Waking up was easy for Calum, especially on Christmas. He was downstairs within seconds, and his eyes searched the living room for presents before he realized that he wasn't home. There wasn't a decorated tree with presents laying beneath it. There wasn't soft Christmas music playing or stockings pinned to the wall.

His smile slowly dimmed into nothing more than a grimace, he wasn't home.

Looking at the grayscale room now, he didn't know why he would have thought he was home at all, this looked nothing like the cozy house is parents owned.

His phone rang, breaking Calum out of his silent disappointment with a sigh.

"Hi," He answered, sitting down on the couch with his eyes looking down.

His family yelled Merry Christmas from the other end and a smile formed on Calum's mouth.

"Merry Christmas guys, sorry I can't be there.... Again." His voice cracked at the end as someone fumbled the phone.

Mali Koa voice flowed through the speaker like a waterfall, "Don't worry Cal, we'll see you tomorrow right?"

The hope in her voice made Calum's smile crack, he let out a small sniffle and ran a hand through his hair. "'Fraid not, Mal. My car kinda broke down and I've got to wait a few days for it to get fixed."

"Oh," it was barely loud enough for the phone to pick up and Calum didn't know if it was her or him crying now. He'd missed such a special day two years in a row, he just really wished he could be home for once.

"Oh, you're awake." Michael voice sliced through his quiet sobbing with a curious edge to it. Calum looked up and watched Michael pause on the way in, feeling like he was intruding more than anything else.

Michael gulped as he tried to sit on the couch softly, "You miss them?"

"Yeah, this is the second time it's happening and I don't think I can handle missing another Christmas." Calum sniffed, trying to wipe his own tears.

Michael opened his mouth to say something but to be honest, what was he supposed to say? He hadn't experienced the kind of Christmas that Calum craved right now. He shut his mouth, unsure of what to do even.

"I was going to wait for this, but I think you really need it." He said eventually, getting off the couch and padding barefoot back upstairs. Calum was a little surprised by Michael's words and couldn't help but wonder what he was doing.

Michael came down with a white object in each hand, he smiled at Calum sheepishly as he tried to make the paper cut out of a pine tree stand up on its own. It was the length of Michael's arm and after a few failed attempts, Michael just begrudging left it leaning against a wall. He handed Calum the other item, which turned out to be something wrapped up in blank paper and scotch taped shut.

Calum looked at Michael, who gave an awkward shrug, "Forgive me for not having proper wrapping paper."

Calum picked up the present with his name sprawled across it in haphazard writing and hesitantly ripped the Parker off. The fabric of the gift was smooth in some parts and a little rough in others. He unfolded the clothing to find it was a sweater, grey and black in colour Calum looked at Michael again. The boy seemed to be gauging his reaction, trying to find out if he liked it.

"I hope you don't mind hand-me-downs, I didn't exactly go Christmas shopping. It'll keep you warm though." Michael added in a soft voice, worrying at this point that Calum didn't like it at all. He wasn't really brilliant at shopping for other people considering he never bought anything for anyone but himself recently.

Calum let out one final sniffle as he placed it beside him neatly, Michael felt crushed, the first gift he had given in years was more than likely just rejected by this boy who'd spent Christmas with him and didn't complain about Michael's apparent lack of spirit. Calum was nice, but Michael had fucked up on a simple Christmas gift. He was cursing himself inwardly now, deciding too late that the extremely plain pillow would have been a better option if only he had the patience to wrap the damn thing.

"Thank you so much Mikey." Calum shouted, engulfing the pale boy in a tight hug and refusing to let go. Michael didn't know how to react, nobody called him Mikey anymore, it was always Mike or Clifford now. And hugs were like when his favourite pizza guy showed up at the door and gave him a discount, few and far between.

It felt good.

Michael felt good.

"Merry Christmas, Cal."