Five years later...
"Josh oh my God I'm freaking out. I am freaking out," Tyler voiced nervously as he grabbed the veggie tray from the fridge and set it on his kitchen table. Their kitchen table.
"Babe, relax," Josh came up behind the brunette and began massaging his shoulders. "They'll love it."
"But it's our year to host the party," he whined, taking the lid off the Tupperware that held all the vegetables he'd cut up the night before . "It's the first year we've done it as a couple since we moved in together three years ago and Hayley and Ashley did it that year and then Jenna and then Sarah. The time you hosted it alone you almost burnt this house down."
"That's why I put you in charge of the food," Josh smiled, moving his arms down to wrap around his waist. "And I did decorations."
Tyler huffed and threw Josh's arms off of him. "Don't be cute with me. We have thirty year old woman to impress."
"We've known them for years, Ty. Even if it is shitty— and it won't be because you're in charge—," Josh quickly added when Tyler shot him a look. "They wouldn't care."
"But your family's coming too, J."
"So?" Josh asked, eyebrow raised. "You grew up with them. They're wouldn't care either."
"Your mom hates me," Tyler walked back over to the fridge and grabbed out the cheese and grapes he had prepped as well before going to the cupboard and getting crackers well.
"No she does not," Josh rolled his eyes. "She loves you, you know that."
"I feel like she hates me because of what happened between us."
Tyler was in the middle of fixing up a plate with the food on it when Josh grabbed his hands. "Look at me," Tyler's eyes flicked up to the blonde. "That doesn't matter anymore. We're together now. We have been. For a long time. She doesn't hate you. She never did. I promise."
Tyler couldn't help but smile. He pressed a soft kiss to Josh's lips. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"Where's Rosie?" The brunette asked, his face holding confusion.
As if on cue he felt something hit his leg and he looked down, seeing the couple's cat rubbing against his leg and purring softly. "Speak of the Devil," Josh laughed.
"Hey, be nice to her. I love that cat more than you," he hit Josh's arm lightly.
"I know you do. Jim was still the superior pet though."
"If that's what helps you sleep at night," he teased.
Tyler pulled back and was about to continue getting ready when the doorbell rang. "Shit!" He began panicking again. "We're not ready, we're not—"
"Ty," Josh smiled at him. "It's okay. Just take a deep breath."
Tyler sighed in defeat. "Fine."
The brunette watched Josh walk over to the door and open it. Tyler let out a relieved exhale when he saw it was just Jenna and her boyfriend. She was also carrying a plate of cookies. "I know you can't bake so here," Jenna entered the house.
"Hello to you to," Josh mumbled, shutting the door once they were both in. "Hey, Jake."
"Hey, man," the mentioned nodded with a smile.
"Oh my God you're a life saver. I'm so glad to see you," Tyler took the plate from her and set it on the table. "Why the hell are you here so early?"
"To help you prepare. Josh texted me you were freaking out."
"Josh!" Tyler looked at him.
"Sorry," he smiled sheepishly.
Tyler rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile as well.
The four all pulled together to finish setting up for their annual party. Just before their guests arrived, Tyler caught a glimpse of the weather outside and his face brightened. "Aw, it's snowing."
His friends looked up from what they were doing to see what he was talking about and smiles settled on each of their faces. "Perfect for our Christmas party," Josh hummed.
They completed everything right before the first person rang their doorbell. Tyler hurried over to the door, not wanting whoever it was to have to stand out in the cold. He opened it and smiled when he saw who it was. "Reagan!"
"Tyler!" She grinned. "My best friend!"
"What the hell?" Josh walked up behind Tyler. "When did you replace me?"
"Never. Tyler's always been my best friend," Reagan replied. "Duh."
"Rea, I know you're excited to see them but could you at least wait for me to turn the car off?" A voice huffed, walking up the stairs. "You're pregnant too! How can you even walk that fast?"
"Alex, hush," she turned to her husband. "Just put up with me."
"Always," he smiled, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Hey guys," he grinned at the couple.
"Hi, Alex," Tyler smiled back. "Oh my God come in," he shook his head, stepping to the side.
Reagan smiled as her hand subconsciously drifted up the enlarged belly she's had for six months, resting on top of it. Her and Alex walked in and Tyler was about to shut the door when he saw more people walking up.
"Rockstar Miles!" Josh yelled happily, making the mentioned's face light up.
"Josh!" He ran up the steps and into the house, hugging the man. He pulled away and embraced Tyler as well. "Tyler!"
"Hey, bud," Tyler smiled. "How's fourth grade treating you?"
"Horribly but if I pretend to cry to my parents I get to stay up half an hour past my bedtime," he grinned. Tyler held up his hand and smiled high fived it in return.
"You girls better not— Cherry and Lily! It's snowing you're lucky you didn't slip and fall!" Tyler heard Frank yell.
"My favorite twins!" Josh attempted to hug them both at the same time but since they were eleven now it was a lot harder. Instead, they each hugged a leg before moving to Tyler and hugging each of his as well.
"Our favorite Tyler and Josh," Cherry replied with a smile.
"I still don't know why you wanted them to come," Frank sighed as he walked in, hand and hand with Jamia.
"You know we adore them," Josh smiled.
Tyler was about to close the yet again when more guests came walking up. "Y'know what? The door's just staying open for another half hour. Might as well let all the snow and cold air in."
"Stop being petty I'm carrying a child in my stomach and Hayley is carrying one in her hands," Ashley scoffed as she waddled through the door. "Where is my sister wife and belly buddy?" She went off, hand on her stomach as she was searched for Reagan.
"Don't mind her," Hayley laughed as she walked in. "She's about to pop and she's pissy."
"She's not giving birth in my house tell her to hold it in another day," Josh replied, walking back over from where he was talking to Frank.
"Uncle Josh!" A small voice shouted from the three year old in Hayley's arms. He made grabby hands at Josh and the blonde picked him up, holding him against his side.
"Hello Mr. Xander. How are you today?" He asked, a smile on his face.
"Good," he smiled back. "'M missed you."
"I miss you too, bud," Josh smiled. "Damn you look so much like me it's insane."
"Momma says I have your eyes," Xander replied, taking his hands and putting them on the sides of Josh's head. He brought his face close to Josh's and the older watched as he looked at his eyes. "I think she's right. I dunno. I can't see my own eyes right now."
Josh laughed and set him down. He let out an over dramatic gasp. "Guess who I see?" He sang.
Xander's eyes widened and he turned around. "Hannah!"
"Xander!" The other three year old let go of her mom's hand and ran up the steps, her Converse hitting the thin layer of snow.
"Oh my God please be careful," Sarah said anxiously, letting out a relieved sigh when Hannah made it in the house and was hugging Xander.
The brunette entered the house, Mason in tow. "Hey, Sarah," Tyler smiled. "And there's my handsome boyfriend!" He said to her husband.
"Hello, beautiful," Mason winked, causing Tyler to laugh.
"That's my boyfriend, thank you very much," Josh wrapped his arms around Tyler's waist and pressed a kiss to his temple, all while sending a teasing glare to Mason. He just held his hands up surrender.
"All yours, man."
"Are you breaking up with me?" Tyler gasped. "During my Christmas party?"
Mason was about to respond but was cut off with the sound of a groan. "Jordan stop."
"What? I'm not doing anything, Ashley!"
"You're being annoying."
"How? I'm breathing!"
"You two are almost thirty and you're still arguing like you're teenagers? You literally used to live together. How the hell did you not choke each other out?"
"Abbie, language."
"Sorry, Dad."
"She's 24 why can't she say hell, Dad?"
"Ashley, language."
Tyler looked at Josh, a grin on his face while a dreadful one adorned the latter's. "I hear our family," he sang in a soft voice.
"I didn't even want them to come. You made me invite them."
"Because your mom loves me."
"You just told me you thought she hated you!" Josh looked at him like he had gone crazy.
"Who do I hate?" Laura asked, walking into the house, her husband and three other kids following.
"No one," Josh smiled. "Tyler thinks you do but he knows you don't."
"Josh, I was kidding the first time," Tyler covered his face with his hands and groaned.
"Tyler I see your hair's still long," Bill spoke, prompting the mentioned to take his hands off his face. Tyler could hear the slight distaste in his words.
"Yes, sir," he replied, feeling much more nervous.
Bill looked at him sternly before cracking a smile. "It looks good, son."
Tyler's nerves instantly went away and a small smile made its way into his face as well. "Thank you," he turned and shut the door. Finally. "That should be everyone," be sighed. "God, I'm already exhausted and all I've done is say hi to everyone."
As soon as he was done speaking, he heard Ashley whisper something to her brother. "Are you gonna do it?"
"Yes, shut up," he whispered back. He caught Tyler looking at him with a raised eyebrow and smiled sheepishly.
"What are you gonna do?" Tyler narrowed his eyes.
"Uh..." Josh froze.
"He was going to try and give your cat away," Ashley cut in. "I was gonna take her. You ruined the surprise."
"Surprise?" Tyler gasped. "Don't touch Rosie," he grumbled. As if I'm cue, the grey cat walked up to him, letting out a meow. He picked her up and held her against his sweatshirt. "If you want her you'll have to go through me," he announced.
Josh let out a dramatic sigh. "Sorry, Ash I guess you don't get a Christmas present now," Josh cracked a smile and looked at Tyler lovingly. "I would never get between you or Rosie. I love you," he cooed.
"I love you too," Tyler pulled Josh in for a kiss, still holding Rosie with his other arm. "If you touch her I'll cut your dick off," he whispered into Josh's ear.
They pulled back and Josh looked at Tyler with wide eyes before they both busted out laughing. "You're a lunatic."
"Mhm but I'm your lunatic."
---
"Okay everyone sit in a circle before I loose my mind. Ashley and Reagan get the couch and then the older people, ahem Frank—
"Hey! I'm only two years older than you."
"Emphasis on older people," Tyler looked at him with a crooked smile. "You're older than me," he joked. "Kids sit by your parents but don't stress them out and if you do a good job you can have another cookie. Everyone else can take the extra seats after that and then fill up the floor but I want us in a circle. Not a square. Not an egg. Not an oval. And God, not a blob. A circle," he let out a breath. "Okay, go."
Tyler sat on the floor right in front of the Christmas tree in their living room, Rosie pawing over and perching her small body in his lap. Josh came and sat down next to him. "Ty, you've turned into a white suburban mom," he whispered into his ear.
"What do you mean? I've always been a white suburban mom," Tyler looked at him. Josh grinned and pecked him on the lips. Tyler pulled away and looked at the group, relieved to see them sitting in a pretty round circle. "Thank you for not giving me an aneurism," he said making everyone chuckle. "Okay, how our Secret Santa is going to work is by starting youngest to oldest. I had you all write the name of your person on your gift and after they open it you can either choose to say you had them or stay anonymous. After everyone is done we can do regular presents," he smiled.
"Okay," Josh grabbed the first box from under the tree. "First up is my man Xander."
The mentioned grinned happily as Josh handed his gift to Hayley so she could help her son unwrap it. Everyone watched as the two took the wrapping paper off. Xander gasped when he saw what it was. "A monster truck!" He yelled happily. "Who got it for me? Don't be shy! I just wanna know who to hug."
It was quiet in the room before Jordan spoke up. "Josh had to help me pick it out since I haven't seen you in forever and I didn't know what you were into now. I hope you like it. Merry Christmas, bud," he smiled.
Xander hopped up off of Hayley's lap and ran over to where the younger Dun brother was sitting on the floor and hugged him. "Thanks, Jordan," he mumbled.
Jordan smiled and hugged him back. "Of course."
Xander pulled away and went back over to his mom, sitting back on her lap.
"Next is Hannah," Tyler passed the next gift to Sarah.
The group continued, quickly getting done with the kids and then going for the adults, still going from oldest to youngest. However when they got to Reagan, that's when Tyler got the most excited.
"Next is R—" Josh began but Tyler ripped the the present out of his hands. He hadn't even known Tyler had gotten her for Secret Santa but he could probably tell by his reaction.
"Here, Rea," Tyler said happily as he handed it over to the pregnant woman.
"Thanks, Ty," she smiled, grabbing it. She carefully unwrapped it to reveal a black box. She looked up at him confused.
"Open the box!"
"Okay!" Reagan laughed. She took the lid off and gasped. "Aw, Tyler..." she gushed.
"What is it?" Jenna asked her.
She held it up to reveal the signed Freddie Mercury disc display. "I'm gonna cry," her lip wobbled.
"It's okay, you don't have to cry," Tyler told her softly.
"I'm not crying over you," she wiped her eyes. "It's the hormones. I swear."
Everyone laughed and Tyler looked up at her. "Do you like it?"
"I love it, Ty. Thank you," Reagan smiled at him.
The group continued until they finished. Josh ended up getting a box with popcorn, candy, movies, and a gift card from Cherry (the kids' parents pretty much got the gifts but she had picked out the movies all by herself. Granted most of them were princess or Barbie movies but he still let her be proud) and Tyler got a fleece blanket and travel coffee mug from Laura.
"Okay," Tyler spoke, his new blanket wrapped around him. "We can do our other presents now. Everyone can just go ahead."
Tyler and Josh spent the next few minutes passing out the rest of the presents from under the tree. He was standing up and fixing an ornament on it when Josh walked up and handed him a small box. "Would you be willing to open one early?" He asked, a puppy dog look on his face.
Tyler hated that damn puppy dog face. It made him cave every time.
"I guess," Tyler sighed. He finished fixing the ornament and grabbed the box. It wasn't wrapped, just ribbon tied around it to keep the lid on. He pulled the string and the perfect bow collapsed, allowing him to access the box. Taking the lid off, he stared dumbfounded at what he saw.
Look up.
"Josh what the hell—" he looked up just as the box told him to and his heart stopped.
Josh was on one knee.
"Oh my God," Tyler squeaked and dropped the box, his hands flying up to his mouth.
"Tyler," Josh said, a smile on his face. "Don't start crying already. I gotta get through my sappy speech and then you can cry," he laughed. Tyler didn't even realize he was crying until Josh pointed it out. He let out a shaky chuckle and wiped his eyes. "Okay?"
"Okay," Tyler nodded, his heart thumping wildly in his chest.
"Tyler Robert Joseph," Josh began. "You are the love of my life. Sorry Reagan," he looked at the brunette making her and Tyler laugh. "We've been through ups and downs and happy times and sad times. Hell—"
"Language," Bill spoke but there was a smile on his face.
"Heck," Josh corrected. "We hated each other for nine years. Yet, as soon as we reconnected we still knew each other better than we knew ourselves. You are not only the love of my life but also my best friend," he paused and Tyler saw his lip wobble as he pulled a black box from his pocket.
"Baby don't cry or I'll cry," Tyler smiled weakly.
Josh cleared his throat. "I'm a man I never cry," he voiced gruffly, making Tyler laugh once again. He opened the box and Tyler saw the ring as it glistened in the warm light of their house. "You are my best friend and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know I used to joke about you being a Dun but will you do me the honor of officially becoming one?" He asked even though he should already know the answer.
"Can I cry now?"
"Yeah," Josh laughed, tears spilling over.
"Then yes," Tyler nodded, a sob erupting as he spoke. It wasn't a sad one though. It was pure happiness.
Josh slid the ring on his finger but it took a moment because they were both shaking. Once it was on, he stood up and Tyler grabbed the front of his shirt to pull him in for a kiss. It was passionate and beautiful. It was true love.
They pulled back and rested their foreheads together. "Tyler Dun. It always had a nice ring to it," Josh grinned although his eyes were teary.
"I love you so god damn much," Tyler whispered.
"I love you too."