Author's note: I don't own any of the characters nor the original Inspector Lynley Mysteries – they belong to Elizabeth George and the BBC.

Review and comment, but please keep in mind that I'm no native speaker. If I did something terribly wrong (rating, grammar, spelling...), please let me know. Thanks!

This is a story I wrote on the evening of Christmas Day. I wrote it right off the cuff. It's simple. And a little… smut.

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"You have two options." that's what Thomas said in his office. "You can sit here, do the paperwork and drink your wassail bowle alone at home…"

"Or?" Barbara raised an eyebrow.

"Or you can have a few days off and you'll come with me to Cornwall."

He paused.

"Cornwall?"

"Yes."

"To your family?"

"Yes."

"I don't think it's a good idea, Sir."

"You can do the paperwork, if you prefer that."

"I don't!"

"What?"

"Both, I think. I don't prefer the paperwork and I don't think it's a good idea to join your family on Christmas. Sir."

"They would really enjoy seeing you again, Barbara. What are you afraid of?"

"I don't fit in. Especially not on days like Christmas. You know that."

"No, I don't. And I don't agree."

Barbara shrugged.

"I just don't see me sitting in that old huge room by the fireside, sipping on a cocktail, doing smalltalk."

"You know, that's not how we usually spend our Christmasses. We're an ordinary family. We chat, we eat, we argue with each other. And only on Boxing Day my mother will give a little party for some friends. You don't have to take part in that if you don't want."

Again Barbara shrugged.

"I think it's not yet time for Christmas."

"It's in two days." Thomas chuckled.

"You know what I mean."

"I would like you to come with me, Barbara."

"Not on Boxing Day."

"We can make a lovely overnight trip to St. Ives on Boxing Day."

"And at the rest of time at Howenstow we pretend as if nothing had happened?"

"We can snog all the time, if you prefer that." Thomas smirked.

"It's not the time yet."

"To snog the whole day?" Again he smirked.

"You don't take me seriously, Thomas."

"Yes, I do."

In the end Barbara very much prefered the few days off and decided to join Thomas.

"I'll come with you."

"That's wonderful."

"But not on Boxing Day!"

"Yes, not on Boxing Day."