who it is.

Baekhyun laughs "Lay tells me that you require our assistance" he says still sitting on me with his hands on my chest.

"You want to help?" i ask still a bit fuzzy from my abrupt wake-up.

"Of course, playing Cupid is a hobby of mine" he says sitting back a bit so he was just straddling my hips allowing me to move my upper body.

I stretch a bit feeling less restricted "and how do you suppose we do this?"

Baekhyun smiles "well... we have to go through the proper stages. First we have to find out if he sees you as more than a friend, then if that stage clears, we move on to the next stage; getting him to realize those feeling and making him nice and confused... then the fun starts with the stage after that"

"Which is?" i ask rolling my eyes. Of course Baekhyun would have a system for this, and only he can make it actually sound convincing.

Baekhyun smiles creepily and leans forward so his nose is inches from mine, opening his mouth to tell me about the next stage which he is clearly excited about, but doesn't get a chance to speak

"What the hell?" someone yells from the door pulling both of our attentions away from each other. Chen stands at the door with a bag and two coffees in his hands. "what's going on here?" he asks looking from me to Baekhyun.

Baekhyun smirks and closes the space left between us, kissing me lightly on the lips taking me off guard. I swear for a second my eyes would escape from my head. Baekhyun pulls away slightly and bites his lip sexily "another time, but trust me this is enough for today" then he slides off of me, skips to the door, and leaves without another word.

"What was hell was that?" Chen asks wide eyed, seeming slightly angry.

"Are you upset?" i ask confused by his reaction.

"Yeah, i'm upset... i mean what about Chanyeol... and you... How can you do this to him? You're not this type of person... is Baekhyun making you do this?" he asks multiple questions that he doesn't let me answer, seeming to only get more and more angry as he speaks.

I rub my eyes, feeling like i didn't get nearly enough sleep for this "nothing happened, we were just discussing something" i say in an annoyed tone.

"Bullshit, i just saw you two kiss and you don't straddle someone when you're just talking " his words come out with a slight hissing noise when he says 'kiss'.

My eyebrows knit together and i cock my head to the side "are you jealous?" i ask.

"W-what? why w-would i be jealous?" he stammers, avoiding my gaze.

"Chen?" i probe, but he still won't look at me "well if you're not jealous then why are you so upset... honestly nothing happened"

Chen finally looks at me "because i know Baekhyun, if he is involved with you then it's just for sex"

My eye's narrow "so you're saying that he's just using me?"

Chen swallows hard and just nods "yes, and you deserve better than that"

My heart flutters for a second, but i still feel heated "do you think that that's the only reason someone would be with me, because they want sex? Am i that disgusting to you that sex is the only thing you can imagine anyone wanting from me?" i yell feeling hurt and pissed.

"No, that's not the way i meant it" he says stepping forward, eyes wide and alarmed.

I jump out of bed throwing the blankets to the side "then please clarify, because honestly I'm not getting it"

"I just meant that Baekhyun won't give you the love you deserve, he's with Chanyeol... and if he's also with you, then it's for something other than love" he sighs and lowers his head "no matter how i say this, it comes out wrong"

I step closer to him and take a deep calming breath realizing that I might be over dramatizing this "are you in anyway insulting me?" i ask taking pity on him.

"No" he squeaks loudly "i would never say anything bad against you... you're perfect Xiu"

My eyes flutter for a second, relishing his words "i guess i did overreact a bit, i just hate when people look down on me and your opinion over anyone's, matters the most"

"Why would my opinion matter more than anyone else's?" he asks making me realize my mistake.

"B-because... you're my best friend... and i always want you to have a high view of me" i state cursing myself for stuttering like an idiot.

"Oh" he shuffles his feet briefly before smiling brightly and holding up a bag in his hands "i brought hot buns, and coffee"

I chuckle, melting at his attempt to lighten the mood... then again i can never resist Chen. Our fights never last long, and are usually just over stupid things. We just really can't stay mad at each other, no matter what the other does.

>>>>>

"So what had you two so wound up this morning?" Chanyeol asks at dinner that night.

Chen coughs on his water and i roll my eyes "i was woken up by your boyfriend on top of me, and Chen got upset about it because he thought Baek was cheating on you"

Chen gasps "why would you say that in front of everyone?"

I snort "because, for the hundredth time, nothing happened. We were just talking"

"Then tell me what you two were talking about and i'll leave you alone" Chen shoots back.

"Well Chen my dear, that's none of your business" Baekhyun interjects "and to be perfectly honest, though Xiumin's lips are very soft, i prefer a more manly man"

"Then why are you with Chanyeol?" i ask sarcastically, receiving a few snorts and chuckles from the table.

Baekyhun tenses his jaw but still grins at me "would you like me to inform him of the nature of our conversation this morning, because i'm sure he's very curious?"

"No" i yell at the same time Chen yells "Yes"

"Then i suggest you start watching the way you speak to me sweetie" Baekhyun says knowing he has me up against a wall.

I roll my eyes "fine, just stay out of my room in the mornings from now on"

Chanyeol laughs "trust me, you get use to it" causing me to cringe at the images of Baekyeol.

"So you're perfectly ok with this?" Chen asks nearly glaring at Chanyeol.

Chanyeol raises his eyebrows "i trust Baek, if he says nothing happened, then nothing did. Plus.. no matter what he does during the day, i know he'll always end up in my arms at night" he says smiling at a happy Baekhyun.

I snort "you sound like the supportive boyfriend of a prostitute"

Baekhyun gives me the finger without looking away from Chanyeol and kisses him lightly on the lips briefly "you're just jealous...which reminds me, Chen did you know that Xiu..."

"Ok ok" i say jumping up and leaning over the table to place a hand over Baekhyun's mouth "i'm sorry" leaving Chen looking very confused and frustrated at the end of the table.

Bakhyun grins triumphantly "that's better, and i could never be a prostitute... no one could afford me" he says flipping his imaginary long hair over his shoulder.

"And you would ruin your throat and in turn voice, from having so many di..." Kai started but was stopped by D.O. slapping the back of his head, who still couldn't help but crack up at his comment.

This time Chen did spit his water all over the floor and choked, laughing to the point of turning bright red. Everyone followed to suit nearly rolling with laughter, besides Baekhyun, and a forced Chanyeol who was trying desperately to hold it back.

Baekhyun shoots me a look and mouths 'just wait' causing creepy shivers to roll all over my body. 'shit'

>>>>>

Wrapping a towel around my waist, i slowly creep into the hallway, careful not to wake anyone up. I had gotten into the habit of taking showers late at night, since the early days of Exo. Then again i do a lot of things at night, it was just the time when my brain was on.

Suddenly i was pushed up against a wall roughly "Xiumin, i'm trying to help you and this is how you repay me? By making me into a prostitute?" Baekhyun asks in an over dramatic mobster voice.

"You're a dork, and how exactly did you help me earlier" i ask pushing his hands away from me.

Baekhyun lets go of me "trust me, he may have denied it, but the way he reacted today was jealously at it's finest" he says proudly, "which means he has feelings for you that aren't just friendly, and now that we know that... We can really begin" he says smiling kind of like Cheshire cat.

"Baek... you're creeping me out" i say pulling away from him slightly.

"Tomorrow we'll start reeling him in... get some sleep, you'll need it" Baekhyun says over his shoulder as he creeps down the hallway to his and Chanyeol's room.

I take in a deep breath not looking forward to this, but decided to put my trust in Baek... after all there usually is a method to his madness. I sigh entering my room and slip off my towel because Chen was already asleep in his bed. My eyes wander over his sleeping form and a smile tugs at my lips. 'you really are beautiful when you sleep'.

Moving over to Chen's bed i pull his blanket up over his shoulders so he won't wake in the middle of the night cold, while I lightly kiss his temple. A nightly routine for us, one that i have began to look forward to every night, because for a second, even if it was slight, i got to feel what it was like to love Chen without hiding it and not have the fear of being rejected.

"Goodnight Chennie" i whisper brushing a piece of hair out of his eyes.

I head over to my closet throwing on my night cloths before slipping into bed, letting the quiet and steady rhythm of Chen's breathing sing me to sleep.

My Chickens!!!

I'm back my lovelies!! For those of you who enjoyed my last story welcome back, but for those of you who are just tuning in, welcome!! We are going to have some fun together!! Honestly i've missed writing for you guys, and have so many ideas swirling around for this story!!

I have a personal interest in this story due to Xiumin being my bias, but i promise not to let my own feelings interfere with doing justice with XiuChen!! I'm so excited, and hope you guys love it!!

I love you guys!!

사랑해!!! 💕

~M~