Jared doesn't like Thanksgiving as much as Christmas, because Christmas is an opportunity for everyone to love him and give him presents and generally worship the awesomeness that is him. He's tried to convince people that Thanksgiving is a good time to give thanks for him, and his parents always do, but he has trouble making anyone at school really embrace it.

"Your ego is gonna explode some day," says Danneel.

"Like a balloon," Aldis adds. "Or bubblegum."

"Probably bubblegum," says Chad. "Jared's ego is totally pink and sparkly."

"I'm thankful for you," says Jensen, kissing him on the cheek. Jared beams.

"I'm thankful for you too," he says. "And we are gonna have an awesome Christmas where I get you tons of stuff."

Jensen rolls his eyes. "Jared."

Jensen keeps trying to explain to Jared that he can't buy his love with presents, and he also doesn't need to, and Jared gets it, because Jensen! Loves! Him! And that's way too awesome to ever forget. But Jared likes buying Jensen things. He likes pretty much everything he can do with Jensen.

One of the things he really likes to do with Jensen is have sex, and after school that day they're on his bed, making out and heading, Jared is pretty sure, in the direction of sex, when Jensen says, "Thanksgiving."

Jared kisses his neck. "Hmmm?"

Jensen bats at him, laughing. "Jared! We need to talk!"

Jared flops onto his back next to Jensen and pouts. "But we were making out."

"Well, I was going to talk to you, but then as soon as we got in the room you shoved your tongue down my throat. Which is awesome, but we need to talk."

"About what?" asks Jared.

"Thanksgiving."

"What about it?"

Jensen blushes dully.

"What?"

"I know you guys are--" Jensen sighs. "I know my house is a lot smaller than yours. But my parents love you--"

Jared beams. "Everyone loves me."

"Jared."

"Sorry."

"Anyway. My parents wanted to ask you and your parents to come over for Thanksgiving dinner at our house. It's not gonna be fancy or anything, but--it's kind of a big deal for us, and they wanted to share it with you guys."

Jared feels his chest expand, and he leans in close and kisses Jensen. "We'd love to," he says.

Okay, technically, he hasn't asked his parents, but he's sure they'll say yes. His parents pretty much always say yes to him.

*

Jared wears his cutest outfit, and styles his hair perfectly, and is still, for some reason, nervous. Jared is never nervous about things. Especially not when he's wearing his cutest outfit. And Jensen's parents love him! His parents love Jensen! Jensen's baby sister asks him for fashion tips. And Jensen loves him, which is huge and amazing and every wonderful thing he never really thought he'd have.

But what if their parents hate each other? Jared doesn't want some kind of horrible Romeo and Juliet situation where they have to get married in secret and then kill themselves. Jared really doesn't want to kill himself. He likes himself.

Jensen gets the door, which is good, because seeing Jensen always makes Jared calmer and smarter.

"Hey," says Jensen, softly, just to him. Jensen rules. "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Padalecki."

"Now you know you call us Jerry and Sherri," says Jared's dad.

"It rhymes, so it's easy to remember!" says Jared's mom.

They've had this conversation before. Jensen is way too polite to ever give in.

"Come on in," Jensen continues. "We're just about ready to eat."

Jensen takes his hand as he walks in, squeezes it, and smiles. "Happy Thanksgiving," says Jensen.

"Yeah," says Jared, knowing, with the sudden certainty that can only come with being as fabulous as he is, that everything is going to be fine. "It really is."

HAHAH ILU

THIS.

Jensen knows that he should spend his holidays with his parents, but it's difficult, knowing that if he were at Green Gables, he would have Jared in his arms, and he wouldn't have to worry that someone would see them. He's grown so used to the freedom of Redmond, of their own home with their own rules, that to be in his house with his parents who can never know the truth of him is too much.

They know that Jared is his friend, of course, but nothing more. It's enough that when he says he'd like to go to Green Gables to wish Jared a merry Christmas, his mother merely lets him go.

The snow is deep and thick and falling still, so Jensen goes back inside to gather his boots and tells his parents that if the weather worsens, he might spend the night.

No one objects.

He arrives at Green Gables just as the sun is starting to set. It's a beautiful day, aside from the cold--Jensen loves the snow, loves the feel of it beneath his boots, and when he knocks on the door, it's Jared who comes to get him.

"Jensen!" he says, a pleased grin lighting up his face. He laughs. "You look like a drowned rat. Or a thawing one." Jensen shakes his head and lets drops of cold spray onto Jared's face. It only makes Jared laugh harder. "Come in, we'll get you drying by the fire."

"Where are Jeffrey and Jim?" he asks, pulling off his coat and shaking it in the entranceway.

"In the barn, checking on the animals. I'm making dinner. Are you staying?"

"The night, I think. I told my parents I'd have to if the weather didn't clear."

As soon as the door is closed, Jared leans in close and kisses him. "I hope it doesn't," he says, with a brilliant smile. "Merry Christmas, Jensen."

"Merry Christmas."

"I think we need to get you out of those wet clothes," Jared continues, skimming his warm fingers under Jensen's shirt across his belly.

Jensen shivers. "Jim and Jeffrey are right outside."

"Mm," says Jared, kissing him on the neck. "They won't come up to my room."

"Jared," says Jensen, exasperated but unable to really protest.

"I forgot my present for you in Kingsport, so you'll have to let me make it up to you somehow," says Jared, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Come upstairs."

Jensen sighs heavily. "If you insist."

"Oh, I do."

Black Books FTW! :D

"I always go with jewelry, man. That's how chicks know you're classy."

"Classy is not the word I associate with you, man," says Jared. "And Jensen isn't a chick."

"His lips are bigger than mine, so, chick," says Chad.

"That's not how biology works."

"Get him a t-shirt that says Jared Padalecki is in big gay love with me. Probably already exists on cafepress."

"I hate you."

"Maybe you could do a gift of the magi thing. Like, find something he loves, buy him something for it, and then hit it with a truck."

"That's not how that story goes," says Jared. "Why would I hit something Jensen loves with a truck?"

"So he'll cry on you and you can take advantage of him. Duh."

"How did you ever get married?"

"I'm fucking hot, dumbass."

*

As far as Jared knows, there is no single, perfect-gift that says "You're my best friend, and that's awesome, but I'd really like to date you on the regular, and probably marry you someday." Unless it's a watch with that engraved on it, but he's already gotten Jensen a watch, and if he was going to engrave his feelings for Jensen on something, he'd probably say it better than that.

"Lame," says Genevieve decisively, when he shows her a tie.

"He doesn't have many ties," says Jared, but he knows if Jensen bought him a tie, he'd think he did something wrong. "Karaoke machine?"

"He hates karaoke."

"I know that," Jared grumbles.

"Maybe you can give him the karaoke machine and tell him you love him as much as he hates karaoke."

Jared groans. "This is the worst Christmas ever."

"It's November."

"Shut up."

*

He e-mails Danneel to see if she has any suggestions, and stops reading her e-mail after the first line (1. Cut a hole in a box.) and sends her a picture of himself giving her the finger.

*

"What do you want for Christmas?" Jared finally asks Jensen.

"You," says Jensen, without missing a beat.

"I was hoping for your two front teeth."

"Were you gonna take 'em out with pliers?"

"I was," says Jared. "But now it won't be a surprise."

Jensen laughs. "Seriously, man, you don't have to get me anything."

"I know."

"But you're going to anyway," Jensen says, rolling his eyes.

"What's the point of making all this money if I don't spend it on my friends?"

"Plastic surgery."

"Oh, fuck you."

*

In the end, Jared gives up and buys Jensen a WiiFit Plus, to make fun of his hatred of the gym. It's lame and not what he wanted to do, but he's busy and stressed and there might not be a perfect present that says "I'd like to be more than best friends!" or "Please just suck my dick already, I'm dying here."

They do presents before they leave for hiatus, and when Jared rips the packaging off his he starts laughing because--seriously.

"Figured it'd really complete your gym."

"We spend too much time together," says Jared.

"Huh?"

He makes a gesture, turning over his new WiiFit and waiting for Jensen to start laughing too.

"Wow," says Jensen. "This is why Misha makes fun of us."

"I should have gone with the dick in a box," Jared mutters.

Jensen looks at him askance. "You ask Danneel for advice?"

"Uh," says Jared. "Did you?" And then he immediately regrets it, because that sounds super lame, so he says, "Yes? I mean, I did."

Jensen laughs, a little nervously, and Jared thinks this might be the best Christmas ever. Maybe.

"What'd you ask her?" asks Jared.

"The usual," says Jensen, but it's totally shifty, and Jared beams and leans in to try a kiss.

It works.

Five minutes later, they stop kissing long enough to Jared to see the presents on the table, and he pokes Jensen in the side. "I can't believe you didn't even spring for the Plus model. Jerk."

Jensen laughs. "Yeah, you're never gonna put out now."

Jared grins. "I wouldn't go that far."

That's totally fine ♥

Seconded.

"So," says Chad, "you're picking up extra shifts getting other dudes off so that you can buy your boyfriend a nicer Christmas present."

"Yes," says Jared. "What else am I supposed to do?"

"Get a job that doesn't make you fucking mopey all the time. Dude, every time you give a lapdance, an angel loses its wings. And then you go into the backroom and cry about it."

"I do not," says Jared. But Chad's kind of right--Jared doesn't exactly enjoy getting other guys off. He'd rather be at home with Jensen. But it's not exactly a problem with stripping. If he was working at a store or a restaurant, he'd still wish he was with Jensen. It's just a matter of being in love with Jensen. "Lapdances are good extra cash during Christmas. I don't like them, but they're not destroying my soul."

"Just get a job that doesn't involve anyone's balls but Jensen's. You'll be happier, and so will he."

*

"Would you rather have a really awesome Christmas present or have my quit my job?" Jared asks.

Jensen blinks at him. "Huh?"

"Just asking."

Jensen turns to him. "Jared, what's wrong?"

Jared sighs. "I'm doing extra shifts to get you something nice, and Chad says getting other dudes off is destroying my soul."

"Is it?" Jensen asks.

Jared shrugs. "It's not my favorite thing in the world, but I need money."

"Yeah," says Jensen. "I know. It's not like I'm thrilled that you spend your nights dancing for other dudes. But you come home every night and fuck me for free."

"Plus I'm in love with you," says Jared, leaning in to kiss him.

"Plus that," Jensen agrees. He kisses Jared again, stronger, and Jared's really getting into it when suddenly pulls away. "So just how awesome a Christmas present are we talking here?"

Jared laughs and pulls him closer. "Whatever. It's a surprise."

Sadie and Harley think the snow is the best thing ever.

"I hate your dogs," says Jensen.

"Fuck you, you love everything about me," says Jared. "Sadie, off."

"Why did you let them outside?" asks Jensen.

"They were whining! It was dark! I didn't see it was snowing!"

Harley rolls over, sticking all his legs in the air, and grinding snow in the duvet.

"God, get off--Jesus, it's cold," Jensen bitches. He glares at Jared. "As soon as this fucking show is over, we're moving somewhere warm. No snow. Sun and sand and--"

"And the dogs would get all sandy and jump in the bed and you'd bitch about how it got up your ass," says Jared with a grin. "Face it, wherever we move, you're gonna bitch about it first thing in the morning, because you're a cranky bastard."

Harley rolls over and sticks his cold, wet paw in Jared's face, and it's freezing and disgusting.

"Okay, okay," Jared relents, pushing Harley off the bed. "Somewhere warm. Fine."

Jensen smirks. "You're sleeping in the wet spot."

"I hate you."

"So, how's Michigan?"

Jared sighs and leans back against the wall. His family are all in the other room, watching the ball drop. He doesn't exactly mind not going out for a big party--it's not like he has any friends in Michigan he wishes he was hanging out with or anything, but he misses Jensen as much as ever. He gets that both their parents want them for Christmas, but, yeah. "Boring," he says. "Snowy."

"That's cool," says Jensen. "Texas is pretty much warm and boring."

"You have friends," Jared points out.

"Yeah, I'm at some party with a bunch of drunk girls hitting on me. I already had to pull out my phone like five times and show you off."

"Aww, are you bragging about me?"

Jensen snorts. "Yeah, Jared. Like a proud dad."

"You're so good to me, honey." Jared sighs. "Next year, we're doing something together. Like, I'll fly home for Christmas and then come back to California for New Year's. Or to Texas. I don't even care. A random third location."

Jensen laughs. "Missing me?"

"I love my family, don't get me wrong. But, man, New Year's on the couch with my parents and my sister is, like--not fun."

"You just want to kiss me at midnight."

"It's true," says Jared. "Not like I ever have any other opportunities to kiss you."

"Never," Jensen agrees. There's a burst of sound. "Apparently I'm lame and have to come drink more."

"Brag about it, why don't you." He grins. "Have fun, Jensen."

"Will do. Happy new year. Love you."

"Love you too. Bye."

At midnight, his phone beeps again, and Jared opens it up to find a text from Jensen: :-*

He's grinning and about to give Jensen another call when it beeps again.

thats a kiss, by the way. love you

yeah, dumbass, I speak emoticon. :-* to you too

I actually don't ship, well, anything in BBT, so it's gonna be gen.

Texas is the same as Jared remembers--not that it's been so long that he thinks it should have changed, but it's surprising, how different it feels to be driving back to Dillon, through the flat plains of Texas, the landscape of his childhood.

"You okay?" Jensen asks, glancing over from the driver's seat.

Jared smiles, knowing it screws up his face. Knowing he doesn't exactly look happy. "It's weird."

"I know. I've never come back to a place I actually got run out of."

Jared pokes him in the arm. "We didn't get run out."

"Jared, if they had tar and a couple pillows and we'd stayed another day, I would have been seriously concerned." He can't see Jensen's eyes behind his aviators, but his grin is genuine and it makes Jared feel warm to his bones. This is what I'm thankful for, he thinks. This is what makes it worth getting up every morning and going anywhere I have to to keep him.

"You aren't seriously concerned now?" he asks. "You're awful pretty, they might remember you."

Jensen shrugs. "What do I care? I didn't really have any friends who weren't you, so it's not like I'm gonna be going door-to-door with holiday cheer. Don't get me wrong, man, I'm not thrilled everyone's gonna be watching us, but I know your mom can't come to us and I want to spend Thanksgiving with you guys."

"We can just stay at home the whole time. Watch TV, pig out, cuddle all the time."

Jensen smiles. "Sounds like a pretty good break."

"Yeah," says Jared, watching the scenery fly by. "Looking forward to it."

"This is not Thanksgiving," says Jared. "It's October."

"Are you actually turning down a chance to gorge yourself?" asks Jensen. "Because I am making a feast."

"It's a Canadian feast," says Jared. "It's probably not even real food. Is there a traditional Canadian meal other than Canadian bacon?"

"You know, it doesn't actually make me like you more when you tell me my country sucks," says Jensen mildly.

"Look, I'm just saying, American Thanksgiving? Legendary. Canadian Thanksgiving? No one cares."

"You know what else no one cares about? Getting laid this week."

Jared gapes. "You wouldn't."

"I can live without sex," says Jensen. "But I cannot live without Canadian Thanksgiving."

Jared sighs. "So, what. Do I put on a hockey uniform and talk about how glad I am that we have Bryan Adams and Celine Dion?"

"Yes, Jared, that's exactly what happens during Canadian Thanksgiving. And then we all watch the South Park movie and boo the whole time."

"If only Canada had its own pop culture you could enjoy."

"You know half your shows are filmed in my country, right?"

Jared waves his hand. "Who cares? They pretend they're America. Just like real Canada!"

"I have no idea at all why I date you."

"My monster dick," says Jared.

"Well, you better bring your monster dick to my house on Sunday," says Jensen. "Or I'm going to stop sucking it."

"Damn you for knowing my Achilles heel."

"This is the downside of boyfriends," says Jensen cheerily.

"Eh," says Jared. "I'll live."

Rosenbaum and Misha! You did not make that up.

"I thought we should celebrate."

Jensen looks up from his notes and blinks. "Celebrate?"

"A new house together in a new place--a new life, Jensen."

"Jared, we've had a new life for months, now," says Jensen affectionately. "As thrilled as I am, I don't see why this is the time to celebrate it."

"A new year, Jen!" says Jared, rapturously. "This is the first year of our life together, outside of Redmond and Green Gables. Isn't that something to be celebrated?"

"You could have just said you wanted to do something for the new year."

"Yes, but it's not just any new year. Of course, it's always exciting, but doesn't it seem like more now?"

Jensen smiles into his papers, unable to keep his delight from his face. It isn't exactly the life anyone would dream of--if he had his own way, he'd simply be allowed to marry Jared, to live in Avonlea with him if they wished, and everyone would know what they were, how much they loved each other. But just to know that Jared was willing to move to Vancouver with him--wanted to live with Jensen forever--it was more than he ever thought he'd have.

"What shall we do?" asks Jensen.

"I thought we could--we can have a nice dinner and stay up until midnight, and greet the new year together, just the two of us. Make wishes for what the year will bring, imagine how our lives will be . . ." he trails off, blushing. "You think it's stupid."

"I don't," says Jensen, honestly. "I'd love to, Jared."

"Then let's do that," says Jared happily.

"Let's."

HAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHA.

(all I've got for my request is: something with a puppy and a winter holiday and j2. Because nothing says winter like cuddling up with a warm puppy.)

Yes! This is exactly what I was going to ask for! So, seconding this!

"Trick-or-treating is for kids," says Kyle.

"You're seriously saying no to candy?" asks Jared. "Dude. I took my baby sister trick-or-treating til I went to college to get the free candy."

Kyle crosses his arms. "I want to go to the party."

"What party is this again?" asks Jensen.

"Joe's," says Kyle.

"You're thirteen," says Jensen. "You don't go to parties yet."

"Yes I do," says Kyle. "I went to parties all the time at home."

"No he didn't," says Natalie. "Mama didn't let him."

"Natty!" says Kyle.

"How many parents are going to be at the party?" asks Jensen.

Kyle groans. "A lot, I don't know. Joe's mom and dad."

"Are there gonna be girls?" asks Jared.

"Yes, and boys too. You should worry about boys," says Kyle.

"You're not gay and you can't get them pregnant," says Jared.

"Jared," says Jensen mildly. He turns to Kyle. "We're picking you up at 9:30."

"10:00."

"We're calling Joe's parents and seeing when the party ends."

Kyle glares. "Fine."

"Who's going trick-or-treating with me?"asks Natalie.

"We are," says Jared. "Like you can keep me away from candy."

"Kyle can't have any," says Natalie decisively.

"Like I want your stupid candy," Kyle shoots back.

"Guys!" says Jared. "Come on, this is Halloween. It's a time of joy. How about we not fight, and everyone eats too much candy and gets sick and throws up on Jensen?"

"No one is throwing up on me," says Jensen.

Jared kisses Jensen on the cheek. "Keep telling yourself that, honey."

You are doing it right!

"So any ideas?" says Sam.

"You're looking for something with a very impressive bite radius," says Dr. Brennan, looking down at the body. "Larger than a bear or a wolf--the tooth pattern is unfamiliar."

"Did you know," says Mr. Nigel-Murray, "that today is, in fact, National Tooth Fairy Day?"

Dean glances over at him. "Did you know your accent makes you sound like a douchebag?"

"Ah," says Mr. Nigel-Murray. "That is a common reaction of Americans to English accents."

"No, part of it's definitely you, dude."

"Can we get back to the body?" says Sam.

"Where did you say you found it?" asks Dr. Brennan.

"Tip from Bobby."

"Do we believe this is an FBI case?" asks Mr. Nigel-Murray.

"No, this is outside their jurisdiction," says Dr. Brennan absently. "Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"I would suggest a large biped," she says. "Something with a disproportionate head. I'm not familiar enough with the lore of the area to offer a suggestion."

"No, that's helpful. A few of the witnesses said something like that--should separate the real reports from the fakers."

"I'm glad to have helped. Do you need to burn these?"

"No, it should be fine," says Sam. "You can identify and tell the family it was a wolf."

"Bear," says Dr. Brennan.

"Whatever," says Dean. "We're done."

"Excuse me," says Mr. Nigel-Murray, "but am I correct in thinking that they are looking for some kind of supernatural monster?"

"No, of course not," says Dr. Brennan frankly. "Why would you think that?"

Dean snorts. "Thanks, doc. We're out."

Sam pauses. "National Tooth Fairy Day? Seriously?"

Mr. Nigel-Murray nods. "Completely."

"Huh."

oohh.... I ditto this!

"So some asshole actor is coming to plant trees so everyone thinks he likes nature?" Jared asks.

"His publicist seemed nice," says Alona.

"He has a publicist," says Jared. "He's got to be a douche."

"His show is good."

"What show?"

"He's on one of those teen dramas."

"You watch teen dramas?"

Alona flushes. "Shut up."

"Oh my god," says Jared. "He's cute, isn't he. You totally have a poster of him up on your wall."

"Fuck you," says Alona. "I think he's gay anyway. Way more your type."

"Some WB pretty boy?" Jared scoffs. "Count me out."

*

When Jensen Ackles arrives he's undeniably pretty, but he's just as undeniably Jared's type. Plus, he's wearing old clothes that actually look like they'd be good for working, and old boots, and looking about as un-Hollywood as possible.

"Hey," says Ackles, with a little wave. "Sorry I'm late, I got caught on the 405."

He's wearing these wire-rim glasses that make him look adorable.

Jared is in no way falling for a Hollywood asshole. It's not allowed.

"No problem," he says, waving his hand. "So, you're here to plant a tree?"

Ackles rubs the back of his neck. "Yeah, I mean--my publicist really wanted me to do something public, and everything else felt so--" he laughs. "I like working outside, and I don't get a lot of chances to since my apartment doesn't have a yard. So there's a photographer or something coming by at two, and I'm supposed to plant a tree then. But I figured if you needed any help I could just volunteer til then."

Jared blinks, surprised by the flow of words.

Ackles, apparently not sure how to read his silence, goes on, "I know it's pretty sad that it took this to finally get me down here, but--yeah. It is what it is."

"No, no," Jared says quickly. "It's great to have the help. You can just come with me and I'll see what you can do."

*

As it turns out Ackles--okay, Jensen--is a pretty nice guy. He's got a quick sense of humor and a nice laugh, and he's not really stuck up or douchey. He blushes faintly through his photo-op and stumbles over thanking Jared for showing him around.

Jared wonders if Jensen being gay is a matter of public record, or just Alona's guess.

Not that it matters anyway. Jensen might not be all Hollywood, but he's definitely too Hollywood to want Jared.

*

Next week, though, he's back.

"I usually can count on Sundays off," he explains. "I mean, sometimes I get an unexpected call, but--nothing big. So I figured I could make it a regular thing."

"Yeah," says Jared, felling off balance. He googled Jensen after last week, found out he is out, is currently single, and is by all accounts a pretty quiet, regular guy who stays out of the spotlight.

"Unless you guys don't do that," Jensen continues.

"No!" Jared says instantly. "That's great. I just didn't think we'd see you again."

"I had fun," says Jensen with a shrug.

And apparently that's that.

*

"You like him," says Alona.

"I do not," says Jared. "Shut up."

"You totally perk up every Sunday."

"I haven't run out of steam yet," says Jared. He works Sunday to Thursday, so he really is usually at his best.

Alona snorts. "Whatever. You have a crush on Jensen Ackles. It's adorable."

Jared glares half-heartedly.