A Christmas Coincidence - 9. Chapter 9

Beads of water dripped down the green and white diamond-shaped tiles of the bathtub walls. The air in the room was humid and filled with sweat-inducing fog-like steam from the heat of the flowing water from the shower head. Through the almost see-through curtain, it was easy to see the dark-haired male turning off the water to shampoo his hair, not facing the bathroom entrance.

"Holy, Fuck!"

Vincent's screeching sounded almost hawk or eagle-like. He jumped like a cricket when the freezing water cascaded like a waterfall upon his warm skin. He turned around to reach the wall where the faucet was while trying to move cautiously but quickly to turn the water off. Even as he thrust the curtain open and looked around, the shivering brunette knew he wouldn't see anyone brave enough or willing to stick around and take credit for the icy trick. However, before turning the water back on, he noticed a lingering mixture of two distinctive yet familiar scents that weren't there when he first got into the tub. He grinned and was sure he knew the ones who were responsible for the cold water mysteriously turning on. He closed the curtain to resume his shower, and by the time he dried off, a retaliation plan was hatched.

Sitting on the bed, dressed in the same gray knit shirt, socks, and boxer briefs from earlier, and a pair of slim-fit black jeans that hugged his toned legs and firm ass like a second skin, Vincent googled the nearest costume shop. After getting confirmation the requested items were available and would be held for him until the store closed at three o'clock, he ended the call.

"You want another cup of coffee, bro?"

"Sure. Would my awesomely sweet and loving baby brother be willing to add a teaspoon of hot chocolate mix?"

Trevor cackled and shook his head when Brett looked at him with his most adorable puppy eyes and pout.

"You are just too cute, Brett. Yeah, I'll add the mix."

Trevor grinned, ruffled the other redhead's hair, and chuckled as he tickled his brother's neck, which caused Brett's squirming and his boyish giggling and squeaks that followed.

Vincent quietly snuck up behind the younger of the red-haired brothers. Then, as soon as he wasn't holding anything, he reached out and tickled the unsuspecting man's sides.

Trevor jumped and squealed before giggling and squirming in an attempt to get away. "Brett, Vinnie's tickling me," he mockingly whined.

"Vin, don't tickle Trev," Brett paused and added, "at least not until he's fixed my coffee."

"I'll remember that, Brother, dear."

Vincent giggled as he wrapped his arms around Trevor, hugged him, and kissed his cheek. "I love you, my new baby brother."

Trevor grinned as he returned the affection.

Brett grunted when his boyfriend's body landed on him. "Oh, fuck, not my stomach and sides, Vince," he hollered. Screeching laughter poured from him as he was tickled into oblivion. He bucked and squirmed under the brunette's weight, and his sock-clad feet pounded the carpet.

"Don't forget his belly button, Vince."

"I'm gonna sooo hurt you, kid brother."

Brett's upper body arched and writhed. He squealed and giggled like a little boy when his boyfriend's pinkie finger twisted in the circular hole in the center of his stomach, and the manicured fingernail lightly scratched along the walls.

Vincent took pity on his ticklish boyfriend. He pulled the giggling redhead into a warm, loving hug and kissed his soft lips.

"I love you, Brett."

"Love ya more, Vin."

"Here's your coffee, bro," Trevor said, handing his brother the mug.

"Thanks, Trev."

"I gotta go and get a few last-minute things," Vincent said.

"How long are ya gonna be?"

"Not too long, why, Trev?"

"Well, I was hoping you and my brother would keep your nephew entertained while Julie and I take most of these gifts to Grandma's for tomorrow. We talked before going to sleep last night and decided to open one gift tonight and save the rest for Christmas Day in Middletown. We shouldn't be longer than a couple of hours. I'm guessing we'll also stop by and say hi to Mama and Papa since we'll be passing by their place along the way."

"I should be back in an hour or so."

"Sweet, I get to spend time with my amazing nephew," Brett said, grinning.

"I love you two red-haired goofs."

Brett grinned, pulled Vincent onto his lap, wrapped his arms around his boyfriend's upper body, pinning him to his body, and used his legs to pin his lover's legs to the front of the love seat.

"Quick, get his feet, Trev."

"Brett, you're never gonna escape my wrath," Vincent threatened. He struggled and squirmed but wasn't going anywhere.

Trevor smiled as he dove to the floor, laid on his stomach, wrapped his arm around Vincent's ankles, and took the socks from his feet.

"No! Trev, don't."

The pair of slender, muscle-toned jeans-clad legs pumped back and forth in the redhead's vice-like grip. Seconds after the fingernails started rapidly scratching up and down in the center of the freshly bared arches, wild animal-like screeches mixed with howling laughter overpowered the other sounds in the open-concept living, dining, and kitchen area as the restrained brunette's body bucked and thrashed as much as possible, and his limbs struggled to find freedom.

Because of the commotion, the soon-to-be stepmother and stepson had the opportunity to sneak up on and ambush the guys from separate angles. Julie crept up to the back of the couch and waited for the right moment to make her move. Ben crawled on the floor between the love seat and the armchair.

The teenager wrapped his arm around his dad's ankles and swiftly removed his socks. He giggled when the man jumped and squeaked. Not letting his prey have a chance to react, his fingers stroked and danced across the upturned, wrinkled soles.

Immediately releasing Vincent's ankles, Trevor cried out, "Not my bare feet, Ben," just before falling into the bottomless abyss of hysterical laughter.

Julie jumped up, grabbed her brother in a choke hold, and administered a vigorous noogie.

"Jules, not the noogie," Vincent yelped and kicked his legs.

Brett giggled and took advantage of the distraction by tickling his boyfriend's sides and stomach.

"Oh, fuck! I'm getting revenge on the two of you," the brunette shouted while he screeched and howled with laughter.

"Yeah, yeah, big bro," Julie taunted.

The lone female giggled, then in a blink of an eye, had Brett trapped in her headlock and was giving him the same vigorous noogie she gave her brother.

"Oh shit," Brett squealed.

Not forgetting his boyfriend's assistance in the attack on him, Vincent grabbed the squirming ankles in the crook of his arm, then he pulled off the thin fabric protection the flapping feet had and ran his fingernails across the balls of the pale soles and played with the ten wiggling toes.

"Coochie, coochie, Brett. Aww, these tickly tootsies are so fun to tickle."

Brett's laughter was boisterous and screechy. "You're making it tickle more, you butt head," he hollered.

Trevor got the upper hand and pinned his attacker face-down on the floor. He trapped the former tickling teenager's legs and slid his socks off.

"Dad, you wouldn't tickle your poor, adorably cute little boy, would you?"

The father smiled as he gave the teen a wordless, ticklish response. In seconds, his son was helplessly laughing and squealing as his bare feet were tickled.

Brett and Ben were released, and the family calmed down.

"Guys, after dinner, gonna get dressed in costumes, dancing and lip syncing to Christmas songs," Vincent said with a smirk.

"That sounds like fun," Ben excitedly stated.

"Wait! Hold off your excitement a moment, son," Julie said. She narrowed her eyes, fixed her gaze on her grinning bobcat-like brother, and asked, "Who's choosing the songs and costumes?"

"I am," Vincent responded while giggling.

Julie gasped and said, "We're all sooo screwed."

Vincent stared at his sister and nephew, saying, "Hey, it's better than the ice shower you two gave me this morning."
Julie and Ben shared nervous glances as Brett and Trevor laughed.

"How'd you know it was us," Ben asked.

"Before I turned the water back on after becoming a Vincecicle, I smelled the lingering scents of Stetson cologne mixed with strawberry. Julie's the only one who uses strawberry-scented anything, and you, her accomplice, must've splashed some on this morning."

"It coulda’ been Dad," Ben countered and grinned as he stuck his tongue out at his uncle.

"Nope, he didn't smell of Stetson this morning. Only you had that scent on at breakfast," Vincent shot back and blew a raspberry at the teenager.

The family shared a group hug and kiss before Vincent, Julie, and Trevor left the uncle and nephew duo.

"So, what ya want to do," Brett asked as he rubbed Ben's head and pulled him into a loving embrace.

"Can we go to the ice skating rink?"

"That sounds like a great idea, and afterward, I'll take us to lunch."

"Sweet! Thanks, Uncle Brett."

Brett chuckled as he got up, walked into the kitchen, left a note saying where he and Ben would be, and went to get his phone from the bedroom. He also grabbed a scarf and his jacket and went downstairs, where he found his nephew waiting eagerly for him.

"Get the lead out, Uncle. Fun, ice skating, and lunch for starving teens wait for no one."

Brett chuckled and hugged the excited youth. "Keep your boxer briefs on, little man. The ice isn't melting anytime soon."

"I can drive, right?"

"Sure, in about three or four years. Till then, you're gonna have to ride."

Vincent was the first one back. He fixed himself a virgin hot apple cider and played some Christmas music. After putting the wrapped packages from the costume shop under the tree, except his, he relaxed on the sofa and enjoyed the decorations.

"I can't believe you kept falling," Ben teased his uncle while giggling as they walked into the house.

"I'd have been fine if it wasn't for a certain impish teenager who kept knocking into me," Brett countered.

As soon as their coats and boots were shed, Brett grabbed his nephew, threw him over his shoulder, tickled his sides, and playfully smacked his butt.

"This is nephew abuse," Ben squealed while laughing and wriggling.

"Sounds like you two had fun," Vincent said. He smiled as he got up, hugging and kissing his boyfriend and nephew.

"It was awesome, Vinnie."

"The only thing that would've been better was if you went with us, Uncle Vince."

"After you boys warm up with a mug of hot cider or hot chocolate, we could play in the snow before I start dinner."

Twenty minutes later, Julie and Trevor returned. They smiled and joined the two men and one teenager making snowmen. Shortly after, a snowball smashed against Vincent's back. Another one sailed through the air, hitting the center of Ben's jeans-clad ass. It was every man and woman for themselves as a snowball fight broke out among the family. Boisterous, joyful laughter and squeals filled the afternoon air as the snowballs stopped flying. Bodies collided with each other, and an impromptu wrestling match ensued. When the snow settled, the entire family unit was covered in snow, and no one knew or even came close to caring who won.

"Ok, is everyone ready for the fun," Vincent asked, giggling.

"I can't believe he is doing this to me again," Julie said after sipping her sparkling white grape juice. "When we were kids, he'd always make me dance and lip sync in his Christmas Eve performance."

Ben hugged his Mom and said, "Mom, I'm a teenager. If I'm willing to do this and think it's gonna be a blast, so can you."

Julie chuckled. She returned the affection and said, "Says the teenager who hasn't seen what costume he's wearing and what song is chosen."

Vincent grabbed one of the packages and ran upstairs while everyone gathered in the living room at the Christmas tree.

"Ok, you're the sexiest Santa I've ever seen, Vin," Brett exclaimed when his boyfriend returned wearing a glittering formfitting Santa suit that clung to his body like it was flesh, complete with a beard, a wig, and a hat.

"Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas," Vincent exclaimed in a lowered, booming, vibrant voice.

The others chuckled when the sparkling Santa dragged a chair from the table, sat beside the tree, and said, "You're the first to sit in Santa's lap, young lady."

Julie downed the last of her juice and sat on Santa's lap.

"Have you been a good little girl this year?"

"Yes, Santa! However, I may be one brother short when I murder him in his sleep, depending on what costume and song he's chosen," Julie responded while giggling.

Trevor slid closer to the pair and grinned as he held one of his future wife's ankles and tickled her sole.

"Hey, no tickles," Julie squealed. She jumped and kicked her legs while giggling.

"Sorry, hon. I couldn't resist your cute little foot floating in midair," Trevor said, chuckling.

"Let's see what Santa's got for the giggling girl this year."

Julie slowly opened the package she was given and groaned.

"Oh, you are soooo dead, Vinnie."

Vincent chuckled and said, "Payback's so much fun, little sis. Now, be a good girl and take your medicine."

Julie returned a few minutes later, dressed like Shirley Temple. She glared at her laughing brother while Trevor, Brett, and Ben giggled.

"Babe, you look sooo adorable, Trevor said as he took pictures with his phone.

"Don't forget, red, you've gotta sleep with me tonight."

"Trevor and Ben might know this already, but I know Brett doesn't know that Jules used to clog and won contests, so she's gonna be clogging to the classic song, "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer."

"Yep! There will be a dead brother in the morning."

Julie sighed and shook her head as she flawlessly clogged and lip synced to the silly holiday tune. When finished, everyone jumped to their feet, clapping and whistling as she bowed and genuinely smiled.

"See, that wasn't so bad. You were amazing, Julie," Vincent complimented as he hugged his sister.

Julie returned the hug, saying, "Ok! Fine, you won't be murdered tonight. I'm just gonna hogtie you and tickle your feet with a hairbrush." She giggled when her brother gasped and shivered before she ran upstairs to change into her regular clothes.

After Julie returned, Vincent said, "You're next, little man," pointing to his nephew.

Ben giggled and jumped onto Santa's lap, wrapped his arms around him, and kissed his cheek. "Don't forget how much your sweet, adorable nephew loves you, Uncle Santa Vince," he said in a little boy's voice.

Everyone chuckled at the antics and shook their heads. Their chuckles turned to laughter when they saw the expression on the teen's face after opening the box.

"Oh, giving you an ice bath will seem like a walk in the park when I get revenge for this, Uncle Santa," Ben playfully threatened.

"Be a good boy, put that on, and remember to have fun."

Ben returned dressed in a pink bunny suit and even glasses, without the lenses.

"I don't believe it," Trevor exclaimed and added, "I swear, Ben, I never told Jules or your uncles about the exchange we had about this very thing," before his son could accuse him of plotting with his uncle.

"Your song is "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth."

"I've got a sonic toothbrush with your name on it, Uncle."

Ben decided to ham it up and got into his performance, making it irresistibly adorable as he hopped around to each adult, pleading for his two front teeth, and at the end of the song, he was on his hands and knees, praying.

"Ben, that was incredible," Vincent gushed as he lifted his nephew off the floor in a bear hug and spun around.

"I gotta admit it, that was fun, Uncle Vince."

"I knew you'd enjoy this, nephew. Yes, you're thirteen, intelligent, and thoughtful, but you're also playful at heart, and I knew this was perfect for you."

"I'm still gonna tickle you with the sonic."

Next, Vincent had Trevor sit on his lap. During their short exchange, Julie and Ben each grasped an ankle and tickled the redhead's feet, causing him to squirm and giggle.

The youngest redhead giggled and jingled as he came down the steps dressed in a red and green elf costume and a felt hat with bells on the ends. His song was John Mellencamp's version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. The family erupted in amused chuckles when he line danced to the upbeat rock/country hybrid tune. He surprised everyone when he sat on Vince's lap and produced giggles from the brunette when he tickled his chin under the beard.

"Your turn, baby," Vincent said, giggling.

"Remember, big brother of mine, keep it clean," Trevor called out when Brett sat on Vincent's lap. “Two young, impressionable adults are present, and I don't guess the boy should see anything explicit either." He giggled and ducked his brother's attempted head slap.

"What in gay hell," Brett exclaimed as he observed the outfit in the box. He glared and growled at his boyfriend when his ass was patted as a gesture of sending him on his way.

"Holy Crap! I love you, Uncle Vince. After seeing this, you've earned a reprieve from the foot tickling I promised you," Ben exclaimed when he saw his uncle's costume.

"I agree, Bro. This is truly worth not tickling you into hysterical oblivion," Julie added.

"Brett, you've never looked so colorful," Trevor said as he giggled.

Everyone's phones were out, and snapping pictures of the household's eldest dressed in pink ballet slippers, black stockings, garishly bright purple leggings, a gray and neon orange leotard, a lime green headband, and lemon yellow wristbands finished the outfit.

"Brett, you get to energize the audience by "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree."

The second the music started, Brett launched into an interesting and enjoyable combination of exercises mixed with the dance Kevin Bacon did in Footloose. His perfectly formed split at the end garnered whoops and hollers of appreciation from Trevor, Vincent, Julie, and Ben.

"Ok, time for the grand finale," Vincent said.

The wig-clad brunette stood up and grinned as Madonna's version of "Santa Baby" played. He sat on everyone's lap, hugging each person and kissing their cheeks. He saved his boyfriend for last and hammed it up by giving Brett a fully clothed lap dance and making the redhead giggle and squeal when he tickled his neck and ears. After the song ended, Santa Vincent was tackled and received a group hug and kiss for all the fun and laughter.

"Only you could devise a plan for revenge that would be enjoyable for everyone, big bro," Julie said.

"I've never laughed so hard or had so much fun on a Christmas Eve before," Ben stated. "Thanks for making this one of the best nights of my life so far."

Everyone looked at the clock when it chimed eleven times.

"Hey, shouldn't a certain boy be getting into bed so the real Santa can leave his gifts," Julie asked, grinning.

"I already know Santa's not real."

"Can you be absolutely sure of that," Trevor asked.

"Umm, logically, yes. However, there's no reason to tempt fate."

Everyone laughed as they got hugs and kisses from their boy before he bounded up the steps.

“Hey, we forgot about opening one gift tonight.”

“It’s all good, Trev, babe. We had fun and bonded as a family.”

The soon-to-be married couple got comfortable under the covers and shared a loving kiss.

"You truly made this an exceptionally magical evening, Vin," Brett said as he yawned and cuddled up to his boyfriend under the covers.

"I had a blast, and the most amazing part was seeing Ben's enjoyment. Thank you for bringing me into this family, Brett."

"I love you," they said as their eyes closed and they fell asleep.