Here we are! Hope you enjoy :) -Sophie x

It was the evening that made the long, tiresome year worth working; Holby City Hospital's Christmas party. A night of free food, free booze, some classic Christmas tunes and hours of freedom from the slavery of the wards. This year it was being held at the local country club, Cartwright Hills, a short 10 minute drive from Holby city centre. A large hall with an onsite spa, surrounded by acres of golf courses and paths lit up with twinkling fairy lights, it was the perfect setting for an evening of well earned frivolity.

It was expected that you arrived with a partner, and every year it was a desperate rush for Serena Campbell to find someone. Last year she attended with Fletch on her arm, and the year before it was some poor, unsuspecting F2 from Oncology she'd cornered by the snacks machine the morning of the party. The year before that was even worse, attending with Hanssen and feeling like one of Snow White's 7 dwarves. The thought alone sent a shiver down the woman's spine whenever she thought about the ordeal.

But this year would be different.

This year she had Bernie.

Due to her beloved being called in to work early that morning, Serena decided that her and Jason would get ready at their house, meeting with Bernie and Cameron when they arrived at Cartwright Hills. It was fifteen minutes before they were due to set off, and as per usual, she was running late.

"Jason? Jason have you seen my earrings?" She shouted to her nephew, struggling to pull on her new underwear as she searched around the room. She had bought a matching bra too, especially for this occasion to celebrate the fact that she wasn't alone this year. It was a saucy red number, a colour she knew would get Bernie all flustered- if it came to that, of course.

"Your earrings are here Auntie Serena-" Jason said clearly before opening the door to her bedroom. Serena let out a screech not unlike that of an angry parrot, before slamming the door in Jason's face. She loved him to bits, but she really did wish that he would knock before entering her bedroom.

"Did I do something wrong?" His muffled voice sounded a little put out from the other side of the door, and Serena sighed, finally sorting herself out and smoothing down her dress. It was long and black, clinging to every line and curve her body possessed, with sequins dotted along her shoulders which dipped to a very low V cut at her breast. She hadn't let Bernie see it once she'd bought it, so the clinical lead was hoping it would have the desired effect of making her girlfriend's mouth drop to the floor.

"No, no-well, oh for goodness sakes." Serena muttered, opening the door and taking the earrings from her nephew before shuffling to her mirror to put them in place. She had chosen them specially as they went with the necklace Bernie had bought her the week before, which she was also sporting that evening. "In future please knock on the door before you enter Jason, or one day you'll see something you'll wish you hadn't."

There was silence. The brunette looked up to see Jason stood at the doorway, staring at her.

"What are you staring at? Oh please don't say I have deodorant stains on my dress again." She fretted, contorting her body to check for white marks.

"You don't. I was staring because you look beautiful Auntie Serena. All sparkly and bright." He said simply. His matter of fact tone always got to his aunt and she smiled, her heart fluttering.

"Oh Jason, I do love you." She gave his arm a squeeze before looking him up and down. "And I have to say, you look very handsome this evening too."

"I know." He smiled, pulling away slightly as Serena straightened his bow-tie. "We need to leave soon, Auntie Bernie and Cameron will be waiting for us."

Auntie Bernie... Serena still couldn't get over that. He'd accepted the ex-army medic with open arms, and with much more ease than she could have ever hoped for. Of course they'd had their differences in the month following their reconciliation kiss in the office, but overall Bernie and Jason got on really rather well. Especially when it came to quiz shows- they always teamed up and made for a formidable duo.

"Auntie Serena? Come on!" Jason insisted, pulling Serena from her thoughts. A glance at the clock told her he was right; it was time to get going.