The festive season should be full of love and laughter – a family time. It is not a kind occasion for the forsaken.
Max and Clarissa always had each other but as usual, Nikki was in danger of finding herself quite alone. She need not be - both Jack and Thomas always offered for her to join with them and their families – as both Leo and Harry had in years past, but Nikki always felt it was too much to ask of them – and even when Max and Clarissa offered, she felt it was wrong to impose on them and turned the offer down. Nikki had spent many Christmases alone – and so she would again.
But fate it seemed was kinder this year – at least for Nikki.
Jack had become estranged from his family ever since his brother had been sent back to prison – a fact he had only recently admitted to. Goodness knows how he had spent his Christmases since his brother's incarceration, when he had been either too proud or too ashamed to admit he was alone. Goodness knows how he would have explained it if Nikki had accepted the offer of joining with his family – though she suspected he would have kept up the charade for as long as he could, before finding some excuse for why the rest of his family had to suddenly cancel at the last minute.
Apparently, Jack's family held him solely accountable for Ryan's second imprisonment. The latter seemed to have told his family nothing of Jack's involvement the first time and that Jack had no choice but to testify against his own brother. They had accepted it and Jack was allowed to remain part of the family- though Ryan had still felt betrayed by his little brother for it and relations between the two of them had been strained.
This time however, Ryan was angry – angry with Jack. He had expected his brother to show him the same courtesy but this time was different. No one had died last time. Though, Jack had broken a man's jaw, he never killed anyone. This time Ryan's actions had led to blackmail – and by extension, murder – including his own brother's attempted murder. It was something Ryan had not even been particularly apologetic about – and something he had clearly failed to mention when blacking Jack's name to their family. Jack had never even got the chance to defend his actions – though knowing Jack, he probably wouldn't have taken it anyway. As far as his family was concerned – Jack was no longer one of them.
Thomas was having his daughter overnight on Christmas eve - and for a couple of hours on Christmas morning, but then Rosey was going back to her Mother's for Christmas Day and he would be alone too. As a result, Max and Clarissa invited him to spend Christmas Day with them. Maybe that was what encouraged Jack to speak up – and Nikki to finally accept an invitation.
So, here they were – the five of them, spending Christmas together.
Christmas dinner was a joyous affair and though it took place at Max and Clarissa's abode, the cooking was mainly undertaken by Jack – with Nikki's assistance of course. It was their way of saying 'thank you' – to Max and Clarissa for inviting them - and to Thomas for his friendship, patience and support, as both their friend and their boss. He had been particularly supportive since the frightening events in Mexico, which had taken them both a long time to heal from inwardly.
Jack was good at roasts – something that left Clarissa speechless on account of his persistent offers to cook her 'chicken nuggets-chez-Jack'. Jack's nan had taught him how to cook Christmas dinner when he was a young lad – though it was more or less the only thing he could cook.
'Start with the most important' his nan had told him – and then he had quickly lost interest in the vocation.
Truth be told, he was a now little rusty and unbeknown to the others, in the run up to the occasion, Jack and Nikki had been jointly practising weekly (- or generally speaking - 'weekendly'as work would permit). Jack was especially desperate to impress Clarissa.
"Wine, Sweetie?" Nikki giggled, winding her arm around Jack's waist as he whisked the Yorkshire pudding mixture.
"Better not, thanks. Otherwise they might end up with cranberry sauce in the Brussel sprouts!" He chuckled nervously.
Nikki rubbed his back. "Hey, it's going to be great – don't worry!"
"You could always prepare some of the veg for me – like we practised." He commented. "If you are still with it enough to safely use the kitchen utensils!" He added with another chuckle.
Nikki swotted him with a tea towel. "What do you mean 'if I'm still with it enough'?1"
He indicated her empty glass of wine. "What do you think I mean?"
"One glass!" She protested. "I've had one glass, Jack!"
"Yes." He agreed. "But you drank it very fast!"
"So I could help you make dinner!"
"Whereas I'm waiting until dinner is served, for my wine!" Jack responded pointedly.
She rolled her eyes at him and started chopping the potatoes.
Thomas's face suddenly appeared at the hatch. "Are you two arguing? Have I got to come and split you up?"
"Nope – we never argue." Jack retorted.
"I beg to differ, Jack – I've heard you!" Thomas commented as Nikki sniggered.
Jack appeared behind her with a pan of water and dropped the potatoes into it to par-boil – showering Nikki with water and causing her to giggle.
"She's had wine!" Jack exclaimed looking back at the older man.
"You both have!" Thomas responded as Nikki giggled again.
"I haven't!" Jack remarked loudly.
"No – he hasn't!" Nikki agreed. "He's waiting until we sit down for dinner!" She turned back and started chopping the carrots and parsnips as Jack put the potatoes on. Thomas nodded and disappeared again.
"What? - I stood up for you!" Nikki sniggered, looking over her shoulder.
Jack sighed. "I didn't say anything, Nikki!"
"You didn't really have to!" She responded with a giggle. "Your face did that for you!"...
"Where's Nikki?" Thomas asked – puzzled as the rest of them sat down to a mouthwatering aroma.
"Com-ing!" came the sing-song reply.
They all turned around and Thomas raised his eyebrows as she swept through the door carrying a bottle of red wine by it's neck – swinging it dangerously as she did so. Max looked delighted and reached out to take the bottle from her.
Clarissa snorted at her husband's pained expression as Nikki breezed straight past his out-stretched arm, stopping instead, by Jack at the other end of the table. The latter grinned broadly at the three vaguely annoyed faces staring back at him, as Nikki poured him a glass of wine and took her seat next to him.
"Please...eat, drink and...-you know!" Nikki declared – failing to finish her statement. She waved her hands in the air absent-mindedly instead.
"...'Be merry'?" Jack suggested – highly amused.
"Yeah – that's the one!" She agreed.
"Jack chuckled. "Wow – you are so tipsy!"
Thomas, Clarissa and Max burst out laughing as Nikki retorted. "I object to that assertion!"
Dinner was a resounding success – and to Jack's delight, Clarissa was certainly impressed with his efforts.
They all sat down after dinner and exchanged gifts – mostly just little tokens, but Jack of course, had gone all out and brought Nikki the necklace he'd noticed her admiring. It was her name in silver and she was very touched by the gesture.
"Come over here and I'll put it on for you." Jack commented.
Nikki plopped down next to him on the bean bag he'd chosen to sit on. "Aw, thank you, Jack!" she smiled patting his leg fondly. "That's very sweet!"
"Well, I saw you looking at it." He explained – pleased with himself, as he secured the chain around her sleek neck.
The five of them then settled down to watch 'The wizard of Oz'.
"Do you have tissues?" Jack commented. "In case Nikki cries." He added by way of explanation.
"Why would she cry?! - It's'the wizard of Oz'!" Clarissa retorted indignantly.
"She always cries at 'The Wizard of Oz' – always!" Jack answered – as if he was proud of knowing something that no one else did.
Max handed Jack a box of tissues as the film stated. Nikki remained on the bean bag with Jack, but made herself comfortable by folding her own legs over his stretched out ones and using him as a pillow.
Jack raised his eyebrows in amusement as she glanced up at him. "Comfy?!"
She giggled. "Very, thank you!"
About halfway through the film, Nikki glanced up again to see Jack fast asleep – his head propped awkwardly against the wall behind him. She smiled fondly at him.
"Thomas" She said quietly, "Could you pass me that spare cushion, please?"
Thomas nodded and handed her the cushion.
Nikki gently leaned Jack's sleeping head forward slightly and put the cushion behind it, before carefully replacing his head – in a more comfortable position.
"Wow!" Clarissa stated. "Impressive! - how did you do that without waking him up?"
"Practise!" Nikki chuckled. "Nowadays, he regularly falls asleep on the sofa when we have pizza – it's quite cute really!" She watched him sleep for a minute and then sighed. "I just wish he'd of told us about his family sooner – that's all."
Thomas shook his head. "I don't know why he didn't."
"I suspect that he blames himself for part of it." She answered.
"Why? - It wasn't his fault." Clarissa pointed out.
"No – it wasn't." Nikki agreed. "But he always blames himself – no matter who's really to blame. Jack's good at guilt."
By the end of the film – as predicted, Nikki was snivelling and dabbing at her eyes, whilst Jack was still off in a land where everything seems delightful – but makes little sense.
"Well," Clarissa remarked, stretching her arms up. "I fancy some fresh air!"
"Yes." Max agreed. "There was some bread left over after you made the bread sauce, wasn't there?" He asked, directing the question at Nikki – who nodded in response. "We can go to the park and feed the ducks!"
Thomas cleared his throat. "What about sleeping beauty, over there?" He indicated Jack. "He's been asleep ages! Shouldn't we wake him up?"
"Aw, leave him!" Nikki protested. "He's tired – he worked so hard to make you a 'scrumdidlyumtious' dinner! He was desperate to impress you – especially you, Clarissa!" She added, nodding at the older woman. "You guys go and have fun. I'll stay here with Jack."
"Are you sure, Nikki?" Thomas asked. "I'm sure Jack wouldn't mind if you came with us."
"No, probably not." She agreed. "But I'm not going to let him wake up and find that no one is here!"
"I'll go and make you a cup of tea before we go." Max offered.
"Thank you Max – I'd really appreciate that."
He hesitated. "Should I make Jack one?"
Nikki nodded. "Yes, please, - he might wake up!"
"And if he doesn't?" Clarissa commented.
"Well, if he doesn't – then he can't drink it, can he!" Nikki responded, indignantly.
By the time Nikki's tea was drinkable, sleeping beauty was still showing no signs of waking up. However, Nikki knew that he would be ready for a cup of tea by now, so she woke him up anyway.
"Jack? Come on, sweetie – wake up." she cooed, stroking his cheek gently.
"Huh?"
"Oh, hi – there you are!" She greeted him brightly as he opened his eyes and inspected her blearily – waiting for her to come into focus.
"Hi." He replied. "Oh – the film's finished!" He exclaimed in genuine surprise.
"Mm-hm, it finished a while ago – you've been asleep ages! Drink your tea!" She reached for the two mugs and handed him one, putting the other to her lips.
He took the mug off her with a look of sudden confusion. "We're alone – where is everyone?!"
"They went for a walk." She explained. "Clarissa wanted fresh air - and Max wanted to feed the ducks!"
"You could have gone with them – I wouldn't have minded." Jack muttered, feeling guilty that she had chosen to stay with him. He sipped his tea.
She patted his leg. "I know you wouldn't, Jack, but personally I felt it was mean to let you wake up and find you were alone – and besides, I was comfortable here – I didn't really want to go out."
It was some 30 minutes later, when Nikki received a text from Thomas, stating that the three of them had decided to go to the local pub for a drink. He said that, should she wish to, Nikki could join them there – and Jack – if he had rejoined the living.
It was dark outside now, so the two of them wrapped up warm and walked to the pub. In the distance, they could hear carol singers.
It created a magical, Christmassy atmosphere and they walked hand in hand, as the stars glittered above.
