<Wednesday, 11:55 am>

Tyler woke up on Christmas 'morning' to someone blasting Mariah Carey from the living room of Nick and Chris' rented apartment. He was staying with them since no one- not even Tyler- trusted him to be alone, despite all the progress he's made.

The living room was covered up to the ceiling with tinsel and Christmas lights. A miniature tree sat in the middle of their dining table, and underneath it was a small pile of wrapped presents.

"What's all this?" Tyler asked, standing cautiously at the doorway of the guest room.

Nick's girlfriend Millie turned around from her spot on the kitchen, her coily hair pulled back and dark eyes shining. She smiled and waved him over with a batter covered spatula.

"Merry Christmas, Tyler!" Nick told me you'd be awake soon, so I made you breakfast," She chimed, mixing cookie dough in a glass bowl. "Your breakfast is on the table. Nick and Chris should be back soon with the others. Now eat, tu comida va enfriar."

Tyler sat down at the table, careful not to kick the presents. The breakfast was a plate of waffles, fruits, and Christmas cookies. He grabbed a fork and stabbed a strawberry, chewing on it as Millie whistled from the kitchen.

"What do you mean by others?"

Millie brushed a curl out of her face and winked at Tyler. "It's a secret."

When he finished eating, Millie had already baked a second batch of cookies and was starting to boil a large pot of noodles.

"Seriously, what's going on?" Tyler asked, helping her with the dishes.

Millie put a finger up to her lips. Tyler sent her a pouty look and she caved almost immediately.

"Fine, fine. They're picking up Josh from the hospital and your family from the airport."

"Wait, wait, wait, what?" Tyler squeaked. "My- what are they thinking? I haven't seen them in years, they can't see me like this!"

Millie clicked her tongue, tapping Tyler's nose with a spoon. "Relájate, Tyler. It'll be fun."

Tyler walked back into the guest room, grumbling, suddenly aware of how messy it was. He started picking up the dirty clothes littered around the floor, tossing them into the basket in the hall.

"When do you think they'll be here?" He asked, searching for nice clothes to wear.

Millie walked into the room holding a black suit in a hanger. "Any time now. Abigail rented this for you to wear."

Tyler grabbed the sleeve, rolling the fabric between his fingers. "She really thinks of everything, huh?"

"Yep," she grinned. "Now change."

Another hour passed before the others arrived. By that point Tyler was seriously considering leaving, until his father walked in.

His hair had gone gray at the temples and, much like Tyler, the darkness under his eyes seemed heavier than before. He held a small present in both hands. When they made eye contact, Tyler could see all the regret in his father's eyes. It never really occurred to him just how much they looked alike.

"Hey," Tyler said.

"Hi," his father responded.

Jay walked in, seeing Tyler and immediately running to him, nearly knocking him over in a hug. Tyler laughed and wrapped his arms around Jay.

"You're getting so big," Tyler ruffled Jay's hair.

Jay was eleven, but he already reached Tyler's shoulders. His face still held his childish crooked grin, and he was crying.

"Tyler!" Jay sobbed, hugging him tighter.

"Hey, Buddy."

"I missed you so much! I heard you were sick, do you feel better?"

Tyler set his chin on Jay's head. "Now, I do."

Zach walked in with Josh. Tyler didn't let go of Jay, waving at Zach. Josh nudged Zach motioned for him to go over to them.

Tyler swallowed his pride and tried to speak. "Zach, I-" was all he could say before Zach hugged him tighter than Jay was.

"Three years, Tyler," he cried. "Three years. Not a phone call or an email. I thought you were dead."

Tyler chuckled, feeling tears start to form in his eyes. "Yeah, well, I'm not."

"Good."

Tyler mouthed a thank you over his shoulder to Nick and Chris. Nick shot him finger guns and Chris a subtle nod.

Their father held his arms out. "Can I join in?"

Jay grabbed their dad by the elbow and all four of them hugged, exchanging tears and apologies. For the first time since he left, Tyler felt at home.

"I didn't mean to close you off," his father told Tyler later on.

Jay and Zach were helping Chris with the food, Josh was making a Christmas playlist in the corner, and Nick and Millie had gone to pick up others, giving Tyler and his dad time alone in the living room.

"I know you didn't, but I would understand why if you did," he said. "I was not in a good place then. And I'm still not there, but I'm working on it."

His dad smiled sadly and patted Tyler's shoulders. "I just wish I was there. That's what a parent's supposed to do- be there for their children."

"You're here now. That's all I need."