Chapter 3:

            “And if you wanna take a ride…” Lily sang to NSYNC as her and AJ went to pick up Brian.  “Alex, I love you.” Lily said.

            “I love you too.” AJ looked over at his fiancé who was glowing with radiance.  “Damn girl, you look finnnnnnnnnnne.” He grinned, placing his hand on her thigh.

            “Excuse me mister, but don’t start anything you can't finish.” She grinned, sliding his hand down her leg, so his hand rested on her kneecap.

            “Who said I can't finish what I started?” He grinned mischievously.

            “How I wish we could, but. Oh. We’re at Brian’s now.” She joked. “Later, babe.” As AJ put the car in park, she pulled his face to hers, their lips melting together at the instant they touched. They broke apart, breathlessly when Lily could no longer breathe. “Let’s go announce.” She grinned, smiling her smile that AJ was mad for.  She jumped out of his Expedition, waiting for him at the hood of the car.

            “How come I can't open the car door for you?” He asked her.

            “I’m sorry. Fine you can do it every time we get in or out of a car. Deal?” She played peacemaker.

            “Hmmmmm. Deal.” AJ said, having his lips lingering over hers. He gave her a quick kiss. “Come on.” He held out his arm for her and she gladly put her arm through his. His left hand covered her right one, which was placed on top of their arms.

            “Hey ya’ll! BONE AND LIL ARE IN DA HOUSE!” Lily screamed in an accent as they walked into the house.

            “YO!” Nick screamed, bouncing down Brian’s flight of stairs.

            “NICKY BOY!!!!!” Lily screamed back, running into his arms. AJ watched as his fiancée hugged one of his best friends. They had grown closer in the past year, but that never broke the love for him.

            “Lil. I missed ya. Hey Bone.” He said as he put her down. “Everyone’s here. Come on let’s go.”

            “You owe me, you bad girl.” AJ whispered into her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

“Hey guys.”

“Welcome you two. We have been waiting.” Brian said, with a know-it-all face on.

“Lily and I have an announcement.” AJ said. “We’ve made a lifetime commitment to each other. Last night, I proposed to Lily. And she accepted.”

Cheers were heard through out the house. “Finally Bone, god, Lil.. we had to suffer with his mind wandering bout you and asking you to marry him.”

“I have three words, Bone. ABOUT DAMN TIME!” Nick said, laughing. “Congrats, girl.”

“Thanks Nicky.”

Leighanne hugged Lily. “Congrats, now let me see the ring.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Alex?”

“Unhuh.” His arms appeared around her waist as the group continued to search for their own Christmas trees. The snow was falling lightly, and the couple huddled together for warmth.

“Can we get this one?”

AJ looked at it, it had some frosted looking needles. “If that’s what you want. It’s perfect.”

“I really like it, J.”

“Then we get it.” Lily turned around, pure happiness on her face. She kissed his lips.

“Thank you.”

“No problem, baby. If it makes you happy, it's perfect. I love you.”

“I love you too, Alex.” The two kissed and AJ slapped her ass to go talk to the other girlfriends of the group.  He laughed slightly, wandering off to find a person to get it ready for him to take. He soon had the tree being wrapped when Lily came up, wrapping her arms around his waist. “It will be our first Christmas being engaged.”

“I know, baby.” He covered her hands with his, keeping them warm.

“Did you two just get engaged?”  The owner asked.

“Yes sir, we did last night.”

“That is wonderful. How about I give you this tree for free to celebrate?”

“Sir, we couldn’t.” AJ started.

“I insist. Please sir.” The owner pleaded.

“Alright.”

Lily whispered into AJ’s ear. “Get his name and addy. We’ll invite him to wedding.”

“Good idea.” AJ whispered back. He leaned back, to kiss her cheek. Soon enough, the group left together, each taking a tree. AJ thanked the man and jumped into his Expedition after placing the tree inside. He shook his head once he recognized the CD his fiancée had placed in the player. SheDaisy, how she turned to country, he would never know. “You cold?”

She shook her head, looking at him. “Could ya tell?”

“Yea. Here ya go.” He said, pulling a fleece blanket from the backseat and placed it on her.

“Thanks, sweetie.”

“Hmm.” He kissed her. “No problem.”

“Let’s go home, mister. We have to get there before everyone else.”

“Yes ma’am.” He kissed her hand and pulled out of the place. He led everyone to his house. As they pulled in the driveway, she jumped out, grabbing her keys out and unlocked the door, in time for all the girlfriends or wives to run in, closing the door. AJ shook his head as the other guys helped him bring the tree in. Every year, they go to someone’s house and decorate the tree for him or her together. It was a tradition, so the women had brought the decorations down from the attic in time for the men to come in with the tree. Lily had put up a pot of coffee and a pot of hot water for everyone. The guys placed the tree where AJ wanted it and he went to see if Lillian needed help. He went through the door to the kitchen, not watching where he was going. Same with Lily, they bumped into each other. “You need help, baby?”

Hollers and hoots were being made. Maybe it was because Lily was right up against his body. No, it was the mistletoe that was above them. Another tradition was not just a kiss under the mistletoe, but the whole 9 yards, tongue and all. AJ raised one eyebrow and searched her eyes. She took his interest as a challenge. He saw mischievous in her eyes and dared her using his eyes. She stood on her toes, catching his lips in her mouth. They began to kiss and AJ’s tongue soon found her mouth. Their tongues danced as the momentum continued, grabbing the attention of their company. AJ held her face in his hands as her hands stopped on his neck. Soon enough, they stopped the passionate kiss. They both smiled at each other, Lily grabbed his hand, pulling him back into the kitchen. “I love you.” She sighed, letting her head rest against his chest. His hands went around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

“I love you too, Lillan.”

“Oh.. What did I deserve to get my full name?” She teased him.

“Stealing my heart.” He said.

“You sweet-talker, you.”

“That’s me.” She looked up to his grinning face.

“Dork!” She teased, slapping his arm, quickly removing herself from him and running out to the other room. “ATTENTION TO YA’LL!” She screamed. Everyone looked at her. “Coffee and tea are ready, please go help your selves. And Nicky, calm down on the doughnuts. There is enough.”

Chapter Four