So, my long awaited (by myself, anyway) Winter fic has landed! I know it's early but I started a while ago and couldn't wait any longer to share. Also, not too sure what's happening on screen and things might change re. writing stories if certain people leave!

I love this season so very much - I'm super excited to write festive one shots/stories. Hope you enjoy!

Lily questioned many things in life. Not to be awkward, but just to be sure. Everything was more plausible when there was reasoning behind it, something to be understood. But, for her own life, she could not understand the frenzy and bustled that ensued amongst high street shops. In November.

The wind was icy, foggy withal. Strands of hair flew in her face, unrelentingly so. She batted them away, becoming more and more wound up. Iain seemed oblivious to this, not sharing the problem at all. He marched along with what looked to be enthusiasm. Cheeks aglow, he greeted every stranger with a smile and the occasional 'seasons greetings'.

Sucking her teeth, Lily plodded on behind.

'It's not Christmas yet, not for ages.' She pointed out.

'Alright Scrooge.' He pulled a face, even more determined to find more shoppers he could well wish.

'I am just saying, you have seven weeks. You'll peak too soon. What's more-'

'Do I usually have that problem?' He fired back, refusing to take his eyes away from hers. As her cheeks flushed, he smirked in delight. 'Oh, lighten up Lily! Tis the season and all that.' He nudged her shoulder roughly, wrapping an arm around her.

'You're weeks too early though.' She muttered.

'And who defines early then? Come on, I could get run over by a bus tomorrow.'

'Iain...'

'Oh shit, sorry. There's me and my gob. I didn't mean it like that. Insensitive choice of words.'

Recognition dawned on her face, alongside a little sadness. 'No, no, I wasn't thinking of that.'

'Oh...' Iain grimly realised he'd jumped the gun. 'I should've just-'

She intervened, a hand out in the air in front of them. 'You shouldn't be so caustic, that was all I was going to say.'

'I was trying to make a point though. If you can't be happy right now, when can you be?' He pulled her mittened hand out of the pocket, taking it in his. 'Come on. Unless you're going to continue being Christmas-a-humbug.' She stayed silent as they walked into the main building of the shopping centre. 'You've got a smile behind that pout. If I don't see it, I'll sing.' He threatened.

Reluctantly, she gave him a small smile. 'Better!' He grinned. 'Don't rate my singing then?'

'Hmm. There's more melodic voices out there...' Her eyes travelled to her feet as she stepped onto the escalator.

He snorted. 'Least I don't do it in the shower.'

'What? I do not sing in the shower!' She said, indignant.

'You think I don't know! Five thirty in the morning, Take That sound as if they're being submerged under water and strangled. It's an interesting wake up call.'

Her lips pursed again. 'I sing better than you.'

'Ah! So you're not denying it then?'

'Oh, be quiet.' She replied, tucking her hands back into her pocket as they reached the top floor.

'Where now?' He asked, strolling a few paces ahead of her. 'We've already done all the boring furniture shops, and there's nothing more you could possibly want to add to the cottage that has everything. Name your shop.'

She shrugged back, clearly indifferent. 'It doesn't matter. They're all going to be the embodiment of hell.'

'Lily!' He laughed.

'Screaming toddlers, in-your-face assistants, silly music blaring out, queues a mile long, horrendously gaudy tree decorations. Don't even get me started on the clothing.'

He stopped for a second, looking at her, incredulous. 'You really don't like it, do you?'

'I tolerate it.' She sighed, obediently following as he darted into the shop.

To her dismay, everything was exactly as she'd imagined - and worse.

An artificial tree, mounted on a stand, was decorated with tinsel and a whole manner of decorations. The baubles' glitter caught the light, the fairy lights pulsated with colour, an array of stockings cluttered the shelves.

And, noise. Lots and lots of noise.

'Hey, Chuckles.' She spun around, trying to work out where he was. 'Look at this.'

'Jingle my bells...' Lily read out, frowning.

'And this.' He produced a similar jumper but in bright blue.

She squinted to see the lettering. 'Pull my cracker.' She read, without a hint of intonation, and gave a disapproving eye roll before turning around.

'They're ace. We could be matching in them! It's Jumper Day on the last Friday before Christmas!' He said.

'Oh yes. I'd love to take the heinously inappropriate option and make a spectacle of myself. Hello, I'm Dr Chao, I'm here to save your relative's life. Try not to be alarmed and don't glance below my shoulder if you can help it. I promise I'm a professional though.' She replied. He snorted, then continued to rifle through the clothes on the discount railing. 'You know me so well.' Lily continued.

'Ah...' He waggled a finger. 'I know what would be good for you.' He slid his hands around her, settling them on her hips. 'I believe there's a difference. It would be a real statement, wearing a jumper like that.'

She jerked away, a sudden movement. 'Not here.'

'At home then?' His eyes sparkled knowingly.

She stopped still, eyebrow raised. 'Depends if you behave yourself.'

'Behave? Me?' He asked. 'Besides. This hard to get is just a front, Lils. I know how you feel.'

Her expression hardened, lips pursing, not in the mood for a joke. 'Seriously, hurry up.'

'I'm looking!' He protested. 'I need a jumper, don't I? So do you.'

'I won't be taking part.' She replied.

'What? I hope you're joking.' He inspected the sleeves of a red jumper he'd picked it, pulling at them slightly.

'I'm not joking. This is all tacky. Look, if you really want a jumper, let me order you one online.' She sighed.

'And end up looking like I'm from some sort of vintage catologue? No, Lily. Don't waste your money. Bargains, these!' He almost shoved the price tag under her nose.

'Exactly.' She mumbled, as he hurried off round the corner.

'Look at this for the top of the tree!' He produced a spectacularly loud-looking ornament.

'This is way too early. Weeks too early.' She grumbled, as he turned the box to read the label.

He turned to face her with a little laugh. 'Look, if you want to go grab a coffee, I don't mind meeting you.'

'That wasn't the point, the reason we came here was to spend some time together.' She looked anguished, nibbling a lip.

He frowned, taking her hand. 'Yeah, but it's not a big deal. Look, have this. Consolation token for being a pain in the backside.' He winked, pressing a small rectangle of plastic into her palm.

'Go buy drinks.'

'Okay.' She made her way out of the shop, turning round when he called to her.

'Don't be lavishing out on anything expensive with my card, I know what you're like.'

'I've got to walk past the travel agents to get to the coffee shop.' She widened her eyes innocently.

'Lily...'

'As if, you should know by now that you have a low maintenance girlfriend.'

'Low maintenance? Pffft!'

She walked out of the shop smiling.

-x-

She couldn't help but stand a little straighter when she saw him approaching, even though his hands were in his pockets and he wasn't making an awful effort himself.

'Coffee?' She offered primly.

He took it, opening the lid and giving it a sniff. 'Depends.'

'If I didn't have worries of scalding you, you'd be battered for that remark.'

He couldn't help but laugh. 'You'd never lay a finger on me as long as you live.'

'Just because I haven't yet.' She said.

'Oh, pipe down, you'll talk your drink cold.' He told her. With a wiggle of the eyebrow, she lifted the cup to her lips. 'This is good, actually.'

'Gingerbread latte times two. One of the reasons I tolerate the season.'

'Well, if it keeps you sweet around the shopping centre, I'd happily buy you a thousand my love.'

People bustled about, even though it was late. Overtired children screeching in pushchairs were being trundled along by frazzled parents. Teenagers with bleached hair loitered suspiciously in shop entrances, security guards patrolled. Police - lots of police - all armed.

'Doesn't it scare you?' Lily asked as they stepped outside into the cold. The sky was a deep blue colour and stars visibly twinkled in the sky.

'What?' Iain asked, watching his words billow out in coffee-infused steam.

'All these police.' She gave a little shudder.

'I wouldn't say scare.' He pulled a face. 'I feel better about coming to a big place like this. You know, on the off chance if anything was to happen.'

'If the gun got into the wrong hands though...' She bit her lip.

'Well, you needn't worry about that. There's months of intensive and thorough training to go through, and they're supposed to be quite difficult to use. Plus, I can't see him letting go of his weapon any time soon.' He gestured to a burly police officer about ten feet away. 'Honestly, we're safe as safe. It's just a precaution.'

'I guess you're right.' Her eyes travelled to their feet and noticed they stepped in time with one another.

'Home time?' He suggested. 'We've been here a while.'

'If you're sure you've had enough.' She replied, clutching the cup tighter as the wind blew. 'I could make dinner.'

'Sounds good. I'm wanting a bath.'

'Did the plumber come?' She asked, remembering.

'Yeah, he did. I forgot to mention. Said it was hard wiring up the electrics and water in such an old structure. Most pipe fitting calls he gets are for renovations or people that live in flats and have a problem. I apologised but explained that the cottage is cheap rent, and probably short term till we find somewhere better.'

'It was good of him to sort things out at such short notice, considering the time of year too. I imagine we could manage do with just a shower, but then a bath would be nice.' She said.

'Exactly, that's the thing. I mean, perhaps we were in a bit of a rush to move in, but-'

'No, we were either at mine or yours and we were individually paying rent for the places we only spent half our time in. This is logical.' She gave a small smile, then huddled closer to him.

He welcomed this and wrapped an arm round her, gently kissing her temple. 'These few months are going to be ones to remember.'