Title: A Room To Ourselves

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this. I just have fun.

Summary: It's Grace and Boyd's first Christmas together and they are spending it with Grace's family. According to Boyd, who's playing the part of "Mum's new boyfriend", it's a family disaster waiting to happen. And that's before they are dropping the proverbial bombshell. - Part of the "Kabul"-series

A/N: It's my very belated Christmas-story, but I figure it still counts, because it's set at Christmas (but before the airing of "The Royle Family" - which Boyd and Grace miss, for obvious reasons) and I wrote it over Christmas. Many, many thanks go to my wonderful beta CatS81.

Enjoy!


A Room To Ourselves

Boyd eyes the cars parking in front of the house and those passing by as if to gauge if one of them will get too close to his own, very sleek, wholly impractical roadster. She sees it and he can even feel her inward eyeroll. But she remains calm and patient and gives him a small indulgent smile.

She's been like that all morning. Serene, smiling. Gorgeous, especially just when dawn began to crack into the room, giving him a chance to watch her sleeping face in the beginning light. The novelty of sight and emotion hasn't worn off yet, so Boyd uncharacteristically indulged and just watched her for a while.

Grace, however, is a light sleeper and suddenly watching became doing and, when he thinks of it, not even the presents under the small tree in the lounge could compare to the breathless, indulgent morning tumble they had had.

It was a brilliant morning, but as he now eyes the house they stand in front of, he can almost see things crashing around him.

"Boyd..." She sounds a little exasperated underneath her fond tone. "It's just Christmas lunch."

"Family disaster waiting to happen."

She turns towards him fully, the eyeroll very clear. "Oh, don't be such a Scrooge! It's going to be alright."

"Yeah." He doesn't sound convinced as he closes the distance and slips his arm around her waist. They both have a hand each full with bags of presents but that would never keep him from kissing her in the middle of the street.

It won't raise his sympathy ranking among the occupants of the house, quite the contrary actually. And they haven't even dropped the bombshell.

Giving her a sardonic smile, Boyd shrugs. "Don't say I didn't warn you, though."

Grace chuckles, then stretches to kiss him. "Done with your pop psychology, then?"

Boyd kisses first, smiles later. "You always say I should listen to your scientific knowledge."

"Hmm."

They both snort a little indelicately before he kisses her again. Boyd likes kissing Grace, likes doing a whole lot of things to and with Grace, but he isn't sure that this particular...

"Relax, it's just my kids, their families and a turkey."

"And I'm mother's new boyfriend who everybody hates." Though said in jest, Boyd thinks he's a lot closer to the truth than Grace would admit. Her son might be alright, the few times they've spent time together were cordial and friendly. Her daughters...

"They'll come around."

"Motherly intuition? Or psychological prophecy?"

Grace sighs. "Don't make it any harder on yourself than it is," she says quietly, leaning against him again and instinctively he tightens his hold on her. "I know Gina can be...difficult at times." He raises an eyebrow, shaking his head.

"Alright, she can be an impolite pain in the arse without any manners. Reminds me of you at times, you know. And no, she didn't get that from me."

"She's your daughter, just like Margaret is."

"Maddie," Grace automatically corrects.

Boyd shrugs. "Both your daughters, both mothers to your grandchildren... You don't want to fight with them over the boyfriend at Christmas."

"You like calling yourself my boyfriend, Boyd? Prefer toyboy even?"

"Well, I was this morning, when the supposedly highly respectable Dr. Grace Foley seduced me before I was even fully awake."

She laughs. "Liar."

"You plan on staying out there and keeping the neighbours' eyes on you all day, Mum? Or did you actually plan to come inside?"

Christopher Foley leans against the frame of the front door, giving them both a cocky grin.

"Don't sass with me, young man. I'm still your mother."

The young man laughs, giving Boyd a conspiratorial wink. It loosens the nervousness he feels in his gut just a little, but seeing Gina behind her brother with a somewhat stony expression, he knows it won't be a completely relaxed meal, not even without the news they have to share.


Inside the house is just like Boyd imagines previous Christmas feasts having been in the Foley-household: warm, chaotic and boisterous. There are childish screams mixed with laughter and a few exasperated adult reprimands that are soundly ignored. It's a sea of happy pandemonium, overwhelming the senses.

He needs to take a step back, stay in the hall, slowly hanging up their coats while the kids pretty much bowl over their grandmother in the lounge.

"Okay?" comes the quiet voice of Maddie, Grace's younger daughter, from the other end of the hall.

Boyd smiles, "Yeah."

"Good," she says lightly, closes the distance and pecks him on the cheek. "Happy Christmas."

Looking at her for a moment, he searches her face for a hint of insincerity but can't find any. "Happy Christmas to you, too. And to the little one," he replies, pointing at the young woman's belly that is beginning to ever so slightly extend.

Maddie laughs. "I'll send baby and his terror of a sister your way next year."

"His?"

"Maybe."

He returns her smile, but can't help think of what they have to tell them, what it will do to Maddie and her little girl...and the baby not yet born.

Still, Boyd follows the young woman into the lounge and is immediately ambushed by a girl of about three. Blond curls, blue eyes, precocious and rambunctious, and if there's one thing Boyd definitely can't do, it is to say 'no' to her.

Under the smirking observance of the other adults, he gently pries the little girl, who has wrapped herself around his leg, away and swings her up into his arms. "Hello, Gracie."

In greeting he receives a very slobbery and very enthusiastic kiss. "Santa give you pressie for me, Boyd?" Suddenly silent the little girl regards him, all big blue eyes, blond curls and expectation. He breaks, of course he does.

"Of course he did, Gracie."

The reply leads to her cousin attacking him too, so that he struggles to keep upright. Why the kids like him so much he isn't sure, especially in the face of their parents' guarded reaction, but above the heads he can see Grace, the older one, give him a wide, happy smile, and that's enough.

Maybe this family gathering isn't going to be so bad after all.


She likes what she sees, leaning back in the sofa, in the messy, loud lounge that's filled to the brim with Christmas cheer and the people she loves most in the world. Except for a handful of people, three of whom she'll see the next day, it is actually true.

The kids are basically hanging onto and off Boyd, making her wish for a camera.

Grace leans back into the sofa, almost lies back and she can see Boyd smirk at that. Not very graceful, but she gives him a shrug and just enjoys it. It doesn't take long before he is right beside her, his thigh tightly pressed against hers in the confines of the furniture.

"We look like the proverbial oldies not able to keep up with the pace," he grumbles.

"Looks can be deceiving," she whispers back lowly, her eyes intense on him.

"I bloody well hope so." He's still not convinced but from the way his voice drops, Grace knows that he's warming to the idea.

"You can always prove it, you know."

"How? By snogging their mother on the sofa, on Christmas Day, with everybody watching?"

"You make it sound like such a chore. Thank you."

This time it's Boyd who rolls his eyes. "Are you spoiling for something, Dr. Foley?"

"I thought that was obvious, Boyd."

"Subtle. Very subtle."

"Oh, for God's sake, Boyd, will you just kiss her?" Gina's voice suddenly sounds above them, completely exasperated.

Looking up, half incredulous and half-amused, Boyd gives her a speculative grin, "Are you ordering me to kiss your mother?"

"Just to spare us having to watch the build up any longer!"

"Which makes it just so much more romantic," Grace drawls, rolling her eyes.

"Not romantic, nauseating!"

Grace knows Boyd, knows him well. Knows that he will milk this moment for all it is worth. There's exasperation in her daughter's tone but little of the previous annoyance. Maybe she's finally come around to acceptance, or at least she's called a truce for the holidays, but it's a chance they can't and won't let go unused.

Therefore it's no surprise that Boyd has leaned over, which doesn't make their position any more innocent, quite the contrary, in fact. She can feel his weight against her, feels his warmth, his hand cupping her cheek.

"I think your children expect a show here..."

He leaves the sentence unfinished, doesn't need to. They've always been able to hold entire conversations with half-sentences and pointed gestures, and neither of them ever backs down from a challenge.

She wants to answer, push the tension in the room that little bit higher, but it's no longer important because there's his weight against her, the feel of his palm against her cheek, his scent in her nose and the look in his eyes. Grace breaks first, closing the distance, her lips touching his softly, slowly, breathtaking in its simplicity.

As they part Grace can almost hear the sigh, doesn't realise it's her to utter it.

"Gramma?!"

They eye the little girl slowly, deliberately, but little Gracie doesn't even notice what she's interrupting.

"Yes, Grace?" Grace, the older, is the only one using the name and that is what makes the girl squirm.

"Can we open the pressies you and Boyd brought us from Santa?" Gina's son Max jumps in for his younger cousin.

"Will you leave us alone, if you can?"

Max nods eagerly, Gracie however gives them a long look.

The exchange develops like high noon at its best, leaving the spectators waiting with bated breath. Who could say, whom of the two, so very alike, will win the contest?

In the end, it's Grace the younger who breaks first, kneeling next to the sofa and hugging her grandmother.

The two of them giggle quietly while around them there are various sounds of exasperation.

"Good God, Boyd, how will you manage with those two?" Christopher snorts.

"Boyd?" Gina interrupts, "how about how will we deal?"

Twin baleful glares are directed at the room in general. "I don't have a problem with putting you over my knee at your age, Gina. A little more respect, if you please."

Inwardly groaning, Boyd falls back against the sofa, eyeing the situation. Much as he loves Grace and likes her lively family, situations like this... Good God, that is exactly what they say about Christmas with the family, don't they?

Her weight against his arm is comforting as Grace settles back next to him again, as the children rush towards the tree to find their present amidst delighted shrieks. "Relax," she whispers. "It's alright. All good."

Her fingers slip between his, squeezing slightly in reassurance. "You are doing wonderfully. We are doing wonderfully."

Boyd gives her a look, then a tiny twitch in the corner of his mouth by the way of a smile. "So far..."

"Don't be so negative. It's Christmas."

"And we still have to drop the bombshell," he mutters quietly, squeezing her fingers in return.

For a short moment, the cheer in Grace's eyes dims. She grimaces, but quickly pulls her control back. "Later," she whispers.

He gives her a long look, she only shrugs sheepishly in reply. "Later," she repeats.

Shaking his head, Boyd leans over and kisses her.


There is food on the table and food on the table, Boyd thinks as he eyes the table in front of him. He's been to Christmas feasts before, but this...

"Who's going to eat all this?" he asks worriedly.

Christopher just raises his eyebrows. "It's Christmas and we're having dinner now." Eyeing the clock by the mantle he amends, "Well, we'll start now and eat until after dinner, I think."

Boyd feels like he has been doing this numerous times before, but what else is he supposed to do? He shakes his head. "When? New Year's dinner?"

The younger man laughs. "Possible, but I can think of worse things."

"You can't fault his logic," Grace declares lightly next to him.

"No. Obviously not," Boyd replies, keeping the sarcasm to a minimum.

"So, sit down before everything is gone."

He considers it safer just to follow his orders instead of starting another round of a discussion he can't possibly win. Next to him, Grace settles, quickly grasping the cracker in front of her and holding it out to him.

"I have to, do I?" Boyd asks.

He doesn't receive an answer and considering how the boisterous and numerous family descends on the table and would no doubt team up against him, he decides to simply accept his fate.


"This tastes wonderful, Rosa," Boyd announces some time later. "You did a fantastic job with this feast."

Murmurs of agreement come from around the table, making the young woman blush. "Thanks, I'm glad I could fill your shoes with this, Grace," she addresses her mother-in-law. "Even if I did call with emergencies all the time."

"You did wonderfully, love," Grace declares. "And I told you to call me if you needed help. The first time you do this is always daunting. I was scared out of my wits the first time I did it for the family."

"And you've trained your successor early it seems, huh?" Tom, Gina's husband, states. "Smart move."

Grace chuckles and shrugs. "It was necessary this year and I'm very glad Rosa jumped in and helped me out. I wouldn't have had the chance to put together Christmas dinner this time."

Maddie and Christopher exchange pregnant glances, then eye Boyd in unison.

"Found something more interesting to do, Mum?" Maddie teases, but feels her expression slowly slip when she sees her mother's features turn serious. Normally, this would mean just another round of sound teasing, but reading her mother's expression correctly...

And Boyd's as well...

She looks at her brother, finds him frowning worriedly as well, as both Boyd and Grace lay down their utensils and take each other's hands, seemingly in support.

"Well..." Grace starts.

"There's something we should tell you," Boyd continues. "The reason why Grace did not have your Christmas Day gathering at her house." He can feel his heart rate speed up, knows Grace experiences the same anxiety that he does. It is the worst possible moment to announce their news but a better one won't come, not with time running out on them like it is now.

"Is something wrong?" Gina leans forward, her voice laced with worry.

"You sold up and are riding off into the sunset together, are you? Australia, or something?" Maddie's husband tries to inject some levity.

"No. Neither," Grace grinds out, her fingers squeezing Boyd's hand even tighter. She gives him a short look and quite possibly for the first time in their long acquaintance, he can discern real fear. Her fingers are clammy in his and there are nervous spots on her cheeks.

"What is it, then?" Rosa asks.

"The house is not sold, but all but packed up. We are leaving in two weeks, for a six-months stint in Kabul."


Thank you for reading. Comments would be greatly appreciated.