Author's note: I probably should have considered what a slow writer I am when I decided when to begin this "Christmas Special." But I guess the Christmas decorations tend to stay up at least through January, so we'll just treat this like that, yes? Haha.

Also, it looks like this is going to be a little longer than I originally anticipated. Five chapters should do it though.

Pairings in thes chapter: NowakiXHiroki

Disclamer: I do not own Junjou Romantica

If he had been a different man, Hiroki Kamijou would have been bouncing up and down throughout the airport with the pure joy that was coursing through his body. As it was, Hiroki wouldn't be caught dead doing such things in private, let alone in an international public place, so he settled for a stoic posture and half a smile on his face, barely there and sure to go unnoticed by anybody he met.

"You seem happy, Hiro-san."

Except for one.

The perpetually cheerful and ever perceptive Nowaki Kusama stood behind Hiroki in the line to board the plane. Hiroki rolled his eyes at his comment and shuffled forward as the line moved. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm happy as well. I'm really looking forward to get to spend this time with you."

Hiroki huffed. "What are you talking about, stupid? We live together; you see me every day."

"Yes, that's true," Nowaki leaned forward and Hiroki could feel his warm breath brush his ear, sending chills through his body. "But not like this. Getting the chance to travel overseas with you is truly special." Nowaki pressed his hand against the small of Hiroki's back and Hiroki had to bite back a gasp.

"Hey…" Hiroki growled warningly, although some of the impact was lost by the waver in his voice caused by the touch of his lover.

"The line's moving," Nowaki said, gently pushing the older man forward.

Hiroki looked to face forward and found that there was a large gap of open space between himself and the ticket taker who was trying to get his attention. He was next in line. Hiroki quickly ran up to the woman at the counter, blushing profusely, while behind him Nowaki grinned at how cute Hiroki was.

Once the plane took off (but not before Hiroki got into an argument with the child kicking his seat from behind, which escalated into an incident involving three stewardesses, four airport security guards and a very buff, angry mother, which all those involved would later deny ever happened) Hiroki and Nowaki settled down for their fourteen hour flight.

Hiroki couldn't remember the last time he had been so excited to be going on a trip. With Mitsuhashi University on vacation right in line with Christmas [1], and Nowaki managing to get a week off from the hospital, it seemed like the universe was just pining to give him the perfect vacation, which he hoped he'd get in America.

Of course, what did he know about that? Nowaki had planned the whole thing, and Hiroki was more or less just along for the ride. Even so, Hiroki did have one thing planned for Nowaki's Christmas, and he just hoped he could find the perfect moment.

"It's going to be much colder than in Japan. Do you have a thicker jacket in your carry-on?"

"Yeah, yeah. Quit worrying." Hiroki said dismissively, tuning Nowaki out as he looked intently at the English directions on an airsick bag, trying to refresh his English skills before they got to America.

Out of nowhere Hiroki was jostled from the side and for a split second he thought the brat from earlier was back for round two, but then he realized that it was Nowaki who had latched himself around his waist.

"H-h-hey! What the heck do you think you're doing?"

"Like I said, if it's too cold in New York, I can warm you up myself. Weren't you listening?"

"What? Get off me, you—"

Hiroki shoved Nowaki off of him and buried his face in the airsick bag's directions which looked even more foreign than usual. Until he turned them right side up again.

Nowaki smiled, leaning closer again and Hiroki braced himself, fully prepared to throw him off once more if need be. But instead Nowaki detached Hiroki's hand from its death grip on the sick bag and laced their fingers together. Hiroki blushed and looked around for anyone who might be looking, but the only offender was the kid from earlier who peeked over the top of Hiroki's chair with interest.

"What are you looking at?" Hiroki growled. The kid disappeared into his seat again, and Hiroki leaned back with a huff.

Nowaki gave Hiroki's hand a squeeze, and Hiroki looked the other way, his face probably permanently a few shades redder.

Hiroki must have fallen asleep at one some point because he didn't remember the thin baby blue blanket getting tucked around him or the arm rest being pushed up so he could lean against Nowaki more comfortably, which was how he found himself when he opened his eyes.

He sat up and looked around with a yawn. Most everyone in the surrounding seats was asleep, including Nowaki. He was slumped over in his seat leaning towards Hiroki, snuggled under his own blanket which drooped off of one shoulder where Hiroki had been sleeping.

As Hiroki slowly adjusted himself back into his own seat, being careful to not wake the other man, he caught a glimpse of outside the window. Immediately his eyes widened ad his nose was pressed against the window to get a better look. He flipped over and shook Nowaki's sleeping form, no longer concerned about not disturbing him.

"Nowaki. Nowaki, wake up!"

"Nmph… What…?"

"Look! Out the window."

Nowaki rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and peeked over Hiroki's shoulder. He immediately had to move closer for a better look.

Before them was a vast expanse of indigo night glittering with stars. Beneath them a fluffy grey and white field of clouds flowed past them, the body of the plane sending up wisps of the fog to float in the air. But above the clouds, the sky was clearer and the stars were brighter than either of them had ever seen.

"It's beautiful," Nowaki whispered.

Hiroki felt Nowaki comb his fingers through Hiroki's hair, and Hiroki settled against the armrest, pretending he didn't notice.

"The clouds are pretty thick," Hiroki mumbled.

"It would be nice if it snows in New York; don't you think so, Hiro-san?"

"Meh. Doesn't matter either way."

Hiroki really hoped it would be snowing when they landed.

"Now arriving from Tokyo, Japan: Flight number—"

"Raaargh! I hate traveling!"

"Hiro-san, please don't knock over the people in Santa outfits. They're there for charity."

Hiroki stormed through JFK International Airport headed for the baggage claim, a task made much easier by the way the crowd parted like the red sea as he made his way through.

But could anyone really blame him? There they were in the last half hour of the flight, and Hiroki was nice and cozy next to Nowaki watching the end of their in-flight movie, some childish foreign film about a fuzzy green man pretending to be Santa.

And then the announcement came on. Bad weather meant they couldn't land which meant the kids on the flight were getting restless which meant Hiroki getting kicked in the back of the seat, which persisted for two and a half more hours.

Needless to say, he was still an angry mess when he made it to the baggage claim. The little carousel from his flight zigzagged, carrying various suitcases and duffels along the conveyor belt, and Hiroki kept a sharp eye out for his. Then, from the corner of his eye he saw his bag, easily identifiable by the panda keychain tied to the handle, just a few meters away from the exit end of the line. Not wanting to have to wait for it to come through again, Hiroki did what was only natural and leaped over the two rows ahead of him, and lunged for the bag.

He grabbed the handle and let out a whoop of triumph. Followed immediately by…

"Yarg!"

The other end of Hiroki's bag refused to let go of the conveyor belt and pulled back, sending Hiroki tumbling onto the carousel and through the hole into the unloading area. All he could think was that he must have been quite a sight: an angry Japanese man tangled in his baggage being jerked though the back room of the loading dock, having other pieces of luggage loaded on top of him.

He was beet red before he even reentered the airport. As the hole approached he squeezed his eyes shut, ready for the onslaught of laughter.

Instead, the second he was in the light he felt a pair of warm hands grab him under the armpits and lift him up. Hiroki opened an eye to see Nowaki grinning down at him, his body strategically placed to block him from the view of other travelers.

"I believe this belongs to me," Nowaki said.

"Do I look luck luggage to you?" Hiroki growled.

"Well, I did have to claim you from this conveyor belt."

"Shut up! And let me down already!"

Hiroki kicked his way out of Nowaki's arms and grabbed his bag. Almost immediately he missed the warmth from a moment ago.

"Shall we go?"

"Yeah, sure."

Outside Nowaki worked of hailing a cab. Looking up at the sky, Hiroki sighed. There wasn't any snow. Just the dirty, week old, hardened stuff piled up on the curbs.

Despite having slept for much of the flight, the stress and jetlag caught up to Hiroki and he fell asleep against Nowaki once again in the cab. By the time he opened his eyes, they were a good ways up a mountain and night had fallen.

"Okay, I give up. Where are you taking me?"

"The Adirondack Mountains."

What had Nowaki been doing the whole time Hiroki was asleep anyway?

"I thought we were going to New York."

"We are in New York. But we'll only be in the city for the last three days. For the first four, you are all mine."

"What!? As if I'd let you!"

Hiroki shot a glance at the cab driver. He looked like he was trying really hard not to laugh. He drove them up a side road and Hiroki saw a private cabin in the distance. He crossed his arms and set a pout to his face, quickly casting a glance at Nowaki. He supposed this was alright.

つづく。。。