I was in a bit of a Christmassy mood and this idea popped into my head and I couldn't let it go unwritten. Thank you to the amazing totti10/flashingbluelight, for her amazing ideas and help with this fic, without whom I don't know if I'd have written it!

This is part of my 100 ways to say I love you fic, but wanted to upload it as a separate story as its 5 Christmas and its 5 chapters long.

Note: anything in italics is a letter

Hope you enjoy this, please leave a review XxX


"Have a good day at work"

Days 1-5

Iain had been planning this for over a month. What better time than Christmas? He and Rita normally brought each other an advent calendar, they'd been together 2 Christmas' already and Iain wanted to make this year an extra special year... There was a box in his room, which contained almost 24 wrapped parcels, each with a handwritten note attached addressed to Rita.

Day 1: chocolates

It was December first; Rita was half way through her shift and on her first break in 4 hours. Entering her office she finds a parcel wrapped in brown paper on her desk, a note attached which reads:

Rita,

I told you I got you an advent calendar, I know you thought I'd forgotten this morning, but I hadn't. This year it's going to be a special advent calendar. I have 24 gifts for you, one each day with an extra special one on Christmas. Have a good day at work; I love you and Happy Christmas!

Your favourite paramedic XxX

Rita smiled, carefully opening the paper to reveal the present beneath, a box of her favourite chocolates. Pulling out her phone she text Iain a picture of herself with the chocolates and a huge thank you. Rita normally dreaded Christmas, less so since Iain had come into her life, but it reminded her of her parents. Refusing to even speak to her from the moment she married Mark, until this very day, she always missed them, especially at the time of year where everyone saw their family.

Day 2: tickets for her and Dixie to go to a concert in January

Almost 24 hours since she had found the box of chocolates on her desk she wandered back into her office, another shift where time had decided to slow. She sat at her desk, it was her break but she was in dire need to catch up on some paperwork that had been building up in stacks over the past few days. Two stacks down and 20 minutes later she was halfway through the cup of tea she had made herself, she picked up the next file, an envelope fell from where it had been placed on top. Rita recognised the handwriting instantly as Iain's, her second advent gift. She opened it carefully; this was just what she needed in this moment, a minute away from work.

She pulled out the three pieces of paper inside, a letter, and two tickets to see her favourite band.

Rita,

Today's gift you can't receive just yet but it will give you some thing to look forward to in the new year. I know you love this band and Dixie seemed extremely passionate about them too when I called her the other day, so there's a ticket for you both to go and enjoy them. I love you, merry Christmas!

Iain XxX

Rita bit her lip as she beamed. Pulling out her phone she text Iain a thank you, he was on shift so she didn't want to interrupt him if he was with a patient. Dialling Dixie's number she thumbed the tickets as she read the letter. She squealed down the phone at her best mate, both of them like teenagers and neither caring.

Day 3: a candle

Rita had to wait her whole shift for today's advent gift. Iain had had the day off, they seemed to be on opposite shifts all week and had barely seen each other.

She came home and fell onto the sofa, her bag falling to the floor and coat still done up. She had spent the whole of her shift in resus, the never ending stream of patients seemed to be even more exhausting than normal. She opened her eyes, having closed them for a moment as she sat down, to find a small parcel wrapped in brown paper set on the coffee table. A white envelope attached that read her name in Iain's messy scrawl. She smiled to herself, had almost forgotten about her present. Leaning forward she pulled off the note and read it.

How's your day been? I tried to stay up, give this present to you myself but I'm on earlies this week so can't afford a late night, wake me when you come up, I have a kiss ready, just for you. You're my light Rita, I couldn't do without you. I love you, happy Christmas, yours, Iain XxX

Rita put down the note with a smile, he always made her smile, no matter what. She tore off the paper and found a candle inside. She couldn't wait any longer, shrugging off her coat and leaving it where it landed, telling herself she would sort it in the morning, she hurried upstairs to claim her kiss.

Day 4: a key to his house

They finally had a few hours together, Iain's shift had miraculously finished on time so he got to spent the 2 and a half hours before Rita's shift started with her.

Returning home he found her still in bed, covers up to her neck as she tried to keep warm whilst delaying getting up to switch the heating on as long as possible.

"You're back." Rita smiled, there it was again, she'd never been happier than this, not ever.

Iain nodded, crawling up the bed, legs either side of her, hands stopping beside her head as he held himself above her, leaning down to touch his lips to hers.

"I was just about to make breakfast." Rita half lies, she had been planning to get up for over an hour, the warmth of the covers and the chilly air that froze her when she went to get up, would've probably meant her getting up at the very last minute possible before her shift started.

"How about an advent present first?" Iain murmured, his lips against her right ear.

Rita smiled, biting her lip, she nodded.

Iain sat back, sitting on Rita's thighs for a moment before moving to retrieve the parcel marked number 4 from his coat pocket. He had planned to give it to leave it with a note on her desk like the chocolates but this seemed a much better plan.

"I haven't written the note for this one, so I'll just say it." Iain told her, handing her the small hard object, motioning for her to open it.

Rita removed the packaging, only to find a set of three keys that she already had, attached with a key ring which read 'New Home'. She looked up at him confused.

"Its the keys to my house, our house." He corrected. "When you moved in, I just gave you the spare set and never got another cut, not until the other day when I got you your very own set of keys." Iain explained, "This is our home now, it may have started out as mine but it's ours, I want you to know that I love you living here and your keys are your own, not the spare set or anything less. This is your house, our home." Iain finished, his eyes had never left Rita's throughout.

Rita's eyes were glassy, the smile that had been on her face for days had faded. Iain looked away, he had done the wrong thing, his heart was falling in his chest.

"Sorry," he muttered, going to speak again, apologise, but his words were swallowed as Rita's lips pressed against his own in a fierce kiss that ended with him flat on his back with Rita straddling his waist, her body at the cold airs mercy but she didn't care.

"You are the most incredible man I've ever met, known of or loved. I love you Iain, this is the most thoughtful gift." Rita smiled, capturing Iain's lips every other word.

Iain smiled up at her and Rita beamed back. "Shall I make you breakfast?" He asked.

Rita shook her head, "I have a better idea, besides, I wasn't that hungry anyway..." she whispers into his ear, before taking his lips and exploring his mouth once again.

Day 5: lip balm

Rita pushed her hand into her pocket as she pulled on her coat after her shift, there was something already in there. Her fingers wrapped around the flat cylindrical like objects that seemed to be tied together and wrapped in paper , pulling them out of her coat she saw they had another note attached, day 5 of advent.

Rita pulled the paper off the flat round parcels, sellotape making the simple task harder than usual. Biting her bottom lip she read the accompanying note.

I've been a bit selfish with these, picked my favourite flavours as well as the ones you like the best. Strawberry, cherry, Coca Cola, lemonade and the best one of all gingerbread! I thought I could play a guessing game when you come home? I love you and I'm waiting for you in bed ;) XxX

Rita laughed as she looked down at the tubes of lip balm in her hand, trust Iain to pick his favourites she thought to herself as she took the gingerbread one and rubbed it against her lips. Time to go home.


Hope you've enjoyed part 1 of 5 and will be sticking around for some more, please let me know your thoughts, they are greatly appreciated! Merry Christmas to you all! XxX