Serena pulls her mac on as she steps out onto the patio, looking first to the end of the garden and then at Bernie, stood shoulders hunched in the cold. "You know there are some people saying those things'll kill you," she says playfully, nodding her head towards the cigarette in Bernie's hand.

"Bad science, the lot of it," Bernie replies as she takes a final drag and treads on the stub. She makes sure to blow the smoke in the opposite direction before taking the opportunity to run her hands inside Serena's coat and pull her in to a hug. Resting her chin on top of Serena's head, she resumes her watch over the garden. Their breathing syncs up and Serena listens to Bernie's heartbeat slowing down. There's something about Bernie's hands tracing up and down her back that feels less restful, though.

"Penny for them," Serena says, eventually, stepping back a little so that she can look Bernie in the eye. Bernie resists for a second before scrunching her face up, recognising that Serena is not going to believe that there's nothing troubling her. "It's just," she says, chewing her bottom lip. A soft sigh. "Charlie. I don't… She's not… What if..." The end of any of those sentences eluding her, Bernie just frowns at her feet before looking back up at Serena.

"She's coming." Serena is firm but warm. "Cam said he didn't even have to twist her arm. She wants to be here today, or at least for some of it." A smile threatens to break across Bernie's lips. "And we weren't on the phone for long, but I don't think I heard her cursing my name or anything. Didn't hear any hissing, or incantations." She peers carefully in to Bernie's eyes, smiling a thousand-watt smile until Bernie, too, relaxes in to a grin. "If we've anyone to worry about today, I'm afraid it's Elinor."

Bernie purses her lips for a moment. "You think she's going to put a hex on me?" she jokes, opening the door to allow them back inside.

"Not quite, but I wouldn't get your hopes up for more than minimum levels of civility. Last time we spoke she kept referring to my 'lover', as if you were some sordid little secret." Bernie smirks as she slips the coat off Serena's shoulders and goes to hang it up. "Well I'm not a secret."

Charlotte and Cameron arrive first, a loud rap on the door about 10 minutes before they're actually due. Bernie's eyes immediately seek Serena's and they silently agree to answer the door together, both rosy-cheeked from their work in the kitchen (and the accompanying sherry that Serena insists is obligatory).

"Ms. Campbell! Ms. Wolfe!" Cameron jokes as they appear on the doorstep.

"Mum'll do just fine today, Cam," Bernie says, ruffling his hair and giving him a bear hug. "Happy Christmas, my darling boy." He lets her plant a kiss on his cheek before he moves on to greet Serena, leaving Bernie facing Charlotte as Serena watches over Cam's shoulder.

"Merry Christmas Mum." Charlotte is every bit as good at eye contact as Bernie, Serena realises.

"Merry Christmas, Charlie." Bernie reaches out to take the bottle of wine from Charlotte's hand and somewhere along the way finds the courage to wrap her arms around her daughter. "I'm so glad you came."

They're both blinking back tears. Goodness only knows what'll happen if these two aren't given a chance to compose themselves, thinks Serena. "Charlotte," she says, "it's wonderful to meet you. Your mother's told me so much about you. And I love this jumper." She takes Charlotte by the shoulders as if to look more closely, giving Bernie the opportunity to turn towards the coat hooks and swipe a hand across damp cheekbones. When she turns back the three others are making their way towards the lounge, Serena's hand on Charlotte's shoulder. She bites down hard on her cheek, wipes her palms on her jeans, and follows.

It helps that Jason already knows Cam, and he has no problem with Charlotte joining them as long as she doesn't talk too much during the Who marathon he's cued up. Bernie and Serena refuse all offers of help finishing off lunch, though Bernie ends up standing in the doorway watching her children and Jason, an unselfconscious smile on her lips, while Serena does most of the work. Not that she'd have it any other way; glancing at Bernie every so often Serena feels that tightening in her stomach, the thrill that comes with seeing Bernie happy. Happy here. When the doorbell finally rings to hail Elinor's arrival, Serena is in the frantic last throes of pulling the meal together and so it is that Bernie is the one to answer the door.

"Oh."

"Elinor, merry Christmas!" In the short silence that follows, Bernie is suddenly struck by the fact that she is about to invite Elinor into what the young woman probably considers is rather more her home than her mother's lover's. She stands to one side and opens the door wider, saying nothing.

"Yeah," Elinor says as she steps inside, looking Bernie up and down.

"Your mother's just in the…" But Elinor is already on her way upstairs.