Author's Note: There's about 7 chapters left after this one. There may be more or less depending on the outcome of the actual chapters, but I have my mind set on how those chapters are going to go like.

*Back to the story

~~~~~~~~~~~

The morning started with Adrian accompanying Brody to the hospital to get his cast removed. Whilst he enjoyed Adrian being super caring and attentive to his needs, Brody was looking forward to getting back some kind of independence.

Brody was bubbling with excitement as the pain of having the cast was becoming tiring. No longer would he need to excessively rely on other people for help, like something as basic as opening a water bottle or a jar of peanut butter.

No longer would he have to restrict himself on doing things he wanted to do, like doing a full body workout, or being able to scrub himself clean - although he never complained when he showered with Adrian.

And no longer would his itchy hand be a pain in the ass to scratch with the nearest long object.

"Everything looks good. The report confirms there seems to be no lasting damage, and you should be perfectly fine to continue with your old life." The doctor had described as she read it out loud.

"Just in time for Christmas." Adrian smiled, he thought the holiday was definitely going to be perfect now.

"So, you have any plans now?" The doctor asked Brody as she made small talk.

"Doctor, my boyfriend is sitting right there. I don't think it's appropriate to plan a date." Brody joked as he was in a great mood now.

Adrian hugged Brody from behind and pinched his arm. "Ignore my boyfriend, he thinks he's hilarious."

"Just part of my charm." Brody smiled as he looked back at Adrian with equal warmth in his eyes. "That's how I won you over - eventually."

Adrian silenced Brody by kissing him, saving the doctor from Brody's poor jokes that they both enjoyed.

~~~~~~~~~~

Later that same day, Brody was pushing a trolley in the supermarket as he made his way down the bread aisle. Putting a loaf into his trolley, he continued looking around for things to buy for the family picnic everyone was going to tomorrow.

"You finally done yet?" Brody asked out loud to Adrian.

Adrian was like a kid in a candy shop, adding random foods and treat into the trolley that his eyes landed on. In hindsight it was probably a better idea to feed Adrian before they came here, because all he did was pick out snacks and junk food.

Contemplating choosing between salt and vinegar Pringles and Flammin' Hot Cheetos, Adrian paused before he tossed them both into the trolley. "We need more."

Brody had to physically stop Adrian from adding more into their trolley, laughing when he saw Adrian pout like a child.

"We've already got enough snacks for the next 3 weeks, and we haven't even begun to buy the meat yet," Brody scolded him. "And don't think I haven't noticed you hide the twizzlers under the cheese."

Adrian was caught red handed again when Brody saw him hold some crispy m&ms. He held his nerves and stared Brody back in the eyes, tossing them into the trolley as he smiled at Brody with delight in his eyes.

"Fine, we can get your boring meat now." Adrian told him as he added some mints into the trolley before they walked away from the sweets aisle.

"Unbelievable..."

~~~~~~~~~~

Adrian had already opened up the bag of chocolates when Brody was still carrying the rest of the grocery bags into the kitchen .

"You good?" Adrian checked as he sat down by the kitchen counter, freely snacking away on the chocolate Brody had paid for.

"I carried 3 of theses bags up here while you took 1 shopping bag and the bag of m&ms. I think I got it covered babe." Brody retorted with tired sarcasm.

"Did I ever tell you how attractive you look when you carry loads of things? Makes your arms bulge and they look sexy as hell."

"Only when you flatter me because you feel slightly guilty." Brody laughed. He could read Adrian like a book, and he knew that's why his boyfriend was complimenting him.

Adrian slipped off the chair and hugged Brody from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder. "Sorry, I was being selfish and greedy."

When Adrian had just kissed the back of his neck, Brody immediately felt calm and relaxed. Truth be told he was never upset in the first place, he just liked messing with Adrian.

"Now, what can I help with for tomorrow?" Adrian sincerely asked him.

Brody turned around and wrapped his arms around Adrian. "How about we celebrate again, about the fact that both of my hands work, with a quick 10 minutes break on that couch?"

"Mmm, I like the sound of that." Adrian giggled as he led them both to the living room to make out.

~~~~~~~~~~

The picnic was hosted by Adam's family. With the weather warm and the sun shining down on them all, they were all expecting to meet each other at the park.

Adrian, Brody, and Sally got into the car together as Sally drove them down there.

Their journey wasn't long as they had stopped their car when they saw Adam's family with Ashley, in a grassy and spacious area.

Adrian carried the picnic baskets as the 3 of them made their way towards them. Happily greeting everyone, they settled themselves down as they unloaded all of the food onto the blanket.

Sandwiches, potato salad, scotch eggs, sausage rolls, potato chips, fruit salad, and lots of other foods were presented to everyone - even alcohol. All of the food was made from scratch as they all brought a selection of food with them to the family picnic.

"Wow, you made all of this?" Melissa Hanes asked as she was shocked to see all the food Brody had brought with him.

"Yep, I watched Brody make all of it from scratch - even the pastry for the sausage rolls." Adrian told them all as he boasted about Brody's culinary skills, he was a very proud and lucky boyfriend.

"Thanks babe." Brody said sweetly, giving Adrian a chaste kiss as they all sat down together.

They all began to eat together when Adam passed out some plates for them all.

"You guys still up for Christmas together?" Justin Hanes asked.

For so many years, the Jones household and the Hanes household always celebrated Christmas together. Since their children were best friends, the parents also got along very well - so much so that they spent a lot of holidays together.

"Oh definitely, and this Christmas we have 2 more additions to our home." Sally smiled as she looked at Brody and Ashley.

"Really?" Ashley asked a little taken back. Brody was equally quiet as he listened to everyone else talk.

Adrian nodded his head along with everyone else. "Of course, both of you are our family now. It's actually more surprising to see you both shocked that we would invite you in the first place."

Adam had kissed Ashley to support what Adrian was saying. Adrian had stretched his hand out so that he could hold Brody's hand instead.

"You sure?" Brody didn't want to intrude on their tradition if they weren't truly wanted there.

"Yes you idiot. You're meant to be the smart one in this relationship." Adrian mocked as he squeezed Brody's hand.

~~~~~~~~~~

Brody took some quiet time alone and parked himself under a tree with a book and a plate of food in his hands. He had finished reading several chapters of The A.B.C Murders by Agatha Christie, while everyone else were throwing a ball around.

"Mind if I interrupt?" Adrian asked as he stood over Brody.

"For you? Anytime." Brody patted the space next to him so that Adrian would sit down with him.

Adrian chose to lie down and rest his head on Brody's lap instead, enjoying the warmth between the sunshine and Brody.

They were both familiar with this position as they did it a lot. It was the sweet little moments when Brody would run his hands through Adrian's hair, as he read his books while Adrian would be on his phone, that they both silently enjoyed the most.

Brody picked up a cheese cube from his plate and fed Adrian without asking, enjoying their domestic and peaceful life.

"More please."

Picking up some grapes, Brody continued to feed Adrian as he was getting even more comfortable resting his head on Brody's lap.

"Can you tell me what I can get you for Christmas yet?" Adrian asked as he was still unsure on what to give to Brody for a present.

"But I don't want any presents. What can I get you instead?" Brody reversed the question as he didn't want anything, he was happy with what he had now.

Adrian was in a similar boat to Brody as he didn't have much value in physical goods either. "I'm not fussed."

With both of them stuck on a stalemate to pick out a present, they knew they were still going to get each other something - just neither of them knew what to get the other person.

Adam and Ashley walked hand in hand to join them both. They plopped themselves down onto the grass and grinned whey they saw Adrian and Brody's position.

"Okay guys, now I think it's just unhealthy."

They both looked back at Adam as Brody asked, "What is?"

"You both are way too clingy. It's like every second one of you are doing something so sugary sweet to the other person, that we will be in sugar induced coma from just watching you both."

Adrian and Brody looked back at each other, and shrugged in unison. They didn't see any problem with how clingy there were, and they both loved the feeling of everything they did together.

"What's your point?" Adrian asked.

"We love you both, but we think you should do some sort of 24 hour challenge or something." Adam mentioned.

Adrian laughed as he became intrigued. "That sounds like a game, keep talking." He wanted to win every game.

"What about a no touching challenge? Some physical distance and boundaries are healthy in a relationship. You guys can make it a bet to keep you interested or something." Ashley suggested.

Brody laughed as he thought it was funny and stupid at the same time. "Come on guys, we all know Adrian wouldn't even last 20 minutes."

"Wait wait wait," Adrian interrupted, "I would totally out last you."

"Look where your head is now." Brody laughed, as they all looked at how Adrian was still resting his head on top of Brody's lap.

The challenge was now on as Adrian was in a huff. Getting himself off Brody's lap, "How about $50 to the winner then?"

Brody closed his book and was still laughing at Adrian, shaking his head in disbelief simultaneously. "You serious?"

Nodding his head, Adrian tainted his boyfriend. "You chicken?"

"We both know that I'm not the kind of person to get riled up by playground insults." Brody joked.

Adrian then whispered something to Brody so that Adam and Ashley wouldn't hear him. The longer the whispers went on, the more Brody's eyes shined with excitement.

"Really?" He asked in a low and suggestive whisper. When Adrian slyly nodded his head, Brody grinned in excitement. "I'm in."

"Let's shake on it then." Adrian stretched his hand and waited for Brody to accept the challenge.

"How about we kiss on it instead?" Brody suggested as he wiggled his eyebrows at Adrian.

Pretending that it was all tiring, Adrian let out a fake, exhausted huff. "Fine... Starting..."

Adrian gave Brody one last and long kiss, with it being the final one since he was determined to win the bet. "Now!"

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