The friends recovered pretty fast from their little big adventure in the storm. For a few days, they were the number one subject in the school gossip, and they had to answer lots of questions. Some weird people even wanted to know if they would have eaten each other if necessary, like those football players after the airplane crash in the Andes, many years ago. But eventually the interest in their story faded and the usual chitchat became more interesting again. You know, highly important things like 'Who has a new boyfriend?', 'Who has the hottest ass in school?', or 'Who is too cute to be straight?'.

However, Eric had another important thing to think about. Christmas was coming really close now, and he still had no idea what he should get for Danny. He had some ideas for the other family members, his own parents and his friends. But Danny was a very special person, and thus he wanted to get him a very special present. It did not have to be very expensive, that was not important. The real value of a present could not be counted in dollars or pounds or Marks. It was the thought behind the present that was important.

So Eric lay awake many nights while Danny was snoring softly next to him. At first he thought of a necklace or some other jewelry that should show that they belonged together. But he had already given Danny the Yin-Yang pendant, right after they had discovered their love for each other. He had to think of something else, something even more powerful and with a deeper message.

Since he did not know how much money he would have to spend, Eric got a part-time job in a music store. Putting new CDs in the shelves, playing music for the customers and so on. It wasn't hard work, but he could earn some cash and he did not only depend on the money that his parents sent him every month. And of course it was fun as well!

And it was the work with the music that finally helped Eric to come up with a good idea for a present. From one second to another, it popped into his mind. He wanted to show Danny how much he loved him, and could there be a better way than to show it with a love song? Or even better, with a whole collection of love songs?

After his shift, Eric went to Mr. Scales, the owner of the store, to talk to him. This guy was also running a small music studio, and thus he should know what to do. Eric told him that the CD should be for someone very special, though he did not say that it was for another boy. But Mr. Scales did not ask any further questions, he was too excited about the idea. He even offered Eric to do it for the cost price, because he wanted to help a boy in love.

And so Eric did some extra shifts at work, but instead of selling CDs in the store, he went to the studio with Mr. Scales and started to record his songs. It was like doing some karaoke, because they used the music and background voices from the original songs and just added Eric's voice. At first Eric was a bit nervous and insecure about his singing, but he had a good voice and soon he became more confident and the rehearsals got better and better.

Eric had chosen some of his and Danny's favorite song. They had both pretty much the same taste in music, and above all they liked rock ballads. Most of those ballads told a story about love. Sometimes about the dark sides of love, like when you lost someone and try to get him back. But even if the lyrics had some sad parts, the main message was still ‘I LOVE YOU!’. And that was what Eric wanted to express when he sang the songs.

The first song Eric recorded for his special present was the ballad ‘Always’ from Bon Jovi.
 

Mr. Scales was really surprised about the intensity in Eric's voice. He couldn't know that Eric had almost lost his boyfriend a while ago. This should never happen again, and that is why this song had the right message: ‘I will love you, baby. Always! And I'll be there forever and a day. Always!’

“Boy, you really gotta love that girl!” Mr. Scales said. “You put so much of your heart and soul in that song, wow! She can be really happy to have a guy like you.”

Eric just smiled and nodded. Mr. Scales came pretty close to the truth, only that the happy person was a boy, not a girl. A boy he would do anything for! And that is why his next song was ‘I’d Do Anything For Love’ from Meat Loaf!
 

Two songs were enough for one day. It was already pretty late when Eric came back home, and of course Danny was curious. He wanted to know where Eric had been so long or if he had met someone to hang out with. But Eric just grinned and didn't tell his secret.

“Hey, that's not fair!” Danny complained. “C'mon, tell me, pleeeeaaaaaaase!”

“Stop begging matey,” Eric laughed, “I won't say a word!”

“Is it another guy? Or even worse, a girl? Don't tell me that you are dating Sally again!”

“First of all, I never dated Sally, thus I cannot date her again!” Eric said and sighed. “I promise you that there is no rival for you, neither a guy nor a girl! Trust me! It's all about your Christmas present, so stop being nosy, ok? Be a good boy and wait until Christmas!”

“My present? Oh, gimme a little hint, pretty please!”

Danny gave Eric his best puppy dog look, but it didn't get him anywhere. Eric's lips were sealed, and not even a kiss could break this seal. He went to the bathroom to take a hot shower, and he hummed and whistled the love songs again and again. When he came to their room, Danny was already lying in their bed, the blanket pulled up to his chin.

“Hey brother, are you cold?” Eric asked. “Or do you try to hide something?”

“Well, maybe there's a little secret under this blanket!” Danny grinned. “What about a deal? I'll show you my secret if you give me a hint about your present!”

“No way, give it up! I won't say a word.”

“Aw, then you don't want to know what's under the blanket?”

“I can imagine what's under the blanket.” Eric said. “And I know that you WANT to show me, so I just have to wait.”

Eric quickly slipped under his side of the covers, turned around and pretended to be sleeping immediately. But Danny did not give up so fast. He grabbed his boyfriend from behind and started to tickle his sides and armpits. Eric could not suppress the giggles for long, and soon he was wriggling and laughing hysterically. He tried to tickle Danny too, his hand groping back towards Danny. Then he found out the surprise that had been waiting under the covers: Danny was completely naked and hard as a rock!

This gave Eric a small advantage. He took Danny's boyhood in his hand, tight but still tenderly, and squeezed it a bit. The tickling stopped immediately. Instead Danny moaned and started to rub Eric's belly. Quickly Eric turned around and wrapped his arms around Danny, pulled him close and kissed him passionately. He let his hands wander all over his lover's body, paying special attention to his firm buttocks.

Both boys were really hot and horny, for they had not had a chance to get intimate for a while. Thus there wasn't much of a foreplay now. Danny pulled Eric's boxers down to his ankles and swallowed his throbbing boyhood, deep-throated it without gagging. Of course Eric was not idle either. He rolled over in a 69er position and began licking and sucking and nibbling on Danny's balls.

Tenderly Danny rolled Eric's foreskin back with his lips and caressed the head with tongue and teeth. At the same time he felt the increasing sensation, the burning in his own balls. He knew exactly that it would not take another minute before he would fire his load, and that is why he increased his own efforts to pleasure Eric. It was almost a race to see who could finish first.

And in the end, they came within one second, feeding each other with giant loads of sweet semen. They did not stop sucking and licking before they were both completely dry and empty. Then they kissed again and mixed their cum and salvia in their combined mouths before they finally snuggled up and got ready to sleep.

Danny made a last effort to get a hint about his Christmas present, but Eric was determined to keep it a secret until Christmas Eve, which was only two weeks from now.

“Ah, c'mon sweetheart, honey, baby, only a tiny hint!” Danny flirted.

“Maybe flattery will get you into my pants, but I can keep a secret! And now be a good boy and sleep!”

Oh yes, Eric could be really stubborn. Just like a true German!
 

The next day Eric went back to Mr. Scales to continue the record. He had to wait a while, for there was another band working in the studio. Eric sat on the mixing console and listened to them. They were really good, and they performed their songs as if they were standing on a stage with a huge audience. Especially the singer and the guy with the bass leaned into each other like two lovers.

Eric had to smile about his thought and his vivid imagination, but when the song was finished, his jaw dropped open. Those guys were kissing! They were kissing each other on the lips! When Mr. Scales noticed Eric's surprise, he started to laugh.

“Oh boy,” he said, “don't tell me that you never saw a gay couple!”

“Uh, no, I mean yes,” Eric stammered and blushed, “I did see gays before.”

“Then I hope that this is not a problem for you! Coz I don't want any homophobes here!”

“No no no, don't worry Mr. Scales, that's not a problem at all. I, er, I even know some gay people, and I'm a member of the gay-straight alliance of my school. It just caught me a bit off guard.”

“Good for you! And by the way, you can all me Al! You know, I once had a studio in Sydney, on Oxford Street. That's the center of the gay community in Sydney. That is why I have many contacts to gay musicians, and some of them still come to me to record their songs.”

“May I ask you a question?” Eric asked.

“Sure, go ahead!”

“Are you, I mean, …”

“You want to know if I am gay too, huh?” Mr. Scales, Al, said and smiled.

“Uh, actually, yes. Sorry, I was just curious.”

“No need to apologize! You know Eric, I don't like labels, that is why I don't call myself gay or straight or bisexual. I am sexual! And I am open-minded, looking in both directions. So if you want to stuff me in any category, you could say that I am bisexual. I had men and women in my beds! Lots of them, to be honest. Looks like at least one of the prejudices about musicians and producers is true.”

Al went out for a moment to talk with the band while Eric got ready for his own session. He had prepared some more songs from Bon Jovi for today. The first one expressed what Eric wanted every night: to hold Danny in his arms!
 

Eric was really getting into it! When he closed his eyes, he almost felt like a real rock star on the stage, even if he had never sung professionally before. He had never done more than singing along with the radio or maybe in the shower. Somehow he wished that Danny could be here to hear and see him, but on the other side, he wanted the surprise to be perfect.

“Hey Eric,” Al said from the other side of the glass window, “have you ever thought about doing this for money? I mean, I surely could get you jobs as a background singer, if you are interested! Maybe even more.”

“Seriously?” Eric asked. “That would be cool! I didn't know that singing is so much fun.”

“Oh, music can be lots of fun! Too much fun sometimes though. And hard work! But music is my life! So, what about a classic rock song for your CD? Interested in some KISS?”

“A kiss? Why would you want to…”

“Not a kiss from me silly!” Al laughed. “A song from the band KISS. Don't tell me that you never heard of them!”

“Oh, sure, now I got it! Of course I know Ace and Paul and Peter and Gene! I guess you're talking about ‘I was made for lovin’ you’, right?”

“What else matey? Here we go!”
 

Eric almost changed the lyrics of the song from ‘girl’ to ‘boy’, but only almost. An inner feeling told him that Al would be cool about him and Danny, mostly because he was bi himself. But even if Al would not have told him that, Eric's knowledge of human nature was good enough to know that this guy was more than ok.

After finishing the rest of his shift in the store, Eric hurried to get back home. He was in a real rocking mood now, and he wanted Danny to feel it too! When the whole family sat around the table, having diner together, Eric stroked Danny's legs with his foot. Slowly he moved up and down, trying to get inside the legs of Danny's shorts.

Danny was a bit surprised about Eric's horniness, but he did not mind at all. On the contrary! His shorts became pretty tight and he almost wet himself like a little boy. Eventually they all had finished eating and left the kitchen to do their various chores and homework. Only Danny kept sitting on the table for a few more minutes until his excitement wasn't too obvious anymore.

But as soon as it was safe to get up, Danny hurried to get in their room where Eric was already waiting. Danny had hardly closed the door behind him when Eric was all over him, grabbing his buttocks and grinding into him. They kissed wildly, sucking their tongues in each other's mouths, and it seemed like they each had a dozen hands rubbing each other's body.

“I wanna feel you inside me!” Eric panted. “Now! Please do me now!”

And he almost ripped Danny's T-Shirt apart when he pulled it over his head. Then he fell down on his knees and massaged Danny's boyhood through the denim of his shorts. Quickly he unbuttoned the shorts, opened the zipper and yanked shorts and boxers down in one move. Danny's hardon jumped into Eric's face, and Eric passionately coated it with his salvia, sucking on the balls, nibbling on the foreskin and finally swallowing the whole shaft.

Danny closed his eyes and moaned. He had heard people say that Germans are cold and don't show their emotions. But the German boy who was sucking his cock was just the contrary of this prejudice. He was HOT, and he was HORNY, and he was PASSIONATE! Danny was flying on a cloud of ecstasy, and his knees already started to shake. Eric felt the excitement of his boyfriend, but he did not want him to get off yet.

That is why he stopped the sucking and led Danny over to their bed. He pushed him down on the bed, turned on some soft music and took his own clothes off in a quick striptease dance. Then Eric took a tube of lube out of the drawer of the nightstand and handed it to Danny.

“I wanna feel you NOW!” Eric said again, laid down on his back and spread his legs, never taking his eyes from Danny's.

“You wish is my command, you know that I cannot resist your German charm.” Danny grinned and crawled between Eric's legs.

Danny squeezed some of the lube on his hand and rubbed it a bit to warm it up. Eric lifted his butt, so Danny had easy access to the tight pink hole. Slowly he spread the lube all around it, first using only one finger to relax the muscles. But soon he had three fingers inside Eric, and the expression on Eric's face showed him that his lover really enjoyed how he caressed his prostate.

When Eric was slippery and relaxed enough, Danny rubbed the rest of the lube all over Eric's chest, paying special attention to the nipples which were hard and erect. Eventually they were both ready for it. Eric closed his eyes and grabbed a pillow, waiting for the short pain before the long pleasure.

Some drops of precum were shining on the head of Danny's cock when he carefully pushed it against Eric's hole. At first there was a little resistance, but then the head slid in easily. Danny waited for a moment until he saw that Eric released the grip on the pillow and opened his eyes again. Only then he pushed his cock further in, enjoying the sensation in this tight and warm cave.

Eric wrapped his legs around Danny's waist and pulled him down to his chest, so he could feel Danny's tongue in his mouth together with his dick in his butt. He tried to increase Danny's speed, tried to make him move faster and a bit harder. Eric's own cock was rock hard too, and it was rubbed between their bellies, pushing him closer and closer to the edge, to the point of no return. He wanted to reach this point now, wanted to release the pressure in his balls before they could explode.

And finally he erupted like a little volcano, shooting his cum between their bodies in a long, endless stream. Eric's muscles contracted, his legs, his arms, and of course the muscles in his butt as well. This was enough to send Danny over the edge too, and Eric moaned loudly when he felt the hot semen filling his insides.

It was a long orgasm, and during all the time one song was playing on the radio. One song which would definitely not be missing on Eric's Christmas CD, for they had made love to this song before, and they would do it again. Coz every time Eric had made love with Danny, he felt like sleeping on a bed of roses afterwards!
 

“Boy, you really have a good taste in music!” Al said.

Eric was working on his present again, and he had just recorded ‘Bed of Roses’. He had a hardon while singing this song, but fortunately Al could not see his crotch from the other side of the glass. Somehow this song always had such an effect on him. It was really weird. No matter if he was shopping in the mall, cuddling with Danny or even doing some boring homework. As soon as he heard this song, he became excited and horny.

“Ok matey, this one sounded really good!” Al's voice came through the speakers. “Now I've got another song for you which you might like. It's an oldie, but definitely a goldie! Listen to it!”
 

“So, what do you think?” Al asked. “Wanna give it a try?”

“Cool, I like that one.” Eric replied. “And I know it from somewhere, I'm just not sure from where.”

“Then let me give ya a little hint! Richard Gere, Louis Gossett Jr., a classic movie … does that ring a bell?”

“Ah, sure, now I know! Officer and Gentleman! Dude, that's a good idea. Your taste in music is not that bad either!”

“Why, I hope so!” Al laughed. “After all I try to make a living with music. Ok, hang on a second, I'll go get ya the lyrics for this one.”

A few minutes later he was back and handed Eric a sheet of paper with the lyrics of the song, and after a few trials, the song was recorded. Now Eric needed only two more songs and the Christmas surprise for his boyfriend would be perfect.

Eric whistled this last song all the way home, and when he came along the video store, he rented ‘Officer and Gentleman’. They had not made a video evening for a while, and this was surely a good movie to watch together. Danny liked the idea too, and even Adam and Jordan joined them in the living room when they heard what movie Eric had brought. So they sat together on the couch, cuddling on both sides, and watched the movie.

“That was a good idea matey!” Danny said and kissed Eric in the neck. “How did you come up with that one?”

“Well, you know, suddenly I had the theme song in my head, and then I just went in the store and rented the video.”

Danny kissed him again and snuggled closer. He was already in Christmas mood. Soon they would decorate the house, buy the tree and prepare the holidays. And it would be his best Christmas ever, coz he would spend it with the boy he loved. He wondered a bit if it would be strange for Eric to celebrate Christmas in the Australian summer, without snow and cold. And more important, without his parents! So far, Eric had never been homesick since he was down under, but this would be a family holiday. Later, when they lay in bed, Danny promised himself that he would do anything to make Eric feel home, and to cheer him up if he should be sad.

But Eric had no time to be sad at all! It was the last week before Christmas, and there was still so much to do. He went shopping with Danny to get all the presents for their parents and friends. For the Jackson parents, they got a weekend trip to Sydney, along with tickets for the Sydney opera. For his own parents, Eric had bought some Aborigine jewelry and Australian red wine, and he had already shipped it to Germany.

Above all Eric had to get his CD done. He had already created the cover and label on the computer, using a picture which showed him with Danny at sunset on the beach. It had been a very clear night as they had been lying on the beach, enjoying each other's company and feeling the love for each other. Feeling the Glory of Love!
 

One more song! Only one more song and the present would be perfect. Well, as prefect as it can be when you sing for the first time. But even Al agreed that Eric's first time was better than the work of some so called professionals.

Eric's last song should be a promise to Danny. The promise that he would always be there for him!
 

"Congrats matey!" Al said. "Let me be the first to shake the hand of a future music star."

"Nah," Eric said as he shook Al's hand, "I don't want to be a music star. It's just a present for a special person, not more and not less."

It took another hour or so to burn all recorded songs on a CD and to check if it was ok. Eventually Al handed Eric the jewel case with his first self made music CD. Eric gave Al the money, but he had to insist that he should really take it.

"Ah, I had so much fun working with you, that was enough reward for me. Keep your money, I'm sure there are enough things you want to buy!"

"No way!" Eric replied. "We had a deal! This is my present, and not your present for me."

"Ok ok, you win." Al sighed. "But don't forget to tell the lucky girl my best wishes for both of you!"

"I will, thank you!" Eric said and wanted to leave. But before he closed the door behind him, he suddenly turned around and said: "Oh, and by the way, it's for a boy, not a girl!" Then he finally left with a big smile on his face, leaving a stunned Al behind.

Christmas Eve!

The family had just finished their Christmas dinner, a big yummy roast duck, and now they were waiting impatiently until they could open their presents. It was a tradition in the Jackson family to open the gifts on Christmas Eve, and not to wait till the next morning. Just like Eric knew it from Germany.

They were sitting in the living room, enjoying the beautifully decorated tree and the many small and big wrapped packages under it. Of course the true meaning of Christmas is not to get as many big and expensive presents as possible, but nevertheless it is a nice add-on.

Adam got his presents first, since he was the youngest kid. There was a new playstation, some new games, CDs and books, and of course the obligatory socks and underwear. Lin was happy about some new clothes, shoes and perfume. And Stan and Mandy were really surprised and happy about the weekend trip to Sydney.

"Hey, how did you come up with this idea?" Mandy said and hugged Danny and Eric. "That's a wonderful present! I live here all my live, but I've never been in the Sydney opera before. Thank you boys, you are so sweet. I'm sure that we will have a great weekend!"

"Oh, and we won't be the only ones who will have a great weekend!" Stan laughed. "I guess they just want us out of the house for a few days, so they can have a party. You know, when the cat's out of the house, the mice dance on the table."

"Aw, what do you think of us?" Danny complained playfully. "We would not wreck the house. Ok, maybe we would invite some friends to come over, so we don't feel so alone, but that's all. No orgies, I promise!"

Now it was time for Danny and Eric to give their presents too each other, and they both unwrapped them with shaking fingers. Eric found a small black box, and inside the box were two silver rings with Celtic symbols all around. Both rings looked exactly the same. Same size, same decoration.

"Those symbols mean something like 'love' and 'forever'." Danny said and hugged Eric tight. "And it's a promise I want to give you. I hope that our love is forever!"

He slipped the ring on Eric's finger and kissed it. Eric had tears in his eyes when he did the same to Danny, and then they kissed each other under the mistletoe in the living room. When Danny opened his present, he was a bit confused at first. He saw their picture on the CD cover, he read 'I Love You' as the title of the CD, but he didn't quite get the meaning of it all. Only when he read the dedication Eric had written on the back he understood, and now it was his turn to sniffle a bit.

For a while, nobody said a word. The whole family just sat around the tree, enjoying the magic of the moment. In Germany, Eric thought, he would be drinking mulled wine and eating Christmas biscuits with his family now. In such moments he realized that he missed them more than just a bit, no matter how much he loved Danny and his 'second' family here. And as if they could read his mind over thousands of miles, the phone rang and Eric's family called to wish him a happy Christmas. His parents, grandparents, some aunts and uncles, his cousins and even some of his old friends were there to talk with him.

Stan put a CD with Christmas songs in the player, classics like 'Little Drummer Boy' or 'Auld Lang Syne'. Now it was really an old-fashioned Christmas. Tomorrow the other friends would come over for a little party, but tonight was for the family. Eventually, after some more phone calls with realtives of the Jacksons and after a few family games, they all said good night and went to their rooms.

Danny took the CD along, for he wanted to listen to it for a bit. He hadn't realized yet that Eric had sung the songs. He still believed that Eric had burned a collection of love songs on one CD and personalized it with their picture. So he was really surprized when the first track started, a short prelude where Eric only said 'I Love You'. And then it was really Eric's voice who sang the first song, the voice which was the first he heard in the morning and the last he heard in the evening. Tears were running down Danny's cheeks, coz only now he realized the true and deeper meaning of this present.

They cuddled together on the bed, listening to the whole collection of songs, kissing, crying, giggling, all at once. They did not need to have sex to live their love and to show it to each other. Holding hands, so that their new rings touched each other, and leaning on each other's shoulder, that was enough in this holy night.

And so they finally drifted to sleep, feeling safe in each other's arms, and looking forward to spend the Christmas holidays with their friends!

It's been a long time since I posted the last chapter, and I'm very sorry about that.
But sometimes, real life is more important than a fictional story!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter a bit. I want to dedicate it to everybody who is in love!