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This Christmas
Epilogue

Taylor

Home sweet home.

I grinned like an idiot when I saw Diana waiting expectantly in her bright red Saturn. You'd think that, living in New York City, we wouldn't need a car to get around, but Di uses it to commute between school and job. She says that the extra ten minutes make for more study time, and Lord knows that the girl values her academics.

One of the many reasons that I love her.

"Heads!"

She pretended to freak out for my benefit. "Tails! Dear God, I was beginning to wonder if you'd built yourself a heaven in Florida without me!"

"Nah. I tried, but it turns out that the people in the Bahamas beat me to it."

She rolled her eyes. "Go fucking figure. Man, those beach bums have everything figured out."

"They definitely do," I agreed, nudging her meaningfully. "You should go become one for a bit, see if you can gain any insight into how to chill the fuck out."

She laughed lightly. "And miss out on the chance to hear all about your vacation with the fatigued, fantastic pop star? Never. I'd sooner skip a chemistry lab."

"The sky would fall," I warned her.

"I'll remember to bring an umbrella with me beforehand," she retorted. "Now, details, chick! I haven't seen or heard from you in three weeks except to hear you recite your flight schedule on my answering machine."

I smiled sheepishly. "I've been busy."

Diana rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "Yeah, well, Merry fucking Christmas to you too. I'm glad to know that he didn't eat you down there."

"Oh, he did," I assured her. "No worries."

For the first time in a long time, I saw Diana flinch. "Why do I sense a TMI violation coming on?"

"Because she didn't leave me in Florida," AJ interjected with a laugh. I glanced over my shoulder to see him tugging his ridiculously large suitcase behind him. I swear, the boy wears more clothes in two days than I do in a week.

Diana looked at me in surprise. "You mean you actually went through with it? You finally jumped him?"

I wiggled my eyebrows at her, but AJ continued. "Oh, that isn't all she did..."

Diana flinched. "You know what? I don't want to know. I don't care what the hell you guys did down there. I'm just glad it worked out."

"Oh, it worked out all right," I laughed. "It worked out so well that he insisted on coming back with me."

Diana smirked at AJ. "So she's that good, huh?"

AJ winked at her. "You know it, Heads. How were your holidays?"

Diana shrugged. "Boring as fuck. I'm actually going to be glad to have the both of you in the apartment. I could definitely use a little entertainment."

AJ looked at me in mock surprise. "Taylor! You never told me Diana was into the whole voyeur thing..."

I burst out laughing at the thought of an inactive Diana watching us get it on, but Diana chuckled mischievously. "J, you don't know the half of it. Not only do I like to watch, but I bring a camera too."

"So those sex tapes in the closet aren't all yours?"

"No, they're mine," Diana grinned. "I just don't star in all of them."

This, kids, is my roommate. We're still trying to figure out when the brain damage was acquired.

We hopped in the car shortly after tossing the bags in, and Diana revved the engine. "Hey, kids? There's one thing I want to know."

AJ and I replied in unison. "Yes'm?"

"Why didn't you bring me back a Backstreet Boy?"

"The thought of you scared them all off," I retorted, and Diana snickered.

"They must not know you too well yet."

"They don't," AJ laughed, pulling me tightly to his side. "But they will. I plan on keeping her around for awhile."

I smiled into the hollow of his neck. "No objection here."

Diana snickered in the front seat. "What if I have an objection?"

"You don't count."

"But I'm the best friend AND the fucking roommate! My opinion should count twice."

AJ rolled his eyes. "I'm the boyfriend. Hierarchically, I'm more important."

Diana's eyebrows shot up. "Wow, big words. I'm impressed."

AJ sighed. "Does this mean I get to keep her?"

"Maybe," Diana agreed. "But only until forever."

We laughed at AJ's confused expression for the rest of the way home.