This Christmas season, Justin Timberlake spent his holiday at home in Tennessee, surrounded by his close-knit family, including mom (and one-time manager) Lynn, stepfather Paul Harless and his two younger half-brothers. Cameron Diaz, his girlfriend since 2003, went skiing in Vail, Colo., staying at the Vail Mountain Resort & Spa, with her family. Separate vacations? At this time of year? What's the reason? Sources say the glamorous duo, who have gone on many vacations together in the past, went their separate ways after Justin decided that his days with Cam were numbered. And on Dec. 23, as he partied with friends in Senses nightclub in Memphis, a source says Justin told fellow revelers: "Me and Cameron? We're done."

During their three-and-a-half years together, the two, who met backstage at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in 2003 overcame a nine-year-age difference (he's 25; she's 34) and the tug of their separate schedules. They were one of Hollywood's most affectionate and committed couples. So what could have gone wrong? The answer, according to insiders, is that over the years, the couple struggled from time to time with the issue of long-term commitment. Cameron has been a notorious free spirit--she once told Ellen DeGeneres on her show, "I'm a commitment-phobe. I love being alone...I don't want to get married."

Justin jetted to his hometown, Millington, Tenn., (19 miles from Memphis) on Dec. 22 to spend Christmas with his family. He's always been close to his mom Lynn, he even took her to the MTV Video Music Awards in 2002, the Grammy Awards in 2004 and a number of other red-carpet events. Once in Tennessee, he immediately called longtime friend Veronica Finn, a 25-year-old blond real-estate broker who used to sing in Innosense, a now-defunct girl group that Justin's mom managed. They once dated pre-Britney; in fact, Britney was even a member of Innosense for a short time. Justin and Veronica have remained close friends over the years, getting together and speaking regularly on the phone. "Justin asked her to come over (to his folks place), and she did," says a source.

On Dec. 23, Justin and Veronica joined Justin's mom and step dad for a fun evening of indoor golf, followed by Chinese food at P.F. Chang's restaurant in Memphis. Veronica is now just like a sister to Justin. "I saw him give her a warm kiss on the cheek and squeeze her hand repeatedly," an eyewitness tells Star. "He left with his arm around her shoulders."

Later that night, sources say, the pair went to Senses nightclub, where they met up with friends. "The group stayed in a private room at the club and had a great times." And it was there, as Justin partied at Senses, a source recalls, that he went public about his split with Cameron.
"Around 2 a.m. he was with a dozen friends in the VIP room when he was asked where Cameron was," a source says. "Justin said, 'We're done. It's over!' He didn't seem at all unhappy."

Later, post-clubbing, Veronica stayed over night at Justin's mom's place and didn't go back to here own relatives' home until Christmas day, the source says. And on Christmas night, "he picked her up again, and she stayed overnight one more time at Justin's mom's house."
When asked about Justin's statement, reps for the pair declined to comment, stating they do not comment on their personal lives.

Just a week before the couple went their separate ways for Christmas, Justin was partying in NYC hotspot Barca 18 with Cameron. At the time, the New York Daily News reported, "The couple was affectionate and stayed until 4 a.m."

But Cameron, whose previous beaus include Matt Dillion (with whom she had a three-year relationship) and Jared Leto (whom she dated for four years) told a report a few weeks before, "We've all been in relationships that failed. It's about figuring out how to make something work and about who you are, what you have to offer and how you'll be open to love."

However, as of press time, the actual status of the current Justin-Cameron relationship remains unknown! ON Dec. 27, a source tells Star, Justin flew out of Memphis International Airport. His destination: Los Angeles where Cameron was headed as well. Stay tuned!