Walford is My Home for the Holidays

by MythMoonWitch

Part 2 of the "Walford is" series. Our residents celebrates Christmas through Valentine's Day in usual Albert Square fashion.

1. Chapter 1

We do not own EastEnders, Ashes to Ashes, Waterloo Road or Doctors

This story is the sequel to Walford is: My Kind of Town. We open our story with Christmas, move to New Year and then Valentine's Day. Enjoy :)

Chapter 1

"…...On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me…."

Ffion opened bleary eyes and winced. Oh, she'd drank waaay too much at the party last night. She had forgotten just how hard coppers could party. She vaguely remembered cornering Adam outside the men's loo with no one else around. She had shagged a lot of men over the past months, but she'd not given up on adding Adam to her list. She rubbed at her face. She remembered snogging him, but after that, she drew a blank. She felt a warm presence in the bed behind her and realized she must have pulled. She turned over and her eyes widened as she saw Adam there. Result!

She smiled and trailed her fingers down his chest and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

"Good morning," she purred.

Adam felt a warm touch on his lips and a person cuddled up next to him. He sighed happily as he slipped an arm around the feminine waist and hugged his wife closer to him, he tightened his grasp on her.

"Monika," he murmured then frowned. That hadn't sounded like his wife. No, that voice had definitely not been the voice of Monika Reagan. He cracked open an eye and winced visibly at the harsh glare that hit him. A thousand and one drills were set off in his head and he groaned. Hangover. Fantastic. Just how much as had he drunk last night? He tried opening his eyes again, this time warily. He noted the unfamiliar surroundings and felt the dread sink in. Where the hell was he? And why was he here? He let himself look at the body he hugged to him and let go once he recognised her.

"Ffffion!" he stammered as he shot out of the bed, a look of horror on his face. He noticed his clothes scattered across the floor and gulped. So he had...

He grabbed his stuff up and glared at her as he dressed. What the hell was he supposed to tell Monika? He felt the guilt sink in. How was he supposed to explain this to his wife. That stupid party!

"Oh! Calm down!" Ffion exclaimed and climbed out of bed. She folded her arms and pouted at Adam. "I didn't hear you complaining last night," she snapped and pulled on a dressing gown. She allowed herself a small smile. "I certainly didn't have any."

She watched him get dressed and followed him downstairs.

"C'mon, I'll make you a cuppa."

She generally went to the man's house when she pulled, but she knew Adam was married so they had come here. She didn't think Jack and Alyssa would appreciate a constant stream of men through their home, so she tried to avoid bringing any back. Adam had been an exception. She'd been after him for months and when he'd kissed her back and agreed to come home with her, she hadn't hesitated.

She watched him slam out of the house and dropped her hands to her sides and huffed in annoyance. Oh well, she shrugged. Even drunk he'd been a brilliant shag, but now that she'd succeeded she could leave him alone. She heard the kettle boil and made herself a cup of tea, wondering if Adam had woken up her landlords with his tantrum.

/\\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\

Rowan woke up and sighed. Party last night at the station with Chris and now party tonight in her restaurant. She had so much to do! She looked at the empty space next to her in the bed and pulled on her robe. She looked in JT's room. JT wasn't there, but Chris was. She padded downstairs to the restaurant's kitchen and began readying the equipment. She got a pot of coffee started and rubbed her hands together before assembling her ingredients to get muffins going.

The deal with Jane selling cakes had taken off hugely. Although breakfast and lunch during the week was very busy at the restaurant, it was a bit slow for dinner. She'd altered her hours accordingly, staying open only until 4 during the week, except Friday when she had a speciality theme buffet. Then she was packed. Mexican night had proved most popular and she grinned.

When the coffee was ready, she went upstairs. She sighed in annoyance. This fight with Chris was taking its toll and the one morning she needed JT's help early and he was gone. She looked at her watch. At least Syed would be arriving in an hour. He would help. She stumped back downstairs and set to baking as fast as she could so that Jane's things would be ready. Christian would arrive with Syed and pick up the things she'd baked for Jane.

She sent a quick text to JT telling him to hurry and get to the restaurant. He must have forgotten Molly was taking the day off to go shopping with Whitney. Rowan hadn't minded. She had Ffion and when James, the weekend bartender from the club had come looking for a second job, she'd hired him to work occasional days when someone else needed a day off. But James couldn't cook and JT could.

/\\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\

Ronnie slapped a hand on the alarm and cut off the Christmas carol that had woken her. She still hated Christmas music. She sighed and looked at Ray and smiled. She slid a hand across her belly and shivered. She'd be able to get pregnant now. She slipped from the bed and went into the kitchen and put the kettle on. She got the canister of Gem's tea down from the shelf and looked, it was almost gone. Hardly surprising, she and Ray had been drinking it every morning, mostly she had. Ronnie fixed a pot of tea and mused over getting Gem's address from Rowan, then she could write and ask for more.

She poured the tea and added sugar to Ray's and carried the cups into the bedroom. She placed Ray's next to him and sipped her own as she walked around the bed and put her cup on the table before dropping her dressing gown to the floor and climbing back into bed. She leaned over Ray and after looking at his sleeping face a moment, she pressed a soft kiss to his lips. She shifted her body close to his and laid her head on his chest.

Ray slipped his arm around Ronnie as he felt her return. He cracked open his eyes and looked down at her.

"That party last night was a big mistake. My head is killing me," he groaned as he shut his eyes again and tightened his grip on her.

"At least you don't have to work today. Don't forget Rowan's party is tonight," she kissed his neck. "I made you some tea," she breathed in his ear and kissed his neck again. She pulled away, blinked and put her hand to her head. She'd had the oddest feeling just then. She shook herself and turned her attention back to Ray.

He had been pretty well pissed by the time she'd got him home she had to admit. She'd had to get Jane to help her get him up the stairs.

The run up to the holidays had been unbelievably busy at the club and they'd got very little time anymore. Though she remembered one night he'd come to visit her at the club as was his habit. They'd had a dry week and she was feeling the tension. She'd worn something low cut and tight and had made sure to bend over and brush against him a lot. When her back was turned he'd locked the door and then he'd spun her around and had her on Jack's desk. She still loved it when she could make him lose control like that. There had also been their second road trip a few months ago. She was sure that tree would never be the same or the hiker that had stumbled across them. And Ronnie had been being quiet!

She pushed the thoughts out of her head. He was hung over. She leaned back and got the paracetamol out of her bedside drawer and handed it to him.

Ray mumbled a word of thanks and drained the tea from the mug, she had put sugar in it. He would have to thank her when his head felt better, Ray refused to let himself give into the hangover and hauled himself out of bed, he took the paracetamol off her and dry-swallowed the two tablets she had handed to him. He ran a hand through his hair as he stood uneasily.

Ray spun around to look for Ronnie and ran a hand through his hair as he waited for the paracetamol to take effect.

"What time do we have to be at this thing tonight?" he asked. He was glad he didn't have to work, he was also very glad that Alex had gone on maternity leave. It seemed that the bigger she got the moodier she got. He was glad he didn't have to put up with her anymore, he felt for Gene though if that was what he was subjected to all the time. He hoped Ronnie wouldn't be like that if she got pregnant. He didn't regret telling her not to get her injection, in a way he was nervous, not that he would tell her. But he knew he wasn't good with kids, but Ronnie was, so that balanced it out. Right?

"Rowan said dinner starts at 6," Ronnie replied as she climbed from the bed and padded over to him and slid her arms around him.

"And you're fine about going to have dinner with my family tomorrow? I know you've really only been around Roxy and Aunty Peg. If you get anxious at all, we can leave early okay? Just please, ignore Phil, he can be a bit abrasive. I know you could turn him into a stain on the pavement, so just, let anything he says slide."

She had to admit, she had not been looking forward to this "family" dinner, but it was her baggage and they should get to know Ray. She intended him to be around for a good, long time.

She trailed her fingers over his chest, her fingers combing through his chest hair. She smiled.

"Now, why don't you lie down and I'll give you a bit of an early present," she told him and gave him a gentle push towards the bed. "C'mon," she cajoled and patted the bed. "Face down, c'mon."

Ray slid his arms around her. He had yet to meet her cousin. Phil. The neighbourhood hardnut. Ex-neighbourhood hardnut. Ray grinned. At least he could handle his drink. If Phil said anything that really wound him up then he had plenty of retorts ready and raring to go. If that didn't work then violence was the answer. But he would try. For Ronnie.

He liked Roxy well enough most of the time though. She was with JT now. At least her taste in blokes had improved since...her last one. She was alright. Mentally scarred from that one night and sometimes wary about looking him in the eye. But she was alright. Then he had come across her Aunty Peggy a few times too. A fun-loving old bird. He liked her well enough. Phil he would watch out for though.

He let her go. Curiously.

"Face down?" he questioned as he complied and lay on his front.

Ronnie smiled and straddled his back. She rubbed her hands together and then started on his neck. She watched as he relaxed under her touch. She had tried to teach him how and had let him give her one back, and had made him stop. He was too strong, she thought he was going to break her neck. She hadn't been brave enough to risk it again. But she loved giving him massages. Any reason to touch him.
She'd compromised in her teaching. Since he hadn't caught on to massage, she'd suggested she teach him how to drive the bike. He wasn't doing too badly. She'd never seen him drive a car, that she could remember, and she'd thought maybe he couldn't, which she thought odd considering she thought all police officers knew how to drive. It turned out he could drive.

She was quick to point out that a bike wasn't like a car. She took him through all the parts of the bike and what everything did, insisting it was important when he scoffed. You had to rely on knowing everything about your bike, it was all you had and there was nothing between you and other cars. He was learning though, and getting better all the time. Although she liked the feel of him against her back when they went some place on the bike, she was looking forward to wrapping her arms around him and leaning against him while he drove.

She sighed happily and began to work from his neck to his shoulders, leaning down to place a kiss between his shoulder blades. "Happy Christmas," she said to him softly.

Ray closed his eyes as she worked on his back. He buried his face into the pillow and sighed happily a she worked her magic. He remembered the time he had tried to give her a massage and cringed. He had hurt her, he had tried to be gentle but apparently he hadn't got the hang of it. It didn't matter, he had other ways of helping her calm down.

He grunted as she moved to his shoulders. Christmas? It was Christmas Eve. He chuckled at her.

"It's Christmas Eve, you daft bat. Christmas is tomorrow," he chuckled and sighed as he felt the tension ebb away gradually. She was definitely helping with his hangover. He reached his hand further down and stroked a finger up and down the part of her leg that he could reach.

Ronnie moved from his shoulders down his back. She giggled and thumped the back of his head before returning her hands to his back.

"I am not a bat," she snorted, "and I know full well what today is."

She watched his hand trail over her leg and felt herself shiver. She ran her hands slowly over his back and sides, bent over and began to press slow kisses up his spine to his neck.

Ray grinned and shuddered as he felt her lips kiss their way down his back. He had had enough. He held her legs as he rolled and threw her off his back onto the bed. He rolled off her and then crawled on top of her and nuzzles at her neck as his other hand slid down her front.

"Ronnie," he murmured as he lifted his head to hers and kissed her.

"Ray," she whispered and slid her hands over his shoulders and into his hair as she kissed him back. She moaned into the kiss as his hands caressed her flesh. She couldn't get enough of him touching her.

Ray moved one hand back up to cradled her head. He combed his fingers through her hair. She had taught him how to braid it recently, and although he wasn't very good at it yet, she still seemed to like it. He pulled back from the kiss and stared down into her eyes. He smiled at her.

"You're gorgeous, Ronnie," he told her as he gazed down at her face. Taking in every detail. He had done it before. Looked at her. Her face was permanently imprinted in his mind. Along with the rest of her. That was all there, too.

He moved his lips back to hers as he carefully thrust into her and ran his hands down her body in a gentle caress.

Ronnie broke off the kiss and cried out, arching against him.

"So are you," she breathed in his ear, her hands tracing down his powerful arms as her breathing quickened.

Ray swept an arm behind her and lifted her body closer to his as he caught her lips once more.

Ronnie moaned loudly into the kiss and clutched at him. She slid a leg around him and bucked her hips to meet his thrusts. She seriously considered skipping the party so she could stay in bed with Ray all day. She couldn't remember the last time they'd gone at it all day.

She threw her head back and gasped his name.

Ray groaned into her neck as she said his name. They hadn't done this in ages due to one thing or another. He had missed it. He lifted his head to look down at her again. His hand stroked down her leg. Yes, it had been too long since they had done this.

Ronnie pressed her head back into the pillows, Ray's name spilling from her lips over and over again. Her hands roamed over his arms and chest as he pushed her closer.

Ray groaned loudly as he held her to him tightly with one arm and used the other to grip her leg and keep it in place. He drove into her fiercely, he was nearly there.

Ronnie shrieked Ray's name and shuddered in his arms. She gasped for air as she gazed up at him.

"I almost don't want to go to this party tonight," she whispered. "I'd rather stay in bed all day with you," she added and raised her head to kiss him.

But she knew they would go to the party so they could spend time with their friends. Besides, she thought as she looked at the clock, they had a few hours and there was always after they got home.

She let out a slight rasping giggle and pulled in another deep breath.

"I think I need some tea, my throat hurts," she said softly and wondered idly if he was up for a shower together.

Ray kissed her forehead as he chuckled through his panting.

"We can spend all day in bed on Boxing Day," he said as he rolled off her and slipped an arm behind her to hold her to him. "Tomorrow is with your family," he reminded her.

He sighed and let go of her so she could get up. He glanced at the clock. They had time. Plenty of time. He grinned. They could do a lot in that amount of time.

Ronnie groaned as she sat up and pulled on her dressing gown.

"Don't remind me. I just hope we can manage without a fight. Our family is good for loads of drama if nothing else," she sighed. "Last year at Christmas, dad was murdered. Year before that..." she paused to think, "Roxy's husband found out Jack was Amy's father. He kidnapped Amy a few days later. Never a dull moment," she snorted softly and went into the kitchen and flipped the kettle on.

Ray chuckled as she left. He grabbed his dressing gown from the side and tied it loosely around him, grateful for the central heating that kept the flat toasty and warm.

"Sounds like fun" he grinned as she came back.

She came back in and got both their mugs and rinsed them out before making fresh tea. She sat down next to him, put his tea on the table and stroked a gentle hand across his forehead. "How's your hangover?"

He looked back up at her and smiled.

"I think I've found the perfect remedy," he answered and tugged her arm to pull her down to his level for another kiss.

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Whitney bounded out of bed and hurried to be first in the shower. She was taking the day off and going shopping with Molly. She left a box of shirts with Bianca just in case.

Her online courses had been going well and the website Tamwar had designed was brilliant. Bianca and Ricky had been well impressed and Bianca remarked more than once that Molly was clearly a good influence on her. Whitney herself was glad Molly had decided to stay in Walford and go to school here. She knew Peter was, too. According to Abi, whom Whitney had ran into at the café one afternoon, the two were practically joined at the hip.

Whitney made herself a cup of tea and toast and took it upstairs with her to eat while she got ready. She sent off a text to Molly.

"Ready for shopping today?"

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Roxy woke and found herself cuddled up comfortably against JT. She smiled and raised her head off the pillow to watch him sleep. For a big guy he seemed so small when he was asleep. She traced a finger down his cheek and smiled happily.

Roxy heard Amy's cries and looked at the clock. Her daughter had taken to waking up routinely at 7:30. Every single morning without fail. She sighed and regretfully left JT's arms and grabbed her dressing gown as she padded through to get Amy. She smiled as she remembered JT's reaction to her having a daughter. He hadn't seemed too put out by it.

Roxy picked Amy up and raised an eyebrow at the girl.

"JTeeeeee!" she giggled and Roxy smiled.

"He's asleep Amy. You have to quiet."

Amy pressed a finger to her lips.

"Sssssssshhhh" she said and looked pleadingly at her mum. Roxy smiled and nodded. She set the tiny girl on the floor and watched proudly as Amy walked confidently to the open door and made her way to Roxy's room where the sleeping man slept. Her walking had come along a lot in the last 6 months and Roxy was always careful and walked behind in case she stumbled and fell.

She picked her daughter up and deposited her on the bed as Amy struggled to climb up. Roxy sat back down then slipped under the covers as she watched Amy study JT's face then plant a tiny kiss on his nose.

"JTeeeeeeeeeee" she sang.

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

JT heard Amy cry and Roxy leave to take care of her. He still hadn't figured out why she'd been so nervous telling him she had a kid. Why would that bother him? He supposed some men might have a problem with it, but not any that he knew. He missed being around kids. They were always underfoot back home. He kept pictures of his little nephews in his wallet. Junior had called him when Louisa had gone into labor and had been sending pictures of the twins once a month.

He knew Aunt Rowan wasn't crazy about his relationship with Roxy, but she'd not stood in his way or said anything against it.

At home, his parents and his brother were always hovering over him, stifling him. As much as he still got homesick, he was really beginning to like this place. Rowan and Chris were great and he loved working at the restaurant. Rowan had chosen to let him go his way and he appreciated it.

He was also crazy about Roxy and Amy.

Peggy had found him so polite and helpful she'd practically invited him to move in before going off on a holiday with her friend Pat.

He felt the little girl clamber over him and kiss his nose and sing his name.

He cracked open an eye and without warning, seized Amy, folded her to him and began to blow raspberries on her neck, making her shriek with laughter. He rolled over into Roxy and looked up at her and winked.

"Sugar from the punkin pie," he said to Amy and tapped his cheek. She promptly gave him a loud, smacking kiss. He looked up at Roxy and traced her jaw. He looked at Amy.

"D'you think your Momma has sugar for me?" he asked and then looked back up at Roxy and grinned as Amy nodded.

"You heard her," he said and pulled Roxy to him for a kiss.

Roxy grinned and tipped her head forward to meet his lips halfway. She loved that he got on so well with Amy, he was used to having kids around he had told her and she couldn't be happier. He was gorgeous and loved her daughter too. She cupped his cheek as she broke the kiss and grinned at him as she settled and leant against him, with Amy in the gap in the blankets between them, she smiled at her daughter.

"What happens tonight, Amy?" she asked with a smile.

"Farrrver CHRISTMAS," she grinned back at her mum and looked at JT too, then burst into an excited howl of laughter, Roxy reached for her and Amy came willingly into her mother's arms.

"And Father Christmas doesn't come unless little girls are fast asleep at night, so, what do we have to be tonight?" she quizzed.

Amy pressed her hands to her lips and Roxy could see the grin hidden behind them.

"Mummy and JTee have to ssshhsshh," she answered cheekily.

Roxy's eyes widened and she gave her daughter a look of mock outrage.

"Mummy and JT are always quiet at night, which means we will get lots of presents," she teased.

Amy frowned and folded her arms, copying a move she had learned from seeing her mother when she was angry or upset.

"I always ssshhss," she retorted and shut her mouth tightly to prove it. Roxy smiled and hugged Amy tightly as she leant her head on JT's shoulder.

"I know you do, honey."

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Molly was up and about early. She had got her homework out of the way at the start of the Christmas holidays so that Alex and Gene wouldn't have a problem with her spending time with her friends. That was the rule. Homework done meant she could have a social life. She grinned at Whitney's text.

'Hell, yes, Mate. Sooo much cash to spend! :D'

She grinned as she finished dressing and checked her hair was decent before going to get breakfast. She couldn't wait for the Party tonight. She had invited her dad over the phone, but doubted he would turn up. She had tactfully left out that Alex was married and heavily pregnant. Her dad was having trouble holding down a relationship and Molly didn't want him having any reason to slag off her mum.

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Jack sighed as he heard someone banging around. He got up and peeked out the door and saw a man hastily buttoning his shirt as he hurried downstairs, Ffion right behind him. Jack shook his head and closed the door. Someone had had company last night. He was glad he was on his holidays. He'd been glad to go back to school. Fixing up the house and garden had kept him busy, but he missed the bustle of school. He missed the bright, eager faces on the students, which usually faded on the faces of the older ones after a week. He chuckled.

Tonight was Rowan's party. He was looking forward to it. In exchange, he'd offered to host Christmas dinner. He and Alyssa could easily cook the meal. He went into the bathroom to get his shower out of the way. He got into the medicine cabinet over the sink and pulled out an empty container of plasters. He opened it and upended it over his hand and looked at the engagement ring he'd bought her. He'd given Alyssa the ring that matched the necklace for their six month anniversary and spent the weeks after searching for the perfect engagement ring. He stuck it back in the container and hurriedly took a shower.

Alyssa heard the door slam loudly downstairs and sighed, she was glad that Ffion didn't tend to bring all of her 'conquests' home, but was well aware of what the girl was up to when she wasn't sleeping in the house. She heard Jack clattering around in the bathroom and then the shower turn on as Ffion stumbled around downstairs. She had know Ffion had somebody round because of the noise and shushing that had gone on when they came in. The poor guy had obviously been drunk, the sounds he was making. She chuckled and rolled over, gathering Jack's pillow and hugging it.

She was glad he had the Christmas holidays now. It was nice to get in from work and find him at home, but the compromise was when he was working, she would get home first, change into a pair of jeans and jumper, usually one of his, and have a cup of tea ready for when he came in. He always looked tired when he got in, especially after the weekly staff meeting on Wednesdays nights. But life was good, she was with the man she loved and had a party tonight. Christmas eve, and she had got the perfect Christmas present for Jack. She hoped he would like it.

Jack came out of the bathroom fully dressed and smiled at Alyssa.

"Well, good morning," he said to her and sat down next to her on the bed. He pulled her to him for a kiss.

"Sounds like our lodger had company last night. I have to say, I appreciate that she doesn't bring them all home. I think she's worked her way through the Walford police department and who knows who else? She shagged your former boss too, did you know?"

He sighed. "I'm not judging, but I think she might have a problem."

He dropped into his chair and took a drink of his tea.

Alyssa rested a hand on his chest as she listened. She snorted a laugh at his mention of Max. She hadn't seen all that much of him since she had moved to the Salon. He had had Vanessa but they had split up a while back for a reason that nobody seemed to know. That Ffion and Max got together at some point was probably inevitable. She was glad Ffion didn't bring them all home too. The last thing she wanted was a load of weirdo men hanging around the house.

"I think she has an issue too. Maybe addiction? Can you get addicted to sex?" she shrugged. She could always Google it. "I don't want to know who she's shagging though if I'm honest. But I might have a word with Shaz. Get her to talk to Rhys."

Alyssa sighed and kissed his cheek. He had shaved. She smiled as she ran a finger down his smooth cheek. She loved it when his stubble tickled her palm in the evenings and early morning. But liked it just as much when it was freshly shaved off. Just as long as he didn't decide to grow a beard, or a moustache. He could forget kisses or anything else if he grew himself a beard.

Jack shrugged. "Yes, there is such a thing. I think her issue is something else. The times when she comes home alone she seems...I don't know...depressed. I'm not saying talk to her about who she's shagging, just talk to her, see if you can't find something out about why. And you should still talk to Shaz, maybe between the two of you you can find out what is going on."

He leaned over and kissed her again. "I guess it's the Head in me, I can't stand seeing a young girl doing this to herself."

"I'll go get us some tea while you shower," he told her and went downstairs.

Ffion smiled at Jack brightly.

"Rhys is picking me up straight from work so I won't see you until after Christmas," she told him. "I hope you don't mind, I got both of you a little prezzie. Just, you know, to say thanks."

She stood up and walked to the kitchen door. "The kettle's full by the way, Happy Christmas."

"Thanks, Ffion," Jack said. "Happy Christmas."

Ffion winked and rushed upstairs to get ready for work. She was glad Rowan was closing early to get ready for her party, at least Rhys and Shaz wouldn't have to wait for her.

Jack set about making tea and cooking breakfast for himself and Alyssa. He gave Ffion a quick wave as she dashed out, off to work. He smiled as he put bacon in the pan and went to butter the toast.

Alyssa sighed and nodded as he left her. She bit her lip, she was normally in bed when Ffion came home so hadn't noticed the change in the girl's attitude. She would talk to Shaz though, and try to be around when Ffion got in one night. When she came home alone.

Alyssa slipped off the bed and padded through to the bathroom. She smiled. Jack hadn't found where she had hidden his present, she had thought about what to get him for ages then finally decided when she had seen them in a shop. She hoped he would like them. She didn't think he already had some of his own. She would have to check. Just in case.

Alyssa dressed herself in her black turtleneck and a pair of jeans before smiling of the smell of bacon that filled the air. She inhaled. She loved it when he cooked. She slipped her feet into her fluffy slippers and hurried downstairs. She took the orange juice from the fridge and looked over Jack's shoulder at the pan as she reached past him for a glass.

"So, plans for today?" she asked as she filled her glass and sipped the juice.

"Well, not sure. I have a few things to pick up for dinner tomorrow. Apart from that," he shrugged. "And of course Rowan's party is tonight."

He carefully put the bacon on a paper towel-covered plate and carried the plate to the table.

"What about you? Want to shop with me?"

Alyssa grabbed two more plates and the 4 different sauces she had insisted that had to be in the house. How was she supposed to eat a bacon sarnie without them!

She put the toast on the table too and sat down opposite him as she began adding the sauces to the toast.

"Food shopping? Or present shopping?" she questioned. "Oh, you do know that Ffion is going home for Christmas?" she checked as she added the bacon.

"Food shopping. My present shopping is already done," he replied blandly as he dug into his eggs. "Yes, she reminded me this morning. There's just a few things I forgot and remember, you promised to keep Rowan distracted and out of the kitchen," he said as he paused in putting jam on his toast and pointed the knife at her.

Alyssa chuckled at him and bit into her sandwich.

"I'll do my best. I'll put a sign on the door: 'Off limits to American Perfectionist Cooks'," she smiled at him.

Jack chuckled in spite of himself.

"Not sure that's necessary, just keep her distracted. She does deserve the occasional break."

He finished eating his breakfast and went to the sink to do the washing up.

Alyssa chuckled. The sign would go up. She watched Jack start on the washing up and picked up her empty plate.

"I know she needs a break," she sighed. "I think, the last time she actually had a break was on Gem's farm" she said as she handed him her plate and grabbed a towel.

"And that's only because I think Gem is far more territorial in the kitchen. I'll have to practice my imperious stare," he said and looked down at her, his eyes wide, attempting to look threatening.

Alyssa looked at him for a moment and took in his expression. She raised an eyebrow, nodded and fought against herself to hold back the giggles.

"You'll have her quaking in her boots," she told him before picking up a mug to dry it and erupting into uncontrollable laughter. She looked back at him and attempted to school her expression.

"I'm sorry," she apologised, "it's just..." she waved at his expression and a other wave of giggles hit her.

Jack sighed and rolled his eyes.

"I suppose I'll be crippling her with laughter then," he remarked and let the water out of the sink. He sighed.

"I'm going to put my shoes on so we can go."

Alyssa nodded and wiped the remaining water from the final plate. She placed it in the cupboard overhead. She chewed her lip as she thought and followed him into the hall and grabbed her pumps from under the sideboard and slipped them on as she sat herself on the bottom stair.

"You could always go scary teacher mode on her," she shrugged. "That's intimidating"

Jack threw his head back and laughed.

"That's very true. I'll keep that in mind," he said as he pulled his shoes on and grabbed his keys.

"Let's go before things get too bad out there."

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Whitney grinned at Molly's reply. She couldn't wait. She already had ideas what she was going to get everyone and Rowan had said she and Molly could borrow the front room in her flat to wrap the presents where no one could see. They would be there for the party anyway. She finished getting ready and dug out her stash and put it in her purse.

She bounded downstairs and put her mug and plate in the sink. Bianca smiled.

"All right and all ready?"

Whitney nodded. Bianca handed her the money for the cab fare and Whitney gave her a quick kiss before running to the sound of the cab horn outside. She texted Molly.

"On my way!"

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Gene sat in the kitchen with his tea and watched Molly go about getting ready to go shopping with Whitney.

"Have fun today, but be careful," he cautioned her. "Your mum has enough going on right now that she's ready to pop. She hardly needs stress," he told her and took a sip of his tea.

"I'm just glad we got the wedding out of the way before she went completely around the bend," he joked softly and chuckled.

It had been nice, though. Small, quiet, just a few people and a party at Rowan's after. She'd wanted to do it before she started to show and he was willing. He still had trouble getting his head around it. And as she'd gotten bigger, her temper had gotten shorter. He was very careful not to make any comments that she might think were slight against her, but he had to admit, the tension was killing him. He had heaved a great sigh of relief when she'd gone on maternity leave. At least now he had work to escape to. He'd envied Molly going to school and getting to avoid her mum that way. Gene was not so lucky.

He'd also taken to hanging around in the pub more with Jack and surprisingly, Rowan's nephew, JT. The boy was surprisingly bright and eerily well-mannered, though Rowan had told Gene when he'd asked that JT had been in trouble a lot back home. Having a very successful older brother could do that to you, especially when everyone else around you wondered why you weren't the same.

He wondered again what Alex might be having. When she'd reached her fifth month they'd gone for a scan and had refused to know when they'd offered to tell her. He'd been tempted to ask the woman behind Alex's back but knew he'd be putting his life at risk if he did so, so he hadn't.

"Did you invite your dad to the party tonight?" he asked Molly. He was sure she thought she was being clever. She could fool Alex because Alex was distracted. But you couldn't fool the Gene Genie. He grinned at her and waited for her reply.

Molly spun around and looked at him in surprise. How did he...? She sighed, no point in pretending she didn't know what he was on about, they had been through this before and she couldn't outsmart him. Not matter how hard she tried. It annoyed her, but she cheered up when she realised that her new sibling would be subjected to the same treatment, maybe even more so seeing as this new child was actually Gene's and she wasn't.

Molly nodded.

"I want to see him. I haven't since I came here and talking to him on the phone isn't the same. I'll keep him away from Mum though, like you said, she really doesn't need the extra stress!" She checked the contents of her bag once more, before she looked up at him. "Mind you, he hasn't actually given me a straight answer about whether or not he is coming tonight," she found her phone and read the text.

"Whitney's on her way."

/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\\\/\/\/\

Alex heard the voices in the other room and was very glad she hadn't gone to the party last night. She was also thankful that Gene hadn't got pissed. He was practically sober when he had got back and found Alex and Molly having a chick flick marathon on the sofa. She smiled as she slid a hand across her swollen belly. One month, one month and she would have another child. Gene's child. Their child. She smiled and carefully eased herself out of bed. She felt bloated, but not in a bad way. It felt good. She sighed. She hated not being able to see her feet, and she had stopped wearing heels too, they hurt her back and she wanted to be able to stand properly, she grabbed her dressing gown, her maternity wear was hanging up in the wardrobe, as much as she liked it and as gorgeous as some of the stuff was now, she found she preferred wearing Gene's larger tops and coupling them with leggings. Much more comfortable.

She made her way directly to the kettle and got herself a mug of tea, she found that more preferable to coffee now, though she had hated the stuff before she had got pregnant. She kissed Gene's cheek, aware that conversation had tactfully come to halt once she had entered the room. She wasn't going to blow her top, too early for that, for now she wanted her tea and a dry piece of toast, and the seat at the table.

Gene nodded at Molly's comment and smiled at Alex as she came into the kitchen. "Make sure mine is the most expensive present," he told Molly and moved Alex to sit down. He stuck bread in the toaster to make her something to eat. He didn't want to give her any reason to complain.

"You'll be back in time for the party. You keep in touch with your mum and let her know where you are," he told Molly when he heard the horn outside. He still aggressively refused to get one of those cell phones. He hated them. Alex had one, people could call her or text her and she could pass the message, end of.

He put the toast on the table when it was ready and then made himself another cup of tea.

He walked to the front room and glanced to make sure Molly had gone.

"I think that Ffion is going to be a problem. I hate to ask but is there any way you can have a word with Rhys? Get him to talk to her. She's shagged her way through most of the PCs who were willing and she copped off with Adam last night. He was so drunk he didn't know which way was up but that didn't seem to matter. I know you're on leave, but this is something you're good at, your psych….ology thing."

Alex took her tea from the table and waved at Molly as she slammed the front door.

"Adam? I knew she kept flirting with him but I didn't think he would..." she trailed off as she thought. Adam was married and unlikely to have gone off with Ffion. She sighed. She knew that all of the better looking PCs had got off with Ffion, some of the more desperate ones too. She would have a word, she what she could find out.

Alex gasped suddenly and reached for Gene's hand she pressed it to her tummy and held it there as the baby kicked her repeatedly. She smiled up at him. Gene smiled back.

"Footballer in there," he remarked. He stood up and put his cup in the sink.

"I'm going to go to the station for a bit. I'll be back in a couple of hours. You'll be okay? Just call if you need anything."

He kissed her forehead and went to get ready.

Alex nodded and watched him go back into the bedroom. She smiled as the kicking stopped and she sipped her tea. One month. That was it. Just one more. She grabbed her toast and nibbled it slowly. She wondered what it would be. She refused to ask at the scan. She wanted to know, but didn't want to know at the same time. She had made herself refuse to be told. But she could tell Gene wanted to know. She was grateful he hadn't asked, if he had she would have been looking for signs of what gender the baby was.

Alex put her empty plate in the sink and switched on the radio. Since she had gone on maternity leave, she had been bored and insisted on all her paperwork being brought home. She had got through it in a week. Now, she was reading. Molly kept coming home and Alex would be ordering books online so she had something to keep her mind occupied during the week. She grabbed her book from where he had left it and moved over to the sofa with her tea in one hand and settled herself against the cushions and opened at the marked page.

Gene came back into the room and leaned over the couch. He took her chin in his hand and turned her face to kiss her.

"I'll be back soon. Do you want me to pick up anything while I'm out?"

Alex shook her head at him.

"I'm fine. I'll call your office if I think if anything. You can pick it up for me on the way home," she smiled and watched him leave, sighing as the door slammed shut behind him. She picked her book back up and leant comfortably into the cushions once more.

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Alex was woken from her slumber as the doorbell sounded noisily and repeatedly. This person was going nowhere until she answered. With a resigned sigh she rose slowly and rested a hand carefully on her swollen stomach as she made her way to the front door. She opened it and immediately wished that she hadn't.

"Peter?" her voice echoed her surprise as she faced her ex-husband.

"Alex," he hissed back, eyeing his very pregnant ex-wife and the wedding ring on her finger that glinted in the fading winter sunlight. Molly hadn't mentioned that Alex had got married when they had spoken on the phone, neither had she mentioned Alex's pregnancy. He pushed his way past her into the flat easily. His confidence was renewed now that he knew that she was in no position to try and stop him.

"Molly!" he called out. He wondered silently who Alex had married, which idiot she had ensnared this time. She wasn't wearing that ring the last time she had seen him. The time she had taken Molly away from him. He scowled at the thought of that stupid Neanderthal that had brandished those few documents. Peter cursed himself for backing down so easily and handing over his daughter to that bitch who now stood nervously before him.

"You can't have her," Alex's voice held conviction. He wasn't taking her daughter away. Not again.

Peter swung around to face her and his face curled into a snarl.

"And you're going to stop me are you? Look at you Alex. Pregnant. How do you intend to keep my daughter away from me?" he questioned and barked out a short laugh. "You're hardly responsible enough to look after her anyway!" he stated and gestured to her baby bump. "You let somebody get you into this state! Not the most responsible thing you've ever done is it. Damn irresponsible darling!" he
drawled with a triumphant grin.

Alex looked down at her tummy. Having another child was irresponsible was it? How exactly!

"At least I can actually care for our daughter Peter!" she spat. "Out drinking every night. Coming home pissed. Leaving her to fend for herself. I'm surprise social services didn't come knocking!" she watched his face redden in anger, but she wasn't finished. "And having a child with my husband isn't irresponsible! It's perfectly normal. The only stupid thing I did was let you have Molly for 3 years! You did well though, severing all communication, moving schools and homes, removing files so I couldn't trace you. Well done," she paused for breath and glared at him. She needed to sit down. But in no way was she doing that and giving him the upper hand. Not over her dead body, he was not getting the high ground in any sense.

Peter's eyes darkened. How bloody dare she! He wanted Christmas with Molly. He wanted his daughter to celebrate Christmas with him like the past few years.

"She's invited me to this party thing tonight, Alex. Nothing you can do. You or your new man. Your husband!" he drew the word out and said it as an insult. Poor guy. Even more stupid of him to have knocked her up. Now there was no escape for the man. Like Peter, he was bound to Alex if he was going to want any contact with his kid. Bitch!

Hang on. This bloke was Molly's stepdad. She had replaced him. How fucking dare she! He glared at her.

"You really think you can replace me with him? I'm her father Alex. Nothing is going to change that, sweetheart. No amount of pretence on your part will EVER change the fact that she's mine," he spat at her. She was beginning to suffer now, he could see it. She wouldn't let herself surrender to him though, no matter how much she would damage herself. He smiled sweetly and pushed past her again, nearly knocking her over, she caught the wall just in time and held herself up. He pushed open the door. Bathroom. He saw Molly's toothbrush and all of her things laid out pretty much the same as they had been when she was living with him. Where she was supposed to be? He scowled and shut the door again, he moved to a different one, ignoring Alex's eyes as they bore into his back. He pushed that open and his expression darkened. Her room. Alex and her husband. He could tell. He slammed that door and opened the final one. Molly. The room practically screamed his daughter's name at him. He smiled and reached for the bag that sat on her chair. He went to her wardrobe and pulled clothes out that he stuffed inside the bag. She could stay at his tonight. Alex could have her back Boxing Day. Or New Year. He smirked.

Alex's eyes widened in fury as he went into Molly's room. She stormed after him and pulled on his arm to make him stop.

"Piss off Peter! Leave us alone. Go and crawl back into whatever hole you came out of and leave us in Peace!"

He brushed her off and continued with a grin. She couldn't stop him.

Peter grinned at Alex as he moved past her back into the hall. He looked around her home and sneered. Molly had been better off with him. At least he had a house. Unlike Alex. A flat.

Peter dumped the bag on the kitchen table and studied Alex. She really was huge. He chuckled. No doubt she was giving her new bloke hell. She had when she was pregnant with Molly. His stupid fault for letting her get pregnant.

Alex held the door frame. She really didn't feel good. She caressed her belly and closed her eyes. That didn't feel good at all. She heard Peter's sneer and opened them again. She wasn't letting him have the upper hand. She wouldn't sit down. He wasn't going to take advantage of her condition like this. She held back a whimper of pain and made herself stand tall and glared at him.

Peter noted in amusement the angry flare in her eyes. Winding her up was so easy. She was angry. Too right. So was he. She had taken Molly away. This party was clearly his daughter's way of asking him to take her home. Where she belonged.

Alex took a step and let out a small whine of pain. She staggered to a chair. This hurt like hell. Something was wrong. This wasn't right! She let herself collapse into the hard straight backed chair and looked up to see Peter's look of disgust as Alex whimpered with pain. She looked where he was looking and her eyes grew wide. This was too soon. She still had another month to go! Another contraction hit and she clung to the table in pain.

"CALL AN AMBULANCE YOU DICK!" she screamed at him.

Peter tore his eyes away from the spot where his ex-wife's waters had broken and dialled 999.

"Ambulance, please. My ex- wife, her waters just broke."

His speech was punctuated by another shout of pain from Alex as she pushed him away from her and they waited for the sound of the sirens.

/\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\/\

JT grinned at Amy. She was a cute little button. He jumped as he heard his phone go off. He still wasn't used to having one but Rowan had insisted. His brother had always had one, JT had never seen the point. He read her text.

"Oh, I have to get to work. I forgot it's Molly's day off and Aunt Ro is having the party tonight," JT leapt out of bed and his words were punctuated by him pulling on his jeans and shirt. "She will skin me alive." He leaned over and kissed Amy's forehead and Roxy's lips. "I'll see you later, darlins," he said and bolted.

Roxy smiled as he left. She squeezed Amy and rolled onto her back so Amy was sat on the pillow. The girl settled herself and grabbed handfuls of Roxy's hair which she played with as she chattered to herself.

Roxy sighed. She loved having JT around, he was lovely. Huge. Gorgeous. She loved his accent and the quaint little phrases he came out with that often made her laugh. Also how relaxed and easy going he was. Especially around Amy. The little girl loved him too. That much was clear. She sighed. Business would be slow tonight.

/\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

JT ran to the restaurant and apologized profusely to his aunt for being late.

"Just please, I wouldn't care if it wasn't so busy. Get started on those pies. Jane wants apple, chocolate, and cherry. I'll do the pecan tarts." JT nodded and tied on his apron and got to work on the pie dough while Rowan finished boxing up the muffins. The pies should just be ready when Syed and Christian showed up.

Chris came downstairs and looked over the kitchen. "I have to go to the station for a bit, but is there anything we still need for the party?"

Rowan rushed over to the reach in and looked, then to the walk in before checking her inventory list.

"I could use some more pecans. Those bars I'm making from Gem's recipe have pretty much depleted my stores."

JT swiveled his head around as he used a fork to seal the edges of the half-circle shaped pies. "You're making Gem's pecan bars?"

Rowan nodded.

"Oh my Lord and Lady," was all JT said and went back to work, surreptitiously wiping away a bit of drool with his sleeve.

Chris made himself a cup of tea to take with him. "I'll see what I can get," he promised and left.

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Ffion hummed as she made herself some toast. She knew one or both of them had to be awake, she'd heard the shower. She took her tea and toast and went back to her room to figure out what to wear for the drive home and what to pack to wear for dinner tomorrow. She sent off a quick text to Rhys to find out what time they were leaving.

/\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\/\

Rhys heard his phone go off and he put down his tea to read it. He looked at Shaz.

"Fee wanting to know what time we leave today. She was never any good with stuff like that."

He texted her back and then looked at Shaz.

"You ready to go in for our big half day? Though if I'm being honest, I don't see the point. Oh, did I tell you, Ginger is going to move in with Simon? Apparently when Simon went back home for that wedding of his friends, they all just fell in love with Ginger. And Ginger's family likes Simon just as much, so Simon popped the question as it were."

He rinsed his mug and gave Shaz a sidelong glance. "I don't suppose you fancy moving in here? With me?"

Shaz smiled at him as she cradled her half empty mug in her hands, taking all the heat it could give.

"I know I've said it before but they are soo cute together," she smiled and looked up at him. Move in? Here? With him? Permanently? She grinned. She practically lived here anyway. She felt as though she spent half her time at work and divided it equally between her place and Rhys', depending on Ginger and Simon.

"I'd love to," she stood, drained her coffee and placed the mug in the sink. She looked at him slyly.

"Besides, you'd get lonely here all on your own!"

She grinned and waved at Ginger as he appeared and chuckled lightly at the pair of them. Proper comedy duo! She snorted silently.

Rhys smiled at her and kissed her when Ginger went outside.

"I can't wait till we get to Cardiff," he said to Shaz. "I'm excited you're finally going to meet the rest of my family. Fee likes you and Katie and her husband did, too."

He rinsed his mug in the sink. "We should get going."

Shaz smiled. She liked Katie, too. She was effectively Ffion's alter-ego. They were so opposite it was untrue. But she liked them both well enough. Rhys' family had all been lovely so far. But she was a little apprehensive about meeting his parents.

She had called her Mum and apologised for not being home for Christmas but had promised to go down to Essex for the Granger New Year Celebration. She had smiled as he mum quizzed her on where she was going for Christmas and she had replied Cardiff to meet her boyfriend's family. So, of course her mum had insisted on her bringing Rhys down for New Year. She chuckled softly and grabbed her coat and the final box and followed the others outside.

He went and picked up one of Ginger's boxes and carried it out to Simon's car.

Ginger smiled his thanks at Rhys and he and Simon went back in to get another box.

/\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\/\

Ginger finished packing the last box and sighed. He would miss living with his best mate, but they'd see each other at work and they'd still get together for their movie marathons and now that Rhys had settled down with Shaz, he'd insisted they add Dr. Who to their regular watching. Ginger had laughed and Rhys had given him a look. He looked at the photo album, now nearly full of pics of himself and Simon and their friends. He flipped to the back, to the ones taken at a wedding he and Simon had gone to a few months back. He'd been so pleased when Simon had invited him to the wedding of his friends Cherry and Jimmi. In fact, Cherry was his best mate and they had shared a house. Ginger was nervous, but also excited to meet such close friends of Simon.

While they were there, an older couple had seen Simon and greeted him warmly. Ginger had walked over and Simon introduced Ginger as his "friend" which meant they didn't know about Simon. The woman had asked Simon how he had been up to since he hadn't been seen around in so long. Ginger still remembered the cold as ice look on the woman's face when Simon had told them he lived in Walford. She had turned and walked away without another word. Ginger wondered why, but kept his mouth shut. The man had spoken for a few more minutes and then went after his wife. He'd asked Simon what is was about. Simon had shrugged. He had no idea either.

Ginger came out of his room and drained his tea.

"Si should be here soon," he said. "It's gonna be weird not sharing this place with you," he said and mussed Rhys' hair.

"Yes, but I'll still have to put up with you every day at work," Rhys complained dryly. Ginger rolled his eyes and ran to get the door when the buzzer went off.

Ginger thanked Rhys and Shaz for their help and climbed into Simon's car. He waved as they drove off. Ginger would unload his things and then go to the station for a bit while Simon was in the surgery.

Rhys made sure their bags were stowed safely in the boot before opening the car door for her so she could get in and then drove them to the station.

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\\\\\/\

Rowan and JT managed to get the baking finished just before Christian and Syed turned up. She had invited them to the party, though Christian might be more keen to spend it with his sister. Syed hadn't said yet, but she welcomed them both. She loaded the cases into canvas carrier bags and Christian handed over the money.

"I hope you and Syed will at least stop by for a bit, you know you are both more than welcome," she told him. Christian gave her a quick hug.

"I know, and thanks love. We'll stop by before we go out with Jane."

Rowan nodded and locked the door behind Christian as he left. Rowan realized something and turned to JT.

"JT, did you invite Roxy and Amy?"

"Ah, dammit," JT said and slapped his forehead, then grinned at Rowan. "Of course I did. I even got them presents. It's kind of weird celebratin' Christmas," JT commented.

"You get used to it," Rowan sighed. Syed nodded.

"Though I generally just say 'Happy Holiday'," Syed told him. JT nodded.

"Anyway, yeah, I invited her. She's having some family thing tomorrow though. I think she invited me, but I'm not sure. I don't get stuff she says sometimes," he shrugged and started another batch of muffins.

Rowan looked at Syed and they both chuckled before getting back to the baking.

Ffion toyed with her straw as she sat and filled salt and pepper shakers. Most people were getting things to go before continuing on with their shopping. She thought about going into the kitchen to help Rowan and the others with the cooking, but she was no good at cooking. She would just be in the way.

Rowan put the finishing touches on the ham and stuck it in the oven. She left JT in charge and went upstairs to finish wrapping presents.

JT and Syed chatted as they prepped the other dishes Rowan had planned for the party.

/\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\/\\\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\\

Whitney bounced in the cab.

"I'm so excited. We are going to have so much fun."

She pulled a sheet of paper from her bag. "Here's everything I have to get."

She grinned.

Molly read through Whitney's list and nodded.

"Wow, Whit! You've got tonnes!" she exclaimed.

"I've got to get something for Gene. Something for Dad, Mum an I think that I'm going to get something for Rowan, Syed and JT too, an I think that I'm going to get something for the baby as well," she grinned. "I already bought a present for you and Peter!"

Whitney chuckled. "I have a lot more to buy for, the kids for one thing, most of this is for them. Yours is the only present I've already bought! I feel like I've got nothing done," she remarked as she climbed out of the cab and paid the driver.

She grabbed Molly's arm and looked up at the shopping center.

"Here we go!"

Whitney looked around at the shops until she found a good toy one and went inside to get presents for the kids.

Molly spent some time looking over baby clothes. She didn't know whether she would get a brother or sister. So she chose yellow. Neutral. That way it didn't matter. The outfit had a giraffe on. She loved it.

Whitney looked at the outfit Molly had chosen. "So, are you hoping for a brother or sister, or are you still undecided?" She clutched the presents she was getting her brothers and sister as she and Molly walked to the register to pay.

Molly shrugged.

"I still don't mind. I think Mum wants a boy. I mean, she's already had a girl," she pointed at herself with a smile. "But, I don't know. I'm not really bothered. And mum is refusing to find out whether it's a girl or boy, so all the baby clothes so far are yellows and creams. I don't see why you can't put a boy baby in girl's clothes and vice versa," she shrugged.

"I know," Whitney said as she paid and took her bags. "Loads of men wear pink shirts, and men who aren't gay either. Max Branning, for example, he's not gay and I've seen him wear pink shirts before. So," she said with a long breath, "I think we need a quick caffeine break."

She grinned.

Molly nodded her agreement.

"My point exactly. Mind you," she grinned. "I'm not sure what Gene's reaction will be if it is a boy and he ends up in pink, girly clothes" She giggled and nodded again.

Molly scanned the street.

"Starbucks or Costa?"

"We can go just there, looks okay," Whitney said, pointing at a little place just across from the toy store. "Where should we go after this?" She asked as she started over to the little coffee shop.

Molly nodded and headed along with Whitney to the coffee house she had pointed out.

"Well, I need something for Gene. But if I'm honest I don't have a clue what to get him," she sighed. "Mum's easy enough, she's been denying that she's craving hazelnuts, but I know she is. So I've got her some chocolate with hazelnuts in," she grinned.

Whitney gnawed at her lip thoughtfully.

"Yeah, I can see he would be tough, innit," she commiserated.

She sipped her coffee and watched the passers-by, eyeing the fit blokes that walked by a little regretfully. As much as she liked hanging out with Molly and Peter, as their relationship continued they sometimes got a bit more smushy, causing Whitney to often feel like a massively huge third wheel.

"Maybe something for the car?" she turned to Molly, her eyebrows up and her expression curious.

Molly nodded her agreement.

"Maybe..." she sighed "I'll have to keep an eye out. Something here has to be suitable and I have to get him something. He's not just Mum's boyfriend anymore. He's my stepdad," she added as she looked around at the shops nearby. What the hell were you supposed to buy for a Mancunian DCI with a fantastic car?

Whitney looked at her watch.

"It's nearly 4, should we get a cab now to the party you think?"

Molly looked down at what she was wearing and nodded. It would be fine for the party. They all knew what she looked like anyway.

She nodded and sent a text off to Alex to tell her she was going to the party.

"Right, I'll call Charlie"

"You can't call Charlie, he's in Walford, it'll take him hours to get here. Look, there's loads of cabs there, let's just grab one and go. If we split the cost it shouldn't be so bad," Whitney said and hitched all her bags onto one arm to wave at one of the cabs pulling up.

"C'mon, Moll!" she said and hurried over to it.

Molly made sure she had everything before hurtling after Whitney. She climbed in as Whitney gave the directions and looked at her phone as it went off in her hand. She read the text and looked at Whitney. Too stunned to speak she handed her the phone so she could read the text.

Once Whitney had handed the phone back she hastily dialled her mum's mobile. Gene had sent a text. She almost laughed out loud. She wondered how long it had taken him to send it.

/\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\\/\\/\\\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\\

Jane accepted the bags from her brother and began to immediately stock the display cases. She had to charge more than Rowan had so she would make some money, but no one seemed to mind. The fact that the muffins were not only delicious, but quite large helped a great deal.

"We still coming to yours tomorrow?" Christian asked her.

"I hope so, I bought a turkey and everything," she replied.

"Can I come?" Peter asked as he came inside with the broom.

"What about your father?"

Peter shrugged. "I don't have to be at home all day."

"And what about your girlfriend?"

"I'm seeing her tonight."

Jane shrugged. Kid had an answer for everything. "I don't mind if you come for dinner."

Peter grinned and went to the back to do the washing up.

Rowan smiled at Gene as he stopped in and bought a few of the muffins Alex liked and a breakfast burrito for himself.

"How's Alex doing?"

"Fine," he replied smugly. "I think we're going to have a footballer in the family."

Rowan chuckled at his comment and handed him his change.

"We'll see you tonight then."

Gene waved as he took a bite of the burrito and left.

He eyed Adam as he got to the station. The man wasn't looking too great.

"Problem, Skip? Been dipping your wick somewhere you shouldn't?" he asked as he walked past.

He walked in to where his team was sitting.

"So, what have we got so far?"

"Mostly fights between the last minute shoppers so far, Guv. Nothing big the plods can't handle."

"Good, let's hope it stays that way."

He went to the kitchen and made himself a cup of tea before going outside to smoke.

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The nurse scrolled down Alex's phone. She hadn't stopped screaming for somebody named Gene since she had got in the ambulance. Apparently the man who had been in the ambulance with her wasn't her husband. Her ex. That was interesting. You found out a lot of interesting bits of information in this job. She spotted 'Home' programmed into Alex's phone and dialled it. It rang out. She left a message just in case and kept looking through numbers. She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.

'Gene-Work'

She shrugged and dialled it. She heard a gruff voice announce himself as DCI Hunt. Same surname as Alex. Husband? Father? or Brother?

"Mr Hunt? Alex has been admitted to Walford hospital. She's giving birth and screaming for you," she informed him in a businesslike tone.

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Gene sat a moment in silence. Had he heard right? She wasn't supposed to go for a month.

"You are joking me," he said, his tone low, knowing that she probably wasn't.

He slammed the phone down, swept from the office and drove like a maniac to the hospital. He shoved his way in, looking around frantically for maternity. He strode down the hall, his face a storm as he reached maternity and bellowed Alex's name.

His hand snaked out and grabbed a passing orderly.

"Where is she? Where is my wife?" he demanded, then his eye fell on Peter, Alex's ex. He growled low in his throat and shoved the frightened orderly away as he advanced on Peter, grabbed him by the neck, slammed him against the wall and lifted him up.

"What have you done to her you bastard!" Gene snarled, punctuating each word by slamming Peter against the wall.

Peter snarled. She had married him! That idiot. Peter studied his face as the man saw him. Not good. Before he knew it Gene was slamming him against a wall and yelling at him. He sneered at him and aimed a punch at his gut.

"I. Did. Nothing." he spat and he fought against Gene to get down off the the wall.

"Stupid bitch went into labor," he snarled as he tried again to push Gene away. This man was a rock.

Alex heard Gene yelling for her and moaned in pain as another contraction hit her. This wasn't supposed to happen yet. The baby was early. Fucking Peter. A trail of obscenities, cursing her ex spilled from her lips as she fought her way through the pain. She felt it finish and braced herself for the next one.

Peter listened to Alex in the next room as she cursed him to high heaven. He smirked and nodded at the door,"no need to tell you where she is," he growled as he tried again to make Gene let go before he cut off his air supply.

Gene's eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared as he fought back the urge to break the man's neck.

He brought the man down to eye level and leaned his face close until he was nose to nose.

"After all she's done for you, yes, all she's done for you. She didn't keep Molly from talking to you, or forbid Molly from seeing you. She never even says a bad word about you where Molly might hear. She's been doing her best to keep that girl from hating her pathetic waste of a father," Gene hissed. "Though I don't know why she bothers."

Gene slammed him against the wall again. "She wasn't due for another month. If something goes wrong, if anything happens to Alex, it will be down to you and I will kill you." Gene snarled, enunciating the last few words through clenched teeth. He saw hospital staff running over and he yanked Pete away from the wall and shoved him hard down the corridor, away from the room where Alex was. He spun on his heel and went into the room where Alex was screaming.

Peter staggered as Gene released him. The guy was serious. He would kill, or at least hurt him badly, of anything happened to Alex. He straightened himself and massaged his throat. The man's grip was strong. Gene. A face to the name. He was welcome to her.

Peter wondered whether he should hang around. He felt a bit bad that he had pushed Alex into premature labor. But all he wanted was to see Molly. It was Christmas for Christ's sake!

"Bloody Nora, woman, you can't half scream," Gene whispered in her ear. He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips.

Alex squeezed his hand and held in the scream as another contraction hit. She didn't want to burst his eardrums. But she was worried. The baby would be premature. How severely she didn't know.

"Gene," she said in a weak voice. "The baby will be okay won't it?" she asked desperately, seeking the reassurance that only he could give her.

Gene wrapped his other hand around hers and looked at the midwife who gazed back at him.

"I'm not sure, she's not dilating very fast," the woman began. Gene rolled his eyes.

"I don't want the details, just tell me, will she be okay?"

The woman sighed. "We'll see."

"See, they'll take care of you. You'll be fine."

Alex's eyes widened in worry at the nurse's words. Not good. She frowned at Gene as he tried to reassure her.

"It's not me I'm worried about!" she told him and her face contorted as pain shot through her once more. She hoped she wouldn't be in labour for as long as she was with Molly. That had been far, far too long.

Her eyes darkened as the pain ebbed away.

"Is he still out there?" she asked bitterly as she looked toward the door that one of the nurses had just left by.

The midwife sighed. She hated the over-dramatic ones, they never understood when you were joking. She walked around and put an arm under Alex's back.

"Come on, we have to get you up and walking," she told Alex in a no-nonsense tone.

"But she's having a baby, she should be laying down!" Gene argued.

The midwife glared across the bed at him.

"No, she shouldn't. She needs to walk, get some gravity on her said, get things going. Now, either help me get her on her feet or go because you are not helping this situation at all."

The midwife wrapped her arm around Alex and grabbed her legs to help her slide them off the bed and stand.

"You're not really that early, Mrs. Hunt. I've looked at your chart. Two, three weeks early tops, that's nothing. Happens all the time. So calm down and let's get you walking around the room, alright?"

She narrowed her eyes at Gene and dared him to defy her.

"I don't know if that f..." he broke off, mindful of the other woman, "bloody toerag is out there or not. Hopefully, he's run far."

Alex nodded and let the nurse help her to stand, she placed a hand on her tummy as she stood and let her legs take her weight. She looked up at Gene as she took careful steps and nodded.

"Why is he even here?" she asked in an attempt to take her mind off the pain by occupying it with something else.

"Well, I thought he brought you here," Gene said as he ducked under her arm to help her walk, finally earning himself a small smile from the midwife, who excused herself.

"I'll be back to check on you in just a bit. Keep her walking, and there's ice chips in that cup over there," she pointed.

Alex used Gene as support as he walked her around. He was a lot more stable than the nurse had been. And he was a comforting presence too. She clutched at him as she shuffled around the room.

"No, not here as in the hospital. I mean here as in Walford! His parents live the other side of London, why come here?"

Gene was glad when Alex went into hard labor. He didn't really want to be there, but she had a death grip on his hand. He had to admit he'd felt a great deal of relief when the midwife had come back, interrupting his ability to answer her question about why her ex was here. It was really Molly's place to tell her mum what she'd done, not his.

"Won't be long now," the midwife said and looked at him. He nodded and wished Alex would let him go so he could get out of the room.

Alex looked over at her phone as it beeped. She let go of Gene's hand and looked pleadingly at him to check it. Her contractions were coming quicker and more often. She did as she was told and breathed her way through, waiting as patiently as she could until she was told to push. She wanted her baby out. She barely noticed the screaming she was doing as she followed the instructions the nurses gave her, answering back and yelling as she forced a person out of her.

Gene heaved a relieved breath as she let go his hand and ordered him to get her phone. He grabbed up the tiny thing and after a glare from one of the nurses, went out into the hall to look. It took him awhile, but he figured out how to read the text. Molly was on her way to the party.

He headed outside for a smoke. Alex would be awhile, he had time. He looked around and decided to reply to the text. He sat down on the bench for smokers, outside and away from the door, and began to slowly and carefully type a message. How aggravatingly tedious!

"Your dad showed up you need to tell your mum why you should also know that bastard tried to kick things off and put your mum in labor at hospital now."

He growled when it wouldn't let him type any more and sent it.

He finished smoking and went back inside.

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Alex lay gasping on her bed as her baby was weighed and checked. She tried to catch her breath. She ached and her throat hurt. She guessed she must have been yelling pretty loud. She was aware vaguely of someone talking to her and then a face came into view.

"Mrs. Hunt, would you like to see your baby?"

Alex sat up and nodded, unable to speak as she held out her arms to take the little bundle from the nurse. She held her baby gently to her and peered at the tiny face.

"He's perfectly fine. No problems as far as we can see. Congratulations."

Alex didn't look up. He. She had given birth to a boy. A tiny, beautiful baby boy. With a pout to rival his father's. She chuckled softly and looked up at the nurse.

"Where's Gene?" she asked, her voice a little hoarse.

"I'll get him for you" the nurse replied and walked out of Alex's room. She spotted Gene standing in the hall.

"Congratulations, Mr Hunt. Your baby is perfectly healthy," she smiled then looked back at the door. "She's asking for you."

Gene looked up from the floor and over at the nurse. He pushed himself from the wall and went inside the room. He walked over to the bed and looked down at Alex and the baby.

"Is it...boy or girl?" he asked uncertainly.

Alex smiled at him.

"A boy," she said happily and carefully let go of her son with one hand, making sure he was secure in her one armed hold on him, and reached it up to tug Gene's face down to hers. She kissed him.

"We've got a son, Gene," she told him happily. "You're a daddy."

A ringing sound caught her attention as she identified it as her phone. She reached her hand into Gene's pocket and pulled it out. A disapproving glare from the nurse prompted her to reach for Gene's warrant card, too. No way was this woman stopping her from talking to her daughter.

"It's to do with work," she said in answer to the nurse's glare.

She answered the phone.

"Molls?"

"Mum! Oh my god! Are you okay? The baby isn't supposed to be here for a few more weeks!"

"Calm down, Molly, we're both fine."

"Both?" she questioned. Why would there be anything wrong with Gene? Then it hit her. "You've had it? You've had the baby?"

Alex chuckled. "You've got a little brother, Molls. A beautiful baby brother," she sighed happily.

Molly squeaked with excitement and looked at Whitney. "It's a boy! I've got a brother," she exclaimed happily then put the phone back to her ear. "What's his name?"

"Good grief Molly! I only gave birth a few minutes ago! Give me a chance!" Alex answered in exasperation.

"Sorry. When can I see him?"

"Well, I'm supposing that I've got to stay here for a bit so you can come any time, Molls. I really don't mind. Enjoy the party won't you? And apologise for my absence, too."

"Not that's it's your fault, I shouldn't told you about Dad. Sorry."

"We can talk about that later Molly. Just have fun, won't you."

"Sure. Bye Mum. Love you."

"Love you, too."

Alex shut off the phone and handed it back to Gene to put in his pocket. She looked at the baby, then at Gene.

"Would you like to hold him Gene?" she smiled.

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Rowan went outside to smoke and looked at the half-deserted street. So many people leaving work early to go home and prepare for their holiday. She smiled. Since she didn't celebrate Christmas, she'd always chosen to work or not do much of anything. She was glad she was having this dinner party. She hadn't realized the holiday could be so much fun.

She thought over the various presents she was giving, many of them she had made, simply because she didn't see anything she wanted to buy and it gave her something to do these past nights when Chris was working, especially after JT had started spending nights away with Roxy. She had worried at first, but Roxy seemed to be treating him well and seemed to truly care about him. Rowan knew JT had already lost his heart, though it would likely take awhile for him to admit it.

She tossed her cigarette in the ash can and went back inside.

Just after lunch, Rowan let Ffion leave. It wasn't very busy and Rowan felt between the three of them, she, Syed and JT could handle it.

Ffion bounded cheerfully out after giving them all effusive hugs. She slung her bag over her shoulder and hurried to the station.

She walked in and flashed Adam a bright smile and a wink before heading back to where her brother was.

Adam averted his eyes from Ffion as she passed. His wife hadn't been happy when he had turned up with a hangover, claiming to have passed out at the station. Which was partially true. For all the good his memory was he might have well have passed out at the station. He certainly remembered nothing after around 12.

Ffion sighed at Adam's behavior and shook her head. Men were such babies. It wasn't like she had forced him. Okay, she was willing to admit she'd forced the snog, yes, but she hadn't held a gun to his head when she asked if he wanted to come back to hers for some full sex. He'd said yes quickly enough, and he'd nearly torn her dress in his haste to get it off her.

She waved at her brother and Shaz.

"It was soooo slow that Rowan said I could leave early, so here I am. What shall we do then? I don't really fancy going back to my room and if I go to the pub, well, I'll start drinking won't I? That won't be good."

She dropped into a chair and began to spin around in it.

"I could go and..."

"No," Rhys cut her off. "You stay here where I can keep my eye on you."

"Oh, Rhys," she sighed and rolled her eyes. "I wasn't going to do anything but wander around."

"No, stay put."

"Oh, FINE," she grouched and picked up a magazine and started leafing through it.

Shaz looked up at Ffion and Rhys' argument. She sighed. She wondered whether this would reflect how they were going to be this weekend. She was curious about the rest of his family too. She liked Katie and Ffion but had to admit she was nervous about the others.

Rhys had heard the gossip and he had no intention of letting Ffion roam the station. She'd end up shagging someone in the toilets which would cause a scene no doubt. There was also the fact that one of the PCs had confided that Ffion had cornered Adam outside the men's toilets and snogged him, and then shortly after he'd left with her. No need to guess the outcome of that.

He sighed. When had she got like this? She'd always been clingy, moreso after Gareth had come along and she wasn't the baby anymore. Dad was on the road working a lot and Fee had just naturally drifted to Rhys. He wondered if it was his leaving that had caused it. She'd always been fragile and always seemed to need approval.

He glanced at Shaz. Maybe he should see if the couldn't get Shaz to have some sort of heart to heart with Fee and find out what her trouble was. He certainly couldn't talk to her about it.

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Rowan saw that lunch wasn't going to pick up and let Syed leave. She and JT easily handled the few people that stopped in for a break from their shopping while finishing up the dishes for the party.

She listened with only half an ear while JT chatted on about the cute things Amy had done that past week and things Roxy had said. She felt decidedly odd and couldn't put her finger on it. Something was happening, she wished she knew what. She went outside for another cigarette and tried to shake off the feeling of anxious anticipation that kept creeping up on her.

She smiled as she saw Chris walking towards her. She wished desperately things weren't so bad between them.

"We might be short two guests for the party," he told her slyly.

Rowan looked at him in surprise.

"Why?" she hoped nothing was wrong. A slow smile spread across his face.

"Guv got called away, seems Alex went into labor today."

Rowan gasped. "I knew something was going on! It's been driving me a bit crazy," she remarked. Chris chuckled.

"So, I don't think they'll make it."

"Probably not," she agreed and her expression went misty and soppy. "Oh, that's just fantastic," she sighed as she clasped her hands together.

Rowan waited until JT came downstairs, freshly showered and dressed for the party, and began to load the last minute things into the oven to cook. She sent Chris and JT into the dining room to make sure the table was set up the way she wanted it and looked over the decorations.

The place looked quite festive she had to admit. She put the presents for her friends under the tree.

"So, what did you get me," Chris asked.

"You'll see," she said and shook her head.

JT picked up his phone and called Roxy to make sure she was coming.

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

After fighting the crowds, Jack was glad to get home. He dumped the bags of shopping on the table and looked at Alyssa.

"Never doing that again."

He looked at the clock. Nearly four! It had taken four hours just to fight traffic and fellow shoppers. He shook his head.

"Never."

Alyssa chuckled. He was right, the queues at the supermarket had been horrendous and the traffic throughout London had been the worst she had ever seen. She was glad they had left in the morning to sort the rest of the food shopping out.

She reached for the bag and began to unpack items and put them in the fridge. She had made sure the bags were packed according to where in the kitchen the food had to be stored. It saved time and stopped them running around the place as they unpacked.

"It's your own fault for leaving it until the last minute to get the rest of the food," she told him reasonably with a small shrug.

"Well, I didn't do it on purpose. I hadn't realized I'd forgotten stuff," he complained as he helped her put the groceries away.

"We need to get ready for the party," he moved towards the stairs, then turned back to her. "You stay here while I get your present."

Alyssa screwed up the plastic bags into a ball in her hands and furrowed her brow curiously as he dashed away. What present? She sighed, resigned, and put the new plastic bags into a draw with the other ones. She sat down at the table and waited patiently for him to get back.

/\\\/\/\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\\\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Ronnie smiled at Ray as she got out of the shower. She slid her dripping arms over his wet shoulders and kissed him as she draped a towel over his head and drew it over his shoulders.

She grabbed her own towel and began to dry herself off as she gazed at him. She padded into the bedroom and pulled out the dress she was going to wear and began to get ready.

Ray smiled and dragged out his clothes. Ronnie had taken him on another shopping trip last month to buy him 'suitable winter clothes'. He had gone along with it, but refused yet again to let her chose his pants. That was something he wouldn't change. No way. He liked his boxers, they were comfy and did what they were supposed to.

He dressed swiftly and looked over at Ronnie.

"Ready?"