It seemed every year, Ponyboy Curtis got stuck with decorating the Christmas tree.

Sure, he was a very talented boy, and could make it look like something out of a Christmas catalogue, but that's only because he was careful—unlike Soda, and didn't rush—unlike ... well, everyone else.

On the couch, watching the small boy move slowly around the tree, was Two-Bit Mathews, looking as bored as ever. He sighed loudly, "Are you done yet?"

"Not yet, Two-Bit," Pony answered, too busy to even glance at the hood on the couch. "I still have to string the popcorn, place the tinsel, and then hang up the ornaments."

"That'll take forever," and he wasn't exaggerating all that much. Pony, when asked to do things, would make sure he did his best and most detailed work. That's probably one of the reasons he managed to skip a grade last year. "Can't you take a little break?"

"A break? To do what, exactly?" Two-Bit gave the young boy an 'are-you-really-that-dumb' look, which was met with an equally strong, dead-pan from Pony. "We are not doing that until I'm done with the tree, you hear me?" And he went back to working on the fixings.

"Ah, come on, Pony—"

"No,"

"But it's Christmas—"

"No,"

"You're standing under the mistletoe?"

Pony arched an eyebrow, almost as good as Two-Bit could, "One, you don't have sex under the mistletoe, that would be really weird and kinda creepy in a house full of boys. And two, Darry threw the mistletoe out after what happened last year."

Last year, when Two-Bit and Pony were hesitant about their feelings for each other, the mistletoe was more of a joke than anything. The boys didn't really have to kiss, but they did anyway. They kissed ... and kissed ... and kissed, until Darry almost had a heart attack and told them it was enough. Their relationship started a few weeks after that, which gave them both time to get over the initial shock.

"I remember that," Two-Bit laughed, "Darry was all, 'cut it out, that's enough!'"

Now Pony laughed, too, "Remember how he," he giggled some more, "How he ripped it out of the wall?"

"Do I? It looked like he would have stabbed me with it, if it was longer and sharper!" Somehow, Pony had managed to sneak up next to his boyfriend, and cuddled next to him, as they reminisced the last Christmas they had as friends.

"Remember how Soda and Steve were quiet for a whole two minutes," Pony asked, "I think that was the best part of the whole day."

Two-Bit made a face, "Are you sure that was the best part?" Pony nodded. "Hm, because in my opinion, this was that best part."

And Two-Bit captured Pony's lips with his own. He tried to mimic the kiss he'd given the boy that Christmas, but he got lost when Pony's arms wrapped around his neck. The kid's touch was amazing, but his kiss, now that was the real prize.

"Where you learned to kiss like this, I will never know," Two-Bit breathed across Pony's slightly, swollen lips. The comment went unheard, as Ponyboy tried to readjust himself over Two-Bit's lap.

Just as the burly, red-headed greaser slipped his tongue into the younger one's mouth, a blanket fell on top of them, making them pull apart. It was Pony that removed the sheet from their heads, but Soda that spoke up.

"Are you two gonna make suckin' each other's face off where everyone can see you a tradition? This is the second year in a row, fellas."

"I'm gonna ... finish the tree now," Pony excused himself awkwardly, then hid behind said tree.

Two-Bit leaned back into the couch, propping his feet up and resting his head, "No, not tradition; we were going for more of a hobby type thing. That way, it happens more often."