This is the latest lot of "Five Christmases" that I wrote for the boards over Christmastime.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

The alarms beeping filtered through my sleepy brain, making me moan unhappily when I realised what time it was. "Early in the morning on Christmas Day, yeah, great idea Chris" I mumbled to myself. In truth, I didn't overly mind. We needed all the ice time we could get, even if it did mean getting up at a ridiculous time. I just hated the dark, cold, winter mornings. That in mind I rolled over and hit the snooze button, gaining ten more warm, cosy minutes in bed.

As a result I had to get ready quickly, pulling on my training gear and hiding my messy hair under a hat. Running downstairs I almost bumped into my mother, who was in the kitchen, peeling carrots.

"Merry Christmas Mum." I say, kissing her cheek.

"Merry Christmas dear."

She looks up and notices my attire.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"To the rink."

She puts the peeler down.

"You promised to help! There's over ten people coming over for dinner!"

"I will. I promise."

"Just….don't be all day. Have you got Chris's present?"

I tapped my skate bag.

"Yes. And I won't. Bye!"

Hurriedly I run out to the car, inwardly cursing when I saw it iced over. I quickly scraped off as much as I could and jumped in, silently thanking the quiet roads. Arriving at Chris's I saw him waiting for me outside, blowing on his hands, and jumping up and down, attempting to keep warm .

"There you are. I thought I was going to turn into an icicle!" He said, hopping into the passenger seat.

"Merry Christmas to you too." I said.

Chris blew on his hands again and reached over to grab my left one.

"Sorry. Merry Christmas"

I started the car back up.

"Why didn't you just wait inside?"

"Tee was in there, peeling things. She looked like she was going to ask me to help."

I laughed.

"Same with mine. That reminds me, I've been instructed that I can't stay all day. I have to be back to help."

"Tee said the same thing. We'll both be up to our elbows peeling potatoes."

We drove the rest of the way in relative silence. It was too early for me to make full on conversation. As we neared the rink we saw the handyman waiting for us outside with the keys. We walked up and greeting him with choruses of "Merry Christmases"

"No-one could say that you two aren't dedicated, practicing on Christmas day!" he said.

Chris and I smiled, pleased with the compliment. He handed the keys to Chris.

"Just lock up when you're done."

"Cheers mate, thanks for coming out."

We walked in and started ready. Chris's present fell out of my skate bag but I pushed it back in before he could see it, deciding to give it to him after practice. As soon as we hit the ice and warmed up, we were completely focused on our moves, lost in each other, only speaking one word prompts to each other when necessary. When we did decide to stop I checked the time and was surprised at how much time had passed. Something had seemed to change during that practice. Maybe it was the desolate rink, the cold air that still somehow seemed to have a slight Christmas magic about it, even though it chilled me and made my arms cold. The rink looked different too, with the sun filtering through the windows, making the ice sparkle with what looked like mini fairy lights, twinkling on and off.

Either way, somehow everything just seemed to fit perfectly. We seemed to fit together. Chris skated over to me and voiced what I was thinking.

"That seemed to be the best we've been."

"I was just thinking…"

"…..the same thing?"

"Yes."

I met his eyes and we both laughed. We didn't break eye contact, and suddenly there seemed to be a sort of electricity in the air. My arms were cold, and I shivered involuntarily. Without saying anything Chris reached out and touched them.

"You're freezing."

My skin tingled where his fingers had touched my arm, I could swear I could see the patch he had touched turning red.

"Do you want my jumper?"

I felt flustered from the effect his touch had on me and answered quickly.

"No…..no it's okay. I should go…really…potatoes and….my mum."

Chris cleared his throat, looking slightly flustered himself.

"Oh! I almost forgot!"

I skated away from him, hauling my skate bag up, and pulling out his present. Skating back I handed it to him.

"Here. Merry Christmas."

He looked surprised.

"Oh. Thanks." He pulled the paper off. "Oh wow. Thanks."

I had bought him a pair of gloves and a scarf.

"Well you don't have a scarf, and you're always moaning about getting colds and sore throats so I thought it would help. Plus you annoy me when you blow on your hands. Hence the gloves."

He looked touched.

"Jayne that's really thoughtful. I didn't realised I did that."

"Well you won't be, anymore."

"I didn't think we would be…..I didn't get you anything….I'm so sorry." He trailed off.

"Are you mad?"

Deep down, I wasn't really, but I must have looked disappointed because he repeated himself.

"Are you mad?"

"No, not really."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. But….you could take me to the sales round town if you want. After Christmas."

Chris looked thoughtful.

"I've got a better idea."

"What?"

He put his present down.

"Close your eyes."

"Why? So you can push me over? No chance!"

"Jayne, as if I'd ever do that. And just in case you don't believe me…"

He moved close to me and put his arms around my waist.

"Now, close your eyes."

I did so, and I felt my breathing quicken in anticipation of what I was sure was coming next. Keeping his arms around my waist I could feel his hot breath, and then I felt his lips brush against mine, tentatively, as if he thought I might pull away, or worse, slap him. I did neither, and didn't even dare to open my eyes, afraid of ruining the moment.

He lips touched mine again, more forceful then before and I responded as such, pressing my body as close to his as I could while his hands slid up from my waist to my back. I felt a sudden rush of emotion, as our lips and bodies moved as one, just as they had just done on the ice. When we finally broke apart, neither of us dared to move and so we just stood there on the rink, holding each other, as the pseudo ice fairy lights twinkled all around us, and I heard him whisper in my ear.

"Merry Christmas Jayne."