Disclaimer: Not mine!

I wrote this a good few years back as it had been sitting in my head for ages and when I discovered it the other day in an old notebook I hoped typing it up would make me feel Christmassy. This is also my first and only Keeping up Appearances fic so I hope it is okay and any kind words would be lovely!

It's just a bit of festive fun for the sake of it, right after 'The Father Christmas Suit'.

Enjoy and Happy Christmas, Gee :)

Usually the 23rd of December was uneventful. It was spent getting ready for 'the event of year', Christmas Eve at Hyacinth's and that took a good day to prepare for. Of course it was lovely to see all the family and spend time with them but once the sherry flowed, Bruce and Violet laid into each other over something trivial and deeply embarrassing. Hyacinth ordered poor Richard about even more than usual and Rose was left feeling lonely and bitter every time she saw Onslow fend off Daisy's 'Christmas Spirit'. Still Christmas was only once a year.

This time around however, was different. Rose had managed to get her Christmas wish of seducing Emmet with a Christmas kiss as well as planting one on 'that dishy vicar' all in the space of a few minutes. Now, back at Hyacinth's with a glass of mulled wine in hand and facing Emmet, Rose couldn't deny that electricity that had pulsed through her lips and up into her brain when she kissed him, outside the church hall. Judging by the impish grin spread across his face every time he looked at her, he felt it too. And there was no way she was going to let him get away without another Christmas kiss.

Rose gracefully rose from her sister's three piece suite which was apparently identical to the one at Sandringham House and followed her eldest sister into the kitchen. Rose turned slightly to see a pair of hypnotic eyes belonging to Emmet follow her out of the room.

"Is there anything I can do to help, our Hyacinth?" She asked closing the door behind her.

"No, I don't think there is Rose dear, thank you."

Rose turned towards the door and made out to rejoin the party.

"Oh, there is one thing you could do, Rose."

Rose's eyes widened "yes, what can I do".

"You can stay away from Mr. Hawksworth."

"You always were such a spoil sport, our Hyacinth" she said sticking out her tongue to the back of her sister's head as she retreated back to the lounge.

In the drawing room as Hyacinth insisted on calling it when entertaining, Emmet looked ready for home, while everyone else actually seemed to be enjoying the festivities. As Rose returned to the room she extracted an almost empty packet of cigarettes from her handbag. She had in fact stolen them from Onslow while he was asleep earlier that morning because she refused to pay the extortionate price herself. She then announced that she would be popping out down the road to smoke, as she didn't think it would be worth the risk of smoking outside her sister's front door, again. Emmet looked at her, smiled but did not follow her as Rose had hoped he might.

Hyacinth returned with a fresh pot of tea not in her treasured Royal Doulton with the hand-painted periwinkles, as too many clumsy people were about.

"Elizabeth, how's your daughter these days? Is she coming home for Christmas?" Mrs Bucket inquired.

"She is really well thank you Hyacinth, she sent some lovely photos of her and Jason in New York, would you like to see them?"

Before Hyacinth could say that wouldn't be needed Emmet jumped to his feet and exclaimed "I'll fetch them". Arousing suspicion that he was more than ready to leave the 'Bouquet' residence'.