Jensen makes a face. "Why are we having a Christmas party?"

"So that we can have friends over and be social."

"But I hate being social."

"I know. It's good for you. Like broccoli."

"I like broccoli."

"And I like socializing," says Jared. "It's a compromise. All good relationships have compromising."

"You already sent out invitations, didn't you," says Jensen, resigned.

"Yup."

"And said if the party was canceled, it was me, and they should ignore it."

"Yup."

Jensen sighs. "I hate you."

"I know."

*

Jared puts mistletoe up everywhere, and Jensen threatens to hide in his room all night.

"What if I have to kiss Chad?" he demands. "No one should ever have to kiss Chad."

"It's Christmas, cut him a break," says Jared. "Everyone needs love on Christmas?"

"Would you kiss him?"

"On the cheek," says Jared. "In a friendly way."

"He'd find a way to slip you some tongue."

Jared makes a face. "You're right, he would. Stupid Chad." He sighs. "But he's coming to Vancouver just to see us, so we can cut him a break."

"We could have a quiet Christmas," Jensen tries.

"Nope. Big party for all our friends. Mistletoe. And you're coming."

"You're not getting laid for Christmas."

"I'll live."

*

The first person Jensen has to kiss isn't Chad, but Hardison. Which is a lot like kissing Kyle again, if Kyle had a large lurking boyfriend who maybe wanted to beat Jensen up.

It's okay, Jensen is pretty sure his boyfriend can beat up Hardison's boyfriend. Eliot's a professional, yeah, but Jared has been doing a lot of training for his show, and he's huge.

"That was not hot," says Hardison.

"No," says Jensen.

"Man, I don't know how Jared does it. You are just not a good kisser."

"Maybe I'm not into you!" says Jensen. "I'll have you know I'm an awesome kisser. You're the problem here."

"Oh hell no. I am all over this. My lips are hot."

"They are not."

So then they had to kiss again, just to prove they were good at it, and this time Jensen actually tried, and Hardison did too, and it was better than Kyle, but not nearly as good as Jared.

"Okay, okay," says Jared, dragging him back. "You're both sexy, we get it."

"What?" asks Jensen, glaring.

"One, I don't want Eliot trying to shoot you in the face. Two, you're my boyfriend, and I get to kiss you."

"It's your mistletoe," Jensen points out smugly. "And your party."

"And I'm very sorry," says Jared. "Now stop making out with Hardison and get over here."

And when Jared drags him into the kitchen to have their own makeout session? Jensen really doesn't object.

*

Overall, Jensen thinks, the party goes well. Every time he gets stuck under the mistletoe with someone, Jared ends up dragging him off and kissing him (and, after one mistletoe session with Sandy, actually jerking him off in the bathroom), and he never actually has to kiss Chad. Heisenberg ends up eating about three feet of ribbon, but she throws it all up and Jared agrees he should have to clean it, so everything is actually pretty awesome.

Once everyone is gone, Jared settles down next to him on the couch, looking at their tree. "Good party, right?"

"Yeah," says Jensen, tucking in close. "Not bad."